Minutes
Planning, Development & Environmental Quality Committee
Tompkins County Legislature
July 6, 2005    2:30 PM     Heyman Conference Room
Members Present:  Kathy Luz Herrera (Chair), Mike Lane, Frank Proto, Nancy Schuler

Member Excused:  Barbara Blanchard

Other Legislator Present:  Martha Robertson

Staff:        Katie Borgella, TCPD; Valeria Coggin, Director of Assessment; Heather Filiberto, TCPD; Jackie Kippola, TC Administration; Ed Marx, Planning Commissioner; Kathy Wilsea, TCPD

Visitors:        Fred Bonn, Convention & Visitors Bureau; Dan Klein, Cooperative Extension; Jean McPheeters, Chamber of Commerce; Monika Roth, Cooperative Extension; Stuart Stein, Strategic Tourism Planning Board; Scott Wiggins, STPB Chair

I    Administration

A    Call to Order – Chair Kathy Luz Herrera called the meeting to order at 4:32 PM with members Nancy Schuler and Mike Lane present.

B    Changes to the Agenda – There were no changes to the agenda.

C    Approval of Minutes of 6/1 and 6/7/2005 – Minutes for both dates were moved by Nancy, seconed by Mike, and approved with no changes by vote of 3:0.

D    Announcements – Nancy recommended a visit to www.redbudwoods.org to see what is happening about the proposed parking lot at Cornell.  Stu Stein announced the Erie Canal Master Plan Draft has just been released.  Tompkins County is part of the canalway and all municipalities with lakeshore can qualify for grants.  Ed Marx said there will be a meeting about the canalway next Wednesday at Hector, and there is a very informative website.

II    Strategic Tourism Planning Board

E    Beautification Grants – Dan Klein had provided information with the agenda.  He pointed out that the last paragraph mentions that the review board feels it is time to re-evaluate the program parameters and do comprehensive planning of travel corridors in order to choose focus areas and perhaps work with different communities in cycles.  These are matching grants, and the applying organization has to provide cash, labor, and/or materials.  Applicants also need to plan long-term maintenance.  Mike moved approval of the project grants, which was seconded by Nancy and passed 3:0.  The grants are budgeted and do not require Legislature vote.  Mike pointed out that the program is written for grants, and spending program funds for review and planning is not mentioned.  A proposal for re-evaluation of program parameters will need to be presented to PDEQ for consideration.  

[Frank Proto arrived at 2:45 p.m.]

F    Budget Adjustment:  Move Funds From Room Tax Reserve Into Operative Budget – Jackie Kippola had provided information with the agenda.  She said the room tax budget gets reconciled in April by the Comptroller.  The budgeted amount is very conservative, and these funds exceed expectations.  Scott Wiggins pointed out STPB now wants to use the funds for marketing and product development.  Fred Bonn commented that a successful approach for use of these funds will continue to yield growth of room tax income.  Jackie pointed out $120,000 (10 percent) has already gone into the County’s general fund for administration.  Mike and Nancy pointed out STPB should expect to hear requests at budget time.  Jean and Scott asked to be included in conversations about budgets.  Scott pointed out the STPB Five Year Plan was just approved, and it has specific components that STPB is addressing through use of these funds.  Budget Adjustment moved by Nancy, seconded by Frank, and passed 4:0.

III    Convention & Visitor’s Center

G    Quarterly Update – Fred Bonn provided a handout on activities at CVB.  The events mentioned in the review document have been very successful.  Louise goes after wedding and reunions and their related tourism draws.  Martha Robertson mentioned that renovations at Stark House are in Better Homes & Gardens.

IV    Ag & Farmland Protection Board

H    Ag Plan Updates – Monika Roth reported the draft list that was provided with the agenda is part of the process of updating the Ag Plan of 1996.  The draft list needs to be prioritized and modified.  Components are Ag Economic Development, Ag Awareness, Government Policy, and the new section on Environmental Issues.  AFPB will discuss the updates with the Municipal Officials Association in July.  The final draft will return to the Planning Advisory Board, PDEQ, and the Legislature, with a public meeting at some point to weigh the level of support of the public.  Right now, they seek feedback on prioritizing the list.   One of Monika’s colleagues is using grant money to study disposal of ag waste in Otsego County, and that information will be widely available when he finishes.  Mike said for purchase of development rights, the draft has the County at the center of the decision making cycle, and he thinks that is the role of towns.  He also disliked inclusion of Finger Lakes Lane Trust in the PDR section, since the money for PDR comes from taxpayers.  Ed Marx said he wants municipal agreement about PDR locations, but he has found the administration of the programs to be complicated.  The County can take on the administration role to work with Cooperative Extension, NYS, and federal agencies.  Farmland protection is organized at the County level in New York State.  Monika said the new state-wide director of PDR, David Baum, was here last week.  The American Farmland Trust lobbied for money to become available to towns to develop ag plans, which passed.  Towns will be able to apply for these grants, and some may turn to the County for help.  This could lead to an increase in PDR applications.  The new grant program will be added to the Government Policy section of the Ag Plan.  Frank said Mr. Baum was adamant that PDR is to protect agriculture and keep farmers in business.  It is not for open space protection.   Monika pointed out that town plans would include more than PDR.  Martha Robertson asked what is involved in holding the PDR easement, and Monika said there is an annual monitoring requirement, which is sometimes contracted out.  Ed Marx said sometimes landowners are more comfortable dealing with the Land Trust than a government office.  Comments on the draft document should be referred to Monika soon, as the subcommittee will be meeting.

V    Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council

I    Resolution – Fernando deAragon took the resolution to Budget & Capital Committee.

VI    Tompkins County Planning Department

J    Report on Region 7 Committee:  NYS Open Space Conservation Plan – Katie Borgella said the 2002 Conservation Plan is being updated.  Priority projects are being voted on, and that prioritization will facilitate acquisition from willing property sellers.  She handed out maps of proposals and provided brief reviews.  If the review committee agrees on the priorities, extra credit points are awarded for purchase of land or conservation easements.  She noted local municipalities have veto power, and the plan has no regulatory aspects.  This process is just to identify key resources.  

K    Resolution:  Making a Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance in Relation to Resolution No. ___ of 2005
Moved by Mike, seconded by Nancy and adopted by unanimous vote.

L    Resolution:  Authorizing the County Administrator to Execute a Deed with the Town of Ithaca for the Sale of Tax Parcel No 24.-4-13, Located in the Town of Ithaca.
Moved by Mike, seconded by Nancy and adopted by unanimous vote.  Katie Borgella said during research on the parcel, a quit claim deed was located from 1966 with intent to transfer, but it was never filed with the County Clerk.

M    Affordable Housing Needs Assessment Consultant Update – Heather Filiberto reported on this Comp Plan action item by reviewing the steps taken to date and asking how much involvement PDEQ requests.  Mike moved to authorize the Planning Department to contract with the preferred consultant subject to approval by Kathy Luz Herrera.  Committee members would give Kathy any comments.  Seconded by Nancy and passed by unanimous vote.

O    Open Space Protection Fund Proposal – Ed Marx provided a memo on the proposal to use rollover funds and net proceeds from county sales of land for the purpose of open space protection.  This could be used for a matching funds program similar to the aquifer studies.  Due to lack of time, this will be discussed further next month.  

Items N and P were postponed due to lack of time.

VII    Committee Goals

Q    Goal:  “Examine ‘land banking’ to see if entities in the County have property set aside which is more than they can use.”
Valeria Coggin, Director of Assessment, provided information on current laws with the agenda.  She distributed a memo and list of properties in Tompkins County that are currently tax exempt.  She said she took the opportunity provided by the invitation to join PDEQ today to examine County policy.  The list represents $120,000 that could be collected if all of the listed properties were taxed.  She found a few discrepancies in her review, and owners are being notified about the need to complete their process.  She provided an example of a church that has subdivided some property and sold it for building lots.  Cornell University has a specific process established by the Board of Trustees.  Their Real Estate staff does an annual review and identifies property they want to sell.  She feels that land banking is not a big issue in our region.  Occasionally staff members check tax exempt property, and each parcel requires a tax exempt application.  There are different types of not-for-profit organizations, and exemptions range from mandatory to permissive.  Agriculture exemptions are a bigger issue locally, and the Assessment Department checks on ag property to ensure it is being used for ag purposes.  

Adjournment – the meeting was adjourned at 4:50 PM.  

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