MINUTES
PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY COMMITTEE
(Tompkins County Legislature)
AUGUST 6, 2003 - 2 P.M.
HEYMAN CONFERENCE ROOM
Members Present: Kathy Luz Herrera, Dooley Kiefer, Mike Lane, Peter Penniman, Dan Winch
Staff Present: Fernando deAragon, ITCTC;
Kate Hackett, TCPD; Carrie Havey, TCPD; Joan Jurkowich, TCPD; Jackie Kippola,
TC Administration; Ed Marx, Commissioner, TCPD; Kathy Wilsea, Secretary,
TCPD
Guests: Theresa Alt, T C Living Wage
Coalition (LWC); Martha Armstrong, TC Area Development; Marjorie Baines,
LWC; Eric Dior, Marianne (visiting French journalist); Carl Feuer, LWC; Bernie
Fetterly, TC Health Care Task Force; J. Anthony Gaenslen, Attorney; Brian
Goodell, LWC; Pete Meyers, LWC; Todd Miller, US Geological Survey; Brian
Noteboom, Carpenters Local 281; Carolyn Peterson, Common Council, LWC
I Committee Administration
A Call to Order
Chair Mike Lane called the meeting to order at 2:00 PM.
B Agenda Changes
Kathy Herrera asked to add a resolution on Livable Wage Policy. Kate
Hackett asked to add a resolution on Intergovernmental Cooperation for Implementation
of Phase II Stormwater Regulations. Dooley asked to discuss a memo
she drafted on SEQR policy, which will be discussed at the end of the meeting
if time permits.
C Approval of Minutes
Draft minutes of 7/2/2003 were moved by Kathy, seconded by Dan. Changes
to the section regarding Ag & Farmland Protection Board had come to Kathy
Wilsea from Cooperative Extension staff, and were distributed. Following
brief discussion, it was decided to defer this action until the next meeting.
D Announcements
There were no announcements.
Addition to Agenda: Resolution: Livable Wage Policy
Kathy Herrera said this resolution will benefit our community and help educate
people about what a livable wage means. It is important for employers
to pay a wage that makes workers self- sufficient. She made a motion
to adopt the resolution, which was seconded by Dooley.
Dan said he can’t support this. He would prefer to see “consider” changed
to “encourage”. A livable wage policy excludes small businessmen and
start-ups who can’t meet this standard. The County has economic development
programs that encourage small businesses, but such businesses would not be
able to meet this standard. [Peter arrived 2:10.] Dooley said
she thought “consider” was a weak term that allows wiggle room. Mike
said there was time devoted to discussion of living wage last year in Economic
& Workforce Development Committee and in a subcommittee that worked with
the City of Ithaca. Many issues need further study, but some people
wanted policy established. He felt the resolution is a fine statement
of beliefs. Many County contract issues already exclude small businesses
& contractors from bidding. Peter said this is important on a regional
level. It is a separate concern that local employers are at a disadvantage
in the marketplace. Dooley suggested some changes to the second Resolved
clause. Kathy said amendment to “awarding bids or negotiating contracts”
was okay with her. One thing she likes is a legislator’s ability to
say, “This is important to me”. Mike said the County already takes
wage levels into consideration in some areas.
Amended resolution adopted by vote of 4:1 (Winch).
II Strategic Tourism Planning Board
E Oversight Committee Recommendations for Grants
Martha Armstrong distributed a monthly report for TCAD, which had missed
being mailed with the agenda. In response to a question from Mike,
she said the livable wage group at TCAD is an active group with good participation.
They are examining access to health care, but are still learning and then
might make recommendations. Next week they will have a speaker from
Wegmans about their business practices. Wegmans is ranked as one of
the top 10 companies in the United States to work for.
Martha reviewed the grant recommendation materials that were distributed
with the agenda, noting that this is the first year for the Tourism Capital
Grants program. The review committee examined six applications, four
of which were recommended for funding: Paleontological Research Institution,
Historic Ithaca, Sciencenter, and Hangar Theatre. They did not recommend
funding for a feasibility study on a trolley system for Ithaca Downtown Partnership
or a construction and planting project for the Ithaca Children’s Garden.
Regarding the multi-year funding, the review committee decided not to allocate
more than $40,000 into any future year.
F Resolution: Award of Tourism Capital Grants from Room Occupancy Tax Fund
The resolution was moved by Kathy and seconded by Peter. Peter said
he served on the review committee, and all of the projects were examined
for the tourism aspect of bringing people to the area. Last year he
had a vision of starting new ideas, but these established agencies have fairly
new and dynamic programs, and funding allows for expansion. Dan asked
if the contracts lock in future payments, and Martha said multi-year contracts
will be non-binding for future years, define intent, but do not guarantee
funds. Dan warned that this year’s action locks in about 50% of funding
for future years, and might bar support of exciting new programs. He
was interested in leaving room for startup attractions. Dooley shared
his concern about multi-year contracts, and felt it was not prudent to give
first call of future funds away.
Dooley noted that funds were intended for feasibility studies and she saw
no reason to hold back funds for later this year. She made a motion
to grant $7,000 to IDP for the feasibility study for a trolley that links
downtown and East Hill, and asked who the business partners might be.
Martha said IDP, Cornell University, and area businesses. Motion seconded
by Peter. Mike felt the trolley project was not feasible, and he disliked
going against the STPB recommendations. The grants they did recommend
are for agencies with proven track records. Dan expressed concern about
infrastructure and maintenance of a trolley, and Peter said some issues were
discussed but he doesn’t support it at this time either. Ed Marx said
from a tourism perspective, once a visitor gets here something that links
tourism destinations makes it more viable. It could be another type
of transit vehicle. He also commented on multi-year funding, saying
this program sought to make a bigger impact on major projects. Applicants
hate having the rules changed after the fact, and we need to make funding
committed from this grant reliable. Martha said the program provides
for annual review, and continued funding depends on performance and funding
availability.
Motion to amend failed by vote of 1 (Kiefer):4. Resolution as presented
passed 5:0. Martha distributed PRI Museum of the Earth “Named Giving
Opportunities”.
III Ithaca – Tompkins County Transportation Council
G Update
Fernando deAragon said the primary focus of ITCTC currently is to update
the Long Range Plan and have it finalized by December, 2004. The goals
and objectives are under review, and the schedule coordinates with the Planning
Department’s Comprehensive Plan efforts. The Long Range Plan will contain
a series of recommendations for action items and actual projects ITCTC considers
important, even if they are projects of other agencies.
Mike said PDEQ talked about trail development last week and projects that
are stuck. Fernando said trails have ownership and right-or-way issues.
He distributed some maps of trails in the County. Fernando said he
feels the Black Diamond Trail would be a tourist attraction, and there is
an opportunity to use the rights-of-way obtained for the new sewer lines
for trail overlay. We need local energy to make trail development happen.
The Catherine Valley trailed moved ahead of the Black Diamond trail for State
support because an individual championed it and secured the rights-of-way.
Fernando will contact the Chamber of Commerce, consider some future steps,
and let Mike know.
Discussion followed about suitability of trails for multiple uses, and Fernando
said most trails in urban areas are paved. The rural trails are usually
not paved, but suitable for non-motorized use. Peter said State brochures
do not suggest bike routes that go through the City of Ithaca. Ed said
the City is working on some bike routes and it is becoming a mayoral race
issue. Dan said these conflicts of uses are real. The State is
developing and managing trails in some forests, but snowmobile use can tear
them up and be especially damaging to vulnerable flora. Dooley reminded
members that the Environmental Management Council is reviewing trail impacts
on Unique Natural Areas. Joan Jurkowich offered support for Fernando’s
suggestion to approach the Chamber of Commerce about energizing local action.
Ed said many trails are being established on old railroad beds, and they
need minimum maintenance and can keep higher impact users off sensitive trails.
IV Aquifer Study
H Funding Scenarios
Kate Hackett said she and Carrie Havey, TCPD intern, were present to discuss
the needs assessments and provide update for Caroline and Dryden studies.
Todd Miller was also present from USGS to answer questions. Carrie
provided handouts and reviewed information about the 16 studies proposed.
Completion is expected to take 8 years for the Caroline study and 5 – 6 years
for the Dryden study. These have been undertaken by the Towns.
Peter and Kathy had questions on the draft groundwater protection ordinance.
Kate said this is for both private and public land, and Carrie said the ordinance
could be passed and groundwater protection zones designated before the studies
are completed. She recommended doing so due to the 20 year time period
it will take to complete the full set. Mike asked how Cortland funded
their aquifer studies, and Kate said the money came from a contamination
lawsuit settlement with Smith Corona.
There was discussion about scheduling the aquifer studies for the 16 study
areas, how priorities were established by the Water Resources Council, and
the possibility of municipalities sharing expenses. Dooley thinks it
is important to develop a formula for cost-sharing, including how much of
an aquifer is in which towns. Joan thinks as long as the County knows
its share, we could let the towns work out the rest. There is a question
of what to do if a town declines to participate. It was suggested to
use the WRC priorities and approach the towns with the highest priority ranking
and get feedback. Mike directed TCPD staff to approach Dryden regarding
the number one priority (Virgil Creek) and the other top priorities on the
WRC list for discussion.
Addition to Agenda: Resolution: Intergovernmental Cooperation for Implementation of Phase II Stormwater Regulations
Kate Hackett explained that there is grant money available for implementing
stormwater regulations in urbanized areas. In reviewing grant applications,
the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation is particularly looking for intermunicipal
efforts. She hopes to include resolutions from all of the municipalities
affected by the new regulations in the grant application, which is due 9/30.
Resolution moved by Kathy, seconded by Mike and passed 5:0.
V Planning Department
I Program Reconfiguration for Stop DWI Program
Ed Marx handed out two draft resolutions for a public hearing and program
reconfiguration, which involves changes to the County Charter. These
were drafted with assistance from Kathryn Smithers. Ed is checking
with Jonathan Wood regarding the necessity of designating a coordinator.
He reiterated information about administration money being available, the
rest of the funds going to agencies as recommended by the advisory committee,
and keeping the education / coordination aspects with John Beach on a contractual
basis. [Mike and Peter left at 4:10 PM.] Dooley said she feels
having TC Mental Health administer the program would be a better match.
She has discussed this with Bart DeLuca, who said TCMH could address addictive
behavior, although that is not linked with mental health in NYS programs.
Ed said TCMH might become a funding recipient. TC Planning Dept. is
neutral, and will never get program funds. Kathy said she sees the
benefits of putting this program with a neutral agency. She and Dan
agreed that the money needs to be put to work in the community. Dooley
said the Planning Department is stressed and it is a poor time to take on
a new program.
Action was deferred to September. Also deferred were the Planning Commissioner’s
Report and discussion on Dooley’s memo about SEQR policy.
VI Adjournment
It was noted that this committee needs to schedule budget discussions, and
Kathy Wilsea will contact Mike about setting that up. The meeting was
adjourned at 4:15 PM.