Minutes
Planning, Development & Environmental Quality Committee
Tompkins County Legislature
Regular Meeting
September 1, 2004    2:30 PM     Heyman Conference Room
Members Present:      Kathy Luz Herrera (chair), Dick Booth, Mike Lane, Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Frank Proto

Staff:            Katie Borgella, T C Planning; Heather Filiberto, T C Planning; Joan Jurkowich, T C Planning; Jackie Kippola, T C Administration;        Ed Marx, Planning Commissioner; Monika Roth, Cooperative Extension; Debbie Teeter, Cooperative Extension; Kathy Wilsea, T C Planning

Guests:        Martha Armstrong, Tompkins County Area Development; Fred Bonn, Convention & Visitors Bureau;Leslie Carrere, TCAD;
Jean McPheeters, T C Chamber of Commerce

I    Administration

A    Call to Order – Chair Kathy Luz Herrera called the meeting to order at 2:32 PM with Frank Proto and Leslyn McBean-Clairborne also present.

B    Changes to the Agenda – There were no changes to today’s agenda.  Kathy passed around information received from Cancer Action NY on a drive to eliminate backyard burning, which will be copied and sent to committee members.  This will be a future agenda item.

C    Approval of Minutes – The draft minutes were moved by Frank and seconded by Kathy.  [Dick Booth arrived at 2:35.]  The minutes were approved by vote of 4:0.

D    Announcements – There were no announcements.

E    Committee Goals – Discussion started with Frank briefly reviewing some of the individual goals.  He invited Planning Department comments on Snowmobile Grants as a future agenda item.  Dick suggested breaking goals into process, substantive, and implementation issues in future years.  Frank has heard that the NYS Comptroller’s office is doing a study of the IDA, and Martha Armstrong said they will forward copies to legislators when that is complete.  Frank expressed an interest in pursuing a County policy for defining and addressing inadequate performance of tax abatement recipients. 

Dick said he feels all advisory boards take up too much staff time / commitment.  Ed Marx said there previously was no support for changing staff work on advisory boards.  Kathy said an agenda item for later this year will be reviewing the Planning Commissioner / Deputy County Administrator job share. 

Frank suggested adding “land banking”, to examine if there are entities in the County that have property set aside which is more than they can use.  Dick suggested that every year the committee should have some examination of emergency preparedness and response planning.  

II    Planning Department

F    Commissioner’s Report – Ed Marx reported that the day after the last PDEQ meeting, staff met with Cornell University staff to begin discussion about CU active participation in implementation of the Comprehensive Plan.  They focused on specifics for CU, i.e., water supply from Fall Creek, housing, and transportation.  He hopes for significant collaboration and access to student and faculty resources.  They will meet again later in the year.  [Mike Lane arrived at 3:00 PM.]

G    Micro-Enterprise Program Follow-Up Discussion – Ed said he wanted to clarify that the loan average is expected to be around $15,000, and the loan cap will be $25,000.  He will send a memo to Legislators to clarify this.  Kathy said she got a call from Don Barber, Town of Caroline Supervisor, that was supportive of the proposed program.  Leslyn wanted to clarify that the City of Ithaca has a separate program.  Heather Filiberto said the Alternatives FCU training was originated for City microenterprise businesses, and the City has a program that uses HUD funds. 

H    County Role in Future Farmland Protection Efforts – Ed reviewed the status of the farmland protection grant in the Town of Lansing.  He sought opinions from committee members about what the County’s role should be in future grant applications and easements.  Currently the Ag & Farmland Protection Board is reviewing eight grant applications that are due October 1.  He noted farmland protection is usually at the County level, with AFPB and Ag District establishment.  He wondered if we need to develop a process for prioritizing on the County level.  Ed provided a handout of options discussed with AFPB, and pointed out consistency will best serve the community and applicants.  Monika Roth said the State scores each application individually, and scores include how well the application matches the municipal plan and if there is pressure to develop.  The application must include an AFPB letter of support, whether or not AFPB is the applying agency.  Establishing a County policy will be a future agenda item. 

III    Strategic Tourism Planning Board

I    Budget Review – Jackie Kippola and Fred Bonn provided a PowerPoint show that explained the source of the revenues and how they are spent.  As specified in the local legislation, a room tax of 3% is collected by all innkeepers and is expended on marketing programs.  Inns with more than ten rooms collect an additional 2% room tax which is used on products (grants to build, restore, polish).  Information was distributed on the proposed 2005 budget, which recommends release of $149,200 from reserve.  Tompkins County compares favorably with neighboring counties in terms of the success of our tourism development efforts.  Leslyn said she expects discussion during the budget process on using some of the room tax dollars for the airport.  Kathy said there are few places in the County budget with such high return on the investment and improvement to the quality of life.  Frank speculated that, since tourism increases traffic, perhaps some of the dollars could be used for roads.  Fred Bonn pointed out the room tax is on top of the basic 8 ¼% sales tax, so the County already gets 4% on room rentals to use for other purposes.

Mike Lane suggested having Jackie and Fred make the PowerPoint presentation to the full Legislature, and Kathy will recommend that to Tim Joseph.  Dick suggested including some dollar figures in the slides.

J    Recommendations for Program Change – STPB will have recommendations ready for the October PDEQ meeting.  PDEQ committee members also expect to review the resolutions for clarity and content.  Jean McPheeters said it is also time to renew the contract with the Chamber of Commerce.

IV    Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 4:21 PM.
 

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