Staff:     P. Messmer, J. Lampman, M. Harris, D. Gregrow, Highway Division; C. Nelson, Public Works Administration; E. Marx, Administration; R. Nicholas, Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport; B. Eckstrom, T. Richardson, Solid Waste

Guest: D. St.George, East Hill Flying Club, B. Steinkamp, Press

Called to Order

 Mr. Booth called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m.

1)Additions to/Deletions from Agenda

 Mr. Marx requested that an item be added respecting air quality at the Tompkins County Public Library as a result of the Cayuga Green Project.  This item will be added to the end of the agenda.

 Mr. Nicholas noted he will provide a brief report regarding the County's costs in hiring C&S Engineers for a particular project at the airport.

There were no deletions from the agenda.

2)  Chair's Report

 Mr. Booth reported that at a recent Air Service Task Force meeting a request was made to hold a joint meeting with the following committees - Facilities and Infrastructure, Planning, Development and Environmental Quality, and Budget and Capital Committees - to discuss the airport's financial situation, and the airport's contributions to economic development opportunities in Tompkins County.  He said the airport is presently in a challenging position due to US Air's financial difficulties.  Ms. Nelson will coordinate this meeting.

 Mr. Booth also notified Committee members that the Hillview Road Landfill Citizen's Advisory Committee proposed bylaws will be presented at a meeting in March because the requested changes were not yet completed.

3)  Persons Wishing to Address the Committee

 No persons wished to address the Committee.

4)  Minutes of February 10, 2004

 It was MOVED by Mr. Winch, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously approved to accept the minutes of February 10, 2004, as amended.

5)  Award of Bid - Operation of Household Hazardous Waste Management Facility - Solid Waste Division

RESOLUTION NO.     - AWARD OF BID - OPERATION OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY - SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

 MOVED by Mr. Winch, seconded by Ms. Kiefer.  Ms. Eckstrom provided the history of the household waste management program and stated that the bids came in far below the budgeted amount.  She said that the reuse program with Historic Ithaca and Clean Harbors Environmental Services is being amended to include household paint products; the Committee should see these revisions within the next month.

 Mr. Winch inquired whether a flat rate per pound was assessed for the processing charge.  Ms. Eckstrom explained that the bid was based on previous years' figures and was the best estimate possible.  Questions regarding Clean Harbors' transporting hazardous waste from other counties was addressed; it was explained that an addendum to the agreement  would be required to reflect any change.  Ms. Kiefer inquired why a hazardous waste day was not scheduled for May as it is a high-volume waste period for students leaving the area.  Ms. Eckstrom said that normally permanent residents of the County rather than students are the main participants.  It was noted that if an additional day were requested, it should fit into the budget as it presently exists.  Mr. Lane was pleased to learn that appointments were no longer required to dispose of household hazardous waste.

A voice vote by members present resulted in unanimously approving submission of the following resolution to the full Legislature for its approval:

WHEREAS, the Department of Finance – Division of Purchasing has duly advertised for a multi-year Request For Proposal (RFP) for operation of the Tompkins County Household Hazardous Waste Management Facility for the Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division, and
WHEREAS, two (2) RFP’s for the facility operations services were received and publicly opened on February 3, 2004, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Public Works Committee, That the RFP for Hazardous Waste Facility Operations for Tompkins County, be awarded to Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc., 14 Corporate Circle, East Syracuse, New York, for a three (3) year term,
RESOLVED, further, That the funds are available in the Solid Waste Management Division’s budget, account 8169.54442,
RESOLVED, further, That the County Contract Administrator be authorized to execute this contract.
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The award of bid is for the operation of the County Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility in an amount not to exceed the annual operating budget of $60,000 for 2004. The contractor shall be responsible to receive, categorize, test, package, store, load,and transport to the ultimate disposition site for all hazardous waste accepted at the County Facility. This contractor is the same contractor operating this facility since its opening in October 2000.

6) Authorizing Extension of Contract with Standard Parking for Management of the Public Parking Lots - Airport
 
RESOLUTION NO.       - AUTHORIZING EXTENSION OF CONTRACT WITH STANDARD PARKING FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC PARKING LOTS -  ITHACA TOMPKINS REGIONAL AIRPORT

 MOVED by Ms. Kiefer, seconded by Mr. Booth.  Mr. Nicholas reported he had spoken to the County Attorney regarding the extension of this contract as well as the contract for the café and gift shop at the airport, and Mr. Wood did not have any objections to these contract extensions.  Mr. Nicholas explained that due to losses over the past several years, combined with the current economic concerns, Standard Parking has offered to manage the service for a $1,000 per month management fee with the County absorbing costs for labor, telephone, electricity, etc.  When asked about limiting expenses when we are not managing the service and how these expenses would be controlled, Mr. Nicholas explained that the airport would build a cap within the contract, allowing a five percent increase from the current year's expenses and would require documentation to support the expenses.  Based upon this statement, the draft resolution was amended to reflect that the contract will contain these types of limitations.

A voice vote by members present to submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for its approval resulted as follows:  Ayes - 3 (Legislators Booth, Kiefer, and Totman); Noes - 1 (Legislator Winch); Excused - 1 (Legislator Schuler).

WHEREAS, APCOA, now doing business as Standard Parking, signed a contract for the period April 1, 1994, through March 31, 2004, to manage the public parking lots at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, and
      WHEREAS, the present airline climate and economic conditions do not make it particularly desirable to seek bids for a long-term contract or extend the present contract for a long period of time, and
      WHEREAS, Standard Parking is willing to extend its present contract by one year on slightly different terms until March 31, 2005, when the situation may be clearer, now therefore be it
      RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee, That the County Administrator be and hereby is authorized to sign a one year extension to the Standard Parking management contract at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport for the period April 1, 2004, until March 31, 2005, such contract to include the County's payment of a $1,000 per month management fee to Standard Parking and a cap on expenses based on 2003 expenditures, with the County responsible for paying expenditures and keeping profits.
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Note: With passenger enplanements at a 20-year low and uncertainty about airline service, this does not seem like a good time to seek proposals for a long-term contract to manage the airport parking lots. Standard Parking is willing to extend its present contract by one year, receiving a simple management fee of $ 1,000 per month with all costs paid by the airport and no profit sharing. This would be similar to the existing agreement we have with Aramark for the management of the Wanderlust Café/Gift Shop.  Hopefully, the situation will become clearer as the year goes on and we will be able to issue an RFP for a long-term contract.  This contract will include a 5% cap on expense increase and require documented justification for any increase.

Vote at Facilities and Infrastructure
Ayes - 3 (Legislators Booth, Kiefer, and Lane)
Noes - 1 (Legislator Winch)
Excused - 1 (Legislator Schuler)

7) Authorizing Extension of Contract With Aramark, Inc., For Management of the Wanderlust Café and Gift Shop - Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport

RESOLUTION NO.        - AUTHORIZING EXTENSION OF CONTRACT WITH ARAMARK,  INC., FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE WANDERLUST CAFÉ AND GIFT SHOP - ITHACA TOMPKINS REGIONAL AIRPORT

MOVED by Mr. Lane, seconded by Mr. Booth.  A brief discussion took place about the extension of the contract with Aramark, noting the reasons for the proposed extensions are very much the same  as the reasons for extending the contract with Standard Parking.  Mr. Nicholas said that prior to 9/11 the café operated at a profit; however, due to a decrease in enplanements the café has expereinced significant losses.  Ms. Kiefer inquired whether the café is used by employees throughout the industrial park and was informed that they do not normally utilize the café.  Committee members expressed a desired to include the same language specifying a cap on expenses as was present in the resolution dealing with Standard Parking.

A voice vote by members present to submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for its approval resulted as follows:  Ayes - 3 (Legislators Booth, Kiefer, and Totman); Noes - 1 (Legislator Winch); Excused - 1 (Legislator Schuler).  MOTION CARRIED.

      WHEREAS, ServRite Corporation of Etna, New York, now doing business as Aramark Inc., signed a contract for the period April 1, 1994, through March 31, 2004, to manage the café and gift shop in the passenger terminal building of the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, and
      WHEREAS, the present airline climate and economic conditions do not make it particularly desirable to seek bids for a long-term contract or extend the present contract for a long period of time, and
      WHEREAS, Aramark, Inc., is willing to extend its present contract by one year on slightly different terms until March 31, 2005, when the situation may be clearer, now therefore be it
      RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee, That the County Administrator be and hereby is authorized to sign a one year extension to the Aramark, Inc., management contract at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport for the period April 1, 2004, until March 31, 2005, such contract to include the County's payment of $1,000 per month management fee to Aramark, Inc, and a cap on expenses based on 2003 expenditures, with the County responsible for paying expenditures and keeping profits.
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Note: With passenger enplanements at a 20-year low and uncertainty about airline service, this does not seem like a good time to seek proposals for a long-term contract to manage the Wanderlust Café/Gift Shop. Aramark is prepared to have a year-to-year contract at their original management fee ($ 1,000 per month) until such times that the situation becomes clearer. The contract extension would remove the profit/loss sharing that existed in the original agreement.

8)  RESOLUTION NO.     - AUTHORIZING A PUBLIC HEARING – TRANSFER OF 'INNOVATIVE DYNAMICS' HANGAR LEASE TO EAST HILL FLYING CLUB AND APPROVAL OF A 20-YEAR EXTENSION OF SAID HANGAR LEASE WITH EAST HILL FLYING CLUB - ITHACA TOMPKINS REGIONAL AIRPORT

 MOVED by Mr. Lane, seconded by Mr. Winch.  The Committee was informed that transfer of this will would allow assignment of an existing lease to East Hill Flying Club.

A voice vote by members present resulted unanimously approving to submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for its approval:

WHEREAS, Innovative Dynamics, Inc., (IDI) wishes to sell its interest in a General Aviation (GA) maintenance hangar at the Ithaca-Tompkins Regional Airport to East Hill Flying Club (EHFC), and
WHEREAS, EHFC needs additional space for its expanding flight training activities and wishes to assume the lease now held by IDI, now therefore be it
      RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee, That a public hearing be held by the County Legislature on March 16, 2004, at 5:30 o’clock in the evening thereof at the Legislators’ Chambers of the Tompkins County Courthouse, 320 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, New York concerning the proposed lease transfer between Innovative Dynamics and East Hill Flying Club and the lease extension with East Hill Flying Club. At such time and place all persons interested in the subject matter will be heard concerning the same,
      RESOLVED, further, That the Clerk of the Legislature is hereby authorized and directed to place proper notice of said public hearing in the official newspaper of the County and to make available said proposed lease agreement and lease extension agreement to all persons interested in same, at the Legislators’ offices during normal business hours.
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9)  Authorizing Transfer of 'Innovative Dynamics' hangar Lease to East Hill Flying Club and Approval of a 20-Year Extension of Said Hangar Lease with East Hill Flying Club - Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport

RESOLUTION NO.    - AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF 'INNOVATIVE DYNAMICS' HANGAR LEASE TO EAST HILL FLYING CLUB AND APPROVAL OF A 20-YEAR EXTENSION OF SAID HANGAR LEASE WITH EAST
 HILL FLYING CLUB - ITHACA TOMPKINS REGIONAL AIRPORT

 MOVED by Mr. Winch, seconded by Ms. Kiefer.  When the question of whether the  twenty-two year length of the lease would affect the airport's Master Plan, the Committee was informed that the it would not because it is anticipated the hangar will be in use at that location in the foreseeable future.  Ms. Kiefer requested that the resolution be modified to indicate the future tense of the public hearing.  Committee members did not feel it necessary, and Ms. Kiefer indicated she would not support it due to grammatical differences.

A voice vote by members present resulted in a decision to submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for its approval resulted as follows:  Ayes - 3 (Legislators Booth, Totman, and Winch); Noes - 1 (Legislator Kiefer); Excused - 1 (Legislator Schuler).  MOTION CARRIED.

 WHEREAS, the County of Tompkins signed an agreement in 1986 with Alan R. Chaffee to lease land for the construction of a General Aviation (GA) maintenance hangar and said agreement is due to expire on December 31, 2006, and
 WHEREAS, with County approval, the hangar was sold and the lease agreement transferred to 'Innovative Dynamics, Inc.' (IDI) on April 1, 1996, and
 WHEREAS, IDI now wishes to sell its interest in the hangar to East Hill Flying Club (EHFC) and that said EHFC needs additional space for its expanding flight training activities, and
 WHEREAS, EHFC has requested a 20-year lease extension until December 31, 2026, to amortize the cost of acquiring the hangar, and
 WHEREAS, a public hearing was held before the County Legislature on March 6, 2004, when all persons interested in said lease transfer and lease extension will be heard concerning same, now therefore be it
 RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee, That the current lease agreement with IDI be transferred to EHFC on existing terms and conditions, that a 20-year lease extension from January 1, 2007 until December 31, 2026, using 2007 prevailing rates for improved and unimproved land including annual increases based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) until the end of the lease term, be approved and that the County Administrator be and hereby is authorized to sign said lease transfer agreement between IDI and EHFC and executed said lease extension with EHFC.
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NOTE:  This land was originally leased as "unimproved."  When the original lessee built his hangar he improved some 7,200 sq. ft. of the 11,200 sq. ft. leasehold.  With the end of the 20-year lease on December 31, 2006, this enables the County to charge the new lessee an "improved" rate for the 7,200 sq. ft. (double the unimproved rate).  Rates for both improved and unimproved are in keeping with industry standards for small airports and are tied to the Consumer Price Index to keep pace with inflation.  The current annual rental for the land is $2,801.12.  The new annual rental, using existing rates, would be $4,601.84.  However, that amount does not reflect the annual CPI increases that will accrue between now and 2007.

10) Independent Fee Estimate - C & S Engineers

Mr. Nicholas provided a written report that indicated C&S Engineers figures for work to be done at the airport for the obstruction project are less than the fee quoted by McFarland Johnson, a competitor.  Mr. Lane inquired whether the estimates were audited by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or other government entities and he was informed by Mr. Nicholas that copies of the documents are submitted to the FAA for their comparison and there exists a standardized fee schedule that is used in this type of work.  Mr. Marx said that the fees set may be the result of lobbying efforts by the companies being  reviewed by the FAA.  The Committee requested additional information on FAA's systems for tracking airport contracts be provided.

11)  Appropriation from Contingent Fund for Terminal Pay - Highway Division

RESOLUTION NO.  - APPROPRIATION FROM CONTINGENT FUND FOR TERMINAL PAY - HIGHWAY DIVISION

MOVED by Mr. Lane, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously approved by voice vote of members present, to submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for its approval:

 WHEREAS, the Highway Division had one employee, John Davis, Sign Mechanic, retire effective December 30, 2003, and
 WHEREAS, the Fiscal Policy of Tompkins County allows for terminal pay replacement from the Contingent Fund, now therefore be it
 RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Facilities and Infrastructure and the Budget and Capital Committees, That the Director of Finance is hereby authorized and directed to make the following budget appropriations:
FROM:  A1990.54440  Contingent Fund  $ 7,581.46
TO:  D3310.51000813 Salary - Sign Mechanic  $ 7,581.46
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 The Committee was told about two pieces of equipment the Highway Division wishes to purchase:  a live-bottom horizontal discharge tri-axle semi-trailer and a snow plow truck with spreader equipment.  Consensus was reached to approve seeking bids for these pieces of equipment.  The Committee requested that it be kept informed as the process takes place.  The semi-trailer is not available on State bid.

13)  Highway and Bridge Status Report

Members reviewed the Highway Projects Status Report and noted the following:

· Beach Road Bridge - it was reported that  Mr. Westmiller, Town of Newfield Highway Superintendent, stated he is awaiting a resolution from the County regarding the  ownership of the bridge.  The Committee is awaiting notification from the County Attorney of all parties' understandings prior to taking any further action in this matter.  It is anticipated that a resolution will be ready for the next Committee meeting.  Ms. Kiefer requested to see a copy of any communications with the Town of Newfield regarding  ownership of the bridge and requested that a written agreement be created respecting how the County's cost overage will be reimbursed to the County by the Town.

Ms. Schuler arrived at this time (2:57 p.m.).

· Red Mill Road Bridge - Ms. Kiefer requested a copy of the environmental impact and wetland assessments be provided to the Legislative office for review.  Mr. Lampman said that the cultural assessment indicated some old household relics, and no prehistoric evidence, and that no significant concerns have been identified.  He will be providing a copy of the assessment for review.  Mr. Lampman also indicated a meeting took place with the Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding information that should be forwarded to SHPO.  He further indicated that the DOT was not optimistic regarding the alternate alignment plan; however, DOT provided information to assist with that meeting.  Mr. Lampman said there is public opposition to having two bridges in the area.  Ms. Kiefer noted to the

14) Inter-Municipal Highway Services, Functional Classification, and Jurisdictional Issues

 Members of the Committee were provided with confidential working draft documents related to:  Proposed Functional Reclassification of Selected Town and County Highways; Highway Services - Consideration for Maximizing Cost Effectiveness; and Jurisdictional Realignment of Tompkins County Highway System.  Members were asked to review this information; it will be discussed the last meeting in March.  Mr. Messmer and Mr. Booth explained that because these are working documents the County Attorney has suggested they be kept confidential until finalized.

15)  Capital Payment Summary Sheets

 Members of the Committee reviewed the information provided.  It was again requested that future reports provide the dates covered by payments.

16)  Highway Division Realignment - Part B - Realignment Plan

   Mr. Messmer continued his PowerPoint presentation of the Highway Division Realignment Plan that included information on assignments, goals, and implementation.  In the summer the three teams will have dedicated staff and equipment; in the winter all will work on snow and ice control.  Mr. Winch expressed concerns that lower staffing levels may raise safety concerns.  Consensus of Committee members was that the Plan as presented, including the staff change reclassifying the Assistant Highway Manager position to one of Associate Civil Engineer, was acceptable. A copy of this presentation is attached to the original minutes on file in the Legislative Office.

17)  Tompkins County Public Library

 Mr. Marx, Deputy County Administrator and Commissioner of Planning, reported that fumes have been entering the library due to the construction at the Cayuga Green project.  He indicated this had been an area of concern to County officials when they reviewed the EIS for the project and that the County has installed charcoal filters to address this air quality problem; we will ask the City to reimburse this $2000 expense.  He will continue to update the Committee.

18)  Adjournment

 The regular meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
 

Respectfully submitted by Karen Fuller, Deputy Clerk, Tompkins County Legislature