Archive: News

Legislature Closes Out Redistricting Process
The Legislature brought to a close the more than year-long process of reapportioning County legislative districts based on the 2010 Census, by taking formal action expressing appreciation to and disbanding the County’s Independent Redistricting Commission.  The resolution was approved without dissent, with Legislators Carol Chock, Kathy Luz Herrera, and Nathan Shinagawa excused. 

Through its action, the Legislature expressed “its deepest gratitude to the members of the Independent Redistricting Commission for its diligence, thoroughness, and comprehensive recommendations in providing an independent and non-partisan effort,” and it also thanked Information Technology Services Director Greg Potter and his staff for their professional information and expertise in support of the Commission, which made it possible for the redistricting process to move forward within the timeline requested.

The Legislature notes that the Legislature, in establishing the Independent Redistricting Commission and adopting its recommendation, has set a standard that more counties and the State Legislature should recognize and emulate.”

Development Focus Areas and Conservation Strategies Endorsed
After hearing presentations from representatives of the Tompkins County Planning Department, the Legislature endorsed two related planning documents:  the Tompkins County Development Focus Areas Strategy and Tompkins County Conservation Strategy, both studies prepared by the Planning Department consistent with the principles of the Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan after soliciting input from municipal officials and the public.

The Development Focus Areas Strategies recommends nodes where mixed use, walkable, compact development could be encouraged, also serving to preserve the county’s rural areas.  The Conservation Strategy builds upon the County’s Conservation Plan and Agriculture Resource Focus Areas Plan, proposing an integrated approach to resource protection by identifying critical action to conserve resources.

The Development Focus Areas and Conservation Strategies were both approved by votes of 8-4, Legislators Brian Robison, Dave McKenna, Frank Proto, and Mike Lane voting no in each case (Legislators Carol Chock, Kathy Luz Herrera, and Nathan Shinagawa were excused.)

While praising the work product the studies represent, Legislator Lane expressed concern said the County to be careful about unintentionally encroaching upon the land use authority of local municipalities.  Planning Commissioner Ed Marx stressed that there is nothing new in the strategy documents, that the strategies represent voluntary guidance to communities and amount to a “fleshing out” of the County Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2004.  He said, the County is a partner of communities that wish to be partners in the effort.

Legislator Pam Mackesey noted that the plans provide a valuable framework for a recommended strategy that addresses “big picture” tools for recommended development extending into the future.

Environmental Health Permitting System Approved
The Legislature, without dissent, amended the County’s Capital Program and appropriated more than $285,000 in rollover funds from the Health Department to support purchase and implementation of an Environmental Health Permit Management System for the Tompkins County Health Department.  (Legislators Carol Chock, Kathy Luz Herrera, and Nathan Shinagawa voted were excused.)  The online data management system is being instituted to improve the efficiency of collecting, managing, and documenting permit data, field inspections, and financial transactions related to the health permitting process.  The new permitting system, which may also be able to be applied to other departments and agencies, was also mentioned as part of the County’s 2013 budget process.

Among other actions, the Legislature

• Authorized use of up to $70,000 from the Highway Fund Balance to assist with completion of an erosion mitigation and stream stabilization project on Banks Road in the Town of Caroline near the County’s Banks Road bridge in the Town of Caroline, addressing conditions that led to damage during last year’s floods following Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.  It is expected the funds will eventually be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
• Appropriated $22,500 from the Contingent Fund to upgrade the County’s financial system application software.
• Heard a summary of the Independent Living Survey of homeless youth in Tompkins County, conducted in partnership with the County Youth Services Department, from Dale Schumacher and Patrick Doty of the Learning Web.

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