| COUNTY POSTPONES VOTE ON THREE-YEAR ASSESSMENT CYCLE To give itself more time to study the possible fiscal consequences of changing from a one-year to a three-year assessment cycle, the Legislature postponed a final vote on the issue until January 17, 2006. At tonight's meeting, in an 8 to 7 vote of the lame-duck Legislature, the County Charter was amended to allow the Legislature to change the frequency of the assessment cycle by resolution. The Legislators then voted 11 to 4 to wait for another few weeks to make the final decision. The postponement will provide time to gather more information and also to allow for the official filing of the local law that will amend the Charter. Those voting in favor of the Charter change were: Dick Booth, Barbara Blanchard, Tim Joseph, Michael Lane, Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Frank Proto, Martha Robertson, and Greg Stevenson. Those opposed were: Kathy Luz Herrera, Dooley Kiefer, Michael Koplinka-Loehr, Peter Penniman, Nancy Schuler, Thomas Todd, and George Totman. Seven Legislators are leaving office at the end of this year to be replaced by their newly elected successors. Concerns for burdening the next Legislature with such an important issue did not prevail. APPROVALS LAUNCH EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT The Legislature approved several actions that formally launch the County's new Public Safety Communications System (PSCS). The Findings Statement that describes the environmental impact and any mitigations for the project was adopted, and the Legislature also authorized the County Administrator to sign a $13.2 million contract with the system vendor, Motorola, Inc. A separate contract with United Radio, Inc. for the paging portion of the project was also approved, as was authorization to go to public bid for construction of communications towers. The total cost of the project - including tower construction, end-user equipment, paging and mobile data systems, and consultants' fees - is estimated at $17.5 million. The PSCS is the countywide emergency radio system used by first responders. The current system, much of which is antiquated and in a state of progressive deterioration, will be replaced by new technology and new and/or rebuilt infrastructure. The capabilities, amount of coverage, and reliability of the emergency communications network will be vastly improved by the project. The ten-tower system will incorporate six existing tower sites where structures may be shared, reused, or rebuilt. Only four towers will be constructed at completely new sites, and none of the new towers will be over 200 feet tall or will require lighting. The County anticipates completion of the project by December 2006. Additional details are posted on the County's website at http://www.tompkins-co.org/pubinfo/pscs/. OTHER ACTIONS The Legislature approved: -- A resolution urging a ban on candy-flavored cigarettes, which are determined to be aimed at the youth market in possible violation of the Master Settlement Agreement reached in 1998 between a number of state attorneys general and the tobacco industry. -- A new flat-fee structure for private vehicles dropping off trash at the County Recycling and Solid Waste Center. The new system is intended to alleviate traffic congestion at the center as well as bring the County into compliance with state Weights and Measures regulations. The new fee structure, which is comparable to current fees, will start in March and will be preceded by an extensive public information campaign. -- Support for state legislation that would allow "net metering" for businesses and institutions that use solar panels to produce electricity. Net metering allows producers of renewable electricity to sell surpluses back to the utility company. -- Establishment of a permanent Air Service Board (ASB) to continue the work of the Air Services Task Force and its successor, the Air Service Committee. The ASB will be composed of a Legislator, a representative from Cornell University involved in air travel issues, the County Commissioner of Planning and Public Works, and four at-large community members with varied economic development, business, and airport user interests. |