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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-1994-02-23February 23, 1994 CONTINUATION OF FEBRUARY 2, 1994 COMMON COUNCIL MEETING 7:30 P.M. February 23, 1994 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols Alderpersons (10) - Mackesey, Shenk, Sams, Efroymson, Johnson, OTHERS PRESENT: City Clerk - Paolangeli City Attorney - Guttman Planning and Development Deputy Director - Sieverding PETITIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE COUNCIL: Mr. Guy Gerard spoke to Council voicing his concerns regarding creation of an Economic Development Zone. Mr. Clay Hamilton spoke in favor of submitting the application for creation of an Economic Development Zone. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: Authorization to Submit Economic Development Zone Application By Alderperson Mackesey: Seconded by Alderperson Thorpe WHEREAS, the Economic Development Zone program was created by the New York State Legislature to promote economic and human resource development in those areas of the state suffering from chronic high unemployment and poverty, and WHEREAS, the Economic Development Zone program provides for a number of financial and technical assistance programs designed to attract new businesses and stimulate the expansion of existing businesses and thereby create new jobs, and WHEREAS, the Economic Development Zone program, through its application and approval process, call for the coordinated effort of human service organizations, job training and placement agencies, local educational resources and local economic development organizations to increase the level of skill and educational attainment of residents of the proposed zone, and WHEREAS, the City, after having been notified by the State that it is eligible to apply for an Economic Development Zone focused on Census Tract 10, Block Groups 1, 2, and 3, has prepared, with the advice from a committee representing many of the organizations involved in economic and human resource development, an application outlining strategies it will employ through the Economic Development Zone Administration Board to stimulate the creation of new jobs targeted for zone residents, and WHEREAS, the Common Council has reviewed, and generally agrees with, the strategies discussed in the Economic Development and Human Resource Development sections of the application and will, to the extent feasible, support the implementation of those strategies; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Common Council authorizes the Mayor to submit the Economic Development Zones Program Application to the NYS Department of Economic Development. Planning and Development Director Sieverding reviewed the Economic Development Zone Plan and answered questions from Council members. Extensive discussion followed on the floor. Mayor Nichols suggested that if Alderpersons have wording changes they should be in touch with Deputy Planning Director Sieverding. February 23, 1994 Deputy Sieverding stated that he needs to have these changes before 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 25 as the application must be mailed on that date. A vote on the resolution for authorization to submit application resulted as follows: Ayes (9) - Thorpe, Shenk, Mackesey, Efroymson, Schroeder, Nay (1) - Booth Carried (9-1) A Local Law Authorizing the Mayor to Submit an Application for Designation of Certain Areas Within the City of Ithaca as an Economic Development Zone By Alderperson Schroeder: Seconded by Alderperson Johnson Local Law No.____ of the Year 1994 City of Ithaca A Local Law authorizing the Mayor to submit an application for designation of certain areas within the City of Ithaca as an Economic Development Zone. BE IT ENACTED by the City Council of the City of Ithaca as follows: Section 1. Section 961 of Article 18-B of the General Municipal Law has authorized applications by cities for designation as an Economic Development Zone within the meaning of said statute. Section 2. Such a designation could greatly benefit the City of Ithaca in that new businesses would be encouraged to locate in the zone area, existing businesses would be encouraged to expand in the zone area, and new and expanded businesses would generate new jobs for Ithaca residents, particularly residents of the zone. Section 3. The Mayor is hereby authorized to submit an application for designation of certain areas within the City of Ithaca as an Economic Development Zone. Section 4. The boundaries of said areas shall be as set forth in Schedule A which is attached hereto and made a part hereof. Section 5. Pursuant to the requirements of the aforesaid statute the City Controller shall serve as the City of Ithaca Economic Development Zone Certification Officer and shall perform the following duty, to wit: certify, jointly with the Commissioner of Commerce and the Commissioner of Labor, those business enterprises which are eligible to receive benefits referred to in section 966 of Article 18-B of the General Municipal Law. Section 6. Pursuant to the requirements of the aforesaid statute a local Economic Development Zone Administrative Board is hereby established to consist of 13 members to be appointed by the Mayor for terms of three years except that four of the original appointees shall be appointed to a one year term and five of the original appointees shall be appointed to a two year term and four of the original appointees shall be appointed for a term of three years. All subsequent new appointments and reappointments shall be for a term of three years. Unexpired terms shall be filled for duration of the unexpired term. The board shall be representative of local businesses, organized labor, community organizations, financial institutions, local educational institutions, and residents of the economic development zone. The Mayor shall designate one member of the board to serve as Chairperson of the board. The City of Ithaca February 23, 1994 Economic Development Zone Certification Officer shall not be a member of the board. The City of Ithaca Economic Development Zone Administrative Board shall perform the following duties, to wit: 1. Develop short-term goals for zone activities on an annual basis; 2. Prepare, or cause to be prepared, an annual report and submit copies to New York State Department of Audit and Control, Department of Taxation and Finance and Department of Economic Development and to the Ithaca City Council, on or before the first day of July next succeeding the year to which the report pertains, regarding economic development zone activities, including information which would allow for substantive review of the zone's strategies and progress of the zone in meeting its short-term objectives, and an analysis of the extent to which the long-term goals set forth in the economic development zone application have been met; 3. Undertake efforts to ensure meaningful participation by minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises in economic development zone activities; 4. Enter into agreements to participate in a business permit assistance program to be provided to applicants for business permits required by the state or the county or city for a business undertaking, project or activity in the economic development zone; 5. Enter into agreements with the commissioners of economic development, labor, and social services, local departments of social services, and local education agencies as defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section three thousand thirty-two of the education law, local community-based organizations, private employers, labor unions, the administrative entity and private industry council for the service delivery area established under the job training partnership act (P.L. 97-300, as amended) that includes the economic development zone, and any other person or state or federal agency for the purpose of establishing, implementing and coordinating job training programs for workers and businesses to be located in an economic development zone; provided however, that (A) any agreement to establish a job training program designed to meet the specific needs of a private employer shall require such employer to retain in its employ for not less than six months an employee who has satisfactorily completed a course of training for a particular job opening unless such employee voluntarily leaves such employment or is discharged for misconduct or other good cause; (B) any job training program established pursuant to this section shall make use of the community service division of the labor department as well as other sources for the purpose of recruitment; 6. In cooperation with local social services officials, establish a job training opportunities program sponsored by private employers in accordance with the provisions of section one hundred sixty-four-b or three hundred fifty-l of the social services law; 7. Enter into agreements with local departments of social services or community-based organizations to facilitate the provision of ancillary or enhanced social services, including licensed and certified child day care, in any such zone; 8. Ensure that job training programs meet standards of instructional quality established in regulations promulgated by the commissioner of education; 9. Organize or use the existing human resource development network within the zone, including a committee of representatives of human resource agencies and organizations serving the zone, organized labor and business representatives, to develop February 23, 1994 strategies and activities for improving the coordination and delivery of human services to residents of the zone and zone businesses; 10. Prepare and implement a small business development and assistance plan; 11. In conjunction with zone administrative entities, develop and implement a system for continuous monitoring and evaluation of zone performance at the local level consistent with the guidelines set forth in subdivisions (l) through (p) of section nine hundred fifty-nine of Article 18-B of the General Municipal Law; 12. Provide within the zone, or contract with a new or existing community-based local development corporation or entity to provide strategic economic development planning for the zone, marketing and promotion of the zone, assistance to companies in applying for available benefits, preparation of applications for financing assistance and other technical assistance services; coordination of the delivery of state and local programs within the zones; and operation of such other economic development assistance programs in furtherance of the economic development zone development plan as may be appropriate. Section 7. This local law shall take effect upon filing with the Secretary of State. Amending Resolution By Alderperson Schroeder: Seconded by Alderperson Hanna RESOLVED, That in Section 6, after the words "appointed by the Mayor", the words "with the consent of Common Council" be added. Carried Unanimously A vote on the Local Law as amended resulted as follows: Ayes (9) - Shenk, Mackesey, Johnson, Gray, Hanna, Schroeder, Sams, Thorpe, Efroymson Nay (1) - Booth Carried (9-1) ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Callista F. Paolangeli Benjamin Nichols City Clerk Mayor