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