MINUTES
OTHERS: Budget Dept.: Kate Carrano, Dianne Vanadia, Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Kopenhaver, Diane Nolan; Finance: Peter Pucillo; CBAC: George Hosey; C.E.’s Office: Bill Randolph, Ingrid Bent, Larry Schwartz; Dept. of Correction: Robert L. Davis; Planning Dept.: Fran McLaughlin; Law Dept.: Jim Robertson, Daniella Infield; Schulman Realty Group: Tom Julius (President); BOL: Barbara Dodds, Chris Chang, Sally Schecter, Robert J. Boland, Tina Seckerson
Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 10:08 a.m.
DISCUSSION:
BUDGET MINUTES:
On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve the Budget Committee Minutes of February 7, 2000 was carried by a vote of 7-0.
5. Tax Distribution Acts: Forwarding the 2000 Tax Distribution Acts. (1/24/00)
· The proposed act fixes the tax distribution spreadsheets and determines the amounts of County taxes to be levied against the various towns and cities. Tax warrants for collections of taxes also included.
On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.
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4. Prisoner Transportation: Proposed legislation authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with the City of Mount Vernon to provide for the reimbursement of costs incurred by the City during the transportation of prisoners who have been arraigned from Mount Vernon to the Westchester County Jail. (1/24/00) (Also referred to PSCJ)
· Committee Report and Act were revised by the Law Department to reflect the proper cost of the contract. The original number stated ($368,000) was based on a three year contract, therefore the change was made to reflect $244,500.
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.
C) BOND ACTS:
1. RGC07: Authorizing the issuance of $1,000,000 – Hudson Hills Golf Course design. (1/24/00)
· Mr. Schwartz began by introducing Tom Julius, President, Schulman Realty Group, a well known developer in Westchester County. When Westchester County began the development of the RFP on Hudson Hills Mr. Schwartz stated that he felt it was important to bring in a number of people from the outside who had no vested interest in the golf course but had golf course experience to help provide solid advice on how the County proceed with both the construction and management of Hudson Hills. In that process the County Executive asked Tom along with a number of other outside people, who had golf course management, construction and banking experience, to help review the submitted proposals and give sound advice on going forward. Mr. Schwartz stated that Tom has been involved in the development of several prestigious golf courses, including Quaker Ridge in Westchester County as well as national golf courses.
· Mr. Schwartz stated that in 1999 the County Executive announced, based on the initial reviews of the responses to the RFP, that the County would go ahead rather than a private developer to construct and build Hudson Hills Golf Course.
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· According to Mr. Schwartz, when the previous Administration and the Board of Legislators approved building a sixth golf course what they had before them was a general schematic design. That layout was used as a way to get through the SEQRA process, to prepare the Negative Declaration and to be responsible to the host community of New Castle. A lot of the information that went into that schematic design was based on a patch quilt of information.
· According to Mr. Schwartz, he believes it is the County Executive’s goal and the Legislature’s goal to make sure that Hudson Hills becomes a great golfing experience for the golfers of Westchester County and make it into the best possible public golf course here in the area.
· Mr. Schwartz stated that they have been working on a supplemental contract. He further stated that it really goes into putting together the hard core detail of a contract, just at the final stages, with the architectural firm that was originally hired to design Hudson Hills, Cornish, Silva & Mungeam, Inc. The principle that has been at the point for that firm is Mark Mungeam. This firm comes with strong, municipal golf course experience.
· They have been putting together the details to put together a responsible bid document that will be environmentally and ecologically responsible.
· Mr. Schwartz stated that there will be a tree commission that will be formed in agreement with the Town of New Castle. There will be wetlands impacts that will be gone over again as well as a traffic study. One of the things they are trying to do is minimize any surprises when they get into the construction phases. He stated the way they will accomplish this is by doing their due diligence with the architectural and engineering firms that will be subccontracted to do the work.
· Since the County Executive announced that the County will build the golf course, Mr. Schwartz said that out of respect to the host community of New Castle they are involved with a number of other opportunities with them with respect to the golf course. He further stated that the Amsterdam Property adjacent to the Hudson Hills property and the Town of New Castle was interested in having the County taking a look at that estate to see if there was an opportunity to incorporate it into the Hudson Hills project as well as taking a look at a second piece of property, also adjacent to Hudson Hills called Anaville. Mr. Schwartz stated that he, Tom, representatives of New Castle, and Mark Mungeam went out there over the summer to do another site visit to the property. The result of that investigation and site tour was that use of both the Amsterdam and Anaville properties did not make any sense with regard to the future construction of the golf course.
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· Mr. Schwartz stated that they want to make sure that a majority of the subcontractors used by Cornish, Silva & Mungeam happen to be Westchester County contractors and that there is a MBE, WBE component to those subcontractors. In working with the architects they are investigating other possibilities that weren’t under the original design, such as a driving range. Under the original layout of the golf course there was not a driving range incorporated into the plans and whether or not the 150 acres will allow for a driving range is currently under discussion. The other thing under the original plan that was not contemplated was to have a major club house that would allow for catering facilities. Westchester hosts many golf outings and in order to try to make sure that we build the best public golf course, they want to see whether or not the footprint of the golf course would allow us to build, within budget, a club house/catering facility that would allow dinners to be held at the facility. It has been discussed with the Town of New Castle. They have an agreement that if a catering facility is ever to be established here, that it would not intrude on the quality of life of the surrounding residents with respect to nighttime activity, noise and/or traffic. If the Town of New Castle is willing to allow an expanded club house/catering facility at this site, the County would entertain a revenue sharing agreement on the profits from that facility. Mrs. LaMotte stated that the County should not be running businesses that compete with local merchants. The County has had a very close working relationship with New Castle.
· This $1,000,000 will provide funding for architectural and engineering services of Cornish, Silva & Mungeam. Mr. Schwartz stated that they believe the architectural and engineering services will run in the neighborhood of approximately $600,000. The $1 million figure was put in to anticipate some soft costs that may be incurred so they don’t have to come back a second time to the Legislature for an additional bond act.
· Mr. Julius stated that the cost per hole generally runs somewhere between $200,000-$225,000.
· According to Mr. Julius, when building a golf course, there are a lot unknowns that you might come across (i.e. underground streams, rock, etc.).
· Mr. Julius stated that Quaker Ridge Golf Course probably runs about 25,000 rounds of golf per year while County courses such as Dunwoodie are running 55,000 rounds of golf per year. Unlike most private courses the County is proposing to put in cart paths.
· Mr. Julius stated that he is on the Board of the Nature Conservancy and is very committed to making sure that this golf course will set a benchmark for environmentally responsible golf courses.
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· Some of the issues being considered are irrigation systems as well as fire protection and where the water will come from.
· The County is studying whether the golf course would be best served if it is operated by the County or a private contractor.
· Mr. Wishnie informed the Committee that Mr. Julius is a Westchester resident who is volunteering his time and expertise as a consultant for design to this project. Mr. Julius stated that the County has been very good to him.
· Appropriated $9 million for this project: Mr. Julius stated that he is confident that project can be delivered within this amount.
· The 19-11 lists $1,680,000 for design, architecture and engineering. Mr. Schwartz stated that they are confident that the $1 million requested will cover the costs. Committee requested a revised 19-11 for this project.
· Mr. Julius stated that they have purposely kept out of this contract, at this point in order to keep it expedited and focussed on the golf course, the additional costs of things such as architecture for the proposed club house, the starter’s booth, and the bridge.
· According to Mr. Julius, they anticipate putting a shovel in the ground the third quarter of this year, possibly the fourth. They expect it to go out to bid by the end of the second quarter. Traditionally it is a two year project to build a golf course, dependent upon the weather (2002 or 2003).
· Mr. Schwartz stated that this year the County is going to a soft spike policy which goes a long way to protecting the greens, asphalt, walkways, and cart paths. The rangers are going through a major new training program with regard to golf course etiquette. A lot of these little things could go a long way to protecting and preserving the golf course.
On motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Noto, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.
A&C CALENDAR:
Committee reviewed the February 17, 2000 A&C Calendar.
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Mr. Wishnie informed the Committee that he will have the have names of firms with regard to the appraisal today.
VACANCY REPORT:
Committee reviewed the February, 2000 Vacancies Report (On File).
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 11:25 a.m.