Referred to: The Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit

Committee (Chairman Briggs and Legislators Allen, Archer, Bartels, Litts, Maio, and

Maloney)

Legislators Richard Parete and Kenneth Ronk offer the following:

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature is committed to encouraging

economic growth and promoting tourism in Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, New York State has recognized that legalized gaming can be an

economic engine and attract tourists to those areas where it is offered; and

WHEREAS, a five-member Resort Gaming Facility Location Board was

appointed by the New York State Gaming Commission to evaluate casino gaming

facility applications and ultimately award the five gaming licenses in New York

State; and

WHEREAS, three licenses were awarded in New York State; and

WHEREAS, by the passage of Resolution No. 154 on June 19, 2012 and

Resolution No. 44 passed on April 14, 2014 the Ulster County Legislature expressed

its unanimous support for the selection of the former Nevele Grande Hotel and

Country Club in the Town of Wawarsing as a recipient of a gaming facility license;

and

WHEREAS, on December 17, 2014 the Resort Gaming Facility Location

Board announced that the former Nevele Grande Hotel and Country Club would not

be a recipient of a gaming facility license; and

WHEREAS, New York State is considering different locations to place Video

Lottery Terminals throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, two resorts, the Hudson Valley Resort and the Pine Grove

Ranch, located in the Town of Rochester, desire having Video Lottery Terminals

placed at their locations; and

WHEREAS, the siting of Video Lottery Terminals at these two locations will

bring a measure of the economic benefit expected by the Nevele Resort and help

existing destination resorts stay competitive with the introduction of Las Vegas style

casinos being sited nearby; and

WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Rochester supports the

placement of Video Lottery Terminals at the Hudson Valley Resort and the Pine

Grove Ranch and has unanimously adopted Resolution #56-2013 on March 14, 2013

in furtherance thereof; and

WHEREAS, the placement of Video Lottery Terminals at these two resorts

will provide an opportunity for economic growth and increased tourism in the Town

of Rochester and Ulster County as a whole; and

WHEREAS, New York State Assemblymember Kevin Cahill has introduced

Assembly Bill A02196 to permit Ulster County to allow two destination resorts to

install Video Lottery Terminals, subject to a local resolution; and

WHEREAS, if New York State agrees to license Video Lottery Terminals at

resorts in Ulster County, an operating agreement between Ulster County and the

resort properties will be required with Ulster County receiving a minimum 10% share

of the resorts’ net revenue, minus the New York State share; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby supports the

placement of Video Lottery Terminals at the Hudson Valley Resort and the Pine

Grove Ranch in the Town of Rochester; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature supports Assembly Bill

A02196 introduced by Assemblymember Kevin Cahill and encourages a companion

bill be introduced in the New York State Senate; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature requests that the New York

State Division of the Lottery place Video Lottery Terminals at the Hudson Valley

Resort and the Pine Grove Ranch in the Town of Rochester; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall forward

copies of this resolution to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader

Dean Skelos, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, New York State

Senator James L. Seward, and Assemblyman Kevin A. Cahill, the Town of Rochester

Town Board, and the New York State Division of the Lottery,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: 20 NOES: 3

(Noes: Legislators Briggs, Gregorius, and Lopez)

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and

Transit on March 11, 2015

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE

STATE OF NEW YORK

 ss:

COUNTY OF ULSTER

I, the undersigned Clerk of the Legislature of the County of Ulster, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is

the original resolution adopted by the Ulster County Legislature on the 17th Day of March in the year Two Thousand and

Fifteen, and said resolution shall remain on file in the office of said clerk.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the County of Ulster this 20th Day of March

in the year Two Thousand and Fifteen.

|s| Victoria A. Fabella

Victoria A. Fabella, Clerk

Ulster County Legislature