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

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

Maloney)

Legislator Craig V. Lopez and Legislator Briggs 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 recommended 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 recommended for a gaming facility license; and

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

Terminals throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, the Nevele Grande Hotel and Country Club, located in the Town

of Wawarsing, desires to have Video Lottery Terminals placed at its site; and

WHEREAS, the siting of Video Lottery Terminals at this location will bring a

measure of the economic benefit expected by the recommendation for a full casino at

the Nevele Grande Hotel and Country Club, 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 Wawarsing supports gaming at

the Nevele Grande Hotel and Country Club and has unanimously adopted Resolution

#22-2014 on May 1, 2014 in furtherance thereof; and

WHEREAS, the placement of Video Lottery Terminals at this resort will

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

Wawarsing and Ulster County as a whole; and

WHEREAS, legislation is in process to include the Nevele Grande Hotel and

Country Club in any locations considered for Video Lottery Terminals; 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 Nevele Grande Hotel and Country Club

in the Town of Wawarsing; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature encourages the advancement

of legislation in the New York Legislature that would approve Video Lottery

Terminals at the Nevele Grande Hotel and Country Club; 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 Nevele Grande

Hotel and Country Club, in the Town of Wawarsing; 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 John Bonacic, and Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney, the Town of

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

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: NOES: 

Postponed in Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and

Transit on April 7, 2015

Postponed in Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and

Transit on May 5, 2015

No Action Taken in the Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and

Transit Committee on June 2, 2015

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

Transit on ________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE