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

Committee (Chairman Maloney and Legislators Berky, Delaune, Lapp, Litts, Maio

and Rodriguez)

Legislators Hector Rodriguez, Jennifer Schwartz Berky and James H. Delaune offer

the following:

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature, Ulster County Development

Corporation, Ulster County Industrial Development Agency and the Ulster County

Planning Board created a partnership that led to the development of a Sustainable

Economic Development Plan for Ulster County known as Ulster Tomorrow; and

WHEREAS, Ulster Tomorrow was a first of its kind effort in our community

to engage business leaders, developers, environmentalists, public officials and the

general public in a dialogue to advance all interests in the county; and

WHEREAS, Ulster Tomorrow engaged professional services and technical

expertise in economic development planning and professional facilitation to assist the

Steering Committee and the participants in reaching consensus; and

WHERAS, Ulster Tomorrow produced several detailed reports on key

economic sectors critical to the economic well-being of the County as identified by

the public engagement process as well as identifying emerging sectors of our

economy; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature recognized the importance of a

plan that provides a sound basis for implementation of economic development

strategies to coordinate the collective activities of the system and focus strategic

economic development efforts; and

WHEREAS, the plan met this challenge establishing a collaborative

framework to: advance new economic opportunities, improve living standards and

quality of life, provide greater opportunities for the workforce, build stronger

communities, and widen citizen participation as part of the policy discussion; and

WHEREAS, Ulster Tomorrow as seen as a living document and process that

would be updated often, with periodic updates and public participation sessions; and

WHEREAS, an Industry Targeting Analysis for the Ulster County Economic

Development Alliance prepared by Fairweather Consulting for UCEDA in November

2015 identified a continuation of the industry trends found in Ulster Tomorrow and

affirmed the need to target those industries; and 

WHEREAS, in April 2008 the Ulster County Legislature passed Resolution

119, adopting Ulster Tomorrow as part of Ulster County’s Comprehensive Plan;

now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature requests the County Executive to

update Ulster Tomorrow by reconvening the stakeholders in Ulster County; and, be it

further

RESOLVED, the Legislature requests to be a collaborative partner in this

process; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Legislature recognizing the need for public input and

professional expertise, requests the Executive to engage in a collaborative process

with the public/stakeholders to update the document and to utilize professional

facilitation to achieve this; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature requests the Executive to conduct

public information sessions and seek comments as needed or requested by individual

municipalities and report back to the Legislature, on the conduct of those sessions

and any comments received,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: NOES:

Postponed in the Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning, and Transit

Committee on March 1, 2016

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

on_______.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE