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

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

and Rodriguez)

Legislators Richard Parete, David B. Donaldson and Manna Jo Greene offer the

following:

WHEREAS, Ulster County’s lease of the U&D Railroad Corridor with the

Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) expires on May 31, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Resolution 488 of 2015 required that the County issue an RFP

for continued tourist railroad operations after May 31, 2016; and

WHEREAS, the County has issued an RFP as required by Resolution 488

with a due date for replies of May 6, 2016; and

WHEREAS, under the time constraints of the RFP process it appears that a

new lease with the CMRR or another tourist railroad train operator may not be

finalized by June 1, 2016; and

WHEREAS, if an operator other than the CMRR is selected it may take

several months for that new operator to bring in its equipment and be able to startup

new tourist train service; and

WHEREAS, with nearly 40,000 people riding the railroad in 2015, and with

significant business revenue obtained by local restaurants, merchants, and

governmental sales tax collections, it is extremely important for the tourist railroad

to run continuously with no break in service due to the RFP process; and

WHEREAS, an extension would allow CMRR to plan 2016 Summer and

Polar Express events; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature, as representatives of the

people of Ulster County, request that the County enter into a short-term lease

extension with the Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) at existing terms, beyond

May 31, 2016, at a term which will expire when a new lease is signed with the

CMRR or when a new operator is able to commence tourist railroad operations,

and moves its adoption. 

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: NOES:

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

Transit on May 3, 2016

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

on _______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE