May 2023 Meeting Summary
Summary of COMIDA Meeting for May 16th, 2023Observed by Deborah Rice Gordon
This COMIDA meeting can viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCVrAXW1Rkw
Monitoring reports:
A local labor monitoring report was given by Kevin Loweke. In April, the residency of 870 workers was checked with 33 having a non-compliance issue. As of April 30st, all monitored sites were in compliance. The percentage of local laborers at the Amazon Manitou site was 72.3%.
A local labor exemptions report was discussed by Brian Lafountain. Five exemptions were driven by cost differential, a lack of local labor for specialized jobs and shortages of local labor in concrete framing and steel work. In the case of cost differentials, the significant differences in bids raised questions and a request for investigation.
The financial report for April was discussed. Cash is down $1.5 million from 2022 year end, which was expected due to a reduction of new project-related fees in 2023.
Project Application Reviews:
Requests for sales tax exemptions, recording tax exemptions and/or real property tax abatements were approved for the following projects:
- Clear Choice Building NY, LLC for the construction of corporate headquarters for Clear Choice Hearing Solution and Balance and Clear Choice Products at 130 Canal Landing Boulevard in Greece.
- DeMarte Companies, Inc. dba Maris Systems Design for the renovation of a building at 38 Turner Drive in Ogden to be used as a manufacturing facility for equipment and robotics.
- Rock Depot, LLC for construction of warehouse and office space at 37 Deep Rock Road in Gates. The primary tenant will be Rydex Logistics, LLC.
- Pittsford Canalside Properties for construction of a mixed use development on 7 acres along the Erie Canal in Pittsford. The site will include a 156 unit apartment complex, clubhouse, restaurant and public amenities such as canal access points and docks. Ten percent of the units will be for income restricted households making 60% or less of the median income for Rochester. A number of public comments on this project were received by COMIDA. The Pittsford Village Board of Trustees had sent a support letter prior to the public comment meeting but has since rescinded that support. COMIDA is not required to obtain the taxing district’s support. The motion to approve did not carry. The applicant requested the reasons for the rejection and stated they will not proceed with the project unless COMIDA approves their request. The Board will provide the reasons via email.
- Fairlife, a division of the Coca-Cola Company, would be the largest project in COMIDA’s history should it come before the Board. Fairlife is a lactose free or reduced, high protein milk product based on technology developed at Cornell University. The company opted to locate at 1900 Tebor Road in Webster rather than Pennsylvania, however the land has not been purchased yet. Access to fresh water was a factor in their decision. The Fast NY Capital Grant program will be leveraged to support infrastructure needs (i.e., new RG&E substations, transmission lines, etc.) to make the site shovel-ready. It has been suggested that COMIDA be the conduit for the grant dollars as the necessary infrastucture is built. Board discussion included the need to protect and grow local labor with a project labor agreement should the project come before COMIDA. Increasing construction labor is imperative considering the projects that will be underway in western New York.
- The workforce development program started with $2.5 million and the year-to-date balance is $2.7 million.