July 2024 Meeting Summary
Summary of COMIDA Meeting for July 16th, 2024Observed by Deborah Rice Gordon
This COMIDA meeting can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bj6DEaFzPI
Monitoring reports:
A local labor monitoring report was given. In June, the residency of 858 workers was checked with 22 having proof of residency issues. All workers were either compliant or off the job site on follow-up visits.
Troy Milne raised concerns about confirming compliance with the local labor exemption waivers. He cited examples where job sites had workers more than the number expected. Brian LaFountain described the exemption process in which the job is approved rather than a number of workers. Typically, the number of workers are not monitored after the waiver is granted outside of the local labor monitoring report. Mr. Milne called for process improvements for protecting the interests of local labor. This prompted a discussion about the challenges and some needed changes. A proposal was made by Norman Jones to table this discussion until a thorough investigation of the subject can be made.
Financial report:
Year to date revenue is higher at this point in the year as compared to 2023. Investments are doing well.
Project Application Reviews:
Requests for sales tax exemptions, recording tax exemptions and/or real property tax abatements were approved for the following project:
- 80 Lyndon, LLC for expansion of the Rochester Ice Center in Perinton. A third ice rink is planned.
- Indus Lehigh Station LLC for construction of a Marriott Suites hotel in Henrietta. The hotel has an agreement with RIT’s hospitality management program to provide students with training opportunities.
The following modification request was approved:
- Ultraphil, LLC for an increase in project costs and extension of their sales tax exemption through December 31st 2025 for their Sibley Square project in Rochester.
- The Raymond Corporation, a subsidiary of Toyota Corporation, for an increase in project costs and extension of their sales tax exemption through December 31st, 2025.
- 120 Marina Drive, LLC for an increase of their sales tax exemption through December 31, 2025.
- RIT for the revision of the pilot agreement to allow the sale of the Barnes and Noble location at Park Point in Henrietta.
- Ana Lis introduced James Senall, the President and CEO of NextCorps, which is a high-tech accelerator affiliated with the University of Rochester among other programs. NextCorps has requested a no-cost extension of a previous contract with COMIDA that supports workforce development. A motion to extend the contract to December 31st, 2024 passed.
- Patrick Gooch, a Senior Planner with Monroe County's Department of Planning and Development, discussed a request for up to an additional $150,000 to complete the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan. This project began in 2020 and the active transportation portion has been completed. Economic workforce development, community health and wellness, public safety, and infrastructure are being focused on soon. A motion to grant the request for additional funds was approved.
- COMIDA is working with WXXI to advertise workforce and business development programs.