Will NCCC Approving Over $100K For This Service Tonight When Newark's Costs Almost Nothing?

Reposted from the Delaware Way blog - Newark Pays Almost Nothing For Live Broadcasting And Archiving Meetings. Why Is NCCC Approving Over $100K For This Service Tonight?

                

As New Castle County Council is definitely going forward tonight with a veto override to reinstate their aide's pay raises (see chart below), I have asked that they at least try to keep Council expenditures under control by rejecting the three contracts on agenda today for  live-broadcasting and archiving their meetings and revisiting how to implement their goal.

Check it out HERE for yourself: R20-056; R20-057; and R20-058.

The City of Newark tells me they paid NOTHING for their live-broadcast and archive set up as they had sought and received a $30K plus grant of which over $20K remains (details in my email to council posted below.)

There is simply no justification for our county council to move forward with contracts for over $100K for this service. At that price, I have dubbed this their vanity project.

Here is the email I sent to Council today, delivered under my Civic League for New Castle County President hat.

From Nancy Willing

To:Dave Carter,Nancy Willing,The Civic League for New Castle County
Cc:George Smiley,Dee Durham,Jea Street,David Tackett,Kenneth Woods,Penrose Hollins,Karen Hartley-Nagle,Timothy Sheldon,Janet Kilpatrick,John Cartier,James Bell,Elisa Diller,Nellie Hill,jgravell@newark.de.gov,B. Shotwell

Hi Dave,  

I have been very concerned about the cost to New Castle County residents RE: your plans for implementing Live Broadcast and Archive of council meetings. I had asked you several times if you had looked at how other municipalities and counties were conducting their broadcast and archiving of meetings. I specifically referenced Newark which I knew to be an installed camera which staff turned on and off and a contracted video service platform to live broadcast which was then archived. 

At the February CLNCC meeting you insisted that you had checked and that your numbers were in line with what was being done elsewhere for this service. That conversation is on our audio recording if you wished to refresh your memory, CLNCC Secretary Barry Shotwell can make a CD available to you. 

I obtained some information yesterday from the City of Newark's Communication Dept. via Jamie Gravell. She said Newark wrote a grant and in 2018 or so, was awarded around $31,500 thousand for live-broadcasting set up, training and related expenses. A camera was purchased and installed in the back of the room but later was determined to be too far from members and relocated. The background murals were also relocated to the back of the chamber to provide improved visibility. City residents are very happy with this arrangement.
From these grant funds, Newark had paid for the equipment, training, and installation. Gravell didn't think their platform was expensive (I guessed it to be a few hundred dollars a year) as they conduct the broadcasting through Vimeo. Newark still has well over $20 in reserve from their original grant and will apply it down the road for replacement cameras, etc.. 

Still using the grant, the city recently re-installed the camera in a side angle and added a complimentary camera on the other side of the chamber and out-fitted a second floor room with editing equipment for future use of the material in PDAs etc.. 

I sincerely wish that you would have discovered exactly how much of county tax dollars you could have saved if you had investigated the City of Newark expenditures as recommended. 

I remain shocked at the dollar figures I am seeing in the contracts before council this evening as it amounts to well over $100 thousand dollars in the first year. I would hope council would reject the three contracts on the agenda for today's Finance Committee and Council meeting as this massive outlay cannot be justified. 

Council is poised to override a veto of council pay tonight at what appears to be an extraordinary expense. 

Does Council really want to pile on with an extraordinarily expensive outlay for broadcasting and archiving? 

I hope some tax payer consideration is kept in mind tonight and a different avenue for implementing this service is pursued. 

Nancy
Nancy Willing, President, CLNCC  302-294-1939 

I have copied Ms. Gravell here and Mr. Shotwell in case someone would like to speak directly with them regarding the subjects at hand.

Additional news items:

• Updated: NCC Council Posts March 3rd For March 10, 2020 Meeting Agenda Without Providing Links To Their Costly Live Broadcasting Contracts
• Veto showdown | Kilpatrick believes pay raises for New Castle County Council employees could withstand legal challenge 
• Classified vs Unclassified Employees: Definition 
• Despite Meyer's veto, New Castle County legislative aides expected to see big raises 
• Expert does not see separation of power issue in New Castle County Council staff pay conflict 
• 'A bad use of the public trust': Meyer vetoes proposed pay hike for New Castle County Council staffers; council poised to override him 
• County Executive Matt Meyer Vetos NCCo Council Staff Pay Raises

CLNCC Meeting With Speaker: NCC Council 12th District Candidate Kevin Caneco, 7PM February 18th In Christiana

February 2020 Meeting Notice

CIVIC LEAGUE FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY

7:00 – 9:00 pm Tuesday, February 18th

Christiana Presbyterian Church
15 N. Old Baltimore Pike, Christiana, DE 19702

NCC Council District 12 primary candidate Kevin Caneco joins us as guest speaker to discuss the NCC Land Use process and ideas on how to improve it [facebook campaign site: Kevin Caneco around the 12th]. Back in January, Kevin wrote this wake up call about a Bayberry land application bait and switch:

Business as usual needs to change in this county. The long awaited Bayberry Town Center plan of soccer fields and a walkable town center atmosphere has been scrapped for 140 new townhomes, a proposed fast food joint and another strip mall. This is an egregious breach of trust done with no community input. I call on members of the Council to oppose this revised plan. It’s time for this nonsense to stop.

*NOTE: this plan's NCC Planning Board public hearing is March 3rd (see meeting information below)  

Support NCC Ord. 19-120 And A More Transparent Land Use Process for New Castle County Government

(Ken Garver image)

(DelCOG) John Flaherty writes ~ Let me know what you think about the proposed New Castle County Council Ordinance 19-120; 
Email Flaherty at jdf000000@gmail.com and ask to add your name to this support letter !

New Castle County Councilperson David Carter is planning on advocating for a proposed New Castle County Ordinance that deals with government transparency and openness 

Monthly Meeting Notice - DE Common Interest Community Ombudsperson - 7PM January 21st In Christiana

January 2020 Meeting Notice

CIVIC LEAGUE FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY

7:00 – 9:00 pm Tuesday, January 21st

Christiana Presbyterian Church

15 N. Old Baltimore Pike, Christiana, DE 19702

The Civic League for New Castle County welcomes Delaware's Common Interest Community Ombudsperson, Chris Curtin, as our guest speaker at our January 21st meeting in Christiana.

Information below about the office was provided by the Brookland Terrace Civic Club's Chuck Stirk who is the CLNCC's representative on the Common Interest Community Advisory Council  ~

Join The Petition Against Extreme Waiver Requests For “Harmony Of Glasgow” Senior Living Facility

Re-posting from the Civic League for New Castle County facebook page ~

Attention Old County Road Community!

Please Put Your Thoughts on the Record About the “Harmony of Glasgow” Senior Living Facility Petition and New Castle County Adjustment Board Meeting 

1. Sign the Petition 

2. Attend the New Castle County Board of Adjustment Meeting
Smith/Packett’s request for suburban code variances will be reviewed and put to a vote in a meeting of the New Castle County Board of Adjustment at 6:00pm on Thursday November, 21st (at The Department of Land Use conference room, NCC Government Center, 87 Reads Way New Castle, Delaware 19720). 

At this meeting Smith/Packett will be requesting that the board approve its plans to build a structure that is:

--- 32% in excess of the New Castle county UDC suburban code limits for maximum building height 

--- 120% in excess of the UDC suburban limits for net floor area ratio 

--- and 157% in excess of the UDC suburban limits for gross floor area ratio 

CLNCC Meeting With Rep. Kowalko On DE Inspector General - 7PM November 19th In Christiana

CLNCC Monthly Meeting

7 - 9 p.m. Tuesday, November 19th

Christiana Presbyterian Church

15 N. Old Baltimore Pike, Christiana, DE 19702

AGENDA

MONTHLY MEETING

Speaker: State Rep. John Kowalko on the proposal for a Delaware Inspector General given his experiences at Legislative Hall, especially with the Paradee family conflict of interest surrounding Delaware Turf as a dedicated recipient of a Kent County lodging tax.

Delawareans need an independent Inspector General to look after the citizen’s interests. DelCOG President, Nick Wasileski gave a power point presentation on the need for an IG  at the Civic League meeting in October.

Delaware Environmental Summit - 9-2 Saturday, October 26th At Widener (RSVP)

The Civic League for New Castle County is a proud sponsor! ~

 Delaware Environmental Summit

9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, October 26th

Widener University Delaware Law School

4601 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803

REGISTER HERE

The Delaware Environmental Summit Is BACK! Join Environmentalists from across the state to discuss the ways we can all work together.

Join us to learn about Delaware’s environmental campaigns, future priorities, and how you can become involved. The Delaware Environmental Summit is a tradition in Delaware that focuses on the campaigns and issues of importance on the state and local policy scene. The Summit has not been held for 5 years, so this year’s will be a special gathering to re-engage our community and find paths to reach our goals to improve our environment, enhance conservation, and strengthen environmental health.

At the summit you can:

• Meet environmentalists from throughout the state
• Learn about the current priorities and programs of the state’s leading environmental groups
• Discover how to join a campaign to improve the environment
• Share your ideas with like-minded people

Our Keynote Speaker will be the marvelous Professor Ken Kristl. He will be discussing Delaware’s Coastal Zone Act and what recent changes to the Act mean for pollution, conservation and fenceline communities.

Participating organizations include Delaware Audubon Society, Delaware Sierra Club, Delaware Coalition for Open Government, Interfaith Power and Light, Plastic Free Delaware, League of Women Voters of Delaware, and Delaware PTA. These organizations will be discussing a range of energy and environmental matters, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, emissions reductions, pollution reduction, reductions in lead poisoning, and a proposal for an inspector general for Delaware.

To help us keep this gathering as sustainable as possible, we ask everyone to please bring their own coffee cup. Coffee, refreshments, and lunch will be provided. Registration is free.

CLNCC Monthly Meeting - Are You Ready For A DE Inspector General? - 7PM Tuesday, October 15th In Christiana

CLNCC Monthly Meeting

7:00 - 9:00 pm Tuesday, October 15th

Christiana Presbyterian Church

15 N. Old Baltimore Pike, Christiana, DE 19702

If you've ever thought that Delawareans need an independent Inspector General to look after the citizen's interests, DelCOG has been working on developing new legislation to this end. 

DelCOG President, Nick Wasileski, will be giving a power point presentation about it at the Civic League meeting on Tuesday night.

And starting in October, the CLNCC will be engaged in discussion and voting on a variety of state legislative initiatives for the purpose of lobbying during the last year of the 150th General Assembly. 

Members are encouraged to bring bills to our attention by attending League meetings or writing to Nancy Willing at president@civicleagueforncc.org.

Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Regulations Approved By Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board

DNREC announces finalized Coastal Zone Conversion Permit regulations, which become effective Sept. 11

Final amendments to the Regulations Governing Delaware’s Coastal Zone, approved Aug. 26 by the Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board (CZICB), have been published in the September Register of Regulations and become effective Sept. 11, 2019, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin announced today. 

HB190, signed into law by Governor John Carney on Aug. 2, 2017, authorized the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) to issue permits for construction and operation of new heavy industry uses at 14 existing heavy industry use sites within the state’s Coastal Zone. Like standard Coastal Zone permits, conversion permits require an assessment of the environmental and economic impacts of the proposed conversion. 

To begin the process of developing regulations, DNREC Secretary Garvin convened a Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC), comprising various stakeholder groups and chaired by retired Delaware Supreme Court Justice Randy Holland. The committee provided recommendations on a number of issues, including a Sea Level Rise and Coastal Storms Plan, an Environmental Remediation and Stabilization Plan, and evidence of financial assurance. DNREC then held public workshops to gather input on developing regulations for issuing permits. 

The committee’s work and recommendations were presented at open houses, where public comments were received. Comments also were submitted to DNREC during a public comment period. The Secretary’s draft regulations and amendments were also presented to the CZICB for approval, as mandated by the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act. 

“From the start of the process, DNREC has been committed to developing the regulations governing Delaware’s Coastal Zone Act Conversion Permit, consistent with the law, in a transparent manner that facilitated and encouraged public input and involvement,” Secretary Garvin said. “The new regulations incorporate recommendations from the RAC, technical experts, and the public that were received throughout the process.” 

The regulations provide for Coastal Zone Conversion Permits to return industrial sites to active or more productive use while ensuring the protection of natural resources. 

The new Regulations Governing Delaware’s Coastal Zone can be found online at Delaware’s Register of Regulations.

CLNCC Meeting On The Environment - 7PM Tuesday, September 17th In Christiana

CLNCC Monthly Meeting

7:00 - 9:00 pm Tuesday, September 17th

Christiana Presbyterian Church

15 N. Old Baltimore Pike, Christiana, DE 19702

For our September meeting, the CLNCC will be focusing on Environmental Issues. 

Our featured speaker is Sierra Club's Dustyn Thompson to talk about the state's Renewable Energy Portfolio. 

And the Civic League's subject matter experts will give updates on pending regional environment-related legislation and regulations, DNREC permits, state and county level hearings and committee meetings, 

For October -

Starting in October, the CLNCC will be engaged in discussion and voting on a variety of state legislative initiatives for the purpose of lobbying during the last year of the 150th General Assembly. 

Members are encouraged to bring bills to our attention by attending League meetings or writing to Nancy Willing at president@civicleagueforncc.org.

And if you've ever thought about Delaware's need for an Inspector General, DelCOG has been working on developing new legislation to this end. 

CLNCC Board member and DelCOG President, Nick Wasileski, will be giving a power point presentation about it at the October meeting of the Civic League for New Castle County.

Stay tuned!

Joint Hearing On Coastal Zone Regs, 6PM June 24th; Public Comment Through July 9th

(Delaware Bay, Jerry Hull image)

Public Hearing: Coastal Zone Regulations,

DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal, and Energy

In accordance with the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board will jointly conduct a public hearing on the proposed amendments to the Regulations Governing Delaware’s Coastal Zone, 7 DE Admin. Code 101. 

The public hearing will be held June 24, 2019 at 6:00 P.M. at the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control office at 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720. 

If you wish to comment on the proposed amendments, you may do so orally or in writing at the public hearing. The hearing record will remain open for receipt of comments through close of business on July 9, 2019. Written comments may also be submitted to Lisa Vest via USPS or email at:Lisa VestRegulatory SpecialistDNREC – Office of the Secretary89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901lisa.vest@delaware.gov 

Commenters should be specific and should include references to relevant parts of the regulations. 

The proposed amendments are published in the June 2019 Register of Regulations. 

June 2019 Register of RegulationsPDF Version of the June 2019 RegisterText Version of the June 2019 Register

Bill Dunn wrote in May:

At last night's Civic League meeting I briefly discussed the Final Report that has been released from the Delaware Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee (the RAC) as to "Recommended" regulations that should be put forward to the DNREC Secretary regarding the redevelopment of 14 Industrial sites. These long-time protected and environmentally-problematic sites will be divided and could accommodate DOZENS of industrial chemical processes. Here's a few words that DO NOT appear in the body of the report; "Safety", "Interlock(s)", "System" or "Emergency"!!!

CZCPA Regulations: Tentative Timeline for Promulgation (2019)

May 10----------Submit regulations to DNREC Registrar 

May 30----------Submit notice of public hearing to newspapers 

June 24---------Public Hearing  

July 9------------Public Comment Period closes; DNREC prepares technical response memo and makes changes to the regulation in response to comments; DNREC Regulatory Specialist prepares a Hearing Officer’s Report with a recommendation to the Secretary; Secretary drafts an Order with decision on regulations; final regulations submitted to DNREC Registrar 

September 15------Deadline for DNREC Registrar to submit final regulations to State Registrar 

October 1------------Publication in the Register of Regulations

In the News: 

We need a better way to write Coastal Zone Act rules 

Let community experts into Coastal Zone Act process: Delaware Voices  

Coastal Zone reforms are on the way 

New Coastal Zone rules clarify conditions for potential new industry 

Carney signs Coastal Zone Act reform bill 

Updated: CLNCC: June Annual Meeting With Speaker, NCC Councilwoman Dee Durham - 7PM Tuesday, June

Update: 

The June slates for election of Directors and Officers were approved unanimously.

A follow up on Charlie Weymouth's presentation can be found at this link: With Problematic Traffic Study In Hand, Barley Mill Plaza Owner Tries For Ten Variances, 6PM Tonight At The New Castle County Board Of Adjustment 

CLNCC Annual Meeting

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Tuesday, June 18th

Christiana Presbyterian Church

15 N. Old Baltimore Pike Christiana, DE 19702

June, 18 2019 is our CLNCC Annual Meeting. We will conduct business of the organization with the Election of Directors and Officers for the coming year. 

Our guest speaker will be New Castle County Councilwoman Dee Durham.  

Please remember to bring your dues ($25)! You can also pay online HERE 

Agenda

Guest Speaker:  NCC Councilwoman Dee Durham 

Secretary’s Report 

Treasurer’s Report 

Vice Presidents Report 

President’s Report

Charlie Weymouth presentation on Barley Mill Plaza: 

NCC Board of Adjustment -  Problematic  Site Variance Requests on agenda for June 29th; Problematic Traffic Impact Scope Document; Possible first use of controversial Ord. 19-005 TIS Waiver Request with its newly reduced standards.

Election of 2019 – 2020 Directors and Officers: 

Officers Slate for 2019-2020 

Nancy Willing - President  

Scot Sauer - Treasurer  

Barry Shotwell - Secretary  

Bill Dunn - 1st VP 

Chuck Stirk - 2nd VP  

Board Directors Slate for 2019-2020 

Vic Singer  

Donnie Shankie  

Barry Shotwell  

Marion Stewart  

Chuck Stirk 

New Business 

Adjourn 

Updated: NCC Council Ord. 19-005; Council's REPEAL Of Concurrency Should Alarm Everyone

 (Jakim Mohammed image, Thank You for your activism!)

Update: REPEAL of Concurrency

Ord. 19-005 Voted through 8 - 5. Audios below. 

Of five floor amendments in play, the two that had the blessing of the Meyer were passed but were not made available to the general public so I will have commentary in a future post.

County Council hopes to bring in more economic development

From RJ Miles ~

Ordinance 19-005 - May 28 Council Meeting
Audio Recordings - Please note there is a fulll recording, as well as shorter comments to review final comments from Council members and the vote.
The Vote was:
Kenneth R. Woods YES
Janet Kilpatrick YES
Lisa Diller YES
George Smiley YES
John Cartier YES
Timothy Sheldon YES
David Tackett YES
Bill Bell YES
Karen Hartley-Nagle NO
Jea P. Street NO
David Carter NO
Penrose Hollins NO
Dee Durham NO

Index of /CCOBH/19005 Council May28

• 19005AmendmentsPreVote.mp3
• 19005CarterPreVote.mp3
• 19005CartierPreVote.mp3
• 19005CouncilVote.mp3
• 19005DurhamPreVote.mp3
• 19005HartleyNagelPreVote1.mp3
• 19005HartleyNagelPreVote2.mp3
• 19005HartleyNagelPreVote3.mp3
• 19005HartleyNagelPreVote4.mp3
• 19005HollinsPreVote.mp3
• 19005KilpatrickPreVote1.mp3
• 19005KilpatrickPreVote2.mp3
• 19005SheldonPreVote.mp3
• 19005SmileyPreVote.mp3
• May28CouncilMeetingandVoteFULL.mp3

Reposted from the DE Way blog: 

I have been hearing some encouraging news about a series of floor amendments that will be introduced this evening at the NCC Council regular meeting in Wilmington. 

REMEMBER, this ordinance is not confined to TIDs as most people think of it. Ord. 19-005 fundamentally changes the code for regular development processes too. It repeals our rights to concurrency and protection against traffic congestion and protection against abuse of public tax expenditures.

There was no access to this ordinance by the public until it was introduced this January. It is falsely described as having had years of public input. This is ABSOLUTELY FALSE! There were general discussions but no actual law language was ever shared with the general public. And we were told by a certain county official that we civics were too stupid to understand the ordinance when we were able to actually read it and petitioned against it. It was suggested by the same county official that the Planning Board was also too stupid to understand the ordinance. 

Common sense should tell everyone in Delaware that flaunting the concerns of the NCC residents and of our Planning Board is a no go. The voice of Karen Peterson is not one to be toyed with!

In case you haven't been paying attention, Peterson. as the new Planning Board chair, led the discussion that led to the vote against this ordinance AS DRAFTED. 

The public is not AGAINST TIDs as is being relayed by supporters of this ordinance. Rather, the vulnerabilities baked into this massive alteration to the county code MUST BE ADDRESSED. 

A message from Tom Dewson, our subject matter expert on county transportation issues ~

Dear Neighbors, 

Deeply flawed Transportation Ordinance 19-005 will come before County Council for a final vote on Tuesday, May 28. 860 residents from over 100 neighborhoods have written to oppose the ordinance [plus over a hundred more individuals signed onto the CLNCC petition].  4 independent subject matter experts, including a former head of DelDOT, have shared their serious concerns.  And the Planning Board voted 5-3 against 19-005 as currently drafted.  Yet the County Administration continues to push hard for adoption. 

As written, it's clear this legislation will dismantle the meaningful traffic protections present in the Code today.

-groups of projects in a geographic area could bypass current traffic congestion requirements via inclusion in a Transportation Improvement District (TID).  ANY level of congestion could potentially be approved in a TID, and TIDs could be declared anywhere 

-ANY method could potentially be used to measure congestion in a TID-and individual project applications could bypass current traffic congestion requirements via a new "anything goes" congestion (Level of Service) waiver clause. 

The list goes on. These flaws are too serious to remain unaddressed.  Please come to the County Council meeting at 6:30pm Tuesday May 28 in the City/County Building, 800 French Street.  If passed as is, Transportation Ordinance 19-005 will profoundly impact our county for years to come.
Thanks and best regards,
Tom Dewson

Transportation Ordinance 19-005Changes Needed                                                                    
Below are the changes needed to the ordinance to address the concerns expressed by the community, independent subject matter experts and the Planning Board.  All changes are based away from Substitute 1 to Ordinance 19-005.                           

1.  Division 40.11.000 – Purpose.  Reinstate “Transportation capacity is allocated to proposed land developments on a first come-first serve basis.”  This is a foundational principle underpinning the transportation section of the Code and must remain unchanged.  

2.  Sec 40.11.120 – Need for Traffic Analysis.  Reinstate 500 Average Daily Trips (the current standard) as a trigger for a Traffic Impact Study (TIS).  Please note that the PLUS Review letter confirms the current standard in DelDOT’s Development Coordination Manual is 500 Average Daily Trips.  

3.  Sec 40.11.130 – Traffic Impact Study Requirements.  Redo to properly reflect already allocated traffic capacity.  Add language to include all previously approved but unbuilt projects – in incorporated or unincorporated areas - within a 5 mile radius if expected to contribute 5 or more peak hour trips to the intersections being studied. 

4.  Sec 40.11.210 – Level of Service Standards.  Redo to require that increased road capacity be ready and available concurrent with the start of traffic from new development.  

5.  Sec 40.11.220 – Traffic Mitigation Measures.  Reinstate requirement that traffic mitigation measures be underway before development can proceed.  Also reinstate the requirement that traffic mitigation measures be recorded as a deed restriction (vs the new proposal to just list as notes on a record plan). 

6.  Sec 40.11.230 – Level of Service (LOS) Waivers.  Remove (broad) language currently in the ordinance.  Redo to codify County Council’s thoughtful and careful prior practice of limiting LOS waivers to proposals linked to high pay, high quality jobs (quantify “high pay” as ~$30/hour). 

7.  Sec 40.11.310 – Transportation Improvement Districts (TIDs). 

-Restore uniform, County-wide level of acceptable congestion (generally LOS D in sewered areas/ C or better outside sewered areas).  One LOS standard should continue to apply County-wide, even in a TID, unless modified via a new, separate review and waiver process linked to high pay/high quality jobs, time shifting of traffic and required traffic mitigation measures.  

-Restore traditional/time-tested delay at intersections method to measure congestion (LOS).  Other measurement approaches can provide supplemental info.  

-Specifically articulate the methodology used to calculate developer contributions to road improvements in a TID.  

-Specifically define economic development as high pay/high quality jobs (~$30/hour).  Article 40.01.015C, the prior language, lacks specificity. 

-Remove language stating “this section does not apply to any area zoned exclusively for commercial uses” and replace with “this section does not apply to any area zoned exclusively for any combination of the following districts: Commercial Regional (CR) or Commercial Neighborhood (CN).”  CR and CN, though commercial, permit uses other than commercial.  

-Require that-road improvements in a TID are phased coincident with project buildout-no development work in a TID can proceed without full funding of associated phased roadwork-transportation impacts outside the TID need to be specifically addressed 

8.  Sec 40.11.320 – Complete Community Enterprise Districts (CCEDs).  Require the same changes as outlined above for TIDs.
 

A note from civic leader RJ Miles ~

WHY is there such a rush to get ordinance 19-005 passed?
When we have a majority of NCC Council members expressing concerns regarding some of the details of this new ordinance, concerns shared by the Planning Board and major community groups, why is there no effort to work out those points of concern?
While I appreciate all of the positive goals ordinance 19-005 might accomplish, the ordiance is also repeating many mistakes of the past.
There are many people who want to make ordinance 19-005 a better piece of legislation, yet their call is going unanswered.
WHY?
What is the rush to vote on this ordinance?
May I say, for an ordinance which is explained as being "simply enabling" and that will preserve "oversight by the Planning Board and the community", the process being followed on 19-005 so far, is to the exclusion of Planning Board oversight and community feedback.
How is the community to have faith in any future process in the construction of a TID, when a balanced and responsible process is not being honored during the construction of ordinance 19-005?
The process so far, offers a bad look.
The appearance, is a process which is serving the interests of the development community, to the exclusion of meritorious concerns of long established community groups and the Planning Board.
How can the community have faith future consideration of a TID would be any different?
There needs to be a proper balancing of strategies to promote economic development and the safe guarding of community quality of life in those areas where a TID might be proposed.
The choices outlined in ordinance 19-005, choices which will trade community quality of life protections for a more expedient Land Use decision making process, will only repeat our mistakes of the past. Mistakes which contributed to the bad land use outcomes we observe in some of the most congested areas of the community.
The major contributor to those bad land use outcomes, has been inadequate funding to provide for the infrastructure improvements, to handle traffic demands associated with new development.
Can we honestly reflect on the past, and agree it was the development community which successfully advocated to avoid contributing their fair share to the costs of keeping infrastructure current?
There have been past legislative attempts to provide long term funding, but such efforts were lobbied against.
Ordinance 19-005 offers a new opportunity to not only implement innovative changes in land use policy to promote economic development, but an opportunity to establish a broad funding mechanism to help pay for needed infrastructure improvements, rather than undermining the concurrency standards which serve to protect community quality of life.
Who is responsible for the new repeat of the mistake of NOT properly funding the required infrastructure improvements associated with new development?
We have a chance to make ordinance 19-005 better legislation, yet there is an effort to avoid taking a pause, to allow amendments to be discussed.
Continuing the rush to pass ordinance 19-005 in its current form is not good public policy.
We can do better.
RJ Miles
President – McDaniel Civic Association
Vice President – CCOBH (Council of Civic Organizations of Brandywine Hundred)

And Lex Wilson's story on the issue is finally in print in the News Journal today ~  Proposal in front of New Castle County Council would impact development, traffic

The Meyer administration says the rules will help bring jobs and revenue to the county. But, at a recent council committee meeting, some members said they wanted more detailed commitments from developers if they seek a TID. "I don’t want to be able to pass a TID and then we get a $10-an-hour job," said Councilman Tim Sheldon. "The wage should be up there and defined in here."  

Others have questioned how the funding mechanism will work. The county doesn't build roads. It may require developers to fund road improvements under the current setup, but otherwise, the state Department of Transportation's long-range plan governs road improvements. Those plans often don't coincide with development projects. Under the TID scheme, developers would pay a fee into an account that would be married with state funds. DelDOT would be party to the contract designing the district, creating greater coordination between development and road improvements, Hall said........There is already one TID in southern New Castle County where cost share between developer and the state is 50/50. That TID did not require relaxation of current traffic standards because it's being built on a relatively clean slate of farm fields.  In northern New Castle County, where the bulk of existing development and failing intersections exist, development is more about filling in holes and re-purposing parcels. 

Councilman Dave Carter questioned whether there can be enough money generated in a TID to fund improvements quickly enough  that the system isn't gummed up for years. He said DelDOT's priorities have historically been subject to the economy and politics, creating more uncertainty. Detractors have raised a scenario where a $10 million fix is necessary, but only $1 million is raised from development interests in the area — so that fix goes unfunded for years while traffic from development grows. "You have such little bit left to be developed, you may never collect enough to make a dent in the problems you are going to create," said Karen Peterson, county Planning Board chair and former state senator.   

Detractors also see this as a way for developers to shift more cost onto state taxpayers for projects they will profit from.........The county's Planning Board, which evaluates land use proposals and new regulations, did not recommend approval of the legislation. "I get the objective but I don’t get the mechanics," said Peterson, the board chair.

If you care to listen to Karen Peterson and other members of the Planning Board express concerns, listen HERE.

To listen to the May 21st NCC Council Land Use Committee discussion last week, Click on  the audio link HERE. 

~*~