The New York Gaming Commission yesterday (April 22) posted a Request for Proposals in an effort to hire a consultant to aid in the next stage of the bidding process for three new downstate casino licenses, to be awarded by the end of the year.
While there originally were 11 bidders for the three available licenses, Saks Fifth Avenue recently withdrew its proposal for a casino at its iconic Manhattan store. The remaining 10 must file their applications by June 27 to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board.
The next step in the process set up by the New York gaming law is for each applicant to demonstrate that there is community support for the project. A “community engagement period” is set up in which each bidder must present its proposed casino project to a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) made up of local officials. This week’s RFP seeks a Community Advisory Committee Consultant to help manage the creation and operation of the CACs.
Who Sits on The CACs?
According to the RFP, “The commission or community consultant shall provide administrative support and technical assistance for the establishment and activities of committees.”
Under the gaming law, CACs must include five members. The appointees will be selected by the governor, the county executive of the location, the New York state senator and state assembly member representing the location, and the senior elected official of the locality in which the project is located—the mayor of New York City, the town or village supervisor, etc.
Under the terms of the RFP, the Facility Location Board will provide each application to the consultant, who will identify and notify the appropriate authorities of their responsibility to submit appointments for each CAC. The consultant will then “take steps to ensure the formation of each CAC.”
The consultant will facilitate all meetings and hearings of each CAC and will prepare draft minutes of each meeting.
Each committee will vote on a chair at the first meeting. Public hearings will be held, and each CAC will solicit public comments and provide written submissions of the comments. A two-thirds vote of the committee will issue a finding either establishing public support or disapproving the project.
The consultant also will be responsible for contacting appointees of each CAC to advise on the appointees’ role, and will distribute the application to each appointee. The consultant will establish a public-facing website on which all CAC meeting notices, agendas, draft materials for consideration, contact information, events, minutes and other materials will be available to the public.
