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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-03 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Tuesday, February 3, 2015 5:15 PM City Council Chambers Minutes Committee Members Present: Chair Baldacci, Councilor Civiello, Councilor Graham, Councilor Nealley, Councilor Faircloth, Councilor Durgin and Councilor Sprague City Staff Present: Tanya Emery, Jeff Wallace, Jason Bird and Caitlin Brooke Chair Baldacci called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. 1. Community Development Residential Rehabilitation Loan - 438 Finson Road, Lot #29 Director of Community and Economic Development Emery noted that a confidential Memorandum had been distributed to the Committee prior to the meeting and if there were any questions, Jeff Wallace, Housing Rehabilitation Officer, was present to answer them. Staff recommended that this loan be approved. Councilor Durgin moved Staff recommendation. Councilor Faircloth seconded the motion which passed as it was not doubted. 2. Community Housing of Maine CDBG Grant Request Director Emery indicated that this item had been postponed in order to gather further information prior to Committee consideration. 3. Ernst Manor CDBG Grant Request Jason Bird, Community and Economic Development Officer, explained that this project had been before the Committee, previously. Broadway Housing Inc., a subsidiary of Penquis, is requesting a $25,000 CDBG Grant in order to pay for a funding gap for its renovation of a 27-unit housing development reserved for low-income handicapped and elderly persons at Ernst Manor on Broadway. 2 Mr. Bird discussed the Development Agreement, Tax Revenue and Credit Enhancement Agreement and the Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement presently with the developer. If this grant is approved by the City, this agreement would be in the form of a forgivable loan. Staff supported the funding request and recommended that the Committee make a positive recommendation. Committee Members discussed the funding and whether this project met the objectives of the CDBG program. Mr. Bird indicated that it did. Councilor Nealley moved Staff recommendation. Councilor Durgin seconded the motion. The motion passed as it was not doubted. 4. Commission on Cultural Development – Request for Authorization to Apply for Grant Opportunities. Director Emery indicated that this item is an opportunity for the Cultural Commission to apply for two grant opportunities. One for $10,000 from the Maine Community Foundation Community Building Grant to be used for development of an arts and culture month in Bangor; and the other one for $10,000 from the Maine Community Foundation – Penobscot County Fund to be used for Bangor Arts website updates and brand promotion. Staff recommended the Committee support these grant applications. Councilor Sprague gave his enthusiastic support and added that he would like a review of the Cultural Commission’s relationship with the City Council to give them more autonomy and private donations without them having to go through the City Council. This would be similar to what the Library does. Councilor Durgin expressed his support for the Maine Community Foundation. Councilor Graham discussed who would be writing the grants. Jamie Ballinger, with the Cultural Commission, indicated that she, along with others who have many years of grant writing experience would be writing the grants. Councilor Durgin moved Staff recommendation. Councilor Faircloth seconded the motion. The vote was not doubted, and, therefore, passed. The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p.m.