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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-03-17 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Tuesday, March 17, 2015 5:15 PM City Council Chambers MINUTES Committee Members Present: Councilor Baldacci, Councilor Blanchette, Councilor Civiello, Councilor Nealley, Councilor Graham, Councilor Durgin, Councilor Plourde, and Councilor Faircloth Chair Baldacci called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. 1. Executive Session – Economic Development – Lease Negotiations – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(C) Councilor Plourde moved to enter Executive Session at 5:15 p.m. under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(C). Councilor Faircloth seconded the motion, which carried. It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved to exit Executive Session. 2. Committee Action on Above Item Councilor Plourde moved Staff recommendation. Councilor Durgin seconded the motion. The motion was not doubted and passed. CONSENT AGENDA Councilor Nealley moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Councilor Plourde seconded the motion. The motion was not doubted and passed. The items approved are as follows: 3. Community Development Residential Rehabilitation Loan – 217 Buck Street. 4. Community Development Residential Rehabilitation Loan – 16 Maple Street. 5. REFERRAL – ORDINANCE 15-103, Amending Chapter 23, Board, Committees and Commissions, of the Code of the City of Bangor, By Converting Commission on Cultural Development Associate Member Positions into Regular Member Positions 2 REGULAR AGENDA 6. Community Housing of Maine CDBG Grant Request Jason Bird, Community and Economic Development Officer, indicated that Community Housing of Maine (CHOM) is requesting $50,000 in funding from the City’s CDBG funding for a proposed four-unit supportive housing redevelopment of a vacant building on Fourth Street. Once the construction is complete, CHOM will apply to the Maine State Housing Authority for renovation funding and Section 8 project vouchers for the four-unit property. CHOM is working with the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter (BAHS) on this project. CHOM will own and management the property and BAHS will act as a bridge of support for those moving from the shelter or places not fit for human habitation into the new supportive housing. If approved by the City Council, the agreement would be in the form of a forgivable loan. Mr. Bird noted that there are other funds involved with the completion of this project and if not secured then the City will rescind its offer. Staff recommended support of this request. Councilor Nealley moved Staff recommendation. The motion was seconded by Councilor Faircloth. The motion was not doubted and passed. 7. Metered Parking Jason Bird explained that the issue of car shuffling has recently been discussed that the Downtown Parking Advisory Committee. The Committee discussed several scenarios to address this issue and recommended that more discussion be made regarding metered parking. The Committee recommended 15 kiosk style units along Central Street, State Street and Main Street. Councilor Graham discussed with the Committee the discussions at the meetings of the Downtown Parking Advisory Committee and its recommendation for metered parking. Staff indicated that it would like the Committee’s guidance on the direction to take regarding this issue. Councilor Nealley indicated that he supported the Downtown Parking Advisory Committee’s recommendation and made a motion to support. The voting members of the Committee indicated their support. 3 8. North Woods National Park Support Discussion Chair Baldacci opened up the discussion. He indicated that time for comments from those participating would be limited. 18 people from the audience spoke on both sides of the issue. Two selectmen from the Town of Millinocket asked that the Council wait on their Resolve until such time as they had had an opportunity to sit down with both sides to discuss all of the issues and for clarification of points that have been made. A vote on the issue will be taking place on June 12, 2015 in Millinocket. Peggy Daigle, Town Manager of Millinocket, also spoke indicating that there was a meeting scheduled to bring both sides together. She discussed with the Committee various businesses in Millinocket. NOTE: For a more details regarding those participants who spoke in favor of and in opposition to the North Woods National Park, please click on to the following link for more information and to listen to the discussion. http://bangormaine.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=92f164eff898b8cc92a146436eae16 1b. Councilor Faircloth moved that the Resolve be forwarded on to the City Council for consideration at its meeting on March 23, 2015. Councilor Plourde seconded the motion. An amendment to the motion was made to read “that if a national park is opened, Bangor will see a benefit”. The Committee voted 3 to 2 in favor of the motion as amended and that it be forwarded to the full Council. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.