Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-18 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 5 pm City Council Chambers Minutes COUNCILORS: Chair Gratwick, Durgin, Gallant, Longo, Sprague and Weston STAFF: Conlow, McKay, Bolduc, Heitmann, Inman, Jarvis and Willette OTHERS: Larry and Peter Geaghan; Joshua Gass, KahBang Festival Creative Director; Agenda Item #7 was taken first as Staff has determined that it can be heard in the public session rather than Executive Session as originally thought. 1. Economic Development – Disposition of Waterfront Property – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) ( C ) Rod McKay reviewed this item for the committee stating that Larry and Peter Geaghan, owners of Geaghan’s Pub on Main Street, would like to expand their facility and thus add 25 parking spaces to enable this project to go forward. To do this and meet the City’s zoning requirements they will need 8,920 sq. ft. of land area from the City. The City’s assessing office has valued this additional land at $12,540; the Geaghan’s have agreed to this price. Staff is proposing an option agreement between the City and the Geaghan’s that they can exercise once certain conditions have been met. The term of the option agreement as proposed would be through August 31, 2012. It is envisioned that construction will begin within a year and completed within two years. The City will require that the Geaghan’s have all of their permits; do a site plan revision; and a zone change will be needed on the City land that they propose to acquire so that it is consistent with the zoning that they have on Geaghan’s Pub property. The option fee that staff proposed is $1,500 which the Geaghan’s have agreed to. Rod added that normally the committee approves the plans but as this is for only a parking area (and a retaining wall that would be similar to that constructed by Hollywood Slots and Tim Horton’s on Main Street), staff is proposing that the plans be approved by the City Manager’s designated staff which typically are the City Engineer, City Planner and Code Enforcement Officer. Councilor Durgin made a motion to adopt staff recommendation of this request as presented. Seconded by Councilor Longo. Unanimous vote. 2. Golf Course Review Parks & Rec Director Tracy Willette reviewed information on the role and importance of having a golf pro at the Bangor Municipal Golf Course. The contracted responsibilities of Bangor’s golf pro are consistent with other golf pros throughout New England. At Bangor Muni, the golf pro is required to operate the pro-shop, give golf lessons and to have more direct involvement with the facility management. With respect to the restaurant aspect, there will be an RFP for this piece of the operation. Initial contact with Front Row Marketing has been made for marketing the golf course. The intent is to tie in the entire corridor between the golf course, activity at the new arena as well as in the City in general. Tracy added that there has also been a fair amount of interest in tournament schedules. Bangor Muni is now a competitive golf course and it is making money. Opening day for 2012 is April 18. 3. Waterfront Review Rod McKay reviewed the progression of improvements over the years at the Bangor waterfront. He then stated that a decision needs to be made at this time about how the City is going to proceed in the future, primarily with the area downriver from Railroad Street between the railroad tracks and the river down to Dutton Street behind the Hollywood Casino. Discussion proceeded among committee and staff. Of particular concern is the issue of lighting that is needed to provide safety and security in downtown areas such as West Market Square, Pickering Square and at the waterfront. Councilor Durgin emphasized that we need to move onto the next phase which should be a total City phase and to tie the proposed trail from the waterfront into the downtown, get the lighting into the West Market Square and Pickering Square areas and begin the signage project that will enable people to get where they want to be. Also, need to decide on how the large green space at the waterfront park will be used – should we continue with a long term contract for concerts and, if so, how will we focus those concerts. Should not go beyond this year – need to make firm decisions and put the funds we have to invest into bringing those decisions to fruition. Rod added that the balance of funds available through the City’s Downtown TIF District and Community Development funding totals $738,000 (in-hand at this time). With respect to the upcoming budget season, typically the City Council has added $400,000 of the Downtown TIF to waterfront projects, so it’s possible that another $400,000 can be added to the $738,000. These funds can be used anywhere within the Downtown TIF District that includes the downtown corridor, the waterfront, the Main Street corridor and Bass Park. If the design of the path and the lighting style is moved forward by the City Council, construction could be started this upcoming season. Chair Gratwick emphasized that we need to have a very clear idea of the larger picture that includes the Main Street corridor, concerts, docks, etc. At this time, he is not willing to make a decision on the kind of lamp posts to have; still need to have the larger view of what is wanted overall so that it is done right. City Manager Conlow concluded that at some point staff needs to come up with a plan that connects West Market Square and the waterfront. Also need to prioritize before we come up with a plan and a budget for next year; need to understand Council priorities. Joshua Gass, Creative Director of KahBang Festival, stated that the preservation of the open space at the waterfront is very important – this space is an asset that allows a large number of people to publicly assemble and he hopes the City considers this in their plans. Councilor Durgin made a motion to go into the following 2 items: Executive Session – Economic Development – Disposition of Property – 208 Maine Avenue – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) ( C ) and Economic Development – Property Disposition – 22 Cleveland Avenue – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) ( C ) 4. Executive Session – Economic Development – Disposition of Property – 208 Maine Avenue – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) ( C ) 5. Committee Action on Above Item No Committee action taken. 6. Executive Session – Economic Development – Property Disposition – 22 Cleveland Avenue – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) ( C ) 7. Committee Action on Above Item No Committee action taken.