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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-08-06 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Monday, August 6, 2012 City Council Chambers Minutes Councilors: Gratwick, Hawes, Longo, Sprague, Gallant, Weston, Baldacci Staff: Conlow, Vanadestine, Bolduc, Heitmann, Martin, Wallace Consent Agenda: 1. Community Development Residential Rehabilitation Loan – 43 Holland Street. Councilor Longo made a motion to move the Consent Agenda. Councilor Hawes seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried. Regular Agenda 2. Continued Discussion on Electronic Signs Jeremy Martin gave an overview of the newly drafted Council Order. This is the second reading of an electronic sign amendment. At the BED Committee last month there was a motion to allow electronic signs in the USD zone with a 50’ set back from residential zones, it could only change once every 20 minutes and it could only have text and no pictures. Councilor Weston asked why it was limited to only text and felt that we were handcuffing businesses from using technology. He understands the reasoning behind no flashing, blinking and rotating etc. but not the text only. Jeremy said he felt it didn’t matter one way or the other. This is what was proposed from the last meeting. Councilor Longo was the one that made the motion last month and he said it didn’t matter to him if they had pictures or not, he was just trying to get the conversation started. Councilor Gallant moved staff recommendation with the elimination of the last sentence in section G. which reads “Electronic signs erected in the Urban Service District may only display text messages.” Councilor Sprague seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried. Councilor Gratwick inquired if staff would be reviewing the entire sign ordinance as a comprehensive review and make suggested changes as needed and not continue to do it in bits and pieces. Staff will be reviewing the entire Sign Ordinance to determine if any additional changes need to be made. City Manager Conlow explained staff reviewed mapping to ensure there would be no adverse affects on residential properties and there did not seem to be. Councilor Weston thanked the Council and staff for moving this forward. This will need to be amended by substitution at the next meeting because of the change to Section G. 3. Executive Session – Economic Development – Disposition of Property – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(5)C Councilor Sprague moved to enter into Executive Session for Disposition of Property 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6) (c). Councilor Hawes seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried. Councilor Baldacci moved to exit Executive Session. Councilor Hawes seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried. Committee Action on Above Item. Councilor Sprague moved staff recommendation to put the property on the market for three months and then utilize an RFP process if it has not sold to ensure the disposition by the end of the grant period. Councilor Longo seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried. 4. Executive Session – Economic Development – Land Disposition – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(C) Councilor Gallant stated he may have a conflict of interest in the next Executive Session as he does the landscaping for the organization. Councilor Hawes moved that Councilor Gallant does not have a conflict of interest. Councilor Baldacci seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried. Councilor Baldacci moved to enter into Executive Session for Disposition of Property 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(C). Councilor Longo seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried. Councilor Sprague moved to exit Executive Session. Councilor Longo seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried. 5. Committee Action on Above Item Staff will move forward on the negotiations for land disposition on Maine Avenue and Hayes Street. 6. Discussion on Economic Impact Analysis for Concert Venue. Council had inquired about an Economic Impact Study for the Concert Venue specifically, Councilors Durgin and Weston. Councilor Hawes made a motion to postpone this discussion to the next BED meeting in September. Councilor Gallant seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried. Councilor Longo moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Sprague seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried. Meeting Adjourned.