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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-04-20 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE April 20, 2011, 5 pm City Hall Council Chambers Minutes Councilors: Chair Weston, Blanchette, Bronson, Durgin, Longo Staff: Conlow, McKay, Bradley, Bolduc, Patterson, Wallace, Willette Others: Brian Ames, DBP Board President; George Kinghorn, DBP Board member; Tim Lo 1. PUBLIC HEARING – Amount of Federal Community Development Block Grant Funds expected to be available for the Period July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012 and the eligible uses of Community Development Funds. nd This is the 2 of two required public hearings in order to present on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program proposed activities for the period July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012. It also covers CDBG Funding Sources Available for Use and program objectives and projected use of funds. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has advised the City to project nd next year’s CDBG funding at two potential funding levels, one at last year’s level of $1,115,432, and a 2 with a 16.5% reduction which would provide $931,386 in new CDBG funds. These potential grant amounts, with the addition of a projected $250,000 in program income from loan repayments and sale of property, would provide either $1,365,462 at last year’s funding level, or $1,181,386 at a 16.5% reduced grant. Rod has prepared the required document reflecting all of the activities proposed by City staff; he also reviewed for the Committee each activity with its respective cost. The Committee and Council may decide as we move forward whether or not they want to fund these activities and at what level. Staff requests Committee’s recommendation to the City Council for approval and subsequent submittal to HUD by May 15, 2011. Approval from HUD is normally received by June 30, 2011; activities can begin July 1, 2011. Councilor Blanchette made a motion to open the Public Hearing on the CDBG Funds. Seconded by Councilor Durgin. No one from the public requested to speak. Councilor Blanchette moved to close the Public Hearing. Seconded by Councilor Durgin. Councilor Durgin made a motion to recommend to the City Council the adoption of the CDBG Program for the period of July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012 as proposed by staff, reserving the right to further consider before committing to funding individual projects. Seconded by Councilor Blanchette. Unanimously voted. 2. Kahbang Presentation Tim Lo, Executive Director of Kahbang Music, Art and Film in Bangor, came before the Committee to seek two goals – a) an ordinance change in regards to how the City views camping or b) seek out collaborative measures or solutions to help ensure that the City capitalize on a current business opportunity that exists. He then stated that Kahbang Music, Art and Film is a festival and stated that there are two models that apply to festivals - there are metro festivals (those that reside within the city limits of a metropolitan center. The second model is a festival model with cheap, affordable housing or camping and an immense amount of hotel, lodging structure that allows a festival to be farther away from any city center. Tim further presented the market opportunity in terms of dollars that would come into Bangor (and the state) from this business opportunity. He concluded by saying that at this time, he is looking for creative measures from a back and forth dialogues with the City not a final all-be-it decision on the camping aspect. Discussion continued on this topic between Tim Lo and Committee members on the various options for lodging and of other locations to have the ‘camping aspect’. Chair Weston added the festival is definitely welcome in Bangor and we want to do what we can here; I think there’s a bigger logistic conversation to be had here that can’t be solved tonight. Committee appreciates what was brought to them at this meeting and will keep working on it, just don’t know if there’s a fix for 2011. Committee is open to the conversation going forward. Councilor Bronson stated for full disclosure that he has in the past been a contractor to Kahbang on a couple of occasions; currently he is not. 3. Downtown Bangor Partnership (DBP) Shirar Patterson of the Economic Dev. office introduced this item. Brian Ames, President of the DBP Board, related the results of DBP’s Strategic planning and ongoing discussions in regards to their activity levels (copies of this were passed out to the Committee and staff present). This planning effort resulted in the setting out of four major actions: Advocacy and City Liaison; Marketing and Promotions; Activities and Events; Downtown Outreach. Brian and George Kinghorn (of the DBP Board) further stated that they’d like to have a broader discussion of how DBP can partner with the City’s Economic Development Dept. in order to leverage their mutual capabilities and resources. They feel that the work of DBP is in line with the Council’s wishes and goals for downtown. George reviewed the projects downtown that are proposed in the City’s 2012 budget. The identified budget areas are in the line with the DBP Board’s identified priorities which includes a phased approach to the renovation of W. Market Square, Signage Design and installation, and Downtown Sidewalks. Brian added that the focus DBP would like to suggest to the City Council is within the Council’s broader interest and mission in support of the downtown. They want to take a look at the efforts of the broadband, natural gas, recruitment and retention of downtown businesses and to work with the Economic Dev. Office to conduct a space inventory as well as look at what are the issues of getting those spaces filled with businesses and residences. Additionally DBP would like to work with the City to develop an enhanced marketing effort as well as to support parking technology. Cleaner streets / beautification are another issue of focus. It was noted that the DBP has voted to financially support the overtime costs associated with Bike Patrol in FY 2012. Brian then made a specific request for the City to provide additional funding for the planning and design for the West Market Square park redevelopment and the Main Street streetscapes – these are very important to the overall presentation and marketing of the downtown. Councilor Bronson suggested that all of these ideas will impact different sectors of the City. Chair Weston stated that it would be appropriate at some point to have a conversation about our greater purpose. Councilor Durgin agreed stating that Brian is on the right track, and as Councilor Bronson suggested we need to pull these ideas together and take the vision to the next step of the plan. Councilor Blanchette made a motion to go into Executive Session – Economic Development – 110 Hildreth Street – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (C). Seconded by Councilor Bronson. 4. Executive Session – Economic Development – 110 Hildreth Street – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) ( C ) 5. Committee Action on Above Item No action was taken by the Committee.