HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-06-02 Community and Economic Development Committee MinutesCOMMUNITY S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, June 2, 1993
MISS
MEMBERS
PRESENT: Councilor Charles Sullivan, Chair
® Councilor Pat Blanchette
Councilor W. Shubert
OTHERS
PRESENT: Kenneth R. Gibb, Director of Community F Economic Dev.
Rodney G. McKay, Community Development Director
T. J. Mart2ial, C.O. Housing Resources Coordinator
r Bruce Shibles, Asst. City Solicitor
1. Frank Farrington, Vice President Of BCMC Board
Angela Nickerson, BUT Board Member
The meeting was called to order by Chair Sullivan at
approximately 5:00 PM.
AGENDA ITEM 41 - Community Development Residential Rehabilitation
Loan
T. J. Mart2ial, Housing Resources Coordinator for the
Community Development Division, presented a loan application for
repairs to the property at 47 Fifth Street, 6 units. Five of the
unit's tenants qualify under the loan program status of low -a
moderate -income; on the 6th unit the tenant is over income so the
Owner will provide for 166 of the rehab costs. The owner has an
excellent credit rating and sufficient cash flow. The loan was
unanimously approved.
AGENDA ITEM 42 - Bangor Center Development District
Ken Gibb, and Frank Farrington of the BCMC Board,
spoke to the Committee in respect to this program. This item
pertains to the proposed assessment on downtown properties located
in the Bangor Center Development District. The sum of $43,000 is
proposed to be assessed on these properties. These monies will be
used to provide direct services to the downtown area such as a law
enforcement program, coordination of events during the year,
Downtown Beautification program, Visitor Information,
Administrative support, Data support benefitting business
development, maintenance of available real estate information in
the downtown area, monitoring of policy and legislative issues
which will impact the Bangor Center and establishing a "new
business" welcoming program. Projected expenditures during 1993-94
are $46,950 leaving a carryover in the amount of $5,550. This item
will go to the City Council on June 14th for their approval as well
as Public Hearings on June Eth and June 14th. A notice was
published in the BDH.
The Committee unanimously approved the proposed assessment and
work program within the Bangor Center Development District.
AGENDA ITEM #3 - Application to the Maine State Housing Authority
The Maine State Housing Authority (MBNA) is administering a
program designed to address deteriorating urban residential areas
and restore them to decent, safe and sanitary neighborhoods. This
program is called The Housing Opportunity zone Program (HOZ) which
was created by the Affordable Housing Partnership Act of 1989. On
behalf of the City of Bangor, the Community Development Staff will
be submitting an application to request funds for a proposed HOZ in
Bangor. The application deadline is June 17th. There is currently
$500,000 available. Staff indicated that there is possibly 7-8
Maine communities applying for these funds; only 2 will be
selected. Bangor's request will be for the full $500,000. Once a
municipality's designation is approved, they are then considered
eligible.
Bangor would intend on ing these funds in the area
a of Main
and Third Streets. (See attached map). This area would fall into
the stipulated criteria on how the funds may be used.
Some of the criteria necessary in order to apply for these
funds are: the municipality applying must have at least a
population greater than 5,000; most choose one contiguous area to
be designated as the HOZ; must identify local, state, federal and
private sources to address their needs. (The Interagency Task eorce
on Homelessness and Housing. Opportunities is available to assist
applicants in this process.)
Stipulations on how the funds are to be used are: they can be
used only in the designated HOZ area; a wide variety of housing
activities may be funded such as restoration of dwelling units in
multi -family and single-family homes; assistance to shelters for
the homeless; removal of structures that are not cost-effective to
repair; the creation of recreational and park areas; other similar
types of assistance that the Authority determines eligible.
Committee unanimously approved to forward this application
request an to the City Council for their approval at their June
14th meeting.
AGENDA ITEM a¢ _ Lease of Urban Renewal Parcel B -11-C
Bangor Real Estate currently has options to develop parcels
B -11-B and B -11-C. They would like to have a lease on B -11-C
allowing them to use it for parking in support of the development
on B -11-B. The proposed lease for parking would coincide with the
term Of the option from the City. Bangor Real Estate has proposed
to pay the cost of developing the parking (meeting all City
standards) as well as a lease fee of $1,200 per year.
Committee unanimously approved this request. So voted.
AGENDA ITEM #5 - Authorizing Waterfront Concession Agreement
This past April,
Proposals) for waterfront concessions.oout None were received
However, recently a proposal was received from Katherine Kelley
(see attached). Ms. Kelley would like to use the land facilities
from May 30th to September 6th (Labor Day).
Staff recommended approval.
Committee motioned to approve the request. Seconded. So
Voted.
AGENDA ITEM #6 - Penobscot Bridge Committee
Staff had recently placed an ad in the BUN requesting
interested citizens to participate in voicing their views on the
location of the new bridge location which will be replacing the old
bridge but not necessarily at the same spot. No responses were
received to the ad.
-Ken Gibb stated that he has put together a potential list as
there are 11 open slots. He suggested that 2 City Councilors be
embers; Chair of the Planning Board; Jim Ring (City Engineer). and
BCMC offered two potential members; Nancy Siegenbein from the
Congregational Church; a representative from EMMC; 1 major property
Owner in the immediate area such as Brake Service (which may have
Property taken by the realignment; Sid Epstein who owns the Labor
Services building and Varney Motors has two properties in the area.
Also, the Hogan Road Association due to their tie-in with the
potential fourth bridge at some point in the future. A possible
resident from the Broadway corridor (perhaps Jean Defghan); and a
resident from Hancock Street. He stated that these suggestions are
for the Council's. direction; that a decision needs to be made soon.
It was agreed by the Committee to accept BCMC member(s)
Warren Caruso's offer to be a member with Sandra Bryant as an
alternate member. They agreed that Sim Ring should be a full time
member; Nancy Siegenbein representing the Congregational Church;
End the Chair designee of the Planning Board. EMMC and the Hogan
Road Association both had been contacted previous to this meeting
and stated that they were interested in having a representative on
the Committee (no names at this time however). The 9th nominee
could be chosen from the following three names - Bay Cots, Sid
Epstein or Bill Varney. Pat Blanchette suggested that Bill Varney
be asked to be on the Committee. Sean Deighen of Broadway and
Phyllis Adams, Raleigh Stone, San Stratton, Janice Deering, Jane
Young, Betty McLoughlin, Madeline Pauliss of Hancock Street be
contacted also. For Council representation, it was suggested that
Councilor Charles Sullivan talk to the full Council and come back
with names.
AGENDA ITEM #7 - National Garage Contract Renewal
Proposed budgets for both Abbott Square Parking Lot End the
Pickering Square Parking Garage are due for renewal. Ken stated
that he reviews their budgets monthly. He feels the current
proposed budgets are reasonable.
In the Pickering Square Budget, overall revenues for FY 94 are
5172,000 (up 128 from FY 93). Expenses up about 98 to $133,000
with an operating profit of $33,000 (up 218 from PY 93). The
changes are the Cashier's wages which have been reduced somewhat;
workmen's comp continues to go up; water/sewer will be going up;
(using less electricity but rates are going up so itwill continue
to be the same); Bob Burns of the City Electrical Dept. has Come
up with a recommendation to install a smaller boiler behind the
rest roam area which will heat this area and the office for a total
cost of $6,000 with a 3 -year payback.
National Garages' only portion of the budget that they receive
is for administrative services which includes $8,500. This covers
the training of personnel, insurance that they provide and for the
accounting servicewhichthey provide. All other expenses come out
of the operating budget that the City approves.
With regard to the Abbott Square budget, projected revenues
for PY 94 will be $71,208; projected expenses will be $27,315 (up
4.58); profit is about $44,000. This parking lot has no debt
service on it so it is more profitable then the Pickering Square
Garage.
Councilor Blanchette inquired that since Abbott Square is
owned by the City what budget provisions have been made for
maintenance, i.e. striping, cracks repaired, etc. Ken replied that
he has met with City Engineer Jim Ring regarding these matters, in
particular the cracks. Sim will be handling this out of this
Year's budget (PY 92-93) under maintenance". As far as in the
upcoming budget (FY 93-94) there are estimated maintenance charges
from Public Works to cover such items as snow removal and general
maintenance. All parking spaces downtown will be striped by the
G
nd of this summer.
Committee motioned to forward these parking budgets an to the
City Council for their review and approval. Seconded. So voted.
AGENDA 'TER 88 - Air Force Housing Update
Rod Hcxey, Community Development Director, has attended
meetings with respect to the recent issue of disposal of 114 units
of air force housing located in the vicinity of Union and Griffin
Roads in Bangor.
Before disposal of these units by the GSA, it is reguired that
they allow the Department of L.S. Health a Human Services the
Opportunity to solicit proposals from non-profit agencies that are
.tax exempt that would provide services to the homeless. inhere are
several homeless agencies in Bangor that are interested. Staff's
concern is that the agencies are not well organized and the piece
meal giving away of the units may not have the City's best interest
in terms of how these agencies may be funded and how they may,
consequently, be able to maintain and operate the properties as
well as provide adequate staff to oversee the units.
Councilor Blanchette inquired how the City may intervene in
the RFP process. Rod replied that there is no way to do that.
Staff is trying to get the Federal government to coordinate all of
the agencies interests, needs and demands in order to come up with
an overall plan that would allow the City to have some control over
the properties and perhaps lease them back to these agencies so
that if the agencies did not operate the properties as required
then the City could evict them and use the properties for some
other use. .In- working with the local offices of the Federal exact
government's representatives, Staff is inquiring as to the
criteria and review process that the Department of Health a Human
Services has to go through. For example, is the Federal government
going to sake sure that these agencies are funded in order to have
all the resources to accomplish the best results for the homeless
and the City, and not end up having a homeless ghetto.
Councilor Shubert stated that the City must take a strong
Position and get their delegation together on behalf of the City's
interest.
Ren Gibb presented a last minute item to the Committee for
their reaction. Ren stated that Staff has been approached by the
Theatre of The enchanted Forest (TEF) to lease the Viner Bldg. and
turn it into a performing arts centre for their operation (they are
currently renting space at the University in Orono). They are
currently pursuing a grant that wouldallow them to fund raise
which has to be submitted by the end of June. Representatives of
this group may be coming before this Committee at a later date to
ask the Committee to hold -off on any formal RFP for the Viner
Building until they have had a chance to see if they are eligible
for this grant. Ren stated that if they were to receive the grant
and the City agrees to let them pursue their project, it would mean
taking the Viner Building off the market for about a year to allow
them to do their fund raising. Staff feels that if they are
successful that it would be an appropriate use of the building.
Committee discussed whether they should send out an RFP at
this time and the fact that if they did not receive any response
then it was felt that it would not be a problem tying the building
up for a year with the TSF people. Rod McKay stated that the
problem with this approach, at this time s that the TEF has a
deadline of June 30th to apply for their grant. So, with this
timeframe in mind, it would not allow appropriate time to get RFP's
mailed out with a sufficient time for their return.
Councilor Blanchette stated that she did not feel comfortable
with holding up the RFP process on the Viner building fox a year.
Ren suggested that the TEP people come before the Committee to
present their ideas before any final vote is taken. The Committee
unanimously agreed.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:30 PM.
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