HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-09-09 Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes, ..
COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, September 9,1998 ®5:00 PM
MINUTE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
PRESENT: Councilor Michael Aube, Chair
Councilor John Ro iman
Councilor Joseph Baldmci
OTHER
COUNCILORS
PRESENT: Councilor lames Tyler
Councilor Michael Crowley
Councilor Gerry Palmer
STAFF
PRESENT: Edward A. Barrett, City Manager
Rodney G. McKay, Director of Community & Economic Development
Stan Moses, Asst. C.D. Director
T.J. Mmmdal, C.D. Housing Resources Coordinator
Sally Burgess, Economic Dev. Project Coordinator
Steve Bolduc, Economic Dev. Officer
John Lord, Planning Officer
Dan Wellington, Code Enforcement Officer
Jim Ring, City Engineer
Norm Heitmmar, Asst. City Solicitor
Erik Stumpfel, City Solicitor
Bangor Police Chief Don Winslow
C. Hodges, Police Dept.
OTHERS: Parke Clemmons, Pickering Sq. Parking Garage
The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair, Councilor Aube at 5:00 PM.
ITEE41- Council Referral - Ordinance 98-335, Amending the Sign Ordinance - Chapter VI,
Article 3, Section 5.4.5 and Section 3, to increase the maximum sin of sign for
high-rise buildings in the Downtown Development District
A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of this amendment to the fail
City Council. So voted.
ITEM 02 - Council Referral - Ordinance 98-337, Chapter III, Article 6, Schedules II and III of
the Laws and Ordinances of the City of Bangor- Parking Limited to One Hour
and Parking Limited to 30 Minutes - Harlow Street
A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of this amendment to the full
City Council. So voted.
ITEM93- Request for Release from Lean- Elderl Bangor Savings Bank
Elder Family Portland Limited Partnership owns the former Federal Express building on Bangor
International Airport adjacent to The Maine Business Enterprise Park on land leased from the
City. Elder has requested they be released from their obligations under the land lease and that
those obligations be assigned to the Bangor Savings Bank which is about to occupy the building.
The City's lease agreement with the Elder family requires that they comply with all terms of the
lease. This action would release them from their obligation and would assign it to Bangor
Savings BaM. Smffrecommends approval ofthisrequest.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend to the full City Council approval of this
request as presented. So voted.
ITEM 44- 186 Ohio Street
This property was taken by the City in the late spring of 1998 as a result of mature tax and
sewer liens. All residential tenants vacated on or about July 4, 1998. The City is requesting
permission to demolish this structure due to its severe deteriorated condition.
A motion was made and seconded to approve this demolition. So voted.
ITS- 115 Forest Ave
Staff is requesting approval to demolish the severely dilapidated property at 115 Forest
Ave. The owners are elderly and unable to pay for the costs involved. Normally, in a situation
such as this, the City would be forced to incur the costs ofdemolition and place a lien on the
vacant land. Staff has, however, worked out an agreement with the owners to allow the City to
demolish the building and clear it from the lot. CDBG Ponds will be used in covering these costs.
The City will give the owners up to a year to sell the property to abutters to see they case occur
some income from its sale. Ifthey are not successful, then the property will revert to the City of
Bangor.
A motion was made and seconded m recommend approval of demolition ofthis property
and the agreement with the property owners as presented. So voted.
ITEM p6- Acadia Hospital HUD Grant-MSHA Documents
The City has a lease agreement with the Hope House for the operation of their program.
There are federal grants coming through the City and the MSHA through Penquis C.A.P., Inc. in
order to build a new facility. Acadia Hospital is now assuming the responsibility of Hope House
and will be taking over the operation of the Hope House Program. Council has approved the
assignment of the lease between Acadia and Hope House. There are several agreements involved
due to the construction of a new building on the property and the finaaces coming through HUD
and MSHA to eniquis C.A.P. If Acadia fails to operate the facility as described in the Grant,
they will be in default of their lease of the premises. If this were to occur, HUD would require
repayment of the Grant proceeds used for concoction from both the City and MSHA. The City
will have a separate sub -allocation agreement with Acadia which makes them liable for the
repayment of the $197,350. There will be a forbearance agreement between the City and MSHA
which says that each party will withhold from foreclosure action for one year in order to find
another tenant to operate the facility. The forbearance process has been approved by HUD.
A motion was made and seconded to go forward with executing all necessary agreements
between Acadia Hospital, Hope House and MSHA. So voted.
the City and MSHA which says that each party will withhold from foreclosure action for one year
in order to find another tenant to operate the facility. The forbearance process has been approved
by HUD.
A motion was made and seconded to go forward with executing all necessary agreements
between Acadia Hospital, Hope House and MSHA. So voted.
ITER #]- Parking Leases- Eastern Maine Healthcare
Eastem Maine Healthcare proposes to build a Parking deck at their facility on State
Street. During the construction phase, parking for approximately 350 employees is necessitated
elsewhere. City sniff has been working with EMMC's facility manager in resolving this need. A
I -year lease has been drawn up by City staff (through Sept. 1999) for 350 spaces to be provided.
They will be located at the waterfront lol - 80 spaces at $I9 per space per month; and up to 270
spaces at $33 per space per month distributed between the Pickering Square Parking Garage, the
Exchange Streeclot, and the Kenduskeag Plaza West Lot. Staff recommends approval of this
lease.
Councilor Rohman was excused on voting on this item due to a conflict of interest.
Councilor Tyler was added to the Committee for voting on this item only.
A motion was made and seconded to approve this parking lease agreement between
EMMC and the City of Bangor for parking in the downtown and waterfxon areas as presented.
So voted.
ITEM MR - Policy Guidelines for Dedication to Preservation of City Owned Wetlands and
Associated Upland Areas for Mitigation Associated with Development and
Redevelopment Projects
Rod McKay, Director of Community & Economic Development, reviewed the proposed
policy guidelines for dedicating the preservation of city -owned wetlands for mitigation associated
with non -City development and redevelopment projects. The use of City property should only be
considered when the project involved is in conformance with the economic development and
community, redevelopment goals of the City. It will provide guidance to staff who are involved
in development in their discussions with parties who are interested in the potential use of this
mechanism. Staff recommended to Committee that this be put on the upcoming Council
Agenda.
ITEM 0- Acadia/ Bangor East Little League Wetlands Proposal
Stillwater Avenue / Tripp Road Preservation Parcel
Acadia Hospiml has leased almost 4 acres of land to the Bangor East Little League so
they can expand and create another little league field. The lease is for 15 years at $10 per year.
This expansion will potentially impact up to.88 acres of wetlands. At an 8 to 1 ratio, 7.04 acres
would need to be reserved. Acadia is also contemplating new development in the future that
would impact another.23 acres for a total of 1.73 acres impacted - at an 8 to 1 ratio, Acadia will
require13.84 acres to be reserved. This makes a total of20.88 acres that would be needed to
mitigate these two projects. Acadia's value of land is $33,571 - on an 8 to 1 ratio that means that
each of the City's acres used for mitigation would be worth $4,196 multiplied by the 21 acres.
The City should receive compensation of $87,620 for the 20.88 acres of City land that is used for
mitigation. Staff has recommended that the Little League, however, not be asked to compensate
the City for its share of the land value for the 7 acres to be mitigated for the expansion of the
little league fields. The value ofAcadia's lease to the Little League should be considered as part
of the compensation to the City. Acadia, as a private developer, will pay the City $8,164 as
compensation in addition to the value of the lease with the little league.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of the agreement with East
Side Little League to the full City Council. So voted.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of the Order with respect to
Acadia's development plans as set forth by smB to the Poll City Council. So voted.
ITEM 41 - Oktoberfest
Staff brought before the Committee the plans for an Oktoberfest in the downtown on
October 17. 1998 to see if they would be agreeable to such an event and consequently approve a
License Agreement for the activities.
Committee directed Staff to proceed with preparing a License Agreement for subject
event and bring back to Committee for final approval at the CUED on Sept.23.
ITEM411- Steve Robbins (MARKITS) Proposal
Stere Robbins of MARKITS presented to the Committee a marketing proposal called
"the 99 cent sales call program'% It is a year-long series ofimention-getting postcards designed
to assist cities in promoting their businesses. This advertising concept has proven itself
commercially with over 60 clients over the last two pears in 28 states with over 300 clients in its
20 -year history. Steve indicated that he sees this as beneficial to the City's Economic
Development Office to promote Bangor to selected markets such as either in southern Maine or
New Hampshire who are looking to expand but do not have the labor market in their areas and/or
are seriously considering expanding into other amas/sudes. This program works on the basic
marketing theory of repetition and consistency to a qualified target market segment.
Committee Chair, Councilor Aube, asked how this program would fit into the City's
current marketing strategy. Rod McKay replied that the City has a limited marketing budget of
$4,000 per year. Most of this is committed to advertising in publications. The City at this time
does not have an effective marketing program but hopes to have a more effective one through the
coalition of Bangor area communities and organizations that was recently formed with the state
grants. Most of this targeting effort will go to trade shows to attract businesses back to this area.
Councilor Palmer and Councilor Baldacci agreed that more time and money needs to be
focused by the City on marketing Bangor to businesses elsewhere. They suggested that a follow-
up strategy be formulated in connection with Steve Robbins program to see what it actually could
hold for Bangor. Councilor Tyler stated that a comprehensive marketing strategy is a must to
make such an endeavor successful. City Manager Barrett added that this has been discussed in
the past with concerns as to whether or not it should be a City or regional responsibility;
respective roles and state issues involved.
Committee Chair, Councilor Aube directed staff to work on a comprehensive marketing
strategy and to also plan a workshop within the next few weeks to bring all Councilors up to date
on the coalition effort, Bangor's role in this effort and what can Bangor do to Porter market itself
within that context.
ITEM #12 - Community Development Residential Rehabilitation Loan - 87 Falvey Street
T.J. Manual, C.D. Housing Resources Coordinator, presented this loan request to the
Committee. A motion was made and seconded to approve as presented. So voted.
STEMNI - DevelopmentStandards-Telcom DritTDevelopment Parcelsin BIACommercial
Industrial Park
Rod McKay, Director of Community & Economic Development, reviewed the
development standards as previously approved by the Committee with respect to development
parcels in the BIA Commercial Industrial Park. Staff is recommending at this time that this
policy be adopted.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend that this be forwarded to the full City
Council. So voted.
ITEM#1¢- Code Enforcement Update
Dan Wellington, Code Enforcement Officer, updated on two items as follows: 1) an
application for a Certificate of Occupancy for DIVA'S has been denied. 2) stems of a vacant
house on Ohio Street, Code Enforcement staff are working with the owner's local management
team on resolving the upgrade of this property.
ITEMNIO- Planning Update
John Lord, Planning Officer, updated on the following: 1) contract zone change at comer
of Jefferson and Center Streets, Planning Board bas approved.
Rod McKay reviewed the following items: 1) first reading referral for an amendment to
the City ordinance that will allow the Planning Board W approve preexisting subdivisions, pre-
existing to the subdivision lot. This will resolve the Randolph Drive situation. 2) a first reading
referral for a zone change on the Bangor Housing Authority purchasing land adjacent to their
maintenance facility. 3) fin reading refining for a zone change on Kenduskeag Avenue.
A motion was made and seconded to go into Executive Session at this time to take up the
following item:
A motion was made and seconded to go into Executive Session.
IT #13- Executive Session -Property Acquisition
A motion was made and seconded to out of Executive Session.
A motion was made and seconded to go into Executive Session.
ITEMNI - Executive Session- Development Proposal
A motion was made and seconded to ga out of Executive Session.
JOINT MEETING OF C&ED COMMITTEE
AND
BASS PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE
This joint meeting was held to discuss the following item:
ITEM #1 - Amphitheater Site RFP
This item was tabled.