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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-09-21 Community and Economic Development Committee MinutesCOMMUNITY 6 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Wednesday, September 21, 1994 65:00 PM MINI j E'�5 PRESENTS Councilor James Tyler Councilor Chris Popper Councilor Pat Blanchette (sitting in for _ Councilor ealdacci) OTHERS PRESENT: Kenneth R. Gibb, Director of Community 6 Economic Dev. :. Sim Ring, City Engineer Erik Stumpfel,-City . Solicitor Sohn Lord, P1arming,Officer , Daryl Rhodes, Northern Conservatory of Music.- .. . Waynelaeree - - Rues Ritchie II: Susan Young, BUN The meeting was.called toorder at 5:00 .PM. A -motion. was made by Councilor Pat Blanchette to take the agenda items out of order. -Seconded.- So voted. AGENDA -ITEM -$2 -'Planning Update. John Lord updated the Committee on 2 items which took place at the Planning Board Public 'Hearing meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 200 1994. The first item pertained to the official map amendment which shows the : City'sproposed streets as well as the naming of City packs and any itema that require Council action. The second item pertained to the response to a moratorium order that the CSED Committee,asked the Planning Board to do in the BMHI area and the Area between Hogan Road and Howard Street. A -report on other issues of the moratorium order will be presented in a written reporttothe CSED Committee at a future time and the Council will be able take action respectively. SII i, AGENDA ITEM 41 Proposal toOperate a Water Tax! from the Bangor. Landing III. Councilor Pat Blanchette asked to be excused': from voting on this Stam but reserved the right to speak as a private citizen. So granted. - - i� �i Ii' 2/ At Ken Gibb's request Jim Bing gave detailed background on the Penobscot Water Taxi's proposal .which was heard at the August 21 1994 Harbor Committee meeting. The Harbor Cottee (which is in. an advisory capacity to theCityCouncil) voted cot to recommend the proposal at this time due to their concern for the existing operation of the Voyageur which began their first season in July and their concern not to create a business climate whereby neither business would be successful.- Additionelly, there's the fact that for several years the City was 'unsuccessful in attracting an excursion boat such as the Voyageur and the City does not wish to do anything at this time to defeat its success. The Harbor Committee advised both Mr. LaBree and mr. Ritchie to bring their proposal back to the Committee early in 1995. Wayne LaBree at this time made. his- presentation to the CSED Cottee. He stated that Penobscot Water Taxi ,a proposal does not offer any conflict with the cart ntaparation of the Voyageur -- the water taxi is able to only transport six persons at a time. Their route goesfrom the Hampdan Haring to the Bangor Landing and up the river as far as the waterworks and the .dam. He stated that the Voyageur, because of its size, is not able to go to the dram area and they feel that this .is a positive,alternative that their vessel offers. Penobscot Water Taxi's original scope was to offer customers a cruise'. from. SucksPort to -Bangor. Their service is open to the public whereas the Voyageur "operates primarily on charters. At the time of the Penobscot Water Taxi's initial proposal to the City they also submitted a- certificate `. of insurance, (the City, legal Dept. bad yet to complete their process of verifying proper coverage at the time of the. 8/2/94 Us or Committee).' Erik Stumpfel, City Solicitor, commented that the City his the legal right: axon obligation to regulate commercial use of their Properties.;, .Ken Gibb summed up the issues at hand being 1) whether the City Would consider any operation by the Penobscot Water Taxi for the remainder of this year or 2) what happens next year with the existing or - any perspective operation that may be proposed for 1995. Mr. LaBree asked that their proposal be tabled for the time. He will put together a new proposal for 1995 and bring it back to the CSED Cottee at a future date without having to go thru the Harbor Committee. Ken Gibb replied that the proper procedure is to go first to the. Harbor Cottee and then on to C&ED Committee which would then forward it to the City Council for final approval. Jim Ring added that the proposal should be submitted early in 1995, i.e. February or Batch of 1995 or even earlier. Mr. LaRiee then asked that his 1994 proposal be acted on now and, if approved, then have the right to renewal of a 1995 proposal without any further steps. 3/ After much discussion as to the various considerations by the City .and Penobscot Water Taxi Company, a motion was made to deny the Penobscot Water Taxi's proposal for 1994 and at the same time direct the Harbor Committee to review the 1995 waterfront activities and report back to the C&ED at their 2nd meeting i November. The intent of this is to work toward establishing policy for clearer guidance on this issue. After policy has been set, then Penobscot Water Taxi will be welcomed to bring back their proposal for the 1995 season. Seconded. So voted. AGENDA ITEM 43 - Northern Conservatory Hegnest Ken Gibb updated the Committee on this item. Daryl Rhoden, Director of the Northern Conservatory, proceeded to brief the Committee on the status of the project. Erik Stumpfel, City Solicitor, followed with a'breakdovn of potential Council Orders that will address various options on this request. The primary reason for Mr. Ehodes coming before the Committee as to ask that the lien of $10,000 placed on the Freese, building by the City be waived so that the Conservatory may Proceed in their endeavorto renovate and establish the new site for their high school/family school for the arts - 'The Maine School for the Arte^. They, in to=, would reimburse the City this $10,000 in lieu of services for 5 years or they would agree to put it towards compliance with the City's facade ordinance. It was suggested that a solution would he for the City of Bangor to grant the Conservatory $10,000. This grant would be made in conjunction with the payment of the $10,000 fine so that the financial impact to the City would be a wash. The Committee - considered this proposal and unanimously voted to recommend this option to the City Council. With no other business at hand, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 PM. E