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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-17 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, 5:15 PM City Council Chambers MINUTES Councilors: Chair Weston, Bronson, Nealley Staff: McKay, Wallace, Bolduc, Willette Others: Kerrie Tripp, Executive Director of GBCVB and Gibran Graham, GBCVB; Colonel Jordan of The Maine National Guard 1. CVB Quarterly Update Kerrie Tripp of the Greater Bangor Convention &Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) updated the Committee on all of their programs from Oct. 2009—Jan. 2010. She also noted that their Annual Dinner is scheduled for May 4; this year the honorees are Husson University for Organizational Achievement Award, and the Senior Little League World Series for the CVB Impact Award in the community, and for the Lifetime Achievement Award they are honoring Bud & Betty Grant for all of their contributions in the Bangor community. 2. Request for Lease of Land—Maine Air National Guard Steve Bolduc of the City's Economic Development office reviewed this item for the committee. This request is to lease approximately a 0.558 acre parcel on the north side of Maine Ave., along the entrance to the Maine Air National Guard base. This request is a modification of a previous request to acquire a portion of Lot 18. As part of that request and proposal,the Maine Air National Guard offered to provide some earthwork services to the remaining portion of Lot 18 to improve the drainage way. The Maine Air National Guard is now modifying their proposal because they feel that they can accomplish the same objectives with less land. They are also willing to make a financial contribution to the City's project to improve the storm water infrastructure in the area. Staff recommends approval of this proposal to amend the City's land lease with the Maine National Guard to include the 0.558 acre parcel. Councilor Nealley made a motion to approve staff recommendation as presented. Seconded by Councilor Bronson. So voted. 3. Review Waterfront Seasonal Concession Vendor Policy Tracy Willette, Parks and Recreation Director, stated that recently the City received a proposal from a local vendor to operate a seasonal concession stand on the Waterfront. Current policy stipulates that in order for the City to enter into an agreement for this type of operation, an RFP process needs to be conducted and a vendor selected. At a recent BED Committee meeting, it was decided to change the requirement for an RFP process and allow for the possibility of more than one concessionaire on the Waterfront. Staff indicated they would determine a location, develop an application process, and review the current policy and suggest changes that the committee may want to consider. A draft application that includes proposed fees and season options was given to the committee members prior to today's meeting along with proposed changes to the current vendor policy. Staff is recommending the area on the South Street side of Railroad and Front Streets. These spaces will be offered on a first come, first serve basis, based on a complete application process. Staff has reviewed this concept with both the City Engineering Department and Code Enforcement Office, and have also met with the vendor that made the original proposal who indicated this location would be suitable. It was the consensus of the committee that staff will continue to move forward with the waterfront vendor operation with the caveat that as a courtesy, information be extended to abutting property owners; staff will continue to move forward with the waterfront seasonal concession operation, and will follow-up with reviewing the policy once again with the committee. 4. Review Community Development Residential Property Rehabilitation Loan Program— Multifamily Loans At the February 3rd BED Committee meeting, members questioned the need to provide financial assistance to investors who may have other resources to finance improvements to their properties,and the fixed interest rate and terms offered by the City. At today's meeting, as informational background for the committee, Rod McKay reviewed the federally funded Community Development Program that began in 1974 in Bangor along with the current Community Development multifamily lending policy. He has also talked to various lending institutions in the area to see how this program matches up with their programs. Their lending is not significantly different from the City's Community Development Program, except for how long interest rates are fixed and the length of loans. Considering current interest rates in the private market,the City's rates are not out of line, but they quickly could be if private market rates increase as they have historically done. Rod also reviewed several proposed changes to the City's policy for multifamily investor-owned loans. 5. Community Development Residential Property Rehabilitation Loan—68 Jefferson Street A motion was made by Councilor Bronson to table this item until such time as there is a revised policy for investor landlord loans in the Community Development Residential Property Rehabilitation Loan Program. Seconded by Councilor Nealley. So voted. 6. Community Development Residential Property Rehabilitation Loan—803 Union Street Rod McKay presented this item for the Committee. No discussion followed. Councilor Nealley made a motion to approve this loan request as presented by staff. Seconded by Councilor Bronson. So voted. At the Committee's approval, Rod McKay presented Items 7, 8&9 together as they all deal with Parking in the Curve Street area. 7. REFERRAL—ORDINANCE 10-062,Amending Parking Schedule XVI —On Street Parking Lots— Curve Street Staff recommends approval of this Ordinance. 8. Schedule of Fees for Curve Street On Street Parking Lot Staff recommends approving adding 40 spaces to the Schedule of Fees at a rate of$30.00. 9. Authorizing Lease with Webber Oil Company Lease for Forty Parking Spaces along Curve Street Staff recommends forwarding this lease to the City Council for approval in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor or Assistant City Solicitor. Councilor Nealley made a motion to move staff recommendation on Items 7, 8 and 9 as presented. Seconded by Councilor Bronson. So voted. Councilor Bronson made a motion to go into Executive Session on Economic Development— Negotiations for Disposition of Property—498 Maine Avenue—1 M.R.S.A. §405 (6) (C) 10. Executive Session— Economic Development—Negotiations for Disposition of Property—498 Maine Avenue—1 M.R.S.A. §405 (6) (C) 11. Committee Action on Above Item A motion was made, seconded and passed to not accept the revisions to the purchase and sale agreement proposed by Bangor Natural Gas.