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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-03-03 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 5:00 PM City Council Chambers MINUTES Councilors: Councilor Bronson opened the meeting for Chair Weston as he arrived later on; Gratwick, Nealley, Staff: McKay, Harrington, Heitmann, Cyr Others: Penobscot County Commissioner Baldacci 1. Update on Citizens Communication Initiative Councilor Bronson stated that as Item#1 is an initiative of Councilor Weston's, it was decided to postpone it until his arrival to the meeting. 2. PUBLIC HEARING—Amount of Federal Community Development Block Grant Funds expected to be available for the period July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 and the Eligible Uses of Community Development Funds Asst. Community Development Director, Kaleena Harrington, reviewed this item for the Committee. As a requirement of the Federal CDBG program, the City has to hold two public hearings. The plan is required to be submitted to HUD by May 15, 2010. Public input and suggestions are welcomed at this time for any issues regarding housing or Community Development needs in Bangor. It is anticipated that$1,020,000 will be received; also anticipated that$250,000 of program income will be gained from repayment of loans made through the Community Development Residential Property Rehabilitation Loan Program. She then outlined the eligible activities for the CDBG funds and did a slide presentation highlighting the various rehabilitation projects that have been accomplished over the years of this program. Since 1990,there have been 765 loans completed with this program, totaling over$8 million. She concluded by saying that due to recent new staff hires in the Community Development Department,the Residential Rehab Loan Program is thriving. Community Development Director, Rod McKay added that over the coming weeks staff will be meeting with this Committee to discuss proposals for the use of the funds. If any City Councilors or Committee members have ideas on how these funds might further be used, they may contact either Kaleena or Rod who will see if suggestions are eligible for funding under this program. Rod stated that a list of projects will be complied and that a meeting should be scheduled with Dana Wardwell, Director of Public Services and Jim Ring, City Engineer to discuss how this work can be accomplished within the next year. No comments from the public- Public Hearing closed. (At this time, Councilor Weston arrived.) 1. Update on Citizens Communication Initiative Debbie Cyr updated the Committee on the progress of the Citizens Communication Initiative. City items that will be on the e-gov site are the weekly agenda notices, downtown parking bans, winter parking regulations, as well as ordinary and regular notices that the City sends out; also areas of special interest. The frequently asked questions (FAQ's) section will be listed in the directory on the first floor at City Hall to aid the general public looking for services. On the issue of improving utilization of the City's government access channel, the first step to be considered is to include the policy for Committee to look at and see if it is still appropriate, accurate, and the process for staff to follow in determining what goes on the government access channel. A new schedule on the government channel will begin for rebroadcasts of City meetings; they will now be broken up into individual broadcasts by meeting. Also,the issue of videos, NESCOM (New England School of Communications @ Husson University— Bangor)will be having summer interns—this may be an opportunity for the City to take advantage of. Some interns are paid, and depending on the project Community Development funds can be used. Shirar Patterson of the City's Economic Development office is waiting for a call back from NESCOM on this issue. After much discussion, the Committee was in agreement that the City's policy needs to be reviewed—making sure that what the City does is consistent with the policy. 3. REFERRAL—ORDINANCE 10-074,Amending Map Entitled "Downtown Parking Management District" by designating spaces 1228 as "Parking for Persons with Disabilities" and 1229 as "Parking Limited to Two Hours" A motion was made by Councilor Gratwick; seconded by Councilor Nealley. So voted. A motion was made by Councilor Gratwick to go into Executive Session on Economic Development—Negotiations for Parking Lease Agreement—1 M.R.S.A. §405 (6) (C) 4. Executive Session - Economic Development—negotiations for Parking Lease Agreement— 1 M.R.S.A. §405 (6) ( C ) 5. Committee Action on Above Item A motion was made and seconded to approve a lease with the County for a period of two years starting January 1, 2010 for 75 spaces at a rate of$30 per space with a 20%discount and a discount of 5% if paid early, the first early payment to be by March 31, 2010 and January 1, 2011 with an option to lease an additional twenty-five (25) spaces through June 30, 2010; that the County spaces be spaces other than the 1-13 on map as close to Court Street and the others 1-19 that wrap around behind the police building. That this Committee also approve a maintenance lease from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2011 for 6 county spaces at a rate of$7.50 per space, with the understanding that the exact spaces be designated for the county, will be worked out between the staff and the county, but obviously not include those spaces that were alluded to earlier and that this approval be valid for 2 weeks to give the County time to make sure they're satisfied with it and let us know. Seconded. So voted.