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Home My WebLink About2005-02-04 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes , , Multi-Purpose Athletic Field Complex Subcommittee on Funding and Implementation � Outline of February 4, 2005 Meeting Member Present: Frank Farrington — Chair, Dean Bennett, John Diamond, Rod ' Towne, Kerrie Giles City Staff: Debbie Cyr ' Others: Richard Greene, Kevin Frazier, Donna Fitchner , 1. Member Input on Previous Meeting — no comments , 2. General Discussion Regarding Form of Ownership • Best option would be a nonprofit organization that could serve as a , fundraising umbrella • Need to involve the greatest number of stakeholders possible . May go beyond sports organizations , • Look for those willing to do some grant research or contribute time or expertise • Possible creation of a regional sports authority ' . If Union Street site, the City could maintain ownership of property and turn operations over to another group. Similar to arrangements with West Side Little League and Bangor Youth Hockey. � 3. Review of Work Plan Items , • Rural Development Program — Bangor only qualifies under the B & I program, which would provide a loan guaranty for conventional financing. It would be ' cheaper for the City to issue straight general obligation bonds. Communities under 20,000 qualify for the Community Facilities Program, which allows for up to 100% financing, at favorable rates, and very long pay back periods. ' . Resources for Feasibility Study — John Diamond has identified an individual to do the study. There is the possibility of some DECD funds to ensure economically beneficial. The consensus of the group was that John continue conversations with the individual and look into the availability of funds to , cover the estimated cost of $4,500. • Preliminary Business Plan — No action to date ' • Grant Opportunities — To date the only State agency with funding appears to be the Bureau of Parks and Land, these programs had been identified by Bangor Youth Soccer. MDOT funding is not applicable. The materials ' provided by Carol Woodcock identified other potential funding. Rod Towne spoke with representatives of Healthy Partners for Maine, who may be a , ' ' potential source of funding. Overall it is agreed that no one grant source , exists for funding such a complex. Smaller funding is available for specific aspects, but in all likelihood will not result in a significant portion of the total � project costs. . Economic Impact Factors — CVB representatives presented an initial draft of the economic impact of a muiti-field complex. At this point the only data , availabie involves the potential to host soccer tournaments. As site, fields and scheduling information was not available, further projections could not be , made. As more information on ownership, site, schedules and availability becomes available additional economic impact information will be presented. • FAA Regulations — The regulations were reviewed to determine if the property , on Union Street could be used without cost under FAA regulations. There is an exception within the Regulations that allow Airport land to be used for , non-aeronautical purposes at less than FMV, if used for public recreational ' and other community uses. The regulations site the following examples; , I public parks, recreation facilities and public bike or jogging paths. 4. Members Concerns, Reservations, Suggestions — No specific comments. ' However, other areas that were discussed during the meeting are a follows; • Usage � . View this as a Community Health Project ' • Walking track with exercise station • Incorporate winter use — xc skiing etc • With artificial turf fields availabie for approximately 8 months per year � • Operation • Fee based maintenance . Develop a name, should avoid municipal name i.e. Bangor ' • Organization • Organization should evolve from stakeholders • PVCOG provides a forum for a regional effort , • Identify all potential stakeholders i.e. University of Maine, Field Hockey, Community Coileges, Husson College • Look at model of United Way, where individuals commit time to the , process in lieu of/in addition to direct funding • Short-term Goals . Identify resources , • Penobscot Counry willing to utilize trustee labor on the project • Level of participation , • Establish an organization • Establish site • Long-term Goals ' • Operating and Maintenance of Faciliry , , , ' S. Establish Time of Next Meeting — Thursday March 3, 2005 at noon. Hope to have information/report available from the Sub Committee working on the ' needs and assessments Work Plan ' • Preliminary Business Plan — )ohn Sheehan and Rod Towne • Foilow up with Rural Development, Community Facility Program for current rates and terms — John Sheehan , • Pursue feasibility study — John Diamond • Obtain information regarding Regional Sports Authorities — Kerrie Giles/Donna Fitchner ' • Schedule a brief discussion with PVCOG — Dean Bennett • Obtain understanding of current/past operating agreements with non-profits , as it relates to the operation of City owned facilities — Debbie Cyr • Inquire with EMDC regarding use of non-profit status to fundraise or help in creation of new non-profit — Debbie Cyr � , ' , , ' , , � ' � , , Penjajawoc/Stillwater Stakeholders Task Force � January 28, 2005 Meeting Meeting Summary , Attendance: All stakeholders attended. , Miscellaneous: Copies of The Bangor Daily News editorial of 1/28/OS were distributed, � which reaffirmed the job of the Task Force was "to balance [development] with protecting as mUch of the Penjajawoc as possible." The Meeting Summary of the 1/2U05 meeting was changed to eliminate the words "the , City Forest, retwning via" in the description of the Task Force's study area. It was noted that Lucy Quimby had also passed out the "Audubon ReporP' at tl�e 1/21 meeting. � Finally, the issues to be addressed by the Task Force was amended to include "fl Recommended zoning, ordinances, and land use changes, if any." Presentation: Kate Webber, Bangor City Planner gave a presentation about the current � state of planning and zoning in the study area. The fourth revision of the City Comprehensive Plan will be issued in June, 2005, updating the 2000 version. The current , conceptual land use categories in the study area include: goverument and instituYional, low density residential, shopping and personal service, general commercial and service, rural residential and agricultural, parks and open space, and resource protection. The ' three actual zones in the study area are resource protection, rural residential and agriculture, and commercial. The existing commercial zone covers 180 of the 1,869 acres in the study area. Kate � briefly described the federal and sYate regulatory process under the Site Location of Development Act(SLODA) which covers natural resource permits and has 28 categories. , Traffic analysis is separate and is the responsibility of the Maine DOT. The City is responsible for issuing Site Planning and Code Enforcement permits. The City only requires 3 parking spaces per 1,000 sf of commercial development, but developers ofren , offer more for shoppers' convenience. Vision: Stakeholders were asked to articulate their respective visions for the study area , and this process. The following were responses (some of which were reiterated more than once): • My ideal vision is affected by the reality of the ongoing projects , • Bangor should recognize the marsh as a jewel for its extraordinary value as home to significant wildlife habitat � • Farmland conservation • We should find ways to conserve eve� in the City's designated "growth" area � • The City's interests include preserving the natural habitat AND maintaining its �I tax base and maintaining our status as a regional service area � ,