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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-30 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes � � BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE March 30, 2005 � Minutes Councilor Attendance: Tremble, D'Errico, Allen, Farrington, Hawes, Stone � StafF Attendance: McKay, Bates, Moses, Ring, Dyer Others: 4�' of July Corporation, Mrs. Bronson; Stephanie Armstrong and Michelle Cobb from People's Bank � 1. 4"' of July Corporation - Fundraiser Carnival on Railroad Street/ Main Street Corner Lot. , � McKay indicated that the 4"' of July Corporation is lannin a Smoke 's P 9 Y Greater Shows carnival on May 10-16 to raise $5,000 for the 2005 July 4"' � Fireworks display. Since the event is longer than three days, it requires Committee approval. While it is not an activity that the City envisions for long-term use at the waterfront, stafF feels it would be good to allow the � event for this year but indicated that in the future it might not be possible due to-future construction and deuelopment. Ring and Bates have met with the 4�" of July Corporation. The proposed license agreement includes t additional provisions recommended by staff that will address various concerns. Ring feels that if the sod area is beaten down during this event � that it will regenerate itself in time for the Folk Festival. Allen asked about using the Bass Park parking lot. Bates said the space is not available due to a Logger's Convention. Bronson, of the 4"' of July Corporation, indicated � that she did not want the event to compete with the Bangor State Fair. Dyer said he doesn't feel the event will have an impact on the Fair as this event is early in the season. The first weekend available at Bass Park � would be Memorial Day weekend. Tremble asked about the B-13 lot. Bates said it would cause a hardship on the downtown permit parkers. Stone asked what the Corporation did in prior years to supplement the � fireworks and was told it was with letters requesting support. The fireworks display has increased $5,000-6,000 over last year. Stone commended the � Corporation for fundraising on its own rather than looking to municipalities. Stone asked if Summer Street would be closed. Ring said no. Allen asked about using Airport property. It is a visibility issue and that more are apt � to take part in a downtown activity. Hawes asked if Smokey's would be held liable for damage. Ring said yes. A motion was made and seconded to approve the event by a vote of 4-1. �' 2. Banknorth representatives briefed the Committee on a special program they will be offering, the Banknorth Community Development Loan � Program that will enable businesses to expand, relocate or start up a business within the City of Bangor. Stephanie Armstrong indicated the � , � program commences on April 1. They are looking to ofFer a loan program � to benefit small businesses; i.e. any business with a loan relationship that is $250,000 or less. She discussed the various rates and plans. More � importantly than the rate, they are looking to work with business customers. People's also works closely with EMDC and the Maine Finance Program through Penquis CAP. The special rates are available from April 1 � to May 31. In response to Allen, Armstrong said they are 66% owned by Toronto Dominion and will be eventually called TD Banknorth. McKay said � it is a great opportunity for Bangor businesses. Stone applauded the company's program. Stone asked them to return to the Committee with an update. In response to D'Errico, Armstrong said they target specific � communities throughout the state and will be targeting additional communities throughout the year. 3. Community Development Update: Community Development staff provided � an update on the amount of Community Development Block Grant funds remaining available to the City; the status of infrastructure and other � projects not yet completed that have been approved and budgeted for by the City Council as part of the City's Community Development Program; and the amount of Community Development funds that will be available for � potential new projects. McKay said that the process would continue until the Committee has formulated a recommendation to the City Council for � the use of CDBG funds in the coming fiscal year. The Council will be asked to approve the Committee's recommendations no later than the May 9"' Council meeting to meet the HUD submission deadline of May 15. � While the City knows what the CDBG funds will be for the coming year, it doesn't know the program income. Projections are based on repayment of � outstanding loans. If property is sold or individuals pay off loans prior to the mature date, more revenue is generated. Projects that have been budgeted for in the past but not completed is the Main Street sidewalk in � front of the Discovery Museum, Park Street sidewalk in front of the New Moon Cafe (due to the Verizon project, the sidewalk cannot be taken care of until after September), the Exchange Street sidewalk in front of the � former Bangor Hydro from York to State Street. Additional projects which staff asked the Committee to consider are � improvements at West Market Square, a bandstand on the waterfront as opposed to an amphitheater (which will be discussed at a future meeting), � sidewalks on Franklin Street need repair and will be replaced with heated . sidewalks. Part of the cost will be paid for from monies from the Water � District due to the water main break damage. The balance will be paid for � with CDBG funds. The 4-apartment complex at Union Place will need improvements. The parking lot associated with LL Bean moving into the . � , � � Irving Oil building will need to be expanded. Due to the number of jobs that will be created, CDBG funds will be availabte for this project. McKay � asked the Committee to get back to him with suggested projects. Bates � spoke about the bandstand indicating there has been a demonstrated use by the Bangor Symphony. Allen asked whether the sidewalk on Park � Street Hill would extend beyond the Tarratine Club. McKay said the intent is to extend the sidewalk on Park Street Hill beyond the Tarratine Club. Regarding the bandstand, Allen asked if the Paul Bunyan Park would remain in use. Bates said that the Bangor Symphony has been interested � in waterfront concerts for years with an estimated attendance of 1,500. Bates said the bandstand would be used by a variety of venues, including , � the Folk Festival. Bates said that Bangor Band makes good use of the Paul Bunyan bandstand. The waterfront bandstand would simply provide another venue for citizens to enjoy. Stone asked about obtaining � community fundraising/sponsorship. Stone asked about an architectural drawing. Bates said there is access to information on outdoor performance bandstands and does plan to investigate. Allen spoke of the City's long- � time discussions about an amphitheater. If the Committee wants to pursue the possibility, stafF will research bandstands; appropriate locations, . .etc. for the Committee's consideration. McKay said that�it is not � necessarily a replacement for the amphitheater. If approved, Allen asked the timeframe for completion of a bandstand. Through the first part of � May, McKay said staff is looking for the Committee to formulate a recommendation to the City Council for a program of community development funded activities beginning as early as July i, 2005 through � ]une 30, 2006. Design and location would need to be decided upon but conceivably it could be completed in early 2006, McKay said. Allen would like to see construction started in ]uly. Hawes feels this is an important � step in the waterfront/downtown development. She cautioned that a bandstand needs to be placed properly rather than discovering in years to come that it is in an inappropriate spot. She stressed that the concept � should not become mired for another three or four years. Farrington asked about the possibility of an amphitheater, an appropriate location, etc. He agreed that with the bandstand concept. Within the next two � months, he feels that the City will know what form the amphitheater will take. Stone agreed with Farrington. He supported anything that could be � started on next spring. He doesn't think the City should rush. Allen stressed that she didn't mean that something should be started this ~ summer but to get started on a concept. She supported funding a � bandstand location and letting the amphitheater fall where it may. Tremble said it is clear that the bandstand should be included in the community development project list. Tremble asked about the Exchange � Street sidewalk improvements. McKay said it is uneven concrete and will be replaced with brick. McKay said that sidewalks are often redone in � � � conjunction with properly rehabilitation. The Exchange Street sidewalks � will be heated provided by the property owner of the Protea building. A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 5:45 pm. � � � , � � � .� - � �. � � � � . � � � � �