HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-02-23 Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes COMMUNITY&ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
` Wednesday, February 23, 2000 @5:00 PM
MINUTES
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
PRESENT: Councilor Baldacci, Chair
Councilor Vardamis
Councilor Rohman
Councilor Palmer
Councilor Crowley
STAFF
PRESENT: Edward A. Barrett, City Manager
Rodney G. McKay, Director of Community & Economic Development
Peter D'Errico, Economic Development Officer
Sally Burgess, Business & Economic Development Officer
Lee Umphrey, Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator
OTHERS
PRESENT: Chip Hodges, Parking Enforcement
COUNCIL REFERRAL:
ITEM#1 —00-108 Ordinance—Amending Map Entitled"Downtown Parking
Management District"—Space#113
iA motion was made and seconded to recommend to the full City Council the
amending of the map entitled, "Downtown Parking Management District", space 113. So
voted.
REGULAR AGENDA:
ITEM#2— Request to Create 30 Minute Parking spaces on South Side of Water Street
A motion was made and seconded to recommend to the full City Council to
change paxking spaces 2404, 2405 and 2406 to 30 minute parking. So voted.
ITEM#3— Directory Sign Requested by EMMC
Staff reviewed the request by EMMC to install new directory signage on their
campus on State Street. Legal staff has determined that their request does not fit the
criteria as either a commercial or industrial park. They will bring back to the Committee
suggestion that would provide for directional signs for institutional users.
ITEM#4—Freeses Building Update
Staff updated the Committee on the various projects taking place within the
Freeses Building. The Partnerships for Healthy Communities have reached their fund
raising thresholds and have made a request to purchase the space that the Children's
Museuxn will occupy in the Freeses Building. This will require the creation of another
condominium unit in the building. They would like to begin construction as soon as
possible. The City can exercise its option it has with Joe Cloutier to purchase that space
• and either lease or sell this space back to the Children's Museum. Also, if the City
� purchases the space needed by the UM Arts Museum,this too will require that another �
condominium unit be created. It is staff's understanding that the university prefers only
to lease space, not to own it. The UM Arts Museuxn is interested in a11 the remaining
space on the lst floor that is not being used by the Eastern Agency on Aging's kitchen
and the Children's Museum and all of the space on the 2nd and 3rd floors not being used
by the Children's Museum. It is staff's understanding that there are 2 options to consider
in this matter— 1)make an arrangement with Cloutier lease to the University and the City
would pay the rent; or 2)the City would buy the space and lease it to the University. On
the back of the Main Street level, The Eastern Agency on Aging will be leasing
approximately 2,366 sq. ft. in order to provide meals for upper floor residents and for its
Meals on Wheels program. This space can remain under the ownership of JMC Partners .
LLC, or could be acquired by the City for lease to the Eastern Agency on Aging. The
consensus of the Committee was to have staff proceed preparing the necessary paperwork
to form three new condominium units within the existing condominium units involving
the bottom three floors and basement of the Main Street side of the building now owned
by JMC Partners, LLC. One unit would be for the Children's Museum ,the second for
the UM Arts Museum and the third for the space occupied by the Eastern Agency on
Aging's kitchen on the south east corner of the 1 St floor.
. Meeting adj ourned at approximately 6:15 PM.
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