The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1997-10-01 Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes COMMUNITY&ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Wednesday, October l, 1997 @5:00 PM � -- y ��`� yt MINUTES i;;;, ` . , ,. .�;: :,- �`:;.":�..._.:.:,�;.��,;,..; ' +.��:v COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilor James Tyler, Chair Councilor Michael Aube Councilor Joseph Baldacci STAFF PRESENT: Edward A. Barrett, City Manager Rodney G. McKay, Director of Community& Economic Development Stan Moses,Asst. C.D. Director John Lord, Planning Officer Jim Ring, City Engineer Norm Heitmann, Asst. City Solicitor OTHERS PRESENT: Sean Faircloth and Associate, Children's Museum Project Coordinator Roxanne Saucier, BDN ITEM#1 -Referral of Ordinance 97-398, Amending Chapter III,Article 5, Section 17 - One-Way Street-Highland Court • Staff reviewed this item and asked for Committee's recommendation. , A motion was made and seconded to forward this item as presented back to the City Council for passage. So voted. ITEM 2 -Request to Support Children's Museum Councilor Aube requested that funds ($25,0000)previously earmarked to support efforts of the FFA (Councilor Order 97-369 passed August 25, 1997)now be used to support establishing a children's museum in Bangor(draft Council Order attached) since the FFA project is not going forward in Bangor. He briefed the Committee on the progress of this effort to date stating that it would definitely be an attraction for tourists and as a community effort it has potential opportunities for educational and scientific benefits as well as a family oriented environment. Sean Faircloth, project coordinator for the children's museum, reviewed the ongoing progress and functions of this community group effort along with their mission statement, budget, a time line of the project and other benefits to the communiiy. A motion was made and seconded that this request and draft Council Order be recommended to the Ciiy Council as presented. So voted. • 2/ � ITEM#3 -Front Street Bulkhead Replacement-Review of Plans and Options Jim Ring, City Engineer, updated the Committee on the condition and problems with the bulkhead on Front Street as well as what the City Staff has been doing in terms of considering replacement. In the coming months, Jim stated that Staff will be finalizing designs for restructuring this area and will report back to Committee at that time. Rod McKay, Director of Community&Economic Development, added that a decision will have to be made on the method to be undertaken, do the design work, get permitting and seek out Federal and State funds to accomplish the work as it is going to be expensive. Jim also reviewed the progress of the improvemerits to the waterfront park area and added that he's still waiting for prices and proposals to break up concrete on the remaining section between Main Street and the tracks so this eventually can also be loamed and seeded. S.W. Cole has recently been doing subsurface testing in the area around the former roundhouse site in their determination to see if tanks did exist underground. Results show that there axe not any underground tanks; only above-ground tanks existed. Jim indicated that this is good news as it will mean less in remediation costs. His final comment was that he, Rod McKay,Norm Heitmann and perhaps other City Staff will be meeting with railroad representatives on Friday, October 10 to discuss relocating the track. • ITEM#4 - Community &Economic Development Department Activity Update , 1) An Executive Session to discuss Blue Ox issues was scheduled for Friday, October 3 at 1:00 PM. 2)An Executive Session to discuss Daryl Rhodes recent request per his letter to change the name on the agreement from Northern Conservatory to The Maine School For The Arts and to amend other language of the agreement will be scheduled prior to the Council meeting on Wednesday, October 15. 3)Dan Wellington, Code Enforcement Officer,updated the Committee on the seriousness of the deteriorating condition of the Main Street side of the Freese's building such as the lack of window support and the issue of the remaining roof system. The lst floor windows will be boarded up and painted; the 2°d floor windows will be repaired and Staff is awaiting prices on the cost to repair the roof. 4) T.J. Martzial, C.D. Housing Resources Coordinator, updated the Committee on the progress of the Hope House project. The Dept. Of Mental Health& Substance Abuse sent a letter to Hope House outlining its precarious financial situation which is in such a state that MSHA, Penquis C.A.P., and the City of Bangor do not feel comfortable in proceeding with the planned new expansion. Staff will keep Committee updated as this issue progresses. � 3/ • 5) Rod McKay updated the Committee on a request to place no parking signs on either side of a driveway on Broadway to prevent it from being blocked by students parking cars while attending John Bapst. Staff felt that the placement of signs or marking the pavement at the end of driveways was not practical and would create more problems then it would solve. Staff has talked to the resident who had made this request and hopefully the problem has been resolved. 6) Sunset Provision on Resident Parking by Permit Only near St. Joseph's Hospital - City Manager Barrett requested Staff to put this item on the next C&ED agenda as an ordinance to extend this item. Area residents will be notified. 7) Rod McKay stated that in an upcoming Council agenda there will be an Order which will allow the Chief of Police to block off streets while construction is in process. ITEM#8 - Executive Session-Land Disposition A motion was made and seconded to go into Executive Session. So voted. With no further business at hand,the meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:50 PM. � , � � _ __ , �.d• Aseigned to Councilar Aube a�� u i;l,� � } C;1TY C}F' BA1�iGC.�R � - - �Ar� t`ry. � Making Matching Funds A�ailable to Support Efforts to Establish a t�i��.�.) f�� ..............................................._---................................................................................................. ,...................................................... Children's Museum in Bangor _....._--�.................................._�,._.............._....._........_..----......................--��---.......---......................................._..._................................................................................... By the City Council o�'t1cE City of Bangor: � O€tDER,ED, TFiAT the arnount af$25,000 is hereby transfened from the General Fund CpntinQency Account to the Department of Community and Econamic Development to support efforts to estabiish a children's museum in the City of Banaor; and BE IT FURTHER ORDERED THAT the funds shall be made available to the Partnerships far Healthy Communities an a dallar for dollar matchin�basis with funds raised from other sources, � � _ � . . • . . .. . � ,� .. .. � . . . . � . � . . . . :. _ �