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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-05-22 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes � Business and Economic Development Committee May 22, 2001 Minutes Attendees: Councilor Baldacci, Palmer, Vardamis, Rohman, Tremble; Ed Barrett, Sally Burgess, Kate Weber; Jim Ring; Lee Umphrey; Stan Moses 1. Reauthorization of the Bangor Center Development District Burgess told the Committee that the total taxable assessed value of the district as of April 1�was $81,562,700 and the proposed rate of assessment remains at 53 cents. The proposed expansion of the district will include properly that is in the City's ownership. She�also provided them a history of the District as well as the annual report of the Bangor Center Corporation for FY01. The BCC has a strong volunteer board and Linda Packard was present. She pointed out that each board director has a direct interest in the downtown area including residents as well as business owners. Rohman asked if the Board ever received questions on the tax rate. Burgess said in four years she has received one. Baldacci asked about the position of Development Coordinator for the City. Burgess indicated it is a new position partially funded through the BCC. A � portion of Burgess'salary is also partially funded through the BCC. Barrett indicated it was basically Pete D'Errico's former position. Burgess indicated that there are aspects of downtown which fail under the City and some associated with BCC and this position will be the liaison to work with BCC. Baldacci felt the position should be discussed at some point regarding the overlap between the two positions. Burgess said that sometimes it is not clear. Rohman asked about an event coordinator position. Burgess said that four years ago Mike Dolley was on retainer with BCC and Steve Robbins has taken over on an event by event basis and is only paid per event. His fees are very reasonable. No search has been made for an alternative situation. Vardamis asked if � this had been discussed at recent budget workshops when she was out of the country. Barrett said there has been a vacant position plus now Peter's position and that he would have Rod McKay update the committee regarding the goals of the two positions. Burgess said that her entire position is devoted to downtown issues and another position would refocus some of her time away from the BCC. Baldacci suggested it be discussed with McKay. Rohman said that one of BCC's major areas are events. He suggested that the person filling D'Errico's vacancy be one with abilities to look at downtown events with a fresh eye. Linda Packard is chair of events and marketing committee of the BCC. Palmer is on the BCC Board and agrees it is time for review. Burgess expressed her appreciation of Packard's efforts for the BCC, in particular organization of the holiday parade. � � The Committee accepted and seconded a motion to Reauthorize the Bangor Center Development District. Four associated Council Orders and two public hearings will be part of the Council's June 11th agenda. 2. Parking Changes Downtown a. Designating Parking for Buses Only The first is a temporary change related to displacement of the City's bus transfer site due to the parking garage expansion. 10 parking spaces on Water St;eet will be changed from one-hour to `�parking for buses only." b. Designating New Spaces on Merchants Plaza One-Hour Nine new spaces need to be created by the narrowing of the sidewalk in front of Merchants Plaza. They will designated as one-hour to make up for the other spaces lost due to the temporary bus site relocation. City Manager Barrett indicated that both are ordinance changes which normally require two readings but he will ask the Council to consider waiving second reading which can be done by a 2/3rd vote so that it will � be efFective ]une 1st. During the parking garage construction, Councilor Palmer asked about rain days as well as restroom facilities for bus patrons. Patrons will be picked up on Water Street, the parking garage will remain open for use during construction with the exception of the roof, and the restrooms will be open if at all possible. Very little work will be done during the day so the assumption is that there shouldn't be a problem with the restrooms. A temporary shelter will be placed on Water Street for patrons to wait for The Bus. Palmer suggested an extra marketing effort in the area to attract more retail business to benefit both the parking area and the downtown as a whole. Barrett said that the property has not been strongly marketed in an effort to not compete with the downtown private sector. Palmer said there have been efForts over the last few years with RFP's being issued twice in 1998/1999 and after that with no responders. Barrett thought the dates were the early 1990's. The Committee recommended approval of a. and b. 3. Presentation of University College Master Plan Dean Tracy Gran of University College, Sherri Stevens, Executive Director of � Administrative Services from UMA which includes Bangor Campus, and David Wilson, � Director of Facilities for University System introduced themselves to the Committee. He provided the Committee with a brief history of University College. In 1972 the Federal Government gave the University System a 30-year deed, which has been retired. In 1968, the Bangor campus first started with first graduates in 1971 on up to 1995. In 1994, there was a plan to move the campus to Orono but it didn't happen. The campus was transferred to Augusta. In 1995, the Bangor College had seven degree programs and 2 certificate programs. Six years later there were 28 programs, going from 700 to 1,100 students. There are seven baccalaureates offered with one quarter of the students in four-year programs. The campus is not aesthetically pleasing to look at having a military look. It is difficult to recruit students and to explain the concept of the University College at Bangor, a campus of the University of Maine at Augusta. In 1998, a master plan was discussed for the Bangor Campus. Phase one is currently in operation with infrastructure type work. There are twenty building on 40 acres. Rohman asked about the enrollment growth at other campuses and Gran indicated that other campuses have had a similar growth rate and some have been steady but slow in growth. He indicated it is difficult to measure full-time, part-time enrollment. Stevens indicated that in 1999 the Bangor Campus was the fastest growing location in the University System. Baldacci asked that in terms of the Master Plan if it were a function of money to • space it over a ten-year period. The total cost is $10-11M without the new proposed technology building which is estimated to be $10-15M by itself. The enrollment goal for the end of the ten-year period is to double the current number. It is difficult to get out of state students without housing. The University staff described the Master Plan in detail. Rohman said that the City is available to lobby in Augusta for the Bangor Campus in terms of seeking State funding. Barrett referred to a meeting a few years back that the City had with the Chancellor and the impact it made. Baldacci indicated it was good for the University to stay in regular communication with the City. He asked if there were issues in terms of property. Barrett said that discussions have been held regarding the final disposition of all the land issues. There are a number of issues still to be worked through; i.e. the City Nursing building. Should the BNRC build another facility, the building will be reverted back to the City. The problem being that Health and Welfare would need to be relocated. Some discussions have taken place regarding a swap of buildings between the City and the University. There are some boundary line issues to work through as well. The City Planner indicated a meeting needs to be established. The current lease between the City and the University has been extended an additional ninety days. Stevens indicated they have some work to do on the boundary line issues. � b Baidacci said he wanted to make sure the City does all it can to make the Master � Plan a reality. He feels the investment of a quality educational facility with housing on campus will be a major part of the City's economic development. Palmer expressed interest in the plan and indicated his desire to testify at the Augusta legislative level regarding the program. Rohman asked about phase one of the master plan, and the University representatives went through the items that have been completed at this point or that are in progress. Discussion again turned to the existing nursing facility building as a viable alternative for residential housing. Barrett again stressed that if the nursing facility moves and the University were to occupy the space that the City still has t� find housing for Health and Welfare. Rohman suggested putting Health and Welfare into Caribou Hall, and Barrett indicated it had been discussed at a recent University advisory meeting. The Committee discussed budgeting issues at the Bangor Campus in terms of energy conservation. The UMA handles the Bangor Campus budget. Discussion took place about the Bangor Campus name to make it more clearly identifiable. Vardamis suggested this type of information be included in an upcoming Weekly insert. Barrett suggested the Council needed to discuss their suggestions for future items for The Weekly, which will be published as an insert on a qt�arterly basis. � 4. Discussion of Grant's Buildina Councilor Baldacci had requested staff to update the Committee on the status of the Grants Building indicating that the Council needs to start considering options for the building. Rod McKay had provided the Committee a memo attached to the agenda. Baldacci said the State Court System has expressed no interest in the building at least in part because of the presence of Cadillac Mountain Sports. Barrett indicated the County may still have some interest, but they are waiting to see the Court's intent. Palmer said the county doesn't want to invest in a building and then have the State go elsewhere with a district court. Umphrey agreed that the County Government will not act until the State indicates its commitment to downtown Bangor. There is discussion of the probation and parole office looking at the Grants Building for a temporary office; however, the stairs are not ADA compliant as well as some other issues. Baldacci asked how long the City should wait. The City purchased the building in 1996 and there is one successful tenant in the building. Palmer said that parking is an issue in terms of marketing for development of the building. Rohman mentioned the interest of local business colleges. He indicated the City could talk to area business tenants who rent downtown buildings asking if they would be interested in a purchase. Tremble and Vardamis agreed with Rohman's idea of disposing of buildings rather than � the City being a landlord. Barrett indicated there is State Law indicating that court • systems give preference to downtown locations but that the State doesn't bring it up in meetings. Umphrey referenced a conversation with the Court Administrator indicating that he would provide a letter making a commitment to downtown; however, the letter has not been received. Barrett indicated that an RFP could be issued for the building. Tremble mentioned $5M had originally been designated for the Bangor area court system. Baldacci suggested a Council Executive Session with the local legislators be scheduled in the near future. Rohman asked Burgess if staff would be able to define the highest and best use for the building. Burgess said there is a demand for housing, a desire for and a strong demand for parking amongst downtown employers. The Parking Garage is as close as Abbott Square to the building. Burgess felt that with Cadillac Mountain Sports already well established that it could serve as a theme for the building. The Maine Products Pavilion could work well in the building. Rohman suggested the City could condo the building and sell it by floor. Baldacci felt it is the best option. Burgess said that John Bonadino is upbeat regarding possibilities for the Peoples Heritage Building which has been sold to a California physician and believes tenants have been lined up. Umphrey indicated the Legislature should be ending in early June and suggested the meeting be set up for after that time. Baldacci asked that Umphrey set up an executive session with the full Council and the legislative delegation and the county commissioners as well as Buddy Murray, attorney for the county. Umphrey indicated he has a pending phone call to Ted Glessner. Baldacci further suggested that the next � Business and Economic Development Committee should have an item to discuss the condo option and that the legislative delegation be notified of this meeting. Also to notify them that the City wants a firm commitment for the court systems to remain in the downtown area and the $5M. Staff will be prepared to discuss options and alternatives at the next meeting. 5. Review of Waterfront Public Space Design Schedule With the agenda packet, The Committee received a copy of the proposed schedule for the landscape architect design on the waterfront project. Staff recently met with Carol Johnson Associates, and the project is currently on schedule. Council will be involved with the next meeting as well as some members of the public. There is a potential for future public meetings to present options and ideas. Ring updated the Committee on the riverbank treatments. Tremble asked about plans for the ampitheater and expressed concern with the schedule. Tremble feels the City should take a lead and make a decision. Ring said that he has been in contact with Chip Huchins. Baldacci asked Umphrey if it were possible to redirect federally received funds to the ampitheater project. Umphrey said there is some earmarked money for the waterfront, but all through the Department of Transportation for the intermodel facility and other infrastructure. It is too late in the process to redirect. Last year, Umphrey was able to provide information on the private donation for the ampitheater and this � year the federal government asked about the progress. Baldacci said the Council should set a deadline as a Council to make a decision on whether to go forward with � the ampitheater for the Folk Festival. Umphrey asked if the Council should meet with Chris Hutchins. Palmer asked if Peter D'Errico should become involved. Rohman said the Festival will happen on the waterfront with or without the ampitheater. Carol ]ohnson is aware of the situation with the private donation, and the City's concerns and Johnson will make the connection for a meeting with Chip Hutchins. If the City received the check, preliminary work could start. Baldacci asked for an update at the next Committee meeting. Johnson Associates will present alternatives to the Council first and then go for public hearing for comment. � �