HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-07-17 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Monday, July 17, 2023 @ 5:15 PM
City Council Chambers
MEETING MINUTES
City Councilors Present: Fournier, Hawes, Leonard, Schaefer, Tremble,
Yacoubagha.
City Staff Present: Collette, Krieg, Stanicki.
Councilor Schaefer called the meeting to order at 5:15 P.M.
1. RENTAL REGISTRATION, Action requested to provide staff direction
Development Director Anne Krieg presented to the Committee. Reported that
institution of a rental registration is recommendation of the Affordable Housing
Work Group. Defined the registration as recording data on number and type of
units, and requiring that all be inspected. Funding was approved for undertaking
this inventory in FY23 budget. There will be a public workshop on July 27 at the
Bangor Public Library. If City Council approves revaluation as part of this year's
budget, then rental registration can be implemented afterwards. City staff is asking
Committee to consider several options for the registration: (1) implement program
as rental licensing rather than rental registration, (2) implement as a pilot program
initially, and (3) consider connecting program to CDBG, possibly via an asset
management system, which is currently being researched by Community
Development Officer Robyn Stanicki. Benefits of the licensure approach would be
that it would allow the City to get inventory data and contact information on rental
units, show where housing shortages are present, and open dialogue with area
landlords.
Councilor Hawes asked if the licensure approach would allow Code Enforcement
to enforce regulations more than the registration approach would. Krieg responded
that it would, as Code Enforcement would need to inspect rental properties prior
to issuing a license.
Councilor Yacoubagha asked if implementing a licensing program would be the
first step to implementing a registration program in the future. Krieg responded that
both are methods of cataloguing housing and that there is minimal difference
between the two approaches. Councilor Yacoubagha expressed support for
implementing licensing program sooner rather than later.
Councilor Leonard asked what the next steps would be after implementing
licensing program and if future implementation of a registry would then be
discussed. Krieg responded that this decision would be up to Council, but registry
could be implemented as secondary roll-out program following implementation of
licensing program. Also suggested asking for initial participation to be voluntary,
rather than compulsory. Councilor Leonard asked if staff could foresee anything
coming up that may sway Council's opinions one way or the other. Krieg
responded that the proposal is fairly simple and that, if Committee provides
direction to move forward with this today, staff will return with a proposal for a
specific licensing process. Councilor Leonard also brought up previous
discussions of instituting a Rental Advisory Committee, and again expressed
support and urgency to consider alongside several housing discussions that are
presently in progress. Krieg asked if Councilor Leonard envisioned a Rental
Advisory Committee overseeing the licensing program; Leonard responded that
he did not, and that he envisioned them providing general guidance as significant
amount of housing information is perhaps too burdensome for Council to consider
and give diligence to. Proposed Committee being composed of both renters and
property owners.
Councilor Tremble asked how a rental registry would help with housing problems.
Krieg responded that it would address what kind of rental housing is present in the
City, and would help ensure safety of rental units. Councilor Schaefer noted that it
will also show a comparison between what is available as long-term rentals and
what is available as short-term rentals. Councilor Yacoubagha commented that it
would provide data that would then allow the City to develop a plan to deal with
housing problems.
Councilor Yacoubagha shared points emailed to Committee by Chair Sprague, as
he was not able to be present at this meeting. Both Councilors Yacoubagha and
Schaefer expressed support for Chair Sprague's points, but recommended that his
suggestion of requiring quarterly reports on registered rental units be amended to
an annual requirement.
2. MOBILE HOME PARK CHANGES, Action requested to accept staff's
recommendation
Planning Analyst Anja Collette presented to the Committee. Reported that the
City's Mobile Home Park ordinance has not been updated since the 1980s and is
no longer in sync with more recent state statutes. Stated that she has written
proposed amendments to City ordinance after comparing present ordinance to
state's statutes — primary amendments are (1) updating definitions to include
manufactured homes, (2) removing limit on number of homes in a park, (3)
removing out-of-date references, (4) updating lot sizes to match state
requirements, (5) rewriting stipulations for renovating existing mobile home parks,
(6) changing wording to be more inclusive and improve general equity, and (7)
allowing new parks to be built in the RR&A zone, which currently only allows
reconstruction of existing parks. This allowance would apply to lots within the
growth boundary.
Councilor Leonard asked to clarify the definition of manufactured homes, as does
not want to inadvertently hinder development of 3d printable housing in the future.
Collette responded that the updated definitions were discussed with Code
Enforcement and no future issues are foreseen; however, ordinance can also be
updated again in the future if technological innovations necessitate it.
Councilor Yacoubagha moved acceptance of staff's recommendation, seconded
by Councilor Tremble, Vote unless doubted, no doubt.
3. CDBG FUNDED PROJECTS:
A. BANGOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Action requested to accept staff's
recommendation
Community Development Officer Robyn Stanicki presented to the
Committee. Reported that Bangor Historical Society submitted application
for CDBG funds to repair and extend fence on their property. Stanicki
reviewed the application and found it eligible under the small subset of funds
for non-income-dependent organizations.
Councilor Tremble moved acceptance of staff's recommendation, seconded
by Councilor Yacoubagha. Vote unless doubted, no doubt.
Councilor Yacoubagha asked for the total estimated cost of the project.
Stanicki responded that the total cost will be $70,000, and the application is
for $60,000.
4. OTHER BUSINESS
Development Director Krieg reported that there is a public information session on
LD2003 scheduled for this Thursday at 5:00 PM at the Bangor Public Library. Also
confirmed that staff has taken Committee's recommendation to keep changes to
City's land development code as strict interpretation of the new legislation.
Meeting adjourned at 5:46 P.M.
Meeting minutes respectfully submitted,
Sarah Pritchard
Admin. Asst.
C&ED