HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-23 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 @ 5:15 PM
Penobscot Room, Lower Floor of Penquis CAP
MEETING MINUTES
City Councilors Present: Beck, Dean, Fish, Fournier, Hawes, Leonard, Mallar,
Tremble.
City Staff Present: Collette, Krieg, Wall.
Chair Fournier called the meeting to order at 5:46 P.M.
1. BANGOR BEAUTIFUL FENCE MURAL ADJACENT TO WATERFRONT
CONCERTS, Action requested to forward recommendation to full Council
Development Director Anne Krieg presented to the Committee and introduced the
agenda item.
Greg Edwards, Bangor Beautiful, presented to the Committee and provided an
overview of the proposed mural project.
Councilor Dean asked about the color scheme— Edwards responded and clarified.
Councilor Hawes moved to forward the recommendation to full Council, seconded
by Councilor Leonard. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. Motion passed.
2. PROPOSED NEW USE IN AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, Action
requested to forward recommendation to full Council
Development Director Anne Krieg presented the agenda item.
Planning Officer Anja Collette presented to the Committee and provided an
overview of the proposed amendment.
Chair Fournier asked for clarification regarding the location of the fire training
facility — Development Director Krieg responded and clarified.
Councilor Hawes asked whether this use is being proposed only for the Airport
Development Director— Development Director Krieg confirmed this.
Councilor Leonard moved to forward the recommendation to full Council,
seconded by Councilor Hawes. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. Motion passed.
3. FEE CHANGES — PLANNING, Action requested to forward
recommendation to full Council
Planning Officer Anja Collette presented the agenda item and provided an
overview of the proposed changes to the fee schedule.
Councilor Mallar asked about the fee schedules of other cities of comparable size
— Planning Officer Collette responded that these had not been looked into at this
time. Mallar expressed concern for approving reduced fees before the next fiscal
year's budget is finalized.
Councilor Beck asked if reduced fees would potentially increase building and
development in the City — Development Director Anne Krieg and Planning Officer
Collette responded and clarified how these lower fees may impact future
development.
Councilor Fish commented that she often receives feedback that the fee schedule
in Bangor is considered to be high by local developers, and expressed support for
the proposed changes.
Councilor Dean asked about the actual revenue amount for the current fiscal year
— Planning Officer Collette responded and clarified.
Chair Fournier expressed support for the proposed changes.
Councilor Fish moved to forward the recommendation to full Council, seconded by
Councilor Hawes. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. Motion passed.
4. PROPOSED TESTIMONY, Action requested to direct staff to provide the
requested testimony
A. LD 949 — AN ACT TO CLARIFY LICENSING JURISDICTION FOR
MANUFACTURED HOUSING COMMUNITIES
Planning Officer Anja Collette presented the agenda item and provided an
overview of the proposed testimony.
B. LD 1396 —AN ACT TO AMEND MAINE'S MUNICIPAL SUBDIVISION
STANDARDS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DWELLING UNITS
ON OR DIVISIONS OF A TRACT OF LAND BEFORE THE TRACT IS
CONSIDERED A SUBDIVISION
Planning Officer Anja Collette presented the agenda item and provided an
overview of the proposed testimony.
Councilor Tremble asked how frequently a lot can be subdivided under the current
law — Planning Officer Collette responded and clarified.
Planning Officer Collette also provided a brief overview of proposed testimony on
another upcoming bill, LD 1498.
5. PLANNING UPDATES
A. JANE'S WALK
Planning Officer Anja Collette presented the agenda item and provided an
overview of the upcoming Jane's Walk event.
Councilor Beck asked how the location is chosen — Planning Officer Collette and
Development Director Anne Krieg responded and clarified.
6. BUSINESS RETENTION AND ATTRACTION WORK UPDATE
Development Director Anne Krieg presented the agenda item.
Business Development Specialist Brad Wall presented to the Committee and
provided an update on business retention and attraction efforts.
Councilor Fish asked why businesses may be interested specifically in City-owned
properties — Business Development Specialist Wall responded and clarified. Fish
also asked about what the typical inquiries are from existing businesses — Wall
responded and provided examples of some of these inquiries. Wall also noted that
the City is receiving more referrals for businesses to contact the Economic
Development office.
Councilor Mallar asked what percentage of the time Wall is meeting with new
businesses vs. existing businesses, and also how often businesses are contacting
the City first vs. the City reaching out to them. Wall responded and provided
estimates of the frequency of each type of business interaction. Mallar asked about
contact that staff made with the owners of a local business that had a fire and has
expressed other concerns. Wall and Development Director Krieg responded and
provided some clarification about meetings with this business. Mallar expressed
concern that the City is acting reactively rather than proactively in making contact
with local businesses — Krieg responded that Councilors should direct businesses
to City staff when they receive comments or concerns. Mallar noted that he had
done so in a previous circumstance and felt that staff had not followed up with the
business as desired.
Councilor Beck expressed support for the work done with new businesses.
Chair Fournier expressed support for staff's networking efforts with local partners.
Councilor Leonard suggested using social media as an outreach tool for
businesses.
Meeting adjourned at 6:24 P.M.
Meeting minutes respectfully submitted,
Sarah Maquillan
Admin. Asst.
C&ED