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Home My WebLink About2025-10-06 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Monday, October 6, 2025 @ 5:15 PM City Hall Council Chambers, 73 Harlow Street MEETING MINUTES City Councilors Present: Beck, Deane, Fish, Fournier, Hawes, Mallar. City Staff Present: Davis, Krieg, Lear, Saavedra, Smith, Stanicki. Chair Hawes called the meeting to order at 5:45 P.M. 1. UPDATES FROM RECREATION ECONOMY FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE ON OUTDOOR RECREATION AND REGIONAL TOURISM — BRANDING PRESENTATION, Action requested to provide feedback to staff and forward recommendations on signage in the right-of-way Development Director Anne Krieg presented the agenda item. Lisa Sturgeon, Husson University, presented to the Committee and provided an update and presentation on the tourism branding project. Councilor Fish expressed support for the project. Councilor Beck asked for clarification about kiosk operations — Sturgeon responded and clarified. Councilor Deane asked for clarification about signage — Sturgeon responded and clarified. Councilor Hawes moved to forward recommendations to full Council, seconded by Councilor Fish. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. Motion passed. 2. DOWNTOWN BANGOR PARTNERSHIP — REPORT QUARTER 1, Action requested to provide feedback to staff Betsy Lundy, Downtown Bangor Partnership, presented to the Committee and provided an overview of her written report. Councilor Fish asked if any of the requested ordinance changes have been reviewed by the Legal Department -- Development Director Anne Krieg responded that she will forward these for Legal Department review once feedback from Council is received. Councilor Deane asked about storage of abandoned property — Lundy responded and clarified. Councilor Mallar asked about the ambassador program —Chair Fournier requested to revisit this question after further discussion of the requested ordinance changes. Councilor Beck commented on the requested shopping cart ordinance, and did not express support for this. Councilor Fish commented on the usage of staff resources in removal of abandoned property. Councilor Hawes asked about safety downtown, and whether the ambassador program is helping with this — Lundy responded and clarified that ambassador program staff are primarily scheduled during nights and weekends, so may not be as visible to Councilors. Discussed at length with Hawes. Councilor Mallar asked about enforcement of issues encountered by ambassador program staff — Lundy responded and clarified that the party responsible for enforcement depends on the specific situation. Mallar also asked about enforcement of no motorized vehicles, bikes, etc. on sidewalks— Lundy responded that she will bring this to the attention of ambassador program staff. Chair Fournier discussed the Council's suggestions with Lundy. Councilor Mallar asked about the original contract for the ambassador program — Lundy responded and provided some additional details. City Manager Carollynn Lear confirmed that the original contract would be provided to Councilors. Councilor Fish commented on the cost of the ambassador program vs. the work that has been completed by them thus far, and expressed some disappointment. Chair Fournier clarified with Lundy what information that the Council would like to be provided with moving forward — Lundy responded and discussed. Councilor Hawes requested further discussion on the ambassador program in the future. Councilor Deane suggested receiving a monthly report from businesses downtown on the issues they have had and who has or has not responded to them — Lundy responded and discussed. Councilor Beck commented on these issues being primarily related to homelessness in the City, and Council's obligation in responding to this. Councilor Mallar asked how many Partnership members there are — Lundy responded and clarified how members are tracked, and estimated the current amount to be about 500 businesses. Councilor Mallar asked about the funding for the Partnership — Lundy responded and clarified. Mallar asked to confirm that the snowflake donation requires no financial contribution from the City — Lundy responded and confirmed this. Mallar discussed with Lundy and Development Director Anne Krieg. Councilor Deane moved acceptance of the snowflake donation, seconded by Councilor Hawes. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. Motion passed. Chair Fournier asked about the Partnership's relationship with the cruise lines — Lundy responded and clarified. Councilor Mallar asked about snow removal downtown — Assistant Public Works Director Steve Smith presented to the Committee and provided clarification. 3. LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE — PROPOSED CHANGE TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT REVIEW, Action requested to forward recommendation City Engineer Jefferson Davis presented to the Committee and provided an overview of the proposed ordinance change. Councilor Fish asked for an estimate of how many permits this would add for Engineering Department review—City Engineer Davis responded and clarified that all permits are partially reviewed by the Engineering Department already, so there would be no increase in permits being reviewed. Fish also asked if the MDEP would still be available for questions, if needed — Davis responded that they would be. Chair Fournier asked if this would be a difficult staff burden to take on — City Engineer Davis responded that he did not feel it would be. Councilor Fish moved to forward recommendation, seconded by Councilor Mallar. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. 4. AIRPORT DIRECTOR'S REPORT — PRESENTATION BY CONSULTANTS Airport Director Jose Saavedra presented the agenda item and provided an overview of his written report, as well as a presentation regarding the capital plan. Chair Fournier asked about operating cash —Airport Director Saavedra responded and clarified. Airport Director Saavedra introduced consultants Katie Servis and Jonathan Crowdes — Servis and Crowdes provided a presentation regarding the TSA checkpoint project. Airport Director Saavedra also presented on the taxiway project, as well as other major airport projects. Councilor Fish asked about potential funding opportunities for airport projects — Airport Director Saavedra responded and discussed at length with Fish. Airport Director Saavedra also presented on community outreach efforts. 5. SOCIETE INTERNATIONALE DE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AERONAUTIQUES (SITA) LEASE WITH BANGOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Action requested to forward recommendation Airport Director Jose Saavedra presented the agenda item and provided an overview of the proposed lease. Councilor Beck asked for clarification regarding provisions in the lease in the event of a move —Airport Director Saavedra responded and clarified. Councilor Hawes moved to forward recommendation, seconded by Councilor Mallar. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. 6. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STATUS REPORT, Action requested to provide feedback to staff Community Development Officer Robyn Stanicki presented to the Committee and provided an overview of the status report. 7. DEPARTMENT UPDATES, Action requested to provide staff with direction A. REQUEST TO PROVIDE LETTER OF SUPPORT TO THE BANGOR YMCA Development Director Anne Krieg provided an overview of the request. Councilor Hawes moved support of the letter of support, seconded by Councilor Fish. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. B. HOUSING UPDATE Development Director Krieg provided an update on housing. C. OCTOBER PRESENTATIONS Development Director Krieg provided an overview of upcoming department presentations. D. REQUEST TO PURSUE GRANT— CULTURAL COMMISSION Development Director Krieg provided an overview of the Commission's grant request. Councilor Hawes moved support for the Cultural Commission to pursue grant, seconded by Councilor Mallar. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. 8. EXECUTIVE SESSION: 1 M.R.S.A. §405(6)(C)—DISPOSITION OFREAL PROPERTY OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, 1 item Councilor Hawes moved to go into Executive Session pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(C) — Disposition of Real Property or Economic Development. Seconded by Councilor Fish. Roll call vote conducted — all in favor, none opposed. Motion passed. 9. POSSIBLE ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS Committee returned to open session at 7:19 P.M. Councilor Fish moved to grant Bangor Housing Authority access to the Maine Avenue property, seconded by Councilor Hawes. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:20 P.M. Meeting minutes respectfully submitted, Sarah Maquillan Admin. Asst. C&ED