COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2004

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Convened: 5:30 p.m.

Adjourned: 7:05 p.m.

 

Present were:      Chairperson Councillor Michael C. Perotto

                             Councillor Philip P. Palmieri

                             Councillor Dennis l. Irish @ 5: 34 p.m.

 

Also:                    Chief Development Officer Philip Niddrie

                   Deputy Development Officer George Ciccone

                   Development Office Staffperson Thomas Sweeney

City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk

 

 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 

1.       Communication of the City Manager relative to the 2003 Annual Report for the Greater Worcester Area Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee.

          #8H CM September 9, 2003

Recommend File

 

2.       Communication of the City Manager relative to Idea Central.

#8B CM December 9, 2003

In Committee January 22, 2004 – Held

Recommend File

 

3.       Communication of the City Manager relative to current cost estimates for the completion of the South Worcester Industrial Park Project.

          #8B CM March 9, 2004

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the Administration report to the City Council within 30 days concerning the South Worcester Industrial Park including all financial items.

 

4.       Communication of the City Manager relative to Charrette Summary.

          #8C CM March 9, 2004

Recommend File

 

5.       Communication of the City Manager relative to February’s Economic Development Initiatives Report – Part I

1.     Union Station Garage and Tenancy

2.     Gateway Park Grants and Tenancy

3.     SWIP Project

4.     Brownfield Initiatives

a.      Specific Properties

b.     Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund

5.     Wyman Gordon Property Reuse

6.     Worcester Center Tenancy

7.     Visitor’s Center Rehab

8.     Arts District

#38 CC February 3, 2004

Recommend File

 

6.       Communication of the City Manager relative to March’s Economic Development Initiatives Report – Part I

1.     Union Station Garage and Tenancy

2.     Gateway Park Grants and Tenancy

3.     SWIP Project

4.     Brownfield Initiatives

a.      Specific Properties

b.     Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund

5.     Wyman Gordon Property Reuse

6.     Worcester Center Tenancy

7.     Visitor’s Center Rehab

8.     Arts District

#8A CM March 9, 2004

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the Administration include the Harlow Street Artist’s Group in our support for an Arts District.

 

Chairman’s Order request the Administration bring forward the Farmer’s Market study.

 

7.       Order Councillor Konstantina B. Lukes – request Commerce and     Development Committee to set priorities as to those projects that do not have funding and are going to require City participation for funding and report back to City Council at least one month before budget session commences.

          #33j CC February 3, 2004

Recommend Hold

 

Chairman’s Order request the Administration provide the City Council with a listing of all economic development projects that require city financial participation and the dollar amounts.

 

CERTIFIED PROJECT APPLICATIONS

 

8.       Communication of the City Manager relative to decertification of Certified Project of GKN Sinter Metals – Worcester (formerly PresMet Corporation).

          #8D CM August 12, 2003

Recommend File

 

9.       Communication of the City Manager relative to recovery of taxes for non-compliance of a TIF Agreement.

          #8B CM August 12, 2003

Recommend File

 

10.     Communication of the City Manager relative to process of a 5 and 10 year review of the HUD Section 108 Loan Guarantee for Fargo Management, LLC and Columbus Hotel, II, LLC.

          #8B CM September 9, 2003

Recommend File

 

FINANCE

 

11.     Communication of the City Manager relative to the Courthouse Bond Bill.

          #26A CM December 9, 2003

Recommend File

 

MARKETING

 

12.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Marketing Corp. funding.

          #24 CC June 10, 2003

Recommend File

 

13.     Communication of the City Manager relative to City Marketing funds remaining in Marketing Corp.

          #8D CM   June 17, 2003

Recommend File

 

CONVENTION CENTER AND VISITORS BUREAU

 

14.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Worcester County Convention & Visitors Bureau Budget Scenario.

          #8E CM   June 17, 2003

Recommend File

 

15.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Worcester County Convention and Visitors Bureau membership and board members list.

          #8B CM June 17, 2003

Recommend File

 

16.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Worcester County Convention and Visitors Bureau Year End Sales and Marketing Report.

          #8I CM August 12, 2003

Recommend File

 

17.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Worcester County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

          #8C CM October 28, 2003

Recommend File

 

18.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Status Report -Naming Rights for the Centrum Centre.

          #18B CM February 10, 2004

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the Administration provide the City Council with a summary of the discussions concerning the naming rights for Worcester’s Centrum Centre.

 

19.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Worcester County Convention and Visitors Bureau Second Quarter Report.

          #8A CM February 24, 2004

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager recommend $150,000.00 in Fiscal Year 2005 for the Worcester County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and an additional $40,000.00 earmarked to sports marketing.

 

Chairman’s Order request the Administration report to the City Council concerning reinvigorating the Sports Council.

 

20.     Communication of the City Manager relative to the Visitor Center Status Report.

          #8A CM March 16, 2004

Recommend Hold

 

UNION STATION/COMMUTER RAIL

 

21.     Communication of the City Manager relative to funding status - $2.8 Million for Union Station.

          #8G CM   December 17, 2002

          In Committee May 19, 2003 – Held

Recommend File

 

22.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Union Station Loan Order Update.

          #8L CM August 12, 2003

Recommend File

 

23.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Union Station Loan Order Update.

          #8F CM  October 14, 2003

Recommend File

 

24.     Communication of the City Manager relative to remaining build-out costs – Union Station Loan.

#8D CM November 18, 2003

Recommend File

 

25.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Union Station Update.

          #126 CC May 27, 2003

Recommend File

 

26.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Union Station Update.

          #8O CM   August 12, 2003

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the Administration update the City Council on the Union Station Loan Order.

 

27.     Communication of the City Manager relative to pedestrian walkways.

          #8J CM September 9, 2003

Recommend File

 

28.     Communication of the City Manager relative to ramp demolition.

          #8H CM September 30, 2003

Recommend File

 

29.     Communication of the City Manager relative to the status of the demolition of the Union Station Ramp B.

          #8B CM March 16, 2004

Recommend File

 

30.     Communication of the City Manager relative to the successful negotiation of an amendment to take Union Station tax credits with Wachovia Securities providing payments totaling $5,798,306.00 into New Worcester Associates.

#8C CM November 18, 2003

Recommend File

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

31.     Communication of the City Manager relative to marketing the new hotel to achieve booking levels.

          #8F CM May 20, 2003

Recommend File

 

32.     Communication of the City Manager relative to leasing of vacant street level storefronts.

          #8A CM April 29, 2003

Recommend File

 

33.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Shrewsbury Street Maintenance Facility.

          #8B CM July 1, 2003

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the Administration provide the City Council with a status report on the Shrewsbury Street maintenance facility.