COMMERCE AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2004

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Convened: 5:34 p.m.

Adjourned: 6:52 p.m.

 

 

Present were:      Chairperson Councillor Michael C. Perotto

                             Councillor Dennis L. Irish

                             Councillor Philip P. Palmieri

 

Also:                    Chief Development Officer Philip J. Niddrie

                             Development Staffperson Paul Morano

                             Development Staffperson Lanny Beaulieu

                             Deputy City Solicitor Michael Traynor

                             Director Visitor & Convention Bureau Donna McCabe

                             Staffperson Visitor and Convention Bureau John Gibbons

City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk

 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 

1.       Communication of the City Manager relative to G.A.R. Memorial Hall Property Sale and Redevelopment Update.

          #8C CM May 4, 2004

          In Committee June 30, 2004 – Held

 

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager provide the City Council within 30 days with a status report on the G.A.R. Hall reconstruction and the two-way Pearl Street projects.

 

2.       Communication of the City Manager relative to proposed redevelopment strategy for the South Worcester Industrial Park.

          #8D CM June 15, 2004

 

Recommend File

 

3.       Communication of the City Manager request adoption of a resolution relative to South Worcester Industrial Park Brownfield Economic Development Initiative (BEDI) Grant.

          In City Council July 6, 2004 #8E CM - Resolution adopted

          (In Committee For Informational Purposes Only)

 

Recommend File

 

CERTIFIED PROJECT APPLICATIONS

 

4.       Communication of the City Manager relative to Certified Projects (TIF) Tracking Report.

#8B CM March 4, 2003

In Committee June 30, 2004 – Held

 

Recommend File

 

5.       Communication of the City Manager relative to TIF Monitoring Reports.

          #8K CM August 12, 2003        

          In Committee June 30, 2004 – Held

 

Recommend File

 

6.       Communication of the City Manager relative to TIF Report.

          #8G CM September 9, 2003

          In Committee June 30, 2004 – Held

 

Recommend File

 

7.       Communication of James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting information regarding the Tax Increment Financing Agreement (TIF) between the City of Worcester and Saint Vincent Hospital LLC.

          #10 CC February 10, 2004

 

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s order request the City Manager report to the City Council what would happen in the event Saint Vincent is sold to a for-profit at a price that is lower than assessed value.

 

Councillor Irish was recused from the meeting on a roll call vote before this item was discussed.

 

8.       Communication of the City Manager relative to Certified Projects (TIF) Report Mid-year.

          #8D CM February 24, 2004

 

Recommend File

 

9.       Communication of the City Manager relative to TIF termination clauses.

          #8B CM March 30, 2004

 

Recommend File

 

Councillor Irish was recused from the meeting on a roll call vote before this item was discussed and acted on.

 

10.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Certified Projects Employment and Investment Reports.

          #8I CM August 17, 2004

 

Recommend File

 

ARTS DISTRICT

 

11.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Arts District Master Plan.

          #8B CM November 12, 2002

          In Committee June 30, 2004 – Held

 

Recommend File

 

12.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Arts District Update.

          #8E CM August 17, 2004

 

Recommend File

 

FINANCE

 

13.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Response to DIF procedures, Terms and Timelines.

          #8A CM June 29, 2004

 

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager to ensure that one individual from the city side is identified as constantly working with Young Park of Berkeley Investments in regard to the redesign/redevelopment of the Common Outlets site.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager to provide the City Council with a copy of the final DIF regulation document.

 

14.     Communication of the City Manager recommend that Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) be transferred from Account #040-91000, City Manager’s Personal Service Account and appropriated to Account #040-92000, Worcester Marketing Ordinary Maintenance Account to provide the balance of FY05 funding for the Worcester County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

          #28SS CM July 6, 2004

 

Recommend Hold

 

CONVENTION CENTER AND VISITORS BUREAU

 

15.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Convention Center Marketing Funds.

          #8F CM   June 17, 2003

          In Committee June 30, 2004 – Held

 

Recommend File

 

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

          #8A CM March 16, 2004

          In Committee April 12, 2004 – Held

          In Committee June 30, 2004 – Held

 

Recommend Hold

 

17.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Worcester County Convention & Visitors Bureau Third Quarter Report for FY ’04.

          #8B CM April 13, 2004

          In Committee June 30, 2004 – Held

 

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager report to the City Council the total amount of funds that are available for marketing, and further, request the Administration meet with officials of the Worcester County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau concerning their marketing plan.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager request the Worcester County Visitor’s and Convention Bureau provide the City Council with copies of their new video/cd of Central Massachusetts.

 

18.     Communication of the City Manager relative to City of Worcester Marketing.

            #87 CC June 22, 2004

 

Recommend File

 

UNION STATION/COMMUTER RAIL

 

19.     Communication of the City Manager relative to remaining build out costs – Union Station.

          #8C CM June 15, 2004

          In Committee June 30, 2004 – Held

 

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the Administration provide a status on the Union Station build-out funds and what is the current estimate of funds anticipated for future build-out.

 

20.     Communication of the City Manager relative to DIF Funding at the Union Station Garage.

          #8B CM August 17, 2004

 

Recommend File

 

COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

21.     Relative to status of RFP for Airport Industrial Park Parcels.

          #8E CM August 12, 2003

          In Committee June 30, 2004 - Held

 

Recommend File

 

22.     Relative to 722 Plantation St.

          #26B CM September 30, 2003

          In Committee June 30, 2004 – Held

 

Recommend File

 

23.     Relative to 722 Plantation St.

          #8A CM May 18, 2004

          In Committee June 30, 2004 – Held

 

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager to provide the City Council with a report within 30 days on the progress on the conveyance of 722 Plantation Street.

 

24.     Relative to Transportation Bond Bill.

          #8C CM October 14, 2003

          In Committee June 30, 2004 – Held

 

Recommend File

 

25.     Relative to conversion of Pearl St. to a two-way street.

          #23B CM November 18, 2003

          In Committee November 19, 2003 - Held

          In Committee June 30, 2004 – Held

 

Recommend File

 

26.     Relative to film production.

          #8C CM March 30, 2004

 

Recommend File

 

27.     Relative to future plans of the School of the Performing Arts.

          #8B CM June 15, 2004

 

Recommend File

 

28.     Relative to Locating a Farmer’s Market in the Harding Street and tunnel areas.

          #8A CM August 17, 2004

 

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager to consider including the parking garage site in the confines of the Common Outlets DIF area and also, that preliminary schematics of that garage include retail/farmer’s market space on the first floor of the garage.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager request the director of the local Farmer’s Market consider locating a trial farmer’s market in the Harding/Water Street corridor in addition to the downtown and Foley Stadium locations in an effort to determine demand in the area surrounding Union Station.

 

29.     Relative to Mass Bay Walk of Fame Update.

          #8K CM August 17, 2004

 

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager consider appointing a committee to move forward with the concept of a Mass Bay Walk of Fame.