JOINT COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS

JUNE 20, 2005

AUDITORIUM, JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

633 SALISBURY STREET

Convened: 7:05 p.m.

Adjourned: 9:51 p.m.

 

Present were:      Co-Chairperson Councillor Michael C. Perotto

                             Co-Chairperson Councilor Paul P. Clancy, Jr.

                             Councillor Barbara G. Haller

                             Councillor Frederick C. Rushton

                             Councillor Philip P. Palmieri

                             Councilor Joseph M. Petty

                             Councilor Juan A. Gomez @ 7:38 p.m.

 

Also:                     City Manager Michael V. O’Brien

                             Budget Director John Pranckevicius

                             City Solicitor David M. Moore

                             City Assessor Robert Allard

                             City Auditor James A. DelSignore

                             City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk

 

Also:                    UniBank VP, Fiscal Advisor to the City of Worcester  Lisa Dickinson

                             UniBank Sr VP, Fiscal Advisor to the City of Worcester Stephen Knight

                             Ropes & Gray, Bond Counsel to the City of Worcester Richard Manley

                             Berkeley Investments and Starwood Capital principals

 

 

Communications of the City Manager

 

1.       Relative to the Downtown Parking Study.

          #23H CM March 8, 2005

          In Committee May 18, 2005 – Held

          In Committee May 26, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 13, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 20, 2005 – Recommend File

 

2.       Relative to schedule of events relative to the CitySquare Project.

          #54a CC April 12, 2005

          In Committee May 18, 2005 – Held

          In Committee May 26, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 13, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 20, 2005 – Recommend File

 

3.       Relative to the CitySquare Project and the District Improvement Financing (DIF) law.

          #4 CC May 10, 2005

          In Committee May 18, 2005 – Held

          In Committee May 26, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 13, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 20, 2005 – Recommend File

 

4.       Requesting adoption of four Orders: 

1.     Designating the DIF District Boundary

2.     Approving the DIF Development Program

3.     Authorizing the filing of Special Legislation

4.     An Order of Taking acquiring the easements for the new public streets

Advertise DIF Loan Order authorizing the borrowing of $89.085 million

Advertise an Ordinance establishing permit and inspection fees

          #35 CC May 10, 2005

          In Committee May 18, 2005 – Held

          In Committee May 26, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 13, 2005 – Held

In Committee June 20, 2005 – Recommend Approval of 4 Orders (Order of Taking, as amended), Advertisement of proposed Loan Order and  Advertisement of proposed Ordinance.

 

Speakers:

1.     Dick Kennedy, 12 Rutland Terrace, Worcester

2.     Lynne Simonds, 67 Illinois Street, Worcester

3.     Phil Reid, 40 Cedar Street, Worcester

4.     State Rep. Robert P. Spellane, 4 Glenbrook Lane, Worcester

 

5.       Transmitting information on the impact of the Responsible Employer Ordinance on the CitySquare Project.

          #35a CC May 10, 2005

          In Committee May 18, 2005 – Held

          In Committee May 26, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 13, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 20, 2005 – Recommend File

 

6.       Transmitting the first of several reports which contains responses to questions raised both by the Joint Committee of Commerce & Development and Public Works and the City Council concerning the proposed CitySquare Project.

          #32 CC June 7, 2005

          In Committee June 13, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 20, 2005 – Recommend File

 

7.       Relative to supplemental information from Berkeley Investments in response to the items requested by both the Joint Committee of Commerce & Development and Public Works and the City Council concerning the CitySquare Project.

          #8C CM June 14, 2005

          In Committee June 20, 2005 – Recommend File

 

8.       Relative to CitySquare Parking Program Financial Assessment, prepared by the City’s independent parking consultant DESMAN Associates.

          #33c CC June 7, 2005

          In Committee June 13, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 20, 2005 – Recommend File

 

Orders

 

9.       Order of Councillor Konstantina B. Lukes request the Administration to report on what corporate entities will be parties to the CitySquare Project and what collateral or assets each entity has and will bring to the project.

          In City Council May 10, 2005 - #26 CC Order Adopted

          Also referred to Joint Commerce & Development and Public Works

          Committee

          In Committee June 20, 2005 - Recommend File

 

10.     Order of Councillor Konstantina B. Lukes request the Administration to provide a break down of the $470 million that will be dedicated to the City Square Project by the developer.

          In City Council May 10, 2005 - #27 CC Order Adopted

          Also referred to Joint Commerce & Development and Public Works

          Committee

In Committee June 20, 2005 - Recommend File

 

11.     Order of Councillor Konstantina B. Lukes request the Administration to report on whether any successors in interest or new fee or lease holders of any parcel located in the CitySquare Project will be obligated to perform the same contractual responsibilities as the original developer.

          #28 CC May 10, 2005

          In City Council May 10, 2005 - #28 CC Order Adopted

          Also referred to Joint Commerce & Development and Public Works

          Committee

          In Committee June 20, 2005 – Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager to provide the City Council with timelines and guarantees for construction of Phase One of CitySquare.