JOINT COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC WORKS AND COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT
MAY 18, 2005
COUNCIL CHAMBER
Convened: 6:03
p.m.
Adjourned: 8:15
p.m.
Co-Chairperson Councilor Paul P. Clancy,
Jr.
Councilor Philip P. Palmieri
Councilor Frederick C. Rushton @ 6:14
p.m.
Also: City Manager Michael V. O’Brien
City Solicitor David M. Moore
Asst City Manager Julie Jacobson
City Assessor Robert A. Allard
Budget Director John Pranckevicius
DPW Director of Engineering Paul
Moosey
1. Relative to the status of the partnership the City is forging with Berkeley Investments, Inc. and Starwood Capital redeveloping downtown Worcester.
#8C CM February 8, 2005
Chairman’s Order request the City Manager provide the City Council with written clarification of the responses to the following topics discussed at the Joint Commerce and Development/Public Works Meeting of May 18, 2005:
1.
Relationship between Starwood Capital and Starwood
Hotel,
2.
Viability of the previous developments by Berkeley
Investments,
3.
Relocation of Workout World facilities, or elimination,
4.
Contingency amounts in MOA and how the amounts were
arrived at,
5.
Ownership of garage after 60 year period,
6.
Design standards, elaborate on certain quality of
design,
7.
Elimination of ramp agreement; and cost savings of that
relief,
8.
Conveyance of vacuum property and estimated value of
that property,
9.
Details of Berkeley projects of this scale and type
across the country,
10. Phase
One timeline for the private investment,
11. Permit
fee cap, based on which of the development scenarios, low or high figure,
12. Ownership
of the underground garage access from Franklin Street,
13. DIF
Bond Financing Payment Plan; no tax levy monies will be involved,
14. Early
re-payment to come from capitalized revenues,
15. Detailed
chart of the revenue stream for the first four years of city payout,
16. Parking
garage revenues will be for paying down the DIF,
17. Sufficient
parking spaces being considered for full build-out,
18. Review
of expenses from City side will be conducted by whom,
19. Quality
of design of new structures,
20. If
state commitment arrives sooner, how does it affect early finances,
21. Examples
of Berkeley as a community partner,
22. Parking
garage rates; language in agreement and how rates are set,
23. Any
stop-loss measure to construction/operation/structure of underground garage,
24. Competition
for housing units in downtown if amount constructed is approx 500-600 units,
25. Compliance
with commitment towards goals for hiring of women and minorities for project
construction,
26. Blending
of new construction design with existing downtown build-out,
Chairman’s Order request the City Manager provide the City Council with the final development agreement between the City of Worcester and Berkeley Investments before signing.
Chairman’s Order request the City Auditor report to the City Council whether additional staff assistance will be necessary in order for him to offer an ongoing monitoring of the DIF and CitySquare project payment of bills. (Clerk to request Auditor be present at the future Joint Committee meetings.)
Chairman’s Order request the City Manager to provide the City Council with a copy of the Desmond parking survey report and that he additionally request Berkeley to provide a copy of the Walker parking survey report including past performance of their recommendations in other communities.
Chairman’s Order request the City Manager contact historical community representatives in the City for assistance in developing a list of historical significant references that might be relied upon the in the naming of new streets within the CitySquare project.
2. Requesting authorization to file an application for a Community Development Action Grant (CDAG) in support of the CitySquare Project.
#40 CC In
City Council February 15, 2005 Resolution adopted 10-0
In
Committee For Informational Purposes Only
3. Relative to the Downtown Parking Study.
#23H CM March 8, 2005
Recommend Hold
4. Relative to schedule of events relative to the CitySquare Project.
#54a CC April 12, 2005
5. Relative to the CitySquare Project and the District Improvement Financing (DIF) law.
#4 CC May 10, 2005
6. 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
7. Transmitting information on the impact of the Responsible Employer Ordinance on the CitySquare Project.
#35a CC May 10, 2005