Gardiner Economic Development Committee
Gardiner City Hall Council Chambers
Tuesday, April 8th, 2003, 8:00 a.m.
Minutes
Attending: Anne Davis, Norman Gardner, Kim Greenleaf, Norman Temple, Chuck Applebee, Francis Grey, Chris Paszyc
Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting
The minutes were approved as rendered.
Loan Applications
There were no new Loan Applications.
Sewer Rate Incentive Program
Chuck Applebee, Superintendent of Gardiner’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, gave an overview of the proposed Sewer Rate Incentive Program. The program would be aimed only at development proposals that would add new Equivalent User Rating units to the wastewater system. The program would be linked to the new Downtown TIF District, an area zoned CBD, Central Business District. The program would not be targeted at single family homes. The rationale is that by encouraging development that adds new Equivalent Users, the costs shared by all wastewater system ratepayers would be reduced in the long run. If two people swap buildings, that would probably not create new Equivalent Users. It would be one more tool in Gardiner’s economic development toolbox. The program could
also be applied at Libby Hill Business Park, if negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The downtown is easier to designate because it is a known quantity, but we could also negotiate proposals outside of the downtown.
The way our billing is set up now, there is already incentive to combine three small apartments into one large one. The current structure already encourages that.
If a paper mill or an industrial user wants to come into town, our hands won’t be tied. We will have flexibility to work with them.
The program could apply to a hotel or motel. They are heavy users of a wastewater system. A laundromat could benefit heavily. There could be a great encouragement for that type of business.
The rationale is similar to that for a TIF. People who are interested in investing in their properties or expanding are rewarded. Development proposals for the Sewer Incentive Program would be reviewed by both the Economic Development Committee and the Wastewater Advisory Committee. They would both make a recommendation to the City Council regarding final approval. The City Council would make the final decision.
For a new Restaurant, this program offers some real bottom-line dollars. The program really pinpoints, or targets, the heaviest users such as motels and laundromats. The time period the discount would be in effect would be much shorter than a TIF.
Norman Gardner said that even if we never make a dime from expanding our base of equivalent users, this program would still be worth it just for the Public Relations benefit it would bring us.
The Committee members present agreed unanimously that a consensus exists to recommend this concept to the City Council.
Other Business
There was none.
Regular Review of RLF Accounts
There was no RLF account review.
Economic Development Director’s Report
Chris Paszyc said we are all likely to be hearing a lot about Pine Tree Development Zones in the near future. It’s a powerful incentive program being promoted by Governor Baldacci. Designated areas throughout the state, up to 5,000 acres, could be eligible for these powerful tax incentives.
Chris recently attended the Maine Restaurant and Lodging expo. Everyone there was aware Pine State is building their big new facility here, and we are the home of AG. They view Gardiner as a food distribution niche.
A Hotel feasibility study called an HVS study is a crucial tool to convince Hotel developers and chains to locate here. We have an excellent proposal from one of the best in that business for an affordable price. In order to attract them we need to be pro-active, do the work for them to show how much we can support. The data that will be developed in such a study could be useful for other things as well.
The City Council is having discussions with the Trustees of the Gardiner Water District to identify areas where further cooperation could give us cost savings.
We’ve been awarded $300,000 for our Housing Grant Application to go towards an overall $1.3 million project.
We will also be undertaking a Master Planning study of the Cobbossee Corridor, roughly from T.W. Dick down to E.J. Prescott, including areas such as Gardiner Paperboard, the Winery Building, Standard Distributors, and the length of Summer Street. It will be similar to the Downtown Master Plan.
We are in discussions with a nationally known snowboard manufacturer with offices in Boston and facilities in Gallup, New Mexico to potentially relocate here. New manufacturing jobs in Gardiner would be an extreme plus. We are also negotiating with a aquatic/biotechnology business that is interested in Libby Hill.
The ranking for the new State Office Building location was completed, and out of the nine proposals, our two developers were number two and number three. The MDOT temporary location in Winthrop at the old Woolen Mill was the state’s choice based on price. However, we’ve come out of the deal having developed very positive relationships with both of our developers.
The Arcade Parking Lot utilities are planned to be buried underground in time for June 21.
The Waterfront project is moving forward. It appears that a Phase I bid package will include an extension of the bulkhead for shorefront stabilization, rehabilitation of the steamboat lane underpass, landscaping on the former Webber property, and expanded parking areas.
Schedule Next Meeting
The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday May 13 at 8:00 am.
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