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ECDC mtg notes 10-8-2020 -APPROVEDCITY of BEVERLY ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Beverly, Massachusetts 01915 Phone (978) 921 -6000 Fax (978) 921 -6187 Mayor Michael P. Cahill Members Neiland Douglas William Howard Richard Marino Michael O'Brien Richard Vincent City Council President Paul Guanci Darlene Wynne Michael Collins Denise Deschamps DRAFT M EE n NG NOTES FROM OCTOBER 08, 2020 ACCEPTED BY THE ECDC ON 11 -19 -2020 Members participating: City Council President Paul Guanci; Neiland Douglas; William Howard; Rchard Marino; Rchard Vincent; Darlene Wynne; Michael Collins; Denise Deschamps. Other participants: Mayor Michael R Cahill; Kathryn Horrigan. Council President Guand, as ECDCChair, reads aloud a statement relative to changes in the Open Meeting Law that provide opportunity for remote meetings given the limit in the number of people that may gather in one place asconsequence of the MMD -19 pandemic. The meeting is being recorded. Guand called the roll. With a quorum established the meeting was called to order. REM BN AND APPROVAL OF S15:TBVI BBR 10, 2020 M DTI NG M I N UTES The first agenda item wasthe review and approval of ECDCmeeting minutesfrom their meeting that took place on 1 99ptember 10, 2020. Guand asked if any oft he members would like to suggest edits to the draft minutes. Hearing no suggestions for editsthe meeting minuteswere accepted. BCDC M IS90N AND STRUCTURE Darlene Wynne noted that Denise Deschamps had sent out materials to the ECDC members prior tot his meeting that included information about the structure of the ECDCand its responsibilities per the local ordinance. Wynne asks if ECDCmembers had an opportunity to review the material. Rchard V ncent stated that as new member, and reading through the description is the local ordinance the work of the ECDCcould be very time - consuming with quite a bit of in -depth study that could go into it. Thus far, during histenure, the ECDC has not yet advised the Mayor. Guand responds that in the past the ADC has reviewed proposals from businesses requesting a TI F (Tax Increment Financing) and on those occasions has provided formal recommendations tot he Mayor. However, he notes that, it has been sometimes sincethe ECDCwas needed to review aTlFrequest Vincent inquires as to how that process takes place. Neiland Douglas responds that representatives of the business requesting the TlFprovide written materials for the ECDCto review; they also make a formal presentation. The ECDCsendsa formal letter to the Mayor, which containstheir recommendation and the basis for it. Vincent notes that given the ECDC's mission statement and the work required of the Committee it would be difficult to accomplish necessary tasks if a quarterly meeting schedule was adopted. Guand notes that Mayor Cahill had asked the ECDCto meet monthly. However, it is possible a quarterly meeting might be best if the ECDCfinds itself looking for thingsto talk about every month. He also added that the companiesthat have received 11F's, such as KROHNE, Harmonic Drive, High R6 Biosolutions, needed to attract the City's support but the greatest source of economic relief was the state. Vincent is concerned that the ECDC does not have enough meat on its bones. It just passes paper. Guand notes that it has been awhile since the ECDChas done something substantive for the Mayor. Douglas states that the ECDCdoes review potential TF projects as requested but the ECDCand is also responsible for identifying issuesthat the City isconfronting or likely to confront and discuss potential strategies. Douglas goes onto provide the example of sustainability and the importance of the aty getting its arms around it and how it permeates the City's planning strategy and remedial strategies. Douglas suggests a focus on sustai nability/ environment. He was impressed that a person contributed $1 00k to establish a sustainability officer to address this concern. The issue encompasses more than climate change. It is environmental preservation and justice. He wants to seethe B3DCwork on it —state it in understandable way. Incorporate into strategy. William Howard calls attention to the Oty of Beverly's newly established collaboration with the City of Salem to address dimate change. He also states that any discussion re strategies would require input from the new Sistainability Director. Wynne notesthat Mayor Cahill hasjoined the meeting (at 4:49 PM) ECDC STRATEGY Dougl as agrees wit h Howard but states t hat t he ECDC has a responsi bi I ity t o create a st rategy and nothing supersedes that in importance. We need to come to gripswith what is happening to the environment Vincent asks Douglas how he is envisioning the Oty's action around this issue. Is it encouraging green building? Is it the location of development? Douglas respondsthat he istalking about all of those things. He continued that there are many infrastructure concernsthat impact economic development. Developing an approach leading to elimination of fossil fuels important part of the process. Other related issues such as conservation of tidal water and resources; waste removal and storage; preservation of unique natural assets. We need to look at where development is and will be located as well as what types of construction materials are used. Have to similarly look at infrastructure. Mayor Cahill noted that the first meeting of the Climate Action Advisory Committee has been held. A number of people are on it including the Mayor, Darlene, Eric Barber (Qty Engineer) and Paul Gaand. There may be an opportunity to have a member of the Committee present to the ECDCand /or invite ECDC members to be apart of the focus group. Wynne agrees. Leslie Gould, Executive Director oft he Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce, is representing the business perspective, as are several other Committee members, including a representative of Cummings Properties and Chris Koeplin of Beverly Crossi ng. Wynne continued that the Sust ai nabi I ity Director will be starting in the very near future and they can visit with the ECDC. Wynne will also share thejob description for that position. Continuing that there is an economic component to all oft his i nd uding research and development, advanced/ manufacturing. We need to have abetter understanding of which companies in Beverly are doing what in thisfield. Gaand asks Cahill when someone will be coming on board. Cahill responds that a person has accepted the position and will be starting next week. Douglas states that he finds this encouraging and it reflectswhat was included in the ECDCstrategy, which was largely based upon the Mayor's words during previous State of the City address. It was identified asa priority at that point. It is impressive that the City now has a SUstainability Director. Transportation, refuse, water can all be embraced by the sustainability initiative. Douglas asked about the collaboration with the Qty of Salem, how it will tie into the work of the ECDC and how it will influence the assignment of priorities and concerns. Cahill acknowledged that the shared component of the plan is exciting given the many shared interests and infrastructure such asthe transit system. This is an opportunity to embrace comparable policies that may have greater weight if they are promoted and implemented by two contiguous communities simultaneously if we calibrate properly. Buildings and transit are biggest emitters of greenhouse gases(GHG). Ninety -seven percent of GHG's in Beverly come from buildings and vehicles. Good to get consultant in the room along with new director and talk about how we deal with sea level rise, heat islands, unpredictable storms. Gaand suggeststhat an ECDCmeeting should be devoted to discussion of sustainability with an invitation to the new Sistainability Director to join. Wynne mentionsthat a lot of the action items mentioned in the ECDCstrategy have been accomplished. She suggested that she share the Economic Development section of the draft master plan with the ECDC. Howard suggeststhat the next step for the ECDCisto review the plan and cross off what has been completed since quite a bit has changed since the ECDCstrategy was developed. Gaund recommends that the November ECDCmeeting be devoted to the Btrategy and the December ECDCmeeting be devoted to the Qimate Action Ran. Dougl as suggests t hat Wynne and Deschamps work toget her to identify what in the plan has been accomplished, what needs to be tweaked and what has happened as a result of OOVI D-19. It is important to recognize that OOVIDisnot going to away entirely. Avaccine will not eliminate it. We will have to adapt. RIPENING PLAN Mayor restated that Beverly would remain in the current phase of the Commonwealth's reopening plan despite the Governor's permission to move onto the next step. Cahill noted that most types of businesses impacted by that next step do not exist here in Beverly, or do so in very limited numbers. For the most part, it would have been the theatres most impacted by the next step. The Mayor has had conversat ions wit h some. In this next step, singing is still not allowed so t heat res woul d bescheduling mostly comedy acts, which didn't seem feasible. Salem also chose not to move into the next step of the re- opening plan. Beverly can certainly revisit it. Vincent asked what the impact on gyms, the Ywould be. The Mayor responded that it wouldn't change anything they did because of the distancing requirements. Cahill asks if anyone has heard any negative feedback from the gyms or others. Guand said he hasn't heard any negative feedback. Wynne and Deschamps had same experience. Vincent asked, given the spike in the number of cases, at what point do we need to return to shutdowns. Cahill stated that he receives daily updates from the City's public health nurse. Beverly gets about one new case every day. This has been consistent but could change any day. We want to extend the outdoor season as much as possible. Being outdoors a lot less dangerous. Cahill noted that Governor Baker hastried to initiate some movement on the Economic Development Bond Bill. It will provide direct aid to businesses. He will also do somethings using executive power. He is trying to get funds together to help get busi nesses through tot he other side. However, eventually more help from the federal government will be needed. The federal government is the only level of government that can run adeficit. Need to keep people whole until things turnaround Guand mentions the other new position recently posted by the Qty, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Cahill acknowledges that the Qty Council recently approved $150,000 in spending on racial justice and equity. It is an important down payment for training of staff and volunteers. Therewill be an equity audit conducted as an early step to figure out where there are deficits. Everyone is part of conversation. Hope to post sometime next week and have someone on board early November. We have a great community. We still have a waysto go. The equity audit very important first next step. This person will be working with the Mayor and Chief of Elaff to structure for success. Douglas asked where the two new positions would be located within the City's organizational chart. Do they both report to Elephanie (Chief of Elaff)? Mayor noted some people think that these two individuals should report to the Mayor directly but he believesthat Elephanie can be more responsive in ashorter period of time. However, they will all be working very collaboratively. Mayor stated that since these positions are located under the executive branch he will be the person to evaluatejob performance. Guand noted that the Qty Council would also hear from the Administration during the next budget cycle re the accomplishments and job performance. MASTER RAN UPDATE Wynne stated that the processto develop a master plan was put on pause in the spring of 2020, principally due to the need for community input, which was not really feasible then. However, now the Qty feels that it is appropriate to move forward and wrap up the project. It would best to complete it before the d i mate action plan is completed. There will be some changesto the original draft of the master plan to address some equity issues that need to be addressed in a meaningful way. Fbcently, there was another meeting with the focus group consisting of individuals particularly interested in this topic. The goal isto have the master plan before the Planning Board in November. Wynne will send the ECDCthe section of the draft master plan related to economic development. Wynne reports that in Fbund 1 of the program yeilded approximately nine applications (perhaps more) from Beverly business owners. Asa final step the Oty needsto make sure the business is in good standing. Fbund 1 only considered 2019 income but Fbund 2 of this program considers2020 income. The program is being administered by Mass. Growth Capital Corp. The deadline for Fbund 2 applications is October 23. Hopefully, funds awarded to Beverly will have been expended at that point but if not there may be another Fbund. There also may be another pool of money made available to businesses in the near future. UPDATE ON 9 STREETS GRANT APPLI CATION Wynne reports that, unfortunately, the City's application did not receive funding. The Oty had applied for fundsthat would have supported outdoor di ni ng t hrough the colder months. UPDATE REGARDI NG ONE WATER STFEET Wynnestatesthat a waterways permit from DER was sought and the 21 day window for appeals is still open. If /When they receive that permit they will be applying locally for their foundation permit, likely before t he end of the year. There is also a road project i n that same area underway. ADJOURN Guand asked members if they have any further comments. Hearing none there was a motion at 5:32 PM by Wynne to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Vincent and a call of the roll ensued. The meeting was adjourned.