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ECDC Minutess 06-11-15CITY OF BEVERLY BOARD OR COMMISSION DATE /TB E: LOCATION: MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Economic and Community Development Council June 11, 2015 Beverly City Hall, Conference Room B Aaron Clausen; Michael Collins; Denise Deschamps; Neiland Douglas; William Howard; Richard Marino. Paul Guanci; Don Fournier; Thomas Grant; Michael O'Brien OTHER: None Aaron Clausen called the meeting to order. Potential ECDC Work Items- Several ECDC seats are vacant. They need to be filled because it is important that the City have their input. The City would like the ECDC's input on its Community Development (CD) strategy which must be updated. The CD strategy should be reviewed on an annual basis and revised as necessary. The City needs to develop a work plan to update its community development strategy. The ECDC will use the meeting in September to go over the work plan. By then the vacancies of the ECDC will be filled. One Water Street Development Update- The RFP for One Water Street will be available on Wednesday (June 17). The City decided against issuing an RFI because it would elongate the process. The City cannot sell the property based upon the USHB's requirements. The ground floor is reserved for water - related activities. The structure could be rebuilt. The second floor must be for commercial purposes. Phase 2 of Exit 19Brimbal Avenue Improvements- MassWorks funding would not cover the entire cost of Phase 2, including design and construction, so other sources of funding need to be identified. In the past MAPC has voiced concerns about the project. MassDOT is in the process of writing the LRTP (Long Range Transportation Plan). Development of the LRTP incorporates a rating system for major infrastructure projects. Factors that impact the rating of a project includeneed based on the condition of the existing roadway; safety issues; the potential to generate economic development and existing congestion. Phase 2 of Exit 19Brimbal Avenue Improvements project was third to last among the universe of projects being rated and so was not added to the LRTP. Getting a design completed is critical to the process. Is it possible to solicit private funds to support design development? Possibly pursue property owners for $2.5 million. Potential funding options also include I -Cubed (Infrastructure Investment Incentive Program) and DIF (District Increment Financing). Rantoul Street /Route IA Project -There will be a preconstruction meeting on June 29. The contractor has not yet been hired, technically. The utility work will begin in August. If the utility work is completed on schedule, then next year will strictly be devoted to road work. Recap of Windover Projects- There is the property next to the post office at 131 Rantoul Street which is being developed as a residential project with two commercial spaces on the ground floor. There may be something happening with the Thomas Ford property on Rantoul Street. Economic Development Department Project Updates -The City is revisiting the sidewalk dining program it piloted in 2013. Restaurants participating in the program initially included three but ultimately only one business, Pride's Piccola Napoletana, offered outdoor dining. The Planning Department, Health Department and Municipal Inspections Department have met with Beverly Main Streets recently to determine if there were any issues resulting from the pilot. The only issue that came to light was limited wheelchair access on the sidewalk in front of Pride's Piccola Napoletana. Narrow sidewalks throughout the downtown area present a challenge to sidewalk dining due to accessibility requirements. Beverly Main Streets and the City of Beverly are working together to revitalize Ellis Square in order to create a venue for outdoor programming that entices people to visit the downtown area. Local architectural firm, UBLA, is working to finalize a design. The area is being redesigned and slightly enlarged with the taking of several parking spaces on Church Street. Beverly Main Streets is in the process of raising $100,000 to dedicate to the project. The City's Community Preservation Committee has approved a grant of $177,666. The City of Beverly will also allocate additional funds to cover the cost of paving Church Street. The existing memorial to Viet Nam veterans will be removed and a call to artists will be issued requesting proposals for a new design. This has been discussed with local veterans and they are in support of it. The call to artists will not take place until next year. Beverly Main Streets is drafting a document formalizing and standardizing the process of issuing a call to artists and will share it with the City when a draft is ready for review. The Facade and Sign Improvement Program, co- administered by Beverly Main Streets and the City of Beverly, recently closed its latest funding round. Funds were awarded in March and agreements were signed in May with Hallmark Cleaners, A &B Burgers, Flour *ish, and Cabot Street Books and Cards. Other- Questions arose and comments were made regarding the parking situation downtown. The lighting in the parking lot located behind the Dollar Store is inadequate. It may need to simply be repositioned. The Department of Public Services will look at it.