Committee Agenda for Joint Committee on Economic Development and Public Safety 04/24/2013

CITY OF WORCESTER

Joint Committee on Economic Development and Public Safety Meeting

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber

Convened: 7:07 P.M.

Adjourned: 10:29 PM

Mayor Joseph M. Petty	www.worcesterma.gov	Clerk of the City Council David J. Rushford
Committee Members		Clerk of the City Council David J. Rushford
Co-Chairperson William J Eddy
Co-Chairperson Frederick C Rushton
Councilor Michael J Germain
Councilor Joseph C O'Brien
Councilor Philip P Palmieri
Councilor George J Russell

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

	Present Were:	Co-Chairperson Councilor Frederick C. Rushton Co-Chairperson Councilor William J. Eddy Councilor George J. Russell Councilor Michael J. Germain Councilor Philip P. Palmieri Councilor Joseph C. O’Brien @ 7:27 p.m. Councilor Tony Economou Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey Councilor Sarai Rivera Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes

	Also:	City Manager Michael V. O'Brien City Solicitor David M. Moore City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk

Presentation



1a.	Neil Bluhm, Co-Founder and Chairman of Rush Street Gaming, associates and staff	Attachments

	Presentation by Neil Bluhm, Greg Carlin, Scott Strusiner, Steve Loveland, Steve Peck, Robert Michaud, Mark Donahue, Esq. Speakers: 1. Barbara Kohin, Worcester resident 2. Martha Grace, Worcester resident 3. Edward Madaus, Worcester resident 4. Paul DeMoga, Worcester resident 5. Antonio Martinez, Worcester resident 6. Emma Ross, Orange resident 7. Barbara Breaux, Worcester resident 8. Antonio Pastor, Worcester resident 9. Fred Taylor, Worcester resident 10. Mary Valentine Callahan, Worcester resident 11. Holly Nylander, Holden resident 12. Jack Donahue, Worcester resident 13. Sarai Rivera, Worcester resident 14. James McKeag, Worcester resident 15. Steve Gordon, Worcester resident 16. Ed Moynihan, Worcester resident 17. Chris Horton, Worcester resident 18. Doug McAllister, Worcester resident 19. Colin Novick, Worcester resident 20. John Reed, Worcester resident 21. Terry Kelly, Worcester resident 22. Jo Hart, Worcester resident 23. Joe Dyer, Shrewsbury resident 24. Victor Ortiz, Worcester resident 25. Bob Kersley, Worcester resident 26. Steve Quist, Worcester resident Recommend Hold

Update



2a.	Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager and members of the administration	Attachments

	City Manager Michael V. O’Brien updated the Councillors and audience of the preliminary conversations-to-date between the administration and the developers of the proposed slots facility and hotel. Recommend Hold

Development of Host Agreement



3a.	Order of Councilors Frederick C. Rushton, Joseph C. O'Brien, Tony Economou, Kathleen M. Toomey, Sarai Rivera and Mayor Joseph M. Petty - Request the City Council’s Standing Committees on Economic Development and Public Safety hold a joint committee meeting for public hearings concerning the “host-community agreement” relative to the proposed potential slots parlor, being authorized by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and being pursued by Mass Gaming and Entertainment, LLC, for the purpose of giving Worcester residents an opportunity to give input as to what the public wants to be included within the “host-community agreement” and further, request the City Manager assist by providing appropriate department resources, such as legal, economic, law enforcement and public works , for such hearings and invite any other stakeholders the City Manager deems appropriate. # 12b CC April 02, 2013 In Committee April 8, 2013 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend Hold


3b.	Order of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - If the City Council Standing Committee on Economic Development holds hearings concerning the siting of proposed potential slot parlors, that the Committee allow testimony in opposition to the siting of a slots parlor in Worcester. # 12c CC April 02, 2013 In Committee April 8, 2013 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend Hold


3c.	Order Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager request the City Solicitor to provide a legal opinion regarding Mass General Laws Chapter 23K Section 61 as to whether the distribution of monies from the Community Mitigation Fund established pursuant to Mass General Laws are available not only to the host community but also to the surrounding communities. # 12d CC April 02, 2013 In Committee April 8, 2013 - Held	Attachments
	In Committee for informational purposes only

	Recommend Hold


3d.	Order of Councilor George J. Russell, Councilor Tony Economou, Councilor Sarai Rivera and Councilor Frederick C. Rushton - Request City Manager request the Police Chief to provide City Council with a report prior to the April 8, 2013 Joint Meeting of the Standing Committees on Public Safety and Economic Development with his opinion of the potential crime impact that a slots parlor could generate and suggest efforts that we might consider in advance to mitigate those impacts. # 12g CC April 02, 2013 In Committee April 8, 2013 - Held	Attachments
	In Committee for informational purposes only

	Recommend Hold


3e.	Order of Councilor George J. Russell, Councilor Tony Economou, Councilor Sarai Rivera and Councilor Frederick C. Rushton - Request City Manager request the Director of Public Health to provide City Council with a report prior to the April 8, 2013 Joint Meeting of the Standing Committees on Public Safety and Economic Development with his opinion of the potential impact to public health of the community that a slots parlor could generate and suggest efforts that we might consider in advance to mitigate those impacts. # 12h CC April 02, 2013 In Committee April 8, 2013 - Held	Attachments
	In Committee for informational purposes only

	Recommend Hold


3f.	Order of Councilor George J. Russell, Councilor Tony Economou, Councilor Sarai Rivera and Councilor Frederick C. Rushton - Request City Manager request the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works and Parks to provide City Council prior to the April 8, 2013 Joint Meeting of the Standing Committees on Public Safety and Economic Development his opinion of the potential traffic flow and infrastructure impacts of a proposed slots parlor in the Kelley Square environs and suggest efforts that we might consider in advance to mitigate those impacts. # 12i CC April 02, 2013 In Committee April 8, 2013 - Held	Attachments
	In Committee for informational purposes only

	Recommend Hold


3g.	Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to Gaming Proposal and Timelines Required. # 8.32F CM April 02, 2013 In Committee April 8, 2013 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend Hold


3h.	Communication of Roberta Schaefer, President & CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, transmitting communication relative to "Should Worcester Welcome a Slot-Machine Casino?". # 13a CC April 02, 2013 In Committee April 8, 2013 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend Hold

CHAIRMAN'S ORDERS

	1.	Request the City Manager request Rush Street Gaming and/or Mass Gaming provide the City Council with the following reports connected with the proposed slots facility and hotel: a) a breakdown of the proposed Kelley Square traffic improvements; b) a formal report concerning the developer’s report of increased property values in the three communities in which their other gaming facilities are located; c) details of the commitment of the developer to partner with local businesses to incorporate them into the slots facility rewards program; d) a copy of all environmental studies performed at the site on behalf of the proposed developer; e) an explanation of the alleged reports of fines imposed on this slots developer at their other three gaming facilities; f) a proposal of potential partnerships with local business and a definition of that level of participation; g) a formal report concerning the labor issues that have arisen at the developer’s Pittsburgh gaming facility; h) a detailed report of the developer’s claims of spin-off development associated with their other three gaming facilities; i) a list of contacts that the City Manager may speak with in the communities in which the slots developer has facilities to confirm the relationship the developer has in those communities; j) any and all studies associated with the mediation of gambling addiction made in connection with the proposed developer’s other gaming facilities; k) a detailed report of the pay and benefits packages provided by the slot developer at their other three gaming facilities including and not limited to health insurance and 401K programs, all broken down by earnings as follows: under $20, 000 per year, $20,000 through $30,000, $30,000 through $40,000, $40,000 through $50,000 and greater than $50,000; l) a copy of the Philadelphia labor agreement that speaks to local hiring guarantees/preferences; m) a copy of the local host agreements entered into by this developer with the three other communities in which their gaming facilities are located; n) a statement by the proposed developer committing to the request for locating a branch of a local bank into their proposed Madison Street development; o) additional details concerning any jobs fair the developer might conduct when the time comes to hire at their proposed Worcester slots facility; p) a report comparing the public safety in the immediate environs of the three other gaming facilities operated by the proposed developer before their facility opened and then subsequent to the opening; q) a chart reporting the length of service for employees at all three gaming facilities operated by the proposed developer; r) a report of the ancillary benefits to the city of Worcester for the five years subsequent to the opening of the Madison Street facility; s) a breakdown of the minority recruitment efforts made and realized at the other three gaming facilities operated by the proposed developer; t) a report on any mitigation work that the developer might consider with reference to longstanding Green Island flooding; u) a statement from the proposed developer whether or not they would consider entering into a long-term bonding plan for the proposed Worcester facility that guards against financial difficulties to the community in the event the gaming facility does not succeed; v) a statement from the proposed developer around the issues of responsible gambling.
	2.	Request City Manager report to City Council how the proposed gaming development fits with the city’s present economic development plans.
	3.	Request City Manager report to City Council how slot parlors have impacted other communities in urban areas and this report can serve as a benchmark to make sure when developing the community agreement as to whether or not the mitigations will get the work done.