JOINT COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS

JUNE 13, 2005

LIBRARY, ROOSEVELT SCHOOL

1006 GRAFTON ST.

Convened: 7:11 p.m.

Adjourned: 9:33 p.m.

 

Present were:      Co-Chairperson Councilor Paul P. Clancy, Jr.

                             Co-Chairperson Councilor Michael C. Perotto

                             Councilor Barbara G. Haller

                             Councilor Frederick C. Rushton

                             Councilor Philip P. Palmieri

                             Councilor Joseph M. Petty

                             Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes

 

Also:                    City Manager Michael V. O’Brien

                             Assistant City Manager Julie Jacobson

                             City Solicitor David M. Moore

                             Budget Director John Pranckevicius

                             Development Office Staffperson George Ciccone

                             City Auditor James A. DelSignore

                             State Senator Edward Augustus

                             City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk

 

The Committee was provided a PowerPoint presentation by Gregory A. Shumate, DESMAN Associates of Cleveland, OH, explaining in detail the Parking Program Financial Assessment for the City Square development prepared by his firm.

 

Communications of the City Manager

 

1.       Relative to the Downtown Parking Study.

          #23H CM March 8, 2005

          In Committee May 18, 2005 – Held

          In Committee May 26, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 13, 2005 - Held

 

2.       Relative to schedule of events relative to the CitySquare Project.

          #54a CC April 12, 2005

          In Committee May 18, 2005 – Held

          In Committee May 26, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 13, 2005 - Held

 

3.       Relative to the CitySquare Project and the District Improvement Financing (DIF) law.

          #4 CC May 10, 2005

          In Committee May 18, 2005 – Held

          In Committee May 26, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 13, 2005 - Held

 

4.       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

          In Committee May 18, 2005 – Held

          In Committee May 26, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 13, 2005 - Held

 

5.       Transmitting information on the impact of the Responsible Employer Ordinance on the CitySquare Project.

          #35a CC May 10, 2005

          In Committee May 18, 2005 – Held

          In Committee May 26, 2005 – Held

          In Committee June 13, 2005 - Held

 

6.       Transmitting the first of several reports which contains responses to questions raised both by the Joint Committee of Commerce & Development and Public Works and the City Council concerning the proposed CitySquare Project.

          #32 CC June 7, 2005

          In Committee June 13, 2005 - Held

 

7.       Relative to CitySquare Parking Program Financial Assessment, prepared by the City’s independent parking consultant DESMAN Associates.

          #33c CC June 7, 2005

          In Committee June 13, 2005 - Held

 

Speakers:

1.     State Senator Edward Augustus, 87 Lakewood Street, Worcester

2.     Michael LaNava, 877 Grove Street, Worcester

3.     Joe Salois, 31 Sibley Road, Sutton

 

Chairmen’s Orders:

1.      Request the City Manager to provide the City Council with examples of processes wherein the City offered parking spaces to entice development in the central business district.

2.      Request the City Manager to request Desman Associates to provide the City Council with additional data concerning the parking arrangements that were made between the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Cleveland Indians and the City of Cleveland when the teams were enticed to move into their downtown.

3.      Request the City Manager to request Desman Associates to provide the City Council with revised parking revenue projections for the City Square development using a new scenario that Building J is not constructed.