draft
city of Portsmouth
PORTSMOUTH Economic Development
COMMISSION
Meeting
Minutes
January 4, 2002 Conference Room A 7:30 a.m.
Members Present: Mark Simpson, Chairman Scott Pafford,
Steve Alie, Everett Eaton, Cliff Taylor, Paul Harvey Sr., Tom Ferrini, John
Hynes, John Bohenko, City Manager
Members Absent: Dana Levenson
EDC Action Plan
Ms.
Carmer distributed copies of the revised action plan and highlighted the
changes that were made as a result of discussions at the December 14th
EDC meeting. As a result of discussion
on the proposed plan, two additions were made:
1)
to
support the repair and restoration of the landmark steeple of the North Church,
and
2)
to
support the MPO’s effort to accelerate action on upgrading the General Sullivan
Bridge as a means of improving regional transportation in and out of the city.
Mr.
Ferrini moved and Mr. Eaton seconded a motion to adopt the action plan as
modified. The motion passed
unanimously.
Subcommittee Report on
Feasibility Study for Second Parking Garage
Mr. Bohenko began the
discussion by noting that the over the past five years, the Economic Development
Commission has worked closely with city staff in development of the 1998
Parking Study and the ensuing parking improvements recommended in the study. As
a result, several efforts supported by the EDC have been accomplished
including:
1.
the
addition to the High/Hanover parking garage,
2.
improvements
to satellite lots flanking the central business district CBD,
3.
implementation
of the inter-city and Pease trolley routes,
4.
negotiated
parking at the Masonic Temple and federal building, and
development of the Park and Ride facility at Pease
Tradeport.
With
quantification of the impact of these improvements, it is time to work with the
City Council on planning for a second garage at the Worth parking lot. The subcommittee discussed the positive
economic benefits of siting the garage at the Worth lot and devised an outline
for a work session with the City Council on January 28th at 6:30
PM. The discussion will consist of
three parts with John Burke, City Transportation Engineer outlining recent
parking improvements stemming from the 1998 study as well as an overview of
existing conditions. Next will be a
discussion of the future parking needs including the direct impact of the
structure on development in the northern tier as well as increased private
investment in the Worth Block, lower Congress Street and Islington Street. A brief discussion of the suitability of the
site will follow noting the visually benign impact of a structure at this
location as well as the opportunities for connections to the Worth Block and
Vaughan Mall. The access to existing
transportation corridors and the practice of concentrating development in the
downtown versus undeveloped areas of the city will be discussed as another
benefit of this site.
Discussion of Tax Increment
Financing (TIF)
Mr.
Bohenko provided a draft map of the northern tier with boundaries denoting a
potential TIF district. He stated that
TIF is one option for funding the public improvements such as streetscape
improvements, rerouting of streets and parking structures contemplated in the
Northern Tier Feasibility Study. Ken Lurvey, Economic Development Coordinator
for the City of Concord, New Hampshire was invited to make a presentation on
the nuts and bolts of tax increment financing.
Mr. Lurvey has had experience using TIF as a funding mechanism for six
municipal revitalization projects. The
most recent project and the one used as an example in his power point materials
is the North End Opportunity Corridor District. He outlined the policies and procedures required under the State
RSA for establishing TIF districts, and by way of example illustrated how the
City of Concord implemented the North End Opportunity Corridor District. Following his presentation he responded to
questions from the EDC. Chairman Simpson
thanked Mr. Lurvey for his informative presentation.
No members of the public present wished to comment.
Adjourn Meeting
The
meeting was adjourned at 9:10 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy M. Carmer
Community Development Program Manager