July 7, 2025 Bangor City Council Committee Meetings

Disclaimer: The views I express here are my own and should NOT be construed as speaking for the City of Bangor or the City Council of Bangor.

After a few weeks off, City Council was back in action on July 7th!

Finance Committee

You can read the meeting agenda by clicking here.

The Naloxone kits item were removed from the agenda because the allocation letter was just received, and funds need to be appropriated before accepting bids.

For the 14th Street walkway and bike pathway project, the city of Bangor received a grant through Maine DOT, covering 80% of the project costs with federal funds, and the city covering the remaining 20%. The total funded amount was $462,779. Six bids were received, ranging from $493,975 to $721,280. The low bid of $493,975 was from CNC Lynch Excavation, and the engineering department recommended awarding them the project. The overage of $31,196 will come from the sidewalk construction capital account. A motion to accept the staff recommendation was made and seconded.

The police department budgeted for one supervisor vehicle, a 2025 Chevy Tahoe, for $56,688. This vehicle will be purchased through a state contract with Colonial Municipal Group and funded by the fiscal year 2026 capital budget. The old vehicle was totaled and paid for by the insurance company, with proceeds of $20,000 for one car and $22,000 for another going back into the police vehicle fund. The $56,688 covers only the purchase of the vehicle, not the additional $12,000-$14,000 for outfitting it as a command vehicle. Local dealers like Quirk and Darlings could not supply the vehicle for 6-8 months due to allocation issues, and pricing would be similar. A motion to approve the purchase was made and seconded.

Business & Economic Development Committee

You can read the meeting agenda by clicking here.

1. Easement Agreement for Bangor Housing Development Corporation (BHDC)

• BHDC is closing on financing to construct a 50-unit residential building for low-income seniors at 140 Sunset Avenue.
• The City Council previously awarded ARPA funds for this project.
• An easement agreement with the city is required to satisfy lenders due to a stormwater easement running over 140 and 154 Sunset Avenue.
• The proposed driveway for the project will be built over the city’s easement, which is not an issue for the city but requires an agreement for lender assurance.
• Staff recommended approval of the easement agreement, authorizing the city manager to execute it with BHDC Sunset Avenue 1LP and the Housing Authority of the City of Bangor.
• A point of clarification was made by counsel to BHDC, stating that the title insurance company is requiring the easement agreement. The motion to approve the easement agreement was seconded and will go to the full council.

2. Land Use Plan Implementation Project

• The land development code update aims to implement the comprehensive plan, particularly land use and zoning, to align the code with the plan.
• Consultants have prepared a technical report with recommendations for code clarity and alignment, to be released on blueprintbangor.com starting July 8th, 2025.
• Two public meetings are scheduled for August 26th, 2025, one at the new City Hall (Zoom and in-person) and one at the Bangor Library.
• A joint meeting with the council and planning board is planned for August 25th, 2025, at 5:15 p.m. at a council workshop, for consultants to present the report and receive feedback.
• A new land development code is expected to be drafted later in 2025, with final approval anticipated in late 2026.
• The project is funded over two fiscal years.

3. 2025 Economic Development Mid-Year Report

• The theme for economic development efforts is “efficiency, efficiency, efficiency,” along with innovation, collaboration, and partnerships.
• Entrepreneurship and Business Support: The department continues to meet with businesses (over 30 seen by staff), providing assistance from establishment to financing referrals.
• Leases: Significant work is being done on new leases, amendments, and reassignments to ensure optimal tenants and property care.
• Board Engagement: Staff are active board members in various business community organizations, fostering innovation and new programs, such as an upcoming AI event with the Chamber.
• National Economic Development Week: Celebrated with Bangor Greendrinks at the waterfront, providing casual updates to the community.
• Credit Enhancement Agreements: The updated policy and application are being utilized, with requests expected soon.
• City-Owned Property: The department acts as property managers, responding to tenant needs from security to capital upgrades.
• Business Attraction: Conversations are ongoing with local and international businesses interested in Bangor, with efforts to “sell” the city’s attributes. Epstein Commercial has been contracted to assist with marketing and promotion for city-owned properties.
• Central Kitchen: The project is moving forward with grant funds and approved bonds. A pre-application meeting was held, and an RFP is planned for release by the end of summer 2025, with construction completion aimed for fall 2026. There’s a strong need and excitement for this project, which is expected to foster community and entrepreneurship, including potential partnerships with Eastern Maine Community College for internships and pop-ups.
• Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ): A promotional campaign was launched after authority was granted. A call hosted with Maine International Trade Center director Wade Merritt attracted 25 businesses interested in FTZ benefits. Two businesses are currently being guided through the application process. Communication with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has also improved.
• Educational Institutional Partnerships: The city is now considered a stakeholder by educational institutions, leading to collaborations like discussions on the Collins Center. Efforts are underway to retain international students in Bangor and the region to build a workforce pipeline.
• Airport Collaboration: Monthly meetings have been established between economic development and airport teams to align objectives, optimize property representation, and avoid duplication of efforts.
• Innovation Center: The teams are working on internal and aesthetic upgrades to attract more businesses to the Innovation Center.
• Downtown Parking:
  • The ParkMobile app has been launched for digital parking reservations and extensions.
  • July 2025 features a parking amnesty program, allowing violators to pay only the initial fee and waive extra charges.
  • The “Barnacle” (a windshield-mounted device replacing the boot) will be introduced for parking violations, with clear instructions provided to offenders.
• Internal Partnerships: Collaboration with departments like assessing, finance, executive office, planning, community development, and code enforcement is crucial and continues to be built upon.

4. Airport Director’s Report

• Statistics: March 2025 saw a 20% increase in passenger numbers (record-breaking month), and April 2025 saw a 33% increase. The trend of increased passenger traffic continues.
• Breeze Airways: Meetings with Breeze Airways executives are planned for September 2025 in Salt Lake City to explore new destinations and diversification strategies, especially considering potential impacts from Canadian passengers.
• Fuel Sales: Despite prior lagging due to runway construction and decreased military traffic, April 2025 saw a significant increase in military activity, cutting the fuel sales deficit in half.
• Ongoing Projects:
  • Runway Project: The most visible phase (55-hour closures) is complete, with seven scheduled closures finished. One 16-hour closure remains later in summer 2025. The project is estimated to be 75% complete and on schedule.
  • Connector Project: Delays have been worked through, and the contractor is now on site.
  • Passenger Boarding Bridge (Gate 11): Significant lead times (one year) are being experienced. The airport is monitoring opportunities to acquire a bridge sooner if another airport’s project falls through, as happened previously.
• Future Projects (Master Plan Priorities):
  • Taxiway Alpha Rehabilitation: The next major airfield priority after the runway is to rehab the 20-year-old parallel taxiway. An FAA grant application to move this project forward will be brought to the committee soon. The extent of work (full replacement vs. mill and overlay) will be determined after a 30% design analysis.
  • TSA Checkpoint Expansion: Due to increased passenger traffic, there’s a need to expand the checkpoint and bring current security lines into TSA compliance. The goal is to design the project within the next year and begin construction the following year. This will be a PFC-funded project, allowing for construction and then repayment as passenger facility charges come in.
  • Fuel Farm Relocation: The current 75-year-old fueling facility needs to be relocated inside the airport fence due to regulatory and operational needs. A specialized firm will be recruited to design the best relocation option from three identified in the master plan, with Option 1 being the most sensible.
  • Consolidated Car Rental Facility: To address capacity issues and outdated buildings, a centralized facility is planned. This would free up space in the terminal’s lower level for future ticket counter expansion. The preferred funding mechanism is a Customer Facility Charge (CFC) added to car rental bills, which is not federally governed and has no cap, with funds usable for construction, operation, and maintenance. Portland, ME, uses a CFC, and Bangor’s car rental companies are on board.
• Airport Business Plan: The airport currently lacks a formal business plan, which the director believes is crucial for aligning operations, capital plans, and business segments for mid-to-long-term goals. This plan will help diversify the airport’s operational model.
• Airport Committee: There was a discussion about reinstating a freestanding airport committee due to the significant number of large, long-term projects underway.

5. Other Items

• National Endowment for the Arts Grant: Permission was granted to pursue a National Endowment for the Arts grant for public outreach, utilizing in-kind matching funds.
• Downtown Public Art Exhibition: A significant increase in tourists was noted from various locations (Boston, New York, Southern California, Texas) at the recent public art exhibition, who expressed love for Bangor.