Board: Lewiston City Council

Met: Tuesday night

TIF rules

Issue: Tax Increment Finance districts let the city set aside property taxes in a particular area and use them to pay for public improvements there – usually sidewalks, roads or utilities. Most Maine towns and cities use them to promote development and economic investment.

The scoop: Councilors approved a new TIF district for the second phase of the Gendron Business Park. According to plans for that 150-acre business park near Lewiston’s turnpike interchange, the TIF will set aside $7.05 million through 2031.

Councilors also voted to extend the 1993 TIF on the Lewiston Raceway development through June 2010. That district is scheduled to retire. However, $156,525 worth of debt used to build the Mediphis Physicians’ Services building there won’t mature until September. The city plans to use revenue from the extended TIF to pay off the last of that building’s debt.

County rules

Issue: Officials from cities and towns throughout the county have started calling for a written charter outlining rules for the county commissioners. Commissioners discussed it last month, but were noncommittal.

The scoop: Auburn City Councilor Ron Potvin and state Rep. Bruce Bickford urged Lewiston to pick one of their own to meet with commissioners and help call for a charter commission. So far, 11 communities have joined the effort.

Several councilors agreed to sign on with the effort, but Councilor Denis Theriault said he needed more information before he’d join them.

Up next: Potvin and Bickford are scheduled to make their pitch to commissioners at their meeting at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Zoning magnetism

Issue: When Central Maine Power brought plans for a proposed power line upgrade project before Lewiston residents, many said they were concerned about health issues related to electromagnetic fields coming from the lines. Councilors realized they had no way to regulate those in the city codes.

The scoop: Councilor Robert Reed suggested creating setbacks from power lines, keeping new buildings from being built close to the wires. Councilor Tina Bailey suggested adding adding natural gas lines to that.

Up next City Administrator Jim Bennett suggested councilors schedule a workshop to review a map so they can see how those changes would effect properties. Councilors agreed, and will take it up again in June.

Land sale

Issue: Councilors asked the Planning Board to inventory city properties, identifying parcels the city can put on the real estate market and sell. The board did, recommending the city sell 13 properties.

The scoop: Properties the city should sell, according to the Planning Board, include small or oddly shaped parcels that are undevelopable and one big parcel – the Bates Mill Building No. 5.

But the board also identified hundreds of other lots the city should keep, sorting them into lots that have a good civic use, a good use by some entity other than the city, and properties the city should just keep. That final list covered five double-sided sheets of paper, listing 173 lots that include city parks, water storage tanks, quarries and other city facilities.

Up next: Councilors approved the list and agreed to let next-door neighbors of listed lots know that the lots were for sale.

Storm fees

Issue: The city is currently owed $169,433.62 in unpaid fees on the new storm water utility fee. That includes a total of 778 properties across the city that are more than 45 days late in paying and 312 that are more than six months past due.

The scoop: The city sends notices to late-fee payers currently, but staff asked councilors to decide how the tardy bills should be handled.

Up next: Councilors agreed to let the city attorney file suits against people who have bills that are six months past due.

Circus signs

Issue: The Kora Shrine Circus, coming to the Colisee on April 17 and 18, wants to advertise on signs placed throughout the city.

The scoop: Councilors agreed to let the group place 30 signs on public rights of way, on traffic medians and at intersections.

Up next: The signs will be up April 3-21.

Liquor licenses

Issue: Local restaurants and bars must reapply for liquor licenses and amusement permits each year. Liquor licenses let them serve alcohol; amusement permits let them play music, have a DJ or karaoke, or have games on site.

The scoop: Councilors approved special amusement permits for Fuel, 49 Lisbon St., The Cage at 97-99 Ash St., and The Derby Athletic Association, 40 Walnut St.

Running late

Issue: After a council meeting wrapped up near 1 a.m. two years ago, councilors set a 10 p.m. curfew for their meetings. According to that rule, councilors must vote to extend their meeting past 10 p.m.

The scoop: With 18 items on the council’s agenda, the meeting looked to run well past the curfew. Councilors extended it by 30 minutes to consider the call for a county charter commission and give members of the public a chance to address their concerns, but wouldn’t extend past 10:45 p.m. They left two items on the agenda, an update on the Russell Street road work project scheduled for this summer and a discussion concerning the fate of Bates Mill Building No. 5.

Up next: Both items will likely be on future agendas.

Contact government reporter Scott Taylor via phone at 689-2846 or via E-mail at [email protected]