CENTER CITY COMMITTEE STAKEHOLDER REPRESENTATIVES
MEETING MINUTES
February 27, 2007

The meeting opened at 8:32 AM.

The Stakeholder groups were represented by the following members: Artists, Steve Syverson; Building Owners, Marshall Field; City of Lowell Downtown Coordinator, Chris Samaras; Chamber of Commerce, Jeanne Osborn; Community Banking, Matt Fitzpatrick; Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, Deb Belanger; Lowell Police Dept., Ken Lavallee; Lowell DNA, Ted Lavash; Lowell Festival Foundation, Janet Leggat; LRTA, Bob Kennedy; Lowell National Park, Mehmed Ali; Middlesex Community College, Molly Sheehy; Northern Middlesex Council of Governments, Bob Flynn; Retailers, Mark Coddaire.

Alternates present: Community Banking, Sue DeMari

Also present were: Lowell Police Department Community Liaison Jacqui Ormonde, City of Lowell Director of Economic Development Theresa Park, and City of Lowell Neighborhood Planner Pardis Saffari

Absent:
Lowell Plan, Jim Cook; Lowell High School, Roxanne Howe; UMass Lowell, Dr. Joseph Lipchitz; Restaurants, Franky Descoteaux; UTEC, Juan Carlos Rivera; Community Teamwork, Inc., Bill Lipchitz.

In the absence of the President, Vice President Mehmed Ali chaired the meeting and Janet Leggat took the minutes.

On a motion by Molly Sheehy, seconded by Jeanne Osborne it was voted: to accept the minutes of January 30, 2007. Bob Flynn abstained as he did not attend.

The Treasurer’s report was given by Matt Fitzpatrick who reported that the balance in the CCC Checking Account is approximately $1,608.00. Mehmed reminded everyone that dues need to be paid by the time of the annual meeting and can be sent to:
Christine DeFeo
Community Teamwork, Incorporated
167 Dutton Street >br> Lowell, Massachusetts 01852

On a motion by Deb Belanger, seconded by Steve Syverson, it was voted: to accept the Treasurer’s Report.

Annual Meeting

Our Annual Meeting was scheduled for 3/27, which is the same day as the Downtown Summit, so the group agreed to move the annual meeting to April 3rd. Molly will check to see if the Assembly Room is available and report back to Ali [It is not]. At the meeting, the group will recognize Downtown businesses who have been in operation for at least 50 years. Invitations will be sent out soon.

Nominating Committee Members – Ken Lavallee, Jeanne Osborne, and Steve Syverson will get together soon to propose a slate of officers in time for the annual meeting.

Downtown Summit Discussion

Chris Samaras reported that the next Downtown Summit Session will be held on Tuesday, March 27th from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Double Tree Hotel. This session will have four focus groups that will run 45 minutes each and will focus on issues such as traffic, parking, retail and marketing. Letters inviting participants to attend will be sent this week. The goal is for a final report to be created by June.

Fund Development Calendar Project – Jacqui Ormonde reported that the Lowell High students are ready to go on the project and the committee will meet again to determine how the calendar contest will work.

Paige Street Project It was reported that the subcommittee, made up of Ali, Bob Kennedy, Bill Lipchitz, and Marshall Field, are looking for more members to volunteer one day per month for 2 to 3 hours to walk around to report problems and offer suggestions for the streetscape improvements.

Welcome to New DPD Staff

The group welcomed two relatively new employees, Theresa Park and Pardis Saffari, who gave brief updates on their backgrounds and current/future projects that affect the Downtown.

Theresa Park is the Director of Economic Development with previous experience in Newton as the Economic Development Director as well as with the Regional Planning Commission in Haverhill. She has broad experience in field and is a downtown resident. Theresa is still evaluating what goals the department will work on and will set up a plan as soon as evaluation is done.

Pardis Saffari is the City’s Neighborhood Planner and has worked with the Downtown Crossing Association in Boston. She is currently working on a playground area at Mack Plaza near the Trolley Cage as well as the major developments in the Hamilton Canal District.

Stakeholder Representatives Reports Molly Sheehy announced that Middlesex and the University will be hosting a spring party on Thursday, April 5th at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, to celebrate the connection between the two schools. Beatlejuice is the headliner.

Marshall Field reported that the Chalifoux Building, currently owned by Louis Saab, is under agreement to an investors group where the upstairs will be converted to housing. Dunkin Donuts is the downstairs anchor.

Deb Belanger announced that the Cambodian Opera is going to make its national debut on April 27th, 28th and 29th at the Cyrus Irish Auditorium. Tickets are $20.

Deb noted that National Tourism Week will be celebrated on May 12th with the Revolving Museum’s Art Ventures project to be kicked off for the event. The Smokestack near Canal Place III will be illuminated all summer.

Another announcement was that the City of Lowell will host the New England Firefighter Competition at the Tsongas Arena parking lot with a series of events on June 22nd and 23rd.

Matt Fitzpatrick informed the group that the Young Professionals of Greater Lowell now has about 200 members. Two upcoming events include a free networking mixer on Thursday, March 15th at the Old Court and their signature event on May 10th at the Auditorium where Dr. Bob Froehlich, nationally known media personality, will speak along with Afterburner, Incorporated – a group of combat fighters who have adapted combat techniques to business. Tickets are $75 and $25 and students with ID are free.

Jeanne Osborne reported that the Chamber of Commerce Municipal Breakfast is going to be held on Feb. 28th and that the annual Dining for Dollars event will be held on May 16th at Vesper Country Club. Only 200 tickets will be sold ($100 a piece) for a chance to win a grand prize.

Ali reminded everyone that the CTI Carnival to prevent homelessness will be held on Friday, March 23rd at the Auditorium. There will be a $10,000 Grand Prize Drawing, food catered by Lenzi, and a Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band. Tickets are $100 and are available from Bill Lipchitz.

Ali reported that UTEC will be having their grand opening party on April 12th at the new site on Hurd Street in the old St. Paul’s Church.

Chris Samaras announced that the City will be hosting an event at Cross Point Towers promoting Downtown businesses to the employees (such as Motorola) at the cafeteria there. March 22nd is the tentative date and the event could be an on-going series – perhaps at other venues also. Chris might be looking for volunteers from the Center City Committee to assist in this event.

Steve Syverson related that the Lowell Firehouse Logo Project is progressing where each Engine Company is being matched up with a local artist who is creating an individual, specific logo for the Company.

Steve also reported that the Arts League of Lowell has lost their lease on Middle Street so they are moving back to Park Café. Monthly meetings are at the Community Room at the Pollard Library on the last Wednesday of the month.

Ted Lavash briefed the group that the Downtown Neighborhood Committee is negotiating a new home and their meetings are generally the first Monday of the month.

On a motion by Steve Syverson, seconded by Ted Lavash, it was voted: to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 AM.

The Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 3rd at 8:00 AM at the Lowell Plan Conference Room, 11 Kearney Square. A light breakfast will be served, courtesy of the Lowell Plan.