9.24.2025 Redevelopment Authority

Welcome to the September 24th, 2025 meeting of the forward or redevelopment authority.

Person to the open meeting. Any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such recording transmission are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.

Start out with a roll call. John Ericson, Ron Rousen, Ben, Joan Medeiros.

Thank you. Also participating are Sarah Paige, executive director, John Cofflin, legal counsel, Ken Fiola, administrative consultant, and Karen Martin, project manager. First item is approval of our u open session meeting minutes from August 27th, 2025. If there's no comments on those, I'll entertain a motion to approve. name.

Motion approve the August 27, 2025 open session minutes.

Second.

John Ericson. Yes.

Ron Rousen. Yes.

Yes.

Joan Maderos. Yes.

Ke.

Thank you. Next item is the warrant which Joan has, excuse me, gone through totaling I don't know. Should I add on the five grand on the bottom?

There's n it's 94,45297.

What's that? That's for this the actual warrant itself, but this is the check that was hand cut earlier for um the Yeah.

Okay. Uh so if everybody's in agreement with that with these items, uh I entertain a motion to approve these motion to approve the my minutes are up here. The warrant in a warrant amount of 191,540.77.

No, 9445297.

Did I screw that up?

Uh 94.

Oh, I did. Yes.

94.

Oh, wait. No, I didn't. No. 94.4 45297.

Motion two.

Okay.

I think you just said 194 by mistake.

Yes.

I actually have the wrong one here.

Okay.

That's exactly what I said.

Uh, did anybody second it?

You want this one?

Second.

You should have that one. But you want to make sure you got the right one anymore.

Huh?

Well, I got this one's right. I'm just saying the warrant I have doesn't match the the number she wants me to say. So that's why I went what the warrant said.

According to warrant said 191,540 the motion did say 94,000 but I went with the warrant. So whatever one the 94,000 94,000 is right.

Okay. Motion to approve the September warrant amount of 94,45297.

Second second.

John Ericson. Yes.

Ron Rousen. Yes.

Yes.

That's yours.

John.

Um okay. Uh Karen's going to talk about the insurance renewals. Uh yes, we had three of our policies have um come up for renewal this month. We um just executed the um directors and officers insurance, which was the check that was cut um prior to the um the warrant being put together of the 5,139, which is the annual premium. we were able to um move our policy over to Bay Coast Insurance

with um equivocal coverage from our previous um broker and we actually saved uh roughly $1,100. So that was nice. Um we also are renewing the coverage at uh 600 Deval Street and um our land coverage. Um and that's um those two policies are both um part of the um the warrant that is in here.

Um so those should be all renewed for another year and good to go.

Good. Um cathotic protection.

Um cathotic protection. So, since our last meeting, we were able to finalize the site inspections with the cathotic engineer and the uh the diver and a minor punch list was pulled together where there's one tab that needs to be rewelded on one of the anodess, the bottom tab, and um there's a couple of spots on the coatings that need to be touched up. And uh Kavanaaugh is going to be back out on

this coming Monday, which is September 29th, to do that work. and then start doing um some of the um additional work in the change order we issued to complete the coding on the um on the bulkhead. So, they'll be out there on Monday.

Okay. Landscape uh landscape maintenance. I just brought this up basically because we're if you go down to City Pier now, you can see that the grasses are starting to overtake all the um the planting beds.

And in talking with both um Dilva and um uh the landscape ar the architect, what we think we need really need to do is take a good look at those grasses and maybe start splitting them so that we can allow all the other plants that are in the area to um to um continue to prosper. So once the dieback happens, probably like in early November, um uh we're going to meet out on the site um

and just kind of walk around and see what areas we need to start thinning and you know whether we can move some of the things like sweet fern to another part of our property over closer to the tree line. I don't know. We'll have to take a look at that. But we're probably going to do a little bit of maintenance on that so that we can keep it looking less

jungle like in the in the uh planting bar. Well, so I just figured I'd let you know that uh Northfield Point.

Uh Northfield Point. So the invasive plant management, I don't know if anyone's got down there, but the invasive plant management work um is completed and it looks awesome.

Everybody loves it. They're walking by and they're like, "Oh my god, this looks so good." Um it just really kind of opens up the whole site. It looks great.

Um so that is done. They finished that on Monday. Um and there does not appear to be um a punch list that's going to be needed. They took care of all the little items before they left on Monday. So, um we're now going to be able to go into that next phase of work which is the revetment work. And um we are have um scheduled a pre-construction meeting with Dilva and the engineers. And I've

also invited the new harbor master um for Friday morning uh at 9:30 on the site. Um and we'll talk about schedule and um getting started with that. the um Tim has started with some submitts. Um his turbidity curtain has gone in for approval and I talked to Bill today from beta and that um should be going being returned to him by tomorrow um approved as submitted and he's working on getting

the rest of his submitt stuff pulled together. So we should be hopefully getting out there soon. We are waiting for the Army Corps of Engineers permit to be um submitted, but we've responded to any of their comments. So um that should be imminently coming and um then the only other thing that's left to approve on that revetment work is the beta proposal for um construction administration and on-site resident

services which was included in your board package which has a cost not to exceed of 1141 165.

And um that's so we're definitely going to need to start out initially with full-time resident engineer services just so we can um come to agreement with you know debris removal. there is some, you know, pockets of like concrete and just um debris that needs to be removed from the site. And then also to get a good feel that um that you know we're working from a good toe point and all

elevations and everything. I believe the plan is going to be we're going to go work from the point in. Um and so once we see that we're getting everything done correctly, we'll probably be able to ease back on the actual on-site um uh services and so it'll just be build time and material and the proposal is part of that bid package.

So um if you have any questions on that I can address them. So we're thinking that task what they're calling task five pro would probably not be that much.

Right. Right. There'll be billing time and material against that.

So is that cost built into the overall project?

Yes.

Well, yes. Uh, so if there's no more questions on that, I'll entertain a motion to approve the beta group proposal dated September 18, 2025 for construction administration and on-site resident services for revetment work at Northfield Point for costs not to exceed $114,165 and to authorize the chair to sign the amendment to the beta agreement for this work.

So just to be sure, is that on top of the construction cost?

Yes. And what's the construction cost?

447.

Okay. So, we're up to 5 561.

561. Yeah. That's we had we had What was our budget for this?

It was around 500.

Okay. So, the extra 60 is coming from Well, we're hoping to get that funded earmarked from Carol.

Okay.

And then, um, this is going to be it's match money for the CEO grant.

Okay.

So, well, we had talked about a budget of 500 for um the bid coming in for the the revetment.

The revetment, right?

We didn't really talk about what this was going to cost and we didn't expect it to be this high, but we didn't really talk here about Well, the last meeting we brought up around 100,000. Yeah. Yeah. Brought it up.

Yes. I said they were going to get a more formal proposal, but it was going to be likely around 100,000.

We're doing this project more in pieces as opposed to one big budget that you might do if you put in a grant proposal or something.

What was the amount of the grant proposed grant again?

500.

No, for the SEO grant.

Yeah.

That was we had talked last meeting is going to be between 800 to a million and we've Sarah's going 965 965,000 those 500 allocated to this because we had talked about 500 I thought we had the 500 was going to be it's it was going to be FR matching funds y and we are pending an earmark of 125,000 that is waiting funding okay So within the so 500 and 125 625 so this is 561 all together

what 447 and 114 are the two numbers they come up to 561 approximately you're saying we have 500 and 125 year mark towards it no we the board had agreed to put in the 500 and we're waiting for the ear mark which we hope to get which is 125,000.

Yes.

So that's 625.

Yeah. And then the 965 that we asked for from the seapport is all for the walkway, the plantings, bringing water to the site from Deval Street. Um and the 500 acts as the match to the 900.

Yes.

Okay.

All right. Motion to approve the beta group propose dated September 18, 2025 for construction administration and on-site resident services for reventment work at Northfield Point at a cost not to exceed 114,165 and to authorize the chair to sign amendment to the bid agreement for this work.

Second second.

Yes.

Ron Ren yes. Yes.

Joan Medeiros. Yes. Dan Keane. Yes.

Thank you. Sarah's going to talk about the Seport Economic Council grant.

So, we put that in a week or so ago and I think it came out well. Um, as I said, we asked for 965,000.

Um, and it really includes lots of items of um, you know, one that people have really asked for is uh, a fill station for bottles along the waterfront. People walk and run and um, you know, they they say we need water here. We need water.

So, uh, we needed to bring water down from Dval Street anyway, um, to be sure that all the plants that we're planting really, uh, take and, um, uh, you know, really survive next summer. And so, um, so that's that's really going to be appreciated by the people who spend time along the waterfront. and uh beta helped with this whole new analysis you have to include with grants um that uh looked at all kinds of

environmental issues and um so I think it came out well. We pulled all the different pieces together so they really um supported each other and were all consistent. And I really hope we get that grant.

So I think Sarah, what's the timeline? Um we should they should be letting us know in December.

Okay. Um the other thing I had on my notes to tell you is that um one of the um one of the criteria that they were using for evaluating the grants is if it has any educational aspect to it. And we had said originally uh when we got the grant for the design that we were going to involve groundworks um that would have youth coming out working on some of the invasive species and they really

weren't able to continue doing that work in Fall River. And so, um, we got the Ottabon Society and, uh, the trustees of reservations to both agree that they would love to bring children and youth out there to do educational workshops on the environment, on the birds that are coming, the plants that attract the birds. And so we have commitments for people to bring school classes or have

these weekend activities. And so that's really good. We talked about how we're kind of creating an outdoor classroom where these workshops would be able to happen on a little grassy area that will be um you know a place for them to meet and get their talk before they go out and look at all of the plants and things on the spit.

So, um I was glad that we could add that and that we have that ready for next year.

So, um do you want us You guys have a copy of the John, you did some revisions on this BI on the boat infrastructure, right?

Yep.

Um do we need to talk about that at all?

So, we're um we're doing the paperwork for the boating infrastructure grant that will fund the moorings and the dingy dock. And we had talked with you at the last meeting about the um agreement that we have to sign and the city is co-signing it. And what John to do was have language in there about how we're adding the city in because usually this document is a city or an organization and here we're going in as

the redevelopment authority as the subgrantee and then the city as a collaborator.

And so they've said that's fine. And so John put it together. So we have different signature pages.

Um and uh the so we've been working on anou that will get signed between the city and the redevelopment authority that you know this agreement that we're signing is many pages with an incredible amount of detail and it's envisioned to be a 20-year program. you're expected to keep these facilities, you know, the dinghy dock and the moorings for 20 years. And so, a lot is laid out in there. And so

we're working on this simpleou that references this document we want to have signed that says the city does these pieces like the harbor master and they get fees for the um rental of the moorings and then those go into a special fund that can be used to maintain the moorings. And so the um theou we're working on will clarify what we're doing what they're doing over time. And so what we would

like you to vote on tonight is um to be able to sign this document that was in your board package that talks about all kinds of details. and um then have uh authorized the chair to both sign thisou sign this critical document and then other contract documents because they use the standard state contract document that's really just a form and so we're going to have to sign that down the road too.

And the state was okay with the changes that I made.

Yes, they were.

Yeah.

Okay. Motion to approve the project B subg guarantee agreement as modified by a legal council and to authorize the chair to sign the project big agreement with the city and all contract documents.

Second.

Second.

John Ericson. Yes.

Ron Rousen. Yes.

Ben Fber. Yes.

John Medeiros. Yes. Dan Kane. Yes.

Uh going to talk about the Pleasant Street herb.

Well, I left on your um your places today the wonderful article that uh our collaborator at Mass Inc. Uh wrote up about this um excellent announcement.

You know, we understood that the um the lieutenant governor was shocked that NEPA was trying to review intensely urban renewal plans. So the um the state has um put out for public comment which will be commenting and um would encourage you to comment um that 70% of the housing that has in the past gone through MEPA will no longer go through this incredible process. And so they're

trying to have the approval process be a month as opposed to a year or two. And that's a huge huge decision. And then they are also proposing that urban renewal plans not be reviewed by NEPA in the way they are now. they will still you'll still have to go in with an environmental notification form which is really simple and now we have to go through $50,000 worth of process and so we've been

working you know I've been kind of facilitating a team that's been working on this for a couple of years trying to get this regulation changed and so we're thrilled and it means that we should be able to tear forward with our urban renewal plan in the Flint.

Nice. Good work.

That's your proposal. Is it going to be agreed upon?

Yeah, that's my question.

Yeah.

My understanding is it doesn't go to the legislature.

It's a regulation.

Regulation.

It's a regulation.

So, they draft the rag, they put it out for public comment, but usually it means they adopt it at the end. We don't know, but usually how to get something done in 30 days that took you, year and a half.

Yeah. that all of a sudden it's it's easier to do that because it wasn't necessarily one of the things that um that gets you there is they said housing of these types does not damage the environment. And that was one of my big beefs with the urban renewal plan issue was the assumption was your urban renewal plan would um harm the environment. And it just was infuriating because the idea of taking down

dilapidated buildings that are potentially falling into the street and causing just incredible distress in a neighborhood. to say that's not harming the environment and taking them down is gonna harm the environment um made no sense. So, one of the beautiful things is they just removed that concept that this housing and urban renewal plans do not the environment.

Well, that's good because I think you're going to struggle with that.

Yeah, that would be a big help.

Yeah, it would.

Is is there any indication how quickly they're going to turn this around?

Well, it's out for public comment. We have to comment by the end of October and I think they have to wait a month.

So, they're expecting December.

So, put on hold to then.

Yeah, that's a good idea.

We've been on hold a long time.

Okay. Sarah with NMA, I don't think we've met since the last meeting, right?

No, we haven't. And um but we're kind of broken into committees now and we're going to have a kind of steering committee meeting that I'm working on with a couple of people to plan. I think we're going to see if we can get the chief of police or acting chief of police for Tado to come and talk about the um the team of um beat police that we understand are available to work uh in

the north downtown area. and she's talked with me about it and I understand that um community development provides funding for those teams and so we want to talk with her about you know what team works in this area and if we can coordinate with them better or see them more often. Um because Bank Five and um a number of the businesses on North Main Street are really concerned about a lot

of activity that happens in front of the library on the sidewalk and would like to see more done about that.

And so that will be a long-term effort I think. And the one thing that's definitely going through is a team um that were part of a leadership program last year um pitched to part of the program is to do a pitch and get funding for a project. And so they won the um little contest and got $6,000 to apply toward their project in Fall River, which is to do uplighting in the NMA

area. But the first thing they want to start with, which I think is great, is um lighting uh from the roof down the tile mural that was done that you see from the Bragga Bridge coming into the city. and it's um based on Portuguese tile and it's really beautiful and to have it lit at night makes a whole lot of sense. So um which building was that the one on the Herald?

Yeah, it's on the highway used to be there.

That's that's NMA.

No, that is not in the NMA district.

Okay. that um but this commit this group is focusing on some buildings in the NMA district but they all are buildings you see from the Braga Bridge. So part of the thinking is that you're going to improve the North Main Street area, but you're also going to make the city look more spectacular when people are coming from that that direction.

So, um, so that that tile mural piece is being led by Frack because they got the mural done and they would really like to see it lit. But this group that's um that came out of the leadership program are focused on lighting and they want to uplight the People's Bank building as the next one or the People's Build the People's Inc. building that was a bank that um they have a um they have a

sketch of it that shows um what it might look like and it looks looks interesting. I showed it to Johnny the other day and so they're raising money for that project which will be a lot more expensive than the simple lighting of the tile mural.

Is people ain't participating?

Yeah. financially.

Well, I believe they are.

So, they'll probably have to pay for it because the lights have to go electricity.

What's that?

Lights would have to go on the electricity, I'm assuming, unless they do solar. I don't know.

They're not doing solar, so it will be a long-term commitment of people's inc to keep the lighting up and keep the electricity on.

Is it just the one side of the building facing the bridge or two sides? The one facing city hall.

Yep. One facing city hall and the one facing the street.

The back pit's well lit where the post office next to government center is. I didn't realize the front of it wasn't. I thought you going more towards like between Dunny's and Yeah. Well, that will be bank five thing and that those two alleys over there you get dark.

I think it's less the street light. I think it's more the view when you come over the bridge.

Okay. We're talking about uplighting the buildings, which is done in a lot of cities that are trying to revitalize.

And it just creates this sense of um it just makes cities seem so much safer and more alive when you do that. And so that's been a discussion of the NMA group for a while. And this kind of sub the Y has done a nice job. They have the Y has done a nice job.

They can do different colors. Yeah.

You just don't see that one from the bridge. Well, you can kind of see it.

Do you see people in the bridge? Really?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah. Cuz it's before you go into the eastbound.

Yeah. I don't know. I never noticed it.

Probably cuz it's dark.

Even during even during the day during the day, I don't notice what you're probably right.

The other participant is the First Congregational Church and their pastor was part of the leadership group and he's they're contributing money toward this. So, right now there's kind of a fund that's going to first fund the tile mural and then they're applying for um a mass humanities grant and they're just looking at how they're going to piece funding together for these projects for uplighting of the church or just

funding the projects that you had mentioned.

They're doing them once one at a time.

So, there's money for the tile lighting because it's a lot less expensive than the others. Now, they're looking for money to do the People's Ink building.

And the church wants to light the um it's not a steeple, the tower. They have a tower with a bell. It's a bell tower and they want to have that lit and that will be seen from all over the city, I guess, or lots of parts of the city. So that will be kind of the third project.

I think there's a church like a block up from um where First Congregational is. Forget the name of it, but they do something similar. They have up lighting on the church.

Yeah, is a good book.

It makes sense.

So, okay. Um uh if there's no further matters for the open session, the chair makes a finding that open session would have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position public body. The purpose of the executive session is to approve the executive session minutes from August 27th, 2025 and discuss strategy with respect to a potential real estate transactions for properties property located at 45 Anowan Street,

Fall River and the Deval Street Car Fall River. I entertain a motion to enter into executive session and we will not return to open session. Motion to intend enter into execution. We will not return to open session.

Second.

Second.

John. Yes.

John. Yes. Fleber. Yes. John Medeiros.

Yes. Thank you.