City Council

~AD HOC REPORT~ CT Municipal Redevelopment Authority Membership Tuesday, March 18, 2025 Chairman Joseph Britton called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Present were Committee Members Cheryl Wallace-Smith and Elmer Palma. From the City were Antonio Iadarola, Public Works Director and Engineer; Waleed Albakry, Planning Director; Dan Garrick, Finance Director; Dan Casagrande, Corporation Counsel; Roberto Alves, Mayor; Farley Santos, Community Services and Economic Development Advisor; Taylor O’Brien, Chief of Staff, Mayor’s Office. Also present was David Kooris, Executive Director, CT Municipal Redevelopment Authority. Ex Officio Members present were: Peter Buzaid, Michael Coelho and Ben Chianese. From the public was Tom Brown. Mr. Casagrande provided a summary of the purpose of the meeting. He noted Gen. Statute 8-169 which created the authority for the purpose of assisting with economic, transit, and residential development. The municipality can join the authority via a resolution and public hearing. Mr. Kooris explained the purpose of the authority; noting the main objective is to gain access to bond funding allocation ($60M available today with addition funding to come). He identified grants and loans as the primary distribution of the funds that are available to all municipalities with specific criteria; train station, bus transit and/or a walkable downtown. He clarified the process for gaining funds; the legislative body approves membership, the municipality meets with the authority to review needs, likely attraction of housing development (zoning certification), and an MOU is established with the municipality to designate the redevelopment zone. Once the zone boundaries are set funding applications can begin to be accepted by the municipality and or developers and business owners. Mr. Kooris spoke on additional benefits including marketing, attracting developers, and assist with state permitting. Member Palma asked about additional costs to the city and the grant application process; Mr. Kooris noted that in the future there may be membership fees, and he noted that funding to developers will consist of loans while funding for municipal programs will be grants. Member Palma asked about parking requirements; Mr. Kooris confirmed parking requirements are governed by local zoning regulations, and that the authority will assist with the financing of developments. Chair Britton asked for confirmation that there is no cost to join the authority. Member Wallace-Smith asked for confirmation that the intent of the authority it to market the city and bring in developers; Mr. Kooris confirmed. Chair Britton asked about municipal support for projects before they are funded by the authority. Mr. Chianese asked about proposed state legislation; Mr. Kooris noted that the board is made up of a variety of representatives from the state and the authority’s goal is to identify municipalities with ideal regulations for development. Mayor Alves explained that the goal is to join the authority to have access to the grant funds for infrastructure projects that are needed for economic development in the city’s downtown, and he identified the benefit to developers especially when it comes to facilitating state permitting of projects. Mr. Coelho asked about funds available to the authority and expected municipal membership; Mr. Kooris confirmed an additional $30 Million will be allocated to the authority in June of 2026; the expectation is to have about 30 municipalities enrolled. Mr. Santos spoke on the opportunity and the benefits of joining the authority. Mr. Albakry and Mr. Garrick reiterated the need to seek new opportunities for downtown development and support joining the authority. Mr. Iadarola discussed the importance of having access to the grants and most importantly an expedited permit process, he supports joining the authority. A motion was made by Committee Member Wallace-Smith, seconded by Committee Member Palma, to recommend to the full Council the adoption of the resolution subject to a public hearing to be set by the Council. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Committee Member Wallace-Smith, seconded by Committee Member Palma, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:10p.m. Respectfully submitted, Joseph Britton, Chair Cheryl Wallace-Smith Elmer Palma