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Home My Public Portal About2016-11-22 EDP Committee Report (amended)_201611301030399603 1630 Watertown Town Council Administration Building 149 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 ELECTED Phone: 617-972-6470 OFFICIALS: Committee on Economic Development and Planning Mark S.Sideris, Meeting: October 19, 2016 Council President Report: November 22,2016 (as amended) Vincent J.Piccirilli,Jr., The Committee convened at 7:00 m on Wednesday October 19 2016 in the Richard E. Vice President P Y Mastrangelo Council Chambers. Present were Susan Falkoff, chair; Kenneth Woodland, Michael F.Dattoli, vice-chair; and Vincent Piccirilli, secretary. Staff present were Steven Magoon,Director of Councilor At Large Community Development&Planning/Assistant Town Manager. Also present were Aaron P.Dushku, Councilors Aaron Dushku and Lisa Feltner; representatives from the Watertown-Belmont Councilor At Large Chamber of Commerce and Belmont-Watertown Local First; and several members of the Susan G.Falkoff, Public (see attached sign-in sheet). Councilor At Large The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how to support small businesses. Anthony Palomba, Councilor At Large Mr. Magoon provided a handout(Attachment A) on new ideas to support small businesses Angeline B.Kounelis, and several things that have already been done. He also discussed the importance of helping District A Councilor existing business stay in Watertown in addition to attracting new business. Lisa J.Feltner, Councilor Dushku rov spoke about providing small business property exemption,which District B Councilor P p g a sma ness P Pert y tax could provide a discount for properties valued at less than$1 M that house a business with Kenneth M.woodland, 10 or fewer employees. This was presented to the Town Council on May 12, 2015 and District D Councilor Councilor Dushku asked the Committee to consider this again(Attachment Q. Councilor Falkoff provided a handout(Attachment B) on new ideas to support small businesses, and asked for input from the public. Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Local First described what they were doing to help small businesses, and what challenges their members face. Both suggested the value of a task force with the Town to work with businesses to develop ideas. Several small business owners also spoke about their challenges and ideas. A group of small business owners on Arsenal Street spoke about the negative impact on their businesses from the street and sidewalk construction with the new developments in that area, and the lack of support and communication from the Town in helping to manage the project and mitigate these impacts. Councilor Woodland summarized the discussion into several common themes,which he recommended the Committee address at future meetings. These are: • Parking issues • Creation of a task force • Streamlining the permit&license process • Small business tax exemption • Incentivizing small businesses in new developments • Watertown's strength as a destination • Grant opportunities • Zoning changes Page 1 of 2 Committee on Economic Development and Planning Report November 22, 2016 • Walkability issues • Accessibility issues for customers with disabilities • Marketing of small businesses by the Town The Committee agreed with this approach, and will schedule future meetings to explore options. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm. Report prepared by Vincent Piccirilli Page 2 of 2 1 r. s <.co, Jt CC 3 trt,•n S�Cr.� 1`�a�� Small Business Support Attachment A Some general ideas to jump start a conversation - Consider adjustments to the employee parking passes - Adjustments to parking regulations in specific areas where issues exist - Financial mechanisms to create opportunities BID, DIF, Mainstreet program o Fagade improvements o Corridor beautification o Coordinated marketing Program, or other ways to highlight local businesses o Community events o State Grant opportunities, like DHCD town center revitalization grant - Provide business services with Chamber of Commerce, SBA o Market analysis o Store design assistance - Consider changes to eliminate permitting barriers - Tax Incentives Some things that have been done - TMA services to the area - Community Path - Added new liquor licenses - adjusted Town policy on food trucks Attach ent B How to help small business? '� 1. AWARENESS—Profiling small business in local news stories, community events and with schools via social media, online and print news and Town website. 2. LOCAL MARKETING SUPPORT-organizations such as Local First& Chamber of Commerce could use funding to run programs—direct mailing etc. 3. LOCAL COMMUNITY BUILDING—i.e., a Coolidge Square or East End Watertown Block Party— band, food, entertainment—dance, martial arts demos—smaller scale than Faire on the Square but drawing foot traffic to the business area 4. PARTNER/PROMOTE EXISTING SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS—i.e., the Donohues Turkey Trot, Boys & Girls Club 5k, Watertown Police Finish Strong 5k—support these local efforts on a larger scale 5. CONSOLIDATE REQUESTS—i.e., tree trimming requests so things get logged and not forgotten Attachment C TUESDAY,MAY 12,2015 PROPOSED-SMALL COMMERCIAL EXEMPTION EXEMPTION QUALIFICATIONS: To receive a small commercial exemption granted for the fiscal year,a Class Three,Commercial,parcel must be occupied as of January 1 by a business with an average annual employment of no more than 10 at all locations during the previous calendar year,and have a property valuation of less than$1,000,000. The Department of Unemployment Assistance(DUA)is required by law to supply to the Chairman of the board of assessors of each city and town a list of all employers located in that municipality that qualify as a small business under Chapter 59,by reason of having had an average of ten or fewer employees in the past calendar year. The Town of Watertown as of September 2014,had 346 employers in our community that meet this definition.An extensive review of the(DUA)list by Assessors Office has determined 128 employers met the preliminary class and value standards.The chart below shows the Small Commercial Exemption Impact on the Commercial and Industrial property owners. SMALL COMMERCIAL EXEMPTION(SCE)-WATERTOWN PARCELS USE CLASS COUNT SCE % SCE VALUE USE VALUE % >MILLION % 013-031 COMMERCIAL 80 39 0.49 $12,962,380 $201,724,206 0.06 8 0.10 014-041 INDUSTRIAL 8 0 0.00 $0 $2,472,490 0.00 3 0.38 300-393 COMMERCIAL 361 89 0.25 $50,536,400 $473,826,100 0.11 97 0.27 400-452 INDUSTRIAL 82 0 0.00 $0 $240,773,100 0.00 46 0.56 TOTALS 531 128 0.24 $63,498,780 $918,795,896 0.07 154 0.29 ELIGIBLE PARCELS 441 128 0.29 1 I 105 0.24 SMALL COMMERCIAL EXEMPTION AT 10% $6,349,878 NEW C/I TAX RATE$28.00 I $177,796.58 .13 CENT INCREASE COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL IMPACT IN TAX$ VALUE FY15$27.87 FY15$28.00 TAX DIFF FY15$28.00 TAX DIFF WITH SCE WITH SCE WITHOUT SCE WITHOUT SCE FY15 TAX RATES $500,000 $13,935.00 512,600.00 -$1,335.00 514,000.00 $65.00 RESTR 15.03 $750,000 $20,902.50 $18,900.00 -$2,002.50 $21,000.00 $97.50 $1,000,000 $27,870.00 $25,200.00 -$2,670.00 $28,000.00 $130.00 COMM TR 28.00 $1,250,000 $34,837.50 $35,000.00 $162.50 $35,000,00 $162.50 IND TR 28.00 $2,000,000 $55,740.00 $56,000.00 $260.00 $56,000.00 $260.00 PP TR 27.87 $3,000,000 $83,610.00 $84,000.00 $390.00 $84,000.00 $390.00 Massachusetts Department of Revenue Division of Local Services Municipal Databank/Local Aid Section Small Commercial Exemptions Small Commercial DOR Exemptions Code County Percentage Auburn 017 Worcester 10 Avon 018 Norfolk 10 Bellingham 025 Norfolk 10 Braintree 040 Norfolk 10 Dartmouth 072 Bristol 10 New Ashford 200 Berkshire 10 Seekonk 265 Bristol 10 Somerset 273 Bristol 10 Westford 330 Middlesex 10 Wrentham 350 Norfolk 10 Various Municipal Exemptions S:Lsexec/Datebank/DocumentationNadous Exemptions.xls