Andrew Dickinson

The meeting commenced with an informational City meeting regarding an upcoming dredge. Key discussions involved the election of officers, with David Plavin nominated as Chair and Marc Bourassa as Vice Chair, and the establishment of a rotating role for the Secretary. Updates covered the Saco Harbor dredge, expected to start on March 2/3, with sand being piped down Eastern Ave. The Army Corps of Engineers officially awarded the dredge bid to Mohawk Northeast, with work commencing no sooner than March 15. The City Council approved the purchase of wave gauges, to be managed by the University of New England's GIS Lab, with hopes for deployment before sour jetty work begins. The Community Resilience Grant application for Beach Management was not approved, and the Commission is awaiting the Phase I report from Tight&Bond, emphasizing the need for beach cleaning and maintenance. In relation to the Shoreline Journal, Councillor Onnen is exploring strategies, potentially using a personal Ward 4 webpage as its new home.

The meeting included updates on several significant initiatives. A dredge update indicated mobilization expected in early February, with the Saco dredge potentially taking two to three weeks to complete after work in Wells Harbor, and all dredged sand being pumped onto Camp Ellis Beach. The Army Corps of Engineers reported contractor selection for a project expected to begin in the spring. A recent informational session concerning the Local Beach Management Plan drew over 60 attendees. In new business, the Commission supported a proposal from UNE to purchase and maintain two wave gauges to measure wave action around the proposed spur jetty in Camp Ellis, with an associated cost under $10,000. Old business involved coordinating information for the Shoreline Journal.

The meeting addressed several public comments concerning the budget and municipal matters. Concerns were raised regarding increased funding for senior programs versus school pre-K programs, the impact of high taxes on seniors, and the structure of the city and school department entities. Concerns were also voiced about the posting of the budget meeting notice and the clarity of budget materials, specifically regarding TIF fund balancing and salary adjustments for department heads versus contracted employees. Financial discussions included a review of the Fiscal Year 2019 budget update as of February 28, 2019, noting revenue streams like property taxes and expenses across various departments, including Assessing, Code Enforcement, Building Maintenance, and Solicitor expenses. The insurance payment schedule was noted to be changing to align with the fiscal year instead of being paid in March. The council also addressed the consent agenda, tabling the approval of minutes from February 4th and 14th to the next meeting on April 1st.

This strategic plan, issued by the City of Saco's Planning and Development Department, aims at assuring high quality and more sustainable development within Saco. It details four main areas of activity: Development Review, General Planning, Economic Development, and Historic Preservation. The plan outlines strategic objectives including improving economic development marketing programs, positioning the city for enhanced transportation access, improving downtown viability, collaborating on watershed management, and expanding alternative transportation options. A key goal is to process all applications in a timely and thorough fashion, providing necessary assistance to applicants.

This document outlines a comprehensive long-term transportation plan for the communities of Biddeford, Saco, and Old Orchard Beach, Maine. The plan integrates land use strategies with transportation planning to address regional vehicular movement, parking, bicycle/pedestrian facilities, and transit options. It aims to balance the needs of all users, enhance mobility, encourage sustainable growth, and optimize the existing transportation network by reducing peak hour vehicular traffic and fostering alternative modes of travel.