BELFAST — The Belfast City Council will meet Tuesday, Jan. 2, for their regularly scheduled meeting. Agenda items on Belfast City Manager Erin Herbig’s pre-meeting report include increases in ambulance and fire contract rates, Belfast Harbor usage fee increases, and potential grants for affordable housing developers. 

Belfast Fire Chief Patrick Richards is requesting the Council approve the 2024-2025 ambulance and fire contract rates. Richards recommends a 10 percent contract increase each year for EMS service for fiscal year 2024-2025 due to cost increases for supplies and equipment. Richards is also proposing a 3.8 percent contract cost increase, based upon the increases reflected throughout the industry, according to Richards request.

The City provides primary emergency medical services to the towns of Northport, Belmont, Morrill, and Waldo; the City provides both primary EMS and fire suppression services for the town of Swanville. 

Harbor Master Kathy Given is requesting the Council approve 2024 harbor usage fees. Usage fees were reviewed by the Harbor Advisory Committee in December, where the group was provided with a history of fee changes and various Harbor revenues and expenses over the last several years. Following additional discussion, the group voted unanimously to recommend to the City Council an increase of usage fees by approximately 10 percent across the board in 2024, though the request notes there are several exceptions. 

Exceptions include dockage fees, which the Harbor Council recommends increase by 50 cents per foot; cruise ship fees are also an exception, with an increase of $3.50 per foot to $7 per foot. 

The launch ramp fees and pump-out fees will remain unchanged as they require Maine Inland Fishery and Maine DEP approval, respectively, according to the request. 

Belfast Economic Development Director Thomas Kittredge is requesting the Council authorize the submission of a letter of intent to the Community Block Grant Public Infrastructure Grant Program. 

According to Herbig’s pre-meeting report, “several affordable housing developments in Belfast have either recently been completed or are under construction and will be open later this year. Previously, in order to support each of these projects to secure and tax credits necessary to proceed, the City entered into Tax Increment Financing Credit Enhancement Agreements that will refund these projects a portion of their new property revenue each year for a period of 30 years.

Additional information regarding Kittredge’s request and the CBDI Grant Program can be viewed in Herbig’s full pre-meeting report.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com