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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-06 Infrastructure Committee Minutes Infrastructure Committee March 6, 2012 ATTENDANCE Councilors: Joseph Baldacci Geoffrey Gratwick Susan Hawes Benjamin Sprague Staff: Art Morgan Dana Wardwell Others: Jonathan Pottle Mike Pullen Lucy Quimby The Committee convened at 5:00 p.m. 1. Bangor Trails Commission Art Morgan, Director of Public Services, explained the Bangor Trails Commission had been formed in 2005 to address the need for more trail systems within the City. Council appointed three City Staff representatives to the Commission, which is otherwise made up of citizens and members of the Bangor Land Trust. Representatives of the Commission were present to bring the Committee up to date on the Commission’s recent activity. Mike Pullen, a member of the Bangor Trails Commission presented a timeline of the Commission’s milestones since 2005. He emphasized the development of a master Trails Plan for the City. In recent years the Commission had been focused on the planning and development of Trail V, a trail that would link Cascade Park to Stillwater Avenue via Sylvan Road. A detailed plan was done for Trail V, and recently a grant proposal was submitted to fund trail construction. The Bangor Trails Commission wished to thank the Councilors for their ongoing support, and for the availability of City Staff participation and assistance. Mike added that the development of a trails system throughout the City was an amenity that attracted young, talented people to Bangor. Lucy Quimby, President of the Bangor Land Trust and member of the Bangor Trails Commission, reiterated the Commission’s thanks to the Council for their ongoing support, and stated that the development of these trail projects was a way for Bangor to maximize the potential of its natural amenities and maintain its status as a desirable place to live. Lucy distributed a copy of the September 16, 2008 Bangor Trails Preliminary Report to Councilors. Councilor Hawes asked if Trail V was in the area of the dangerous culvert crossing being used by Eastern Maine Community College students. Mike explained that it was, and that the dangerous nature of that situation (no existing pedestrian ways on Hogan Rd.) had been brought to the Commission’s attention by the 1 President of EMCC. Trail V would provide a safe alternative for EMCC students to get to the Stillwater/Mall complex. Councilor Gratwick asked if potential trails along existing roads as shown in the Trails Plan would be trails that run beside and off the road, or would consist of striping the existing road to allow for its use as a trail. Mike answered that it was intended that, in the future, when such roads were scheduled for improvement, they would include improvements for pedestrian and bike uses. Art confirmed that this was the intent, and that striping had already been used to this advantage in an area along Stillwater Ave. from Hogan Rd. to Longview Dr. Councilor Sprague agreed that amenities like this trail system were important to attract young people to the community, and that the Council should continue to keep promoting and supporting such efforts. 2. Authorization for the Director of Public Works to Apply for a Local Traffic Signs Grant Offered by Maine Local Roads Director of Public Works Dana Wardwell explained to the Committee that Maine Local Roads was offering a grant to update existing signs in the areas outside the urban compact area of the City by upgrading them to new, reflective signs. He stated that approximately half of the 75 signs in those areas of the City would qualify, and the grant would allow the City to purchase the replacement signs for 10 cents on the dollar. Councilor Gratwick asked if the grant only applied to regulatory signs; Dana confirmed this. Vote: Unanimous Passage 3. Authorization to Let the Director of Public Services Sell a Dock Currently Leased to Hamlin Marine to Hamlin Marine for $3300 Director of Public Services Art Morgan explained that the dock had been leased by Hamilton Marine for two years, and they approached the City about a long-term lease or an outright purchase. When brought to this Committee at a previous date, the Committee directed Art to negotiate a fair price for the sale of the dock. Art and Hamlin Marine agreed on a price of $3300, which was three times the revenue the City received from this dock during the 2011 season. The City no longer uses this dock, and Art recommended that the City sell the dock to Hamlin Marine at the proposed price. Vote: Unanimous Passage Councilor Gratwick asked for a brief update on the new docks for the waterfront. Art responded that it was not yet clear whether the new docks would be in place for the start of the 2012 season. If they were not, the old docks would be installed along the waterfront for use. There was no further discussion. Councilor Gratwick made motion that was seconded to adjourn the meeting at 5:22 P.M. 2