HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-21 Infrastructure Committee Minutes
Infrastructure Committee
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Minutes
Councilors Attending: Patricia Blanchette, Richard Stone, Harold Wheeler,
Richard Bronson, Peter D”Errico, Geoffrey Gratwick
Staff Attending: Ed Barrett, Jim Ring, Norm Heitmann, Dana Wardwell,
Jerry Hughes, Wendy Warren
Others Attending: Nick Bearce, Kathy Guerin, Monique Gotra, James Glencoe,
Paul Svendsen
Committee convened at 5:00 p.m.
1. Recycling and Solid Waste Management Overview
Attached is a Report outlining considerations and alternatives regarding
Recycling and Solid Waste Management. This has been developed in
collaboration with the Recycling Advisory Committee and is intended to provide
information that will be relevant to future discussions and decisions regarding
Recycling and Solid Waste programs.
Councilor Blanchette asked Councilor Gratwick to speak about the Recycling Committee
for about five minutes. Councilor Gratwick Chairs the Recycle Committee and offered an
overview of solid waste and recycling, to keep the Council updated on the
subcommittee’s activities. He stated that he handed out draft number one and two
previously and handed out the draft three and he expected it could be up 18 to 20
drafts by conclusion. He stated that the way that they handled solid waste was
inefficient at $1.1 million and going up. Not highly organized as the wastewater
treatment plant; solid waste should be as important as wastewater treatment. Recycling
falls under Public Works with Jerry Hughes. It stated it was a very complex area with
variables changing all the time, such as in prices, technology, labor, government
regulations, commodities prices. He stated there would be a major change in 2018 with
the relationship with PERC. Currently the City pays $43/ton to burn the refuse. He
provided an example that Portland pays $88, so Bangor was getting a deal because of
the City being part owner, which would change in 2018. Councilor Gratwick suggested
having a plan in place before those changes occur and to also note that the reality was
when there’s change, it would cost money initially and the changed would be somewhat
expensive. He believed it was possible to save money over time. There was a
discussion last week about regional efficiencies. Councilor Gratwick asked Jim Ring,
Jerry Hughes and Dana speak to the Committee and then members of the Recycling
Committee who have been involved. There were three potential options discussed and
there wouldn't be any decision today. Number one, do away with recycling - burn it all.
Second, have a single stream concept. Number three, pay-as-you-go. Councilor
Blanchette then requested Jim Ring, Jerry Hughes and Dana Wardwell keep their
comments to approximately five minutes. Jim Ring made a couple comments regarding
comments by Councilor Gratwick. The types of changes they had seen in the past 25
years or so, use of solid waste and trash disposal had not had the attention the
wastewater treatment plant had. He said he believed they had a fairly successful
recycling program, which certainly served a lot of other communities. In recent years,
the City enjoyed very good commodity prices. He also noted the recycling by the single
stream recycling method, which are materials that are recyclable that are picked up
without be sorting. It would be the proper thing to do to conserve resources. Dana
Wardwell stated recycling in Bangor had been voluntary since the late 80s and he
believed they had a pretty decent voluntary program. Curbside pickup of recyclables
costs money but it needed to be looked at as a service. Citizens dropping things off at
the center, which is available on a twenty-four hour basis, was far more efficient.
Residents are also allowed to bring yard waste, leaves, and brush to the Public Works
compound seven days a week during daylight hours. If they didn't do that a lot of
refuse, etc. would go to PERC. Another thing forgotten was the three R’s of recycling:
“Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle”. Sometimes the reducing and reuse are neglected and
the talk was about recycling. Commodities had been extremely low for years, but
advised they shouldn't be making long-term decisions based on short-term commodity
prices. They need to be looked at it long-term. Also, Jerry Hughes stated Jim and Dana
handled things very well and as they stated the recycle center was started on a
volunteer basis and it continues to be a volunteer basis. In his opinion, they've done
very well; they've worked well with the State and gotten several grants. As a result of
those grants they have been able to establish themselves. He also echoed what Dana
and Jim said about the markets, that they have enjoyed some good prices and they’ve
fallen off a bit. If there was patience the market would come back.
Councilor Blanchette opened the floor to Committee members. Nick Bearce, with the
Recycle Committee indicated he was very much in favor of the cost shift from the
taxpayer to the user of the service and noted citizens were not encouraged to recycle,
reduce, and reuse. He referenced in 1991 politics involved, which was irrelevant and
didn't think it would apply now and hoped the general public was more informed. Kathy
Guerin supported the recommendation from the Committee on the cost shifting idea.
She wanted to remind the group that they started recycling in another recession era and
at the time people were sold on it because it was the right thing to do. She also stated
that in a recession every household was concerned about their own resources. Monique
Gotra stated she supported what Kathy and Nick had said. She stated she dropped off
recyclables at the center and observed it being used more and believed the there
needed to be a cost shift it. James Glencoe spoke next and state he believed they need
to concentrate as a solid waste committee so they could better serve recycling. To
better understand recycling, you need to understand the trash being thrown away. He
stated he supported rest of the Committee members. Paul Svendsen stated there’s an
article in The Weekly, once a month, about recycling and what's going on. He noted
that recycling was at 25% to 30% which was discouraging and needed to do more. He
believed it was not about dollars and cents but about what was done for the country,
and should not abandon recycling, it should be encouraged. Councilor Blanchette
requested the Committee go through the report (third draft) that Councilor Gratwick
provided, market it up, and get back to them with six recommendations, and at that
time come back to the Infrastructure Committee and address them. Note that there
wouldn’t be changes in this budget season because it wouldn’t get done in time.
Councilor Blanchette requested this come back at the next meeting on May 5th.
Councilor Gratwick said the intent would be to look at the six recommendations over
three or four months. To take each topic, get education and bring it back to the
Infrastructure Committee for presentation. Councilor Gratwick requested four months,
Councilor Blanchette agreed. Ed Barrett suggested do something significant soon or
they would run into the same problem they had in 1991. He suggested items to look at
were automated containment and the cost associated, single stream and cost-effective
way to operate. Councilor Blanchette believed that pockets should be hit and that it was
not a privilege to have trash pickup. Councilor Gratwick stated there had to be some
penalty for folks that were just not trying. Councilor Blanchette said she looked forward
to them coming back with recommendations from the Recycling Committee. Councilor
Blanchette did not ask for comments from Infrastructure Committee as this was for
educational purposes at this meeting, and they would come back in four months and
there would be a meeting with just this topic.
2. Proposed Ordinance Revisions – Downtown Noise
Ordinance amendments were approved in February relative to noise in the
downtown area; particularly involving certain types of establishments and early
morning hours. Further Ordinance revisions are recommended to better define
the types of establishments subject to the regulations.
(Draft Ordinance Revisions and Memo from City Solicitor are Attached)
(Memo from Assistant City Solicitor Attached)
Normal Heitmann recalled that they dealt with this in February. At that time it was to
address concerns about behavior noise after most businesses closed after one o'clock in
the morning or so. At that time, they prepared the existing Ordinance and it was
approved. The change was to the definition by reducing the number of patron capacity
of 300 to 80. He stated the Planning Board had some concerns that it was going to be
potentially, overly inclusive. One of the observations made was Tim Horton's on Main
Street. Under the current ordinance, Tim Horton’s didn't have capacity for 80 people. If
they did, they would actually be included because they were in the right zone and they
would not be a 24-hour operation that they are under the ordinance. The intent of the
Ordinance was to focus on the establishments that sold alcohol. At the Council Meeting
the Planning Board was informed that this would be given another look at and
addressing the legitimate concern they had. Norman met with Code as well as Dave
Gould, City Planner. Dave did some research and came up with the proposed
definitions. Proposing to take out nightclub, dance hall, or disco and replaced it with
bar, tavern, or lounges and eating, and drinking establishments. They would also
propose to add the definition to the Urban Service District. This would bring the
Ordinance little more current and would make it more focused on the type of
establishment that had been of concern. Another change, when limiting the hours to
1:30 in the morning he learned, after the fact, that the State allowed alcohol until two in
the morning on New Year's Eve. The proposal would be amending the Ordinance to
2:30 because it would allow businesses the opportunity to clear their patrons in a
reasonable amount of time. Councilor Bronson referenced the social patterns that were
popular. They seem to be focusing on alcohol as creating a noise problem and he
suggested that it had more to do with testosterone than alcohol. He asked these
definitions continue to include something of that nature. He provided an example that
there could be a dance hall with no alcohol, and there would still be a chance for a noise
level. Norms stated he didn't know the answer to that question. Councilor Wheeler
stated concern about the noise originating from one place that was causing problems for
nearby residents. He said this Ordinance moved very quickly. He suggested in the
future Council and Staff take a look at the implications more closely before enacting an
ordinance. Councilor Blanchette stated she believed this was the most ridiculous waste
of time she'd been involved with in a long time. If they wanted to have a dry City, do
not sell any alcohol to any citizen in the City of Bangor. Had there been an excessive
problem? No. If there was a bad problem in Bangor, she would be more than willing to
adjust the Ordinance. But, because a couple people had complained about it when they
knew full well when they moved into the area that there was going to be outside noise.
She didn't believe there was a problem and suggested pulling up the reports from the
Police Department. She believed the Council was wasting too much time on an
ordinance that didn’t need to be amended. Ed Barrett stated that these were merely a
change in the definition of the Ordinances already existing, so if they didn't want to do
anything they could stay the way they were. Councilor Blanchette would not be
supporting this. Ed Barrett asked if the Committee wound like to put this item on for
Council. Councilor Gratwick stated he was in favor of all the proposed changes and
motioned to move Staff recommendation, Councilor Wheeler seconded. This item
referred to the full Council.
3. Application to AmeriCorps NCCC Team for Stormwater Work
The City has an opportunity to utilize an AmeriCorps Community Service Program
for stormwater improvement work.
(Memo from the Assistant City Solicitor is Attached)
Wendy Warren stated they submitted preliminary proposal to this organization, and they
came back and stated they liked the requested proposal. They would like to request
permission to submit a formal proposal that would bring a team of approximately eight
people, college aged between 18 and 24 to work for four weeks in Bangor. They would
work on storm water projects, and/or water quality related facts. This would be at no
cost to Bangor except for providing housing which had already been found at Park
Woods. The City would also provide materials and equipment. There were three
projects that they were hoping to submit under this proposal that the team would work
on. one would include stream surveys of all the remaining impaired streams in Bangor,
which would basically serve as the foundation for the watershed management plans that
they been working on for Birch Street and the Penjajawoc. They would address three
other streams and possibly a fourth outside of Birch and the Penjajawoc. They were
hoping to submit for a severely degraded section of the Kenduskeag trail. Another
project, additional plantings along stream banks where they know they need shade and
then more stabilization. That was one of the recommendations in the watershed
management plan, in any of the five impairs streams, even along the Penobscot, if
necessary. Exact spots had not been identified. Councilor Gratwick was pleased to
support this, the cost was also very good, and viewed it as an opportunity to educate
young people. When the time came, he would motion to support this. Councilor
Wheeler noted there is an indication of $46,700 less than of in-kind labor which involved
GIS technician, City Staff, and stakeholders. He asked to identify what percentage
related to City Staff. Edward Barrett stated that was the next item on the agenda.
These would be two separate grant items. Councilor Wheeler stated he could wait then.
Councilor Bronson commented on the usability of the trail with the breakdown of the
banking he had noticed for two years and could they be assured that the project would
happen. He also questioned the supervision of these people. Jim ring stated that trail
really wasn't accessible and there was a lot of labor involved. Number one and two
were much a priority project and a very important project for people to use and this
program is a very good fit there. In reference to Councilor Bronson's comments about
the allusion to homeless and unsavory group of people that use the trail. Jim Ring
stated he concurred that the trail needed more regular use. He spoke in terms of the
supervision that it had been discussed at Staff level. Jim also stated there was a memo
in the packet on page 21, from Paul Nicholas. Councilor Blanchette asked if in-kind
services were figured into this. Edward Barrett stated all they had to do was provide
materials and equipment that would be done through a budget for the bridge and
through the storm water budget already existing, and by the staff depending on the
project. Councilor Gratwick moved for recommendation and it was seconded for Council
on Monday.
DEP grant storm water utilities study, Wendy stated they are preparing that grant for
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Stimulus money had come to DEP,
which they would like to spend it on large projects and municipalities where there were
impaired streams, and it had to be used for planning purposes. They were submitting a
grant request for planning for a storm water utility district, which would set up and
provide a public outreach plan and provide a stakeholder process so that they could
identify all the issues. They had worked with stakeholders and came up with an
agreeable policy decision. Councilor Blanchette stated they had been dealing with storm
water utility discussions for 15 years. She asked if this was just a request to apply for a
grant. Wendy said they were requesting 70,000. They would be required to put in
46,690 in in-kind services. She was confident they would be putting in 70,000 worth of
in-kind services because they would be providing the GIS mapping which would include
property boundaries and impervious cover. The decision to move forward rested with
the Council. Jim stated this would be work that they'd likely be doing anyway, the grant
would assist in accomplishing that. Councilor Blanchette was grateful to see this money
coming forward and requested a motion to allow them to apply for this grant. It was
moved and seconded. Wendy stated the 70,000 would not just be for in-kind purpose,
it would also include time for Staff meetings as well as her time. No further discussion.
Meeting was adjourned.