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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-07-07 Infrastructure Committee Minutes Infrastructure Committee Tuesday, July 7, 2009 Minutes Councilors Attending: Patricia Blanchette, Peter D’Errico, Geoffrey Gratwick, Gerry Palmer, Harold Wheeler, Neally, Bronson Staff Attending: Jim Ring, Paul Nicklas, Jeremy Martin, Rebecca Hupp, Brad Moore, Brian Dugas Others Attending: Larry Killam, Randy Husking, Bob White, Lee White, Nathaniel Rosenblatt Committee convened at 5:00 p.m. Consent Agenda 1. Sewer Abatement Request: 119 Franklin Street - WWTP Brad stated there was a plumbing malfunction and met the criteria for an abatement. Councilor Gratwick motioned and seconded for Staff recommendation. 2. AIRRNET Lease Agreement Rebecca that there was a request by Julie Jones of AIRRNET to lease 126 sq. ft. office in the General Aviation building at a rate of 117.00 a month. Legal has reviewed and approved. Staff recommended. Councilor Blanchette stated this would normally go to B&ED but they were anxious to enter into a lease. It was moved for passage and seconded by Councilor Gratwick. Councilor Blanchette requested a note be sent to the Chair of Business and Economic Development Committee. This did not require Council action. Regular Agenda 3. Request for the Removal of City Trees Jim Ring noted page 21 of the packet that outlined the request. Mr. Larry Killam brief the Committee regarding the trees being a nuisance for six years and he had contacted the City Forester and Jim Ring during the two week duration of the “snowing” of the tree. He stated it cost about two to three thousand to replace refrigeration compressors. He stated the Sea Dog would pay to replace the Black Locust and Spruce. Councilor Blanchette asked how old they were and 1 if they could be transplanted. Jim stated they were about 25-30 years old and 12-15 inches in diameter which would not be possible to transplant. Councilor Palmer request Brian provide the Committee with a list of potential substitute trees. Brian stated any tree would produce litter and that the list was small. With smaller trees there would be issues with establishing. Councilor Gratwick stated he would be voting against the removal and was concerned about other types of trees, their dying, and in turn replacing them. This should be at no cost to the City. Councilor D’Errico thought it a reasonable request of a taxpaying business and should accommodate them. Councilor D’Errico moved passage, it was seconded by Councilor Wheeler. There was continued discussion regarding covering the rooftop units with a fine mesh screen, however, that would not resolve the debris in the customers food when eating on the outside deck. Councilor Wheeler was supportive even though reluctant to lose the trees, but they would be replaced by the Sea Dog at their expense. He stated they deserved a break. Councilor Bronson was supportive and stated this State produces more trees then reduces. If the trees were causing a problem and they needed a buffer then replace them with shrubs. Councilor Blanchette also offered her support. Jim Ring stated for clarification of the Committee that three trees would be appropriate as a replacement, the Sea Dog should incur the expense, and the tree size should be 2 ½ to 3 inches in diameter. Mr. Killam asked if it could be their vendors. Brian stated that these were nuisance trees and under the ordinance the City could remove them. Councilor Blanchette suggested the City take down the trees and use them for mulch elsewhere in the City and the Sea Dog plant new trees and if they die replace them. Mr. Killam asked how long they would be liable for them. The consensus was two winters or two years. An amended motion was made by Councilor Wheeler to bill the Sea Dog for six to nine months for repayment of Public Works to remove, replace with three trees acceptable to the City Forester, Sea Dog liability for the trees for two winters or two years. The motion passed with a four to one vote in favor. Councilor Blanchette requested the Staff report when work was done and the associated costs. 4. Sign Ordinance Revision Jim Ring stated the Infrastructure Committee had preliminary discussion on thth March 17 and in depth discussion on May 5. The Committee deferred action and requested Staff work on a revised Ordinance. The following major elements were provided:  Electronic signs allowed in GICS, SPS, IS, and GISD, but only on major arterial streets in GISD.  Exemptions for certain types of on-premises signs, with limitation on size, frequency of message, locations.  Electronic signs must be on-premises.  Changeable portion of a sign limited to 50% of total allowable sign area.  One electronic sign per zoning lot.  300 foot setback from URD-1, URD-2, MSD, LDR, HDR, and RRA property lines.  Minimum display duration of 20 seconds. 2  Message limited to text, corporate logos, or similar non-corporate logos. Messages must remain static – no blinking, flashing, scrolling, etc.  Requirements to freeze malfunctioning signs to a static display and provisions to remedy malfunctioning signs.  Requirement to provide contact information to address malfunctioning signs.  Limitations on overall brightness of electronic signs which address daytime and nighttime illumination, and to avoid interference to motorists or traffic control devices. There was discussion of abandoned signs and Jim Ring referenced Section 260- 3. E. which stated: “Any sign which advertises a business, product, activity or campaign no longer conducted on the premises shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or person having control of the premises or land upon which such sign is erected within 30 days of the closure of the advertised entity or within 30 days after a written notice from the Code Enforcement Officer stating that such sign must be taken down and removed, whichever occurs first.” Councilor Blanchette was concerned about the signs not be taken down in an appropriate timeframe. Randy Husking asked if companies could be required to do a deposit for removal costs. Councilor Wheeler was concerned about a utopian type society, and the Waterfront District and the Downtown District should be included. Councilor Palmer suggested a “kill switch” to shut off signs in the event of business closers or malfunction. Lee White stated the 20 second duration was long but alright with Bangor Neon. He and Bob White would like to see the signs display images, products, etc., and thought deactivated signs stay in place as they were valuable to incoming businesses. Jeremy Martin noted to the Committee that once the revised Sign Ordinance was in place, MDOT would need to approve it. One of their stipulations was the sign could not be readable from the interstate. Councilor Wheeler suggested and requested the discussion be continued due to time limits and there were other important items on the Agenda. Councilor Wheeler moved and it was seconded. 5. Agreement: Americorp National Civilian Community Corps Paul Nicklas explained to the Committee Americorp was a national community service organization similar to the Peace Corp. Americorp granted the City a team of eight to twelve people for one month this summer to do stormwater- related work at the Kenduskeag Stream Trail area. Staff recommended signing the agreement, which was reviewed and approved by the City’s Legal Department. Councilor Gratwick moved and Councilor Wheeler seconded. Councilor Bronson commented on the deplorable condition of the planks on the bridge. 6. Update: Special Comprehensive Planning Committee Report Nathaniel Rosenblatt, Chair of the Special Comprehensive Planning Committee stated he spoke with this Committee in March and provided an overview. They were charged with identifying about twelve topics for review in 2009. Such 3 topics include land use plan, RRA, WDD/harbor, housing & economic development, traffic and transportation, water resources. At the mid-year assessment the remaining to be reviewed: Historic structures, schools, public facilities, regional cooperation, park and recreational, arts and cultures. A couple members would work on each topic, provide a draft and come back to the Committee by deadline date of December 2010. Councilor Wheeler suggested moving deadline to September 2010. Nathaniel was not concerned that it be moved and would be back in three months with another update. Motion to adjourn and seconded. 6:48:08 4