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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-08-15 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee August 15, 2016 Minutes Councilors Attending: Plourde, Sprague, Baldacci, Graham, Nichols Staff Attending: Conlow, Farrar, Hamilton, Hathaway, Heitmann, Willette, E Beaulieu Other Attending: Wayne and Sonja Mallar, Peter Hanson, Media, Mel McKay Committee Chair Plourde called the meeting to Order at 5:35 1. Resolve, Accepting and Appropriating an Additional $80,700 for the Supplemental Nutrition Education Grant Program - It was moved by Sprague, seconded by Baldacci and voted to recommend approval to the City Council. 2. Resolve, Accepting and Appropriating a Grant from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Nursing Department in the amount of $61,048 to support Bridging Services - It was moved by Sprague, seconded by Graham and voted to recommend approval to the City Council 3. Order, Authorizing the City Manager to Accept Funding in the amount of $4,000 from EMHS / Acadia Hospital to provide Project Coordination Services - Director of Health and Community Services Hamilton explained the nature and purpose of the $4,000 funding from EMHS / Acadia Hospital. It was moved by Sprague, seconded by Nichols and voted to recommend approval to the City Council. 4. Referral; Council Ordinance 16-315, Amending Chapter 231 of the Code of the City of Bangor- Smoking Prohibited in Certain City Parks - Director Hamilton and Parks and Recreation Director Willette explained the background related to the proposed ordinance. Based upon previous Committee direction, the Ordinance amendment has been written to prohibit smoking in those parks that have physical amenities that would attract children, such as pools, play-structures, and ball-fields. Staff reviewed a map that had been prepared which showed the parks to be included, as well as those that were excluded. Director Willette explained how signage and education would work to inform the public about these new rules. Graham expressed concern and his belief that all parks should be included in the proposed smoking ban. City Solicitor Heitmann nd noted that this Ordinance could be amended at the City meeting on August 22, if he wished to propose an amendment to include other parks. Resident Peter Hanson indicated that he was pleased with this as a starting point, and hoped it would result in voluntary compliance in other areas as well. There was no action required as this was an update showing the Committee the Parks that they had previously identified as no smoking permitted. 5. Request to Consider creation of Permit Parking in the vicinity of John Bapst High School - City Manager Conlow explained the request that had come forward from resident Wayne Mallar to consider establishing permit parking around John Bapst High School to address parking concerns. Mr. and Mrs. Mallar spoke to the committee about their concerns including safety (cars parking too close to street corners, in no parking zones, in front of fire hydrants, etc.), cars parking illegally in time limited spaces, and the impact on surrounding businesses and the residential neighborhoods. Police Chief Hathaway explained parking enforcement procedures and noted they had surveyed local businesses which, with the exception of one, did not have any particular problems or concerns. Hathaway noted there had been various changes made over the past 6-8 years that have improved the parking situation around the school. Head of School Mel McKay stated that they take parking issues and safety very seriously and try to work with students to educate them about where and how to park legally. A traffic / parking study undertaken by Sewell Co. two years ago identified the need for 113 parking spaces between staff and students. The school continues to explore options to reduce parking demand in the immediate area. Several Councilors spoke about the general parking situation and the longstanding challenges associated with the School’s location. Suggestions were made to look at shuttling students from satellite locations (parking garage, underutilized church parking lots), utilizing more carpooling, establishing a fixed number of space for the school’s use, more enforcement, better education for students, and looking at best practices from school’s around the country which have similar parking challenges. After further comment and discussion, the Committee asked that city staff and John Bapst representatives meet and review the parking situation and challenges, develop options and recommendations for any improvements and report back to the Committee in approximately 60 days with their findings and recommendations. With no further business to be conducted, the meeting was adjourned at 6:20 pm.