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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-16 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee May 16, 2016 Minutes Councilors Attending: Plourde, Nichols, Sprague, Baldacci, Perry, Durgin Staff Attending: Conlow, Farrar, Hamilton, Johnston, Nicklas, Willette, Jarvis, Wardwell, O’Donnell, Comstock, Eyles Others Attending: BDN, Melina Frost, public Committee Chair Plourde opened the meeting at 5:40 pm 1. Referral, Council Resolve 16-188, Accepting and Appropriating $159,060 from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to extend the term of grants from the Fund for Healthy Maine and the Office of Substance Abuse that respond to Public Health Issues in the Penquis District - Health Promotion Program Manager Comstock explained the nature and purpose of the grant funding and responded to questions. It was moved by Baldacci, seconded by Graham and voted to recommend approval of 16-188 to the full Council. 2. Draft Order, Authorizing the City Manager to Respond to a Request for Proposals and to apply for funding in the amount of $550, 703 from the State of Maine, Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WIC Nutrition Program - Public Health and Community Services Director Hamilton and WIC Director Eyles explained the nature and purpose of the RFP, which is to solicit interest to administer the WIC program. The city has administered the program for the last 40 years. It was noted that at least one other local entity plans to respond to the RFP to run the program. Both Directors responded to Council questions about the program and the results if the city should be unsuccessful in the RFP process. It was suggested that a letter be written to at least the Bangor legislative delegation to inform them of the impacts to locally run programs that have occurred through various changed that have been implemented by the state DHHS. It was then moved by Baldacci, seconded by Graham, and voted to recommend approval of this proposed Council Order. 3. Draft Order, Accepting $10,000 from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to extend the term of a grant from the Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund - Program Manager Comstock explained the nature and purpose of this 6 month grant extension (through 12-3-16) which will provide $10,000 of additional funding for the lead poisoning prevention program. It was moved by Baldacci, seconded by Sprague and voted to recommend approval of the proposed Order to the full Council. 4. Request for Designated Customer Parking Space at 624 Hammond Street - Assistant City Solicitor Nicklas explained the request for a time limited parking space in front of the business at 624 Hammond Street. Melina Frost, who runs the business, spoke about the need for the space to be available for her customers. She has observed vehicles parking there for the entire day, precluding others from being able to use the space. Councilors asked questions of staff and Ms Frost regarding enforcement issues and whether other similar situations existed. Following further discussion, it was moved by Sprague, seconded by Baldacci and voted to recommend approval of the request to the full Council. This item will have First th Reading by Council on May 23rd and referred back to Committee on June 6, so that neighboring property owners can be notified of the proposed parking change and have an opportunity to comment. 5. Golf Course Guidebooks - Parks and Recreation Director Willette and Golf Professional Jarvis provided an explanation of this issue. Direct Fairways, a national company, contacted the Department about producing Yardage Guidebooks, which includes selling advertising through solicitation. These guidebooks are then made available to members and guests playing the course at no cost. This is common in the golfing industry. The department entered into a three year contract for this service, and is now seeking Council approval, as required for contractual arrangements. Committee members asked several questions concerning the process, and the guidebook including whether the work could be done locally. It was explained that the work was already underway for this guidebook, but that in the future, local options could be explored. After further discussion, it was moved by Perry, seconded by Sprague and voted to recommend approval of this contract to produce the guidebooks to the full Council. 6. Discussion of Abandoned Shopping Carts - Assistant City Manager Farrar introduced the topic of abandoned shopping carts, indicating that this issue had come forward as a result of both citizen and Councilor concerns. Essentially, the discussion tonight is to decide if there is interest by the Committee in pursuing an approach to deal with shopping carts that are removed from store property and left around the city. He then introduced Administrative Assistant Courtney O’Donnell who briefed the Committee on research she had done regarding how the issue had been dealt with in other communities. She provided examples of approaches used in other municipalities including voluntary compliance, wheel lock systems installed by stores, having carts picked up by Public Works Departments and either returned to stores( with or with a fee / fine) or discarded, to fines levied against store owners for abandoned carts. Committee members all spoke about the issue and their respective thoughts, including what approach might be used to remedy the problem. Opinions on the topic varied widely, from reaching out to stores and seeking voluntary compliance to enacting a local ordinance that would impose fines. After considerable discussion among the committee members, Chair Plourde summarized what he believed was the framework for general consensus of the committee including: staff developing an Ordinance similar in nature to San Jose CA., having stores be required to develop an abandoned cart plan, not implementing a fine system unless there were repeated violations involving a certain number of carts, among other suggestions. There was no dissenting comment from the Committee. Councilor Baldacci also asked staff to see if additional information could be obtained from the city of Portland regarding their approach to this problem. Once staff has obtained and prepared the requested information, this item will return to the Committee for further consideration. With no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40.