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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-02 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee May 2, 2016 Minutes Councilors Attending: Plourde, Nichols, Sprague, Graham, Perry, Faircloth Staff Attending: Conlow, Farrar, Heitmann, Nicklas, Hathaway, Johnston, Bishop, Higgins, Willette Others Attending: BDN, 1 citizen Committee Chair Plourde called the meeting to Order at 6:25 pm 1. Referral, Council Ordinance 16-143, Amending Chapter 9 of the Code of the City of Bangor, Section 9 -10, Attendance at Meetings (City Councilors) - City Solicitor Heitmann explained that a proposal to include Council Standing Committees with the original attendance amendment (16-143) had been requested by Councilor Graham. The intent tonight was to determine if there was interest in expanding the attendance requirement any further than the original Ordinance Amendment and the additional standing committee proposal. Councilors expressed their thoughts regarding both proposals and there did not seem to be any interest for further expansion of attendance requirements beyond what had been prepared. Heitmann indicated that Council Ordinance 16-143 would be returning under Unfinished Business, and that Councilor Graham’s additional proposal would be available to be offered as an amendment, if desired. There was no required action on this item. 2. Review of Liquor Licensing Processing Policy - City Solicitor Heitmann explained the Liquor License Processing Policy adopted by the Council in 2009, and the reasons for the placement of Liquor Licenses on the Council Agenda. Council Chair Faircloth explained his rationale regarding moving new Liquor License approvals to the Consent Agenda without a Public Hearing, to avoid the time consuming process and expense of having Public Hearings on new applications. The Committee discussed various issues concerning the opportunity for public input during the Public Hearings and the expense to the applicants to advertise Public Hearings. Councilor Graham expressed concerns about the public not having the opportunity to comment on the applications if they were under the Consent Agenda. Following further discussion and review, it was moved by Perry, seconded by Nichols and voted 4-1 (Graham) to amend the existing Policy to eliminate the requirement for Public Hearings for new Liquor Licenses, and to move them from New Business to the Consent Agenda for action. 3. Proposed Taxicab Ordinance Amendment—Waiting Time Rates - Assistant City Solicitor Nicklas explained that when the new Taxicab Ordinance was passed, the existing Waiting Time Rate was inadvertently changed from the ability to charge up to $21 / hour to the ability to charge up to $20 / hour, an unintentional lowering of the wait time rate. This Ordinance Amendment would move the rate back to $21/hour as it had been originally, and would allow the taxicab owners to avoid making expense changes to their meters, which had been inspected and sealed using the previously established $21 / hour rate. It was moved by Graham, seconded by Nichols and voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Ordinance amendment to the Council. 4. Proposed Ordinance Amendment- Temporary Sales of Food or Merchandise - Assistant City Solicitor Nicklas explained that this Ordinance Amendment would make several changes to the Land Development Code by amending restrictions on temporary sales of food or merchandise. In summary, it would allow up to five seasonal concessions on the Waterfront, allow vendors to remain open until midnight, make minor revisions to location requirements and signs, and clarify that these ordinance requirements do not apply to vendors permitted through the city’s event permit policy, as that is a separate process. Nicklas further explained that this will be sent to Council and referred to the Planning Board as it is an amendment to the Land Development Code. It was moved by Graham, seconded by Sprague and voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Ordinance amendment to the Council. 5. Proposed Memorandum of Understanding with Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) to assist the Police Department with Administering NARCAN Program - Police Chief Hathaway explained that the request would authorize a partnership between Bangor Police and Bangor Public Health (BPH) and Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) to allow police officers to administer nasal Naloxone (Narcan) in the field, when presented with a person who may be suffering the potential fatal effects of an opiate overdose. The partnership would be set forth through a memorandum of understanding, outlining the duties and responsibilities of the parties. The Chief reviewed other details of the proposed arrangement. City Manager Conlow noted that this was one of the goals of the Community Health Leadership Board and the Working Group Plan adopted by Council. It was moved by Graham, seconded by Sprague and voted unanimously to recommend approval of entering into the Memorandum of Understanding to the Council. With no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00pm.