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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-09-07 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee Minutes September 7, 2016 Councilors Attending: Plourde, Perry, Nichols, Graham, Baldacci, Durgin Staff Attending: Conlow, Farrar, Heitmann, Hamilton, Wardwell, Willette Others Attending: Residents of North Park Street, Peter Hansen Committee Chair Plourde called the meeting to Order at 6:00pm 1. Authorization to Accept and Appropriate funding for the WIC Nutrition Program in the amount of $2,651,712.20 for the year beginning October 1, 2016 - Health and Community Services Director Hamilton explained the nature and purpose of the Resolve to Accept and Appropriate WIC grant funding. It was moved by Graham, seconded by Baldacci, and voted to recommend approval of the Resolve to the full Council. 2. Authorization to Apply for a Maine Health Access Foundation Healthy Communities Phase III Implementation Grant in the amount of $187,000 for a three year term beginning November 15, 2016 - Health and Community Services Director Hamilton explained the nature and purpose of the Order to authorize application for a MEHAF Healthy Communities Phase III Implementation Grant. It was moved by Graham, seconded by Nichols and voted to recommend the Order to the full Council. 3. Request to Eliminate Parking on both sides of North Park Street between Broadway and French Street - Public Works Director Wardwell explained the situation on North Park Street. Essentially, the width of the street does easily accommodate parking on both sides of the street and two-way traffic, as is now the case. A request was received to eliminate the parking, or to make the street one way with parking on one side. After reviewing the situation Public Works recommended discontinuing parking on both sides of the street. Several residents of North Park Street and adjacent properties spoke about the challenges of traffic, parking, lack of striping and safety concerns. Residents had a variety of suggestions regarding how to remedy these challenges. The problem is also compounded by the proximity to St Joseph Hospital and the right in / right out only on the next street parallel, Congress Street. Councilors asked questions of staff and discussed various options to alleviate the problem. A variety of ideas was discussed, but no consensus emerged regarding the best way to proceed. Following further discussion, the Committee asked Director Wardwell to collect / analyze / evaluate traffic counts on North Park Street and to work with BACTS regarding traffic modeling, returning to the Committee with results when completed. There was no formal action taken by the Committee on the no parking request, pending further evaluation. 4. Discussion / Consideration of Implementing a Smoking Ban in Public Parks and Public Spaces - City Solicitor Heitmann explained the recently enacted Ordinance prohibiting smoking in 11 identified parks which contain features / attractions that would likely draw children—pools, playgrounds, play-structures, etc. He further explained there were other parks and public spaces that could be considered for inclusion in a smoking ban if Council desired, but he cautioned that public spaces, if included, should be carefully defined /described given actual versus perceived boundary lines in some areas. Councilors in attendance expressed their views on whether more parks, in general, should be included, with specific discussion on the appropriateness of including the the Golf Course, Pickering Square, West Market Square, and Bass Park in the smoking ban. Additionally, the topic of smoking on sidewalks and other property owned by the city was discussed. Councilors and staff also discussed the challenge of trying to enforce no smoking bans in all of the locations under discussion. Several different points of view were offered and discussed. Ultimately, as not all Councilors were in attendance for the discussion, the Committee decided to hold a Council Workshop on this issue given the continuing interest expressed by some. It was recommended that the Workshop be held before the end of the current sitting Council as the present Council has the most knowledge and is most familiar with the background issues surrounding this topic. Staff agreed to schedule a workshop in October to revisit this issue. With no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00pm.