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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-16 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. City Council Chambers MINUTES Council Members: Blanchette, Hawes, Civiello, Longo, Durgin, Baldacci Staff: Conlow, Farrar, Hathaway, Wardwell, Morgan, Fogler, Eyles, Comstock Others: Julie Green, Bob Kilpeck, Peter Nowell 1. Resolves to Accept and Appropriate Various Grant Funds – Health and Community Services a. $125,000 to implement the second year of the Drug Free Communities Program. b. $90,000 to support the third year of Healthy Eating Active Living in the Penquis Health District. c. $79,000 to implement the second year of marijuana and prescription drug prevention services for the three Penquis District Healthy Maine Partnerships. d. $2,728,057 to provide for the Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program. Councilor Longo moved, Councilor Baldacci seconded and approved to recommend to full Council. 2. Proposed Memorandum of Understanding – City of Bangor and Community Housing of Maine. Community Services Manager Rindy Fogler explained about this assistance for housing for those who need it and qualify. Proposal to rehab the school building in Brewer to turn into housing for low income people. They are hoping to focus on our Shelter Plus Care population. We have been asked if we are willing to use some of our project based vouchers for this new rehab building (if they are awarded). There would be no increased staff/administration time since we are already writing these vouchers. This would not be additional vouchers added but redirecting some of the current ones. Councilor Longo moved, Councilor Baldacci seconded and approved to recommend to full Council. 3. Approval of Sub-Recipient Agreement between the City of Bangor and Piscataquis Public Health Council. Health Promotion Program Manager, Jamie Comstock explained that currently we have 2 Sub-Recipient Agreements. One with Mayo Regional Hospital and one with Katahdin Shared Services. Piscataquis Public Health Council was told they needed to find a new fiscal lead and Penquis was chosen. So this means we need to have a Sub-Recipient Agreement between the City of Bangor and Penquis/Piscataquis PHC. Councilor Baldacci moved, Councilor Longo seconded and approved. 4. Proposed Ordinance Amendment – raising the weight limit for vehicles parking for more than four hours in residential districts from three quarters of a ton to a one ton, including an exemption for moving vehicles. Police Chief Hathaway stated that this Ordinance was dated and needed to be updated to include one ton vehicles. Councilor Baldacci moved, Councilor Longo seconded and approved to recommend to full Council for first reading then to Planning Board, and finally to full Council. 5. Proposed Ordinance Amendment – creating no parking zones on Buck Street from Main Street to Sunnyside Greenhouse, due to recent repaving/restriping associated with the opening of the Cross Insurance Center. Director of Public Works Dana Wardwell stated that due to the new construction of the Cross Insurance Center and Buck Street being the new main entrance there needs to be no parking zones on each side of the street, from Maine Street to Sunnyside Greenhouse. Councilor Baldacci moved, Councilor Blanchette seconded and approved to recommend to full Council for first reading. 6. Discussion and Review of Traffic concerns on Kenduskeag Avenue. Concerns about traffic speed on Kenduskeag Avenue have been received by Councilors Baldacci and Civiello. As a result, they requested that this issue be discussed at a Committee meeting to allow residents to address the Committee with their concerns. Chief Hathaway explained there are concerns about speeding and other traffic infractions on Kenduskeag Avenue. Tonight we are hoping to come up with some ideas to stop this. Residents on this street spoke about their concerns. Ideas spoken about were a speed hump, speed bump…. Julie Green & Bob Kilpeck of Husson University stated that their students, staff, faculty, visitors are a part of this problem and they would like to be a part of the solution. Engineering Director Art Morgan spoke about a speed study of Kenduskeag and other areas. We will look at options after they get study back. Because of how Kenduskeag is set up, there are some options that would not work for traffic calming. Councilor Civiello said maybe it’s time to write more tickets. Councilors, staff and citizens spoke about their own experiences with traffic in the Bangor area. Concerns for children and bicyclists. Councilor Blanchette suggested that it is time for something new such as the flashing lights in front of the Library not the sign that tells you how fast you are going. That doesn’t catch a driver’s attention anymore. We need new ways to enforce old laws. Julie Green stated that Husson will be emailing their students, staff, faculty, visitors from President Clark reminders to help keep their speed and infractions down. Councilor Civiello thought we could also get the message across to City staff as well to help with these issues. Councilor Baldacci thought that the speed hump, lighted signage and more traffic enforcement are the best options to slow traffic down. Councilors asked Art Morgan to come back with update/recommendations in a month at the Government Operations Committee meeting on October 22. nd Councilor Baldacci moved to have this discussion at the October 22 meeting, Councilor Blanchette seconded, so approved. Adjourned at 5:48pm.