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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-04-17 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee Wednesday, April 17, 2013 5:00 p.m. City Council Chambers MINUTES Council Members: Blanchette, Baldacci, Civiello, Durgin Staff: Farrar, Arno, Willette, Comstock, Heitmann, Conlow Others: Steven Hicks, Ginger Ward-Green, Angel Shaw, Dana Wright CONSENT AGENDA 1. Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for and Accept $5000 from the Maine Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services to continue to implement strategies to increase awareness about problem gambling in the Healthy Maine Partnership service area. This grant will be used to increase public awareness about problem gambling in the Healthy Maine Partnership service area. Staff recommends approval. 2. Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for and Accept $15,000 from the Maine Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services to continue to implement strategies to reduce prescription drug misuse and prevent marijuana use in the Healthy Maine Partnership service area. This grant will be used to continue public education and implement strategies to reduce prescription drug and marijuana misuse in the Healthy Maine Partnership service area. Staff recommends approval. 3. Ratifying staff action submitting a Letter of Intent to Apply for and Accept funding in the amount of $20,000 from the Maine Health Access Foundation. As the letter of intent deadline was April12, this order will ratify action by staff submitting the letter. The grant will be used to identify one or two critical health issues warranting attention in the Penquis Area. The City will be partnering with a number of other regional organizations. Staff recommends approval. 4. Referral – Council Ordinance 13-124, Amending Chapter 278 Taxicabs, of the Code of the City of Bangor, By Authorizing the Board of Appeals to Hear Taxicab License Appeal Hearings from the City Council to the Board of Appeals. This Ordinance Amendment transfers Taxicab License Appeal Hearings from the City Council to the Board of Appeals. Councilor Baldacci moved the Consent Agenda, Mayor Durgin seconded and it was approved. REGULAR AGENDA 5. Update – Discussion of Location for the Bangor Band. st Representatives of the Bangor Band met with the Committee on April 1 to discuss possible locations for the Band. The Committee asked Parks and Recreation Director Willette to meet with Band representatives to further discuss potential locations and to return with an analysis of the top locations. Director Willette and representatives of the Bangor Band will be present. Director Willette showed the Council images of the 2 locations that are being looked at for a permanent home for the Bangor Band. One spot is at the Bangor Municipal Golf Course and the other is the Waterfront area. After discussing each location with the Band, Director Willette states the Bangor Band prefers the Waterfront area. Councilors discussed the Waterfront area and a Gazebo that could be used not just by the Band but usable by the people of Bangor for weddings, picnics, and to enjoy the Waterfront, etc. Business & Economic Development needs to be involved in discussion to make sure there are not already plans for developing any of the 3 parcels. Parking and walking distance needs to be kept in mind as well in regards to the 3 parcels and which is the chosen spot. Councilor Baldacci moved, it was seconded and recommended that further consideration be given to the Waterfront site(s) in conjunction with the Business and Economic Development Committee. 6. Council Ordinance 13-114. Amending the Code of the City of Bangor, Chapter 215, Police Regulations, by Adding New Section 215-13, Sex Offender Residency Restrictions. This Ordinance amendment would add sex offender registry restrictions to the City Code, as permitted by Maine Law. As requested by the Committee, Staff members have been assembling information and data to provide to the Committee on this issue. City Solicitor Heitmann has distributed this information separately in your Council boxes. Legal and Police Department Staff will be present to update the Committee. City Solicitor Heitmann provided a map highlighting areas that would be off limits to registered sex offenders convicted of certain crimes in the City of Bangor. This is only in regards to publically owned land by the City that would have these limitations by State Law. The Council can vote to make it less than the proposed 750 ft. A few Bangor citizens gave brief comments in regards to this matter. Councilors discussed the aspects of Bangor having a high person to sex offender ratio. Could lead to more offenders moving in and others leaving. This Ordinance will tell offenders where they can live, not where they can’t live. If any do not want to live in the designated areas, then they can look to live in other towns. Councilor Baldacci stated that Bangor had a 5% increase in population from 2000-2005 which is a good thing. Some discussion on how far the City can go to take each on a case by case basis and how close this will make us to profiling people, etc. Interim Chief Arno states that it is possible to do on a case by case basis. This Ordinance takes into account the worst of the worst offenders who were convicted of crimes against children 14 years and younger. City Solicitor Heitmann needs approval from this committee to be on the next Council agenda. No member opposed so it will be on the next upcoming Council Meeting agenda. Adjourned at 6:10 p.m.