Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-15 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee November 15, 2011 Minutes Councilors: Longo, Durgin, Gratwick, Sprague Staff: Farrar, Yardley, Willette Others: Shannon Small, Chair of the Dog Park Committee 1. Application for a Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program Grant in the Amount of $1,513,989 to Provide Housing and Support Services Yardley explained that each year the City submits an application to HUD for funding under the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Grant Program. Over the past 9 years the City has received over $4.5 million, which has been leveraged well over double that amount from local social service agencies. As part of this year’s application under the Supportive Housing Program component, the City will request funding for an existing homeless youth outreach program at Shaw House, PCHC’s Bridge program, OHI’s supportive housing programs, and the Shelter Plus Care programs operated by the City of Bangor Health and Community Services Department. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff’s recommendation to apply for the grant. Responding to Durgin, Yardley said the effective date is fluid. It is determined by HUD but it should be within the current fiscal year. In response to Gratwick, Yardley said at one time the City administered the entire grant and each of these agencies had to submit through the City their reporting requirements. Over the past several years, it has changed. While the City is the applicant, when the grant is awarded the individual agencies work directly with HUD on both receiving the funding and reporting for it. The role of the Continuum of Care is that there are committees of local individuals that review last year’s grant and whether the agencies are doing what they said they would do as well as to look at the community needs. Once the amount of money available is known, agencies will then apply to the Continuum of Care. There is a scoring committee made up of stakeholders that do not have a conflict of interest and who review all the applications and make a recommendation on how the available money is divided up. Responding to Sprague, Yardley said the regional organization is represented by Community Health and Counseling, OHI, Shaw House, Penobscot Community Healthcare. The meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at Dorothea Dix. The vote was unanimous. This item will be referred to the full City Council. 2. Annual Election Ballot for Municipal Review Committee Board of Directors Formed in the late 1980’s, the MRC assists in overseeing operations at the PERC Waste- to-Energy Facility in Orrington and represents municipal interests, including assets owned by communities. Farrar noted that each year three of the nine seats on the Municipal Review Committee Board of Directors expire. Charter municipalities elect the Directors. There are six candidates, 3 three-year terms and 1 one-year term. Farrar has served as a Director on the Board for more than 20 years and currently holds the title of Treasurer. Of the candidates, Sophia Wilson has asked for the City’s support. Staff’s recommendation is to support Ms. Wilson. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff’s recommendation. Responding to Gratwick, Farrar said that John Chishom of Levant is the Chair and the Vice Chair is Greg Brown from Waterville. Gratwick noted that Farrar has one more year on the MRC Board and noted that he would like to fill Farrar’s position at that time. In response to Longo, Farrar said the voting process is that each charter municipality has essentially one vote for each 100 tons of guaranteed annual tonnage. Bangor’s guaranteed annual tonnage is 30,500 and computes to 305 votes. There is not an opportunity for write-in candidates. The vote was unanimous. 3. Update – Dog Park Establishment Willette noted that in 2010 the City Council approved Parks and Recreation staff to work with a group of citizens and interested parties who had a goal to establish a Dog Park in Bangor. Council Order 10-89 authorized this effort, and Council Order 10-181 designated a selected site for the Park. A variety of locations were reviewed and ultimately through input of all involved, the parcel on the waterfront commonly referred to as The Round House site was chosen. Waterfront parcels are identified as development sites. The interested group has had some time constraint challenges and, in the meantime, the contractor doing the work for MDOT has used The Round House site for a staging area. Since then, the group has grown and has new leadership and renewed interest. Two fundraising events have taken place and a third event is in the planning stage. Willette said that this is similar to the Community Garden effort and the effort to restore the Paul Bunyan Statute. The Council has been receptive to these types of efforts. Willette spoke of the Essex Woods site which was quite extensively reviewed and at one point had been identified as the primary location for the dog park prior to The Round House discussion. The group’s intent is to take a phased approach with Essex Woods. Small said the group has some money saved and would like to continue with their fundraising efforts through the spring of 2012. They would like three dog yards. One for small dogs with a 4 ft high fence, doubled gated. There would be a training/time out yard and a large dog yard where the majority of dogs would play. The area is quite thick with trees and it would be beneficial to thin it out. Willette has suggested contacting the Forestry Department for solutions. Small mentioned contacting the UM Forestry Department to see if there is an interest in transplanting any of the trees. Any trees cut down and not used could be used for mulching purposes for the park, which would save money for the City instead of grass. Fundraising events could be held on site at the current PAL building at Essex Woods. Small has an estimate cost for fencing. Small and Sprague discussed the benefits of Essex Woods. Durgin clarified that the entire area of the dog park will be fenced. The maintenance of the area will be handled by the citizen volunteer group. Willette noted that there is limited lighting on the area, a flood light on the sliding hill and one on the PAL building. Willette said he had not discussed this with the Police Chief but would do so going forward after receiving feedback from the Government Operations Committee. The dog park hours would coincide with the City’s park hours, sunrise to 10 pm. Durgin made a motion to approve staff moving forward working with the Friends of Bangor Dog Park for fundraising and opening the dog park area. Willette noted that the first request this evening is to allow the group to move forward concentrating on the Essex Woods property. The Friends will start with a small dog area and proceed with a phase approach as fundraising permits to a larger area. Procedurally, Farrar suggested that if the Committee finds this approach acceptable that it would direct staff to prepare a Council Order essentially re-designating a new site. Durgin said he was satisfied with the concept but had not heard anything about the impact on City funding. Willette said there would be no direct cost to the City. Small replied to Gratwick indicating the fence around the larger area will be 6 ft. in height. Gratwick asked questions about the locations suggested at Essex Woods and felt that the mountain bickers should included in the process. Gratwick continued speaking but stepped away from the microphone. Longo explained that while off mic Gratwick asked about the other side of the road to the left. Willette said he would look at Gratwick’s suggestions with the citizen group. Gratwick agreed to site but did want further discussion as to the specifics to be determined. Small said the group is very open to the design concept and more than willing to work with the City realizing that the park needs to be accessible to all users. Sprague asked about residential neighbors in the area. Small said the site is behind a church. All of the residential area is across the street on Essex Street. Willette noted that the Drew Lane development is quite removed from the site. There are two residences on Watchmaker Street. Sprague expressed concerns about noise and wanting to be sure that residents are notified. Small said the area is currently being used as a leash free area. There is also considerable traffic due to the sledding hill. Responding to Durgin, Small said the group is not a 501 C 3 organization. Willette said, as similar with the restoration of Paul Bunyan and Community Garden projects, the Finance Director Cyr established a trust and agency account. This one will be defined as Dog Park. Fundraising dollars are made payable to the City and is expended in that manner. Durgin made a motion of staff recommendation to move forward with the Essex Woods site as the new location for the dog park. A Council Order will be drafted reflecting the change of location and revise the name of the current group. Sprague again asked that the neighborhood be contacted. Gratwick voted in opposition. He feels that the Committee needs to meet with neighborhood residents, bikers, walkers, etc. He also feels the Council should have a policy whereby they do site visits before voting. Longo agreed with resident contact. Longo voted in opposition as well. Willette said there are two options to either move forward or return with an update. It is the Committee’s pleasure. Given the received valid comments, Farrar suggested that the staff will work through the comments and return to the Committee in two weeks with an update, with resident comments, and a Council site visit. With that in mind, Durgin withdrew his motion and agreed with Farrar’s suggestion. Sprague withdrew his second of the motion. Longo clarified that the item will be postponed to a future meeting. Gratwick suggested a maximum of four weeks. Willette agreed. Small said she is more than willing to meet with the Council on site. Adjourned at 5:48 pm.