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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-08-14 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee August 14, 2007 Minutes Councilors in attendance: Hawes, D’Errico Staff in attendance: Barrett, Ring, Gastia, McNeil, Ring?? 1. Center Street Parking Issue The City was contacted by several individuals who reside on Center Street near St. Joseph’s Hospital. Employees who park on Center Streetacross from the hospital frequently park very close to residential driveways making it difficult for the residents to exit from their properties. In addition, traffic exiting the St. Joseph’s Parking lot near the emergency room entrance have limited site visibility and frequently do not stop for pedestrians using the sidewalk. Residents are also concerned regarding speed on Center Street. City staff has held conversations with St. Joseph Hospital’s staff regarding a number of these issues. According to representatives of the Hospital who were present at the meeting, the Hospital has sufficient on-site parking to meet the parking needs of their employees. They have re-emphasized to them that they should park in hospital provided spaces. They also plan to paint a stop line and possibly install a stop sign at the parking lot exit. Hospital representatives emphasized their desire to be good neighbors. Police Chief Gastia told the Committee that he has asked his patrol officers to make a stronger enforcement effort in the area since it is a designated two- hour parking zone. He noted, however, that this would depend on officer availability which cannot always be guaranteed given the Department’s call load and the number of current vacancies in the Patrol Division. City Engineer Jim Ring has reviewed the situation and developed a proposal to mark parking bays on Center Street to increase the distances between parked vehicles and residential driveways. A map of the proposal was shared with the Committee and with the residents in attendance. If implemented, the number of available spaces on the street would be reduced somewhat. Given the off-street parking available at the hospital, however, this should not create a problem. The Committee authorized staff to implement the plan proposed by the City Engineer and asked that this item be returned to the Committee after several months so that the impact of the changes could be evaluated. 2. Maine Department of Highway Safety Grant Chief Gastia presented a request to apply for a grant from the Maine Department of Highway Safety that will provide in-car video cameras for up to 13 of the Police Departments patrol cars. Chief Gastia pointed out that in-car video cameras have proven to be very beneficial for other law enforcement agencies both in obtaining evidence in criminal cases, as well as providing documentation of events in civil litigations and internal investigations when allegations of misconduct are made against police personnel. He also anticipated that many of the complaints against officers that are received would be cleared to the benefit of officers if cameras are installed in the cars. The grant may require a $1,600 per camera match that would be funded by monies currently in the forfeiture fund that have been acquired through drug seizures. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff’s recommended request. 3. Proposed Fare Increase – BAT/Community Connector McNeil said that f or the past several months, transit consultant Tom Crikelair Associates, has been reviewing various operational issues regarding the BAT/Community Connector transit system. To address significant problems identified on the Capehart Route, the Consultant has recommended adding a third bus during peak demand times. To assist with offsetting the cost of making this route improvement, Crikelair also proposed revising the System’s fare schedule. The last general fare increase occurred four years ago in October 2003, and the revised fare structure will assist in offsetting overall operating costs. The required Federal Transit Administration notification and comment period regarding the proposed increases has been completed with no concerns nor opposition expressed. Both the addition of the third bus and the revised fare schedule were discussed and included in the approved FY08 budget. This Order would adopt the revised fare schedule with an effective date of September 1, 2007. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff recommendation. The Council Order will appear on the August 27 Council agenda for final action. 4. Council Resolve 07-270 , Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for and Accept and Appropriating a Grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Substance Abuse for an Overdose Prevention Program Yardley indicated that this $50,000 grant from the State to allow our Department of Health and Welfare to develop strategies for overdose prevention in our region. It will allow the City to create a part-time position that would work with shelters, treatment providers, schools, and other City departments to educate people on the dangers of overdose death and to provide strategies to minimize this risk. A motion was made and seconded to recommend passage to the full Council at its upcoming meeting. 5. Public Health Advisory Board – Health and Welfare For some time, the Health and Welfare Director Shawn Yardley has discussed the goal of establishing a Public Health Advisory Board to work with the Department to address the need for collaborative efforts to improve public health status in our region. In addition, the recent grant we received from the State for the purpose of developing a regional public health infrastructure also requires the creation of such a Board. Yardley said that he has been working for some time to identify the organizations and individuals whose involvement in such a Board would be useful in meeting its duties and responsibilities and is at the point where initial organizational meetings have begun. This Council Ordinance will amend the current ordinance to establish and provide a legal basis for this Advisory Board. The Board would be composed of a broadly representative group of between 15 and 24 representatives of groups/individuals with an interest or involvement in community health and would be responsible for advising on community health issues, supporting collaborations, assisting in public health emergency planning, and program review and assessment. Members would be appointed by the Director of Health and Welfare after consultation with various groups including the City Council. Members would serve three year staggered terms. The Council Chair would annually designate a Member of the City Council to a position on the Board, and the Director of Health and Welfare would serve as an ex-officio member. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval to full Council at its upcoming meeting.