Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-05-29 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee May 29, 2007 Minutes Councilor Attendance: Hawes, D’Errico, Gratwick, Palmer Staff Attendance: Barrett, Farrar, Gastia, Hathaway, McNeil 1. Request to Apply for COPS Grant-Bangor Police Department The Bangor Police Department has been notified of an opportunity to apply for a COPS grant. Gastia indicated the grant money is available for data information sharing purposes and/or enhancement of voice interoperability with regional, state and federal public safety partners. The system would be privately owned and maintained by the City of Bangor. The grant requires that multiple jurisdictions benefit, and the Department is seeking permission to identify other potential interested parties and to apply for the grant. There is a 25% grant match requirement and in this case, as the system will benefit multiple jurisdictions, Gastia suggested a per diem agreement with interested municipalities for the match. Therefore, there would be no cost to Bangor. The City would be the fiscal agent. Participating communities would also be asked to participate in the maintenance costs of the hardware and connectivity, following the warranty period, as well as signing a memorandum of understanding regarding future software upgrades, future maintenance costs and use of the system’s infrastructure and connectivity. Responding to Gratwick, Gastia said the County would have limited accessibility to the system. In terms of the connectivity and future of this system, it does have some potential for growing and does reflect regionalization. Gastia talked about the limitation of the number of access points that can be put up. The City connects by fiber. It is expensive and not all jurisdictions have it. Responding to Gratwick, Lt. Hathaway said this system alone would not accomplish a regional dispatch but it is a step toward regionalization. Palmer said the system seems to be advantageous to the best police department in Maine. Responding to Palmer, Gastia said the ideal situation would be to cover everyone on the county system, including the sheriff’s department. At this point under the current system, it is not a viable option. Hathaway had some very rough preliminary figures to get the system up and operating. With six communities involved and 4-5 vehicles per community, he said the cost would be in the ballpark of $72,000-75,000 per community. In conversations with neighboring chiefs, the communities do want to become a part of the system. D’Errico asked if these funds would offset any of the current budget requests for the department. Gastia said no. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff recommendation to apply for the grant. 2. Request to Publish/Post Required 60-Day Notice for Proposed BAT/Community Connector Fare Increase Farrar said the transit planner hired through BACTS to look review BAT/ Community Connector operational issues has made a preliminary recommendation for the City to review fare increases. The basis of the recommendation was to address issues with the Capehart run, and it has been several years since an overall fare increase was implemented. Staff asked permission to begin the notice process. There is a 60-day period for the City to post the proposal and within that timeframe is a 30- day period to accept public comment. The final decision on the rate increase would return to the City Council in late July/early August. Farrar reviewed the actual process that needs to be followed. D’Errico commended the process. Palmer said the transit service is a wonderful service with tremendous value and needs to meet the budget. The fare increase would provide an estimated $81,400 in annual revenue with Bangor’s share being $57,000. In order to operate, the transit system needs $1M- $1.1M/annually. Responding to Gratwick, McNeil said the larger the fare increase, the larger the initial decrease of riders but, over a period of time, most or all come back. Five rides for $4.00 brings the fare close to the per ticket rides. McNeil said there are several state programs and social service organizations that provide assistance with monthly passes. Penquis CAP alone purchases 700-750 passes per month. A motion was made and seconded to authorize staff to publish/post notices for the proposed fare increase. 3. Preliminary Discussion of Potential Beautification Efforts Regarding Storefronts and Surrounding Properties in the Non-Downtown Areas of the Community Farrar said that Councilor Stone had requested that the Committee begin an initial discussion concerning the need for additional beautification efforts outside of the downtown area. Kathy Guerin from Bangor Beautiful was introduced. Hawes said that part of the discussion is how should the City proceed, what is the expected outcome, are there current adequate ordinances covering the issue, and do they need to have more impact on businesses and the City alike. Guerin said a lot more could be accomplished in this area with volunteers. She has recently toured the City checking areas that received attention last year and need clean up again. She feels the public needs to be more involved. She questioned if there should be greater enforcement the litter laws. The access roads into the City need attention, and she spoke about poorly managed dumpsters used by retailers. Guerin has worked with the Bangor Mall Manager and he is willing to give the City permission to post ‘no littering’ signage. In some communities, Guerin said there is an environmental court. Usually when an environmental case is brought into the court system, it is not a top priority. To set up an environmental court, a judge is appointed from the system and, one morning a month, the court hears all code enforcement and environmental violations. In terms of beautification, Bangor Beautiful is currently working with a Waldo individual who has donated a truckload of day lilies to Public Works. Some will be used at the newly created Howard Street island. Bangor Beautiful will hold a plant sale but is willing to donate some if the City has other areas at which the plants can be used. Guerin spoke about the concrete areas at the end of Hammond Street and at Hogan Road/State Street. Barrett asked for further clarification of Stone’s request. He noted that the Mall/ Marsh Committee has discussed businesses outside of the downtown area to taking better care of their properties, picking up litter, to policing the areas that are not as obvious to the public. He thinks there is a possibility of working with businesses on beautification projects and mentioned that many businesses already take care of their areas in terms of landscaping. Hawes felt the discussion should focus on looking at what the City can do to get the commercial and retail businesses to take ownership of their storefront property and how can the City get them to ‘buy into’ taking care of the landscaping. She mentioned that the downtown businesses have gotten involved and taken an interest in their storefronts. Barrett said Code Enforcement has performed surveys in the Mall area and has notified individuals where they need to replant or redo landscaping to meet their current site plan. He thought the City could try to recognize and reward or acknowledge the work done by those businesses that have done a good job in landscaping. It would provide recognition and draw attention to it. The City might also be able to contact various businesses to get them interested in the project and to provide suggestions as to what could be accomplished in a relatively low cost manner. Hawes talked about a campaign kick-off to obtain business interest. Barrett again stated formal recognition with a quarterly or semi-annual ceremony whereby the City recognizes businesses for their landscaping efforts. Palmer agreed with Barrett with the recognition aspect and suggesting involving the Chamber of Commerce. Chosen businesses could be featured on the City’s web site and government channel. He suggested working with and educating schoolchildren. He mentioned Saint John, New Brunswick’s beautification project and suggested Bangor Beautiful might want to check it out. He agreed that Bangor’s access roads are an issue. Barrett said that one of the recent police chief candidates mentioned the cleanliness of Bangor. D’Errico said he had recently spoke with the City Solicitor regarding a City ordinance that would require a business to remove their signage after that establishment has gone out of business, and D’Errico found there is a current ordinance in place. He feels it does not send a good economic image to those visiting Bangor. He wondered if Code Enforcement could concentrate on this area. Barrett agreed but said there is a limited amount of staff in Code Enforcement. Hawes said there have been two very successful community advisory groups that have been very effective for the City. She asked if a committee could be set up for this issue. Barrett suggested that Bangor Beautiful look into some of the suggestions brought forward and to report to the Government Operations Committee. Bangor Beautiful has also been involved with various neighborhood clean up projects, and the City could utilize a group already in place. Guerin agreed. Gratwick spoke of his th involvement with the 9 annual clean up of Kenduskeag Avenue. He agreed with the idea of a separate committee to become involved with this area as well as educating school-age children. If Bangor Beautiful feels it can take on the subject project, and if it finds it needs extra assistance, Barrett suggested that perhaps the City could provide it and strengthen its ties to Bangor Beautiful. Guerin suggested the creation of a broad plan with timelines involved for the City’s approval. Barrett agreed indicating he would like local businesses to be recognized this year. Gratwick suggested a subcommittee of Bangor Beautiful. Palmer suggested that Councilor Stone be part of the committee. Guerin will come back to the Committee towards the end of July with an overall plan including a recognition component. A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 6:05 pm.