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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-02-13 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee February 13, 2007 Minutes Councilor Attendance: Hawes, Gratwick, Allen Staff Attendance: Barrett, Farrar, Heitmann, Arno, Comeau, Yardley, Hamilton 1. Parking Lease with Elk River Development This proposed lease, which has been requested by the Elk River Development, involves ten parking spaces in the Police Station lot next to the Bedworks building on the corner of Main and May Streets. Heitmann said that City was approached by the former Bedworks owners regarding parking. It was never finalized and the building was sold to Elk River, who contacted the City. The City proposes to lease ten spaces at $40/space for a five-year lease with an option to renew. The lease contains a provision for an early termination without penalty. Representatives of Elk River are also working with the Downtown Parking Advisory Committee requesting that a Main Street loading zone be changed to parking as well as interest in the circle parking area behind the Bangor House. Elk River currently has a tenant in need of parking. Gratwick expressed concerning about the Police Department building parking. Barrett said that the Police Department is a downtown facility which shares the same problem that all downtown businesses have with parking. There is parking along Summer Street and with the realignment of Cedar Street there may be additional parking along that area. Currently there is access to the City lot toward Railroad Street. Longer-term parking needs will be addressed in the future. A representative of Elk River mentioned an original agreement with the former Bedworks owner, Merrill Bank and the City there were developed plans to recognize the balance of competing interests and these ten spaces were designated in that plan. Because of that, development actually happens. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff’s recommendation. It will be moved to full Council. 2. Designation of Certain Municipal Property as Drug-Free Safe Zones Recent State Legislation allows municipalities to designate athletic fields, parks, playgrounds or recreational areas as drug-free safe zones. With this designation, any drug dealing within 1,000 feet of these safe zones subjects the dealer to higher penalties. In order to qualify, areas must be frequented by minors and must be clearly marked/posted. The Police and the Parks and Recreation Departments have identified some 25 areas that qualify, and are seeking approval to so designate. Deputy Chief Arno and Sgt. Tom Reagen, Special Enforcement Team, addressed the Committee. Arno said the law has been on the books in 2005 which allows for municipalities to post athletic fields and parks and playgrounds and recreational facilities as safe zones. It provides the police more power when trying to enforce drug laws. Designating these areas as safe zones will have the same power as dealing with drugs within 1,000 ft. of a school area. The law requires two steps. The area must be frequented by minors and the area must be conspicuously marked with wording provided by the Commissioner of Public Safety. Arno has met with Parks and Recreation staff, who support the issue. Staff provided a tentative list of areas for the Committee’s consideration. He suggested that wording from other signs in park areas could perhaps be consolidated with this new designation. There are existing drug forfeiture funds available for the signage. Allen asked that Davenport Park be removed because it is a memorial. Arno said that is fine. Allen asked if some of the trails are included such as Brown and Prentiss Woods. Prentiss is adjacent to a school so falls within the 1,000 ft. designation. Allen liked the idea of condensing wording on to one sign. She suggested separating the logo from the written words. Gratwick asked the real effect of such signage. Arno said it is a deterrent due to the penalties involved. It is a not a feel good law; it has teeth. Allen and Gratwick asked if the City Forest should be included. Arno said the focus was to concentrate on parks that have motor vehicle access. The list can be built on over time. Barrett said the immediate emphasis is on areas where there are children who are not immediately supervised. Responding to Allen, Arno said his experience has been that where people deal drugs is limited by the imagination but the safe zone designation takes away some of the more obvious places where it is currently going on. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff recommendation. 3. Future Improvements to Davenport Park Councilor Allen requested an update regarding the status of plans to improve/ renovate Davenport Park on Main Street. Farrar provided a rough sketch of the current park and a potential proposal for renovations. The Parks and Recreation Department, as part of the budget process a couple of years ago, had proposed funds for improvements to the Park at approximately $40,000. That request was not approved. There is $12,000 in escrow for the maintenance of the monument itself, and these funds were provided by a veteran’s group. Allen said the veterans have a keen interest in this park and they would like it to be more of a memorial type of use. She spoke about a circular brick area and less shrubbery. She feels the Park has lost its original purpose. Comeau said the space used now by veterans for events is not adequate. Barrett suggested that Comeau check with the veteran organizations and work with Peter Witham in Planning who provided the proposed plan. Allen said she has names of veterans and phone numbers. She would like the veterans actively involved. Comeau said he would make the contact with the veterans and with Witham. The $12,000 can only be used for the monument itself. Allen asked if TIF money could be used for the Park. She asked if the work would be done by the City or by contractor. Barrett said he would check with Public Works prior to making a recommendation. It depends on their schedule. Responding to Allen, Barrett said the overhead wires in that area will be placed underground this year and the sidewalks will be replaced from Merrill Bank down to Cedar Street. Allen asked if there is a specific date. Barrett did not but felt it would be done this summer. Gratwick said he would like to know more about the needs assessment of the veterans. He asked how to best aesthetically memorialize the Park. He asked about cost. Allen reminded Gratwick that it is not a Park, it is a memorial. Barrett said that technically it is a City Park but the memorial is in the Park. The memorial was donated to the City. Barrett said he would need to research it. Allen said the veterans feel it is their Park and are against any signage in the Park. Barrett again suggested that Parks and Recreation staff meet with the veteran organizations regarding appropriate signage. It needs to be coordinated with the veterans. Parks and Recreation will report back to the Committee after meeting with interested veterans, Councilors and City staff. 4. Update/Discussion of Bangor Region Influenza Coalition Activities Regarding Mass Vaccination/Medical Delivery Emergency Planning The Influenza Coalition, a wide variety of public sector and healthcare related organizations in Greater Bangor, has been working to develop procedures and a delivery system should a response be necessary involving a mass vaccination situation. Members of the Coalition, including City staff, have been asked to brief the Committee on progress to date, and discuss the role of the City and its facilities in this effort. Hamilton said there are several goals in the development of the Coalition and one is to expand the operation and in so doing ended up at the Civic Center. The Civic Center cost quite a bit and the Coalition asked that the fee be waived. Hawes said the letter was received. The Committee would like more information as to where the Coalition sees itself going and is the City going to be the frontrunner. Hamilton said the City has been the frontrunner for years and intends to do so in the future. She anticipates it will be an annual event. Combining it with last year’s early voting process worked out well. She does see it expanding. The Coalition has a plan in place to handle a pandemic. Responding to Barrett, Hamilton said it would require three full days. She would need a commitment for the Civic Center of at least six months in advance. Barrett said the problem is that it takes the civic center out of the market. Barrett said it would be easier to work with a more flexible program. Hamilton talked about necessary advance advertising. Allen asked why it could not take place in various neighborhoods as opposed to the Civic Center. Hamilton said that has been done in the past but using a larger place is to brand the effort especially if it came to a pandemic. Everyone would know it was the place to go. Allen asked if others could contribute to the cost of the rental. Hamilton said other agencies contribute by staff and time. Gratwick is supportive of the concept. It is an important effort. He asked about logistics. Barrett suggested that Health and Welfare reevaluate their actual lead-time in terms of a date certain and to meet with Mike Dyer regarding the Civic Center’s fall schedule. Allen said an influenza clinic is not an emergency situation. Hamilton said it is training for the pan flu for an emergency. Yardley said this really is an opportunity to practice as a team for an event not certain. This past year, the City used State pan flu monies for the clinic to underwrite the cost. There are partners and within the public health infrastructure there may be opportunities to work through some of these issues, Yardley said. Hawes asked if the Civic Center would be truly branded. In the event of major medical emergency, the Civic Center would be the building due to its size, location, and parking. Allen said the fire department also has a situation set up with the Civic Center in case of a major crisis. Barrett said it is one of the spots but not the only location. Responding to Allen, Barrett said he is not suggesting that the Civic Center be tied up for a no-cost fee for non-emergency events. Allen said it sets a precedent. Barrett said there should be an effort to seek funding within the Coalition and for Health and Welfare to request funding during their budget process but the Civic Center should be paid for. Hawes emphasized that the purpose of today’s discussion is not to determine if the fee for use of the Civic Center should be waived but to start a conversation about the Coalition’s efforts and future and to then refer the item to the Finance Committee. Allen said she understood but if it isn’t discussed why should it be sent on to Finance Committee level. Barrett said the first step is to determine if the Civic Center is an appropriate location and the second step to determine funding. He prefers that the Coalition find a way to pay for it which may include City participation. A motion was made and seconded to move the item forward to the Finance Committee. A motion was made and seconded to adjourn.