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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-07-10 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee July 10, 2007 Minutes Councilor Attendance: Hawes, D’Errico, Gratwick, Blanchette Staff Attendance: Barrett, Farrar, Gastia, Bates, Willette Others: Kathy Guerin, Bangor Beautiful; Charles Liu; Major Lyle, Several supporters of the PowerHouse Teen Center CONSENT AGENDA 1. Edward Bryne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program – Police Department Police Chief Gastia explained that this particular grant has been utilized for the past several years. It is specific to law enforcement. One of the stipulations is that the grant needs to be applied for jointly by the Bangor Police Department and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department. The grant amount is $31,448, with each entity receiving $15,000 and the County also receiving $1,448 to administer the grant. There is no local match required. The Police Department intends to use its share to purchase equipment and provide training for the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team and the Accident Reconstruction Team. Blanchette asked if the dollar amount equals to what it has been in year’s past. Gastia said in this particular case it has increased. Gastia indicated that this is the former Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program. Procedurally, Gratwick asked if items such as this need to come before the Council. Barrett said in the annual appropriation resolve there is a section that indicates that any grant amount of less than $25,000, once accepted by the Council, is automatically appropriated for the purpose for which the grant is applied. Authority is needed from the Council to apply for and to accept grants. Gratwick asked if there is a list of priorities prepared by the Police Department for grant funds. Gastia said the department tends to look at the overall picture and spread the funds out into areas that have been less funded in previous years. Last year, the money was used for the Special Enforcement Team. The first year the grant funds were available the Department designated the funds to go to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency as it was a difficult year for them. It was moved, seconded and voted to recommend approval to the Council. REGULAR AGENDA 2. Update from Bangor Beautiful – Beautification Efforts/Program for Non- Downtown Areas At the May 29 Committee meeting, a discussion was held concerning possible methods to improve/beautify storefronts and surrounding properties in the non- downtown areas of the community. Kathy Guerin from Bangor Beautiful was asked to return to the Committee with an overall plan, including a recognition component that would address the issues and suggestions raised during the discussion. Guerin explained that this is a business beautification recognition program that will bring forth the community leaders in terms of beautification and litter prevention that keep the community looking nice. She felt that the business community does a lot and is growing quite rapidly. She talked about a program to recognize those businesses for beautification leadership. She suggested the recognition frequency should be bi- annually with an annual award perhaps including a ‘most improved’ category. The classifications looked at were small retail, large retail, non-retail, standalone commercial, industrial complex, commercial retail or industrial park, and perhaps an office park or a downtown class. The conditions that must be met is to have the complete property free of litter including cigarette butts, no graffiti, to include paved landscape and natural areas, dumpsters screened or tightly controlled, and quality and appearance of the landscaping must be above average. Extra credit might be given for the appearance of outside receptacles for patron use, recycling cigarette butt waste, the level of participation in some kind of recycling program, and some inside/outside supporting a beautification effort in the Bangor area. Guerin said that the one thing she wants to develop is a score sheets. She reviewed the nomination form details. The nomination form will be on the Bangor Beautiful web site and will look to the Chamber for assistance with promotion. Guerin said that prices for plaques estimate $50.00. Five or six classes two times a year approximates $500-$600. An annual award might include a local nursery gift card. Gratwick applauded Guerin for her efforts indicating the program is long overdo. He suggested that the paperwork needs to be edited. Gratwick suggested that building appearance also be considered as a category. He suggested that recognition presentations should take place at a City Council meeting including a Proclamation. On the nomination form, Gratwick suggested a line for ‘nominated by,’ web site information, a section for before and after photos, and seasonality is important; i.e. a seasonality category. Hawes asked if the Bangor Beautiful Board will be the review entity. Guerin said it does not have to be and had thought about setting up a committee that would report to Bangor Beautiful and then to a Council committee level. Hawes asked about a strip mall setting. Barrett said it would fall under the category of commercial retail industrial parks. With strip malls, it is usually owned by a management firm so the individual businesses would not actually be recognized. He also thought that standalone commercial, non-retail industrial would pick up office parks. Hawes asked about a committee make up. Barrett suggested a simpler nomination form. He would like the public to make a nomination rather than self-nomination. He suggested that the process work through Bangor Beautiful who would then report to the City. D’Errico complimented Guerin as well. He suggested letters of thanks be included as well to all participating in the competition. Hawes thanked Guerin. Barrett said he would work with Guerin to finalize the program with the first award taking place in October. Gratwick spoke about promoting the program and a possible press conference. Blanchette mentioned articles in Downeast Magazine featuring local downtowns and a citywide program might warrant an article. Guerin said she would check into it. 3. Presentation – PowerHouse Teen Center At the last City Council meeting, Mr. Charlie Liu of the Salvation Army PowerHouse Teen Center spoke briefly about the program. It was suggested that Mr. Liu meet with Government Operations to present a more in-depth description of the Community Teen Center program and to provide an opportunity for Councilors to ask questions. Mr. Liu introduced Capt. Josh Lyle of the Salvation Army. The Teen Center started out with teens needing a space to meet. He spoke about the lack of resources available to teens. The Teen Center provides a friendly environment to provide opportunities for exploration, connect teens with mentors, day trips, etc. Liu said it is a program that every community needs. He stated that the Teen Center would like to explore the possibility of working with the City in light of some of the barriers they have had difficulty within the community such as publicity, awareness, funding. PowerHouse has been a lifelong dream of Liu. He provided his background. Other Teen Center supporters addressed the Committee. Blanchette asked about staffing levels. Liu indicated it is staffed by himself and the youth pastor at the Salvation Army. There are also volunteers from the community and the university. The Salvation Army is the sole supporter of the Center. Lyle said the Salvation Army received a grant for three years start up money to start programs. The grant amount diminishes from 100% to 75% to 50% and by the third year the organization is supposed to have funding in place. The PowerHouse started out as a Friday night gathering and now it is more of an after school program. The teens wanted more structured activities with specific areas of interest during the week. Initially the grant was written for just the Friday night event. Now it is at the point where the Salvation Army is in trouble of losing the after school portion of the program. The after school program numbers run between 2 to 11. Friday night numbers run about 30-50. D’Errico asked how Liu recruits. Liu has not and he has tried to advertise within the school systems but it is not allowed. The PowerHouse deals with kids in the Bangor region but transportation is an issue. Gratwick spoke about the COPC program as well as the need for the school departments to become involved with these teen programs. Gratwick said he would be interested in pursuing this part. Liu said if the City was able to provide a certain amount it would help with grant writing. Responding to Blanchette, Lyle said the grant is from a family that left money to the Salvation Army that helps Salvation Army’s all over the country. Lyle said the main purpose of meeting with the Committee was to educate and ask for City support. Blanchette asked how kids from areas outside of Bangor found out about the program. She said there is a distinction of the City affiliating with a religious organization. The program is housed at the Salvation Army but it is not a direct religious program of the organization. Liu spoke of reaching teens outside of the City. Hawes asked about the membership fees. Liu said the day trips are $2.00 per person. The Friday night program has a $2.00 cover charge. Liu also has instituted a sponsorship program. Responding to Gratwick, one of the teens said she found out about the program through a brochure. She thinks word of mouth through the schools would be effective also. Liu talked about a work to earn membership program. From the Bangor Center Corporation’s perspective, Bates said that the TeenCenter is a great vehicle for downtown to connect with that generation. Irrespective of the City’s role, BCC is very interested in growing its relationship with the Teen Center. Liu has been invited to his first liaison committee meeting of the BCC. Bates said the Teen Center is a very impressive facility. Blanchette asked for comments from the Parks and Recreation staff. Willette said that Liu has made a very good effort. Willette has worked with Liu in the past. He agreed that he would be willing to work with Liu to help in whatever way at the direction of Council and staff. Blanchette said that Bangor has always needed a Teen Center. Lyle indicated that the Salvation Army is housing the project and if down the road the City were to take it over the Salvation Army would be happy to partner. 4. Review of General Assistance Housing Rental Rates At the last City Council meeting, Mr. David Grant spoke to the Council about his concern with the City’s established rent reimbursement rates under the General Assistance Ordinance. He believes the current rates do not adequately reimburse him for the rental units he is providing. He asked for the City Council or Committee to review the situation and to make adjustments to the Ordinance. A background memorandum from Assistant City Solicitor John Hamer is attached as well as a copy of our current General Assistance rental rate structure. Mr. Grant was unable to attend and asked the Committee to consider discussing it at a future meeting. The Committee agreed with his request. The meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.