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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-08-18 Municipal Operations Committee MinutesMumcipn Operations Committee Meeting Minutes August 18, 1998 Councilors Attending: Jim Tyler, Michael Crowley, foe Baldscci, Gerry Palmer, Mold Farnham, Michael Aube Staff Amending Fd Baxrm, Ranging Rehm Farrar, ChiefCaranack, Dale Tbariault, other members of staff Others Attending: various nambem ofthe community jMMMkUIIu �J hurt.' §fztrlr M Councilor Baldacci was contacted by Mr. and Mm. Diamond regarding their common over the munberofacatlmtsthazareocmm ggM. Hopeavd Hood. Thlsimemectiwbasbeenlooked at on a number accessions. Reports Gom 1995 though August 5 ofdb s year were pulled wd summarized. In that period of time, there were 19 incidwts, and of those, 13 were intersection accidents. wrth 5 having i qunes associated with tlhem. Direction of travel was looked m of cam that were involved in hrlersection necidws and of the 12 vehicles, it appears that 8 of them were northbound onHoward and 4 were southbound and A was not determined which way 1 vehicle was goirg It sues en erenma on Mt Hopu'I1ere were]eavlwund avd5 wesibountl. Genermlyitwas assumed that most of the accidents were Goo vehicles that were eastbound on Mt. Hope because of the open nature of the stretch of mad between the Hogan Road and Howard. There are very few curb cuts and not much parking on the street It gives the impression of being much wider than a standard reddentul street. It appeared that most ofthe accidents occurred after people had stopped at the intersection. Most of the problems seem to be that people are either misjudging distance or speed. Recemly,Turi Rivgwevlwtandreviewedthemters on withoneofthe Slate Department of Transportation graphic engiuera Jim mplamed them su this particular engineer does is look at high to ideat locations which by definition are higher then what would be expected for the level of service,thevolw ofhafficaMtheconhguadonofpardwlmintersectiom. The firm things looked at are visibility problems and site diaanu limitations. Back a number ofyems ago, m Inset in one direction, there was potentially an issue with some vegetation which has since been trimmed back. Ms DOT's engineer stated that the number of accidents doesn't make any sense. There wasn't anything obvious that would be rbe came ofaccidats. Afrerlooldng m it, his feeling was that a large part ofthe accidanswme due to mujudging appmachingvehicle's Teed, which is what him observed befo®. Although there are alot ofanudwts there, it doesn't appear to mw signal warrants, which is a fist of 13 items, including volume, severity ofsoddevts, &c. Fd Bartett also asked the Police Department on look at the imenation of Mt. Hope and Fern, which is another of the obvious roads that is used by vehicles coming Gam State Street to Stillwater. That intersection has a comparable accidenthistory. There were 20 incidws m that iMo a ion m opposed to 19 and ofthose 12 Muviepd Operations Cmwdtee &18-98 Page 2 involved imasection accidents. One option would be the enhanced pavement markings to make traffic slow down and speed becomes less a factor. Jim explained that this could be implemented easily and Pauly economically. Staff is proposing on ether side of the intersection of Howard Stred, along Mt F5nM to slope side lane lines down to a rarmw width, 22 fed. Jim showed a map of the arcs that will be done. This work should be completed within a couple of days. This may or may not have an unpad and staff will marine. Councilor Crowley asked what the affect a blinking light may have? Ed explained that it varies. It seems to work to some places but generally when trade engineers look d that,they find that blinking lights have a short tam affect. As people get used to them, they start ignoring it. Councilor Baldacci asked if#1 and #2 of the alternatives wave done, would thd help slow down the talc with erbarced markings plus the blinking light. EA commented dust h could be tied. Han imersa[ion light is to be installed, it would require as appropriation out of contingency for the installation and operation. Ed pointed out them it may be worth doing a this intersection to see if it has a positive impact at Fare and All, Hope. Councilor Aube asked if this should be looked d more comprehensively front the standpoint of Howard and all the other streets. Should Andy begin to dent thinking about what that trade count will be when the Stillwater exchange is put into eff ct? How does that develop the strategy of dealing with this? Staff doesn't fee the Stillwater interchange is going to have a huge impact on this. It shouldn't add traffic on this mea. At this time the meaning was opened up for public comment Mrs. Diamond - Resident at the Comer of Howard and Mt. Hope, Mm. Diamond expressed her comm about this intersection with regard to the speed of which cars travel on Mt. Hope including during the time that children are in school. Mrs. Diamond asked if caution signs could be put up on Mt. Hope Avenue before you gel to Howard Street. Councilor Cowley asked if speed strips have bemused m the City? Ed explained that yes, they have bomused,but thdewere several complaivtsregardingthenoise. Ed explained the staff has had a lad three cowdsdiow with Howard Street residents about some of the alternatives that have been discussed; making it none -way, putting m a ml -deme, dc, and nothing has come of it because the people in the neighborhood can not come to any kind of an agreement about thd. Until there is a consensus in the neighborhood, there is no sense in trying to make it change until people can gel together and agree on a change that they would like to sea done. Mrs.Diadondconrirwedbyasb%dthaewasthatposs*ityfordgns? Staffcommentedtbatyes, additional signage can be put up. Staff will look into an appropriate sign for that coca. Dorothy????Resider that lives on comer of Howard and Mt. Hope Avenue: Dorothy expressed her cancan about her grandson walling to school and the speed of the trade going down Mt. Hope. Staff will improve the markings and signage in this area to see what impact this may have on this intersection. Municipal Operations Committee 8-18-98 Page 3 2. Procoud Social Committee on Mental Health Councilor Baldacci asked that staff put together a follow-up to the meeting held with the Commissioner about the effort that they are undertaking to a look at strategic planning for both Baagor Mental Health Institute and for community based care in the area, This is following the staMard procedure for setting up a special Committee. The goal is for doe City to become active in the effort that the Department is undertaking for strategic plemua& The purpose ofthe Committee would be to gusher information on the current system to look at existing and projected need, look at how the current systan meals or doesti t most the needs and arty other information the Committee nmght find useful, to participate and mummer the state planning process, to develop recommendations for the Council about actions that could be taken bosh in terms of our own operation as well ar m terms of the state planning process and potentially IegisWive proposals that might be useful in addressing some of the problems, and to report to the Council periodically Itwoudbecomposed of between 10-13 member; 2 mambas from the Council, 3 representatives of City departments (Police, Foe & HealmONelf'me), 3 representatives ofagenaes or organizations in the community which ather provide services or advocate for those with meatal health needs, representatives of Some Department of Memel HeaIN and Mental Retardation, up to 2 members of the state legislative delegation and up to 3 other members representing other organizations m the community with an interest in mental heehh services or the public at large. This would be set up for an original one year term unless the Council takes action to emend that. Councilor Tyler commended that he is in support ofthe City's proactive participation in this regard and with respect to these issues. There me several Committees that exist and he would like to explore what other sesames there are to achieve these same goals. The is hesitant to creme number Conrad Committee. He would liken ser this explored as part of this discussion as to whether or not Us is the right way to achieve the desired result Councilor Beldacci commented that the problem is that there is no one Committee that brings together differem members of the community. He feels the purpose of this Committee would be to bring togesher people who are from avery wide, different viewpoint. At this point the meeting was opened for public comment. A member of the public identified hersafas Helen and commented that mentally if individuals are a Part Ofshe cmmmmity, not apart from the co mmndty. Helm Get that ifthere is a Committee formed, she feels that there should be done members who have personally dealt with maned dines on the Comm t m Katie Fulem-Harms (Department): Thanked the Committee for putting this forward. The Commissioner, Regional Office and Katie had a series of meetings ova the last two days which started thus process ad collected a lot of information Surveys have been seat out to the providers and will be sent to the consume population to gather written dean on what they see as gaps inthe system. This information will go a long way w address same of these issues. The Quality holu(Nomerm Couoda(QICs) are a group that moves of consumers, providers, public members and family members. There is a Northeast group that meets monthly and aim a specific QIC that Municipal Operations Committee 8-18-98 Page 4 repressaw BMH[. City staff wdlremveimiutiomlomtendthewmeetivgs. Thesewuncilslook g avmiety ofiavres irrWding We strategic plamnng process end a broads range ofissues w regard wthehospital andcommunity. TMsismmo ing Committeethatist4sWiwiydic ted. Alison McQuarrie spoke as a cachou of the Stan Taking Action group. A consumer forum was held after the wnvmsntty forma because of the fact that there were an consumer representatives on my of the pends. She would prefer to see a representation that slaa consumers, but if not, would Re to find other ways for the consumer to be a part. Jane Sand, Some Bepreeeggive commented that she is very much in favor adds Committee. She fells it is wimportant time for wrmremication between the Some Department, State Representatives as well as the City. Jane indicated that she would like to be a participant in Us process. ]w Brooks - Representative from Distrix 407 (Winterport): Mr. Brooks commented that a lot of the residents of Winterport are very much intaxsted in the fimne of BMEB and eawumges the Committee. Mr. Brooks was mamumwml with other members of the legislature to getting the forum hod. One piece of the study that is missing is what is the community, where is it and how well is it done. He feels this Committee "old help m find that answer. Councilor Aube commented that from his perspective and from everything he has learned, the City and the commmnty are not part of the safety not. The City needs to be a part of the wmmuoications system and the structural system [hat provides input and output. The City does share in that responsibility being part of the safety net through the various departments and it would be very helpfd m have the dialogue end the variety ofplayers so the information is shared. Councilor Crowley indicated that the breed of putting this issue on the agenda was to determine whether m not it should move forward to the Councd. It is clear from counting that the proposal as it stands, with oro additim ofincluding wnsumem in tins, should go to the Council and be adopted as a Spatial Committee for the Ciry, 3. AcCbel reatioa Facilities Commi In March of IM, the City Manager proposed a Committee consisting ofvmious staffto undertake a complete review and analysis of all the active recreation facilities and programs in the City of Bangor. Bob Famar Fngldighted various pans of the Mon. The Committee broke the report roto two major areas and identified the areas where the Committee, based on its bearjudgernam and analysis, concluded that the existing facilities and/or programs either W the cared needs orwrthm reason would need to project fume needs. In summary terms, terns was an area the clearly the need is being met. Cross-country and mudng trails are continuing to improve wkh recall work being done on a city-wide basisk e hockey and ice skating facilities are in goad shape and with other Iwai rinks the demand seems to be mar. Swimming pools was another area the the Cmmnace felt was adequately served. In the context of the report there is clearly a lot ofsuppormrg data for the conclusions that the Committee reached with respect to these facilities and programs that normally meet the ousting need or projected need. The what area the Committee focused on were those meas that perhaps needed improvements Municipal Operations Committee 8-18-98 Page 5 Soccer is one arm that improvmrera is needed. It is one of the fastest growing sports The report ares broken into two approaches. One was a shore term perspective because there was immediatespacemmches. The Comtnit lsopmtooe along wmpmspecfive. Wrthrespect to the short term reconwerdatiom, some temporary solutions have been worked by using fields a Mamma and Mary Snew Schools. For the moment, the soccer concerns are mel at least in tams oftheshortertermpersparre, The recent acquisitioaby the School Department of property mithe Griffin Road may help in Ne long tern perspective in Us Committer feels the soccer component may be a major part oftlut plain* effort. The softball demand is being primarily mm by the Union Streft Athletic complex 'three fields are completed and nt use. 1'hme u mora for a fourth field in that design. The downside to this is then with that development of that fourth field is that some critical space is lost for soca The Committee's consensus is that the recreation side is in fairly good shape. On the school side, another high school size regulation softball field is needed. The cmvart field is in need ofrepair. The Commitee also stated the need for matador beaball field. Even with Mansfield and Cmdmd Strew fields, it was apparent that them is a tremendous pressure on Nese two fields with three groups competing for these two fields. The Committee did make the rewnmendation that should another field be crated, it be located on the wart side of the City to complement the Garland going field. Another was to upgrade the aurent field at Fifth Street School. Field Hockey was another area that tbere appears to be some need, but at the moment there is no middle school program fending the high school program. If riddle school program should be created, N=. there will need to be upgrade in that area The Fifth StratNme Street School area was Weighted as being an appropriate area The feel area idmdified was the arm offirsolle . Common field is being used by several groups and there is a need fm another field. The other facilities available, Bangor High School, BNDU field mW Fifth Strat field me in generally poor condition. There wig be follow up work but at Nis point the heart is to present this report to this Committee as a start in the overall effort to address the ongoing rarmtion awards. The Committee thmiked dare who worked on this report for then timeliness in completing the report and for their work on putting this together. 5. Council Ordinance 98-334- Fire Disinterment Mandan Traml Recommended to Council. 'Varsea