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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-09-17 Municipal Operations Committee MinutesMUNICIPAL OPM$ WIVAITTBE MINUTES September 17, 1996 Councilors present: Pat Blanchette, Tim Woodcock, Chris Popper, Jim Tyler Staff present: Edward Barrett, Randy Harriman, Erik Btumpfel, Gail Cambell, Don Winslow, Seargent Donald Gagner, Patrol - Dan Herrick, Patrolmen James Dearing Others present: Mr. Harvey, Paul Johnson (Phenix Imm), Andrew McKim= The meeting convened at 5:00 p.m. 1. Election Of County Representative t0 Eastern Maine Development Corporation Board Of Directors The EMDC naninati J committee (cayessed of Board Members) has renominated Barbara McKernan of Bangor, Jim Carson of Millimcket, and Michael Michaud of East Millinocket to the Board. The Board represents five counties and Lae 23 members, with seven from Penobscot County. The Committee recommended that Bangor cast its vote for these individuals. 2. Center Street Stop Signs At its last meeting, the Municipal operations Committee had asked for a review of Center Street to determine whether the installation of atop signs Might address resident concerns regarding excessive speed on this street. Dm Winslow, of the Police Department, provided a report to the commutes which indicated that there Here a limited number of locations where such a stop sign might b, installed. A three-way stop could be installed at Mmtgomery and Center. The difficulty with a atop sign at Montgomery Is that it would be a three-way atop and Montgomery is located just Over the creat of a hill. Staff generally believes that this would be as inappropriate location and might result in an increase in accidents. A second potential location is at Congress and Center Street. In this instance, v lability would be better and a four-way stop would be volved. At the same time, this location is further toward the intown action of Center Street and would likely have limited effect on the upper portion of Center street where much of the problem appears to be occuring. in addition, Center Street from Congress in becomes more congested and, eventually, narrows with a corresponding reduction in speed. At this point, staff does net recommend that stop signs be installed. Councilor Tyler indicated that he felt a number of streets, including Congress and other similar ones, which are primarily meant to be residential streets, have actually become arterials with many individuals using theme streets to bypass Other, larger streets. He raised the issue of what could be done to mitigate increasing and high speed traffic on such streets. At this point, staff did not have a solution to this leave, but indicated that research would be undertaken to determine if any appropriate traffic mitigation strategies are available. The discussion than moved on to the issue of the school crosswalk. At the last meeting, a group of neighbors requested that the City install a school crosswalk at Linden Street. Subsequent to that meeting, staff has reviewed various alternatives and has determined that the best alternative would be to work with the owner Of s vacant lot between Congress and Broadway, across from Linden, which is often used by children going to and from Mary Snow School. The property owner has been approached and has indicated at least a preliminary willingness to discuss with the City the possibility of a license to use this property. The owner, Andrew McKinnon, along with his attorney, were present at the meeting and indicated their willingness to work with the City on such anagreement if issues such as liability, vandalism, and littering could be adequately addressed. Staff indicated that they would work with Mr. McKinnon on such an agreement and, if it is successful, would recommend relocating the feting school crosswalk from Poplar Street to Linder. The committee was generally supportive of this approach and also suggested that some consideration be given to installing flashing school crossing signs o Center Street, for additional protection for the crosswalk and aro an effort to slow down traffic. 3. Subordinate Committee Applications The City Clerk reported that applications had been received for the Recycling Committee and Planning Board. She w asked to contact committee members to schedule a time to interview Planning Board applicants and review applications for Recycling. 4. Draft - Amending Juvenile Curfew Ordinance, Chapter VII, Article s, Section 1 --Lame and Ordinances of the City of Bangor City Solicitor Erik Stupfel indicated to the City Council that the proposed draft amending the juvenile curfew ordinance bad been prepared at the request of the Police Department in order to address problems which have been occuring in the downtown area. While the City has had a juvenile curfew ordinance on the books for many yearn, it has not been enforced because of various court cases which have arisen throughout that research time. After rchinto these court cases, the City Solicitor recommended that prudent approach be taken to adopting Such an ordiace. The ordinance would apply only in designated areas downtown, and would cover only juvenile loitering and exempt juveniles who were traveling to or from other locations. A number of representatives from the Bangor Police Department spoke an this issue, including Seargent Gagner, the department's juvenile officer, and Patrolman Herrick, a downtown patrol officer. Patrolman Dearing showed the committee a video tape indicating the nature of the problem in the downtown area. This tape showed juveniles basically "banging out- in the downtown area, particularly adjacent to Cormfer's, which is across the street from West Market Square Park. Nhile the Police Department indicated s regarding the ability to enforce such a curfew ordinance, they all indicated they felt it mss an appropriate step and worth giving a try. Councilor Blanchette asked the purpose of Shaw House "if no me is giving these juveniles supervision. Is it just a flop house for rummy juveniles where they don't have any rules to abide by? Chief Harriman explained that it is a"low barrier o o barrier' shelter that is for children who, if they bad any restrictions whatsoever, would choose to be on the streets. The Shaw House feels it's better to provide some shelter may from predators- rather than put restrictions on the kids; they offer a safe place off the street. Councilor Tyler said the curfew, which needs to be enforceable and ^have one teeth behind it", is only me coxp®ent of 'what needs to be a broader based solution." Chief Harriman said he is assembling data and will talk to people who c -make a difference." Ed Parrett said they will be talking to other communities and departments around the state who may be having armilar problems and that they hope to build a coalition, to be able to say, "Tne system has broken down; do something to fix the system.- Mr. Harvey, a Bangor resident, observed 25 children near his property on alio Street drinking she smoking and "trashing the place." Councilor Blanchette said one thing that can be done locally is to impose curfew '-with enough teeth n i it" to hold parents financially reaponeible for their children's conduct.She also stated that we need to talk with state legislators, that the problem isn't unique to Bangor. Councilor Tyler asked Erik Stumpfel to review the statutes and provide guidance; he responded that there is a Juveniles at Risk Statutue, but that he understood the problem to be that there is no place to put Juveniles who are detained. » Parrett said that was due to a lack of funding and consistent effort on the part of the state. Councilor Tyler asked again what could be done to fix the problen, knowing that there would be no economic solution frau Augusta. Erik suggested an approach of asking a private entity to operate a stricter facility where detained Juveniles could be placed --with or without city assistance. He felt that the statutes or legal provisions are there; it's the funding o that are lacking. Ed suggested again that he and Chief Harrimanrlook at the data and identify the problems specifically. Councilor Woodcock said, that with regard to the state budget, it's a question of priorities. Lieutenant Winslow provided a mo statistics. Three of the at nummus downtown infractions are c disorderly conduct, assaults, and noise problems. Councilor Tyler asked how many of the juveniles have parents who do care about the chidren's whereabouts and welfare. Lt. Winslow said he felt most of the teenagers have parents who do care very much, but many have given up. There are also a number of individuals whose parents aren't aaan re that the juveniles are downtown, and that impact could be made with those families. Councilor Blanchette asked about the vagrancy law. Chief Harriman said that only if an offers;e is cowaltted can identification be required from individuals. Paul Johnson spoke about the need for people to be willing to invest money r n the downtown a He said one time there w a hotel Hurst who was afraid to get cut of bar car because she saw juveniles drinking in front of a nearby store. He said there the foul language i "abysmal." He agreed with Ed Barrett's earlier comment about the Police having to be ^babysitters^ and not having any real control over the situation. He thought the police officers would be quite capable of addressing the probleas if there were reasonable guidelines for them to u He called the time officers have to spend downtown a waste'-, but said he was very pleased they're there, praising the bicycle patrols in particular. To revitalize the downtown area requires creating a environment where people would be willing to live and work and open businesses, he said. Councilor woodcock thanked Mr. Johnson for his casements, and said it was important that the City take a unified approach Moved and seconded to forward the draft ordinance to full Council for first reading.