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.