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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-10-21 Public Safety Committee MinutesPublic Safety Committee October 21, 1985 at 4:00 P.M. Minutes Present: Councilor Larry Willey, Chairman Councilor Edgar Brown Councilor Arthur Tilley John Flynm, City Manager John Lord, Planning Officer Capt. Stockford, Police Department 'Lt. Thurston, Police Department Taxi Cab Stands Council Order 85-350 amends the Ordinances to include a schedule for parking for text cats. If the Ordinance is passed by the Council at their next meeting, it would mean passage of this proposed schedule Which will specifically list by description where those locations will be. Tho City Manager felt the Committee should consider the rustier of taxi cab stands in the dwntoon area. Councilor Willey indicated this was discussed at the last meeting at which time the Committee agreed with Lt. Thurston's recommendation to eliminate two spaces, ore on Franklin Street and one on Water/Main Streets. The City Managers recommendation was to eliminate all can stand spaces in the downtown area except for the ones in front of the Greyhound Station and the Bangor Boase and thereby providing were additional parking spaces in the downtown. 11he Planning Officer indicated that during discussions regarding the parking study and the downtown area it was ceonmended the bus stop, leading zone and taxi cab stand spaces be consolidated for multi -use. Paul Baron and a representative of Herold's Taxi were in attendance. Mr. Baron disagreed with the Manager's recemrendation indicating that nine spaces had been eliminated in downtown due to planting of trees. Councilor Brown recd mended the Committee rot change their previous mote from their October 4th meeting. Councilor Tilley agreed with the idea of consolidating spaces for multi -use and felt it sea something the administration should look into and bring back to the Canmittee. 2. Traffic Guides at rowneast School. Pat Blanchette and Chuck Gobiel were in attendance for discussion of this item. Councilor Brawn banded out copies of correspondence from 1982 relating to this issue indicating at that time the Committee had agreed to a flashing light at this location. At their October 4N meeting, the Committee improved a 8:30-9:00 a.m. end 3:00-3:30 p.m. traffic guide on a trial basis at this intersection. Pat Blanchette is row requesting a guide from 8:00-9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and at 3:00-3:30 p.m. The estimated cost of this guide is $2,395.00. The City Manager indicated he would contact Chief Woodhead regarding this amount in the Police Department budget. Willey indicated he would recommend approval hot asked that the area he manitored to be sure the children are using the guide. Lt. ltmrston disagreed with the yellow flashing light on an eight -tour a day basis. The Committee agreed the light should be coordinated with the timing of the crossing guide. The Committee agreed that Dottie Pratt, the principal at DWwneast School, should contact the City Manager's Office by letter to confirm the noon time. _2 - 3. Firearms Discharge Ordinance. Tho City Manager indicated some calls had been received regarding the discharge of firearms. Last year the ordinance was reviewed and amended to indicate that the person mat have written permission frau the land mer and/or tenant to hunt on those prmnises. The City has devised a map and on that same paper is a condensed version of the Firearms Discharge Ordinance which has been placed on the windshield of cars in the Church Road area, where the complaints have originated from. It was suggested these be given out in the City Clerk's Office when people bury their hunting licenses as well as in places where non-resident licenses are sold. There will be publicity through the news media regarding enforcement of these regulations indicating people will he stopped and checked by the Police Deparbnent to make sure the proper permission is on their person. The officers will not be able to go into the woods and the City does not have any enforcement mechanism once tho hunters ar Una woods. Capt. Stockford stressed that the Police officers are not restricted Erem going into the r s and world handle a trespass of Property call. The Maine State Warden Service has been contacted by the City requesting their help in controlling this enforcement problem. Brenda Verney thanked the Committee for their work last year on amending the Ordinance hot indicated she felt it was an impossible ordinance to enforce. She requested the Cmmittee consider adding the Church Road to the City's area where no discharge of firearms is permitted. Present also were Ray Lynch, Sr., Pat C cen,. Lori Varney, Fred Vardanis, and Mr. Hudson. Tilley sggestea the police officer find out the name of the ownercar frau the license plate registration and than call the person asking if they had been hunting and if they had permission to hunt in the area. Brown felt that maybe the entire City of Bangsr should be a prohibitive area for firearm discharge. Willey felt the Church Hood area should be reviewed more closely and indicated he would do so in terms of public safety. He also questioned if the entire City should be a firearm free. Tilley asked what could be dome during the month of triter to enforce the hunting regulations, and asked if the patrol could be increased during the late afternoon sours when more hunters are out. Stockfor indicated this could be done and suggested the "direct patrol" effort could be tried in this area. The City Manager indicated that since the penalty for trespass is sore severe than violation of the firearms ordinance if smeone knows there is sarmne hunting on their property, they should call the Police Eeparvment for more effective enforcement. Fred Vardamis asked if the question of no firearm in the City of Bangor could go to referendum by petition. The City Manager indicated a Mange in the ordinances could be initiated by reEeeenaan process. Councilor Brum indicated he felt the Church Road should be considered as a restricted area of firearm discharge. The City Manager was asked to prepare a Council Order which will amend the Ordinances to include the Church Read and Essex Street for the October 28th City Council agenda. on 4. Abbott Hpuare Parking Int. lmprov is are being mala in tne Pbbott Square Parking Int urder a � grant which was received with the footling of the former Harlow Street School. The City receiv $166,000 with the idea to create additional parking spaces. The commitment was to provide thirty spaces for the Harlow Street School project mal to renovate a l increase the nutter of spaces in the lot. The Community Development Committee has reviewed al approved the revised layout plan for the lot. the staff brought this ro the Public Safety Cmmittee W discuss maximum and affective utilization of these spaces. The staff remnmendation is to put thirty-eight 2 -hour meters, have a ticket tooth farm 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., an area for sixty -tow permit spaces, axt an area for flexible time limits ani would pay for that amount of time. The Committee voted put the changes on the next Council agenda. Committee adjourned at 5:50 p.m.