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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-07-22 Municipal Operations Committee Minutes MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JULY 22, 1997 Councilors Attending: Don Soucy, Mike Aube, Pat Blanchette Staff Attending: Edward Barrett, Erik Stumpfel, Dale Theriault Don Winslow Others Attending: Martha Dudman, Roxanne Saucier, Nedra Foster 1 . Paul Bunyan Festival Days - Request for Contribution Deborah Plowman contacted the City requesting a contribution for the Paul Bunyan Festival Days . Edward Barrett explained that there is no money in the budget for this, so if Council wished to make a contribution, it would have to come out of contingency. Councilor Blanchette explained that in the past Council has refused contributions to things like this . Councilor Blanchette is uncomfortable taking the money out of the City's contingency fund. There are merchants in the downtown area that can support this event without taxpayer dollars going toward this . Councilor Aube asked who sponsors this event. Edward Barrett explained that this is something that the Chamber of Commerce started, but that a non-profit organization appears to be sponsoring it. Request for contribution is denied. 2 . Request by Dudman Communications Corporation - T-shirt For Paul Bunyan Martha Dudman addressed the Committee regarding the visit of Don Imus to the Bangor area on October 21 . He will be broadcasting live from the Bangor Civic Center. The broadcast will be national and he is syndicated across the country at about 100 radio stations and will also be carried on MSNBC. Martha feels that this is a good promotion for Bangor. There will be national as well as local press on this visit. Martha is requesting the opportunity to put a T-shirt on Paul Bunyan welcoming Imus to the City. Edward Barrett explained that the Shriner's were allowed, when they had their convention here several years ago, to put the fez on Paul Bunyan. They are having their large convention here again this September and they will be requesting this again. There was a question raised whether this was a violation of the separation between church and state and Erik Stumpfel, City Solicitor, assures staff it is not. In effect, the City has created a limited use of that. In that instance is was by an organization that was renting space at the Auditorium/Civic Center. This is a similar situation and the question is whether the Committee wants to extend that limited "public forum from Paul Bunyan's head" to other portions of the Statue ordinance. Councilor Blanchette feels that there is a difference between the Shriner's and Dudman Communications . The Shriner's do millions of 40 dollars of work for crippled and burned children every year and Pat feels that a t-shirt welcoming Imus to Bangor is not needed. Imus is a controversial personality and Pat is not comfortable with what Imus may have to say on the radio when he is in Bangor. For as many people as listen to him, there are as many people he offends . Councilor Aube responded that Time Magazine rated Imus as one of the 25 most influential people in America. • Cities that he has broadcast from he has created a very positive image of that community. A good presentation goes a long way toward his continuing to mention the types of activities that he sees as positive things and positive influence. Councilor Aube feels that Bangor needs to look at this from a perspective of "can we utilize this marketing opportunity to address those issues which are important to the City in terms of development opportunities, exposing the kind of community we have in Eastern Maine, and positive qualities and assets? " He feels that this should be looked at only if Bangor can gain from this marketing opportunity. Martha agrees that there are many people who do not like the show because it is controversial. Martha pointed out that in the letter request, she did not indicate that they would put Dudman Communications or even WWMJ on the t-shirt, because it would put the City in a peculiar position to have a private company put their logo on Paul Bunyan. The interest in the broadcast has been enormous . A lot of people around the country and within Bangor itself will be listening to this and is excited that it is happening in Bangor. There will be a small admission charged to people who come to the broadcast. The proceeds will be donated to Camp Capella. Nedra Foster (Bangor resident) asked "What if Imus is not positive? What if what he gives the City is negative? Is there 410 a guarantee that what he gives Bangor is positive? Councilor Aube feels that how the community receives someone with that kind of marketing power, sends a message. Quality service will be given to Imus during his stay in Bangor by preparing as a community. This would increase the opportunity that it is a positive story and not a negative one. Nedra Foster quoted the Time Magazine article as saying that "He ( Imus) loves to goad people into saying something that will destroy their life" . Ms . Foster has concerns regarding this . She feels that Paul Bunyan should not be associated with Imus ' attitude. Councilor Soucy feels there are two different issues to deal with. The first would be whether or not to place anything on the Paul Bunyan statue and this may or may not be a good thing for Bangor. If it is decided to grant this, there will be other requests . If it is done for one, then it should be done for everyone. As far as Imus is concerned, Councilor Soucy agrees with Councilor Blanchette. The City Solicitor feels that if this issue is allowed, it should be made clear that it is limited only to those who are actually leasing space at the Civic Center to promote their particular event. The next questions is "what will be allowed on Paul Bunyan? " Councilor Aube suggested that a policy be drafted regarding this issue. Staff will add on to the advertising 111 policy and set some criteria for Council to look at. Committee referred this issue to the full Council on Aug. 11, 1997 . 3 . Request by Bangor Police Athletic League - Use of Old Essex Street Recreational Center 111 Dale Theriault was approached by officers involved with the Police Athletic League (PAL) with a request that the PAL be able to utilize the old Essex Street Lodge. The building is 25 years old and approximately 3 to 4 years ago, Dirigo Search and Rescue began using the building as their headquarters, storage of their equipment and as a place to hold meetings . Prior to Dirigo Search and Rescue moving in, there was a private adult daycare center. The PAL has adopted the park and there has been extensive work done on the trails and the surrounding land. Dale Theriault supports this request because he feels PAL is working with a segment of youth that is the most difficult segment for a public recreation worker. Dale supports this for the same reason he supported Dirigo Search and Rescue. The more activity there is in that area, the less vandalism there is . Since Dirigo has been there, they have done repair work on the building, by providing the labor. The City provides the materials . The roof needs repair and the outside needs painting. Dirigo Search and Rescue spoke with Dale regarding their continued use of the building to store some of their equipment. If they were to leave the Essex Street site, Dale could probably find room for them to store their equipment at the Armory and they could have their meetings there also. Dale feels that it is feasible to have both groups at the Essex Street site and split the costs of the utilities . As this develops into a more teen center type area, the Parks and Recreation Department would probably go back in and put in a skating rink and continue to groom the slope for tobogganing and other activities . PAL has been conducting mountain bike races 110 for the last couple of years . PAL is in a position to pay for the utilities or a portion of the utilities . There were some ideas as to fundraisers to get some funds together to maybe redo a section of the parking lot. There are approximately 450-500 kids that the PAL sees in a years time. Ed Barrett was contacted by a resident of the Essex Street area who has expressed some concerns that this might create a situation where there would be more vandalism and problems in the area. This resident indicated that they felt they had some problems at the current time with juveniles in that area because of the fact that it is a fairly isolated area. Some questions that need to be answered are: What will the facility be used for? What will the operating hours be? What will the level of supervision be? It was explained that the actual programs have not been decided upon. Basketball, biking, rollerblading, ping-pong tables and things of this nature have been discussed. There will not be any events going on in the building without police presence there. The exception to this would be if someone were to go and do some work on the structure. The latest an event would be going on is 8 or 9 pm. This area falls under the park ordinance; closed from 10 pm - 6 am. The PAL has their own insurance policy. Any injury is covered by the PAL. Dirigo Search and Rescue feels that the key for them is being able to continue using the building as their headquarters, tL.) meeting place and classroom. They have been able to teach classes there on a regular basis and this has enabled them to be more efficient and devote more time to other causes . Dirigo Search and Rescue is currently sharing the building with a snowmobile club during the winter, which they use as a meeting place. The concern is • that they would like to continue doing what they are doing and they feel this building meets their needs . They welcome the PAL, but would like to ask that if their usage becomes very heavy (4-5 nights/week) , Dirigo will not be able to do what they are doing and what they are doing is valuable. Dale Theriault, PAL and Dirigo Search and Rescue will meet and discuss this issue further to try and come up with an arrangement to benefit all concerned. • • w _: