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Home My WebLink About2004-04-13 Government Operations Committee Minutes � � GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES � April 13, 2004 , Councilors Present: Richard Greene, Peter D'Errico, Anne Allen, Dan � Tremble, Geoff Gratwick, John Cashwell Staff Present: Bob Farrar, Frank Comeau, Brian Enman , Others Present: Several Golfers, Kathy Bernier, Judi Perkins, Mike Pullen, , Heather Parent, Cynthia Cavanaugh The meeting convened at 5:00 p.m. ' 1. Request from Hammond Street Senior Citizen Center to use City Seal. ' The Senior Citizen Center has requested permission to use a replica of the City � Seal in conjunction with crafting a pottery trivet which the seniors would sell. Kathy Bernier, Executive Director, discussed a replica of the Maine State Quarter. She noted that the trivets are hand tooled and painted at the Senior Center. The � trivets are sold at the Senior Center Gift Shop for $7 each. She said that the sales of trivets are a great fundraiser. At Councilor Farrington's suggestion, the Senior Center would like to make trivets using the Bangor Seal. Farrington � suggested making enough to sell at the Folk Festival, however Bernier noted that since volunteers individually make the trivets, the possibility of mass production is limited. The sample of the Bangor Seal is still in the kiln, so Bernier was , unable to bring it to the meeting. She would like to have the Committee's permission to make a stamp of the seal, so that the design would be uniform, although the painting would be unique. � Bernier recommended that the trivets could be used as City gifts. Gratwick asked about the feasibility of granting permission for the use of the City Seal. � Farrar indicated that the Legal Department has said that it is acceptable to offer use of the seal to non-profit organizations. Bernier extended an invitation to the � Councilors to come see the trivets being made. The Committee voted to grant permission to the Senior Center for use of the ' Bangor City Seal to craft trivets. , � � � 2. Presentation by Keep Bangor Beautiful � Judi Perkins of Keep Bangor Beautiful (KBB) introduced Cynthia Cavanaugh, President of Keep Bangor Beautiful and Co-Chair of the Bangor Garden Show, � Heather Parent, Keep Bangor Beautiful Secretary and Board Member, and Kelly Cotiaux of Sephone Internet Solutions. She noted that Jerry Hughes, Treasurer of Keep Bangor Beautiful is absent due to a prior commitment. � Cavanaugh presented the history of Bangor 2000 with )udi Perkins as the Former � Director and Ed Barrett as the new Bangor City Manager. At that time, Barrett suggested the program Keep America Beautiful. In the spring of 1989, Bangor received certification for Keep Bangor Beautiful. She noted that KBB has a ' volunteer board and a mission statement to provide leadership and voluntary recycling and beautification through education and example. During 2003, KBB contributed $89,700 in volunteer hours ($10/per hour). Cavanaugh discussed � the history of the Bangor Garden Show, which began in 1991. The average attendance at the Bangor Garden Show is 12,900. The recycling newsletter is distributed to approximately 20,000 households via the Bangor Daily News. KBB ' is very grateful to Bangor Public Works with which they partner on the following projects, Bangor Garden Show, Bangor's Litter Index, Kenduskeag Stream Clean M Up, Adopt a Planter Program, and Bangor's quarterly recycling newsletter. KBB's fundraising committee continues to focus on grant opportunities, underwriting, membership and partnering with others who are in support of providing � leadership and voluntary recycling and beautification through education and examples. � Councilor Greene noted that Councilor Allen had joined the meeting. Perkins did a presentation of KBB's website and noted the various sections on � the site. She indicated that KBB's newsletter was recognized by the State of Maine Office of Planning for the content within the last year, and our volunteer writer recognized as the volunteer of the year in Augusta. Perkins said that in � reaching and communicating with children, KBB is affecting economic development. She distributed recycling calendars, which include artwork from local school children. Perkins said that Bangor is 1.7 on the Litter Index (slightly � littered). ' Cotiaux discussed the website for the Bangor Garden Show. The site was created specifically by volunteers as a marketing tool for the garden show. There were 5,952 visitors to the site in the month of March. Gratwick asked if ' there were easy links from the City's website to the Garden Show's site and the KBB's site. Perkins noted that she has asked to be linked on the City's site in a visible spot. Right now the link is buried in the Public Works site. Gratwick � , � � asked for the responsible person for this, and Perkins responded AI Douglas. Gratwick asked Farrar if this could be addressed. � Pullen discussed the Gateways project in which the Committee reviewed areas in the City that needed focus. The Committee, in 2003, focused on south Main � Street from the "Tin Bridge"to I-395. The Committee discussed with landowners areas for planting opportunities. This year, the Committee focused on Harlow Street, the Kenduskeag Park area. Pullen discussed the development potential � for this area, using trails on two levels and sheltered picnic areas. Allen asked how the project would be funded. Pullen indicated that this had been a multiple � departmental project. Perkins said that Home Depot had given KBB a $1,000 grant to get started. Pullen discussed five potential trail systems for KBB to pursue, and presented , maps of Bangor's open spaces. He noted that the intent is to tie in education/history of the parks and wellness. ' Parent said that Tree City USA is a program where the National Arbor Day Foundation/US Forest Service recognizes towns and cities throughout the country ' that meet certain standards. There are currently only 12 communities in the state with this designation. To receive certification, we must meet these four standards, creating a community tree ordinance, having a tree board, havin�q an , annual of budget of $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day Proclamation. May 19 will be Bangor's Arbor Day. � Allen made a motion to take Bangor Beautiful and merge them into Economic Development efforts. Gratwick suggested having a plan to present to the Council � in 2-3 months. The Committee approved the motion to develop a plan of action to incorporate Bangor Beautiful into Economic Development efforts and activities. Parent read a memo from ]erry Hughes, Treasurer of KBB, regarding KBB's � financial status. 3. Results of Survey— Bangor Municipal Golf Course � Councilor Greene noted that Mayor Tremble and Councilor Cashwell had joined � the meeting. Comeau discussed that due to recent expressions of concern by golfers, Parks � and Recreation decided to send out a survey to all members. Comeau noted that 33% of the 260 surveys were returned. Comeau discussed the survey ' results. � , � , Golf Professional Brian Enman is preparing a plan of action to address the I � concerns of the members. Enman is also planning to form a Greens' Committee of inembers and staff. In an effort to keep an open line of communication between staff and members, the Greens' Committee will publish a monthly ' newsletter. Comeau said that Bangor Municipal Golf Course is an enterprise fund, and no � taxpayer money is used to operate it. He discussed how the profit from the golf course is used. Gratwick wanted to know if there were enough funds available � , to address the wants and needs of the players. Enman noted that they are very frugal, and try to balance needs with wants. � Cashwell wanted to know if we have an annual or five-year plan for golf course improvements. Enman said that the funds in reserve are earmarked for a new maintenance building. Cashwell asked Enman what five things he would do to � improve the course this year if he had no constraints. Enman said that he would purchase more benches, install more ball washers, finish the sand project on the 9-hole golf course and improve the bunkers on the 18-hole course, get a new ' maintenance building and improve the cart barn, and have the greens be pure. Greene noted that he is on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and has N heard that the entrance to the golf course as you drive up to the facility needs to be improved and that communication needs to be improved. � Various golfers in the audience came forward and expressed their concerns and ideas for improvements to the golf course. � Farrar suggested that he, Comeau and Enman discuss the ideas and information that has been exchanged and determine how to incorporate them into the daily ' operation of the golf course, and plan a follow-up meeting with the Committee. The Committee voted to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 p.m. � , � , � ,