HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-05-15 Government Operations Committee Minutes �
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GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
MINUTES ,
May 15, 2002
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Councilors Present: Joe Baldacci, Anne Allen, Dan Tremble, David Nealley ,
Staff Present: Ed Barrett, Bob Farrar, Don Winslow, Frank Comeau, Norm
Heitmann, Sgt. Hodges, Brian Enman t
Other Present: Mike Pullen, WBRC, Brad Ryder, Cadillac Mt. Sports, Peter Allen,
585 Hammond and 13"' St., Jen (Channel 7) �
1. Approval of Bangor Municipal Golf Course Operations Policy
Frank Comeau presented a proposed policy that sets forth and establishes various ,
conditions, rules and regulations for membership and play at Bangor Muni. '
Previously, these rules and regulations were not compiled in one document and
adoption of this policy creates one source and guide for operational issues. This has
been approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. �
Baldacci asked if a non-resident could get a permit if they did not own property in
the City. Comeau stated that they could not, however there were a few people who ,
had been grandfathered under the old policy.
Tremble asked about section 4.8 No children are allowed on the golf course unless '
playing golf. Enman noted that children are allowed if they are playing golf,
however if they are not playing golf then they may not be paying attention to the
golf balls, and have the potential to be hit by the ball. Comeau said that an age �
stipulation could be added. Normally the minimum age is 6 to be on the course.
There is no discount for children to play. �
Tremble asked if owners of private carts are required to carry liability insurance, to
which Comeau replied that they are. Comeau suggested that this stipulation be ,
added to the policy. Also new Sedions 2.8 and 2.9 were added to the proposed
policy,
With the amendment to include these three new additions, a motion was made and ,
seconded to approve the policy.
2. Update — Police Department Building Project (This item was discussed after item 5 �
on the agenda.)
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� Chief Winslow and Michael Pullen, WBRC Architects updated the Committee on
various issues including a review/refinement of space needs and a discussion of
preferred locations for the Police Station.
1 Chief Winslow stated that the scope was narrowed to four possibilities, two of which
, are privately owned and will be discussed in executive session. The building
committee has met since the last Government Operations meeting, and with
information he received from a conference in Kansas City, Winslow noted that the
' space needs have been reduced from 54,709 sq. ft. to 43,928 sq. ft.
The eliminated space is mostly indoor parking, a luxury most police departments do
, not have. The parking could be in an annex building, 11,160 sq. ft, which would be
less per sq. ft., than the approximately 32,000-sq. ft. for the main structure at a
premium price. One criteria applied to the potential sites was the ability to expand
� in the future. That has more significance now due to the reduced square footage.
All construction options would have the ability to go up another Floor as needed for
space.
� Barrett noted that the two public sites are the current 35 Court Street location and
� Lot 613. Penquis CAP has indicated an interest in putting and office building on Lot
613. One other public site is the GranYs Building, which we are not recommending,
but that the committee may want to discuss it. The cost of renovating the GranYs
' Building is equal to the cost of building a new facility. ($7,4 million vs. $7.3 million
for a new facility) We would need to use the Hammond Street deck for parking, and
take it from public use. And remove public parking from Franklin Street for police
' parking while officers are entering/exiting the building. Cadillac Mountain Sports
would remain on the first floor.
' Barrett noted that on the Court Street property, we would build a new 4 level police
station at the far end of the existing station and going out Court St. We have
allowed for a 3 level parking structure where the current police station and some of
� the parking behind it is. Tremble asked if the 3 level parking was included in the
cost estimate, to which Barrett replied that it was not. If the City remains at this
� site, we will be asked by the County Court system to participate in the cost of a
parking structure that we don't need. Barrett said that it should be a state/county-
funded structure. Allen asked about the increased parking in the diagrams, and
' Barrett noted that we are proposing removing parking from the back lot, although
there will still be approximately 20-30 more spaces, totaling 200+ spaces that are
required. Barrett stated that he would like to talk to the State and County regarding
, whether they prefer the City to stay or go in regards to the parking.
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Allen asked if with the Court St. property construction, would the Police department
be able to function or would they need to move to an alternate location. Chief �
Winslow said that they would be able to stay and function, and then move into the
new location upon completion, with no disruption to services, and that there are no �
relocation costs in any of the site plans.
Tremble asked if the 3 level parking would have access from each level, to which '
Pullen replied that each would have a one deck differential, such as Court St. is now,
and that there is one ramp that takes you down to the lower level. The lower level
needs to have some form of circulation. '
Pullen presented the cost information for the new construction and renovation. New
construction of 32,000 sq. ft. at $110 per sq. ft, and 11,160 for parking at $60 sq. '
ft. The rifle range has been reduced to 4 lanes. Construdion costs include and
elevator. Removal of the retaining wall, a constant in all of the scenarios, is $1.1
million dollars. Removal of the building at 35 Court St. is $2-300,000. �
The proposal for Lot 613 is $105 per sq. ft. '
Barrett noted that we had already borrowed $2.7 million. In many of the scenarios,
he said we could borrow the remaining costs less demolition and the retaining wall ,
for the second year. Then we can borrow the money to demolish and for the
retaining wall once we have relocated. Therefore, we do not have to borrow the
money all at once, considering the large sum. The debt service on $7 million is $4- '
500,000 per year.
There was a motion made and seconded to go into Executive Session to discuss the ,
private locations at 5:45 p.m.
2a. Executive Session: Discussion of potentiai land acquisition, Police `
Department, various downtown locations.
The committee returned from Executive Session at 6:10 p.m. �
The next step will be for the City to meet with the State/County Master Planning ,
Committee to determine the impact of the City either remaining at 35 Court Street
or moving off campus to another location.
3. Police Department Mutual Aid Agreement �
Chief Winslow is recommending that the City of Bangor consider entering into a ,
police mutual aid agreement with the following communities and organizations:
Brewer, Hampden, Veazie, Orono, Old Town, University of Maine and Penobscot '
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' County. This agreement would formalize the relationships among the mutual aid
� participants and sets forth various terms and conditions involved when mutual aid is
requested or needed, as required by Maine law. This is intended for emergency
situations only.
� The committee discussed regionalization in a more local area rather than far
' reaching the smaller communities.
A motion was made and seconded to send to full Council.
r4. Council Ordinance 02-209, Parking Limited to Parking for Handicapped, 13th Street
, This ordinance amendment would formally recognize one existing handicapped
parking space in front of Fairmount Boarding Home (8 13th Street) as well as to
create one new additional space, as requested by the Boarding Home due to
, increased need.
Peter Allen stated that he is against having an additional handicapped parking spot
� at the boarding home, claiming that he did not know of anyone at the boarding
home needing a handicapped spot, and that his business and the apartment building
Icould use the parking space.
The committee decided to table the discussion for two weeks and invite both parties
' to further discuss the issue.
5. Council Ordinance 02-210, No Parking Anytime — Main Street
' This ordinance amendment would eliminate one parking space on Main Street near
the intersection of Sidney Street, due to poor visibiliry and safety concerns. Cars
� using this space block the northerly view of drivers entering Main Street from Sidney
Street, and this proposal results form several complaints received by the Police
Department.
� Sgt. Hodges discussed the area in question, and the potential for accidents.
� Tremble asked if there were other areas on Main Street to park, and Hodges noted
the parking areas on Main Street.
' The committee moved and seconded the amendment, which will be forwarded to
the Council for consideration.
' 6. Discussion — Health Insurance Benefits for Non-Union Regular Part-time Employees
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At a recent Council budget workshop, Councilor Allen requested that this issue be
reconsidered as part of the Council's review of the proposed FY03 municipal budget. �
Staff was asked to include this issue on next Government and Operations Committee
agenda for further discussion and review. (Consideration of domestic partner
benefits will be discussed at a later budget review meeting by the Council.) �
Background information was provided from the previous Committee meeting, when ,
this topic was initially discussed as well as a brief inemorandum dated May 9, 2002.
A motion was made and seconded to table this discussion until the next meeting, or �
the first meeting in June, depending upon the Committee's schedule for the 29th of
May.
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 6:20 pm. '
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