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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-01-25 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee Tuesday,7anuary 25, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. City Council Chambers • Minutes Councilor Attendance: Gratwick, Greene, D'Errico, Hawes Staff Attendance: Barrett, Farrar, Comeau, Heitmann, Wiilette, Winslow Others: Dave Mansfield, Ron St. Pierre Meeting was called to order at 5:05 p.m. 1. Proposed Council Order Establishing a Special Committee of the City Council entitled, `�Community Advisory Group"for the Proposed Methadone Treatment program of Colonial Management to be located at the Maine Square Mall. There was lengthy discussion on this draft order, which would establish an Advisory Committee for the proposed Methadone Clinic at Maine Square Mall, on focus, theme, Certificate of Need procedure, regulation on the State and Federal levels, time of peak usage regarding traffic flow, and parking. The advisory committee would work in cooperation with Colonial Management to develop recommendations. It was moved and voted to recommend the Order to Council. 2. Proposed Lease Agreement between the City of Bangor and Bangor West Side Little League concerning operation and maintenance of Mansfield Memorial Baseball field located in Hayford Park. • Although a lease was drafted, it was never executed by the parties. City staff and representatives from Bangor West Side Little League recently reconvened to review the lease, update it as appropriate and prepare it for Committee and Council consideration. Essentially Bangor West Side Little League has been operating under the terms of the lease, even though it has not formally been in place; however, from 1992 to present BWSLL has been operating under the informal agreement, and it has worked well. Both the Parks and Recreation Department and Bangor West Side Little League support the formal approval of this lease. Dave Mansfield and Ron St. Pierre, volunteers for Mansfield Stadium, were available for questions. It was noted that the monies raised by them remain with that project a fence has been added behind the hockey arena. It was moved and voted to forward this lease to the City Council. 3. Departmental Reviews • Police Department Chief Winslow provided an overview of the safety emphasis of the police department and each of the budgetary components. He noted that additional janitorial services will be necessary with a change in facility. Chief Winslow addressed questions and provided detailed information on each of departments. Our communication equipment will be compatible with the State Communication system. Coordination will continue with other agencies. Chief Winslow reported that the police and sheriff department received a grant that will allow sending employees to training for jail aversion programs. We continue to take the quality of neighborhoods and parks, traffic enforcement, domestic violence, and OUI enforcement very . seriously. There is a national effort to institute a National Minimum Institute System (NMIS) that trains agencies how to best work together in a major incident, who is in charge, the structure of the emergency response plan, and bomb squad training. There was discussion on emergency response GOC Minutes/ 1-25-05/ Page 1 situations related to the HazMat team, particularly with radiation. We are well prepared for an emergency, depending on the size of the emergency. There is a national stockpile plan, and there are sites identified within the State of Maine. • Chief Winslow commented on the response time from dispatch, which averages 15 minutes due to availability of manpower, primarily because more time is spent on each call because we are more service-oriented than in the past and the resolution is focussed on with positive interaction, along with developing relationships, and there is a greater amount of paperwork to be completed. There was discussion on the breakdown of accidents and summons/traffic enforcements pertaining to specific time of day. • Parks and Recreation Department, Golf Course In an efFort to streamline the annual budget review process, Frank Comeau presented the Parks & Rec nonbudget-related information regarding staffing levels, past year highlights and operating goals and objectives. Frank Comeau presented an overview of the Park and Recreation budget divisions and its organizational chart. Highlights were provided for the past year, including the following: - we decided not to stafF five of the playgrounds; - the summer day camp is growing, and, as a result, the program was eacpanded from seven to eight weeks last summer; - in the near future we will need to consider replacement of the]ohn Deere, at an approximate cost of$8,000; - the playground equipment is aging—some nearly 20 years old. An equipment replacement program, which will consist of one park per year, will be forthcoming. Downeast School equipment will be removed, due to safety hazard. It will not be replaced, since the school has • installed three play areas; - It was noted that the waterfront development will create additional work for the department; - Sawyer Arena operates six months per year on a break-even basis. The new expansion continues to be very well received (now three years old). Bangor Youth Hockey is the largest user of ice time. The Sawyer Arena is the home ice for John Bapst and Bangor High Schools. Current rental rate is $180 per hour for prime time, and $140 per hour for ofF times. Some improvements to be made are the sound system, an ice edger and scoreboard. The zamboni will likely have to be replaced within the next two to three years. Current operating budget is approaching $177K with anticipated revenue of$184K. The Center generates N $35K per year in rental and program fees. Many improvements have been made related to life safety in addition to a new gymnasium floor. Goals include: - an annual replacement program for equipment ($50-$60k per park per year); - improve and promote summer day camp; - reseal tennis courts ($700k); - repoint brickwork on back wall of park and Rec center ($6K); - staff training and professional training, including safety training; - continued evaluation of programs being offered; - replace maintenance equipment; - purchase exhaust units for maintenance shop; � - Sawyer arena improvements- sound system, an ice edger and scoreboard. It was noted that . the volunteer coaches are to be commended for their efforts. - � GOC Minutes/ 1-25-05/ Page 2 There was discussion on the concept of neighborhood parks with neighborhood/ community involvement with the fundraising and upkeep of the parks. It was noted that the City staff is limited in fundraising efForts. • 27 hole Golf Course-33% of inembership responded to a survey, which will be used as a tool for making improvements to the course. The US Golf Association will evaluate our course and make recommendations for improvement. Between $85-$100k is spent annually on capital improvements. Golf carts are purchased annually on a rotating basis, the golf cart path paving program continues until all the paths are made; the final phase of the bucket sand project was completed last summer. Equipment is replaced on a continuing basis. Several improvements have been made to the clubhouse, including roofing, carpeting, lighting, furnace, and an irrigation system has made tremendous improvement. The maximum number of inemberships is 285. Players have been dropping the last few years due to the development of new courses. It was suggested that a variety of evergreens be planted over time in the low land near the interstate for long-term visual and noise impact improvements. A comment on Sawyer Arena billboards—are these a revenue source?Yes, they are part of our annual revenue. Meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. � � GOC Minutes/ 1-25-05 / Page 3 __ _ ___ _ .__ _ _ _- _ _