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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-09-07 Municipal Operations Committee Minutes Municipal Operations Committee � Meeting Minutes September 7, 1999 Councilors Attending: John Rohman, Gerry Palmer, Pat Blanchette, Nichi Farnham Staff Attending: Bob Farrar, Norm Heitmann, John Hamer, Frank Comeau, Don Winslow, Arthur Stockus, Sally Burgess, S. ]ordan - D.T. Police Officer, )im Ring Others Attending: Don Dickel, Jack Donovan, Mark Berlin, Mark Torres, Paul Johnson (Downtown Group), Dawn Pelletier (BDN) Meeting convened at 5:00 p.m. 1. Banaor Center Corporation Safety and Security Committee Observations/Suqgestions • Sally explained that there are three major points that the Safety Committee wants to share with this Committee: a. First is the matter that precipitated the meeting is the subject of the anti-cruising ordinance. The BCC Safety Committee does support an ordinance such as this. b. Secondly, there is a list of behaviors which were identified that the Committee feels should be discouraged in downtown to promote commerce, tourism and a pleasant atmosphere. These included vagrancy, pan handling, profanity or confrontational language, loitering, littering, vandalism and excessive noise (vehicle or shouting). c. The third issue is that it does support the efForts of Bangor Parks and Recreation and Communities for Children, which is a part of Penquis Cap in their efforts to develop a skateboard park in Bangor. The BCC Board did endorse that concept of support. Mark Torres, representing the Penobscot Theater: The Penobscot Theater has two facilities on Main Street in downtown and 90% of their activities happen at night. Because of this, they have strong interest in the downtown atmosphere that discourages the above issues. Mr. Torres � pointed out that in his seven years working in the downtown area, he has � observed a lot of this kind of behavior, especially during the warm weather and the City should take a stance and begin to put together a plan for addressing these kinds of concerns. Councilor Rohman asked Mr. Torres if he has noticed a difFerence now as opposed to 3-4 years ago in certain areas? Mr. Torres answered that the obvious change is when the weather turns warm. In terms of year to year, 2 years ago seemed to be really terrible downtown at night. There has been some improvement but there is still a ways to go to get that good downtown atmosphere. Mark commented that they have had no serious break-ins and it really comes down to the quality of life issue. Don Dickel, Chair of the Committee and Resident of Downtown: Don explained that he lives on Main Street and would like to see people be able to walk down the street at night, especially the senior citizens. He feels the anti-cruising ordinance would help and pan handling should also be addressed. The Police presence at night has been noted and does help somewhat. Councilor Blanchette commented that she understands the need for enforcement, but how will it work within the budget structure? If an ordinance were enacted that included a supply of phones at the Bangor House and the Freese building that an individual could take with them � when they walk at night, would it benefit the residents and workers of downtown? This would be similar to the recent phones being given to domestic violence victims. It is impossible to put the number of police officers in downtown that would be needed to deal with these issues. Councilor Palmer suggested a storefront that had a police presence might be a deterrent. Norm Heitmann pointed out that with a panhandling ordinance there would be the First Amendment issue and enforcement issues. Don Winslow, Chief of Police: Don explained that the statistics put together were the most common types of problems in the downtown area. What has been seen is the same trend over a number of years. The nuisance-type calls are down somewhat, which is a good sign because there are more individuals living in the downtown area. The area bordered by Union, Hammond and Oak Streets receives the vast majority of calls in the City. Approximately 2,200 calls are received in a year. During the summer months, last year, there were 861. Don feels that the key to this issue is going to be a comprehensive approach. The Council appropriated money in a joint efFort to put some cameras at Pickering � Square, which will address that particular area. The parking garage is 2 going to have cameras inside. The camera at Pickering Square will be � monitored from the Police Department. These types of programs can be looked at for expanding to other areas. A frustrating issue for the Police Department is pan handling and vagrants because they don't have tools to work with and it is difficult to come up with an ordinance that is suitable and will meet the scrutiny of the Constitution. The Police Department is working on a collaborative effort with the Department of Mental Health Substance Abuse Services through Kathy Bubar, the Region III Director. They have committed to give the Police Department a mental health worker to ride along with the officers. This person will dedicate part of their time to meeting with downtown businesses to listen to their concerns. This is a person who will work directly with the Department. Brunswick and Waterville have this program in place and it has worked well. This will help predominantly with the panhandlers and the vagrants. Councilor Farnham asked if there were other tools that the Council could provide to help in this effort. Don answered that supporting the cruising ordinance would be very helpful. Don feels this ordinance is one they could dedicate some resources to because there will be an improvement if in place. � TAPE INAUDIBLE Paul Johnson, Birch Street resident: Mr. Johnson commented that the crowd that gathers in front of the Freese building and other areas of downtown presents to people that downtown is not a safe place to be late afternoon or evening. They are not a bad group of kids; it's just that they don't know what to do with themselves. Councilor Rohman commented that the Council needs to make sure that any ordinance will be effective in dealing with these issues. Sally Burgess commented that the Bangor Police Department is comprised of a great group of people who are people-oriented. They relate well to people of all walks of life. Sally suggested that as the Council considers what resources to give the Police Department to deal with downtown, they need to remember that there is more than one issue at stake. There is the crime issue and the public relations issue. In terms of budgeting in the future, the Council is encouraged to budget more for the Police Department. Councilor Rohman thanked everyone for his or her input and work on this issue. This Committee will continue to work toward solutions. Norm � 3 Heitmann is working on a Cruising Ordinance, which will come before this � Committee sometime in September. At that time, the BCC will be notified. 2. Cemetery Regulations These regulations were placed before the Committee in the Spring of 1999. The issue was tabled at that time. The review of the regulations and the changes has been completed and Assistant City Solicitor John Hamer has reviewed the proposed changes. Most of the changes were done to clean the rules up. They were originally adopted in the mid 70's and they haven't been looked at since them. The biggest change is that the sections have been numbered for easier reference and the types of lots that would be sold have been eliminated. A resident called the City Solicitor's office and was adamant about the City changing the rules requiring liners (steel or concrete liner that the casket is placed in). Staffs spoke with other communities and other funeral homes and were unable to find another cemetery that did not require grave liners. The biggest reason was grave maintenance. Without them, over time, the grave has a tendency to settle. Approved. 3. Maine Municipal Association Mail Ballot for 2000 Slate of Officers and � Voting Delegates Motion made, seconded and approved to cast the Ballot for 2000 MMA Slate of Officers as follows: Entire slate of officers as proposed except that Arnold ]. Gross, Town of Penobscot will be substituted for Sally Temm, Town of Scarborough under the 3-year term for Executive Committee members. Motion made, seconded and approved to nominate Council Michael Aube as the City's voting delegate at the Annual MMA business meeting. With no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m. � 4