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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-06-13 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee � June 13, 2001 Minutes Attendees: Councilors Farnham, Baldacci, Palmer; Barrett, Farrar, Hamer, Winslow, Campbell, Pinkham, Chalila, Bangor Water District Representatives Rogalski, Reed, Pittus, Sturgeon, Wellington Committee Chair Farnham convened the meeting at 5:05 p.m. 1. Quarterly Update — Bangor Water District The Water District representatives reviewed the following: • Dedication of Plaque at Thomas Hill Standpipe • District's 11t" Annual Open House • Deregulation of Consumer Owned Water Utilities • District's 2001 Rate Case It has been five years since the District's last rate increase. The District is seeking an overall increase in revenues of 16.2%. Individual notices have been sent to • each customer. Also, there has been newspaper coverage, and a public hearing held. The increased revenue structure is weighted toward larger commercial industrial users. Customers using a minimum amount of water will see no change; just over the minimum amount, a 30-cent increase per quarter. The average user will see an approximate $3.26 every three months. The District has implemented the cost associated with private fire protection. The Cost of Service Study has indicated that sprinkler systems should pay a larger portion of the cost and historically they have been. The last time it was not included as private fire protection as it was an issue before the Legislature and the PUC. The rate increase is needed due to 5�/z years of inflation, 4�/2% loss due to the closing of HoltraChem, 1�h% due to other reductions in revenue, more dollars were invested in water shed protection, purchase of land, electrical and fuel oil costs. The rate increase will be phased in effective ]uly 13 and not fully implemented until mid-October. The District does not expect another increase until 2004. 2. Citizen Concerns— Failure to Clean-up After pog Farrar had previously provided the Committee with a memo outlining the nature of the complaint as well as explaining the City's ordinance which requires owners to clean up after their pets in City parks. No such ordinance exists to regulate other private or other public property. Due to limited manpower and other duties, the Police • Department is concerned that another ordinance on the books would not be a solution. • As a starting point for discussion, staff presented three options for the Committee's consideration: a. Handouts would be prepared and distributed during annual licensing by the City Clerk alerting and notifying dog owners of their responsibility and duty to clean-up after their dog in all situations and locations. b. Periodic reminders on the government channel and the City's web site regarding dog owners' responsibilities, including clean-up. c. Amending the current City ordinance to include public property in addition to parks as areas subject to enforcement should dog owners not clean-up. Hamer drafted a possible amendment to the Code which would prohibit leaving dog waste on city owned properly, which reads: "No person shall fail to immediately remove and lawful dispose of any feces left in any street, sidewalk, esplanade or public place or City owned property by a dog owned by such person or under his or her control. This regulation shall not apply to a dog accompanying any handicapped person who by reason of his or her handicap is physically unable to comply with the requirements of this subsection." This option would be in addition to the current ordinance provision relating only to Parks. Kirk Maasch at 68 Montgomery Street stated that he felt it makes no sense to not have a law because staff feels it might be enforced. Handouts and websites are good tools as reminders. He strongly favored adding the amendment as presented by � Hamer, and he felt that the police department does its best to enforce all of the laws. Farnham asked if it were possible to have a citizen enforcement of this law. Hamer said it is not a situation where a citizen can come in to file a complaint that would result in a summons. It might result in the Animal Control Officer notifying the citizen of the complaint and issuing a reminder of the law. Mary Glyns on Husson Avenue related incidents she has witnessed in Broadway Park. Councilor Palmer joined the committee at this time. Philip Marston at 60 Montgomery Street spoke about the little difFerence between littering garbage versus dog waste. He agreed with adding an amendment to the Ordinance. Mary Long indicated she had called the City of Brewer and found they have an ordinance which instructs one to contact the animal control officer; Ellsworth does not have an ordinance; Bar Harbor has an ordinance which has been amended to include animal and fowl and states that a violation of this ordinance shall be punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed $50 for each occurrence. Hamer said there is a penalty � provision in Bangor's ordinance in a different portion of the chapter. • Baldacci asked if language could be added to include"for the public or any privately owned property." Hamer said he would check into it but his personal thought is that it would be unmanagable. Baldacci felt the ordinance amendment should be presented to the Council. Barrett felt adding private property would put the City in the middle of neighborhood disputes. Baldacci made a motion, which was seconded, that the proposed language prepared by Hamer by placed on the ]une 25th agenda for first reading and directed staff to look into adding private property in the language as well. The first reading will take place at the June 25th Council meeting, with a second reading on July 9t". If adopted by Council, Farnham suggested that the handouts and announcements read that"the law has changed." Winslow said that the Police Department could issue criminal trespass warnings for citizens who bring their dogs onto neighbor's property. He stressed that this law applies to a person, not animals on a lease that roam onto another's property. 3. Taxicab Regulations At the last Committee meeting, staff was directed to look at three separate issues. 1. Limitation of Number of Taxicab Licenses. Hamer met with taxicab drivers and it was determined not to change the ordinance to limit the number of taxicabs. � 2. Taxicab Vehicle Standards. After meeting with the cab drivers, the drivers felt that some of the proposed standards presented by Hamer were intrusive and cost prohibitive. Baldacci asked if the cab drivers had recommendations and Hamer indicated their concerns focused on the enforcement of unlicensed cabs. 3. Unlicensed Taxicabs. Apparently there are a number of cabs at the airport without proper license to operate in Bangor. It is only legal if it is an out-of-town cab. It doesn't require an ordinance amendment but stricter enforcement. Barrett said the cab license is displayed only inside of the cab. He suggested a form of exterior identification on the cab indicating it has a City of Bangor license and the possibility of licensing cabs to operate at BIA. Staff also discussed stricter enforcement by Airport personnel. Baldacci asked if certain standards could be tied to Airport cabs. One cab driver suggested an inspection of cabs two times annually suggesting cabs be taken to the City's Motor Pool department for inspection. Winslow said the cabs are inspected for cleanliness, condition, etc. at the time of licensing/relicensing. Winslow said that his department relies on the State Certified Inspection sticker. Mechanically speaking, he has no one on stafF qualified. Approximately 72 licenses are reissued annually. Barrett suggested amending the ordinance requiring all licensed taxicabs have inspection stickers that have been issued within six months rather than one year. One taxicab operator suggested thirty days prior to the date of licensing or renewal. Campbell asked what would happen if a company adds a vehicle during the year. It was suggested that the cab license plate number and the VIN number appear on any city � decal to be displayed on the exterior of the cab. Winslow suggested the VIN number � only. Barrett suggested the type of decal that cannot be removed without damaging them to avoid transfer to another vehicle. Regarding the decals, Campbell questioned the price as well as where the decals would be issued. Another cab driver expressed his approval of an identification sticker as well as a sticker for BIA and also suggested a 10 year cap on vehicle age to eliminate older cab vehicles. Appearance standards are an important issue. The Committee and taxicab representatives reached a consensus which supports a City decal, possible support to adding some standards to the current list in the ordinance, the thirty day State inspection prior to the licensing/relicensing. 4. Police K-9 Retirement Request Committee concurred with staff recommendation to retire Nerry, the 7 1/3 year old police canine, and to relinquish ownership to Officer Libby. The City had owned the dog. 5. Various Health and Welfare Related Rental Rates • Park Woods has not seen a rate increase since its inception 6 years ago. Chalila recommended an increase for the 3-4 bedroom units of$25/month to cover for electrical/heating increased costs. � • CHCS, ARC and City Shelters also lease space at Park Woods and Chalila suggested these rates should be increased by increased by $30/month. Committee approved the rate increases to be effective August 1, 2001. 6. Rental Rates at Sawyer Arena Comeau indicated he would like to raise the rates at Sawyer Arena from $145/hour to $155/hour. The first increase since 1993 took place last year at an additional $5/hour. He anticipates rate increases on a near annual basis in the future in order to break even. At a recent budget workshop session, a question was raised as to whether Bangor residents could receive a special rental rate. Comeau said that Bangor High School currents receives 1�h hours of free ice time for every hour rented that reciprocates for Parks and Recreation's use of two schools every day during the school year for the AfteRec Program, one gym during the winter months, and one school for a summer day camp. Currently $10 of the Bangor Youth Hockey's rental fee goes toward their debt. Committee approved the rate increase with the stipulation that Bangor Youth Hockey rates to not increase. Farnham asked that Comeau update the Committee by a memo on the rate structures of all parks and recreation facilities. With no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at � 6:05 p.m.