Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-06-12 Government Operations Committee Minutes � GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES 7une 12, 2002 Councilors Present: Anne Allen, Nichi Farnham Staff Present: Ed Barrett, Bob Farrar, Don Winslow, Norm Heitmann, Sgt. Hodges Other Present: Rebecca Henry, Peter Allen, Channel , Courtney Collins Councilor Allen convened the meeting at 5:00 p.m. 1. 7umpstart Program Presentation. Courtney Collins is the Youth Program's Administrator for the YMCA, Sgt. Mark Hathaway is assigned to the Detective Division, and between the two of them they oversee the program. Collins provided an update of this successful i program. Jumpstart is a collaborative efFort between the two agencies and it is an alternative to court for first time juvenile ofFenders involved in non-violent crimes. Collins stated that the program is three years old, and they have put over 300 youth through the program, with a 95% success rate. This is an eight- week program with referrals from the Department of Corrections or the Bangor Police Department. The program is for the youth ages 12-17 to keep their decision making skills, to learn more about themselves and receive guidance for the future. Collins shared a story about a youth in the program and how much he has grown with the help of his mentor. Collins said each parent signs a contract so that they must come to parents' night in the seventh week, so that they can foster better relationships with their children. If youth graduate this program they are introduced to the Police Athletic League, and invited to join it, and are given a free 1 year membership to the Bangor YMCA. Collins said that almost every single youth uses this on a daily basis, and has a positive influence on their life. She noted that the caseload at Department of Corrections has dropped 30%, so that they are able to focus more time on high-risk offenders versus the first time non-violent juvenile ofFenders. The Bangor Police Department has been doing a great job with referrals and follow-ups, coming to the graduations, showing that • extra mentor role model to these youth. • Winslow said very few, if any are repeat offenders. This holds them accountable, yet doesn't mark them for life for making a poor choice. He said that the YMCA has been great to work with. Hodges said that in April, BPD arrested 33 youth, and 17 were first ofFenders, and 15 of these went to Jumpstart. He said that there is a list of criteria that must be met for youth to be referred to the program. The youth are required to come in 4 times in a two-month period to meet with a police officer. Ninety percent of first time offenders commit shoplifting. Farnham commented that it would be nice to have a proactive program to reach youth before crimes are committed. Collins said that they are trying to start a preventative ]umpstart program, however funds are very limited. Winslow said that PAL and POPs program are for kids who have not offended. Collins said high-risk youth are referred to professional counselors to get the � type of care that they need. The Committee thanked Collins and Hathaway for the update and work with this successful program. 2. Request to Limit/Eliminate Smoking in or around Park Playground Areas. Councilor Allen recently received a request for the City to consider limiting or eliminating smoking around playground areas used by children. Rebecca Henry expressed her concern about adults smoking cigarettes when she takes her two small children to the City's various playgrounds. She noted that for cigarette smokers, it's a choice for them, and they are able to move to another area to smoke, however, children can not move the playground. Heitmann said that the parks and playgrounds are City owned and therefore we could adopt a policy regarding smoking, however he cautioned the committee to consider the following: in certain parks the playground area is just a small part of the park, as in Broadway Park, and sidewalks run very close to the playground area, so consideration would need to be given on how you would limit the smoking and enforce it. � � Henry said that she knows of 4 communities in Maine that have adopted similar resolutions, Bath since 1996, Ellsworth a recent ordinance, and Skowhegan and Brunswick have had resolutions. Farnham asked if this was an idea to put a sign by the playground and have citizens enforce the policy, because she doesn't see the police out enforcing this. Barrett proposed contacting the other communities and getting copies of what they have done as a starting point. Henry noted that some opposition might come from adopting a no smoking policy outdoors, when it is obvious that smoking is allowed in City Hall, due to the odor. Heitmann pointed out that by state law, smoking is prohibited in public buildings, however, we do have a non-public designated smoking room for employees. Barrett said that he would like to take a look at all the signs posted in the parks and make one designated area for signs. 3. Council Order 02-209. Amending Schedule VI, Article III of the Code of � the City of Bangor- Parking Limited to Handicapped —Thirteenth Street This Order adds a second handicapped space in front of the Fairmount Boarding Home. At a previous meeting, there was objection from a nearby business and both parties were notified and invited to attend. Hodges said that Fairmount's request to have two spaces in order to accommodate their bus, and private vehicles, conflicts with the amount of parking available up to the corner of Hammond St. where Allen Insurance is. The Boarding Home did not send a representative to the meeting. Peter Allen said that he has been on the corner of Allen and Thirteenth for 20 years, and we have always had problems with parking, especially in winter. He said that he didn't think the boarding home needed an additional parking space, because literally they park their cars in the one handicapped space all day. He says that he and his employees park far away to keep spaces up close for customers. The person that owns the van in the boarding home, parks in the space all day. Allen said that he has had the police and code enforcement come to the boarding home for parking violations, because they utilize the one space in front of his office. He noted that there is no ramp for handicapped people to • access, and noone who works there is handicapped. � Barrett said that by federal law, we are required to have some handicapped parking on the street. Since the Boarding Home did not send someone, Barrett recommended that we formalize the one handicapped space that is there. Allen asked about the blue paint that is supposed to be in the handicapped spot and the paint for his no parking zone. Barrett said that this year's painting has not been completed due to weather conditions. Winslow noted that you do not need to be confined to a wheelchair to get a placard. There are other health issues such as cardiac care, where the handicap is not visible. , A motion was made to amend the order for one space and go to full council on June 24tn 4. Proposed Government Channel Policy. Barrett said this proposed policy has been prepared to govern the operation of the City's Government Channel. The intent of the policy is to clarify the purposes and uses of the channel and to provide guidelines regarding the type of � programming which is permitted. The policy is to get information out to the public about City services and programs. Community bulletin boards are for agencies sponsored by the City. Outside resource programs are included, because sometimes the City gets things from the federal and state government, and programming created by someone else that relates to what we are doing. The alternative for the public is to utilize the public access channel. Our coordinator is AI Douglas, who is coordinating the station, and this policy outlines his duties and responsibilities. The policy was recommended to full council. With no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m. � _