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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-07-08 Government Operations Committee Minutes GovOps ep.csi`��yF:;r�rr; � c "` CITY oF BANGOR Government Operations Committee Monday, July 8, 2024 (rescheduled from 7/1/24) Minutes Committee:Yacoubagha (Committee Chair), Fish, Hawes, Schaefer, and Tremble Non-Committee: Pelletier, Leonard, Fournier Staff: Mark Hathaway,Anja Collette, Courtney O'Donnell,Jason McAmbley Opened at 5:45 pm. 1. Authorizing the City Manager to Accept and Appropriate $1,231,588 in McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Assistant City Manager (ACM) O'Donnell gave an overview of this item. It funds a long- standing program administered by the Public Health Department referred to as Shelter Plus Care that helps homeless individuals and families find housing and supports to remain stably housed. A motion to recommend to full Council was made by Councilor Tremble, seconded by Councilor Schaefer, all in favor. 2. Climate Energy Efficiency&Conservation Block Grant Funding Update Anja Collette, Planning Officer, gave an update on this item from the last time it went before the committee. The City has been informed that the funds can't use it on e-bikes as originally chosen. Instead, staff is recommending a plan for EV charging, in line with a recommendation from the climate action plan. Also, a portion could be used to purchase an electric vehicle for staff use by various departments to attend conference and other municipal use. Staff will still search for ways to potentially fund the e-bicycle proposal originally brought forward. The amount of this funding is approximately 75k. Councilor Leonard inquired as to the reasons why was bicycle funding rejected. Anja replied that the DOE, responsible for administering the funds stated that it wouldn't result in a direct reduction of emissions. Councilor Trembled inquired about putting an EV charging station near City Hall for municipal use while construction was ongoing. A motion to recommend staff recommendation to full Council was made by Councilor Schaefer, seconded by Councilor Tremble, all in favor. 3. Proposal to Implement a Fee for EV charging ep.csi`��yF:;r�rr; � c "` CITY oF BANGOR Anja Collette provided an overview and history of this item. Back when chargers were being installed in Abbot and Pickering Square parking lots, EVs just becoming more popular with more access being installed around the state, so the thought was to originally keep them free to user to see how it went and to incentive it and then to return at a later point to transition to charging. We've seen an uptick in usage and staff is now propose to pass the cost of the electricity onto the user through a fee that would include a 50 cent charge for networking per charge to cover the yearly cost. Staff recommend giving a months' notice. In response to a question, staff stated it would cost on average between $9 - $20 to fully charge from low. Council Tremble shared his support charging for fees and asked about charging at the airport. It was discussed that there are currently no chargers at the airport specifically, but there are fast chargers nearby. There was some discussion about whether or not to charge for charging and parking, depending on the location of the charger. A motion to recommend staff recommendation to full Council was made by Councilor Schaefer, seconded by Councilor Tremble, all in favor. 4. Ordinance: Penjajawoc Marsh/Bangor Mall Management Commission Quorum Update ACM 0'Donnell reminded the committee that the related ordinance was recently updated to reduce the total number of inembers, along with other committees as part of a review. However, the amount for a quorum was overlooked. This update will correct that to reflect 4 out of 7 members is a quorum. A motion to recommend to full Council was made by Councilor Hawes, seconded by Council Schaefer, all in favor. 5. Bangor Community Action Team (BCAT) Update Police Chief Hathaway and Sgt. McAmbley provided an overview of the BCAT program. It was brought forward as an alternative to responding to calls better served by a non-police response. BCAT was a new program developed to help address certain calls and alleviate response based on a couple different models across the country. Chief Hathaway shared that he believes it has had a positive response by having this alternative response and that the Officers are appreciative of it. In response to a question, Chief explained that the program transitioned from the Public Health department to PD after its first year. Sgt. McAmbley shared that they've responded to about 866 calls in total. Calls include welfare checks, vagrancy, etc. They've also supported returning of folks to places of housing/support that is confirmed. They receive significant training to ensure their own ep.csi`��yF:;r�rr; � c "` CITY oF BANGOR protection and response is appropriate. Councilor Schaefer mentioned a story around the good work that BCAT does and thinks it should be highlighted. 6. Executive Session 1 M.R.S. Sec. 405(6)(E)—consultation with attorney concerning pending litigation A motion was made to approve staff recommendation of settlement by Councilor Schaefer, seconded by Councilor Tremble—all in favor.