HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-09 09-072 ORDERCOUNCIL ACTION
Item No. 09 072
Date: 02-09-2009
Item/Subject: Order, Authorizing the City Engineer to Develop a Mooring Plan for Bangor
Harbor and to Explore the Feasibility of Implementing such a Plan Under the
City's 1990 Permit from the United States Corps of Engineers.
Responsible Department: Engineering
Commentary:
The Harbor Committee has as a goal increasing the use of Bangor Harbor by visiting boats. It
has recommended that moorings be placed in the river as one strategy to meet this goal.
However, the presence of the federal navigation channel, which covers a significant portion of
the River's width at Bangor Harbor, limits the potential locations for such moorings to an area
unsuitable for many vessels.
During the period in which commercial vessels were absent from this stretch of the river,
moorings were allowed within the navigation channel. With the return of cruise ships to Bangor,
this is no longer permitted. The Harbor Committee has recommended that discussions take
place with the City of Brewer, which shares our harbor, and the Corps of Engineers to determine
if there is a way that moorings could be located elsewhere within the harbor while insuring the
safety of current commercial operations and whether such an option might be possible under the
City's existing 1990 permit.
The attached Order would authorize the City Engineer to develop a mooring plan based on safe
operation of current commercial vessels and to discuss this plan with the Brewer and the Corps.
Department Head
Manager's Comments:
This recommendation of the Harbor Committee has been discussed by the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee, which recommended that this order be drafted and forwarded to
Council with a recommendation to approve. 4.a6. �6&
City Manager
Associated Information:
Budget Approval:
Legal Approval:
Introduced for
X Passage
First Reading
Referral
Page _of_
Finance Director
Solicitor
09 0'74'
Assigned to Councilor Hawes February 9, 2009
CITY OF BANGOR
(TME.) Order, Authorizing the City Engineer to Develop a Mooring Plan for Bangor Harbor
and to Explore the Feasibility of Implementing such a Plan Under the City`s 1990
Permit from the United States Corps of Engineers.
WHEREAS, the Federal Navigation Channel in the Penobscot River extends downstream from
the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge; and
WHEREAS, in the area of Bangor Harbor, the Channel encompasses virtually the entire width
of the River; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the City`s 1990 permit, moorings were allowed within the
navigation channel during extended periods in which commercial traffic was not
making use of the segment of the River adjacent to Bangor Harbor; and
WHEREAS, in recent years, commercial cruise vessels have used Bangor Harbor as a port of
call and home port, thus signaling the return of commercial traffic to the River and
limiting the areas where moorings can be placed; and
WHEREAS, given water depths adjacent to allowable mooring areas, these moorings are not
suitable for use by many pleasure vessels; and
WHEREAS, the City and its Harbor Committee are interested in expanding the use of Bangor
Harbor by visiting boats; and
WHEREAS, the lack of effective mooring locations adjacent to Bangor Harbor has limited the
success of efforts to attract visitors; and
WHEREAS, given the width of the channel and the docking locations of commercial vessels as
well as their maneuverability, commercial traffic can easily accommodate carefully
located moorings; and
WHEREAS, the Bangor City Council and the Bangor Harbor Committee desire to explore with
the City of Brewer and the United States Corps of Engineers a proposal to place
moorings in locations that will not compromise the needs of commercial
navigation; and
WHEREAS, as a part of this effort, the City wishes to explore whether it is possible to
implement such a plan under the 1990 permit;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE CTfY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR THAT
The City Engineer is authorized to develop a plan for Bangor Harbor that will place moorings
in locations that will not compromise the needs of commercial navigation, to review and
discuss this plan with the City of Brewer and the United States Corps of Engineers, and to
explore whether such a plan can be implemented under the City's 1990 permit.
IN CITY COUNCIL
February 9, 2009
Motion Made and Seconded
for Passage
Passed
s DEPUTY CITY CLERK
O R D E R
(TITLE,) Authorizing the City Engineer to
Develop a Mooring Plan for Bangor Harbor
and to Exglore the Feasibllity of
Implementing such a Plan Under the City'
1990 Permit from tbP Unired States
Corps of Engineers
Assigned to Councilor