Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-27 09-142 ORDERCOUNCIL ACTION Item No. 09 142 Date: 4-27-2009 Item/Subject: Order, Authorizing Application for an AmeriCorps NCCC Team for Stormwater- Related Work Responsible Department: Legal Commentary: AmeriCorps is a national community service organization funded and run by the federal government. Participants perform a variety of community service projects throughout the nation. The National Civilian Community Corps is an AmeriCorps program in which projects are performed by teams of eight to twelve members between 18 and 24 years old. City staff is exploring having an NCCC team come to Bangor for one to two months this summer in order to do stormwater-related work in and around City streams. Projects would include bank stabilization and plantings, stream surveys and monitoring, and the reconstruction of a washed- out portion of the Kenduskeag Stream trail. The City would be responsible for housing and supervising the Corps Members. The City has submitted the attached proposal concept form to AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps approved the concept form early this month and asked the City to submit a full application. The deadline for the application is May 8. The Infrastructure Committee has reviewed and recommends proceeding with the application process. Manager's Comments: Associated Information: Budget Approval: Legal Approval: Introduced for X Passage First Reading Referral Department Head City Manager Finance Director Page _of_ City Solicitor A 142 Assigned to Councilor Gratwick April 27, 2009 CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) ORDER, Authorizing Application for an AmeriCorps NCCC Team for Stormwater- Related Work WHEREAS, several Bangor streams are listed as urban impaired streams by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and others may soon be added to the list; and WHEREAS, federally funded AmeriCorps NCCC teams of young men and women undertake service projects in communities across the nation, including work protecting our environment; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it will be beneficial to bring an AmeriCorps team to Bangor for stormwater-related work in the City's urban impaired streams; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR THAT City staff is directed to submit an application to AmeriCorps NCCC for a team to do stormwater- related work in Bangor's streams between July and September of 2009. IN CITY COUNCIL April 27, 2009 Pas TY CLERK "# 09-142 O R D E R (TITLE,) Authorizing Application for an Americorp MCC Team for Stormwater Related Work Assigned to Councilor 339 :14? AmeriCorps NCCC Service Project Concept Form 1. Organization Name: City of Bangor Organization Representative: Wendy Warren, Environmental Coordinator Mailing Address: City Hall, 73 Harlow Street, Bangor, Maine 04401 Telephone: (207) 992-4255 Fax: (207) 945-4446 Website: www.bangormaine.gov 2. Provide a brief description of your organization's mission. The City of Bangor's mission, in part, is to be stewards of the environment. The City and all of its streams and tributaries are located on the Penobscot River, a tidal river designated as critical habitat for the restoration of the endangered Atlantic Salmon. An important part of maintaining this habitat, and one of our greatest environmental stewardship challenges, is managing the pollution, sedimentation, and other adverse effects caused by stormwater runoff in our streams and rivers. Stormwater management activities include infrastructure improvement, in -stream improvements, policy changes, and procedural improvements, all geared toward increasing the health of our waterways. The planned water quality improvement efforts will support the recovery of the salmon and make our rivers and streams healthier places to swim, fish, and recreate. 3. Provide a brief description about the service activities for which your organization is requesting a NCCC team. Please conclude your statement with the desired outcome expect from the involvement of NCCC. The City of Bangor proposes to engage an NCCC team to improve water quality on tributaries draining to the Penobscot River through stormwater projects, including: 1) stream surveys including in -stream water quality analysis; 2) in -stream restoration activities, such as planting vegetation; 3) modification of existing drainage systems into subsurface filtration wetlands, including the placement of gabion baskets, filter berms, rock materials, and plantings; 4) installation of rain gardens to filter stormwater runoff; and 51 eradication of invasive non-native vegetation. These projects will significantly reduce pollutants and sediment and improve macroinvertebrate habitat in several critical areas that drain to the Penobscot River. 1 4 2 4. Provide the address where the service activities will take place if different from the organization acfdi`e'ss above. Variable, but all within 10 miles of the organization address (City Hall). 5. Check the box for the primary issue area that the project will address. X Environment 6. How many weeks will it take a team of 8 to 12 members working full-time to complete this project? We are flexible, but would like to have a team for approximately 8 weeks. Proposed Beginning Date: July 2009 Proposed End Date: September 2009 7. Check the appropriate description of your organization: Local municipality working in collaboration with community nonprofits and educational institutions. 8. Have you worked with a NCCC team previously? Although the City of Bangor has never hosted a NCCC team, one of our staff members who has been an integral part of the design of this project was a former NCCC Corps member in Class VIII Western Region. 9. How did you find out about the NCCC? From our NCCC alumni staff member. a _��36Z� wk4-t - February 5, 2009 Edward Barrett, City Manager Date