Bangor Infrastructure Committee reviews urban forest plan, stormwater training, and snow removal

The Bangor Infrastructure Committee received updates on the development of the Urban Forest Management Plan, including a new resident survey and a response strategy for red pine scale. Staff also provided training on the city's MS4 stormwater permit requirements and discussed the current sidewalk snow removal priority system.

Key points

• Staff presented a revised resident survey for the Urban Forest Management Plan, which will be distributed digitally and in hard copy to gather input on tree care and operations.
• The city is developing a management plan for five city-owned parcels totaling 36 acres of pure red pine plantations to address the threat of red pine scale, an insect with no commercially viable remedy.
• A motion was made to submit the Conjuncto Extreme Watershed Planning plan to the Maine DEP, which will allow the city to apply for Section 319 Clean Water Act funding in future cycles.
• Stormwater Manager Richard Mayer provided training on the MS4 permit, covering minimum control measures such as public education, illicit discharge detection, and construction site runoff control.
• A new sidewalk snow removal coordinator explained the priority system for clearing 70 miles of sidewalks, noting that priority levels are determined by sector and that the city is working to make these maps more accessible to residents.
• Councilor Joseph Leonard expressed concern that there are no ordinances compelling private participation in snow removal, leading to children walking in streets when sidewalks are not cleared.

Next steps

• Distribute the revised Urban Forest Management Plan survey to residents via Microsoft Forms and hard copies.
• Identify and manage pure red pine plantations and source a timber harvesting contractor for stand management.
• Submit the Conjuncto Extreme Watershed Planning plan to the Maine DEP for approval.
• Develop and publish user-friendly maps of sidewalk snow removal priorities on the city website.

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