Bangor committee backs fare hike, debates homeless encampment plan

The Government Operations Committee approved a motion to send a Community Connector fare increase and technology upgrade to the full council. The committee also reviewed a proposal for a transitional safe outdoor space for unsheltered residents, with councilors expressing support for the concept but requesting more data on costs and internal resources before making a decision.

Key points

• Committee voted to move a proposal to the full council to increase the Community Connector base fare from $1.50 to $2.00 and implement electronic ticketing.
• Staff estimated the one-time cost for the new fare technology at $130,000 to $170,000, noting that a grant will cover the initial hardware and software costs.
• Councilors discussed the lack of Saturday bus service, attributing it to a shortage of qualified CDL drivers rather than a lack of funding.
• The committee heard a presentation on a "Safe Outdoor Space" model for unsheltered individuals, which would provide basic amenities like water and electricity in a sanctioned location.
• Councilors raised concerns about the long-term costs of the outdoor space and the city's capacity to manage it, suggesting the council first assess its internal resources and existing partnerships.
• The committee decided to defer a final decision on the homeless advisory committee structure until a workshop session the following day to compare task force and standing committee options.

Next steps

• Full council to vote on the Community Connector fare increase and technology change.
• Staff to provide detailed cost estimates for the proposed safe outdoor space and current spending on encampment cleanups.
• Council to hold a workshop session to determine whether to establish a task force or a standing committee for housing and homelessness.

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