THE CITY OF AUGUSTA - City of Augusta, Maine
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THE CITY OF AUGUSTA
JARED J. MILLS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
MEMO
To: Susan Robertson
From: Jared J. Mills, Assistant City Manager/Police Chief
Date: April 6, 2022
Re: Hybrid Meetings Cost Update
Our team has been meeting with CTV-7 in order to implement policies, procedures and
equipment in order to make our Council, School Board and Planning Board meetings capable of
being hybrid. The good news is that our Information and Technology Department can provide
all of the necessary hardware and equipment needed for CTV 7 to make this happen. Before we
move forward, I wanted to make you aware there will be additional costs that were revealed to
me for the first time.
Yesterday CTV-7 made us aware, in the attached document, that in order to facilitate our hybrid
meetings they will need to add a staff member requiring an additional cost of $16,200 annually.
This cost is be beyond what our agreed upon payment is in our existing contract. CTV-7 will
annually add an addition 360 hours to our existing bank of hours to cover the cost of their
additional help.
The equipment needs, which are listed in the attached document, will come at a cost of $4001.44.
We will need to purchase a desktop computer that we do not already have in stock along with a
larger television monitor for the back wall. We will be able to use a laptop from our existing
stock as the Zoom Monitor, which will not come at an additional cost.
Since the total cost in order to move forward is going to be approximately $20,201.44 with future
annual costs increasing by $16,200 until our existing contract expires I wanted to make you
aware before we move any further in the implementation process.
CITY CENTER · 16 CONY STREET · AUGUSTA, MAINE 04330-5298 TELEPHONE (207) 626-2353 · FAX (207) 620-8174
MAYOR & COUNCIL EMAIL: council@augustamaine.gov
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER EMAIL: jared.mills@augustamaine.govCTV-7 Hybrid Meeting Equipment Needs Dell Precision Tower – This device is to the specifications which CTV-7 provided and reflects the best price our Dell Premier rep can offer. Dell Precision Laptop – Fred agreed to repurpose a surplus school laptop for meeting use. This device has good components and will be more than adequate for moderating Zoom meetings. Samsung 85” TV – It is significantly cheaper to purchase a TV as opposed to a large monitor. Cheaper options are available, but Samsung is a quality product and this TV has good customer ratings. It includes two HDMI inputs, a USB port, and a LAN port for networking. Some savings are possible by opting for a smaller monitor. Link to the Amazon page Dell Precision Tower 3660 $2,223.45 Dell Precision 7540 Laptop $0.00 Samsung 85” QLED TV $1,777.99 Total $4,001.44
Wow – what a challenge this past couple of years been for everyone. The pandemic has stretched us all
in ways we would never have imagined, but through it all the city staff and the team at DSM rose to
meet the challenge.
To meet this challenge, team DSM began to think out of the box to transition from our typical coverage
of CTV live in persons meetings to conform with the demands social distancing. Team DSM invested
hundreds of hours engineering, overtime, and consulting over that 2-year period to ensure that the
council could meet in a way that was a fluid as possible and our mission of government transparency
was made available to the public. We initially provided zoom conferencing in the beginning, transitioned
to social distancing with zoom from the Civic Center, then back to zoom and now we have implemented
hybrid meetings. We estimate Digital Spirit Media donated over $20,000 in services and equipment to
accomplish this mission.
To continue this service in the professional manner we have always brought to CTV-7, we have
estimated it will require that an additional 360hrs be added to the hour bank annually. Per our contract
with the City, we would bill the City at our discounted rate of $45/hr. in leu of regular rate of $100/hr.
In addition, we would ask the city to purchase the following equipment to continue to meet these new
demands.
Equipment needs for continued Hybrid meetings:
1 Desktop computer capable of multiple monitor outputs. At least an i7 Processor, 32 gig Ram,
500gig HDD or SSD, Windows 10 minimum.
1 Laptop for board appointed “Zoom Monitor” person for the strict use of monitoring zoom in
Chambers or the Lecture Hall.
1 Larger TV monitor in City Chambers located at the backwall. Zoom Display at LEAST 75” but
preferable 85”
As always, we thank you for the opportunity to serve the City of Augusta. We committed to provide the
same service of excellence that we have done over the past 11 years.
Team DSMCity of Augusta 2022 Goals –March 26 draft
A BROAD VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Thinking ahead, Councilors want to see an Augusta that is…
… Growing
Augusta will be a growing community, one that is recognized as being a great place to
live, work, and play.
Families will be attracted to live in Augusta because of its affordable housing, excellent
schools, and recreation opportunities.
People entering the workforce will be attracted to live in Augusta because employers,
schools, and the City will coordinate training opportunities with real-life job placements.
Entrepreneurs will be attracted to start their businesses in Augusta because of its rich
array of resources for small businesses, including UMA, SBA, DECD, the Capital Area
Technical Center, the Downtown Alliance, and the City of Augusta Development
Department.
Employers will be attracted to locate in Augusta because of its available land,
workforce, training resources, and quality of life.
Housing developers will be attracted to build homes and apartments in Augusta
because City policies will incentivize affordable housing.
… Works for people who live here
Augusta will be a fun city, with a recreation program that serves all ages and interests,
and arts and culture.
Augusta will be a compassionate city, with resources to help those who are homeless,
or who have a mental illness, or who have a substance abuse disorder, or who are
hungry.
Augusta will be a safe city, with a welcoming new police station, and a force trained to
be a model for community policing.
Augusta will be a vibrant and inclusive community, with active participation of all groups
in civic decisions.
Augusta will be an environmental leader, the “greenest city in Maine,” with high-quality
public transportation.
1City of Augusta 2022 Goals –March 26 draft
2022 GOALS
The following goals are the outcome of the February 26, 2022 City Council retreat.
Priority strategies and actions are divided into three categories. Category A
(Unanimous Major Priorities) were voted as a major priority by all 8 Councilors and the
Mayor at the retreat. Category B (Unanimous Priorities) were goals and/or actions
voted as either a major or minor priority by all 8 Councilors and the Mayor. There are 8
Category 8 goals, and 9 Category B goals. Then there are 19 Category C goals –
goals and/or actions that were a major goal for at least one retreat participant. Within
each category, strategies are listed in order of the major priority votes. The vote totals
are listed after each goal or action. In some cases, the action was not voted on
individually, but was part of a larger goal; in these cases, no vote total is attached.
A. UNANIMOUS MAJOR PRIORITIES
(RECEIVED A VOTE OF MAJOR PRIORITY FROM ALL 9 PARTICIPANTS)
A1. Promote Affordable Housing for all income levels (9 major)
This goal is complex and will require a whole suite of actions in partnership with
state government, private developers, and nonprofit agencies.
New Initiatives
A1 (a). Create a housing plan for the unhoused before next winter (9 major).
A1 (b). Create a Task Force to hold a forum to solicit the views of housing
partners in Augusta and submit a strategy to the City Council for housing
available for all levels of income (8 major, 1 minor).
A1 (c). Consider a short-term rental ordinance to control the conversion of
year-round housing into tourist units.
Continuation of current efforts
A1 (d). Establish and maintain a low-barrier homeless shelter (8 major, 1
minor).
A1 (e) Identify and implement zoning changes to make affordable housing
less expensive to develop in Augusta (8 major, 1 minor). Examples of
zoning changes include allowing manufactured housing, tiny housing, accessory
dwellings, and other less expensive options in more areas.
A1 (f). Provide financial incentives for housing development such as TIFs,
land bank properties (or Hussey School) at low or no cost, and
infrastructure extensions (8 major, 1 minor).
A2. Make Augusta a Recovery-ready community (9 major)
2City of Augusta 2022 Goals –March 26 draft
New Initiatives
A2 (a). Invite the Substance Abuse Task Force to make recommendations
to the City Council on the use of Opioid Settlement funds (8 major, 1
minor).
A2 (b). Hold a Council informational meeting about the proposed crisis
center with 130 beds at the old veteran’s home for mental health and
substance abuse care. After the meeting, consider a Council resolution in
support of the proposal (8 major).
Continuation of existing efforts
A2 (c). Continue to support the efforts of the Substance Abuse Task Force
to attract resources and services from outside funding sources (6 major, 3
minor). The Task Force has reported to the Council on January 21, 2022, with
17 recommended strategies, of which 7 are a priority.
A3. Support the Revitalization of Sand Hill and Lower Water Street (9
major)
New Initiatives
A3 (a). Begin to implement the recommendations of the Sand Hill/Lower
Water Street Task Force when they present their report this summer (9
major).
The Sand Hill/Lower Water Street Task Force was formed in 2021 to study how
to revitalize the proud home of Franco-American immigrants to central Maine.
The Task Force will report its recommendations to the Council in June. The
options under consideration include:
• Extend the historic district from downtown up to Sand Hill, so that property
owners can take advantage of historic tax credits in rehabilitation projects
(4 major, 3 moderate).
• Identify buildings that are dangerous and not up to code. Either require
the owners to rehabilitate or acquire the buildings for the City’s land bank.
• Level the Apgar building on Water Street.
• Provide grants and low-cost loans to bring properties back, through grants
like the Community Development Block Grant program.
• Clear out vegetation so residents can see and access the Kennebec
River.
• Hire a project manager and facilitator, as the Downtown Alliance has
done.
A4. Continue momentum on important projects
Continuation of existing efforts
A4 (a). Adopt the Comprehensive Plan (9 major).
A4 (b). Build the new police station (9 major).
3City of Augusta 2022 Goals –March 26 draft
B. UNANIMOUS PRIORITIES
(RECEIVED A VOTE OF MAJOR OR MINOR PRIORITY FROM ALL 9
PARTICIPANTS – RANKED IN ORDER OF MAJOR SUPPORT)
B1. Actively promote economic development (8 major, 1 minor)
Continuation of existing efforts
B1 (a). Reach out to investors (7 major, 2 minor) to promote:
• Arsenal redevelopment
• Redevelopment of strip malls and underused spaces (5 major, 4 minor)
• River sites (5 major, 1 minor)
• Marina on the west side (3 major, 4 minor)
• Entrepreneurship – City as a small business “service center” (2 major, 6
minor)
• Residential projects.
B2. Make city operations more efficient
New initiative
B2 (a). Conduct a staff audit of 3 departments/bureaus (8 major, 1 minor).
• This includes the Development Services and Community Services
Departments, and the Code Enforcement Bureau.
B3. Help public-facing staff deal with mental health issues.
New initiatives
B3 (a). Train staff in suicide prevention (8 major, 1 minor)
B3 (b). Train staff in behavioral health issues (6 major, 3 minor)
B4. Solve Hatch Hill issues (8 major, 1 minor).
Continuation of existing efforts
B4 (a). Solve issues both long and short term.
B5. Extend utilities to the east side (7 major, 2 minor)
Continuation of existing efforts
B5 (a). Look for opportunities to extent water and sewer, broadband and
road improvements, to Riggs Brook and other locations on the east side.
B6. Improve intra-city public transportation (7 major, 2 minor)
Continuation of existing efforts
B6 (a) Look for opportunities to connect the hospital, airport, capitol
building, downtown, mall, and hotels.
4City of Augusta 2022 Goals –March 26 draft
B7. Improve pedestrian safety (6 major, 3 minor)
Continuation of existing efforts
B7 (a). Be proactive in implementing existing plan for street crossing,
traffic light, and sidewalk improvements.
B8. Extend broadband services (5 major, 4 minor)
Continuation of existing efforts
B8 (a). Apply for grants to extend service, particularly to the east side.
B9. Improve signage for branding and parking (1 major, 9 moderate)
New initiative
B9 (a). Create a new plan for signage.
C. OTHER PRIORITIES
(RECEIVED MAJOR PRIORITY VOTES FROM SOME CITY COUNCILORS –
RANKED IN ORDER OF MAJOR SUPPORT)
C1. Raise the education level of residents (8 major)
Continuation of existing efforts
C1 (a). Support School Board efforts to improve education.
C2. Work with School Board on Hussey School replacement (6 major,
2 minor)
New initiative
C2 (a). Consider consolidating schools as part of process.
C2 (b). Look at the reuse of the buildings and land for housing.
C3. Repair the parking garage (6 major, 1 minor)
Continuation of existing efforts
C3 (a). Fix the top floor.
C4. Improve citizen communications
New initiatives
C4 (a). Enable hybrid meeting participation in meetings (5 major, 3 minor).
C4 (b). Review the existing committee structure and be sure citizens are
engaged (5 major, 1 minor).
C4 (c). Implement a remote policy for council meetings (3 major, 1 minor).
C5. Engage with nonprofit organizations
New initiatives
C5 (a). Partner with nonprofits to achieve City goals (5 major, 1 minor).
5City of Augusta 2022 Goals –March 26 draft
This includes ideas like giving city employees comp time to volunteer at
nonprofits.
C5 (b). Write to nonprofits and encourage them to make payments in lieu
of taxes (PILOTs) (4 major, 4 minor).
C6. Complete the recreation plan (4 major, 4 minor)
Continuation of existing efforts
C6 (a). Hold hearings in the spring and complete plan this year.
C7. Actively address food insecurity (4 major, 3 minor)
Continuation of existing efforts
C7 (a). Apply for farm-school, Schumacher, nutrition-incentive grants in
partnership with local schools and nonprofits.
C8. Participate in statewide passenger rail study (4 major, 2 minor)
New initiative
C8 (a). Contribute $5,000 to MDOT study.
C9. Monitor Communications and Marketing (3 major, 4 minor)
New initiatives
C9 (a). Reestablish Communications Committee and monitor marketing.
C9 (b). Incorporate more videos into marketing efforts.
C10. Build on complaint tracking system (3 major, 4 minor)
Continuation of existing efforts
C10 (a). Track complaints and resolutions, compliments, avoid duplication,
identify trends.
C11. Light up the Memorial Bridge (3 major, 4 minor)
New initiative
C11 (a). Seek grant funding to put lights on Memorial Bridge.
C12. Bury the electrical lines on Front Street (3 major, 3 minor)
Continuation of existing effort
C12 (a). Ask GAUD to continue burying power lines in its Front Street
improvement project.
C13. Recruit, hire, promote veterans (2 major, 6 minor)
New initiative
C13 (a). Revise personnel policy to address veteran hiring.
C14. Create bridges to employment (2 major, 5 minor)
6City of Augusta 2022 Goals –March 26 draft
New initiative
C14 (a). Create partnerships of employers (City, Hospital) and educators
(UMA, Tech Program, Adult Ed) to provide pathways for young people to
good jobs. For example, the City could pay for driver’s license training and
provide jobs for those who complete the program.
C15. Support the Downtown Alliance (2 major, 5 minor)
Continuation of existing efforts
C15 (a). Fully fund the Downtown Alliance budget request.
C15 (b) Refund the Tipping Point Initiative.
C16. Create a pedestrian footbridge over the Trestle (2 major, 5
minor)
New initiative
C16 (a). Seek regulatory approval and grant funding.
C17. Maintain the Warming Center (2 major, 5 minor)
Continuation of existing effort
C17 (a). Ensure that warming center can operate and continue.
C18. Make Augusta the “greenest city” in Maine
New initiative
C18 (a). Adopt a City Climate Change Policy (2 major, 4 minor)
C19. Regulate Solar panels (3 major, 1 minor)
New initiative
C19 (a). Cap or limit solar panels in otherwise developable areas.
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