Rockland now has a harbor policy that governs cruise ships without specifying preference for smaller or larger ships.

The Rockland City Council on Oct. 13 approved the Cruise Ship Shore Operations Policy, a 13-point document that states that Rockland "wishes to encourage the growth of Rockland as a port of call for cruise ships."

The council did, however, strike a paragraph, effectively removing a sentence that said, "In recognition of the fragile balance represented by Rockland's historic downtown, a policy goal is to encourage smaller cruise ships as more regular visits to Rockland."

It also removed the sentence "As necessary, the City Council may restrict the size, number and dates of cruise ship visits after considering recommendations from the Harbor Management Commission and/or city staff."

The council then inserted a sentence into another paragraph that says the council, after considering recommendations of the Harbor Management Commission, may further restrict cruise ship visits that may conflict with the use of Harbor Park and the public landing.

The policy lays out that Harbor Park and Mildred Merrill Park, areas where passengers from cruise ships will be disembarking, are also maintained for the good of all people of Rockland, residents and visitors; therefore, cruise ship shoreside activities are to be organized to ensure the least disruption to public access to the parks, as well as the landing and boardwalk.

It also specifies:

Some event sponsors compensate the city through park rental fees; in lieu of such rental fees, the city shall, by order of the City Council, impose a cruise ship passenger fee on cruise ship operators, to pay the actual costs of any police, fire, emergency medical service, or other city services reasonably necessitated by disembarkation of cruise ship passengers.

Cruise ship operators shall pay a port development fee to a reserve account for improvement of the city's waterfront facilities.

When a festival or event is granted exclusive use of Harbor Park, no cruise ship will be allowed access to the public landing. This includes, but is not limited to, the North Atlantic Blues Festival, the Maine Lobster Festival, and the Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors Show.

No vendors or sale of merchandise will be allowed in the Mildred Merrill Park or Harbor Park during cruise ship visits.

All costs associated with police coverage will be paid from fees the ship pays to the city.

The policy will undergo an annual review "to ensure that they meet the needs of the residents of Rockland and to ensure that the stated goals remain appropriate."

The Jewel of the Seas is scheduled to stop in Rockland on Monday, Oct. 18. The 962-foot Jewel of the Seas can carry 2,501 passengers and a crew of 760. The ship visited Rockland Harbor last October.

In other business

The Rockland City Council tabled action on creating contract zoning for the expansion of the Bartlett Woods Retirement Community off of Talbot Avenue. Bartlett Woods is an assisted living facility that provides housing and elder care services in 34 existing units in the Bartlett House. It is owned by Bartlett Woods Inc.

The Methodist Conference Home Inc. owns cottages in that same area, and provides senior independent living facilities there that are administered by the Stonewood Road Cooperative Inc.

Bartlett House wants to expand by adding 24 more dwelling units.

At the Oct. 13 meeting, the council reviewed a proposed ordinance amendment that would enable contract zoning for the expansion, and resolve a subdivision matter that arose after the property had been divided into two parcels. After discussion, the council tabled the zoning matter until December, giving the parties involved with the Bartlett Woods expansion time to explore rejoining the two parcels in question.