[MissoulaGov] Committee Update 10/1/08

[Bob Jaffe]

Greetings,

[Note: here is the link to our committee schedule. It contains links to
the various referrals and supporting documents for the items in this
report.
ftp://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/Packets/Council/2008/2008-09-22/080922commit
teeschedule.pdf]

 

 

This morning we started with Public Safety. The main item of discussion
was the proposal to revise our Ambulance ordinance.  The fire chief
reviewed the status of the proposal. It mostly just calls for any
ambulance service doing business here to enter into a performance
contract with the fire department. The terms of the performance contract
are still being ironed out. 

 

In PAZ we finished up a request for a rezoning out at Canyon River Golf
Course.  The owners of the course are doing another small subdivision
off to the side of the golf course near the river next to the bridge.
When they first came in with the project it all looked pretty straight
forward. Then all the neighbors showed up throwing a fit about how it
was going to ruin their property values and wreck the views. The council
chose to hold off and let the developer meet with the neighbors and work
it out.  Over the last few months they did that and have resubmitted a
revised proposal that reduced one of the units, split a duplex into two
smaller single family units, broke up the garage structure into smaller
structures, and added a bunch of landscaping.  They also responded to
some concerns from FWP regarding the setbacks from the river.  The
neighbors were at the meeting today and said they were happy with the
project now.  I don't think I have seen a developer that willing to work
with the neighbor's concerns in a situation where the law didn't require
it. It was a feel good moment for how great the system works when we all
work together.

 

We also heard another UFTA presentation and this time set a public
hearing to approve the amendment to the growth policy.  I think everyone
in town has seen the presentation at least once but the basic idea is
that they created all these overlay maps comparing various impediments
to development to figure out where the best places to build are. They
worked that against the growth estimates and developed a map that can be
used in zoning decisions for up or down zoning requests.

 

After lunch we started with Administration and Finance.  We spent a
bunch of time on the lease agreement for the art museum. The items of
consideration were to remove the janitorial costs from the city's
obligation and add the elevator costs to what we were going to cover.
The votes were split and I don't quite remember how it ended up. I'll
have to check the minutes.  I think the city should continue to offer
the operational subsidy to the museum for the janitorial costs but I
don't think that obligation belongs in a fifty year lease.

 

We also set a public hearing to consider raising the sewer fee five
percent per year for the next four years.  The sewer fee has not gone up
in eight years.  This is mainly because just before that there were
major improvements to the system and we have been making enough off of
new growth to keep up with inflation.  Now the plant needs a new
headworks. That is the part where all the sewage first comes in to the
plant. Apparently that part is 25 years old and needs upgrading.  It
will cost $6,000,000.  Our sewer rates are two and three times cheaper
than the other cities in Montana.

In A&F we also approved a contract for about $65,000 to have the city
web site rebuilt.  This is a lot of money but its not out of line for
the size of the job. This project has been a very long time coming.  We
are using the company that just redid the Billings site. Take a look
www.ci.billings.mt.us. Try the search feature. I can't wait to have
that.

 

In Public Works we took another try at the RFP for a peer review of
Russell and third. It was pretty much a train wreck. We couldn't settle
on language for what we really wanted and then couldn't get enough votes
to pass it in the end.  Very frustrating.

 

Then to top off the day we had a two hour session with Dan Bucks the
director of the Department of Revenue to explain our tax valuations.
One would think this would be painfully boring at the end of a full day
of meetings but it was actually quite fascinating. It's pretty late to
try to dig into explaining it all right now.  Keila was taking notes so
I think I will wait to see what she writes up in the Missoulian before I
give it a try.

 

Thanks for your interest,   

 

Bob Jaffe

 

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