[MissoulaGov] committee update 11-4-09

[Bob Jaffe]

Greetings,
Thanks to everyone who helped out and supported me in the election.  It was good to have a big win.

Fortunately we had the sense not to schedule any 8:00 am meetings for the morning after the election. We started Public Safety at the merciful hour of 9:30. Our main item was to approve the mayor's appointments of some fire fighters to the rank of Captain.  Usually a benign subject, one of the appointments today was controversial. One of the firepersons being made captain was Brad Roe. Besides being an employee of the Missoula Fire Department, Brad has a side interest in real estate. Some of his projects and properties have been the most controversial in Missoula. To many people he is the poster child of the exploitive developer and slum lord. Just recently I had a complaint about his infamous property at 636 Evans still being the ruin of the neighborhood. All the same, according to Chief Painter his performance on the Fire Department has been exemplary and he qualifies for the promotion.  The primary opposition was raised by Jon Wilkins. Jon's stated concern was that he didn't like the way Brad worked with people in the conflict situations that arose around his projects. His behavior and manner were such that Jon could not vote to appoint him to a position of leadership. I didn't personally experience any of the interactions Jon was referring to but I thought his point had merit. But in the balance, the Chief's recommendation based on job performance had more weight for me. The confirmation passed five to four.

We also learned about the H1N1 pandemic. It is still spreading and vaccines are available for at risk populations. The health department website has lots of info:
http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/HealthServices/InfectiousDisease/SwineFlu09.htm


In PAZ we learned about the Target Range Neighborhood Plan. This has been a good example of a neighborhood taking a proactive approach to planning. They have done most of the work themselves with guidance and assistance from OPG. The key points related to land use are that the UFDA policy calls for about 400 additional units to be absorbed by this area.  Current zoning allows for about 550. Their proposal calls for down zoning some of the two/acre sections to one/acre. At build out this would provide about 450 units remaining in compliance with the overall growth policy.  They also call for some clustering to help preserve some of the open land.  Marilyn suggested they look into ways to protect some of the five acre and larger tracts of land by developing a conservation land trust. Some kind of transfer of development rights policy will also be helpful. Here is a link to the plan:
http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=2490 (scroll to the bottom)

We also had a brief update regarding the Orchard Homes plan. This one is progressing a bit slower. The neighborhood has had some trouble maintaining momentum. They hope to have a draft ready before summer.

We also learned about OPG's plan to help develop an Agriculture policy.  They will start by holding stake holder meetings this winter. Here is a link to the referral that pretty much outlines the plan:
http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1272

After lunch in A&F we started with sewer fees. A while back we held a public hearing on raising the sewer fees. It got sent back to committee and we approved the plan today. It will go to the floor on Monday. The plan calls for an increase of 5% per year for four years. Here is a presentation with lots of info:
ftp://ftp.ci.missoula.mt.us/Packets/Council/2008/2008-11-03/2008-11-03SewerUserRateIncrease_files/frame.htm
The residential rate will go from $69 to $84 per six months after the four years.  The current monthly rate in Missoula is $11.50. Here are some rates in other cities:
Butte $13.50
Billings $18.85
Great Falls $21.30
Helena 23.54
Bozeman $28.92
Kalispell $31.70

Part of the reason ours is relatively less expensive is that we did our plant upgrades a number of years ago when the rates were good. We also got $5,000,000 from Max to help out.  We also have not raised rates for a long time.  The problem is that we need to bill out about $1,000,000 more than it costs for operations to pay for maintenance of the plant and lines. We haven't been maintaining that spread for a number of years but we have been able to get away with it because of new growth. The new hookups pay into the sewer development fund making up the difference. But now growth has slowed down, and our commercial and industrial users have reduced their usage so the fund is running out of money. The rate increase is needed to make it all balance. Knowing that we currently pay so much less than the other cities helps a little.  Hendrickson, Haines, Helligaard and Mitchel voted against the increase. They wanted the percentage increase to be lower. Lyn argued that the increase in fees will drive many people out of business and then the sewer will collect even less money from the loss of commercial customers. This is troubling but I'm hesitant to start deferring maintenance on our most primary infrastructure.

We also wrapped up the rezoning fees. We got rid of the DRB appeal fee and the zoning officer opinion fee. We adjusted the cost to notify neighbors down a couple of bucks by using the post office electronic return method of certified mail. If we really need to confirm we can look it up on the web.

In Public works we saw the new Memorandum of Understanding between the U and the city regarding the Arthur 5th and 6th project. No surprises. Here it is if you want to read it:
http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=2487 We talked a little about the possibility of doing a roundabout. It may be possible, but not as a part of this project. The state would only go for a double lane roundabout here and that would take a lot of engineering and right of way acquisition. This would completely change the scope of the project.

Thanks for your interest,



Bob Jaffe
Missoula City Council, Ward 3
1225 South 2nd West
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 728-1052


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