No subject

Sun Sep 13 11:38:11 MDT 2009

ng targeted by this ordinance. There are the destitute homeless folks who j=
ust plain need help. Their lives are a train wreck and many of them will pr=
obably never be functional members of society regardless of the programs an=
d assistance they are given.  Some percentage of the population will always=
 be in this state.  Then there are the folks described by our downtown amba=
ssador today as =93rebels.=94 They are the younger transient crowd who choo=
se to live on the fringe of society.
To be honest=2C the =91rebels=92 are the ones I worry about. The guy passed=
 out on the sidewalk makes me sad and a little uncomfortable=2C but not sca=
red.=20
=20
My amendment passed with Dave=2C Jason=2C Pam=2C Ed and I voting in favor. =
Renee=2C Dick=2C and Jon Wilkins voting against.  Arguments from Jon were a=
long the lines that there are rules in society and these people need to fol=
low them. We offer various assistance programs. They should avail themselve=
s of these programs. Just because they don=92t=2C doesn=92t mean we should =
let them sit around on the sidewalk. Dick=92s perspective was along the lin=
es that by allowing them to sleep on the sidewalk we are enabling them. I d=
isagree with most of this. There would be some merit to Jon=92s argument if=
 we offered adequate care=2C treatment=2C or resources for homeless with me=
ntal illness and chemical dependency problems. But even if we did=2C there =
would still be people who just would not go along with the program. So even=
 if our society offered the resources the problem would still exist=2C but =
maybe at a level the shoppers could tolerate. I also think Dick=92s argumen=
t would work with some folks. If we made it even harder for the homeless to=
 exist=2C some of them may find the wherewithal to become productive functi=
oning members of society. But many of them would probably just sink even lo=
wer.
=20
What I heard from the business owners is that they don=92t care why they ar=
e homeless or what happens to them. They are tired of dealing with the fall=
out that comes from these folks being concentrated in the downtown. I expec=
t to see a lot of the business owners at the council meeting on Monday. I a=
lso expect to see folks from the social services community. What I=92m hopi=
ng is that we will also see folks who are willing to speak about how they l=
ove our downtown and think it is a great place to work=2C shop=2C and live.=
 All this harping on the one negative thing about downtown can=92t be the b=
est thing for business. If I remember right=2C Scott Sproull produced data =
that showed a decline in business that directly corresponded with the hoopl=
a about the supposed lack of parking downtown.  So if you prefer the downto=
wn to the mall and the box stores=2C please let our business owners know. T=
hey seem to have an inferiority complex when they look to the other retail =
centers in town. Go spend some money and let them know they are part of wha=
t makes this community so great.
=20
In Conservation we learned about a new conservation easement being purchase=
d way up Miller Creek with open space bond money.  It is the 207 acre Ander=
son Ranch. We are putting in $25=2C000 and the county is putting in $175=2C=
000.  Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is putting the deal together and will h=
old the easement.  The easement was appraised at $1=2C800=2C000. The proper=
ty is a working ranch and a critical piece of  the wildlife corridor from t=
he Sapphires to the Bitterroots. Here are more details: http://www.ci.misso=
ula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=3D2305
=20
In PAZ we mostly discussed the Sonata Park findings of fact. This is a subd=
ivision up at the end of the west side of the Rattlesnake. We approved it t=
wo years ago. The neighbors sued us. The judge said we needed to specify ou=
r reasons for why we approved it based on what was in the record. He didn=
=92t want to have to wade through the hundreds of pages of documents. So St=
aff waded through it all and distilled it down to about twenty pages of arg=
uments that were made during the process. We need to review this and add an=
ything we can think of and then adopt it as our findings of fact.  We can=
=92t change anything about the decision=2C we can only provide explanation =
for why we made it.
=20
In A&F we did some misc. budget stuff. Nothing too exciting.
=20
Public Works had a couple of interesting items. We discussed a parking encr=
oachment permit for the project at 420 Nora street. The developer has made =
some changes to their project and now needs more parking to comply with zon=
ing.  So they are asking the city to essentially vacate right of way so the=
y can meet their parking requirement.  The public works department is not s=
o hot on giving away the public right of way unless we are absolutely sure =
there is nothing we will ever need it for. It turned out the developer was =
not notified that this was going to be on our agenda so we held it over for=
 another week so we could hear what they have to say.
We also heard about the plan to reduce fuel use by the city in response to =
our resolution to cut fuel use by 10%.  What we learned is that over the la=
st few years the city has done a lot to reduce our energy needs. There are =
some departments that will be easier to find gains in than others. The heav=
y equipment use is based on the weather. If there is snow=2C we plow and it=
 uses diesel.=20
We also agreed to change the target date for compliance from 1/1/2011 to 7/=
1/2011. Aligning it with our fiscal year will simplify the accounting and d=
ocumentation.=20
Here is a link to the report:
   http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=3D2308
=20
=20
Thanks for your interest=2C
=20
=20
Bob Jaffe
Missoula City Council=2C Ward 3
1225 South 2nd West
Missoula=2C MT 59801
(406) 728-1052
=20
Messages and attachments sent to or from this e-mail account pertaining to =
City business may be considered public or private records depending on the =
message content. The City is often required by law to provide public record=
s to individuals requesting them. The City is also required by law to prote=
ct private=2C confidential information. This message is intended for the us=
e of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended reci=
pient of this transmission=2C please notify the sender immediately=2C do no=
t forward the message to anyone=2C and delete all copies. Thank you 		 	   =
		  =0A=
_________________________________________________________________=0A=
Bing=99  brings you maps=2C menus=2C and reviews organized in one place.   =
Try it now.=0A=
http://www.bing.com/search?q=3Drestaurants&form=3DMLOGEN&publ=3DWLHMTAG&cre=
a=3DTEXT_MLOGEN_Core_tagline_local_1x1=

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Bob&nbsp=3B you don't listen well I did not hear any one say they did not c=
are about the homeless. My comments is that missoula does care we do have m=
any programs for our homeless. I have ben involed many times. Threw scout w=
here we served dinner at the pov. collected socks gloves and gave them out =
downtown. the ywca works with Homeless word Housing Authority. Churches. Ju=
st to name a few. there are many more including downtown Business. Can we d=
o more yes What do you do to help? No sleeping on sidewalk is important for=
 the well being of downtown not only for the businesses also for the people=
 that live there. 12 ft is not going to help if any thing it will make it w=
orse. lets think about Missoula. Iam not a good writer or speller&nbsp=3B i=
f you want to know more on this or what ever please feel free to call me Jo=
n Wilkins360-7997<BR>&nbsp=3B<BR>
<HR id=3DstopSpelling>
From: BJaffe at ci.missoula.mt.us<BR>To: missoulagov at cmslists.com<BR>Date: Wed=
=2C 30 Sep 2009 23:54:11 -0600<BR>Subject: [MissoulaGov] Committee Update 9=
-30-09<BR><BR>
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<DIV class=3DecxSection1>
Greetings=2C
&nbsp=3B
In Public Safety this morning we took up the Pedest=
rian Interference Ordinance.&nbsp=3B 
<A href=3D"http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentVie=
w.aspx?DID=3D2185">http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=3D218=
5</A>
The existing ordinance restricts people from blocki=
ng the sidewalk.&nbsp=3B The amended language we were considering would als=
o make it illegal to sleep or lie down on the sidewalk even if you are not =
interfering with pedestrians.&nbsp=3B I moved to amend the language to say =
that people could not lie or sleep on the sidewalk within 12 feet of the en=
trance to a business.&nbsp=3B I thought this was a good compromise that add=
resses the issue of people feeling impeded from entering a business but doe=
s not make it illegal for homeless people to exist in public. The room was =
full of downtown business owners who really want us to pass an ordinance th=
at will make the homeless people disappear. I sympathize with them. Retail =
is really challenging. There is a lot of competition and little things can =
win or lose customers. I do my best to support our downtown businesses=2C b=
oth on council and with my wallet. But I=92m not going to vote to criminali=
ze homelessness. 
From what I=92ve seen and what I hear=2C there are =
two groups of people being targeted by this ordinance. There are the destit=
ute homeless folks who just plain need help. Their lives are a train wreck =
and many of them will probably never be functional members of society regar=
dless of the programs and assistance they are given.&nbsp=3B Some percentag=
e of the population will always be in this state.&nbsp=3B Then there are th=
e folks described by our downtown ambassador today as =93rebels.=94 They ar=
e the younger transient crowd who choose to live on the fringe of society.<=
/P>
To be honest=2C the =91rebels=92 are the ones I wor=
ry about. The guy passed out on the sidewalk makes me sad and a little unco=
mfortable=2C but not scared. 
&nbsp=3B
My amendment passed with Dave=2C Jason=2C Pam=2C Ed=
 and I voting in favor. Renee=2C Dick=2C and Jon Wilkins voting against.&nb=
sp=3B Arguments from Jon were along the lines that there are rules in socie=
ty and these people need to follow them. We offer various assistance progra=
ms. They should avail themselves of these programs. Just because they don=
=92t=2C doesn=92t mean we should let them sit around on the sidewalk. Dick=
=92s perspective was along the lines that by allowing them to sleep on the =
sidewalk we are enabling them. I disagree with most of this. There would be=
 some merit to Jon=92s argument if we offered adequate care=2C treatment=2C=
 or resources for homeless with mental illness and chemical dependency prob=
lems. But even if we did=2C there would still be people who just would not =
go along with the program. So even if our society offered the resources the=
 problem would still exist=2C but maybe at a level the shoppers could toler=
ate. I also think Dick=92s argument would work with some folks. If we made =
it even harder for the homeless to exist=2C some of them may find the where=
withal to become productive functioning members of society. But many of the=
m would probably just sink even lower.
&nbsp=3B
What I heard from the business owners is that they =
don=92t care why they are homeless or what happens to them. They are tired =
of dealing with the fallout that comes from these folks being concentrated =
in the downtown. I expect to see a lot of the business owners at the counci=
l meeting on Monday. I also expect to see folks from the social services co=
mmunity. What I=92m hoping is that we will also see folks who are willing t=
o speak about how they love our downtown and think it is a great place to w=
ork=2C shop=2C and live. All this harping on the one negative thing about d=
owntown can=92t be the best thing for business. If I remember right=2C Scot=
t Sproull produced data that showed a decline in business that directly cor=
responded with the hoopla about the supposed lack of parking downtown. &nbs=
p=3BSo if you prefer the downtown to the mall and the box stores=2C please =
let our business owners know. They seem to have an inferiority complex when=
 they look to the other retail centers in town. Go spend some money and let=
 them know they are part of what makes this community so great.
&nbsp=3B
In Conservation we learned about a new conservation=
 easement being purchased way up Miller Creek with open space bond money.&n=
bsp=3B It is the 207 acre Anderson Ranch. We are putting in $25=2C000 and t=
he county is putting in $175=2C000.&nbsp=3B Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation i=
s putting the deal together and will hold the easement.&nbsp=3B The easemen=
t was appraised at $1=2C800=2C000. The property is a working ranch and a cr=
itical piece of &nbsp=3Bthe wildlife corridor from the Sapphires to the Bit=
terroots. Here are more details: <A href=3D"http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/Do=
cumentView.aspx?DID=3D2305">http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?=
DID=3D2305</A>
&nbsp=3B
In PAZ we mostly discussed the Sonata Park findings=
 of fact. This is a subdivision up at the end of the west side of the Rattl=
esnake. We approved it two years ago. The neighbors sued us. The judge said=
 we needed to specify our reasons for why we approved it based on what was =
in the record. He didn=92t want to have to wade through the hundreds of pag=
es of documents. So Staff waded through it all and distilled it down to abo=
ut twenty pages of arguments that were made during the process. We need to =
review this and add anything we can think of and then adopt it as our findi=
ngs of fact.&nbsp=3B We can=92t change anything about the decision=2C we ca=
n only provide explanation for why we made it.
&nbsp=3B
In A&amp=3BF we did some misc. budget stuff. Nothin=
g too exciting.
&nbsp=3B
Public Works had a couple of interesting items. We =
discussed a parking encroachment permit for the project at 420 Nora street.=
 The developer has made some changes to their project and now needs more pa=
rking to comply with zoning.&nbsp=3B So they are asking the city to essenti=
ally vacate right of way so they can meet their parking requirement.&nbsp=
=3B The public works department is not so hot on giving away the public rig=
ht of way unless we are absolutely sure there is nothing we will ever need =
it for. It turned out the developer was not notified that this was going to=
 be on our agenda so we held it over for another week so we could hear what=
 they have to say.
We also heard about the plan to reduce fuel use by =
the city in response to our resolution to cut fuel use by 10%.&nbsp=3B What=
 we learned is that over the last few years the city has done a lot to redu=
ce our energy needs. There are some departments that will be easier to find=
 gains in than others. The heavy equipment use is based on the weather. If =
there is snow=2C we plow and it uses diesel. 
We also agreed to change the target date for compli=
ance from 1/1/2011 to 7/1/2011. Aligning it with our fiscal year will simpl=
ify the accounting and documentation. 
Here is a link to the report:
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B<A href=3D"http://www.ci.mi=
ssoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=3D2308">http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/Doc=
umentView.aspx?DID=3D2308</A>
&nbsp=3B
&nbsp=3B
Thanks for your interest=2C
&nbsp=3B
&nbsp=3B
Bob Jaffe
Missoula City Council=2C Ward 3
1225 South 2nd West
Missoula=2C MT 59801
(406) 728-1052
&nbsp=3B</DIV>
Messages and atta=
chments sent to or from this e-mail account pertaining to City business may=
 be considered public or private records depending on the message content. =
The City is often required by law to provide public records to individuals =
requesting them. The City is also required by law to protect private=2C con=
fidential information. This message is intended for the use of the individu=
al or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this tra=
nsmission=2C please notify the sender immediately=2C do not forward the mes=
sage to anyone=2C and delete all copies. Thank you 		 	 		 <b=
r /><hr />Bing=99 brings you maps=2C menus=2C and reviews organized in one=
 place. <a href=3D'http://www.bing.com/search?q=3Drestaurants&form=3DMLOGEN=
&publ=3DWLHMTAG&crea=3DTEXT_MLOGEN_Core_tagline_local_1x1' target=3D'_new'>=
Try it now.</a></body>
</html>=

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