No subject

Sun Sep 13 11:38:11 MDT 2009

groups of people being targeted by this ordinance. There are the destitute
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 regardless of =
the
programs and assistance they are given.  Some percentage of the population
will always be in this state.  Then there are the folks described by our
downtown ambassador today as =93rebels.=94 They are the younger
transient crowd who choose 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 scared.=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 along the lines that there are rules in society and these people need =
to
follow them. We offer various assistance programs. They should avail themse=
lves
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 offe=
red
adequate care=2C treatment=2C or resources for homeless with mental illness=
 and
chemical dependency problems. But even if we did=2C there would still be pe=
ople
who just would not go along with the program. So even if our society offere=
d
the resources the problem would still exist=2C but maybe at a level the sho=
ppers could
tolerate. 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 =
wherewithal
to become productive functioning members of society. But many of them would=
 probably
just sink even lower.

=20

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 deali=
ng
with the fallout that comes from these folks being concentrated in the down=
town.
I expect to see a lot of the business owners at the council meeting on Mond=
ay.
I also expect to see folks from the social services community. What I=92m
hoping is that we will also see folks who are willing to speak about how th=
ey
love 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 best
thing for business. If I remember right=2C Scott Sproull produced data that=
 showed
a decline in business that directly corresponded with the hoopla about the =
supposed
lack of parking downtown.  So 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 communi=
ty so
great.

=20

In Conservation we learned about a new conservation easement
being purchased way up Miller Creek with open space bond money.  It is the
207 acre Anderson Ranch. We are putting in $25=2C000 and the county is putt=
ing in
$175=2C000.  Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is putting the deal together and
will hold the easement.  The easement was appraised at $1=2C800=2C000. The
property is a working ranch and a critical piece of  the wildlife corridor
from the Sapphires to the Bitterroots. Here are more details: http://www.ci=
.missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=3D2305

=20

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 Rattlesnake. 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 pages of documents.
So Staff waded through it all and distilled it down to about twenty pages o=
f
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 findings of fact.  We
can=92t change anything about the decision=2C we can only provide explanati=
on
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 encroachment permit for the project at 420 Nora street. The devel=
oper
has made some changes to their project and now needs more parking to comply
with zoning.  So they are asking the city to essentially vacate right of
way so they can meet their parking requirement.  The public works
department is not so hot on giving away the public right of way unless we a=
re
absolutely sure there is nothing we will ever need it for. It turned out th=
e
developer was not notified that this was going to be on our agenda so we he=
ld
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 last 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 heavy 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 documentation.=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=20

account pertaining to City business may be considered public or private rec=
ords=20

depending on the message content. The City is often required by law to prov=
ide=20

public records to individuals requesting them. The City is also required by=
 law=20

to protect private=2C confidential information. This message is intended fo=
r the=20

use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended=20

recipient of this transmission=2C please notify the sender immediately=2C d=
o not=20

forward the message to anyone=2C and delete all copies. Thank you 		 	   		=
  =0A=
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<body class=3D'hmmessage'>
On another note=2C the update from Conservation is AWESOME! A huge thanks t=
o the Anderson's for the donation=2C and to Jackie C. and the Parks staff=
=2C the RMEF=2C the Consv Committee=2C and others involved in making this e=
asement happen. And for a city contribution of less than 2 % of the apprais=
ed value?! This is a no-brainer! Mr. Haines' opposition to this is incompre=
hensible to me. Thanks! <br><br><div><font color=3D"#330099">
</font><p class=3D"EC_MsoNormal" style=3D""><font color=3D"#990033"><font f=
ace=3D"Times New Roman=2C Times=2C Serif" size=3D"3"></font></font><font co=
lor=3D"#3300cc" face=3D"Arial">&nbsp=3B</font></p>
<p class=3D"EC_MsoNormal" style=3D""><font color=3D"#3300cc" face=3D"Arial"=
>&nbsp=3B</font></p>
<p class=3D"EC_MsoNormal"><font color=3D"#3300cc" face=3D"Arial">&nbsp=3B</=
font></p></div><br><br><br><br><hr id=3D"stopSpelling">From: BJaffe at ci.miss=
oula.mt.us<br>To: missoulagov at cmslists.com<br>Date: Wed=2C 30 Sep 2009 23:5=
4:11 -0600<br>Subject: [MissoulaGov] Committee Update 9-30-09<br><br>

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<div class=3D"ecxSection1">

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">Greetings=2C</p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">&nbsp=3B</p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">In Public Safety this morning we took up the Pede=
strian
Interference Ordinance.&nbsp=3B </p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><a href=3D"http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentV=
iew.aspx?DID=3D2185">http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=3D2=
185</a></p>

The existing ordinance restricts people from bloc=
king the
sidewalk.&nbsp=3B The amended language we were considering would also make =
it
illegal to sleep or lie down on the sidewalk even if you are not interferin=
g
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 entrance to a
business.&nbsp=3B I thought this was a good compromise that addresses the i=
ssue
of people feeling impeded from entering a business but does not make it ill=
egal
for homeless people to exist in public. The room was full of downtown busin=
ess
owners who really want us to pass an ordinance that will make the homeless
people disappear. I sympathize with them. Retail is really challenging. The=
re
is a lot of competition and little things can win or lose customers. I do m=
y
best to support our downtown businesses=2C both on council and with my wall=
et.
But I=92m not going to vote to criminalize homelessness.

From what I=92ve seen and what I hear=2C there ar=
e two
groups of people being targeted by this ordinance. There are the destitute
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 regardless of =
the
programs and assistance they are given.&nbsp=3B Some percentage of the popu=
lation
will always be in this state.&nbsp=3B Then there are the folks described by=
 our
downtown ambassador today as =93rebels.=94 They are the younger
transient crowd who choose to live on the fringe of society.

To be honest=2C the =91rebels=92 are the ones I w=
orry
about. The guy passed out on the sidewalk makes me sad and a little
uncomfortable=2C but not scared.

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">&nbsp=3B</p>

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.&nbsp=3B Argument=
s from Jon
were along the lines that there are rules in society and these people need =
to
follow them. We offer various assistance programs. They should avail themse=
lves
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 offe=
red
adequate care=2C treatment=2C or resources for homeless with mental illness=
 and
chemical dependency problems. But even if we did=2C there would still be pe=
ople
who just would not go along with the program. So even if our society offere=
d
the resources the problem would still exist=2C but maybe at a level the sho=
ppers could
tolerate. 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 =
wherewithal
to become productive functioning members of society. But many of them would=
 probably
just sink even lower.

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">&nbsp=3B</p>

What I heard from the business owners is that the=
y don=92t
care why they are homeless or what happens to them. They are tired of deali=
ng
with the fallout that comes from these folks being concentrated in the down=
town.
I expect to see a lot of the business owners at the council meeting on Mond=
ay.
I also expect to see folks from the social services community. What I=92m
hoping is that we will also see folks who are willing to speak about how th=
ey
love 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 best
thing for business. If I remember right=2C Scott Sproull produced data that=
 showed
a decline in business that directly corresponded with the hoopla about the =
supposed
lack of parking downtown. &nbsp=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 communi=
ty so
great.

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">&nbsp=3B</p>

In Conservation we learned about a new conservati=
on easement
being purchased way up Miller Creek with open space bond money.&nbsp=3B It =
is the
207 acre Anderson Ranch. We are putting in $25=2C000 and the county is putt=
ing in
$175=2C000.&nbsp=3B Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is putting the deal toget=
her and
will hold the easement.&nbsp=3B The easement was appraised at $1=2C800=2C00=
0. The
property is a working ranch and a critical piece of &nbsp=3Bthe wildlife co=
rridor
from the Sapphires to the Bitterroots. Here are more details: <a href=3D"ht=
tp://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=3D2305">http://www.ci.miss=
oula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=3D2305</a>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">&nbsp=3B</p>

In PAZ we mostly discussed the Sonata Park findin=
gs of fact.
This is a subdivision up at the end of the west side of the Rattlesnake. 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 pages of documents.
So Staff waded through it all and distilled it down to about twenty pages o=
f
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 findings of fact.&nbsp=3B=
 We
can=92t change anything about the decision=2C we can only provide explanati=
on
for why we made it.

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">&nbsp=3B</p>

In A&amp=3BF we did some misc. budget stuff. Noth=
ing too
exciting.

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">&nbsp=3B</p>

Public Works had a couple of interesting items. W=
e discussed
a parking encroachment permit for the project at 420 Nora street. The devel=
oper
has made some changes to their project and now needs more parking to comply
with zoning.&nbsp=3B So they are asking the city to essentially vacate righ=
t of
way so they can meet their parking requirement.&nbsp=3B The public works
department is not so hot on giving away the public right of way unless we a=
re
absolutely sure there is nothing we will ever need it for. It turned out th=
e
developer was not notified that this was going to be on our agenda so we he=
ld
it over for another week so we could hear what they have to say.

We also heard about the plan to reduce fuel use b=
y the city
in response to our resolution to cut fuel use by 10%.&nbsp=3B What we learn=
ed is
that over the last 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 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 comp=
liance from
1/1/2011 to 7/1/2011. Aligning it with our fiscal year will simplify the
accounting and documentation.

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">Here is a link to the report:</p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B<a href=3D"http://www.ci.=
missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=3D2308">http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/D=
ocumentView.aspx?DID=3D2308</a></p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">&nbsp=3B</p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">&nbsp=3B</p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">Thanks for your interest=2C</p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">&nbsp=3B</p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">&nbsp=3B</p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">Bob Jaffe</p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">Missoula City Council=2C Ward 3</p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">1225 South 2nd West</p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">Missoula=2C MT 59801</p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">(406) 728-1052</p>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal">&nbsp=3B</p>

</div>

<p class=3D"ecxMsoPlainText"><font color=3D"#000080" size=3D"2">Messages an=
d attachments sent to or from this e-mail=20

account pertaining to City business may be considered public or private rec=
ords=20

depending on the message content. The City is often required by law to prov=
ide=20

public records to individuals requesting them. The City is also required by=
 law=20

to protect private=2C confidential information. This message is intended fo=
r the=20

use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended=20

recipient of this transmission=2C please notify the sender immediately=2C d=
o not=20

forward the message to anyone=2C and delete all copies. Thank you</font></p=
> 		 	   		  <br /><hr />Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protecti=
on. <a href=3D'http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/' target=3D'=
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