[MissoulaGov] Goals for Council

[Geoff Badenoch]

This morning the Missoulian reported on Councilman Strohmaier's DUI
initiative and mentioned how, if it progressed, it would be grounded in part
on the fact that Missoula has self-government powers under the provisions of
our Missoula City Charter. All the largest eight cities in Montana have
self-government powers which, in essence, allow them to do whatever they
want so long as state law and the Montana and US Constitutions don't forbid
them from doing it. This creates a natural alliance among Montana's urban
communities to work together to influence the legislature to allow the
cities to solve problems which are specific to larger urban areas.

 

That said, I would like one of the Council's goals to be figuring out what
problems Missoula faces can be solved through use of our local
self-government powers and which problems could be solved if we worked with
the other self-government power cities to get the legislature to get the
authority we need to solve problems locally.

 

Geoff Badenoch

 

-----Original Message-----
From: missoulagov-bounces at cmslists.com
[mailto:missoulagov-bounces at cmslists.com] On Behalf Of Bob Jaffe
Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 12:33 PM
To: missoulagov at cmslists.com
Subject: [MissoulaGov] Goals for Council

 

Hi,

We are scheduled to have a discussion tomorrow afternoon regarding goals for
the council. 

Here is the referral I made back in April of '07:

 

Hold a structured discussion regarding the goals we have for what we want to
accomplish over the next

year. Hopefully concluding with a list of tasks and some kind of action plan
for how those things will

happen.

 

 

Ed has reluctantly agreed to take up this item in COW on Wednesday.

 

Marilyn posted this one:

Among other things already mentioned, I want to see the city save money and
maintenance costs by increasingly using native plants and non turf areas as
much as possible. Labor and water costs make annual flowers and expansive
lawns expensive. 

Where turf lawns are needed, I would like them maintained using integrated
management methods (composting, aeration, proper irrigation, prudent
herbicide applications). We asked parks for a turf management plan several
years ago- let's re-visit this. Proper management saves money.

 

Here are a few of mine:

I would like to see us do something meaningful in the realm of affordable
housing. Both in the area of regulation and financing.  Slow progress is
being made but I would like to see us step it up.

 

Sidewalks: We have got to come up with a better way to do sidewalks. The
street maintenance districts could play a role in this.

Urban Forest: We know the trees are dying. If we want to maintain one of the
most defining aspects of the character of Ward 3 we will need to take much
more aggressive action to maintain the urban forest. Maintenance districts
may also be a part of this.

 

I'm curious if folks have suggestions for what they would like to see the
City Council / City of Missoula accomplish in the short and long term.

 

Thanks,

Bob

 

 

 

 

 

Bob Jaffe

Missoula City Council, Ward Three

1225 South 2nd West

Missoula, MT 59801

(406) 880-2052

 

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