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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span lang=EN
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>I know this changes the subject but I
wanted to make sure all of you had the opportunity to understand the County’s
position on the mail ballot issue. Thanks Jean Curtiss<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span lang=EN
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span lang=EN
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Guest
Opinion</span></font></i></b><font size=1><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt'>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Mail
ballots lower costs, increase turnout</span></font></b><b><font size=1><span
lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><b><font size=1><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Monday, March 2, 2009</span></font></b><font size=1><span
lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><b><i><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:
8.5pt;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>By JEAN CURTISS,
BILL CAREY, MICHELE LANDQUIST and VICKIE ZEIER</span></font></i></b><font
size=1><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
county commissioners and election administrators across <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Montana</st1:State></st1:place> are supporting a bill that would
allow each county the option of running all of their elections, including
federal and state elections, by mail ballot.</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>In <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Missoula</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, the elections
office has been running elections by mail ballot for many years, including fire
district, school bond and municipal elections. We have never had the option
under <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Montana</st1:State></st1:place>
law to run our federal or state elections in this manner.</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>With the ever-growing number of absentee ballots requested
and the complexity and cost of running elections, mail ballots are a good choice
for our state. In the 2008 presidential election in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Missoula</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>,
54 percent of the ballots cast were voted absentee, not at a polling place.</span></font><font
size=1><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:
8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'>If we used mail ballots we would provide secure sites
throughout the county where you could drop off your ballot on and before
Election Day. Drop-off locations could include Lolo, Seeley Lake, Bonner,
Frenchtown, Cold Springs, Paxson, Rattlesnake, Hellgate Elementary, Emma
Dickenson (Adult Education Building) and the Courthouse. We would provide
Automark machines that assist disabled residents in voting their ballot
independently at these drop off sites as well.</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Here are some other advantages of voting by mail:</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- Lower election administration costs. If mail ballot
elections had been held in 2008, approximately $4 million dollars of taxpayer
money would have been saved statewide.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- No waiting in line. For smaller communities this may not
be an issue, but in larger communities as the increasing costs of elections
force more counties to eliminate polling locations in favor of consolidation,
this issue could hinder voting.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- No polling-place intimidation. In many <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Montana</st1:State></st1:place> counties, law enforcement is often
required to maintain order and many voters are very uncomfortable with the
electioneering done 100 feet from the polling place.</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- No confusion about where to go to vote. With
consolidation and redistricting, polling places often change.</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- No need to make arrangements for child care or time off
from work. This is a benefit to single mothers and lower income workers.</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- No need to hire and train poll workers. <st1:City w:st="on">Missoula</st1:City>
and Yellowstone counties both recruit and train more than 750 election judges,
and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Ravalli</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> recruits and trains about 275
election judges. It is increasingly difficult to find enough individuals
willing to work on Election Day.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- Increased election process integrity through signature
verification. Every ballot is returned in an envelope that must be signed by
you as the person who voted your ballot. We compare this signature to your
voter registration card. Signatures are never verified in polling place
elections.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- Increased voter turnout. Since 1998, <st1:State w:st="on">Montana</st1:State>
has always ranked behind both <st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State> and <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Washington</st1:State></st1:place> since they
moved to mail ballot elections. Prior to their movement to mail ballot
elections, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Montana</st1:State></st1:place>
consistently had a higher voter turnout.</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- Time for voter to make well-informed decisions and ask
questions. In polling place elections, some voters feel “rushed”
into voting for candidates or issues of which they may be ill-informed. With
mail ballot elections they have the time and opportunity to make well informed
decisions.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- No worry about missing an election. The ballot for each
election would automatically be mailed to you. With all of our busy schedules,
it is so easy to miss out on voting.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>A few interesting items from an <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place> mail ballot study include:</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- Overall, Oregonians prefer voting by mail over voting at
the polling place 80.9 percent to 19.1 percent.</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>The three categories of employment status who most favor
voting by mail are homemakers (93.3 percent), disabled (89.3 percent) and
retired (85.5 percent)</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- The two age groups who most favor voting by mail are 18-
to 25-year-olds (86.7 percent) and 65+ years old (86 percent).</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- Rural voters favor mail ballot more than urban (81.3
percent to 80.2 percent).</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>- The three categories of income that most favor voting by
mail are the three lowest categories, less than $18,000 (81.1 percent), $18,000
n $25,000 (84.4 percent) and $26,000 n $40,000 (83.7 percent).</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>There are many reasons the commissioners and election
administrators are supporting this effort. But, we want to know how the
citizens in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Missoula</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> feel about it. We
would like to hear from you.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>You can contact us by phone, mail or e-mail. We look
forward to hearing from you.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Jean Curtiss, Bill Carey and Michele Landquist are <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Missoula</st1:City></st1:place>’s county
commissioners. Vickie Zeier is the county elections administrator.</span></font><font
size=1><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
missoulagov-bounces@cmslists.com [mailto:missoulagov-bounces@cmslists.com] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Bob Jaffe<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Thursday, March 05, 2009
10:01 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> MOLLY GALUSHA;
missoulagov@cmslists.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [MissoulaGov]
committee update 3-4-09</span></font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div id=idOWAReplyText66233>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;color:black'>It is scheduled to start the Monday after school lets out
in June.</span></font><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabIndex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> MOLLY
GALUSHA [mailto:mgmjpg@msn.com]<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Thu 3/5/2009 10:13 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Bob Jaffe;
missoulagov@cmslists.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [MissoulaGov]
committee update 3-4-09</span></font><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>What has happened to the Beckwith roundabout? It is shovel
ready last I heard. Will 2009 be the year it is begun and completed?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Molly<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;
margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>-----
Original Message -----<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='background:#E4E4E4'><b><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> Bob Jaffe<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></font></b><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> Wednesday, March 04, 2009 9:10 PM<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>To:</span></font></b><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> missoulagov@cmslists.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></font></b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'> [MissoulaGov] committee update 3-4-09<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'> </span></font><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Greetings,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>In
Public Safety this morning we had a discussion about maintenance and
obstructions of bike lanes. Some highlights are that the streets department
cleans and plows the bike lanes just the same as the roads. But as the cars
drive down the road they splash and push the snow and debris out to the sides
in the bike lane again. So after a day or so the road appears as if it
has been maintained but not the bike lane The bottom line is that we simply
do not have the resources to keep the bike lanes clear all the time. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>There
were two other main issues. One is the design deficiencies in some of the bike
lane installations. Bob Giordono had some photos showing things like sidewalk
bulbouts that cut right across the bike lane. We can make sure these kinds of
things don’t happen anymore. We also talked about people putting their
leaves or snow into the bike lane. This is also an area we can improve. Plow
operators need to know they can not push the snow out into the right of way.
People shoveling their sidewalks need to know they can’t throw the snow
into the road. Leaves can be spread out in a long row instead of in a big
pile. Cars need to be aware of not parking in the bike lane. All
these things need a higher level of awareness in the community.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Next
was the park dedication regs in PAZ. Last time we decided that park
dedication would apply to minor subdivisions of 3,4, and 5 lots if the zoning
allowed for multifamily. Today we decided that for multifamily on all
subdivisions the calculation would be .02 acres per unit with a cap of ten
units per acre. Single family and duplex units will still calculate the old way
at 11% on lots of ½ acre or less graduating to lower percentages as the lot
gets bigger up to five acres. The reason for the change is that the
percentage formula assumes the home on the bigger lot will have less need for
parks. But when a whole bunch of units get put on one large lot it is the
opposite. Our current regulation did not address this situation. As a break to
the building industry this season we made these changes effective 1/1/2010.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Still
to be discussed are changes to the zoning ordinance. Some of the issues are
capturing a park dedication on multifamily units being built on land that is
not being subdivided; and figuring how landscaping requirements can work with
park requirements. We moved to have staff pursue these issues in the context of
the larger zoning rewrite that is taking place.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>After
lunch we took up the issue of redistricting the wards for the upcoming city
council elections. State law requires that the districts all be 3%+- of
each other. The population estimates are based on census numbers and building
permits. All the wards are about 10,500 people except ward two has about 12,000
and ward five is a little short. For fear of being accused of gerrymandering we
were all a little shy about making specific suggestions on how to fix it.
But Dick summed it up when he said the excess population in ward two will either
go to the east to ward one pushing everything clockwise around the map or it
will go south to ward six pushing everything counterclockwise. We decided to
leave it up to Dave Dewing, the map guy at OPG, to figure the numbers and give
us options. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We
ended the day with public works where we bought a bunch of stuff including the
“odor characterization” study I spoke of last week. We learned that
even though the price of oil has come down the price of asphalt has not. Prices
were disappointingly high. Paving activities will be limited this year.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Thanks
for your interest,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Bob
Jaffe</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Missoula</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> City Council, Ward 3</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><a
href="mailto:bjaffe@ci.missoula.mt.us">bjaffe@ci.missoula.mt.us</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>406-728-1052</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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The City is often required by law to provide city records to individuals requesting
records, some of which are not public records and have limited scope of
distribution pursuant to state law. The City is required by law to protect
private, confidential information. This message is intended for the use of the
individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this
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