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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Bob,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;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;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I wasn’t aware of the law requiring
bikers to keep their hands on the handle bars. Don’t we also have to make
hand signals and shift etc.? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;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;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Also, you mention several laws different
in the city than outside. But recently I heard that the city attorney decided
that the city can’t enforce it’s law forbidding riding on
sidewalks, because it is different from state law and the city would need to
post signs on every sidewalk or something to notify out-of-towners of the
different law. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;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;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Wouldn’t that be the case with every
law the city adopts?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;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;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I have always wondered about that attorney’s
opinion on that. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;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;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>(I think sidewalk riding, for the most
part, is dangerous.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<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> Wednesday, March 11, 2009
11:12 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> missoulagov@cmslists.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [MissoulaGov] Committee
Update 3-11-09</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>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Greetings,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>This
morning in Public Safety we discussed an ordinance to ban the use of cell
phones while driving. Apparently there are studies showing that talking on the
phone while driving is just as dangerous as driving drunk. Studies also show
that hands free phones don’t really help. The problem is not so much the
physical ability to manage the wheel while holding the phone, it is the
distraction of having the conversation. I was also told that it is
different from having a conversation with someone in the car because the person
on the other end of the phone conversation is not responding to road conditions
like a passenger. The ordinance would also ban the use of cell phones while
riding a bike. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>As
a frequent user of my cell phone while driving I am hesitant to get behind this
one. But on the other hand I know I have made bonehead driving moves that would
not have happened if I were not distracted by the phone. So I imagine I will
come around. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>I
have also determined through firsthand experience that it is much harder to
talk on the phone while biking than driving. I have pretty much given up that
practice. We already have an ordinance that requires a cyclist to keep
both hands on the handle bars so that one is already covered.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>There
was some discussion about problems with having a law that only applied inside
the city limits. But only a few years ago it was legal to drive with an open
container of alcohol outside city limits. And fireworks are legal outside city
limits. And then there are dogs on leash. That only applies in the city.
So there are a lot of examples of the city having laws that differ from the
rest of the state. We set a public hearing on the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>In
conservation we looked at a proposal from the Greenhouse Gas Team promoting the
use of local wood products. We had a presentation from Professor Peter Kolb on
the forest management practices in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Germany</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Once again the Europeans
make us look like Neanderthals. <st1:country-region w:st="on">Germany</st1:country-region>
is almost the exact size of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Montana</st1:place></st1:State>
but they have something like 80,000,000 people. They have about the same amount
of forest as we do but produce about 16 times the number of board feet of wood
products. And they do it all sustainably with an incredibly diversified
wood products industry. It was a fascinating presentation and we ran out of
time before we got to look at the actual resolution request. We will take it up
again in a few weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>In
PAZ we discussed development agreements again. The development agreement is a
contract between the City and a developer that will be required for annexation.
We first pursued the idea for properties that were being annexed that were not
going to go through subdivision. Such as a large lot that will be divided into
single family detached condominiums. A development agreement would be the
only opportunity for the council to review and condition the future
development. A secondary interest in development agreements is to make
the conditions of subdivision part of the contract for annexation. This is
driven by the desire to make the terms under which we are willing to approve a
project more defensible in court. Since our experiences with Bob Brugh and John
Didel, I now see all developers as potential litigants. For that matter I
see the neighbors who protest the development as potential litigants as well as
anyone else who has a horse in the race. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>A
related matter we also took up was modifying our resolution regarding contract
sewer connections. We made a number of modifications including the requirement
for a development agreement for developments outside of city limits that want
access to the sewer. For now on they will be subject to pretty much all the
same conditions as developments inside the city including park dedication and
payment in lieu of impact fees. We set a public hearing on both items for April
6<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>In
A&F we approved some union contracts. Labor costs are the lion’s
share of our budget but we pretty much just rubber stamp these agreements. They
are the outcome of the negotiations between the administration and the union.
It would actually be a violation of labor law if we didn’t approve them.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The
main item we discussed in Public Works was the request to make an exception to
our noise ordinance for some MDT resurfacing projects. This enables them to do
the work at night on high volume roads. The sticking point was the
proposal to redesign South and Reserve. They want to make it so there are
double left turn lanes off of both directions of South. There were a few
problems. One was the fact that a major intersection in the city of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missoula</st1:place></st1:City> was being
redesigned and we were only hearing about it because they wanted an exemption
from the noise ordinance. Another problem was that there was no provision
for bicycle infrastructure. It was incomprehensible to me that such a thing
would even be considered. When City Engineer Kevin Slovarp was asked about the
bicycle lanes he said it never occurred to him. He is really good at giving the
wrong answer in situations like this.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Later
I found out the right answer when I spoke with Phil Smith, our bike and Ped
coordinator, to find out why there was not some more advocacy here. Phil’s
answer was that we generally don’t put bike lanes in at intersections
with turning lanes. The cyclist is expected to just take the appropriate lane.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The
problem with this intersection is that the road starts spreading out into the
various turning lanes about 585 feet away from the actual intersection. So you
are supposed to take the lane and ride with 35-40 mile an hour traffic for 585
feet. Clearly there is an opportunity here for some improvement.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>When
the committee refused to grant the exception for the project on South, John
Hendrickson made a comment to the effect that this is why MDOT screws us on
funding. If only we would be more compliant and let them build their highways
through our community like they know best we would get more money. After the
meeting when he was having a good ol’ boy chuckle with the MDT guy about
us silly <st1:City w:st="on">Missoula</st1:City> people I asked him what was so
bad about <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missoula</st1:place></st1:City>
having high standards and wanting to have a say in the design of our
transportation system. He told me that in this case it was impossible to have
anything less than 12 foot lanes at the intersection so this was the only way
it could be built. I’m having trouble believing that but need to
look into the 12 foot lane rule some more.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>In
Committee of the Whole (COW) we heard from some FEMA people about a workshop
they were doing for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missoula</st1:place></st1:City>.
They were here gathering information for a disaster preparedness training they
will be doing for about 50 participants. The training is in <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Maryland</st1:place></st1:State> and the feds
are picking up the tab for the whole thing. We don’t have a lot of
natural disaster hazards here so the training will be about earthquakes. My
understanding is that the recent gas explosion in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Bozeman</st1:place></st1:City> was related to seismic activity so it
isn’t that off base. In general, the biggest fear here relates to
something going wrong with a train which could of course be caused by an
earthquake.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> Thanks
for your interest, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Bob
Jaffe<o:p></o:p></span></font><span Times New></p>
<p class=MsoNormal></span><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font
size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Missoula</span></font></st1:place></st1:City>
City Council, Ward 3<span Times New><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'></span><a
href="mailto:bjaffe@ci.missoula.mt.us">bjaffe@ci.missoula.mt.us</a><o:p></o:p></span></font><span
Times New></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'></span>406-728-1052<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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