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Neighborhood Council #3
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2006
Quality Life Concepts, 215 Smelter Ave. NE
7:00 p.m.
Present: Tim Austin, Jan Cahill, Sue Della Rossa, and Debbie Clark.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Sue.
Old Business:
Minutes from the 10-14-06 meeting were approved.
Police Advisory Commission meets Thursday; Sue will not be able to attend.
New Business:
Tim and other Neighborhood Council members are working with the Chamber to put together a “Welcome to Great Falls” packet to be delivered to new residents of the city. There will be a booth at the Christmas Stroll from 2:00 to 5:00 (Dec. 2) selling t-shirts, gift baskets for raffle and information about Neighborhood Councils, Neighborhood Watch, Crimestoppers, etc. E-mail Tim if we want to help at the booth.
Officer Jesse Slaughter presented history about the single-can alcohol ban issue. He has been policing the downtown area for the past 18 months and needed a solution to the intoxicated pedestrians. The City Attorney is working on the ordinance at this time and it will be discussed in the next few months. Jesse can be reached at 771-1180, extension 223, with questions.
Kevin Devine was also present to discuss the issue from the beer distributor’s point of view.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Next meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 12.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Clark
Neighborhood Council #3
Meeting Minutes
Wed., Oct. 14, 2006
Quality Life Concepts, 215 Smelter Ave. NE
7:00 p.m.
Present: Tim Austin, Jan Cahill, and Debbie Clark.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Jan Cahill.
Old Business:
Minutes from the 9-13-06 meeting were approved.
There were no committee reports.
New Business:
Kate Riley who was going to speak on Individual Development Accounts was unable to attend the meeting.
Tim was told by the City that equipment for Noah’s Ark Park is expected to be here this fall.
Fred Burrows, candidate for County Commissioner, introduced himself.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Next meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Clark
Neighborhood Council #3
Meeting Minutes
Wed., Sept. 13, 2006
Quality Life Concepts, 215 Smelter Ave. NE
7:00 p.m.
Present: Gary Vik, Tim Austin, Jan Cahill, Sue Della Rossa and Debbie Clark.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Old Business: Minutes from the previous meeting were approved w/o reading.
Committee Reports:
Sue reported on the last meeting of Police Advisory Board. They are learning how the dept. operates.
Tim reported on the Council of Councils meeting held on Aug. 29. There was a slide show presentation about the new power plant which took most of the time for the meeting. City Park & Rec presented info about the pool bond issue on the November ballot. There was discussion of single beer sale ban and keeping alcohol behind locked doors at convenience stores.
New Business:
Our council will have 3 members busy for Good Neighbor Day (Sept. 24) so we will not have any observance.
We had CMR students in attendance for their Street Law class: Zack Branson, Brittany Sheer, Nicole Daley.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Next meeting is Oct. 11 (Wednesday).
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Clark
Present: Tim Austin, Jan Cahill, Sue Della Rossa and Debbie Clark.
The meeting was called to order by Sue.
Old Business: Minutes from the previous meeting were approved as read.
New Business:
Sue read comments from Gary Vik who is absent tonight. “The one thing that I was going to bring up, in relation to my comments of last month, was the possibility of the council, as a whole, initiating some form of "fireworks ban". Something that we could put together, and issue, as a group, based upon a collection of our individual feelings on this issue. My thought is that we could, if we all agree, get the ball rolling and eventually, along with the other councils, take it to the City Commission. I really feel that things have gotten so far out of hand that something must be done in this area before somebody is seriously injured or a house burns to the ground.”
The Great Falls City Fire Marshall reported to the council some of the present City and County rules for fireworks and is interested in the opinions of all councils on this issue. Fireworks can be sold in Cascade County from June 24 – July 5 and Dec. 29 – Dec. 31. City regulations allow June 30 – July 4 sale and use. One neighbor showed a plastic bin of debris from his neighbor’s fireworks. Another reported that the 4th isn’t fun anymore because he starts worrying about the safety of his home. The ballpark and State Fair get special exemptions from the fire marshall for their firework displays. Some suggestions to make it less profitable for a fund raiser were raising the business license for stands or taxing like cigarettes. Other meeting attendees also would like to see a complete ban. Consensus of Council 3 was not for a complete ban but for a shorter sale time, better regulation and enforcement, and same rules for city and county. Tim will request the Council of Councils to add fireworks discussion on their agenda for Aug. 29.
Don McGibbony, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator, and Ray Kojetin, a Neighborhood Watch member from our area reported on forming groups.
Comment from a neighbor was that the public perception is that our meetings are closed. We had to postpone our normally second Tuesday of the month meeting because of absences but there was no notice to anyone who showed up that night. He suggested that someone should have been there to convene and adjourn the meeting to a later date. Possibly a sign would work also.
We have no Park Committee. Tim will check on the grant that Noah’s Ark Park was to receive for play equipment.
Sept. 24 Good Neighbor Day: Sue and Debbie are out of town that weekend. Ideas presented were talking to Meadowgold for free ice cream and Pepsi for free soft drinks and maybe collecting cans of food for the Food Bank and having a 2-hour deal at one of our parks. Sue and Tim will check into the ice cream and soft drink idea.
Another neighbor complaint was of too many cars at a residence. Jan took her name and will put her in touch with the Neighbors.Right.Here coordinator for some ideas about resolving the conflict.
Our meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Next meeting is Sept. 12.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Clark
Present: Gary Vik, Tim Austin, Jan Cahill and Debbie Clark.
Tim Austin left to attend City Commission meeting and register our support for keeping the Jaycee and Watertower pools open.
Meeting was called to order by Chairman, Gary Vik
Old Business: Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.
New Business:
Stephanie Langston from Alliance for Youth works with youth development in the community and discussed “40 Developmental Assets” that are important for youth to succeed. Engaging youth helps build better neighborhoods. She encouraged us to step out of our comfort zone and get to know the young people in our neighborhood.
A request for a replat by Gary Williamson was on the agenda but he couldn’t attend the meeting. He had contacted Gary Vik prior to the meeting and explained that he wanted to sell a parcel of land in the Big Bear parking lot; he has no plans for a restaurant as stated in the Great Falls Tribune. The Council approved his request and Gary will write a letter of approval and deliver it to Patty.
Traffic: One suggestion was for a 4-way stop at the intersection of 2Js and Smelter.
Fireworks issue will be on the agenda for our next meeting when the other two council members can attend.
A new Neighborhood Watch was formed in our area and Patty will talk to them about attending our meeting.
Neighborhood Council members will be notified automatically of Amber Alerts in the future. Patty will request that Officer Brooks attend our next meeting.
Patty reviewed some ideas from other councils for National Good Neighbor Day on Sept. 24, 2006. She is working on getting Governor Schweitzer, and Senators Burns and Baucus to attend. We had previously discussed using the Riverview School lawn for whatever we do with the option to be inside if the weather is not good. Patty reported that if we do use the school gymnasium, a custodian would have to be paid. Jan commented that the School Board has waived those charges upon requests to Superintendent Dunn in the past. We will have more discussion at our next meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Clark
Present: Gary Vik, Sue Della Rossa, Tim Austin, Jan Cahill and Debbie Clark
Meeting was called to order by Chairman, Gary Vik.
Old Business: Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.
New Business:
Officer Brooks reported crime statistics for the neighborhood from Jan. through April.
Sue brought up the issue of parking at the Days Inn when semis are parked on both sides of 2nd St. NW the traffic is limited to single lane. She registered a complaint with the city. Patty will talk to city parking officials and Sue will visit with the manager of Days Inn to see what can be done before there is an accident.
John Stevens reported on Experience Works, a work force training for senior citizens who need to work. It’s funded by US Dept. of Labor and there are income qualifications.
Other Business
Tim reported on the Council of Councils meeting. A lot of discussion and time was taken up with the idea of two more commissioners on the City Commission and this will be on the ballot at the next election. The Council of Councils will rotate chairs so each council takes a turn. There was general agreement about earmarking funds for parks when new housing developments are created and all council members backed fixing up the city parks. The council will meet 3 times a year.
Sue reported on the Police Advisory Board which met last week for the first time to go over formation and mission statements. Besides neighborhood council members, there will be representatives from MAFB, Native American government, clergy and a Hispanic citizen. Members had a tour of the emergency center at the police station including 911 dispatch. They learned about the preparations for incidents at high schools and junior high schools in the city.
National Good Neighbor Day is Sept. 24. Neighborhood Councils are brainstorming ideas for bringing neighbors together for a day. Patty will check into the use of Riverview School for a day which would be a good central spot for our neighborhood – a nice grassy area if the weather is good and the gymnasium if the weather is bad.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Clark
Present: Sue Della Rossa, Tim Austin, Jan Cahill and Debbie Clark
Jan Cahill called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Old Business: Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.
New Business:
Jim Workman & Bob Egland presented plans for a new subdivision called Northview Addition – potentially 142 properties near Countryside Village and 9th St. NE. Tim made a motion that Neighborhood Council 3 supports the subdivision as long as all necessary City requirements are met. The motion was seconded and passed by the Council.
Acting GFPD Chief Corky Grove presented information to the Council about crime and present day philosophy of the police department and community involvement. Violent crime statistics are based on 100,000 population but Great Falls doesn’t have that population so our statistics sometimes are skewed. Our police department is very active at the schools and community to help fight crime and drug problems. Corky will be heading up a police advisory board with members from each council for greater feedback from the community. Tim Austin was interested in the position from our Council but Sue had to leave early and Gary was absent so Patty would contact them to see if they are interested also.
Tim is our delegate for the Council of Councils meeting on April 19.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Clark
Present: Gary Vik, Sue Della Rossa, Tim Austin, Jan Cahill and Debbie Clark
Chairman Gary Vik called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Old Business: Sue moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Minutes were approved.
New Business: Representatives from the City (Jerry McKinley, Andrew Finch, Dave Dobbs, and Marty Basta) reported to the Council on measures taken to resolve traffic issues originally identified in a petition from June of 2005 on 25th Ave. NE. A speed study was conducted shortly thereafter, and after recent alley improvements, another speed study was taken. Speed was reduced in the alley. Improvements were accounted for in the general maintenance budget but any further measures that citizens might want would require levies on the neighborhood.
Future Council 3 area road improvements were also discussed.
There were no other issues of neighborhood concern.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Clark
Attending: Sue Della Rossa, Gary Vik, Debbie Clark, Tim Austin
Chair, Gary Vik called the meeting to order @ 7:00 p.m.
Minutes from the January meeting were approved.
There was no report from the Skyline Park Development Committee.
Jan Wolfe from Neighborhood Watch spoke about encouraging people to form groups to keep watch over their neighborhoods. It only takes 3-4 people per block to have an active group. A block captain meeting is scheduled for Feb. 15, 6:00 p.m. at the Senior Center, 1004 Central Ave. She also introduced 3 Americorp volunteers who each spoke about their particular group - Vista, At Risk Youth, and Get Fit Great Falls.
Traffic issues on 25th Ave. NE were discussed. A traffic study was completed in July and Sept. of 2005. The City was ready to put curbs in the alley next to the open area behind Walmart in order to slow traffic down but some homeowners protested. Marty Basta will be present at our next meeting to make sure that is what the neighborhood wants. Sue reminded that we need to educate citizens through the schools about the residential neighborhood by North Junior High.
There was discussion about the laws for parking RV in driveways. They cannot block sidewalks and if parked in the street, need to be moved periodically.
Also a citizen would like a traffic cop on the intersection east of Riverview Blvd (Riv. 3 West).
Next meeting will be March 7, 2006
Special Energy Information Meeting on Feb. 22, 2006 for those who missed the last one.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Clark
Attending: Sue Della Rossa, Jan Cahill, Debbie Clark, Tim Austin
Tim Austin called the meeting to order @ 7:00 p.m.
Minutes from the December meeting were not available so will be reviewed at the February meeting.
Skyline Park Development Committee met prior to the Council meeting and is still in the formation process, getting names of people interested in working on the committee. They will meet again before our next Neighborhood Council meeting. A Heren Park representative attended and presented ideas and answered questions.
Tim Austin reported on the Valley View Park Development. He has met with the Valley View PTA and they are excited and willing to work on the project.
There was a brief discussion of the traffic problem off of Smelter and the Best of Friends Animal Hospital.
A motion was made and seconded to move our next scheduled meeting from Feb. 14 to Feb. 7. The motion passed.
Special Energy Information Meeting on Feb. 2, 2006 hosted by Councils 1, 2 and 3.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Clark
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