January 22, 2007 | March 19, 2007 | April 16, 2007 | September 17, 2007 | October 15, 2007
Council members present:
Diane Gelernter, chairperson
Tawny Newth
Carole Gilmour
Jean Stone
There was a quorum present. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Diane Gelernter leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
The minutes of the September 27, 2007 meeting were read and accepted.
Police Advisory Board: Diane Gelernter reported this meeting covered the internal workings of the police department. It was interesting to note the Great Falls population is 56,338, with 38,773 voters registered and 22.63 square miles recently incorporated into the city limits. A new medical dispatcher will be added. The average salary for police officers is $29,331. They did get their raises; however, additional police officers are needed to cover the increase square miles of city and an expansion of the public safety program to cover fighting terrorism and disaster preparedness programs. It may take a mil levy increase to cover additional expenses.
Action Team Meeting: Tawny reported there were only five people in attendance. As a result, not much was discussed.
Status of the Noxious Weed Petition: Stan Meyer gave a report on the meeting held with the county and city officials. There were approximately 42 signatures on the petition. All city officials received a copy of this petition. There appears to have been a lack of coordination between the city and the county on this issue. The following were some suggestions presented:
Another meeting will be scheduled to devise a plan for noxious weed control. Stan Meyer will follow up to insure another meeting is scheduled.
Disaster Preparedness: Patty Cadwell informed us the city and county have a disaster preparedness plan; however, more public education is needed. More information on this topic will be coming as a result of the next Council of Councils meeting.
This is an open forum of citizens’ questions to the mayoral and city commission candidates and incumbents..
Tawny Newth introduced Susan Kahn, a visitor attending our meeting who is running for the position of Mayor. Susan spoke briefly concerning her philosophy on the city of Great Falls’ future growth and how she would like to see some governmental policies handled, including permitting the voters to have more say on significant issues.
Area surrounding the collection pond adjacent to Whispering Ridge: The question raised is, will the city be taking this property in hand or will Mr. Gesky be retaining this property and paying the city as sum of money in exchange? It is noted Mr. Gesky has been paying the county to spray this area for noxious weeds. Tawny will contact Mr. Jon Thompson for this answer.
Next Neighborhood Council #5 Meeting is scheduled to be held November 19 at 7 p.m., same location.
Meeting Adjourned: There being no further topics for discussion, the meeting adjourned 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Jean P. Stone
(For Gloria Bedker, Secretary)
Attendees: Diane Gelernter, Chairperson
Tawny Newth
Carole Gilmour
Jean Stone
Patty Cadwell, Neighborhood Council Coordinator
John Stone
Stan Meyer
Susan Kahn
Council members present: Diane Gelernter, Tawny Newth, Carole Gilmour, Gloria Bedker
Diane opened the meeting at 7:00 by leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read & approved.
Tawny reported the Action Team has the New Neighbor packets available.
The Police Advisory Board meets this week. Officer Schaffer gave an interesting report - his department is enforcing school bus complaints since school has started for the year.
Neighborhood District 5 has seven neighborhood watches & they are going through the "old list" hoping to find more people interested in this program.
The Police Academy will begin later this fall and it will be strictly volunteer so they are asking for participation from the citizens.
The petitions for the weed control were presented to Patty and there were a total of 31 signatures.
There was discussion about Russell Park and it was decided to wait until spring, 2008, to work on any projects. The gazebo may need painting and Giles of Park and Rec will provide the paint and volunteer labor will come from us. Duncan Anderson, a Senior at GFH, added his expertise and thought City Chevrolet, where he is employed, would possibly help with this project.
Tawny has the key to the meeting room so there shouldn't be any more waiting in the wind and cold to have the door unlocked!
The next meeting will be Monday October 15, 2007, same place, same time. The meeting was adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
Gloria Bedker, Secretary
ATTENDEES:
Cory Gregg, Gloria Bedker, Dolores Chapman, Officer Schaffer, Hazel Parzych, Donald Bedker, Carole Gilmour, Duncan Anderson, Thomas Santin, Patty Cadwell
Council committee members present: Chairperson Diane Gelernter, Tawny Newth, Carole Gilmour
Diane called the meeting to order at 7 pm and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the March 19th meeting were approved as written with 2 corrections: Date of April meeting and date of May 5 “Mapril” Park cleanup.
Tawny reported on the councils presenting a letter to the City Commissioners last month asking them to budget money for park maintenance in the next year. Patty Cadwell announced that she had put $200 per council in her budget for us to use for park needs. That budget begins July 1. Money would be available then if approved.
Tawny asked Patty to report on the ACTION committee meeting since she had been out of town. The only thing covered was Tim Austin’s design of a card that would be used to welcome new residents. They may approach the base and realtors to help with this.
Carole reported on the Neighborhood Watch she is working on developing. The signs are ready at the city and because there are no power poles at the ends of the block she must get permission of property owners to have posts put into their lawns.
Tawny asked Patty if there were any developments on the precinct changes proposed last month. Patty will try to get a meeting together to discuss. This would affect the boundaries of councils and one proposal creates 2 more councils so the total would be 11.
Patty clarified the councils being involved in the Animal Ordinance. Councils may be used to hear an appeal when someone has been refused a request for a multiple animal permit for more than the allowed number of pets. The chairman would be contacted and the council can decide to either arbitrate or send it directly to the Police Commission. If on arbitration the council rules against the resident, they also can go to the Police Commission to appeal.
During Stan’s discussion it was decided that we will not do May 5 cleanup day and have a work crew type get together later in the summer. We will have Kitty speak at that meeting.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted by
Carole Gilmour
ATTENDEES:
Diane Gelernter, Carole Gilmour, Tawny Newth, Patty Cadwell, Gary Nowell, Stan Meyer
Council Members present:
Diane Gelernter, chairperson, Tawny Newth, Carole Gilmour, Gloria Bedker There was a quorum present. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Diane leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The minutes of the February 26, 2007 were approved.
Peggy Bourne discussed proposals for re-districting the neighborhood council districts. Each council will discuss this change and give the decision to Peggy, hopefully, by May, 2007.
Kory Larsen, Chief Prosecutor for the City of Great Falls, recapped the new ordinance for animal control for the City. He also explained the "Appeal hearing to be heard by Neighborhood Councils" & would like our thoughts & decisions on this, again by May, 2007.
Diane reported on the Police Advisory Board - Corky Grove is proposing more officers for Great Falls - it is getting more difficult to recruit people for officers & this is nation wide, not just in Great Falls. The city needs to update the equipment & also buy another dog as they are proving invaluable to the police force. A Citizens Police Academy is being proposed & also a Student's Police Academy.
Tawny reported on Council of Councils & the re-districting of the Neighborhood Councils. Tomorrow night, March 20, the City Commission will be presented a letter from the council of Councils requesting a review of the Master Park Plan. The next Action Team meeting will be April 9, 2007, at the Civic Center at 5:15. Tawny gave each Council member a copy of the proposed cover sheet for the new Welcome packet & we all agreed, it is very informative & useful.
Carole reported on Neighborhood Watch in her area & out of 16 houses on 34 & 35 streets, 10 families are joining Neighborhood Watch.
Russell Park cleanup day will be Saturday, May 6, 2007, starting at 10:00 a.m. Snacks & drinks were discussed & it was decided we would provide whatever we cared to.
Jim Rearden & Tawny are working together to get the concrete waste cleaned up at Whispering Ridge & 17th Street.
Amy Van Sickle of PULSE Great Falls will be our speaker in May.
Jake Karnop questioned "who is the Park & Recreation Director" as he has not read or heard about this matter.
The next meeting will be May 21, 2007, same time, same place. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Gloria Bedker, Secretary
ATTENDEES:
Carole Gilmour
Diane Gelernter
Dolores Chapman
Hazel Parzych
Kory Larsen
Peggy Bourne
Patty Cadwell
Gloria Bedker
Tawny Newth
Jake Karnop
Michael Engellant
Robert Haffner
Donald L. Bedker
Council members present:
Diane Gelernter, chairperson
Tawny Newth
Jean Stone
Carole Gilmour
Gloria Bedker
There was a quorum present. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 by Diane leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The minutes of the December 18, 2006, meeting were read & approved.
Tawny had several reports: the city commission meeting of January 16- the Council of Council meeting of January 17 where lots of discussion was about the park development at West Bank plaza. On February 15, there will be a special meeting “how to fund our parks”. Tim Austin & Tawny are working on a “New Neighbor Welcome Packet”. Ten people from our Neighborhood Council district signed up at the Stroll. George Littlefield of Council #4 is concerned about school safety zones. The concrete waste in Whispering Ridge has not been taken care of but Tawny is “on top of it”!
Jean Stone expressed her concern about the clear zone for the base & the flying mission.
Sergeant Schafer, training coordinator of the GFPD, gave a very interesting talk. He said there will soon be a police office downtown & stated the “Volunteers in Police Service” needs more help!
Carole Gilmour and a group of her neighbors are starting a Neighborhood Watch program on their block & they have many neighbors signed up as “watchers”. Mac McGiboney will have a Neighborhood Watch meeting February 7th.
Stan Meyer and Viggo Andersen attended the council meeting & both expressed their concern over the rapid spread of noxious weeds in and around the City. They mailed a letter October 16, 2006, to the Mayor & City commissioners - James Freeman, Cascade county Weed Coordinator - Bryan Dunn, Superintendent of GF Schools & John Lawton, City Manager. As of this date they have received no response! They are asking our Council for help in this matter. Tawny made a motion for our council to write a letter in this regards & it was seconded.
Bob Stubbs, Neighborhood Council #4 chairman, introduced Sandra and Gary Guynn who live at 3624 9th Ave South. Sandra talked about the HUGE problem they have with Pete’s Auto Sales and the obnoxious noise from their telephone answering system which comes over their loud speaker system. She asked for our help and anything we can do would be most appreciated.
Diane said there will be a public hearing at GF high school January 30th at 5:30 concerning the reconstruction project on 10th Avenue South from 20th Street South to 26 Street South and also capacity improvements at four intersections.
The next meeting will be February 26, same place, same time.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Gloria Bedker, Secretary
List of attendees:
Hazel Parzych
Dolores Chapman
Stan Meyer
Donald Bedker
John Stone
Jean Stone
Bob Stubbs
Audrey Finlayson
Sandra Guynn
Gary Guynn Viggo Andersen
Ryan Shanahan
MacMcGiboney Neighborhood Watch
Patty Cadwell
Jake Karnop
Gloria Bedker
Carole Gilmour
Diane Gelernter
Tawny Newth
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