JOURNAL OF COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS
MARCH 21, 2000

Regular City Commission Meeting

Mayor Randy Gray presiding

CALL TO ORDER: 7:12 PM

ROLL CALL: City Commissioners present: Randy Gray, Bill Beecher, Sandy Hinz, Diane Jovick-Kuntz and John Rosenbaum. Also present were the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, Directors of Community Development, Fairgrounds, Budget/MIS, Fiscal Services, Park and Recreation, Public Works, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Acting Director of Planning, and the City Clerk.

Mayor Gray read a proclamation pertaining to a Hunger Clean Up program sponsored by the Montana State University College of Technology Great Falls campus.

	NEW BUSINESS
	ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS
Ord. 2769, Amending the nepotism policy. Pulled.	1. ORDINANCE 2769, CODE OF ETHICS (NEPOTISM POLICY). This item was pulled from the Agenda.
Res. 9068, pertaining to American Ethanol Tax Increment Industrial Infrastructure District. Adopted.	2. RESOLUTION 9068, A RESOLUTION RELATING TO AMERICAN ETHANOL TAX INCREMENT INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE DISTRICT. Agri-Technology, a Montana Corporation, wanted to initiate the process necessary to request the issuance of tax increment bonds to finance public improvements in the area of their industrial plant site. This is a complex financing package, in which the Tax Increment Debt issuance portion will comprise approximately 12% of the total design, project management, and construction financing. Resolution 9068 provides a recap of previous activity taken by the City Commission regarding the approval of the financing of tax increment eligible portions of the proposed ethanol production facility in Great Falls. The entire project has expanded in terms of the size of the facility from a 30-million gallon guaranteed capacity to 75-million gallon guaranteed capacity plant. Resolution 9068 also establishes, for the record, the change in the name of the corporation from American Agri-Technology to Agri-Technology, a Montana Corporation. Commissioner Beecher moved, seconded by Commissioner Rosenbaum that the City Commission adopt Resolution 9068, setting a public hearing date for April 4, 2000, at which time the Commission will consider approving modifications to the project, approving revisions in cost estimates of the site development and infrastructure improvements, and approving the issuance of bonds in an amount not to exceed $36,000,000. Motion carried 5-0
Res. 9069, Revised Annual Tax Levy. Adopted.	3. RESOLUTION 9069, REVISED ANNUAL TAX LEVY. The Department of Revenue certified and re-certified the City's taxable valuations three times. The City Commission previously adopted Resolution 9043 and Resolution 9047 in order to adopt this fiscal year's annual tax levy. On March 10, 2000, the City received the second revision (third certified) taxable valuation from the Department of Revenue. Accordingly, the City was required to re-compute and revise its annual mill levy. As a result the City budget will not need to be revised; the City's total certified property value was previously understated and the net taxable value per mill increases $5,731 to $67,272; the City mill levy had to be revised to avoid over-taxation and was decreased 7.96 mills from 100.73 to 92.77; and the County was expected to send out corrected 2nd half tax bills by the end of April. Commissioner Rosenbaum moved, seconded by Commissioner Beecher, that the City Commission adopt Resolution 9069. Clayton M. Braden, 2708 4th Avenue NW, asked why it took two months for the County and the State to find the error and if those people who paid in full would receive interest on their over-payment. Motion carried 5-0.
Consent Agenda Approved as printed.	CONSENT AGENDA 4. Minutes, March 7, 2000, Commission meeting. 5. Total Expenditures of $1,954,797 for the period of February 24, 2000 through March 8, 2000, to include claims over $500, in the amount of $1,896,426. 6. Contracts List. 7. CDBG and HOME Program Proposed Use of Funds and Set the Public Hearing for the HUD Required Consolidated Plan. Accepted the CDBG and HOME program proposed use of funds and set the public hearing on the proposed plan for April 18, 2000, at 7:00 p.m. 8. Postpone Bid Award, Demolition of the Linden Apartment Building, GF Townsite, B247, L6&7. Postponed bid award until April 18, 2000, while the case was in litigation. Commissioner Rosenbaum moved, seconded by Commissioner Hinz, that the City Commission accept the Consent Agenda as printed. Motion carried 5-0.
	BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
Skyline Heights Add., Supplements 2, 3, 4, and 5th and an Amended Plat dedicating Skyline Heights Park. Approved.	9. PRELIMINARY PLAT OF 2ND, 3RD, 4TH, AND 5TH SUPPLEMENTS TO SKYLINE HEIGHTS ADDITION AND AMENDED PLAT DEDICATING SKYLINE HEIGHTS PARK. The preliminary plat of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Supplements to Skyline Heights Addition consists of 38 single family residential lots located south of 36th Avenue Northeast between 9th Street Northeast and the KRTV and KFBB television stations and transmitters. The Amended Plat will dedicate 1.7 acres as City park land, which fulfills the subdivision's park requirements. The Planning Board passed a motion recommending the City and County Commissions approve the preliminary plat and the amended plat of Lot 1, Block 2, Skyline Heights Addition, Lot 1, Block 1, First Supplement to Skyline Heights Addition and Skyline Heights Park and the accompanying Findings of Fact subject to the final plat of each supplement and the amended plat shall incorporate correction of any errors or omissions noted by staff; the final engineering drawings and specifications for the required public improvements to serve each supplement and the amended plat shall be submitted to the Public Works Department for review and approval prior to finalization of each subdivision; an annexation agreement containing terms and conditions for annexation of each phase be agreed to; and all applicable fees be paid. Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz moved, seconded by Commissioner Beecher, that the City Commission approve the Preliminary Plat of 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Supplements to Skyline Heights Addition and the Amended Plat dedicating Skyline Heights park and the accompanying Findings of Fact subject to fulfillment of conditions stipulated by the Planning Board. Motion carried 5-0.
Design Review Board Reappoint Carter and Sievert.	10. APPOINTMENTS, DESIGN REVIEW BOARD. Ben Carter and Ken Sievert were appointed to the Design Review Board on April 15, 1997. Their terms expire on March 31, 2000. Mr. Carter and Mr. Sievert were interested in and eligible for reappointment, however, they requested a one-year appointment in lieu of the regular three-year term. The Design Review Board was in favor of their request. Commissioner Rosenbaum moved, seconded by Commissioner Beecher, that the City Commission reappoint the following members to the respective terms: Bennett Carter--April 1, 2000, through March 31, 2001; Ken Sievert (architect)--April 1, 2000 through March 31, 2001. Motion carried 5-0.
City/County Historic Preservation Advisory Commission. Reappoint Sievert and appoint Aart Dolman.	11. APPOINTMENTS, CITY-COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION ADVISORY COMMISSION. The Historic Preservation Advisory Commission consists of nine members - four appointed by the Cascade County Commission, four appointed by the City Commission, and one member with professional architectural expertise who was appointed by the majority of the other eight members. The terms of Ken and Ellen Seivert expire April 30, 2000. Mr. and Mrs. Sievert have both served two three-year terms. Therefore, it was necessary to make two appointments to the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission. Ellen Sievert requested to be reappointed to the Commission. Commissioner Hinz moved, seconded by Commissioner Rosenbaum, that the City Commission reappoint Ellen Sievert and appoint Aart Dolman to three-year terms beginning May 1, 2000, and expiring April 30, 2003. Motion carried 5-0.
Police Commission. Appoint Marie Arnold and J. Michael Young.	12. APPOINTMENTS, POLICE COMMISSION. Dan McFarland was appointed to the Police Commission on May 1, 1998, for a three-year term. Mr. McFarland has since left the community; therefore, it was necessary to appoint one member to fill the remainder of his term. The term for Fred Thiel expire April 30, 2000. Mr. Thiel served two consecutive three-year terms and was not eligible for reappointment. Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz moved, seconded by Commissioner Beecher, that the City Commission appoint Marie Arnold to the Police Commission to fill the remainder of a three-year term, expiring April 30, 2001 and J. Michael Young for a full three year-term beginning May 1, 2000, and ending April 30, 2003. Motion carried 5-0.
	NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS
Neighborhood Council 4 - park names.	14A. Paul Petersen, Neighborhood Council 4, encouraged the City Commission to consider an ordinance that would provide a process for naming and re-naming parks.
Neighborhood Council 2 - fire fighter training.	14B. Phyllis Hemstad, Neighborhood Council 2, thanked Chief Hirose for offering the advanced training for his firefighters at Fire Station 2.
	PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Collection Agency Contract.	17. Mark Nash, 754 Eden Road, wanted to "clear the record" regarding the City's choice for a Municipal Court collection agency. He stated that "no qualified agencies" were in the State. He clarified that during the rating process for the Request For Proposals, his firm was rated the same as the collection agency receiving the contract. He added that the other agency offered a lower percentage for each collected dollar and that was the reason they were awarded the contract.
	ADJOURNMENT
Adjourn	There being no further business to come before the Commission, the regular meeting of March 21, 2000, adjourned at 7:59 p.m.