JOURNAL OF COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS
APRIL 18, 2000

Regular City Commission Meeting

Mayor Randy Gray presiding

CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 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, Planning, Budget/MIS, Police Chief, Acting Fire Chief, Acting Directors of Park and Recreation and Public Works, and the City Clerk.

Mayor Gray read proclamations pertaining to Volunteer and Community Development Weeks.

Marcia Staigmiller, requested the City Commission co-sponsor an event to be held in the Civic Center Theater and the Gibson Room that would benefit a job bank program. The Commission stated they would take the request under advisement.

	PUBLIC HEARINGS
CDBG & HOME FY 2000/2001, Proposed Plan. Conducted Public Hearing.	1. CDBG & HOMES PROPOSED 5 YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND USE OF FUNDS FOR 2000/2001. The 2000-2005 Consolidated Plan is a five year planning and reporting document required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and was completed on March 21, 2000. This Plan includes a community needs assessment, housing market analysis, a 5-year strategic plan and annual action plan. The Annual Plan portion of the Consolidated Plan includes the proposed use of CDBG and HOME funds for the approaching fiscal year. Mayor Gray declared the public hearing open. Those addressing the Commission regarding the plan were: Sally Macmilan, representative of Neighborhood Council 6, who encouraged the City Commission to fund the Sunnyside Park enhancement project; and Chris Christiaens, Great Falls Transit District, who encouraged the City Commission to reconsider the allocation for ADA accessible bathrooms in the new Transit Transfer Station. Commissioner Hinz moved, seconded by Commissioner Beecher, that the City Commission close the public hearing and schedule action on the Final Consolidated Plan for May 2, 2000. Motion carried 5-0.
	NEW BUSINESS
Ord. 2766, Discovery Gallery. Set public hearing.	2. ORDINANCE 2766, ENABLING A SIDEWALK ART PROGRAM WITH THE BOUNDARIES OF THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. Several citizens requested that the City Commission establish a curbside art gallery, or Discovery Gallery. The Discovery Gallery will be located within the current boundaries of the Business Improvement District. The designation of this gallery to display art- work in downtown Great Falls is a continuation of the Commission's recognition and support of the arts as a major economic and social base in the community. Additionally, the involvement of the Business Improvement District Board in developing a proposal and project guidelines underscores their efforts to enhance the downtown as a vital community and commercial center. The Discovery Gallery's width will be from the back of the curb to a maximum of seven feet inward. Each gallery will extend to the second parking space at each end of the block or one space away at the alleys. The artwork accepted by the City of Great Falls for placement in the Discovery Gallery may become the property of the City and may be positioned, relocated, or removed at the City's discretion. If the artist chooses to retain ownership of the artwork, the City will have the authority to position, relocate or remove the artwork. The Business Improvement District Board will develop guidelines for this gallery and the acceptance of art for placement. At a minimum, the guidelines shall address: size of the art objects materials construction spacing textures and sounds mechanical and other powered devices general accessibility to the art themes sight lines to commercial property right-of-ways costs, fees insurance application process and review Nothing, however, shall diminish or be considered an exception to the principles of public safety and access. The Business Improvement District supports this idea and has been working on the guidelines necessary to begin soliciting artists to submit- project ideas. While researching the code, Staff discovered that two sections in Title 12 would need to be modestly amended to include an exception for the Discovery Gallery. Those sections are 12.04.040.E Boulevard Encroachment Permit -- Issuance Conditions and 12.32.010.B Obstruction -- Defined -- Prohibited. Staff recommends adding an exception to these sections that would allow the artwork. Staff also discovered that 12.08.010(C)(3) Exceptions for Prohibited Applicability for Obstructions in Streets and Public Places states "Statuary as approved by the City Commission upon review of a traffic study and located in accordance therewith so as not to unduly interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic and access to utilities and abutting property in the immediate vicinity." The last change would insert a new section formally recognizing the Discovery Gallery, defining its boundaries and delegating the responsibility of developing guidelines and selection procedures to the Business Improvement District. Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz moved, seconded by Commissioner Beecher, that the City Commission accept Ordinance 2766 on first reading and set the public hearing for May 2, 2000. Commissioner Beecher requested that during a presentation at the next Commission meeting, pictures be provided of other cities art galleries as well as information on potential maintenance costs. Motion carried 5-0.
Res. 9076, State Fair Fees. Adopted.	3. RESOLUTION 9076, MONTANA STATE FAIR FEES. Staff proposed that all the fees remain the same in FY 2000/2001 except the PRCA Rodeo tickets. The contract price increased necessitating the increase in the ticket price. Staff recommended the price for General Admission be set at $8 and reserved at $12. Staff also recommended a fee for a new event, the Demolition Derby be set at the same level as the rodeo tickets. The final change in ticket structure involved a single night show ticket to be set at $22 and sold only the day of the concert. The State Fair Advisory Board approved the fee structure at their April 11, 2000, meeting. Commissioner Rosenbaum moved, seconded by Commissioner Beecher, that the City Commission adopt Resolution 9076. Motion carried 5-0.
Consent Agenda Approved as printed.	CONSENT AGENDA 4. Minutes, April 4, 2000, Commission meeting. 5. Total Expenditures of $1,038,362 for the period of March 23-April 5, 2000, to include claims over $500, in the amount of $987,488. 6. Contracts List. 7. Set Public Hearing, Development Proposals for the Lease of vacant land at Broadwater Bay Business Park, Block 4, Lot 9. Set public hearing for May 2, 2000. 8. Contract Award, Storm Drainage Improvements to Skyline Heights Basin (OF 1282). Awarded contract to Shumaker Trucking in the amount of $104,695.50. 9. Engineering Services Agreement, Storm Drainage Outfall and Verde Park Drainage Studies (OF 1283). Agreement with J&A Consultants for engineering services in the amount of $14,899. 10. Reject Bids, Overhead Garage Door Project (OF 1285). Reject the bid received and authorize staff to rebid. 11. Postpone Bid Award, Demolition of Linden Terrace Apartments (GF Townsite B247 L6). Postpone bid award until May 2, 2000. Commissioner Beecher moved, seconded by Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz, that the City Commission accept the Consent Agenda as printed. Motion carried 5-0.
	ADJOURNMENT
Adjourn	There being no further business to come before the Commission, the regular meeting of April 18, 2000, adjourned at 7:42 p.m.