JOURNAL OF COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS
March 20, 2001

Regular City Commission Meeting Mayor Gray presiding

CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 PM

ROLL CALL: City Commissioners present: Randy Gray, Bill Beecher, Sandy Hinz, and Diane Jovick-Kuntz. Commissioner Rosenbaum was excused. Also present were the Acting City Manager, City Attorney, Directors of Library, Public Works, Budget/MIS, State Fair, Police Chief, Park and Recreation, and Planning, Acting Fire Chief, and the City Clerk.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

NEW BUSINESS

ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS
Ord. 2782, Amending Title 15 Chapter 11 pertaining to billboards. Set public hearing for April 17, 2001.
1.
ORDINANCE 2782, AMENDING TITLE 15, CHAPTER 11, SIGN CODE.

A moratorium for billboard signs was established on June 6, 2000. The intent of the moratorium was to allow staff the time to work with the sign industry and the public in the development of new regulations for billboard signs. The proposed changes in Ordinance 2782 were produced through the hard work of a panel composed of state, city and city/county officials, sign industry representatives, individuals from the real estate and architectural professions, and a Conservation Council member. The group recognized that billboards were a necessary and appropriate advertising medium and that there were acceptable and viable locations for billboards within the community. Working from these convictions, the panel fashioned substantive changes enabling City officials to effectively manage and control the construction and placement of billboard signs in the community. The committee also reviewed and refined code sections pertaining to billboard sign size, height, location, installation, appearance and maintenance standards. The panel also proposed to establish scenic and entryway corridors where new billboard signs were not permitted. As a consequence, many previously conforming signs would be non-conforming if Ordinance 2782 is adopted. The committee proposed that the non-conforming signs be allowed to remain in place, but they could not be repaired or maintained to a degree resulting in the substantial upgrading or replacement of the structural support of the billboard thus encouraging the phasing out of these signs along the scenic corridors within the City.

Commissioner Beecher moved, seconded by Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz, to accept Ordinance 2782 on first reading and set a public hearing and final reading for 7:00 p.m. on April 17, 2001.

Jim Pannell, 2765 Fern Drive, complimented the Community Development Department for their work on this proposed ordinance.

Motion carried 4-0.

Consent Agenda
Approved as printed.

CONSENT AGENDA

2.
Minutes, March 6, 2001, Commission meeting.
3.
Total Expenditures of $938,771 for the period of February 15 - March 1, 2001, to include claims over $500, in the amount of $879,557.
4.
Contracts List.
5.
Set public hearing, Resolution 9143, 2001 FY Budget Amendments, for April 3, 2001.
6.
Set public hearing, CDBG & HOME program funds for April 17, 2001.
7.
Postpone bid award, microwave pole-cam system. Postponed bid award to allow staff additional time to review the bids.
8.
Utility easement, to Energy West in GF 12th Add., B103, L5.
9.
Agreement, Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Approved agreement for City staff to provide plan and specification review of small public water supply and sewage systems.

Commissioner Hinz moved, seconded by Commissioner Beecher, that the City Commission accept the Consent Agenda as printed.

Motion carried 4-0.

BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
State Fair Advisory Board. Appoint King.
10.
APPOINTMENT, STATE FAIR ADVISORY BOARD.

Iver Johnson resigned from the Board due to accepting employment outside Great Falls. Therefore, it was necessary to appoint someone to fulfill the remainder of Mr. Johnson's term.

Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz moved, seconded by Commissioner Beecher, that the City Commission appoint Lane King to the State Fair Advisory Board through June 30, 2002, to fill the remainder of the term vacated by the resignation of Iver Johnson.

Motion carried 4-0.

Civic Center Advisory Board. Appoint Kampfer and Sargent.
11.
APPOINTMENTS, CIVIC CENTER ADVISORY BOARD.

The term for Gary Zadick expired on December 31, 2000, and Charles Sherwood resigned from the Board. Mr. Zadick was not interested in reappointment; therefore, it was necessary to appoint two members to this board.

Commissioner Hinz moved, seconded by Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz, that the City Commission appoint Robert Kampfer to a three year term beginning March 20, 2001, and ending December 31, 2003, and appoint Judith Sargent to fill the remainder of the three year term vacated by Charles Sherwood expiring December 31, 2001.

Motion carried 4-0.

Golf Advisory Board. Appoint Jupka.
12.
APPOINTMENTS, GOLF ADVISORY BOARD.

Kris Jupka was appointed to the Golf Advisory Board in 1998 as a representative of the Women's Golf Association. Ms. Jupka was eligible for and interested in reappointment. The term for James Huber will expire on March 31, 2001. Mr. Huber was not eligible for reappointment.

Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz moved, seconded by Commissioners Beecher and Hinz, that the City Commission reappoint Kris Jupka to the Golf Advisory Board for a three year term expiring March 31, 2004, and appoint Robert McPherson to the Golf Advisory Board as an at-large representative for a three-year term beginning April 1, 2001 and expiring March 31, 2004.

Motion carried 4-0.

Park and Recreation Board. Appoint Hall and Trovatten.
13.
APPOINTMENTS, PARK AND RECREATION BOARD.

The term for George Page expired on December 31, 2000. Mr. Page was not interested in reappointment. Mr. Levine resigned from the Board, therefore it was necessary to appoint one member to fill the remainder of Mr. Levine's three-year term and one member to replace Mr. Page.

Commissioner Beecher moved, seconded by Commissioner Hinz, that the City Commission appoint Veronica Hall to the Park and Recreation Board for a three-year term beginning March 20, 2001 and expiring December 31, 2003, and appoint John Trovatten to fill the remainder fo the three-year term vacated by Daniel Levine, expiring December 31, 2002.

Motion carried 4-0.

NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS
Neighborhood Council 8 Sidewalk Program.
15.
Karen Grove, Neighborhood Council 8, reported that City staff outlined the proposed sidewalk replacement program at a recent Council 8 meeting. Mrs. Grove recommended that the City distribute more information about the program to dispel rumors as well as have the City Forester available to answer questions regarding the impact boulevard trees have on sidewalks. Mayor Gray thanked Mrs. Grove for her comments and asked staff to work on complying with her request.

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Street Repair.
18A.
Herb Sobeczek, 121 11th Street, relayed dissatisfaction at the condition of the streets especially Central and 14th Street and 9th Street. Public Works Director Jim Rearden stated that the funding available only provides for a 300 year street replacement cycle rather than the 25 year preferred cycle. He also stated that the areas Mr. Sobeczek mentioned were slated to be rebuilt by the State in 2003 or 2004.
Snow Removal.
Mr. Sobeczek also expressed concern regarding snow removal. He explained that he shoveled his sidewalk three times one day because the snow plows kept throwing snow on his sidewalk when they were clearing the street. Mayor Gray stated he had received several calls concerning the same thing and assured Mr. Sobeczek that City crews were aware of the problem and were resolving it.
Sidewalk Program.
18B.
Mr. Greg Kecskes, stated that he was researching the legality of the proposed sidewalk program and suggested that while statute gives cities the authority to create such a program, case law does not. He added that he was working with the legislature to repeal the state law giving cities and towns the authority to require abutting property owners to maintain and repair sidewalks..

ADJOURNMENT
Adjourn There being no further business to come before the Commission, the regular meeting of March 20, 2001, adjourned at 7:35 p.m.

/S/
Mayor Randy Gray

/S/
Peggy J. Bourne, City Clerk


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