PUBLIC HEARINGS

Planning Director Ben Rangel reported that Resolution 9435 annexes the area within the Amended Plat of Lot 4, Block 1, Benefis West Minor Subdivision and Amended Plat of St. Peregrine Addition. Subject area was located between Benefis Court and the Grandview Trailer Court. The accompanying agreement contains terms and conditions associated with annexation of subject Lot 4.

The Planning Board conducted a public hearing on August 24, 2004. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Planning Board passed a motion recommending the governing bodies approve the Amended Plat of Lot 4, Block 1, Benefis West Minor Subdivision and Amended Plat of St. Peregrine Addition, subject to the following conditions: the applicant sign an annexation agreement; the applicant pay all applicable fees; preparation of a certificate of title by a title company to be filed with the amended plat and correction of any errors.

Ordinance 2886 assigns a zoning classification of "C" Residence Use, "B" Area District, to Lots 4A and 4B of the Amended Plat of Lot 4, Block 1, Benefis West Subdivision, upon annexation of same to City. The Ordinance also grants a conditional use allowing an office building on Lot 4B.

Mayor Gray declared the public hearing opened. No one appeared to speak in support of or opposition to Resolution 9435 or Ordinance 2886. Mayor Gray declared the public hearing closed.

Commissioner Hinz moved, seconded by Commissioners Beecher and Rosenbaum, that the City Commission adopt Resolution 9435 and approve the Amended Plat of Lot 4, Block 1, Benefis West Minor Subdivision and Amended Plat of St. Peregrine Addition, the accompanying Findings of Fact and Annexation Agreement.

Motion carried 5-0.

Commissioner Beecher moved, seconded by Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz, that the City Commission adopt Ordinance 2886.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

Chief of Police Jones reported that a grant had been applied for that required an Advisory Board be appointed to review the application for funding. An Ad Hoc Committee met on September 9, 2004. Discussion involved the proposed use of block grant funding for the purpose of offsetting costs associated with the purchase of equipment associated with the 911 Computer Aided Dispatch transition with an emphasis on Mobile Data Terminals. The funds would be used to make technological improvements to the existing system and to expand the systems capabilities. These may include but would not be limited to: mobile data terminals and bar coding equipment and software. Once the system was fully operational it would improve crime response capabilities. The grant required one public hearing regarding the proposed use of these funds. Congress allocated funds to be dispersed under the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program, established within the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

Mayor Gray declared the public hearing opened. No one appeared to speak in support of or opposition to accepting the Ad Hoc Committee Recommendation. Mayor Gray declared the public hearing closed.

Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz moved, seconded by Commissioners Beecher and Rosenbaum, that the City Commission accept the recommendation of the L.E. Ad Hoc Committee for the use of BJA grant funds.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

NEW BUSINESS

City Manager John Lawton reported at the Commission meeting held October 19, 2004, the City Commission voted to postpone action on the Resolution until Staff could review and possibly incorporate suggestions made by residents into the Resolution. Staff has since completed the analysis and offers the Resolution with two amendments.

The first amendment was the removal of the word "strongly" from Item 1. The second amendment pertained to Item 2. In order to reinforce the City's intention of supporting local businesses, the phrase "from outside the community" was removed.

Commissioner Beecher moved, seconded by Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz, that the City Commission adopt Resolution 9433 as amended.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

Planning Director Ben Rangel reported that Resolution 9437 sets a public hearing for December 7, 2004, to consider annexation of the area within Castle Pines Addition, Phase II, a 28 lot single-family residential subdivision along segments of 25th Avenue South and 16th Street South.

In March, the City and County Commissions conditionally approved the preliminary plat of Castle Pines, Phase II.

The Planning Board, during a meeting held July 13, 2004, recommended approval of the final plat of Castle Pines, Phase II, and annexation of the property contained therein subject to the following conditions: the applicant execute an annexation agreement; the applicant pay all applicable fees; any errors be corrected; and final engineering documents for required public improvements to serve the subdivision are subject to approval by the Public Works Department.

Commissioner Rosenbaum moved, seconded by Commissioner Hinz, that the City Commission adopt Resolution 9437.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

Ordinance 2890 assigns a zoning classification of "A" Residence Use, "B" Area District, to Castle Pines Addition, Phase II, upon annexation of same to City. Subject development consists of a 28 lot single-family residential subdivision along segments of 25th Avenue South and 16th Street South.

The Planning Board, at the conclusion of a public hearing held March 16, 2004, recommended the City Commission assign a zoning classification of "A" Residence Use, "B" Area District, to Castle Pines, Phase II, upon annexation to the City.

Commissioner Hinz moved, seconded by Commissioner Rosenbaum, that the City Commission accept Ordinance 2890 on first reading and set a public hearing for December 7, 2004, to consider adoption of Ordinance 2890.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

Planning Director Ben Rangel reported that Resolution 9436 sets a public hearing for December 7, 2004, to consider annexation of the area within West Ridge Addition, Phase II, located immediately north of Skyline Education Center and consisting of 32 proposed condominium units and 6 conventional single-family lots.

In May, the City and County Commission conditionally approved the preliminary plat of West Ridge Addition, Phase II, located immediately north of Skyline Education Center and consisting of 32 proposed condominium units and 6 conventional single-family residential lots.

A previous condition of approval was that the condominium structures be placed on Blocks 6 and 11 and be reviewed and approved by the City's Design Review Board. Although this condition would not have to be fulfilled until a building permit was sought, the developer already met with the Design Review Board to obtain their input.

Staff concluded that the basic conditions set forth in the conditional approval of the preliminary plat were being met by the developer in the overall process of final plat, final engineering and Annexation Agreement preparation.

The Planning Board, during a meeting held October 12, 2004, recommended approval of the final plat of West Ridge Addition, Phase II, and annexation of the property contained therein subject to the following conditions: the applicant execute an annexation agreement; all applicable fees be paid by the applicant; and any errors to be corrected. It was anticipated the above conditions would be fulfilled prior to the hearing on December 7, 2004.

Commissioner Beecher moved, seconded by Commissioner Rosenbaum, that the City Commission adopt Resolution 9436.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

Ordinance 2889 assigns a zoning classification of "PUD" Planned Unit Development District to Blocks 6 and 11 and "A" Residence Use, "B" Area District, to Block 12, West Ridge Addition, Phase II, upon annexation of same to City. Subject development is located immediately north of Skyline Education Center and consists of 32 proposed condominium units and 6 conventional single-family lots.

The Planning Board at the conclusion of a public hearing held April 27, 2004 recommended the City Commission assign a zoning classification of "PUD" Planned Unit Development District to Blocks 6 and 11 and "A" Residence Use, "B" Area District, to Block 12, West Ridge Addition, Phase II, upon annexation to the City.
Opposition from some neighboring property owners to the proposed 32 condominium units was presented and discussed in the agenda report dated May 18 to the City Commission regarding the preliminary plat of West Ridge Addition, Phase II.

Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz moved, seconded by Commissioners Beecher and Hinz, that the City Commission accept Ordinance 2889 on first reading and set a public hearing for December 7, 2004, to consider adoption of Ordinance 2889.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

CONSENT AGENDA

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

Mayor Gray asked regarding item 16, if the amount listed brought the City current with the others members of Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Co-Op. City Manager John Lawton replied that it would.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

The provisions of Article XI, Section 9, of the Montana Constitution and 7-3-171 through 193, Montana Code Annotated, require a local governing body to call for an election. On June 8, 2004 the question for local government review and the establishment of a study commission was on the ballot and approved by the voters. On November 2, 2004, the voters elected 5 people to serve on the Study Commission.

MCA 7-3-177 states that every study commission shall include an ex- officio, nonvoting member of the governing body or an elected official or employee of the local government appointed by the governing body.

Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz moved, seconded by Commissioners Hinz and Rosenbaum, that the City Commission appoint Commissioner Bill Beecher to serve as an ex-officio on the Local Government Study Commission.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

The City and County Commissions are required by ordinance to jointly fill vacancies of elected members on the Transit District Board that may be caused due to no one filing for the position. The appointment process involves a representative from the County Commission and one from the City Commission to review applications and to recommend one person to both Commissions for appointment. Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz served as the City Commission's representative to that subcommittee. County Commissioner Beltrone served as the County Commission's representative. After reviewing the two applications received, Commissioners Jovick-Kuntz and Beltrone recommended the appointment of William Thomas to the Transit Board. This term would be until the next election whereby Transit members are elected or November 30, 2006.

Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz moved, seconded by Commissioner Beecher, that the City Commission appoint William Thomas to fill a vacancy on the Great Falls Transit District Board created when only one person filed for the two elected positions. This term shall expire November 30, 2006.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

CITY MANAGER.

29. City Manager John Lawton announced that Neighborhood Council Coordinator Kim Thiel had resigned with the City and had taken a job with Quality Life Concepts as Development Director. He added that the City was very sorry to lose her. She was very instrumental with coordinating the Neighborhood Council from the beginning.
 

CITY COMMISSION.

30. Commissioner Diane Jovick-Kuntz thanked the citizens of Great Falls for the donations towards the vandalized flower pots on Central. She added that the Tribune ran an advertisement asking for donations toward the vandalized flower pots. There was a total of over $3,000 raised from donations from our citizens and also the Tribune contributed over $400 from their advertisement. She stated that next spring there would be new flower pots that could not be moved and hopefully not destroyed.
 

ADJOURNMENT