The purpose of this Consolidated Plan community needs public hearing was to allow citizens, especially lower income citizens, an opportunity to advise the City Commission of the community's issues. The comments heard at this public hearing will be considered when allocating the 2007/2008 Community Development Block Grant and HOME Grant funds.

Mayor Stebbins declared the public hearing open. Those addressing the City Commission were as follows:

Don McGiboney, 405 24th Avenue NE, requested the City Commission allocate 15 percent of the CDBG funds for public service projects. He explained that those funds could be used to provide important materials associated with the Neighborhood Watch program.

Sheila Rice, 509 1st Avenue South, Executive Director for Neighborhood Housing Services, emphasized the impact CDBG and HOME funds have made in Great Falls by assisting with home ownership and improving blighted neighborhoods.

There being no one further to address the Commission, Mayor Stebbins declared the public hearing closed.

Community Development Director Mike Rattray reported that Ordinance 2957 would amend the Official Codes of the City of Great Falls (OCCGF) Title 17, Chapter 60 pertaining to signs. The proposed revisions address minor housecleaning items; provide additional clarification; and add a provision to address signage if a premise was subsequently subdivided.

Specific changes included:

• Signs for home occupations, family day cares, adult group homes and other approved home uses would not require sign permits, provided size and location standards were met.
• All references to specific dollar amounts for fees and costs were deleted and instead payment of fees and costs would be as set by Commission resolution.
• To be consistent with the narrative description in the Code, Exhibit 60-6 was revised to note that one free-standing pole sign would be allowed per premise frontage for premises exceeding 50,000 square feet in area.
• Reference was made to the appropriate section of the Code that addresses signs for home occupations, family day cares and the like.
• Clarification was provided that on-premise signs were authorized for approved commercial uses in residential zoning districts, neighborhood commercial zoning districts, and central business periphery zoning districts.
• A new provision was added to address signage if a premise was subsequently subdivided.
• If a sign permit was revoked and the sign was not removed, the City may remove the sign and the sign owner may then reclaim the sign within ten working days. After that time, the sign may be destroyed. The requirement that the owner pay a $50 fee to reclaim the sign was removed.

Commissioner Hinz moved, seconded by Commissioner Rosenbaum, that the City Commission accept Ordinance 2957 on first reading and set December 19, 2006, as the date to consider adoption of Ordinance 2957.

Motion carried 5-0.

Planning Director Ben Rangel reported that Resolution 9626 establishes the boundaries of the proposed West Bank Urban Renewal District, identifies the area as a proposed urban renewal district and establishes that the area is “blighted” per Montana Statute.

Specifically, the “blighted” conditions in the district include:

1. Physical deterioration of buildings and properties. Many of the structures in the defined area are in poor repair and properties are poorly maintained. Building permit information indicates that the majority of existing structures have not been substantially improved for at least twenty years.
2. Inappropriate or mixed uses of land or buildings. The presence of existing heavy industrial uses within the defined area is incompatible with retail, commercial, residential and parkland development. This land use conflict has proven to be a disincentive to the improvement of properties within the area by private enterprise.
3. Defective street layout. Much of the area is without streets, sidewalks, curbs or gutters resulting in poor traffic circulation and storm drainage problems.
4. Unsanitary and unsafe conditions. Portions of the defined area are included in the list of priority sites maintained by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality under the Comprehensive Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act (CECRA) and are designated a Brownfield site as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Contamination on the site is associated with historic industrial activity and has affected both the soil and groundwater and threatens to contaminate the Missouri River.

In conjunction with several area property owners, the City was interested in the revitalization and redevelopment of an area located near the west bank of the Missouri River, generally north and south of Central Avenue West. Initial steps had already been taken by various entities to address contamination in the area with an assessment of environmental conditions and with the development of a conceptual master plan, under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Program.

In order to give the City an additional funding tool in this redevelopment effort, staff proposed to establish an urban renewal district and plan under Montana’s urban renewal authority, including a tax increment financing provision.

Commissioner Rosenbaum moved, seconded by Commissioner Beecher, that the City Commission adopt Resolution 9626.

Motion carried 5-0.

Finance Director Coleen Balzarini requested the City Commission adopt Resolution 9627, which establishes compliance with reimbursement bond regulations under the Internal Revenue Code. She reminded the City Commission that on November 7, 2006, Great Falls voters authorized the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds in the amount of up $2,270,000 to finance improvements and upgrades to swimming pools in Great Falls, including rehabilitating and designing, constructing and equipping improvements to the Mitchell Pool, the Jaycee Pool and its restrooms and locker rooms, the Water Tower Pool and its restrooms, locker rooms, and related amenities, and to pay the cost of the issuance of the Bonds. The term of the debt may not exceed 10 years and the Commission will set an interest rate for a competitive sale.

Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz moved, seconded by Commissioner Hinz, that the City Commission adopt Resolution 9627.

Motion carried 5-0.

Commissioner Hinz moved, seconded by Commissioners Beecher and Rosenbaum, that the City Commission approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

Motion carried 5-0.

Rick Tryon and Al Faechner were appointed to the Mansfield Center for the Performing Arts Advisory Board in 2004. Both Mr. Tryon and Mr. Faechner were interested in and eligible for another term. Mr. Kampfer was originally appointed in 2001 and due to a clerical error has only served five years. He was eligible to serve six years; therefore, it was recommended that he be appointed to a one-year term.

Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz moved, seconded by Commissioner Beecher, that the City Commission reappoint Rick Tryon and Al Faechner to the Mansfield Center for the Performing Arts Advisory Board for three-year terms through December 31, 2009, and reappoint Robert Kampfer to a one-year term through December 31, 2007.

Motion carried 5-0.

John Harding, William Roberts and Ron Kinder were appointed to the Great Falls Planning Advisory Board on July 1, 2005. Mr. Harding, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Kinder were interested in and eligible for reappointment. Mark Gunderson resigned his position on the Board; therefore, it was necessary to appoint a replacement.

Commissioner Hinz moved, seconded by Commissioner Rosenbaum, that the City Commission reappoint John Harding, William Roberts and Ron Kinder to three-year terms through December 31, 2009.

Motion carried 5-0.

Commissioner Hinz moved that the City Commission postpone appointing someone to fill the remainder of a three-year term through December 31, 2007, to the Great Falls Planning Advisory Board and direct staff to re-advertise the opening.

Motion carried 5-0.

James Bellessa was appointed to the Great Falls Transit District Board for a four-year term in 1998 and reappointed for another four-year term in 2002. Mr. Bellessa’s term expired on November 30, 2006. Mr. Bellessa was not eligible for reappointment; therefore, it was necessary to appoint one new member.

Commissioner Beecher moved, seconded by Commissioners Hinz and Jovick-Kuntz, that the City Commission appoint Paul Eastwood to the Great Falls Transit District Board for a four-year term beginning on December 5, 2006, and expiring on November 30, 2010.

Motion carried 5-0.