HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-02-07 Minutes, City Commission, SPECMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE CITY COMMISSION
BOZEMAN, MONTANA
February 7, 2002
The Commission of the City of Bozeman met in special session in the Cafeteria of the Sacajawea
Middle School, 3525 South Third Avenue, on Thursday, February 7, 2002, at 7:00 p.m. Present were Mayor
Steve Kirchhoff, Commissioner Marcia Youngman, Commissioner Lee Hietala, Commissioner Jarvis Brown,
City Manager Clark Johnson and Clerk of the Commission Robin Sullivan. Commissioner Cetraro was
absent.
Sil3nina of Notice of Special Meetina
Each Commissioner, in turn, signed the Notice of Special Meeting.
Town meetinq - budget for Fiscal Year 2002-2003
This was the time and place set for the town meeting to receive input on the budget for Fiscal Year
2002-2003. Approximately 9 citizens, 5 board members, 13 City staff members and 4 Commissioners were
in attendance.
Mayor Kirchhoff began the meeting by reviewing the reasons for the town meeting, giving an
overview of the agenda for the meeting, reviewing the organization chart of the City, and reviewing the
procedure and timeline for developing and adopting the budget.
Administrative Services Director Miral Gamradt reviewed the primary operating funds for the City,
noting that a majority of attention is concentrated on the general fund, under which the most City
departments and functions vie for monies. He also reviewed the functions under each of the major
departments and the percentages of departmental expenditures in each area. He turned his attention to
the general fund revenues and balances, noting that revenues and expenditures have been very close for
the past ten years, and stressing that trends are more important than actual dollar figures. He concluded
by highlighting the fund breakdown of the $26 million that is to be budgeted for the upcoming fiscal year.
Mayor Kirchhoff stated that, in light of the small number of citizen attendees, remaining in one large
group is preferable to breaking into small groups. He asked, however, that discussion be guided by
addressing the following three questions, in order: (1) what services are you pleased with; (2) what services
are you displeased with; and (3) what change, if any, would you make in service provision in Bozeman?
What is the best service in the City? Responses included recreation, including ice skating rinks
and trails; availability of parks and recreation; being welcomed into the democratic process and finding both
City staff members and Commissioners being readily accessible; the basic services, including garbage,
water and sewer, street maintenance and tree maintenance; the planning department and staff; public
safety, both in coordinating community events and in incidence response; willingness of police, fire and City
Hall staff to work with youth groups, always with a smile; Olympics torch relay; and the library.
Discussion of these services revealed that there are 19.9 miles of trails inside city limits; however,
there are missing parts in those trail segments.
The recent Olympic Torch Relay event was also discussed. Community members were pleased with
this unique experience and the great cooperation between City employees and volunteers in organizing
what is viewed as a very successful event.
What services could be improved or fixed? Responses included a more proactive stance on
acquiring property for future needs, including parks, a recreation center, possibly a performing arts center,
02-07-2002 Special
-2-
or a new landfill or transfer station; commitment of additional funds to park maintenance, trails development
and maintenance, and recreation; address the aging infrastructure in a more proactive manner; address
current traffic and parking problems through a parking garage or a transit system; consider bicycle and
pedestrian facilities as altemative modes of transportation to the vehicle instead of recreational
opportunities; getting drunk drivers off the street; proactively address downtown parking problems; improved
snow removal, particularly on busy residential streets; eliminate uncontrolled intersections; revise the rate
structure for summer sewer charges for commercial properties; identify and prioritize future fire needs,
particularly in light of the recent lowering of the City's ISO rating and attendant increase in insurance
premiums on individual properties; review services and programs for public spaces in the downtown,
particularly trash collection; the method of snow plowing in the downtown; in,eased parking enforcement;
wider streets to accommodate snow storage and safe travel; and narrower streets that are consistent with
new urbanism and a pedestrian scale.
During discussion regarding acquisition of property, it was noted that the City recently purchased
14+ acres on East Main Street for a new library site, through the sale of bonds. City staff noted, however,
that the public would probably not approve a bond issue simply to acquire land for possible future needs.
Staff also indicated the City owns 500 acres of parkland within city limits, with that land broken up into many
small pieces. The City also owns some larger parcels including watershed land in the Sourdough drainage,
the landfill, and Sunset Hills Cemetery. The City Manager noted that parkland dedications are required in
conjunction with subdivisions; however, that dedication is one-ninth of the land, which often results in a
small parcel. Further, if the developer chooses to pay cash-in-lieu of parkland, the payment is based on
pre-development value, which is very Iow.
Regarding the City's infrastructure, Water/Sewer Superintendent Mike Certalic stated that over the
past few years, the City has earmarked monies and has received a grant for infrastructure improvements.
He noted, however, that the limited construction season and the limited number of contractors to do the
work have made those improvements difficult to complete while balancing street closures with maintaining
the ability to move around the community. During discussion on water and sewer services and extension
of those services to promote growth in certain areas, it was recognized that impact fees could be used as
a source of funding if they were not frozen.
Regarding a possible transit system, it was noted that the new transportation plan update contains
a chapter on a transit system. The City Manager indicated that his office is currently working on the idea
of beginning loops of a system that tie the existing Bobcat transit and GalaYan together, particularly in light
of the costs of a transit system. He noted the system must be environmentally friendly, and stressed that
most communities implement a system through federal grant programs.
Regarding snow plowing, Street/Sanitation Superintendent Roger Sicz noted that in the past couple
years, crews have concentrated more on the priodty routes at the Commission's direction, which has
resulted in less attention to residential streets. He stressed that there have also been 6 to 7 lane miles
added to the streets to be plowed, and the City has also acquired responsibility to plow some of the streets
previously done by the County.
Mr. David Smith, Executive Director of the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce, voiced concern
that the water and sewer bill increased from $50 per month in the winter to $1,000 in the summer because
of irrigating the landscaping at the new facility. He forwarded his position that he should not be required to
pay sewer charges on the water used for irrigation. Director of Public Service Arkell responded that
residential sewer bills during the summer months are based on average winter water usage, which keeps
them from paying sewer on irrigation water. She noted, however, that not all commercial properties have
landscaping, so sewer is stdctly based on water consumption on a year round basis. Upon receipt of a
request, however, staffwill investigate concerns and re-rate commercial bills for summer months on a case
by case basis.
Responding to increased fire insurance premiums, City Manager Johnson reviewed some of the
factors upon which the Insurance Services Office (ISO) fire rating is based. He noted that, in Bozeman, the
evaluation was done prior to the joint dispatch center becoming operational; and a new evaluation is now
needed to determine if the rating needs to be adjusted.
Mayor Kirchhoff concluded the meeting by asking everyone to take a few minutes to complete the
evaluation form.
02-07-2002 Special
-3-
Adjournment - 9:15 p.m.
There being no further business to come before the Commission at this time, Mayor Kirchhoff
adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m.
STEVEN R. KIRC~OFF, Mayor~/ Y
ATTEST:
Clerk of the Commission
02-07-2002 Special