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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-04-10 Minutes, City Commission MINUTES OF TilE MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION BOZEMAN, MONT ANA April 10, 2006 ***************************** The Commission of the City of Bozcman met in regular session in the Community Room, Gallatin County Courthouse, 311 West Main Street, on Monday, April 10, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. Present were Mayor Jeff Krauss, Commissioner Sean Becker, Commissioner JeffRupp, Commissioner Steve Kirchhoff, Commissioner Kaaren Jacobson, City Manager Chris Kukulski, Assistant City Manager Ron Brey, Director of Public Service Debbie Arkell, Planning Director Andy Epple, Assistant City Attorney Tim Cooper, and Acting City Clerk Devin Harbour. Thc meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silencc. Introduction to Commission. and presentation of award to Steve Kurk Director ArkeII introduced Steve Kurk who was nominated for and was selected as the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Public Works Association Outstanding Member of the Year. He is currently planning a road-eo and is inviting public works employees from around the area. She then presented him with the award. Steve Kurk said that with the people that are moving into the valley we need to increase awarencss to help decrease accidents. The people who attended the awareness day at the mall had a great time. It's dangerous out there and the employees put in a lot of hours. He would like to see the Commissioners at the road-eo. Public Comment Mary Vant Hull, 416 East Story, spokc about the Mandeville property and the possiblc creation of city dog parks. Presentation of Draft Master Plan for Mandeville Farm City Manager Kukulski gavc a brief introduction, including the history of the site. Wc approached the site as if it were a privatc piecc of property and we are working on developing it as such. Eric Nelson, ThinkTank, presented the draft Master Plan for the Mandeville Farm site. He stated that many potential users are interested because of access to 1-90, the airport, and the property's visibility. He added that people wanted 10-20 acre lot sizes, and the rail access here is a serious amenity. He noted that signifieant improvements would have to occur to Highway 10, including possibly a signalized intersection. He reviewed broad project costs, projected sales, and project benefits, noting a 20% contingency was included. Looking at projeet costs, there is about a 40% profit possibility based on projected sales. Responding to Mayor Krauss, Mr. Nelson noted they are not working with the state in their development. 04-1 0-06 - 2 - Planning Director Epple noted that the preliminary plans that we've discussed with the state are in line with and comp1emenllhe plans that ThinkTank has come up with. Responding to Cr. Becker, Mr. Nelson noted there are about 85 total aeres and about 79 developable acres. Mayor Krauss noted that he would want to put a industrial tax increment financing district on this to help pay baek improvements. Responding to Mayor Krauss, City Manager Kukulski noted the school district doesn't receive much from taxes. Krauss stated they receive nothing. Mayor Krauss noted that this is not dissimilar from what's going on downtown. Once you've paid off the bonds, you have an instant addition to your tax rate. Responding to Cr. Rupp, Mr. Nelson noted that aside from the infrastructure there is a small water park to the northeast that might be able to connect to the East Gallatin corridor. We should consider the use of this land, being industrial, so people might not want to hang out in a park in the industrial part of town. Mr. Nelson noted that having industrial land in the downtown area significantly hurts the downtown TIP. If the industrial uses move out of prime downtown, they get to a more appropriate location, and the existing place can be redeveloped into commercial. Mayor Krauss noted that the kinds of businesses that need rail aecess and interstate access are what should go here. He state that access to the infrastructure is what's important and what creates commerce. Cr. Rupp noted that we should continue what we are doing and be sure that the City assumes the lead and be in charge of this development, but we should include 15 acres or so for the transfer station and maybe five acres in addition to that for other uses. He suggested that we coordinate this with out other development conversations to target the other industrial uses that exist close to the library for possible relocation. Cr. Becker stated interest in the port authority aspect. He's more interested in hearing about other TIPs around the state. He would also like to look at the idea of having both the TIF and the port authority, and we may not need the TIF with the port authority, to examine the spectrum of possibilities. Cr. Jacobson asked how a dog park would fit? City Manager Kukulski noted that there is a green area that will need to be protected, and whither it will be functional or not, we don't know. Ifwe can figure out a safe way to get over the rail track or over the interstate it might be feasible.. Cr. Kirchhoff noted that he echos the comments made by other Commissioners and added that maybe the state land doesn't have as much rail frontage as the City land, and we need to make sure that public good is maximized. We need to work with the state as well in a coordinated fashion. Also he agrees with swapping the downtown industry for a more suitable location elsewhere would be wise. Finally he's certain we should reconsider a transfer station in suitablc places. He statcd that he likes the TIP and port authority ideas. Director of Public Works responded to the Commission that we are working primarily with Gavin Anderson in Helena to coordinate some participation on studies. City Manager Kukulski noted that we need to make sure that people that want to stay and expand in Bozeman, such as Empire, Gibson and Simms, have a place to. 04-1 0-06 - 3 - Mayor Krauss reminded us that there is a risk involved, but we have a chance to mitigate some of that risk with the port authority idea or the TIF district. We can see larger returns, notably to our tax base. This also diversifies our economy in ways that we don't have right now. We know that if we have land to offer, we can attract the high teeh or manufacturing industries that provides good jobs to the community. The importance of a rail spur is a hugc asset to the eeonomy and community. The spur we have near Wallace is difficult to aceess now. Mayor Krauss closed by noting that the Commission did not say that this is more appropriate for private development. Cr. Kirchhoff noted there is one policy issue that hasn't been resolved; we haven't talked about the transfer station tonight much. He statcd that if the direction is to rcserve a couple lots, that's pretty significant. He knows the solid waste dept is hcmorrhaging money, and the landfill isn't being used. Cr. Rupp noted the discussion with this project is about options. He wants acreage reserved so if a Commission decided that we need to look at this site being used as a transfer station in the future, we can have that discussion. City Manager Kukulski noted it's critical that staff bring the Commission up to speed on other options and their advantages. Mayor Krauss noted that we made a decision last year to not build a transfer station but for the staff to move forward to join the solid waste district. They are intercsted in us joining the solid waste district and coming up with a better solution to the wastc problem. Director ArkeIl noted thc solid waste district requested that we give a price for them setting up a convenience eentcr at out landfill. Discussion on how to improve Commissioner's weekly packets City Manager Kukulski noted that this week's paeket was the first packet that was online. He noted that we've tried to approach this that the things in the packet were the things the Commission really wanted to know and used. If we are producing packets that are not productive to the Commission and it's taking a lot of time and resources for us to make, we need to evaluate what we're doing.. Following Commissioner discussion, the Commission concurred that the packets were not in need of change. Continued review of proposed revisions to UDO Included in the Commissioners' paekets were the proposed revisions to the UDO. Any three Commissioners must agree to forward the proposed revision through the revision process. 1) Item 173 was forwarded through the UDO revision proeess. 2) Item 175 was not forwarded through the UDO revision process. 3) Item 180 was forwarded through the UDO revision process. 4) Item 181 was forwarded through the UDO rcvision process. 5) Item 182 was not forwarded through the UDO revision process. 6) Item 183 was forwarded through the UDO revision process. 7) Item 184 was forwarded through the UDO revision process. 8) Item 185 was forwarded through the UDO revision process, if staff ean find a good "third party" dcfinition. 9) Item 187 was forwarded through the UDO revision proccss. 04-1 0-06 - 4 - 10) Item 198 was forwarded through the UDO revision process. 11) Item 199 was forwarded through the UDO revision process. 12) Item 200 was not forwarded through the UDO revision proccss. 13) Item 20 I was not forwardcd through the UDO revision process. 14) Item 203 was not forwarded through the UDO revision process. 15) Item 204 was not forwarded through the UDO revision process. 16) Item 205 was forwarded through the UDO revision process. 17) Item 206 was not forwarded through the UDO revision process. IS) Item 207 was forwarded through the UDO revision process. 19) Item 208 was not forwarded through the UDO revision proccss. 20) Item 209 was not forwarded through the UDO revision process. 21) Item 210 was not forwarded through the UDO revision process. 22) Item 211 was not forwarded through the UDO revision process. 23) Item 212 was not forwarded through the uno revision process. 24) Itcm 213 was not forwarded through the UDO revision process. 25) Item 215 was not forwarded through the UDO revision process. 26) Item 216 was not forwarded through the U DO revision process. 27) Item 217 was forwarded through the UDO revision proccss. FYI updates and discussion 1) Cr. Rupp stated attended the MPP A meeting last Thursday. (2) He was interested in the possibility of having an auto repair shop in the downtown area, Straightaway Motors. Director Epple noted the code specifies they should have a conditional use permit. 2) Cr. Becker noted that a Icttcr from Dennis Franks that was full of misinformation. (2) The Reercation and Parks Advisory Board was invited to see Hillcrest. (3) He noted he talked to Community Alcohol Coalition and went to see the DARE program at Morningstar School. (4) He attended an impact fee roundtable. (5) He met with Montana Wilderness Association last week. (5) He stated that there are concerns with the watershed management plan, and is concerned with the City of Bozeman being taken advantage of in this process. 3) Cr. Jacobson noted that concern about having a distinct boundary between Burke Park and the subdivision, perhaps with landscaping. 4) Cr. Kirchhoff noted that Legends IT came before Planning Board last week. There was some discussion coneerning the green space buffer and eontrolling access. (2) CAHAB has indicated that they would be happy if we allowed Legends II to do cash-in-lieu for affordable housing. 5) Mayor Krauss noted he partieipated in a tv interview program this morning. 6) City Manager Kukulski noted we will do a trial televised nm next week, and televised live on April 24th. 7) Director Epple noted that the selection and recruitment process for the Planning Department is going really well. The Planner U candidate and secretary verbally aceepted today. Adiournment - 10:13 p.m. There being no further business to come before the Commission at this time, Mayor Krauss adjourned the meeting. 04-1 0-06 - 5 - ~//./. f(-/~-- -v: ATTEST: (;1' 71J K. KRAUSS, Mayor Ikt ILl - Devin M. Harbour, Acting City Clerk Approved April 17,2006 04-1 0-06