HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-05-24 Minutes, City Commission
LINKED MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION
POLICY MEETING
BOZEMAN, MONT ANA
May 24, 2007
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The Commission of the City of Bozeman met in the City Commission Meeting Room,
411 East Main, on Thursday, May 24, 2007, at 12:00 pm. Present were Mayor Jeff
Krauss, Cr. Steve Kirchhoff, Cr. Kaaren Jacobson, Cr. Sean Becker, Cr. Jeff Rupp, City
Manager Chris Kukulski, Director of Public Scrviee Debbie Arkcll, Planning Director
Andy Epple, Sanitation Superintendent Steve Johnson, and Deputy City Clerk Cynthia
Jordan Delancy.
0:22:34 A. Call to Order - 12:00 pm-l:30 pm - City Commission Meeting Room,
City Hall, 411 East Main
Mayor Krauss called thc meeting to order at 12:05 pm.
0:22:36 B.
Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence
0:23:35 C. Public Comment
Mayor Krauss opened public comment.
0:24: 16 Avril Johnston - Public Comment
Ms. Johnston, of 907 N Aster Ave., encouraged the Commission to continue their
progressive trends and look at other options than throwing away glass. She commendcd
the Commission for considering the curbside pick up program. When she recycles
regularly, the bins arc overflowing. She would be willing to be on a committee to figure
out how to recycle glass, and she is willing to pay whatever it takes to get curbside
recycling.
0:26: 10 Jeffvan den Noort - Public Comment
Mr. van den Noort, representing the Montana Chapter of the Sierra Club, gave a packet of
information to the Commissioners and statcd that he has been uncomfortable with where
glass is going in recent years. With more time to collect glass, he wants to put togcther a
task force and come up with alternatives, look at pros and cons, and havc public hearings.
He stated that the Commissioners should be careful checking the sources of the materials
in the digital packet. He said that the entire premise of those materials is flawed because
it is based on a cost-benefit analysis. He suggested a bottle bill and ideas about pooling
resources with other communities.
0:31: 13 Drew Shaman!!a - Public Comment
Ms. Shamanga stated that she was stunned to learn that the City wouldn't be picking up
glass for recycling. She learned that other cities across the U.S. easily recycle glass, and
she knows Bozeman can do it. She wants to find a way to keep glass recycling, and she is
open to all possibilities.
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0:32:39 Jon Gerftter - Public Comment
Mr. Gerster, of 719 N Wallace, stated that he is an avid recycler, and he was shocked
Bozeman would consider not recycling glass. Even if it costs more to do something right,
he thinks it's worth doing it right. Economically, it makes sense in terms of not filling up
the landfill faster than we have to. Bozeman has a reputation as a progressive community
in waste management.
0:34:05 Brian Caldwell- Public Comment
Mr. CaldweIl, of 733 S Tracy, spoke about the potential economic viability of glass
recycling. He believes a business model can be created that is profitable and generates
revenue that can reuse glass in our remote location. He stated that we can keep the flow
of glass out of our expensive, valuable landfill resource. He stated that the ideas brought
up in previous discussions still have merit: using glass for cullet under structural slabs
and as parking lots. He hopes that paying back the purchase of a erushcr would be viable
with a grant (a good chance for an entrepreneur).
0:36:42 Public Comment closed.
Mayor Krauss closed public comment.
0:36:49 D.
Round Table Discussion
0:37:04 E.
Policy Discussion
0:37:151.
North Wallace/Traffic Calming Presentation (Engineering)
0:37:20 Debbie Arkell, Director of Public Service
Ms. Arkell stated that thc fomlcr Neighborhood Coordinator and the Engineering staff
worked with the North Wallace Neighborhood Group on traffic-calming efforts on North
Wallace. Those were done per Chapter 12 of the Transportation Plan. She described the
phases and history of thosc traffic calming efforts. This neighborhood was in Phase 3 of
the proccss.
0:41:14 Andy Kerr, Engincering Assistant
Mr. Kerr distributed a handout and described the stages of the traffic-calming process.
0:53:28 Dan Guggenheim, North Wallace Neighborhood Representative
Mr. Guggcnheim, of 418 N Wallace, has been the Neighborhood Reprcsentative for thc
North Wallace Traffic Calming Project since its start in April 2004. He is grateful that the
traffic-calming program exists. He said that 14 projects (over the last 5-7 years), coupled
with overall growth in Bozeman, have contributed to a greater amount of through traffic
that is in conflict with the local through-street designation. The neighborhood is very
close to having the 70% support to move this project forward. Their goal is to limit cut-
through traffic, and they are willing to consider another proposal or solution (besides
traffic circles). He wants to move forward as quickly as possible.
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0:58:40 Jon Gerster - Public Comment
Mr. Gerster stated that the NE part of Bozeman has turned around, and amazing projects
are being built. He said that the neighborhood within the neighborhood will be
experiencing profound redevelopment that will bring its own share of traffic (families
moving in, etc.). He stated that this is an opportunity to look at the situation with Wallace
proactively. Cut through traffic often exceeds the speed limit, and he cringes when
thinking about children being run over.
1:00:47 David Ramsev - Public Comment
Mr. Ramsey, representing Montana Crane Service and Montana Ready Mix of 209 E
Cedar Street, handed out a letter from the owner, Greg Poncelet. He stated that
professional truck drivers are not speeding down Wallace. Montana Crane Service
employs 30 people on East Cedar Street and has been in business for 30 years, and North
Wallaee is their only access to their Cedar Street property for their large Low Boy
Trailer. They are concerned about installing traffic circles beeause they couldn't negotiate
around them. He wants the City Commission to consider the impacts on the business
district.
I: 16:25 Mayor Krauss
Mayor Krauss suggested taking smaller steps like stop signs before installing traffic
circles and before possibly negatively affecting other properties and neighbors.
1:38:33 Cr. Rupp
Cr. Rupp stated it's the result of growth and not dealing with transportation. The net result
is that this neighborhood is going to get a bunch of cut-through traffic. After approving
projects with thousands of houses, we don't have any road system in place to deal with it.
Yet we act surprised and talk about roundabouts and stop signs, but he is tracking that
there is another theme to this discussion: deal with the reality that we keep saying yes (to
development) and don't have the basis to deal with it. He is supportive of what the
neighborhood wants: if they want an SID and roundabouts, or stop signs. Also, pay
attention to business.
1 :39:50 Mayor Krauss
Mayor Krauss closed the traffic-calming portion of the meeting, and the Commission
confirmed that there wasn't time to begin the glass-stockpiling discussion.
1:40: 16 Steve Johnson, Sanitation Superintendent
Mr. Johnson explained the four different grades of glass in bags (samples provided for
Commissioners). The key is to be able to process material, and Bozeman does not have
an ability or capacity to process or utilize the material in various applications.
1 :44:05 Mayor Krauss
Mayor Krauss asked for three votes (or three thumbs up) to continue the discussion about
glass or put it on the agenda again.
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1 :45:20 Mayor Krauss
Mayor Krauss stated that it will be put on a future Monday night agenda: a motion to
reconsider the previous direction which was to stop taking glass at the landfill.
1 :47:36 G. Adjournment
Mayor Krauss adjourned the meeting at 1 :35 pm.
ATTEST:
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Brit Fontenot, City Cler
PREPARED BY:
Approved on
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