HomeMy WebLinkAbout 5-28-2008 Minutes1
LINKED MINUTES OF THE POLICY MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION
BOZEMAN, MONTANA
May 28, 2008
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The Commission of the City of Bozeman met in the City Commission Room at City Hall, 411
East Main Street, on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 from noon-1:30 p.m. Present were Mayor
Kaaren Jacobson, Cr. Sean Becker, Cr. Eric Bryson, Cr. Jeff Krauss, and Cr. Jeff Rupp, City
Manager Chris Kukulski, Planning Director Andy Epple, Assistant City Attorney Tim Cooper,
and City Clerk Stacy Ulmen.
0:12:51 A. Call to Order - Noon– 1:30 p.m. – City Commission Meeting Room, City Hall,
411 East Main
Mayor Jacobson called the meeting to order at 12:11 p.m.
0:12:56 B. Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence
0:13:33 C. Public Comment
Mayor Jacobson opened public comment.
No person commented.
Mayor Jacobson closed public comment.
0:14:20 D. Round Table Discussion (Identifying potential future agenda items arising
from the prior City Commission Meetings. Joint City-County Meeting on May 16, 2008,
and the Commission Meeting on May 19, 2008.)
0:14:35 Cr. Krauss
Cr. Krauss asked for an update on the flooding of the creeks and streams.
0:15:23 Debbie Arkell, Director of Public Service
Ms. Arkell stated that the creeks and the river are going down. There is still flooding on the out
skirts of the City near the Valley View Golf Course area. We are trying to figure out how to
redirect water from homes.
0:20:38 Chris Kukulski, City Manager
Mr. Kukulski stated that there is some policy topics that the Commission wanted discussed.
Some of these topics can be discussed at the Regular meetings.
0:22:17 E. Policy Discussion
0:22:21 1. Unified Development Ordinance Revisions Related to Off-site Road
Improvements and Infill Development (Epple/Hixson)
Minutes of the Bozeman City Commission Policy Meeting, May 28, 2008
0:22:24 Andy Epple, Planning Director
Mr. Epple explained that this policy topic is regarding off site intersection improvements as they
relate to infill development. His recommendation is that the Commission provides staff with
questions and direction for possible revisions to Title 18 of the Bozeman Municipal Code in the
Unified Development Ordinance. Mr. Epple explained that the Commission identified 5 points
from a previous Commission meeting relating to this topic. The first point is to find a way to
distinguish between green field and infill development.
0:26:56 Mr. Epple
Mr. Epple stated that the second point that was raised by the Commission was to make the
Unified Development Ordinance more flexible in this area to encourage infill development. This
is mainly the conservation district which is the original town site of Bozeman. This is where we
want to encourage redevelopment, rehabilitation, and reuse of properties. Making the Unified
Development Ordinance more flexible could provide incentive to redevelop, rehabilitate, and
reuse these properties.
0:28:51 Cr. Rupp
Cr. Rupp asked where the dilapidated areas were.
0:29:09 Mr. Epple
Mr. Epple stated the areas that are in danger of becoming dilapidated are mainly the properties in
the northeast neighborhood.
0:30:04 Cr. Krauss
Cr. Krauss spoke regarding areas outside of the conservation district.
0:30:59 Cr. Krauss
Cr. Krauss stated that it is important to replace economic activity in areas that are dilapidated or
abandoned outside of the conservation district.
0:33:49 Mr. Epple
Mr. Epple stated that the variance procedure is always an option.
0:35:58 Mr. Epple
Mr. Epple stated that the third point that the Commission identified was not to shut infill
development down at the final stage of the process, nor make it responsible for roads that were
already failing (unless adjacent). Mr. Epple explained that the City would need to require a
detailed traffic impact study up front so that the development is not shut down at the final stage.
0:39:20 Cr. Bryson
Cr. Bryson spoke about 19th and Main Street. There are issues outside the conservation overlay
district.
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Minutes of the Bozeman City Commission Policy Meeting, May 28, 2008
0:40:11 Mr. Epple
Mr. Epple cautioned that the City should not grant too many exceptions.
0:44:23 Mr. Hixson
Mr. Hixson spoke regarding the 19th and Main intersection.
0:45:04 Mr. Epple
Mr. Epple spoke about Kagy and 7th.
0:47:47 Tim Cooper, Assistant City Attorney
Mr. Cooper stated that he agreed with the memo that was written by staff. Mr. Cooper spoke
regarding the distinction between green field and infill development. The Ordinance has many
parts.
0:54:40 Mr. Epple
Mr. Epple stated that the fourth point that was brought up by the Commissioner is why are off-
site road improvements ratcheting up in importance these last few years? Where did that come
from? Mr. Epple stated there are more traffic problems and congestion is a huge problem. The
northeast side of town was neglected for many years and in the last few years there has been
development interest in the area.
1:00:08 Mr. Hixson
Mr. Hixson spoke regarding using impact fees for intersections. The City would need to secure a
consultant through a selection process. It would be more time consuming. It would be different
than a development community.
1:00:54 Cr. Krauss
Cr. Krauss stated that he is not interested in changing the rules for green field.
1:02:10 Mr. Epple
Mr. Epple spoke regarding the project from 1998 on Cottonwood and Huffine.
1:03:08 Mr. Epple
Mr. Epple spoke regarding the fifth point that was brought up by the Commission which was to
define and set percentages/standards of what constitutes a traffic impact. Mr. Epple encouraged
that the traffic impact for a development should be looked at on a case by case review instead of
having a blanketed percentage.
1:05:46 Mayor Jacobson
Mayor Jacobson asked about the legal ramifications regarding if there was not a set criteria to
follow and if the Commission examined each issue on a case by case basis.
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Minutes of the Bozeman City Commission Policy Meeting, May 28, 2008
1:06:24 Mr. Cooper
Mr. Cooper stated that the Commission would need to have a rational basis to back up their
decision.
1:10:06 Mr. Epple
Mr. Epple suggested that the Commission consider an exemption from the requirement of the
level of service standards for a qualifying redevelopment, rehabilitation, and reuse project. Level
of service has been an issue.
1:13:21 C. Public Comment
Mayor Jacobson opened public comment.
1:13:30 Barry Brown, Public Comment
Mr. Brown of 525 Summer Ridge Road stated that he represents the development near Oak and
Rouse and the signalization at that intersection. He spoke regarding the development's initial
conditions. Mr. Brown encouraged that the Commission make conditions very specific.
1:33:58 Mr. Kukulski
Mr. Kukulski spoke regarding potential historic districts.
1:39:19 Cr. Becker
Cr. Becker stated that he feels what staff provided is a starting point. Staff could bring back an
ordinance amendment to exempt the level of service standards. We need to evaluate the trigger
mechanism and view alternatives.
1:43:05 Mr. Kukulski
Mr. Kukulski asked the Commission if they wanted staff to draft the amendment and put it on a
future Commission agenda as an action item, or if they wanted to have further discussion.
1:43:20 Mr. Kukulski
Mr. Kukulski stated that this item will be brought back as an action item.
1:44:26 Cr. Becker
Cr. Becker stated that he would like the properties outside of the conservation district addressed
without a blanketed standard.
1:45:23 Mayor Jacobson
Mayor Jacobson asked if there was any further public comment.
No further persons commented.
Mayor Jacobson closed public comment.
1:45:38 F. FYI/Discussion
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Minutes of the Bozeman City Commission Policy Meeting, May 28, 2008
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1:45:40 Mr. Kukulski
Mr. Kukulski stated that he will contact the Commission to find out if the draft of the Work Plan
is ready to be approved.
1:46:28 G. Adjournment
Mayor Jacobson adjourned the meeting at 1:45 p.m.
____________________________________
Kaaren Jacobson, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Stacy Ulmen, City Clerk
PREPARED BY:
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Stacy Ulmen, City Clerk
Approved on ___________________________.