REGULAR MEETING – SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
Regular Meeting – Transact Routine Business
| Vice-Chairman Barnhart called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with roll call as follows:
PRESENT: COUNCIL: Barnhart, Petersen, Plevel, Reikofski, Shepard. ABSENT: Fish, Karper |
ROLL CALL |
| Also present were City Manager Bill Shaw, Finance Director/City Clerk Susan Nicosia, Police Chief David Perry
Pledge of Allegiance |
PLEDGE |
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
| Petersen made motion to approve the agenda as presented, second by Shepard. Motion carried unanimously, with Fish and Karper absent. | AGENDA
APPROVAL |
CONSENT AGENDA:
| Reikofski made motion to approve the consent agenda as listed with Vice-Chairman Barnhart noting the finance committee reviewed claims and found no exceptions, second by Petersen. City Manager Shaw noted that Item D. Forestry Grant application was prepared by the Director Public Works and himself based on the Master Plan put together by the Tree Board. There was a very short application period as these grant requests are funded with stimulus funds. The Tree Board was notified by Dir. Public Works Lorin Lowry that the City was submitting the application to install trees along Talbott. Councilman Shepard concurred that the application met the City’s Master Plan for planting trees, as adopted by the Tree Board. Motion carried with Council voting as follows: AYES: Barnhart, Petersen Plevel, Reikofski, Shepard. NOES: None. ABSENT: Fish, Karper. |
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL |
| A. Approval of Claims $230,888.45
B. Approval of Payroll Claims $84,784.88 Aug. 21, 2009 $86,462.38 Sept. 4, 2009 C. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes – August 17, 2009 D. Approve DNRC MT Urban & Community Forestry Grant Application and authorize City Manager to sign. E. Approve MT DOT STEP Contract #2010-05-04-07, 2010-16-04-07 and authorize City Manager to sign. F. Approve Plant Investment Fee Agreement with Eric & Lynsee Christianson, 25 16th St. E., and authorize City Manager to sign. G. Approve Request and Authorization for Records Disposal or Destruction and authorize City Manager to sign. H. Approve request to dispose of obsolete or unsuitable equipment. I. Adopt revised Fire Chief Job Description. J. Approve Change Order No. 2 – CF WWTP Pretreatment Improvements – $3,725 |
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BID OPENINGS/NOTICES/AWARDS:
| A. Award Bid Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade & Expansion Project – Swank Enterprises $2,537,000 – City Manager Shaw recommended awarding the bid to the low bidder, Swank Enterprises in the amount of $2,537,000. Manager Shaw reported that close scrutiny of the bid documents revealed that Swank had left off a piece of lab equipment in the amount of $62,000.00 and a valve with a $20,000 value was listed as $2,000.00. This $80,000.00 difference would not have changed the outcome of the bid award as Swank Enterprises’ bid is significantly lower than the next lowest bid. The piece of equipment may not be purchased at all during the project and the engineer may process a change order on the valves. Shaw further reported that awarding the bid for the complete bioreactor option puts the City’s treatment plant upgrade farther into the future and will save the City considerable funds. The engineer is estimating a contingency of $300,000. The engineering contract will have to be adjusted for the additional expense of the bioreactor design and to change from a 9 month to 12-month construction contract. City Manager Shaw’s preliminary estimates demonstrate a need to raise the base sewer EDU an additional $ .75 per month. Shepard made motion to award the WWTP Upgrade & Expansion Project bid to Swank Enterprises in the amount of $2,537,000. Motion seconded by Plevel. Motion carried with roll call voting as follows: AYES: Reikofski, Shepard, Petersen, Plevel, Barnhart. NOES: None. ABSENT: Fish, Karper. | Award Bid – Swank Enterprises – $2,537,000 WWTP Upgrade and Expansion Project |
| VISITORS/PUBLIC COMMENTS – None. |
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
| A. Hearing for the purpose of obtaining views of the residents of the City of Columbia Falls, especially low- and very low-in come residents, regarding the community’s housing needs and priorities of the City of Columbia Falls for housing improvements – City Manager Shaw reported that this hearing is required for the Habitat for Humanity/City of Columbia Falls HOME Grant Application. Vice-Chairman Barnhart opened the public hearing at 7:20 p.m. for the purpose of obtaining public comment. Patti Gregerson, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity, 307 First Ave. E, Kalispell, addressed the Council on the Columbia Falls’s need for affordable housing within the community. Currently, there are only 3 homes listed for sale in the $100,000 – $120,000 range within Columbia Falls. The proposed Habitat project to build 16 units meets the affordable housing criteria. Pierson Forbes, 634 St. Andrews Drive, Columbia Falls, stressed the need for affordable housing with kitchens and comfortable areas for children to work on homework. The 16 units proposed by Habitat for Humanity are needed in the community to provide suitable, affordable housing for families. Barry Conger, 124 Columbia Mountain Lane, Columbia Falls, supports affordable housing, and the Habitat for Humanity project in Columbia Falls. Mr. Conger asked the Council to support the grant application for the project. Melissa Sweeney, 316 ½ 4th Street East, Columbia Falls; spoke in favor of the proposed 16 units. As a Habitat for Humanity residence herself, she spoke on the great opportunity for her and her family to own a home. Without Habitat, she would not have been able to afford a home on her own. Vice-Chairman Barnhart closed the hearing at 7:27 p.m. Dir. Finance/City Clerk Nicosia noted that Council had not received any written testimony.
B. Notice of Public Hearings – September 21, 2009: Final 2009-10FY Budget, Special Assessments and Permissive Medical Levy – Vice-Chairman Barnhart read the public notice setting the date and time for the final budget hearing, Permissive Medical Levy hearing and setting the Special Assessments. |
HOME Grant Application – Public Hearing
Notice of Hearing – September 21, 2009 2009-2010 FY Budget and related items |
UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None.
NEW BUSINESS:
| A. Tree Board Vacancy – Council received a letter from Mr. Malcolm Thompson indicating an interest in serving on the Tree Board, filling the vacancy left by Barbara Jenkins’ resignation. Councilman Shepard made motion to appoint Malcolm Thompson to the unexpired term, motion seconded by Councilman Plevel. All members voted in favor of the motion, with Fish and Karper absent. Mr. Thompson’s appointment will expire on December 31, 2009.
B. Presentation of 2009-10 FY Budget – Dir. Finance/City Clerk Nicosia presented the preliminary budget to Council. Total appropriations are approximately $10.3 million, up from $9.3 million in 2008-2009 FY, primarily due to the WWTP Upgrade Project. Nicosia reviewed the Montana Department of Revenue’s certified tax value. The City’s taxable value increased approximately 2%. The manner in which the City’s newly taxable property is calculated was changed by the 2009 legislature and the newly taxable property double from prior years. The newly taxable property calculation allows the City to increase taxes $60,038 and the inflation adjustment of 1.112% allows the City to increase taxes $9,845, for a total increase of $69,883, approximately 8.81 mills. City administration is recommending levying the full amount allowed under 15-10-420, MCA. However, the actual tax increase may only be 7.667 mills due to the adjustment in the Permissive Medical Levy. Due to the timing of the assessment notices, the City may receive amendments to the certified tax value. Dir. Finance Nicosia and City Manager Shaw will prepare estimated tax impacts for a variety of taxing levels for Council review at the hearing on September 21st. |
Tree Board appointment – Malcolm Thompson
2009-2010 FY Preliminary Budget |
REPORTS/BUSINESS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL:
| A. Councilman Shepard reported on the 911 Building progress. He also noted that there have been complaints about dogs running at large on the Northeast side of town. Shepard asked for clarification from Chief Perry regarding the County’s Animal Control responsibilities under the contract between the County and the City. Chief Perry stated that if there is an immediate problem, such as a dog attack, the City Police handle the situation but that the City police are not equipped to transport animals. Council discussed the dog at large issues and the City’s responsibilities.
B. Vice-Chairman Barnhart discussed the potential of the Park Committee reviewing the location of the Eagle Scout project at Pinewood Pool and perhaps relocating the shelter to a better location. Additionally, he would like to see the City add covered picnic areas to Pinewood Park to increase the usage in the park. Vice-Chairman Barnhart also reminded City officials that the Council would like a report on closing the jail with the dispatch consolidated at the County center. City Manager Shaw noted that the jail would have to be closed upon the consolidation of the dispatch services at the 911 Center, as the City does not have staff to monitor the cells. Manager Shaw and Chief Perry have begun investigating the issues associated with closing the jail, including but not limited to: staffing, transportation, level of service, and holding cell requirements. |
REPORTS/BUSINESS FROM CITY ATTORNEY - None
REPORTS/BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER:
| A. Review 3rd Ave. E. Street Project – Reported that 3rd Ave. East can be rebuilt without changing the current location of the street and due to the 70-foot roadway easement, the bike/walk path can also be installed. City Manager Shaw and Director Public Works are finalizing the bid package for the street projects. A preliminary estimate of the street work is $500,000 – $550,000. Manager Shaw noted that the Council might need to hold a Special Meeting on Monday, September 28, 2009 to award the bid. |
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| INFORMATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE is available for thirty days in the Finance Director’s office.
STAFF REPORTS: A. July 2009 – Police Activity Report |
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ADJOURN:
| Upon motion duly made and seconded the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. | ADJOURN |
Vice-Chairman
ATTEST:
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City Clerk
APPROVED BY COUNCIL ACTION: SEPTEMBER 21, 2009