Friday, December 31, 2010

Electric City Power Board meeting, Jan. 2011

When: Monday, Jan. 3 at 5:30pm
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda packet

Agenda:
A. FINANCIAL/MANAGER REPORTS

B. NEW BUSINESS
1. Accept Board Meeting Minutes from December 6, 2010
2. Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair

C. OLD BUSINESS

D. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

E. GENERAL AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
1. Letter dated December 13, 2010 declining voluntary increase from Pilot Program Customers
2. Letter from Manager Doyon dated December 14, 2010 regarding attendance at Southern Board Meetings
3. Letter from SME dated December 27, 2010 regarding January 3, 2011 meeting to discuss alternatives for continuing supply of electricity through ECP.
4. Response from Manager Doyon dated December 29, 2010 to SME regarding meeting.
5. Public Comment

F. ECP BOARD MEETING DATES FOR CONSIDERATION

G. ADJOURN

Tax Help Montana

Tax Help Montana will no longer be offering free tax help at the Great Falls Public Library.

Beginning January 24, they will be at the following locations:

Great Falls Senior Center, 1004 Central Ave.
Mondays 10:00 am — 5:00 pm
Wednesdays 2:00 pm — 7:15 pm
Fridays 10:00 am — 5:00 pm

Great Falls Job Service, 1018 7th St. S.
Tuesdays 11:00 am — 3:30 pm
Thursdays 11:00 am — 3:30 pm

MSU College of Technology, 2100 16th Ave. S. (Room B124)
Saturdays - 11:00am-3:00pm

The library will continue to have hard copies of tax forms available and will help folks download forms from the IRS website.

Tax Help Montana can be reached at 761-8721.

Open House, Jan. 4, 2011

In place of the normal City Commission work session, the City Commission is hosting an Open House from 4:30pm-6:30pm in the Gibson Room. Everyone is invited to meet and visit with their elected officials.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of December 27, 2010

No meetings this week.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Neighborhood Councils - Week of December 13, 2010

Two councils are meeting this week:

When: Monday, Dec. 13 at 7:00pm
Where: Rainbow Room, Civic Center

Agenda:
Report from community policing officer, Jesse Slaughter
Updates
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

NC#1
When: Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 7:00pm
Where: Meadow Lark School library

Agenda:
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Monday, December 6, 2010

Work Session, Dec. 7, 2010

When: Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 5:45pm
Where: Civic Center, Gibson Room

Agenda:
Discussion of Large Motor Vehicle Ordinance – Jennifer Reichelt
Proposal for Bicycles at Skate Park – Marty Basta and Bryan Thies

ECP Meeting, December 6, 2010

When: Monday, Dec. 6 at 5:30pm
Where: Civic Center, Gibson Room

Agenda packet

Agenda:
FINANCIAL/MANAGER REPORTS
1.City Manager/Southern Trustee Attendance at Southern Board Meetings
2.Financial Reporting Format

NEW BUSINESS
1.Accept Board Meeting Minutes from November 8, 2010
2.Bylaw Review and upcoming Appointments of Chair and Vice Chair

OLD BUSINESS
1.ECP customer communication updates
2.Pilot Program Rate Change Discussion

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

GENERAL AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
1.NWE Monthly Electric Supply Tracker Rate Change Detail – December, 2010
2.Orders dated November 3, 2010 regarding YVEC vs. SME etal
3.Email from Coleen Balzarini dated November 18, 2010 regarding ECP Board Meeting questions from Commissioner Jolley
4.Handouts from November 8, 2010 meeting
5.Public Comment

ECP BOARD MEETING DATES FOR CONSIDERATION

City Advisory Board Openings

The city currently has four advisory board openings:

NATIVE AMERICAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION (NALGC)
The NALGC has one opening for a City-appointed representative for a four-year term. The NALGC consists of three standing members (highest ranking Native American officer in the Great Falls Public Education system, Indian Heritage Association Director, and the Indian Family Clinic Director) and four rotating members (two appointed by the City Commission and two appointed by the County Commission). The NALGC serves as a local point-of-contact for all local City and County government departments to represent the Native American community. Meetings are scheduled quarterly for the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM. For more information on the Commission, contact James Parker Shield at 761-3377.

PARKING ADVISORY COMMISSION
The Parking Advisory Commission has one opening to fill the remainder of a three-year term through April 30, 2012. The Commission consists of five members, appointed by the City Commission, and an ex-officio member appointed by the Business Improvement District. Experience or interest in the Great Falls Central Business District is helpful but not necessary. The Commission advises the City Commission, City Manager, and Community Development staff on matters related to parking issues within the Parking Districts. Applicants must reside within the City of Great Falls. For more information, contact Mike Haynes at 455-8433.

MANSFIELD CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS ADVISORY BOARD
Two openings for three-year terms through December 31, 2012. The Board consists of five to seven members. The Board advises on all matters related to the successful operation of the Mansfield Center for the Performing Arts and public meeting rooms. Meetings are the third Friday of each month at noon. For more information contact Dona Hughes at 455-8495.

GREAT FALLS PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD
Two openings for three-year terms through December 31, 2013. The City Planning Advisory Board is a nine-member Board that advises the City Commission on many aspects of Great Falls area growth and development including amendments to the Growth Plan, zoning, land subdivision, annexation, transportation planning, planning roadway improvements, and related general planning issues. The Board meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 3:00 p.m. Members must reside within the city limits. For more information contact Wendy Thomas at 455-8432.


Applications are available at the City Manager's Office, Civic Center, Room 201, by calling 455-8450, or by using the online, fill-out, print, and mail/fax Board Opening Application which is available in PDF format. Application deadline is Friday, December 10, 2010, by 5:00 p.m.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of December 6, 2010

Two councils are meeting this week:

NC#2
When: Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7:00pm
Where: West Elementary School cafeteria

Agenda:
Report from a community policing officer
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

When: Thursday, Dec. 9 at 7:00pm
Where: Great Falls High's South Campus, room 105

Agenda:
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Neighborhood Councils - Week of November 29, 2010

Three councils are meeting this week:

When: Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 7:00pm
Where: Sunnyside School music room

Agenda:
*County Commissioner Joe Briggs to discuss two county studies
*A visit from a community policing officer
*Committee reports
*Neighborhood concerns

NC6 is also seeking a voting resident of the council area to fill a vacancy. Interested parties may attend the meeting or call 455-8496.

When: Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7:00pm
Where: Riverview school cafeteria

Agenda:
*Info. from city staff concerning block grant community needs
*Fire Marshal Doug Bennyhoff and city mapping specialist Pat Halcro to discuss Montana Avenue and 22nd Avenue Northwest
*A visit from a community policing officer
*Committee reports
*Neighborhood concerns

When: Thursday, Dec. 2 at 6:30pm (rescheduled due to Thanksgiving)
Where: Highwood Trailer Park clubhouse (change in meeting location this one time only)

Agenda:
*Appointment of new member
*A visit from a community policing officer
*Update on 10th Avenue North speed limit
*Committee reports
*Neighborhood concerns

NC4 is also seeking a voting resident to fill a vacancy. Interested parties may attend the meeting or call 455-8496.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Balzarini Resigns

Coleen Balzarini, the Fiscal Service Director for the City of Great Falls, submitted her resignation, effective the end of the year.

She'll be working in a similar position for the McLaughlin Research Institute.

Monday, November 15, 2010

About Time

Finally. The Great Falls Tribune is finally reporting on the problems plaguing ECP.

Why did it have to take five years and 5 million dollars (including water credits) later to finally report the reality of this gross misuse of taxpayer's money?

See here for an abbreviated version of Sunday's (Nov. 14) article.

Change In Meeting Time

Because "Grease" is playing tomorrow night, Nov. 16, at the Civic Center, the City Commission meeting has been moved to 6:00pm.

There will be no work session.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of November 15, 2010

Two councils are meeting this week:

NC#5
When: Monday, Nov. 15, at 7:00pm
Where: Great Falls Clinic Specialty Center's conference room

Agenda:
Committee reports
Neighborhood reports

When: Thursday, Nov. 18 at 6:00pm
Where: PreRelease Center, women's annex

Agenda:
Conditional-use permit for roller rink at 1609 12th Ave. North
Air quality information from representatives of Montana Refining
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Neighborhood Councils - Week of November 8, 2010

Four councils are meeting this week:

NC#7
When: Monday, Nov. 8 at 7:00pm
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center


When: Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 7:00pm
Where: Meadowlark School Library

Agenda:
Update on the Residential Sound Insulation Project
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

When: Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7:00pm
Where: West Elementary School cafeteria

Agenda:
Update on the Residential Sound Insulation Project
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

When: Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7:00pm
Where: GF High School, South Campus, room 106

Agenda:
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Monday, November 8, 2010

Veterans Day, November 11, 2010

When: Thursday, November 11 at 11:00am
Where: Montana Veterans Memorial

Master of Ceremonies: Rodger McConnell, Montana Veterans Memorial Assoc.
Welcome: Gina McDermott, President, Montana Veterans Memorial Assoc.
Presentation of the Colors: Malmstrom USAF Honor Guard,Veterans Groups
Invocation: Chaplain Kenneth E. DuVall, Colonel, MT Army National Guard
National Anthem: Becca Hardin, CMR
Pledge of Allegiance: Cascade County 4H
Guest Speaker: Colonel John Patricola, Commander, 341stMission Spt. Gp, USAF
Benediction: Father Paul McKane, Blessed Sacrament

ECP Meeting, November 8, 2010

When: Monday, November 8 at 4:00pm
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center
Agenda packet

Agenda:

A. FINANCIAL/MANAGER REPORTS
1.Letter to NorthWestern Energy regarding ECP’s Customer Portfolio and NorthWestern Energy Response

B. NEW BUSINESS
1. Accept Board Meeting Minutes from October 4, 2010

C. OLD BUSINESS
1. ECP customer communication updates

2. Pilot Program Rate Change Discussion
a.Copy of letter sent to ECP Pilot Program Customers
b.Memo regarding Pilot Program voluntary increases
c.Letter from Mr Gregori regarding the future on ECP Pilot Program

3. Update on Montana Supreme Court Case (Benefis/City v. PSC/NWE) Update on YVEC vs. Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Inc., etal.

D. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

E. GENERAL AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
1. NWE Monthly Electric Supply Tracker Rate Change Detail – November, 2010
2. Draft letter to remaining customers
3. Email to ECP Customers regarding RSS links to ECP documents
4. Article from Great Falls Tribune dated October 13, 2010 and projected estimated rates
5. Order from Public Service Commission as related to Renewable Portfolio Standard Compliance Filings for 2009 for ConocoPhillips Company
6. Public Comment

F. ECP BOARD MEETING DATES FOR CONSIDERATION

G. ADJOURN

NC#7 Agenda - Monday, Nov. 8, 2010

AGENDA
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
DISTRICT 7
Monday, November 8, 2010
Great Falls Civic Center Gibson Room, 7 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/ASSIGNMENT OF MEETING SECRETARIAL DUTIES
APPROVAL OF OCTOBER MINUTES

NEW BUSINESS
Status of Fourth Street Northbound closure between 1st and 2nd Avenues North
Notification of Public Meeting on Low-Income Housing, 12/7, 7 p.m., Civic Center
Mader Conditional Use Permit
Whittier complaints regarding traffic on 9th Street
Problem Properties
* Complaint regarding maintenance issues at South-side Parking Garage
Neighborhood Concerns

OLD BUSINESS
Rep. Blewett’s Downtown Traffic Proposal
Status of contract with Lacy and Ebeling Engineering for repair study at Natatorium
Status of Gibson Park Lighting
Other Old Business

REPORTS
City Commission
Police Advisory Board
Council of Councils
CSI: Great Falls (Citizens for Saving Indoor-Swimming in Great Falls)
Pea Pods Project
Other Reports
ADJOURN

Next meeting -- December 14, 2010 at Great Falls Civic Center

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Joint City-County Meeting

When: Monday, November 8 at 1:30pm
Where: Courthouse Annex, 325 2nd Avenue North, Room 111

Agenda
:
General discussion regarding the relationship of city-county government.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Congratulations

Congratulations to all those who ran for public office and to those who won their respective offices and districts.

Way to go Travis!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Prowler

For folks living in the Lower North Side neighborhood of NC#7, a prowler was spotted this morning in the vicinity of 9th Street and 7th Avenue North. According to the email, this same person was seen a couple of weeks ago, peering into a ground level window of an apartment building in the same area.

Police have been notified.

ECP Out Of Lawsuit

This is good news. According to this article in Saturday's (Oct. 30, 2010) Tribune, Electric City Power and the city have been dropped from the lawsuit that was filed by Yellowstone Valley Electric in December 2008.

The city though is still losing $5,000/day from the boondoggle that is ECP.

Expo Park

Cascade County Commissioners continue to study ways to better improve usage of the fairgrounds. There is still time to complete this online survey.

City Commission Meeting Time Change

Because city offices are closed on Tuesday for Election day, the City Commission work session and regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 3.

Work Session:
When: Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 5:45pm
Where: Gibson Room

Agenda:
1.Live Streaming & Broadcasting of Commission Meetings – Jennifer Reichelt
2.Privately Owned Vehicles for Sale – Mike Haynes

Neighborhood Councils - Week of November 1, 2010

Two councils are meeting this week:

NC #6
When: Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 7:00pm
Where: Sunnyside School music room

Agenda:
*NeighborWorks condominiums - complaints have been received that the Sunnyside Townhomes are not being built as originally proposed by NeighborWorks. NeighorWorks will be available to explain their side of the story.
*A proposed annexation of Upper/Lower River Road, Phase 3
*Neighborhood concerns
*Committee reports

NC#3
When: Thursday, Nov. 4 at 7:00pm
Where: Riverview School cafeteria

Agenda:
Proposed annexation of Montana Egg
Neighborhood concerns
Committee reports


NC#4 is also looking for a member to fill a vacancy. Interested parties must be a registered voter and live within the boundaries of the neighborhood. For more information, contact Patty Cadwell at 455-8496.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Urban Chickens

Earlier this summer, there was discussion at all of the Neighborhood Councils about allowing chickens within the city limits.

As a member of Neighborhood Council, I received notice yesterday that the City Commission has instructed the Planning/Community Development Department to not proceed any further with pursuing an urban chicken ordinance. All paperwork will be retained, if in the event, the issue is revisited.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Free Crime Prevention Seminar

What: Crime Prevention Seminar
When: Saturday, November 13, 2010 from 10:30am-4:00pm
Where: Great Falls Public Library

The seminar is open to the public, and is free of charge. Pre-registration is required. To register, contact certified Refuse To Be A Victim instructor, Scott Nordstrom, at 406-422-5019 or nikken@bresnan.net.

Refuse To Be A Victim® Seminars teach methods to avoid dangerous situations and prevent criminal confrontations. Experts agree the most important factor in surviving a criminal attack is to have an overall safety strategy before you need it. Seminar topics address personal safety issues as well as home, automobile, telephone, technological, and travel security. Seminar participants are presented with a variety of common sense crime prevention and personal safety strategies and devices they may integrate into their daily lives.

Historic Water Rights Petition

Here is a petition to restore Great Falls' Historic Water Rights claims. You may circulate it among your family and friends.

Return no later than November 1, 2010.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of October 25, 2010

Only one council is meeting this week:

NC#4
When: Thursday, October 28 at 6:30pm
Where: Heritage Baptist Church - 900 52nd Street North

Agenda
:
County Commissioner Joe Briggs
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Council 4 has a vacancy. If interested, and you are a registered voter and live within the council boundaries, please contact Patty Cadwell at 455-8496 for more information.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Cable 7 Dissolution

As many of probably already know, due to a lack of funding and a contract with the City of Great Falls, the board of directors of Cable 7 voted to dissolve the corporation effective October 1, 2010.

Click here to see the details and documents generated to date.

City Advisory Board Openings

The following City advisory boards have openings:

Community Development Council:
The Community Development Council has two openings. The Council consists of ten members appointed by the City Commission. The Community Development Council reviews CDBG funding applications and makes recommendations to the City Commission concerning funding from the City’s annual Community Development Block Grant. Interested applicants must live within the city limits. The Council meets on demand, generally in February and March. For more information, contact Chris Imhoff at 455-8407.

NATIVE AMERICAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION (NALGC)
The NALGC has one opening for a City-appointed representative for a four-year term. The NALGC consists of three standing members (highest ranking Native American officer in the Great Falls Public Education system, Indian Heritage Association Director, and the Indian Family Clinic Director) and four rotating members (two appointed by the City Commission and two appointed by the County Commission).

The NALGC serves as a local point-of-contact for all local City and County government departments to represent the Native American community at the City and County government meetings, functions, and events; to advise City and County governments on Native American needs, issues, forums and planning; to assist and advise in the coordinated review of the status of the local Native American community; and to serve as a clearinghouse of information on grants, employment opportunities and economic development activities for dissemination to Native American communities. Meetings are scheduled quarterly for the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM. For more information on the Commission, contact James Parker Shield at 761-3377.

Applications can be picked up at the City Manager's office at the Civic Center, room 201 or by using the online application form available in pdf format.

Deadline to apply is Friday, October 22 by 5:00pm.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of October 18, 2010

Two councils are meeting this week:

NC#5
When: Monday, Oct. 18 at 7:00pm
Where: Great Falls Clinic Specialty Center

Agenda
:
County Commissioner Joe Briggs to discuss two county studies
Information on a planned Benefis Health System building project
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns
When: Thursday, Oct. 21 at 6:00pm
Where: Great Falls PreRelease Center, Women's annex

Agenda
:
Deputy city manager Jennifer Reichelt
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Sunday, October 17, 2010

October 19, 2010 Work Session

When: Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 5:45pm
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda:

1.Golf Fees – Marty Basta
2.Rural Fire District Access to City Hydrants – Jim Rearden & Chief McCamley
3.Fire Investigation Canine – Chief McCamley

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Cable 7

I was unable to attend last night's City Commission meeting, but according to this article in today's Tribune, an exchange between members of the City Commission and Cable 7 board became contentious.

Last Thursday, the Cable 7 board voted to dissolve the channel, because they do not have enough funding to pay for liability insurance and new equipment. The board blames the City Commission for not allocating this funding.

If you attended last night's meeting, please share your comments.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Neighborhood Councils - Week of October 4, 2010

Two councils meet this week:

NC#6
When: Wednesday, October 6 at 7:00pm
Where: Sunnyside School music room

Agenda:
Last week's Council of Councils meeting
Neighborhood concerns
Vacancy on the council

NC#3
When: Thursday, October 7 at 7:00pm
Where: Riverview School cafeteria

Agenda
:
County Commissioner Joe Briggs
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Special City Commission Meeting

When: Thursday, September 30 at 10:30am
Where: City Commission chambers

Agenda:
City staff will provide a presentation to the Great Falls City Commission for consideration and approval of a change in scope and implementation schedule for HB 645 projects.

(House Bill 645 is a state of Montana program that distributes American Recovery and Investment Act (ARRA) funds).

This meeting follows the City Commission agenda setting meeting, which was rescheduled to Thursday, September 30 at 10:00am.

Great Falls Citizen Council

When: Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 7:00pm
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda:
* Update from the Parking on City Streets Task Force and the Deputy City Manager
* Update from the Citizens for Swimming Indoors (CSI, Natatorium)
* Library news - Director Kathy Mora
* Information on Downtown Master Plan - Planner Brant Birkeland
* Neighborhood Council information sharing

This meeting is open to the public.

Thank You

Thanks to all of you who continue to check Cataract City.

For those of you who do not know, my husband passed away on August 27.

Gary was very supportive of this blog and I know he would want me to continue posting items of noteworthy interest.

I have appreciated your patience and understanding during this difficult time.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Work Session, August 17, 2010

When: Tuesday, August 17 at 5:45pm
Where: Gibson Room

Agenda:

1. LPGA – USGA – Girls Golf Program – Connie Cramer-Caouette
2. Cascade County Conservation District Update – Toni Neslen

Neighborhood Councils - Week of August 16, 2010

One council is meeting this week:
NC#5:

When: Monday, August 16 at 7:00pm
Where: Great Falls Clinic Specialty Center

Agenda:
Presentation on the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Monday, August 9, 2010

West Bank Park Survey

West Bank Park Steering Committee
Invites Residents to Take the Survey!


The West Bank Park Steering Committee is inviting all members of the community to take an on-line survey to help with developing a Master Plan for West Bank Park. The survey is intended to determine the community’s preferences on topics such as design elements and funding alternatives for the Park. Hard copies will be available at the Park and Recreation Office, Natatorium Swimming Pool, Community Recreation Center, Civic Center (Convention Center), and the Great Falls Public Library.

The Steering Committee and consultant have already conducted a town meeting and design charrette on the Master Plan. The questions in the survey are a way for the committee to get feedback from the community at large on ideas that have been generated at these meetings. The survey offers an opportunity for anyone in the community to share their ideas for the park with the Steering Committee.

West Bank Park is located on the west bank of the Missouri, across from downtown, north of the Central Avenue Bridge, and the new Federal Courthouse. The goal of the Master Plan process is to solicit input from the public and create a roadmap for redevelopment of the park. The survey results will help the Steering Committee to assess community priorities for developing the park and will provide vital data for securing future funding. The City is urging the entire community to help with this effort by participating in the survey.

The City has hired CTA Architects Engineers Planners as professional consultants to lead the project. Marty Basta, Great Falls Park and Rec Director notes, “West Bank Park has the potential to become one of the premier municipal riverfront parks in the State. The community’s involvement is a critical aspect of making this happen.” The deadline for completing the survey is August 15. The draft Master Plan is anticipated to be completed in the fall.

If you have any questions, please contact Marty Basta, Parks and Recreation Director, 406-771-1265.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of August 9, 2010

Two councils are meeting this week:

NC#7
When: Monday, August 9 at 7:00pm
Where: NeighborWorks - 509 1st Avenue South

Agenda:

NEW BUSINESS
Joint NC7/NC8 sponsored debate/forum for County Commission and Sheriff candidates
Whittier school Weed and Seed funding request for replacement surveillance camera monitor
Problem Properties
Neighborhood Concerns
OLD BUSINESS
Status of Park Drive Speed Project
Status of Gibson Park Lighting Project
Other Old Business
REPORTS
City Commission
Police Advisory Board
Council of Councils
CSI: Great Falls (Citizens for Saving Indoor-Swimming in Great Falls)
Pea Pods Project

When: Thursday, August 12 at 7:00pm
Where: Camp Fire Office, 1925 2nd Avenue South

Agenda:
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Aug. 3, 2010 City Work Session

When: Tuesday, August 3 at 5:45pm
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda:
Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act – Montana Wilderness Association
Building Safety Division Update – Terre Gift

Monday, August 2, 2010

Friday, July 30, 2010

Aug 2010 ECP Meeting

When: Monday, August 2 at 5:30pm
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Here is a draft copy of the agenda for the August 2 ECP meeting.

SME July 2010 Board Meeting Agenda

H/T: A.D.

City Manager Doyon recently wrote to Southern Board members that although the city has not recently sent a representative to its meetings, the city still needs to receive copies of its agendas. Note that after five years of doing business with the city, Tim Gregori lost the city's email address.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Shoplifting Scottish Seagull

Advisory Board Openings

The city currently has these advisory board openings:

ADVISORY COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Two openings are available on the Advisory Commission on International Relationships for three-year terms through March 31, 2013. The Commission provides support, coordination and exchange of information for international programs in the community. Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM. For more information contact Kelly Audet at 455-8440.

HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD (GREAT FALLS)
The Great Falls Housing Authority Board has one opening for a two-year term for a tenant member, representing the elderly, through June 30, 2012. The Housing Authority provides safe, decent, sanitary, and affordable housing for the community’s low income residents. They also set policy for operation and management of public housing properties; HUD-Section 8 programs, and other affordable housing programs. The Board also serves as the loan committee for the City’s Housing Rehabilitation Program. Expertise in the areas of finance, accounting, architecture and engineering are desired. Board meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at noon, for approximately two hours. For more information, contact Kevin Hager at 453-4311.

DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
The Design Review Board has one opening for a three-year term through March 31, 2013. The Board reviews specified types of development proposals to ensure that the design and aesthetics conform to the review criteria contained in the municipal code. The current opening is for an architect. Members are appointed with an effort to achieve a diversity of expertise, background and interest. Board meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month if needed. Applicants must reside within the City of Great Falls. For more information, contact Kim McCleary at 455-8405.

Applications are available at the City Manager's Office, Civic Center, Room 201, by calling 455-8450, or by using the online, fill-out, print, and mail/fax Board Opening Application which is available in PDF format.

SME Told To Stop Construction

According to this article at KRTV, SME has been directed by Cascade County to stop construction activities at its site on Salem Road. This is response to last week's Montana Supreme Court ruling that the county illegally spot-zoned when rezoning agricultural land to heavy industrial in March 2008.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

West Bank Park Design Charrette

When: July 21 from 5:00pm-7:00pm and July 22 from 8:00am-9:00am
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center - please enter through the northeast entrance.

Plan to attend a Design Charrette to give your input on the future of West Bank Park. A Design Charrette is a brief, intense design workshop to allow the public an opportunity to provide hands on input into the development of the West Bank Park Master Plan.

The goal of the Master Plan process is to solicit input from the public and create a roadmap for redevelopment of the park.

City staff and the consultants will be available to answer questions and take comments on what you want for West Bank Park. Refreshments will be served.

If you have any questions, please contact Marty Basta, Parks and Recreation Director, 406-771-1265.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of July 19, 2010

Only one council is meeting this week:

NC#4
When: Thursday, July 22 at 6:30pm
Where: Heritage Baptist Church

Agenda:
City assessment on property tax bills for Portage Meadows residents
Committee reports
Problem properties
Neighborhood concerns

NC#8
Wednesday, July 21 - Ice-cream social from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Memorial Park. Free ice cream cones and root beer floats.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Work Session - July 20, 2010

When: Tuesday, July 20 at 5:45pm
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda:
1.River’s Edge Trail -- Trails Work Group – Doug Wicks
2.Downtown Plan – Mike Haynes

Friday, July 16, 2010

It IS Considered Spot Zoning

The Montana Supreme court ruled in favor (page 31) for the plaintiffs and appellants.

According to this ruling, Cascade County illegally spot-zoned the property for the coal plant when they changed the zoning from agricultural to heavy industrial.

Not surprisingly, Tim Gregori says that SME will ask the court to reconsider their decision, because it was based on "outdated and erroneous facts".

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Volunteers Need Work

Carrie Koppy from NeighborWorks has 5 young volunteers who are looking for projects for this week. If you know anyone, disadvantaged or elderly, who might need some help with yard work or basement cleaning or similar, please contact Carrie at 216-3520 as soon as possible.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Beartooth Bylaws Committee Suspended

Once again, Beartooth Co-op is being jerked around by SME. In the lastest go-around, their Bylaw Committee has been suspended (page 2).

Below is a response from co-op member and avid advocate for transparency, Arlene Boyd:

Beartooth Co-op Board needs to support open, transparent bylaw revision, now.

The “suspension” of the Beartooth Electric Cooperative Bylaw Committee is very disappointing. Without consulting members at-large or the members of the bylaw committee, the Beartooth Board of Trustees has stopped the committee’s work.

Bylaws are the contract between an organization and its members. Co-op bylaws define procedures for the organization and specify member rights and responsibilities.

Most of us do not understand the reported connection between a postcard sent out by the Stillwater and Carbon County Resource Councils and the board’s decision to suspend the bylaw committee. If the Beartooth Board objects to the councils’ postcard supporting mail-in elections they should take the matter up with the councils. There is no reason to shut down the bylaw committee, which represents Beartooth members, not the councils.

We have the highest electricity rates in Montana. Our wholesale supplier, Southern Montana Electric (Southern), a cooperative we established and finance, operates in bylaw-permitted secrecy. Southern spends enormous amounts of our money without informing us, seeking our input, or asking for our approval. The bylaws are much more important than an irrelevant spat about a postcard. They are even more important than mail-in balloting which is only one aspect of a fair election process.

It is time to thank the board and the committee members for their hard work and to insist that they reconvene and provide a transparent bylaw review process with open reporting and opportunity for member input. The bylaws need to be updated and revised with three objectives:


• To ensure that Beartooth has appropriate legal operating guidelines
• To provide strong support for transparent governance and democratic decision-making
• To require procedures for informing and involving members in all aspects of co-op activity.

Boards and committees can get caught up in controlling their process and forget what the process is supposed to do. Let’s not let that happen at Beartooth.

Arleen Boyd
Fishtail

Neighborhood Councils - Week of July 12, 2010

One council is meeting this week:

NC#7
When: Monday, July 12 at 7:00pm
Where: NeighborWorks - 509 1st Avenue South

Agenda:
Johnny Walker, County Commission candidate
Priority updates
Problem properties
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Neighborhood Councils - Week of July 5, 2010

Only one council is meeting this week:

NC#9
When: Thursday, July 8 at 7:00pm
Where: Campfire Office, 1925 2nd Avenue South

Agenda:
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Saturday, July 3, 2010

ECP Debt

H/T: A.D.

Here you will find the ongoing debt calculations of ECP. The final tally includes the infusion (page 21) of $1.4 million of monies that was "borrowed" in 2007 from other city funds as a "security deposit" to SME. On page 37, the security deposit was supposedly released, but ECP has yet to pay back the city for the initial loan.

Posted debt as of May 2010 SME billing: ($2,018,250)

Actual debt, which includes the initial $1.4 million loan from various city funds that is still outstanding: ($3,418,250)

Work Session - July 6, 2010

When: Tuesday, July 6 at 5:45pm
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda:

1.Central Montana Defense Alliance Update – Dave Weissman
2.Business Improvement District Budget and Work Plan – Alison Fried
3.Tourism Business Improvement District Budget and Work Plan – Robert Dompier

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Neighborhood Councils - Week of June 28, 2010

No meetings are scheduled this week.

West Bank Park Meeting

When: Wednesday, June 30 at 6:00pm-9:00pm
Where: Missouri Room at the Civic Center - Please enter through the northeast entrance.

Agenda:
Plan to attend the Town Hall Meeting to give your input on the future of West Bank Park.

The City of Great Falls Parks and Recreation Department is in the process of creating a Master Plan for the future of West Bank Park. West Bank Park is located on the West Bank of the Missouri, across from downtown, north of the Central Avenue Bridge, and the new Federal Courthouse.

The goal of the Master Plan process is to solicit input from the public and create a roadmap for redevelopment of the park. This is an exciting time for West Bank Park, and the City hopes to capitalize upon both public and private investment in the area in order to build on many of the existing assets present in the park, making it a premier community park. The city has hired CTA Architects Engineers Planners as professional consultants to lead the project. The anticipated planning and design process is expected to take approximately five (5) months to complete.

As part of the planning process, the City Parks and Recreation Department wants your input, and therefore will be holding a Town Hall Meeting Wednesday, June 30, 2010 in the Missouri Room at the Civic Center, 2 Park Drive South, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Please enter through the northeast entrance.

The meeting will be an open format, and you are welcome to come and go as your schedule allows. Refreshments will be served. City staff and the consultants will be available to answer questions and take comments on what you want for West Bank Park.

If you have any questions, please contact Marty Basta, Parks and Recreation Director, 406-771-1265, mbasta@greatfallsmt.net.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

SME Is Sued By The Billings Gazette

Hat tip: Travis

The Billings Gazette has sued SME after one of its journalists was denied access to SME's board meeting last Friday.

Let's hope the City of Great Falls gets involved as Travis has suggested.

Monday, June 21, 2010

SME's 990s from 2004-2009

Here is a link to SME's 990 reports from 2004-2009. Interesting reading. Enjoy.

The Ongoing Quest For Open Meetings

The following email correspondences represent an ongoing struggle citizens have had to gain admittance to SME board meetings. It is truly a pathetic situation when citizens have to work so hard and put up with so much in their quest to uphold their constitutional rights. The beginning of the exchange begins at the end of this posting.

Dear Mr. Brooks,

I thank you for your timely and professional response on this matter and for advising the police accordingly. My regrets the fax wasn't available for your office as I thought I had successfully transmitted from Fort Carson, CO, but I think we're all up on the issue now. We shall now see how Southern will deal with our constitutional rights, open government and citizens who insist on transparency, accountability and oversight.

Very Respectfully,

Richard D. Liebert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brooks, Brent"
Date: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 12:54
Subject: FW: police enforcement of co-op's closed meeting

Colonel Liebert:

I am forwarding to you as promised the recent email I sent to Arleen Boyd which also contains an additional email as an attachment. That attachment is another email sent to an attorney for SME advising what I mentioned to you a few minutes ago-that I have recommended to the Billings Police Chief Rich St John that the police respond to reports that a crime is imminent or actually in progress concerning SME meetings in Billings. I do not know if SME will have private security in the future and that is a matter for its decision.

I am also attaching the May 5, 2010, letter I sent to Mr. Frank Willett, husband of Arleen Boyd which is self explanatory and contains specific statutes that authorize a challenge to an open meetings violation.

If you have any questions on any of these items I am forwarding to you feel free to email or call me as needed.

Thanks,
Brent

Brent Brooks
Billings City Attorney
P.O. Box 1178
Billings, MT 59103
(406) 657-8205 (work)
(406) 672-8316 (cell)

From: Brooks, Brent
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 10:28 AM
To: 'Arleen Boyd'
Subject: RE: police enforcement of co-op's closed meeting

Mrs. Boyd:
Attached is a brief email I sent last Friday to Mary Jaraczeski, one of the attorneys representing the SME Board. Billings Police Chief St John, Assistant City attorney bonnie Sutherland and I have previously met and discussed the issues on these meetings and the attach email is the result of that meeting, several phone calls from me to attorneys John Crist, Jim Santoro and Mary Jaraczeski so I could learn more facts.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions on this and I will attempt to help as much as possible. I encourage you to work with anyone within SME or within one or more of the member cooperatives to resolve the open meetings issue.

Thanks,
Brent

Brent Brooks
Billings City Attorney
P.O. Box 1178
Billings, MT 59103
(406) 657-8205 (work)
(406) 672-8316 (cell)

From: Arleen Boyd
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 8:08 AM
To: Brooks, Brent
Subject: police enforcement of co-op's closed meeting
Importance: High

Dear Mr. Brooks,

I am preparing my complaint regarding the closing of the May 20, 2010, Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Inc. board meeting. As we have discussed, the meeting should have been open to the public, yet General Manager Tim Gregori declared it closed. I am attaching, again, Great Falls City Attorney James Santoro's memorandum stating the legal case for declaring Southern's meetings open.

The Billings police enforced this order of closure by parking a Billings police vehicle directly in front of the door of the building, 3521 Gabel Road, and stationing Officer Peterson at the site to remove any "uninvited" persons from the property. Officer Peterson confronted me, several other Beartooth Electric Cooperative members, and Great Falls resident Aart Dolman in the parking lot and told us that we could not even approach the door of the building. He said that we had to stay on the sidewalk.

Following are a few facts regarding this May 20 event:

* Officer Peterson was at the site at 8:20 when I arrived and the police car was parked parallel to the building, directly in front of the door.
* The officer drove the car around the parking lot after I arrived and was talking with Mr. Dolman who had arrived earlier. The officer then parked it, again, in front of the door.
* The officer told us, in the parking lot, to leave or go to the sidewalk.
* I told him that the meeting was an open meeting.
* The officer told me that the meeting was a closed meeting.
* When I pointed out that my car was in the parking lot and that I needed to be on the property to enter it he said that it was unlikely that it would be towed away but that could legally happen.
* Aart Dolman asked for a police report to be filed so that he would have a record of exactly what had transpired and what legal action was taking place to remove us from the property.
* Officer Peterson called Sergeant Berry, his superior officer, to come and discuss a report.
* Sergeant Berry gave us a report number and explained, exactly as Officer Peterson had, that the meeting was closed by the board, that the building owner had secured police support to enforce the closure, and that we would have to leave. The officers were polite. I believe they were put in a very bad position by someone in charge of police activity. They were enforcing an illegal closure of a public meeting. I have many questions about this police action including:

* Who told them the meeting was legally closed?
* Why did they accept and repeat the contention that it was closed?
* Is it a Billings Police policy to enforce "closed meetings" on private property?
* How much does it cost to station a Billings Police officer in a parking lot for three or four hours?How much does it cost to police to use a police vehicle for three or four hours as a signal that the police support the closure?

When we tried to attend the Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative's annual meeting, March 19, 2010, we were met by a police officer in the lobby of the building and threatened with arrest if we did not answer all of his questions and immediately leave the property. He was not as polite as the officers who met us on May 20. He repeated several times that we were subject to arrest if we did not cooperate with a police officer's instructions. What legal right did he have to give me and several other polite and orderly people who were making no disturbance whatsoever instructions?

I will call you this morning to ask about this complaint which relates to actions taken by Tim Gregori on behalf of the Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Inc. board and by the Billings Police Department. We did record the May 20 morning's activity with a video camera and I have pictures of the police officers talking with us.

Yours truly,
Arleen Boyd (328-6645)

Citizens Barred Once Again

Citizens were once again barred from the SME board meeting this past Friday, June 18.

Commissioner Jolley was allowed into the meeting even though she is not the city's representative.

Proposed City Budget

Here is the link to the 2011 proposed city budget.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of June 21, 2010

Only one council is meeting this week:

NC#4
When: Thursday, June 24 at 6:30pm
Where: Heritage Baptist Church, 900 52nd Street North

Agenda:
City's new permitting process - Terre Gift
Committee reports
Problem properties
Neighborhood concerns

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Flood Advisory

Flood Advisory

The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a small stream flood advisory for north central and southwest Montana until 0930 Saturday.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause elevated levels on small creeks and streams....and ponding of water on country roads and farmland along the banks of creeks and streams. The Missouri River is running high between Craig and Cascade.

The Weather Service expects that by this evening the area will start to dry out slowly over the next 24 hours.

As we approach the weekend please keep the following information in mind:

AVERT THE DANGERS OF A FLOOD:
* Listen for and respond to watches and warning.
A Flood Watch means a flood is possible in your area
A Flood Warning means flooding is already occurring or will occur in your area very soon.
* If advised to evacuate or if you think you are in danger, leave immediately.
* Prepare your home if you have time.

If you have any questions or concerns you can call the National Weather Service Operations Section at 453-2081.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

SME Board Minutes

Here are the SME board minutes from April 2008 through April 2010.

Balzarini Resigns

UPDATE: Here is Coleen's resignation letter.

I did not attend the ECP power board meeting last night, but according to this article, she resigned her position as executive director.

It's about time.

The ECP board, which is the City Commission, will appoint her replacement.

I certainly do not favor appointing someone within the Fiscal Service Department or any member of the City Commission. It's more than time to get an unbiased third party involved, whose main concern will be the interests of the City of Great Falls and its residents, not those of SME.

June 15 Work Session

When: Tuesday, June 15 at 5:45pm
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda:
Manager’s Budget Presentation

Monday, June 14, 2010

Neighborhood Councils - Week of June 14, 2010

Two councils are meeting this week:

NC#7
When: Monday, June 14 at 7:00pm
Where: NeighborWorks - 509 1st Avenue South

Agenda:
Downtown traffic flow
Parking problems
Urban chickens
Results of a traffic study recommending the speed limit near Whittier School be 25 mph
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

NC#8
When: Thursday, June 17 at 6:00pm
Where: Great Falls Prerelease Center, Women's annex

Agenda:
Cascade County Commission candidate Johnny Walker
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Neighborhood Councils - Week of June 7, 2010

Three councils are meeting this week:

NC#1
When: Tuesday, June 8 at 7:00pm
Where: Bethel Lutheran Church, 1009 18th Avenue S.W.

Agenda:
Update on urban chickens
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

NC#2
When: Wednesday, June 9 at 7:00pm
Where: Knights of Columbus Hall, 906 Central Ave. West

Agenda:
Update on the planning process for West Bank Park
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

NC#9
When: Thursday, June 10 at 7:00pm
Where: Camp Fire Office, 1925 2nd Avenue South

Agenda:
Update on community development from building official Terre Gift
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Medical Marijuana Banned

By a vote of 3-2, the City Commission voted tonight to ban medical marijuana within the city limits. Commissioners Jolley and Burow voted against the ban.

Monday, May 31, 2010

City Advisory Board Openings

Five city boards are currently looking for members:

Advisory Commission on International Relationships - Three openings are available on the Advisory Commission on International Relationships for three-year terms through March 31, 2013. The Commission consists of nine to eleven members. The Commission provides support, coordination and exchange of information for international programs in the community. Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM. For more information contact Kelly Audet at 455-8440.

Library Board - The Library Board has one opening for a five-year term. The Board consists of five members who oversee the Library policies and operations including book policies and service to the City, County, and pathfinder Federation of Libraries. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact Kathy Mora at the Great Falls Public Library at 453-9706.

Great Falls Housing Authority Board - The Great Falls Housing Authority Board has one opening for a two-year term for a tenant member, representing the elderly, through June 30, 2012. The GFHA Board consists of seven commissioners appointed by the City Commission. The Housing Authority provides safe, decent, sanitary, and affordable housing for the community’s low income residents. They also set policy for operation and management of public housing properties; HUD-Section 8 programs, and other affordable housing programs. The Board also serves as the loan committee for the City’s Housing Rehabilitation Program. Expertise in the areas of finance, accounting, architecture and engineering are desired. Board meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at noon, for approximately two hours. For more information, contact Kevin Hager at 453-4311.

Parking Advisory Commission -The Parking Advisory Commission has one opening to fill the remainder of a three-year term through April 30, 2012. The Commission consists of five members, appointed by the City Commission, and an ex-officio member appointed by the Business Improvement District. Experience or interest in the Great Falls Central Business District is helpful but not necessary. The Commission advises the City Commission, City Manager, and Planning and Community Development staff on matters related to parking issues within the Parking Districts. Applicants must reside within the City of Great Falls. For more information, contact Kim McCleary at 455-8405.

Design Review Board - The Design Review Board has one opening for a three-year term through March 31, 2013. The Design Review Board consists of five members appointed by the City Commission. The Board reviews specified types of development proposals to ensure that the design and aesthetics conform to the review criteria contained in the municipal code. The current opening is for an architect. Members are appointed with an effort to achieve a diversity of expertise, background and interest. Board meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month if needed. Applicants must reside within the City of Great Falls. For more information, contact Kim McCleary at 455-8405.

Deadline to apply is Friday, June 4 by 5:00pm. You may pick up an application form at the city manager's office or click here for a pdf version.

City Work Session - June 1, 2010

When: Tuesday, June 1 at 5:45pm
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda:
1.Downtown Safety and Security – Business Improvement District
2.Great Falls Agri-Tech Park Financing Update – Brett Doney
3.Peoples Park and Recreation Foundation Fundraising Efforts Update – Brian Thies

Neighborhood Councils - Week of May 31, 2010

Two councils are meeting this week:

NC#6
When: Wednesday, June 2 at 7:00pm
Where: Sunnyside School Music room

Agenda:
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

NC#3
When: Thursday, June 3 at 7:00pm
Where: Riverview School Cafeteria

Agenda:
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Filing of Complaint against SME

It speaks for itself.

To: James Santoro, City Attorney
Great Falls, MT.
From: Aart Dolman
Date: May 24, 2010
Re: Filing of Complaint

Dear Mr. Santoro,
The following is a letter of complaint. I a citizen of Great Falls in good standing was prevented from entering the building where SME Trustees were holding a meeting at 9:00am on Thursday, May 20, 2010. The uniformed Billings City Police had responded to a request by the owner of the building not to allow me to park my vehicle on his property and prevent me from entering the building. The Police Officers also told me that the monthly SME Trustee meeting was a “private meeting” and that I was not allowed to attend.

I had received a copy of the SME Trustee Agenda meeting which was to be scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 20, 2010. The Southern Montana Electric Cooperative Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Inc. (SME, or also known as Southern Montana Electric) have monthly meetings and since no City of Great Falls public official or employee could attend I decided as a Great Falls citizen to observe that particular meeting.

On the previous day, Wednesday, May 19, I had received from the City of Great Falls Administration a copy of this SME Trustee Board Agenda. I had requested this document from the Mayor of Great Falls during the regular scheduled City Commission Meeting.

In early January 2010, I had requested that the City of Great Falls Commission provide me with a copy of the 2008 IRS Form 990, line #14, p.6, which stated that this non-profit SME Cooperative had a policy on the Retention and Destruction of Documents. The IRS tax filing of a non-profit organization is a public document, and I felt that I had every right to request from SME copies of its policies.

When a month later Judge Phillips’ ruling allowed citizens to examine SME documents, I thought that it was unusual for me to wait several months without a response from the City of Great Falls and SME. When I requested again during the April City Commission meeting that I had not heard about my request, the Mayor requested that the City Clerk sent Mr. Gregori a letter requesting a response. A few days later, I received a copy of a letter signed by Mr. Gregori that my request would be honored by SME in a “timely manner.”

After receiving the SME Trustee Agenda for May 20, 2010, Agenda, I was thrilled that under item VIII the trusties would discuss the document issue during their meeting. Thus I traveled to Billings to attend that monthly SME Board of Trustees meeting. Since Judge Phillips had ruled that SME documents were open for public examination, I had no reason to doubt that I would not be allowed to hear and witness the discussion by SME Trustees.

Shortly after 8:00am, on May 20th, 2010,I arrived at the building where the offices of SME are located on 3521 Gable Road, Billings, MT., and parked my vehicle in the south side parking area next to the side walk. I waited there for Beartooth Electric Cooperative members who were also interested in attending the SME Board of Trustee meeting. About fifteen minutes later Arleen Boyd and Larry Luhoff, and three others came and parked their vehicles in the same area. There was a continued flow of people in and out of the building. Because it was a multipurpose business building, the SME Trustee meeting was scheduled to be in the building’s ECI Conference Room.

About 8:25a.m, a Billings Police car arrived in the parking area and continued to the main entrance of the building. A uniformed Police Officer went into the building and a few minutes later he left the main entrance and walked directly to our group. He introduced himself as Officer Peterson and I introduced myself as a citizen from Great Falls. After the introductions, he informed the group, without asking our reason or purpose of the visit, that the owner of the property wanted us to leave the parking area and go to the nearby sidewalk and to continue our conversation with him. He also maintained that the meeting inside the building was a “private meeting” and that we could not enter the building.

After Arlene Boyd explained and informed the Billings Police Officer Peterson that we were here to attend the SME Trustee meeting, she showed him a packet of information which included a copy of the SME Trustee Agenda and the “Open Meeting” statement by City of Great Falls Attorney Mr. Santoro. To no avail the Police Officer stated repeatedly that this was a “private meeting” and that the owner of the building would not allow us to be in the parking area and the building for it was his private property. After a few minutes of conversation, I requested from the Police Officer where I could obtain a copy of this incident report and he told me that since this was a civil matter, not a criminal one, that there would be no police report. In the meantime, I had been informed that Police Officer Peterson was off-duty and had been hired by the owner of the building for the specific purpose of keeping our group of this property. This was puzzling and troublesome for me because the owner of a multi-use building prevented me from entering a building while others were free to enter and leave. So I requested from Police Officer Peterson that I meet with his shift commander. After a short discussion, the Police Officer walked a few paces away from us and when he returned he told me that SGT. Berry was on his way to meet with us.

In about 15 minutes, Billings Police SGT Berry arrived and joined us in the parking area next to the side walk. He also stated that we could not enter the parking lot or the building. This was at the request from the owner of the building and that the SME Trustee meeting was “private.” The public was not allowed. During our discussion with the police SGT, he read a copy of the Great Falls City Attorney ruling on “Open Meetings.” After a lengthy discussion, I asked for a copy of the police report and was told that this was a civil issue and not a criminal one; therefore there would not be a report. A police report would only be filed if there was a criminal incident. Again this conversation was troublesome and puzzling for me, and I wanted to ask if there was a Police Report of an earlier incident in the same building. Some of the members of our group had been trying to observe a SME Trustee meeting last February. I had seen the video where they had been ill-treated by SME Trustee members and the owner of the building in the hall way and were insulted by negative language including in offensive gestures while they were waiting for the Billings Police to arrive. I did not want the same pattern to occur. Therefore, I asked SGT Berry that, as a law abiding citizens, how I could enter the building and observe a meeting for which I had every right to attend? Certainly, a law obeying citizen would respect the order given by the Police but yet it seemed strange that the Billings Police would allow an illegal meeting. This was the reason for my request of a Police Report. Sergeant Berry informed me that there was already a record because someone with a video camera was present. After some more amicable and civilized discussion, SGT Berry promised me that he would write a report of this event. He then requested that we give him our names, addresses, and social security numbers. The group provided him with our names, etc.

In the meantime, Arleen Boyd had made four telephone calls to the Billings City Attorney Mr. Brooks on my private cell-phone and on the last call she discovered that he had a meeting with the Billings Police Chief and another official discussing our case. They requested that we give them a copy of the SME Trustee Agenda. Since we had given our copies to others so we had none to give to SGT Berry. Arleen Boyd then suggested that the SGT ask Mr. Gregori inside of the building for a copy of the Trustee Agenda. After about twenty minutes the SGT returned and stated that he could not get a copy of the SME Trustee Agenda from Mr. Gregori. Our group promised him to email a copy to the Billings Chief of Police and City Attorney.

After shaking hands with the Police Officers, I left the parking lot at approximately 10:15am after I received a card from Police Officer Peterson which stated the number, 10-21746, for a police report.* (See attached exhibit)

Neighborhood Councils - Week of May 24, 2010

Only one council is meeting this week:

NC#4
When: Thursday, May 27 at 6:30pm
Where: Heritage Baptist Church, 900 52nd Street North

Agenda:
Good Neighbor Award to Roger and Bonnie Lane
Discussion of urban chickens
Information on city code enforcement by Heather Rohlf
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Natatorium Meeting

What: Meeting with the City Commissioners at the Natatorium
When: 7:00pm, tonight, May 25

Below is a memo from Aaron Weissman, chair of NC#7:

Natatorium Supporters;

I am pleased to relay to you that the Women's 3 p.m. Water Aerobics Class has organized a meeting at the Natatorium tomorrow with the Mayor and the City Commissioners. This meeting will be to "introduce" the Natatorium to the Mayor and Commissioners and to brainstorm ideas to find the funding to keep the Nat open. The meeting will be tomorrow, 7 p.m., at the Natatorium.

The Water Aerobics class would like this meeting to be very positive and respectful. They also would like the Commission and the Mayor to see the broad support the people of Great Falls have for the Natatorium. Please consider attending this meeting tomorrow evening.

I also would like to take this opportunity to thank Tim Austin for offering to write and host a website supporting the Nat. The site will be online soon at the address www.greatfallsnat.com. In addition, Renata Birkenbuel has agreed to give us the benefit of her grantwriting experience. She will begin looking for and applying for grants to support the operation and repair of the pool.

Thank you for your continued enthusiasm,

Aaron

Monday, May 17, 2010

City Commission Work Session

When: Tuesday, May 18 at 5:45pm
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda:
Water Rights Update – PBS & J and Water Rights Solutions

Neighborhood Councils - Week of May 17, 2010

Two meetings take place this week:

NC#5
When: Monday, May 17 at 7:00pm
Where: GF Clinic Specialty Center, conference room

Agenda:
Discussion about urban chickens
Information about changes in the Community Development office
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

NC#8
When: Thursday, May 20 at 6:00pm
Where: GF Prerelease Center, women's annex

Agenda:
Discussion about urban chickens
Information about changes in the Community Development office
Sheriff candidates Glen Stinar and Bob Edwards
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

Monday, May 10, 2010

Pea Pod Garden Meeting

When: Monday, May 10 at 6:00pm
Where: At the garden, 901 3rd Avenue North

Areas where help is needed:

* staining the beds
* packing down the soil within the bed frames and around the outside
* picking up rocks and debris
* Organize the shed
* Spray Round Up on the weeds along the outside of the fence and fence line
* Pull weeds within garden area

ECP Bailout

Last week, Larry Rezentes, a CPA and watchdog for the ECP boondoggle, wrote the mayor and city commissioners in anticipation of the May 3 ECP board meeting. Below is his analysis of the resolution reached at that meeting to potentially exit the power business. Included is a link to his documentation:

At Monday night’s meeting, the Electric City Power Board approved resolutions to have city staff develop a city strategy to potentially exit from the electric power business, and for the ECP executive director to approach customers about their willingness to move pricing of their contracts with ECP to cost plus. A major element of the city staff work will be done by our new city attorney in assessing individual contracts and exposures to litigation against the city from ECP customers and from SME. I cover what I believe are premises that should exist to actions by the city, the suggested action course to shut down ECP, and the correction of misconceptions as to the risks presented by the potential for customer and SME litigation, in the attached material, and so I won’t belabor them now.

Suffice it to say, however, that the current parallel track action course to “explore” shutdown and increased pricing is both a trap and an implicit acceptance of the assumption that the city has the authority to continue in its misguided and illegal operation of ECP. This, while ECP loses additional taxpayer money ($234,674 in the first three months of this calendar year) in violation of ECP’s founding ordinance in the meantime, and with the same individuals in charge who were and are in charge while these losses occurred and continue to occur. A trap, because it continues the never ending saga with no decision ever being made to terminate ECP, while giving cover to the city while the losses continue. A mistake, in its implicit premise that to make a decision to shut down ECP there must be assurance of zero risk of litigation in doing so. It is interesting though that suddenly, at this late hour, ECP is going to approach customers to obtain price increases to stanch the losses. A part of the suggested solution of cost plus, incidentally, would come by increasing pricing of power that the city itself purchases from ECP, resulting in the passing on of the burden of ECP losses even more directly to the taxpayers.

I addressed his honor, the mayor, as ECP Board Chair, and suggested others (by inference, the city attorney) could elect to respond on the issue as well, of the basis under which the city continues operating ECP in violation of the law while losses continue to mount. The mayor simply would not answer the question, other than to say that it would take time to exit the business. However, as City Attorney Santoro correctly was quoted in the Great Falls Tribune as stating, the resolutions passed do not even place us in the position of having made a decision to do so.

So, another jovial meeting of city government and staff, while the taxpayers continue to lose money in the interest of the few businesses that have benefited from subsidized pricing that in large measure resulted in the losses ECP has sustained.

Larry
Rezentes

Neighborhood Councils - Week of May 10, 2010

Four councils are meeting this week:

NC#7
When: Monday, May 10 at 7:00pm
Where: GF Recreation Center

Agenda:
Possible Closure of Maroney Natatorium
Downtown Police Officer
Changes in Community Development, Permits--Terre Gift
Montana Legislature Sideboards to Medical Marijuana--Sen. Trudi Schmidt
Introduction from Jean Price, candidate for Montana Legislature
Urban Chicken Ordinance-Charles Bocock
Committee reports
Problem Properties
Neighborhood Concerns

NC#1
When: Tuesday, May 11 at 7:00pm
Where: Meadowlark School library

Agenda:
Forthcoming

NC#2
When: Wednesday, May 12 at 7:00pm
Where: West Elementary School cafeteria

Agenda:
Forthcoming

NC#9
When: Thursday, May 13 at 7:00pm
Where: GF High School, South campus, room 106

Agenda:
Forthcoming