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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

No Work Session

There will be no City Commission work session tomorrow night, May 4.

Doesn't seem quite right given that a few hot issues are facing our city right now that could be discussed:

1. ECP robbing the general fund of nearly $3,000/day to stay afloat

2. Consideration being given to closing the Natatorium because it isn't making money

3. Animal shelter funding

Public Comment Time

It's a good idea that the City Commission has decided to switch public comment back to the end of the meeting. Having it at the beginning was too time consuming and by the time the regular agenda items were discussed, everybody had lost interest and just wanted out of there.

Unfortunately, that's not the end of the story. It seems that City Manager Doyon is tired of public comment time being used as an "inquisition" of his staff. In fact, he's suggested that if it doesn't stop, he will allow them to be excused from the meeting.

Wrong.

If city staff, including Mr. Doyon, can't be bothered one way or the other to respond to questions concerning activities involving their departments, they don't have any business being in the job.

Citizens have the right to make appropriate inquiries at City Commission meetings. Some questions are easily answered, which has been demonstrated, while others may take some research. That's fine. Folks understand that not every question can necessarily be answered on the spot. It is expected though that an answer be forthcoming in a reasonable amount of time and not simply ignored.

It's high time that our well-paid city staff, including our city manager, remember that they work FOR US, not the other way around.

By RICHARD ECKE • Tribune Staff Writer • April 30, 2010

The public comment period will be moved toward the end of City Commission meetings, commissioners decided this week.

In December, City Manager Greg Doyon suggested the commission's public comment period be moved toward the beginning of its meetings.

"I think the flow would be a little better," Doyon said at the time.

Commissioners tried the approach for four months. The comment period, called "petitions and communications," on the agenda, can last 20 minutes or even an hour, depending on how many people want to speak.

At an agenda-setting meeting Wednesday, commissioners decided to give up the experiment for now.

"I really, really think that it's better at the end," Commissioner Mary Jolley said.

"I agree with that," Commissioner Bill Bronson said.

Mayor Michael Winters also said he agreed for the time being. Winters said television news people complained that holding the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting prevented them from staying to hear many hotly debated issues because of their deadlines to meet for a 10 p.m. newscast. The commission's regular meetings start at 7 p.m.

Bronson added that he has received telephone calls from a Tribune reporter to his cell phone during meetings after the reporter left the meeting to meet deadline.

"It's your meeting," Doyon told commissioners. "Thanks for humoring me for a few months."

Some regular speakers during the commission's public comment period this year are John "Johnny Angry" Hubbard, Mike Witsoe, Ron and Kathleen Gessaman, Brett Doney, Aart Dolman, Larry Rezentes, Richard Liebert, Travis Kavulla and Stuart Lewin.

During Wednesday's discussion, Bronson said he thinks speakers should be reminded to address commissioners and not mug for cable Channel 7 cameras in the room.
Jolley said she believes members of the public have the right to turn their heads in any direction they choose. Winters sided with Bronson on the head-turning issue question.

Liebert, chairman of Citizens for Clean Energy, rapped commissioners Thursday for trying to tell the public where to look when speaking at city meetings.

"I vigorously disagree with that," Liebert said, terming the suggestion "intolerable."

Doyon also told commissioners during Wednesday's meeting that he does not believe the public comment period should serve as an "inquisition" in which city staff members are subjected to accusatory questioning from the public.

"To put staff on the spot is unfair sometimes," Doyon said.

He said residents could just as easily ask department heads for the information during the week, when officials are more likely to have the needed information at their fingertips.

Otherwise, Doyon said he could opt to allow department heads to leave the meeting when the comment period begins.

"Some of us will have to stay around," he added with a chuckle.

Winters, who runs the commission meetings, said he believes there are two sides to the issue.

"This is the public's house," Winters said, adding that he tries to have city staff
resolve issues, within reason, on the spot if that is possible.

"Sometimes the answer is easily available from staff," Jolley added.

"There needs to more discretion exercised on that," Doyon said, noting that staff members may not have an answer at the meetings and not have the necessary information on hand to find the answer.

Doyon said he would reserve the right to excuse staff members from the meeting if questioning gets out of hand.

Liebert said he did not object to the public comment period being moved toward the end of city meetings, but he criticized Doyon for trying to "circle the wagons" and shield city staff from questions.

"I think it can be done politely," Liebert said.

Electric City Power Board, Meeting Tonight

When: Monday, May 3 at 5:30pm

Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda:
A.SELECTION OF MEMBER TO ACT AS TEMPORARY CHAIR

B.OLD BUSINESS
1.Bylaw Amendment

C.ELECTION OF OFFICERS

D.EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
1.Financial Reports
2.YVEC vs. Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative Inc ETAL
a.Plaintiff YVEC’s Motion for Scheduling Conference
b.Order Setting Trial and Case Management

E.CITY MANAGER REPORT
1.Discussion and Direction regarding City’s representation on Southern Board
a.Memorandum From James W Santoro regarding Public’s Right to Know/ Participate in Southern/ SME Board Documents and Meetings
b.Responses from Southern
2.Miscellaneous topics
a.Discussion of future agenda topics as proposed by Commissioners/ ECP Board Members

F.NEW BUSINESS
1.Accept Board Meeting Minutes from April 5, 2010
2.Enter Board Meeting Minutes from March 1, 2010 into record as reviewed and revised by prior Board Members
3.Rate restructuring. Discussion, consideration, direction

G.BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

H.GENERAL AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
1.NWE Natural Gas Utility Unit Rate Adjustments/Proposed Rates & NWE Monthly Electric Supply Tracker Rate Change Detail – May
2.NWE Natural gas USBC Rate Adjustment letter
3.Handouts from April 5, 2010, meeting
4.Public Comment

I.ECP BOARD MEETING DATES FOR CONSIDERATION
◦June 14
◦July 19
◦August 2

J.ADJOURN

Neighborhood Councils - Week of May 3, 2010

Two councils are meeting this week:

NC#6

When: Wednesday, May 5 at 7:00pm

Where: The music room at Sunnyside Elementary

Agenda:
* Info. from Public Works concerning the proposed special improvement district for paving and sidewalks at 11th, 20th and 21st Avenues South
* Info. on urban chickens
* Committee reports

* Neighborhood concerns

NC#3

When: Thursday, May 6 at 7:00pm

Where: Cafeteria at Riverview Elementary

Agenda:
* Info. on proposed annexation of the Great Bear Innovation Industrial Park
* Info. on urban chickens

* Committee reports

* Neighborhood concerns

Neighborhood Councils - Week of April 26, 2010

No meetings are scheduled this week.

Earth Day

Earth Day is Thursday, April 22, but will be celebrated on Saturday, April 24, from 10:00am-3:00pm at the Civic Center Convention Center. See here for more details.

$2,640.58 Loss/Day

According to the Fiscal Services department, ECP is currently losing $2,640.58/day. This means that the taxpayers are subsidizing this entity to the tune of nearly $80,000/month; $1 million/year.

Mayor Winters was frustrated at last night's City Commission meeting when members of the public kept talking about this very serious problem. He mentioned twice that the city is going to get out of its relationship with SME so can't understand why folks won't cut the Commission some slack and give them time to work it out.

Other than for Commissioners Jolley and Burow who are no longer voting in favor of payments going to SME, the others don't seem to have much concern about this bleeding.

What am I not understanding here?

H/T: J.T.

City Attorney's Opinion

Our new city attorney, James Santoro, issued an opinion to the City Commission with regard to open meeting laws and SME.

According to this document, SME meetings should be open to the public. Of course, Tim Gregori thinks otherwise; unfortunately, the Tribune thought it more important that his picture and quote grace the front page of the Montana Section of Tuesday's (4/20) paper.

The Tribune should think it more important that we finally have a city attorney who is more concerned about the rights of the city and its citizens than with SME.

Many thanks to Mr. Santoro for defending those rights.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of April 19, 2010

Two councils meet this week:

NC#5
When: Monday, April 19 at 7:00pm
Where: GF Clinic Specialty Center's conference room

Agenda:
Upcoming school mill levy request
Sheriff candidates Bob Edwards and Glen Stinar
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns

NC#4
When: Thursday, April 22 at 6:30pm
Where: Heritage Baptist Church, 900 52nd Street North

Agenda:
Committee reports
Neighborhood concerns
Update from Sheriff David Castle
Sheriff candidate Glen Stinar
Leigislative candidates Jean Price and Erik Bakly

No Recommendation

Unfortunately, the Great Falls Planning and Zoning Commission did not reach a recommendation for the City Commission regarding the proposed medical marijuana ordinance.

Options were:

1. Totally prohibit medical marijuana from being grown and dispensed in the city;

2. Extend the 90-day moratorium on the businesses for up to a year;

3. Pass an ordinance that would limit where medical marijuana businesses could operate in the city.

This issue will once again go before the City Commission on May 4.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of April 12, 2010

Four councils meet this week:

NC#7
When: Monday, April 12 at 7:00pm

Where: NeighborWorks, 509 1st Avenue South

Agenda:
Sheriff candidates Dave Castle, Glen Stinar and Bob Edwards
Strutt Your Mutt event

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

NC#1

When: Tuesday, April 13 at 7:00pm

Where: Meadow Lark School

Agenda:
Sheriff candidates Stinar and Edwards

Update on the Residential Sound Insulation Project
Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

NC#2

When: Wednesday, April 14 at 7:00pm

Where: West Elementary School cafeteria

Agenda:
Update on the West Great Falls flood control levee

Update on the Residential Sound Insulation Project

Community composting

Speeding areas

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

NC#8

When: Thursday, April 15 at 6:00pm

Where: Great Falls Prerelease Center, Women's annex

Agenda:

Sheriff candidate Bob Edwards

Upcoming school mill levy

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

Council #s 1 and 9 are also looking for residents to fill an upcoming vacancy and an open seat. Interested registered voters living withing the boundaries of each council may attend the meetings or contact Patty Cadwell at 455-8496 or pcadwell@greatfallsmt.net

City Work Session

When: Tonight, April 6 at 5:30pm
Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda:

1. DBG/HOME Program Overview and 2010-2015 Consolidated Plan – Chris Imhoff and Melanie Lattin
2. Animal Foundation Update – John Gilbert
3. Public Safety Update – Cascade County Sheriff’s Office

Neighborhood Councils - Week of April 5, 2010

Two Neighborhood Councils are meeting this week:

NC#6

When: Wednesday, April 7 at 7:00pm

Where: Sunnyside School music room

Agenda:
A NeighborWorks development
Upcoming school mill levy

Cascade County Sheriff candidate Glen Stinar

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

NC#9

When: Thursday, April 8 at 7:00pm

Where: GF High School, South campus, room #106

Agenda:
MApril clean-up planning

"Kick Butts" program

Upcoming school mill levy

Cascade County Sheriff David Castle

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

Report Of First Southern Public Meeting

Here is an article from the Billings Gazette concerning the first public meeting held by Southern to explain their position on the gas plant and to take questions from the audience.

Tim and his group will be in Great Falls this evening from 7:00pm-10:00pm at the La Quinta Inn.


Critics get some answers about power costs
JAN FALSTAD Of The Gazette Staff Posted: Monday, March 29, 2010 11:36 pm

Despite some barbed questions, critics of a planned power plant by Great Falls and cooperative officials who support the project ended the first of four regional meetings in Billings with civility and even some laughter.

But relative civility doesn’t mean the two sides convinced each other.

About 40 people showed up for a Monday night meeting at the Wingate Inn. About half were supporters and consultants and half critics.

Three more regional meetings between Southern Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative and some of its critics are planned through April 5.

Tim Gregori, CEO of Southern, said borrowing $85 million to build a 40 megawatt natural-gas-fired plant called Highwood will keep power rates affordable for the long-term as cheap hydro power from the Pacific Northwest disappears because of increased demand on the West Coast and less supply.

“We believe we can generate the power cheaper than we can buy it,” Gregori said.

During highest demands, the five south-central electric co-ops that belong to Southern, plus the city of Great Falls, use 200 megawatts of power. The first phase of Highwood will produce 40 megawatts. If Southern’s board decides to build Phase 2 and 3, the plant could produce 120 megawatts.

Highwood power, blended with other contracts, can even out sharp price spikes, Gregori said.

Critics repeatedly questioned the assumptions and the numbers and wanted proof their electricity would cost less with Highwood than without.

After more than two hours, Deb Thomas of Clark, Wyo., a member of Beartooth Electric Cooperative wasn’t convinced.

“After we pay for this power plant, will our rates be cheaper than if we hadn’t built the plant?” she asked.

Southern’s other members are Fergus Electric of Lewistown, Mid-Yellowstone Electric of Hysham and Tongue River Electric Cooperative of Ashland and Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative of Huntley, the largest co-op.

Yellowstone joined Southern six years ago, but later sued to leave, complaining about the high costs of the plant and a lack of transparency in the decisions. Southern is negotiating with Yellowstone Valley in an attempt to avoid a court fight.

“We’re not participating in these public meetings because we’re not a responsible party to the loans that Southern Montana just secured,” said Yellowstone General Manager Terry Holzer.

After securing $85 million in loans on Feb. 26 at 8.6 percent in interest, construction will start in August, Gregori said.

He said this plant’s interest costs are higher up front, but will drop as equity or ownership increases. Customers should start seeing benefits in four to five years, he said.

“If we get cheaper gas or the price of electricity goes up, it will crossover sooner,” he said.

When asked why Southern couldn’t have gotten a lower interest rate or a better deal, Gregori said Southern did the best it could in this power environment, which is constantly changing.

A police officer prevented seven critics of the Highwood plant from attending Southern’s annual meeting on March 19. Like the U.S. Senate, Gregori said members can vote once a year to elect their individual co-op board members. And six of those, one from each co-op and one from Great Falls, make the decisions for the rest, he said.

The meeting lasted more than two hours, including one hour of Power Point presentations on the project before any questions were taken.

“I grant you we need to have more dialogue before the votes,” Gregori said.

Larry Luloff, a rancher and persistent critic from Boyd, agreed.

“I think it’s a real good start, an excellent start. We’ve had nothing before,” Luloff said.

Contact Jan Falstad at jfalstad@billingsgazette.com or 657-1306.

Southern Meeting Tonight

When: Wednesday, March 31 from 7:00pm-10:00pm

Where: La Quinta Inn, 600 River Drive

Agenda:
To explain and answer questions regarding Southern's decision to borrow $85 million to build a gas plant

Neighborhood Councils - Week of March 29, 2010

One council is meeting this week:

NC#3

When: Thursday, April 1 at 7:00pm

Where: Riverview School cafeteria

Agenda:
Neighborhood Watch

School levy

Introduction to Cascade County sheriff candidate Glen Stinar

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

Neighborhood Councils - Week of March 22, 2010

Only one council is meeting this week:

NC#4
When: Thursday, March 25 at 6:30pm
Where: Heritage Baptist Church, 900 52nd Avenue North

Agenda:
Committee reports
Problem property update
10th Avenue North speed limit and other traffic concerns - Jim Rearden, public works
Community composting - Mike Dalton
Neighborhood concerns

Annual Meeting Not Open To The Public

Today, Southern is holding their annual meeting in Billings, but will not allow the public to attend.

The following is an article from the Billings Gazette. There is however, one correction to be made. The City of Great Falls did not appeal Judge Phillips ruling as the last line indicates.

Co-op to keep its meeting closed

By: Linda Halstead-Acharya of the Billings Gazette:

Late last week, Southern Montana Electric Cooperative announced that its annual meeting would be closed to the public, just days before a judge ruled that thousands of co-op documents must be opened to the public.

John Prinkki, a member of Southern’s board of directors, confirmed that the annual meeting this Friday would not be open to members of the distribution cooperatives that make up Southern, the “umbrella co-op.”

Tim Gregori, CEO of Southern, said the majority of board members favor regional meetings as the best way to answer questions. If Southern’s board approves the idea, Gregori foresees a “very aggressive” schedule with meetings in Billings, Great Falls and Forsyth and Lewistown.

“After speaking with other member systems, they believe that it would be far better to use the regional meeting approach than simply opening the annual meeting because it would allow for wider participation and a better forum,” he said.

If necessary, regional meetings could be held more often in those areas where there is a higher level of interest, he said.

Before the 2009 annual meeting, members of the co-ops that make up Southern had requested an open meeting and more transparency. During an earlier interview, Gregori explained that the only members of Southern are the handful of board members who represent Southern’s five co-op members.

Prinkki said “it didn’t make sense” to open the meeting, noting that the annual meeting was expected to run 30 minutes and that most other agenda items dealt with confidential contractual matters.

Arleen Boyd of Fishtail, a member of the Beartooth Electric Cooperative who has long pressed Southern for more information, said the informational meetings are a step in the right direction, particularly regarding information dissemination and opportunities for discussion. She argues, however, that the meetings do not address the issue of transparency.

“Transparency is the timely access to information,” she said. “Transparency is achieved when members know what the current issues are and how business is being conducted — what decisions are made and by whom. This requires access to meetings, especially annual meetings, and timely access to financial and other information.”

Boyd is not alone in targeting Southern over transparency issues. District Court Judge E. Wayne Phillips of Lewistown ruled last week the cooperative must release three boxes of information that had long been withheld from the public.

Southern and the city of Great Falls filed an appeal.

Judge Says No To SME

Good news.

Today, Judge Phillips denied SME's appeal to keep citizens from seeing the documents in the "black box".

Several city advocates visited City Hall today to start the process of reviewing the items.

Thanks to Gregg for posting the order.

City Advisory Board Openings

The City of Great Falls currently has several advisory board openings. Deadline to apply is Friday, March 19, 2010:

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.

BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

The Business Improvement District has one opening to fill the remainder of a four-year term through June 30, 2012. The District consists of seven members appointed by the City Commission, serving a four-year term. The District oversees the functions, operations, management and administration as necessary to carry out the purposes and objectives of the District. Interested applicants must be owners of property within the boundaries of the Business Improvement District or their personal representative, agent or guardian. Meetings are scheduled the third Thursday of each month at 9:30 AM. For more information, contact the Business Improvement District at 727-5430.

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.

GOLF ADVISORY BOARD

The Golf Advisory Board has two openings for three-year terms through March 31, 2013. The Golf Advisory Board consists of five members appointed by the City Commission. Member representation is as follows: City Men’s Golf Association (1), City Women’s Golf Association (1), Malmstrom Golf Association (1), non-league golfers (2). The current openings are for a non-league member and a Women’s Golf Association member. The Board advises the City Commission, City Manager, and Park and Recreation staff regarding operation of the municipal golf courses. The Golf Advisory Board meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 3:30 p.m. Contact Marty Basta or Patty Rearden at 761-1265 for more information.

You may download the application form or pick up an application at the City Manager's office.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of March 15, 2010

Two councils are meeting this week in addition to the Council of Councils meeting:

NC#5
When: Tonight, March 15 at 7:00pm

Where: Great Falls Clinic's Specialty Center conference room

Agenda:

Nixle emergency notification system

Neighborhood Watch

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

Council of Councils:
When: Wednesday, March 17 at 7:00pm

Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda:
Medical marijuana - zoning

Problem of RVs and other large vehicles parking on city streets

Upcoming school mill levy election

Individual council updates

NC#8

When: Thursday, March 18 at 6:00pm

Where: Great Falls PreRelease Center - Women's Annex

Agenda:
Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

Pea Pod Community Garden Meeting

When: Tonight, March 15 at 6:30pm

Where: Community Rec. Center at 8th Street and 2nd Avenue North

Agenda:

A work planning meeting to begin gardening

March 16 City Work Session

When: Tuesday, March 16 at 5:45pm in the Gibson Room

Agenda:

1. South Arterial Alignment Study – Mike Haynes
2. CDBG Recommendations & HOME Program – Susan McCord and Chris Imhoff

We'll Find Out Monday

As we learned a few days ago, SME asked Judge Phillips to stay his decision to open the city's black box. Evidently, SME has also filed a notice to appeal the judge's ruling with the Montana Supreme Court.

Yesterday, folks interested in looking at the documents released by the court order, were not allowed to look at them. (The city is waiting to hear from the judge, who is supposed to rule Monday, as to whether the city can open the records or not).

There must be some juicy tidbits in that box to continue to spend taxpayer and cooperative members' monies to keep the damn things secret.

Sunshine Finally Prevails!

On March 8, 2010, Judge E. Wayne Phillips ruled in favor of sunshine.

Citizens will now be able to see the vast majority of documents contained within the so-called black box at city hall.

Clearly, Judge Phillips was not amused by the antics employed by SME and the City to keep citizens from seeing information that has been their constitutional right to do so from the very beginning of this boondoggle.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of March 8, 2010

Four councils meet this week:

NC#7
When: Monday, March 8 at 7:00pm

Where: GF Recreation Center

Agenda:

Committee reports

Problem properties

Neighborhood concerns
GFPS Citizen's Budget Committee
Medical Marijuana Zoning Ordinance Discussion
Council Goals Discussion/Document
Pea Pod Neighborhood Garden -- Status Update
Status of Whittier School Zone Project
Status of Park Drive Speed Petition
Status of Gibson Park Lighting Project
Update on changes to Whittier Pickup/Dropoff zones

NC#1

When: Tuesday, March 9 at 7:00pm

Where: Meadowlark School Library

Agenda:
Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

NC#2

When: Wednesday, March 10 at 7:00pm

Where: West Elementary School cafeteria

Agenda:

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

Update on the westside levee

Update on citywide tree removal

Neighborhood Watch

NC#9

When: Thursday, March 11 at 7:00pm

Where: GF High School South Campus, room 105

Agenda:

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

Neighborhood Watch

NC#1 is also looking for a registered voter living within its boundaries to replace a resigning member. If interested, please attend the meeting or contact Patty Cadwell at 455-8496.

Beartooth Vigilant Committee Continues To Fight

This is a guest editorial in the March 5, 2010 Billings Gazette from a member of the Beartooth Co-op:

Beartooth co-op shouldn’t pay for plant it can’t use
ARLEEN BOYD

Beartooth Electric Cooperative members pay the highest electricity rates in Montana. Our rates rose 25 percent in 2009 and will rise again next month. Now we are about to add to our electricity bills payments on an $85 million loan for phase one of a major power-generating project.

Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative Inc. (Southern), Beartooth’s wholesale electricity provider, contends that building a generating station will secure our power supply and lower our bills.

There is no evidence that Beartooth members will be able to use any power from this plant before 2019, when Southern’s all-requirements contract with PPL Montana, which supplies our power, ends. Yet, we will begin paying immediately for Southern’s gas-fired Highwood Generation Station described by Standard and Poor’s as a $270 million, three-phase, 120-megawatt facility. Southern has recorded financing agreements for the first 40-megawatt phase of the project.

Beartooth members already are paying off debt for Southern’s first effort at power generation. Southern and its for-profit development arm, SME Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative Inc., spent nearly $40 million on the 250-megawatt coal-fired Highwood Generation Station before failing to finance it.

It is hard to see how Beartooth, a very small co-op with low electricity demand, can realize a positive return on the $4 million to $6 million it already has invested in Highwood Southern has six members: four small co-ops, Beartooth, Fergus, Tongue River and Mid-Yellowstone; Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative, which has filed suit to leave Southern; and Great Falls Electric City Power commercial customers, recruited to justify the original 250-megawatt plant.

Beartooth members have repeatedly underwritten Southern’s expenditures without information or open discussion. Without our knowledge, Southern placed the co-ops’ cheap federal hydropower into a “blended supply.” This allowed Great Falls, which cannot qualify for the federal power on its own, to save $20,000 to $50,000 per month while our rates rose 25 percent.

Electric co-ops pay no state or federal income tax, get low-interest government loans and buy the lowest cost power in the country from federal power-making authorities. In return, they must deliver at-cost, reliable power to rural customers and abide by the universally recognized cooperative principles: democratic decision-making, member control of capital and open information. The principles require Beartooth, Southern, and SME to make the following changes:

• Provide information and insure transparency.

• Pay Beartooth for the power it funds but cannot use.

• Assume no further debt on Beartooth’s behalf without member approval.

• End the conflict of interest for Beartooth’s board president, who simultaneously represents the differing interests of Beartooth, Southern and SME.

Beartooth’s board president serves on the boards of Southern and SME. He represents both sides in negotiations between Beartooth and Southern or SME. This conflict of interest is bad business practice and bad for Beartooth.

Arleen Boyd of Fishtail is a member of Beartooth Electric Cooperative.

Electric City Power Board No More

The current Electric City Power Board was disbanded tonight by a 4-1 vote by the City Commission. Bronson dissented.

Only Lee Ebeling and Ole Stimac from the board attended.

Money IS Important

I attended the Electric City Power board meeting last night and was as usual, unimpressed.

Board members continue to blame everybody and everything else for their lack of leadership. A new twist came when more than one of them bemoaned the fact that they are volunteers; serving on this board without compensation. (Yes, they reminded us, more than once, they are not getting paid).

Does this mean that had the taxpayers paid them, they would have actually stepped up and done their job and represented the interests of the city and its citizens?

We can only hope the City Commission votes this evening to remove them.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of March 1, 2010

Two councils are meeting this week:

NC#6

When: Wednesday, March 3 at 7:00pm

Where: Sunnyside School music room

Agenda:

Medical marijuana zoning
Update from Sheriff Castle
Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

NC#3

When: Thursday, March 4 at 7:00pm

Where: Riverview School cafeteria

Agenda:
Neighborhood Watch program

Update from Sheriff Castle

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

Current ECP Board To Be No More?

According to this report from KRTV, Mayor Winters has asked that a decision be made at next week's City Commission meeting to disban the current ECP board and allow the City Commission to take on its duties.

It's about time.

No Doubt As To What Is Their Best Side

Below is the complete video of the Luloffs being told they could not attend SME's meeting last week. It speaks volumes.

Let's Hope That It Is!

Could this be the beginning of the end?

According to a conversation Gregg had with Mayor Winters, Mike said he is going to recommend [at the City Commission agenda meeting tomorrow] "that the City take up the issue of disbanding the Electric City Board and utilizing qualified legal counsel to evaluate the various options, risks and expenses of extricating the City of Great Falls from this very expensive endeavor".

We'll let you know what transpires.

Well, What Do You Know

Remember when we didn't think the City of Great Falls would have a representative at the special SME meeting held last week in Billings?

It appears, after all, that we did.

The Luloffs are members of the Beartooth Electric Coop and wanted to attend this meeting. They were told they couldn't, because it was a closed meeting. Interesting, given that the City of Great Falls, a public entity, was present at that meeting in the person of Coleen Balzarini.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of Feb. 22, 2010

Only one council is meeting this week:

NC#4
When: Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6:30pm
Where: Heritage Baptist Church

Agenda:
Committee reports
Emergency Notification System
Medical Marijuana – zoning
Brian Hoven – state legislature candidate
Neighborhood Concerns

It's Time This Circus Left Town

According to this article from the Billings Gazette, SME/Southern could be authorizing an $85 million loan package to begin construction on their gas plant this Thursday, Feb. 25.

According to the same article, Prudential Financial and another not publicly announced lender, required that $14+ million in assets and some debt be reallocated to Southern from SME in order to lend the money.

In order to to this, a special meeting of SME/Southern members was held last week in Billings. Initially, the City Commission was supposed to select a representative to attend this meeting and vote. This item was on the City Commission agenda as of its agenda setting meeting on Feb. 10, but had disappeared by the time the actual agenda was posted online on Friday, Feb. 12. In its place was this item: "Motion to Adjourn To Executive Session". As usual, the city was closed-mouthed about what was going on and at least one member of the public went on the record as protesting this action.

We found out that Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op wanted to block this special meeting, which resulted in the hearing last Friday, which YVEC subsequently lost.

As a result, the meeting went forward and the above mentioned financial transaction was approved by a 4-1 vote; 4 co-ops in favor with Yellowstone Valley voting against. (Since the city of Great Falls did not authorize a voting representative, they could not enter a vote).

If you haven't already done so, check out Gregg's post about this latest chain of events.

Burns and McDonnell Meeting

I was unable to attend last night's meeting with the folks from Burns and McDonnell.

Gregg has his comments here and the Tribune's article is here.

If you attended, please share your thoughts.

Burns and McDonnell Meeting Tonight

What: City Commission meeting with Burns and McDonnell to answer questions with regard to their report on their organizational and financial review of ECP.

When: Tonight, Feb. 18 at 5:30pm in the Gibson Room.

2010-2011 Budget Discussions

The City of Great Falls has begun their 2010-2011 budget discussions. These meetings are open to the public.

Friday, February 19, 2010
8:00-10:00
Public Works
10:00-10:15
Break
10:15-11:15
Library
11:15-11:45
Legal

Thursday, February 25, 2010
8:00-10:00
Park & Recreation
10:00-10:15
Break
10:15-11:30
Fire Department
11:30-12:00
Housing Authority

Friday, February 26, 2010
8:00-10:00
Police
10:00-10:15
Break
10:15-10:45
Human Resources
10:45-11:15
City Clerk/City Commission/Cable 7
11:15-11:45
City Manager
********************************************
On Wednesday, Feb. 17, the following schedule was assigned:

8:00-8:30

Introduction/Instructions from Greg Doyon

8:30-10:00

Fiscal Services (Includes IT and Court)

10:00-10:15

Break

10:15-12:00

Community Development/Planning

Neighborhood Councils - Week of Feb. 15, 2010

Three councils are meeting this week:

NC#5

When: Monday, Feb. 15 at 7:00pm

Where: GF Clinic Speciality Center

Agenda:

Committee reports

Emergency Notification System

Community Composting

Neighborhood Concerns

NC#1

When: Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 7:00pm

Where: Meadowlark School Library

Agenda:
Committee reports

Emergency Notification System
Community Composting
Medical marijuana zoning discussion
CCSO updates—Sheriff Castle
Neighborhood Concerns

NC#8

When: Thursday, Feb. 18 at 6:00pm

Where: GF PreRelease Center - Women's annex

Agenda:

Committee reports

Emergency Notification System
Community Composting

Medical Marijuana discussion
CCSO update—Sheriff Castle

Neighborhood concerns

Resignation Called For

Beartooth Electric Cooperative is calling for the resignation of their president, John Prinkki:


FEBRUARY 15, 2010
OPEN LETTER TO ALL CONCERNED
TO: John Prinkki, Beartooth Electric Cooperative Board President
Subject: Resignation Request, for cause

At our Joliet Town Hall Meeting on January 16, 2010 and a meeting held for Beartooth Electric Cooperative (BEC) members in Clark, Wyoming, a consensus was reached to ask for your resignation. I volunteered to write the request. The BEC members can no longer tolerate or afford the actions of yourself and Tim Gregori of Southern Montana Electric (SME).

It was reported that SME wrote off $9.1 million dollars in 2009. The 2008 income tax report of SME showed that the $9.1 million was written off in 2008. For you to keep this a secret until after the annual BEC meeting and your re-election to the board is intolerable. It constitutes fraud, if not criminally, it was morally wrong. This withholding of the $9.1 million write-off rendered the BEC financial statement presented at the 2009 BEC annual meeting invalid. The members who re-elected you at that meeting did so under false pretenses.

For BEC members to be paying for electricity for Northwestern Energy customers, Southern Montana Electric members and Electric City Power members is ludicrous.

I will remind you that The Beartooth Vigilance Committee presently has over 300 signed petitions for revision of the BEC Bylaws. That is more than the membership present at the 2009 BEC annual meeting. BEC has over 4000 members and there was less than 200 members who voted at the annual meeting. There is something wrong with that.
　
Larry Luloff
Beartooth Vigilance Committee
208 Stormitt Butte Road
Roberts, MT 59070
406-962-3815


c.c. Ron Roodell
Beartooth Electric Board Members

Neighborhood Councils - Week of Feb. 8, 2010

Three councils are meeting this week:

NC#7

When: Monday, Feb. 8 at 7:00pm

Where: NeighborWorks

Agenda:

NEW BUSINESS
Discussion with Senator Mitch Tropila
Emergency Notification System -- Kristal Kuhn
Composting System -- Mike Dalton
Medical Marijuana Zoning Ordinance
Problem Properties
Neighborhood Concerns
OLD BUSINESS
Council Goals Discussion/Document
Pea Pod Neighborhood Garden -- Status Update
Status of Park Drive Speed Petition
Status of Gibson Park Lighting Project
Other Old Business
REPORTS
City Commission
Other Reports

NC#2

When: Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7:00pm

Where: West Elementary Cafeteria

Agenda:

Election of officers

Review of bylaws

Emergency Notification System

Community Composting
Pilot Project of the Residential Sound Insulation Program
Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

NC#9

When: Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7:00pm

Where: Great Falls High, South Campus, Room 111

Agenda:

Current livestock ordinance

Emergency Notification System
Community composting
Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

Travis Finally Meets "The Man"

At last night's City Commission meeting, Travis finally met Tim Gregori.

I did not witness the exchange, but spoke to Travis shortly after it happened. He was quite taken aback, especially given how docile Tim was at the podium when he was talking about reallocating assets from SME to Southern.

Maybe it was all that marijuana odor in the room that got Tim fired up.

Medical Marijuana Moratorium Passes

I can't personally report on the votes taken at last night's City Commission meeting, because I left at 10:00pm. (According to Travis, the meeting lasted until nearly 11:30). We were still listening to the pros and cons of medical marijuana, agenda item #3. Contrary to what Mayor Winters said from the outset, one could count on one hand the number of comments made about the zoning of such.

The moratorium passed 4-1, with Commissioner Jolley dissenting.

Not Much New

At last night's joint City Commission/ECP meeting, not much of substance was accomplished.

Commissioner Bronson will organize the questions to be asked of the Burns and McDonnell folks on Feb. 18. Once reviewed, they will be given in advance to B&M and posted on the city's website.

Ole Stimac, the new vice-chair (elected last night) of the ECP board, suggested that the ordinance be rewritten so that ECP will no longer be in violation of it. (This was also a suggestion from the Burns and McDonnell folks). He suggested that a time frame be established in the revision to "stop the bleeding". Pray tell, why would the city all of a sudden start to obey a revised ordinance when they haven't been obeying the current one? The city breaking the law has been no big deal to the city nor to the ECP board, who has yet to address it.

Discussion was held to allow the executive director of ECP to start to discuss contract increases (which B&M suggested) with various customers. Why in the world would anybody agree to a rate increase when the future of ECP is still up in the air?

Commissioner Fred Burow wanted to know why ECP didn't begin contract negotiations a couple of years ago when it was apparent that monies were being lost. Not surprisingly, ECP director Bill Ryan blamed the state legislature and Coleen blamed the economy, although she didn't explain how the economy was to blame before it tanked.

In today's Tribune, Coleen was quoted as saying that "financing is getting very close" for the natural gas-fired power plant. (I don't recall her reporting that to the public last night). Of course, we heard for years that funding was real close for the coal plant too. As a commenter reported at Electric City Weblog, this could be the carrot she uses to try to convince current customers to increase their rates.

Joint City Commission/ECP Board Work Session

When: Monday, Feb. 1 following the ECP board meeting at 5:30pm

Where: Gibson Room

Agenda:

The City Commission and Electric City Power Board will hold a Joint Special Work Session to review and discuss the recommendations of the Burns and McDonnell report.

Feb. 2010 ECP Board Meeting

When: Monday, Feb. 1 at 5:30pm

Where: Gibson Room

Agenda Packet here.

AGENDA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
1. Financial Reports
a.Electric Fund as Extracted from the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report with Independent Accountant’s Report on Applying Agreed-upon Procedures
b. Year to date Financials to be provided

2. ECP Inc Energy Contracts Summary

3. Highwood Generation Station
a. Status Report
b. Southern Board Motions dated January 22, 2010

4. Renewable Energy Credits
a. PSC Docket No. N2009.10.137, Order No. 7053, Re: Renewable Portfolio Standard Compliance Filings for Compliance Year 2008
b. 2010 Compliance year kwh’s

5. YVEC vs. Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative Inc ETAL. (Cause no. DV08-1797):

6. PSC Chair Greg Jergeson Related Communications:
a. Greg Jergeson’s report, emailed in advance
b. Great Falls Tribune article dated January 9, 2010
c. Great Falls Tribune Editorial from Director Pancich dated January 14, 2010
d. Greg Jergeson’s letter to Mayor Winters dated January 25, 2010
e. Email from Travis Kavulla to Director Pancich dated January 26, 2010
f. Great Falls Tribune Article from January 27, 2010

NEW BUSINESS
1. Accept Board Meeting Minutes from December 7, 2009
2. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
Joint Worksession Meeting of the Great Falls City Commission and Electric City Board of Directors- January 11,2010 Minutes

GENERAL AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
1. Handouts from December 7, 2009, meeting
2. Southern Montana Electric G&T Cooperative, Inc. 2008 Form 990
3. WREGIS Fee Matrix
4. NWE Natural Gas Utility Unit Rate Adjustments/Proposed Rates and NWE Monthly Electric Supply Tracker Rate Change Detail – January and February
5. Public comment