06-30-86 Council as Whole0 Council Workshop June 30, 1986
Attending: Mayor Kennedy, Council members Ruiz, Nystul, Palmer, Schindler,
Hafferman, Saverud and Grainger, Police Chief Stefanie, City Attorney Neier,
DPW Hammer, C/T Halver, Allen Bardwell, Fred Zavodny, Ben Van Dyke, and Dick
Brady. Also Gary Christianson, Roger Hopkins and, from the Montana Highway
Department, Greg Jackson and John Marin.
1. Speed Zone Change Requests
Allen Bardwell presented requests from the City for Speed Zone Changes on
Highway 93 North, Highway 93 South, Highway 2 East and Highway 2 West.
Greg Jackson then presented a slide show which explained how speed zones are
established.
He said the Highway Department has received a request for a traffic study for
Highway 93 North and this request could be expanded to include all four
areas. The study would be done this summer and would take about one week to
do.
2. Turn lanes - Sunset Plaza Area
Allen Bardwell asked that left and right turn lanes be considered in the area
of Sunset Plaza.
• After discussing the situation, Mr. Jackson asked the City to prepare a
formal request for the turning lanes. The discussion indicated it may be
possible to delete one or both parking strips and widen the road enough to
provide turn lanes.
Mayor Kennedy asked DPW Hammer to prepare the request to the Highway
Department.
3. Access to Dr. Steve Johnson's building site.
DPW Hammer opened discussion on the building site of Dr. Johnson and the
related problems.
Traffic from Sunset Plaza is going through the building site and down "an
extension of First Avenue West North", (not a developed street) and onto West
Wyoming. The extension is 20 feet wide, with Dr. Johnson owning 12 feet and
the City the other 8 feet.
Dr. Johnson wants to use this access as well as accessing Highway 93 North
through Sunset Plaza. The City Council has received a petition from
residents of the area asking that access to Sunset Plaza through the
extension of First Avenue West North be denied.
• Council Workshop June 30, 1986
Gary Christianson, representing Dr. Johnson, said he thought they could live
with the recommendations presented in City Attorney Neier's memo and the
proposed amended site plan.
DPW Hammer said he would approve the site plan unless the Council directed
otherwise.
Councilman Ruiz suggested Sunset Plaza has no rights to access the extension
of First Avenue West North and recommended their access be blocked until Dr.
Johnson's building is done and he needs access to Highway 93 North.
Gary Christianson will provide a letter from Dr. Johnson stating what he
would be proposing.
3. Slide Presentation - Street Maintenance
Ben Van Dyke presented a slide show on street maintenance.
A. Street Superintendent
Mayor Kennedy introduced Dick Brady, the new City Street Superintendent.
5. Fifth Avenue West North
DPW Hammer reported he wanted a few more days to prepare the cost figures
• for finishing Fifth Avenue West North. He felt the Street Department could
do the work.
Councilman Ruiz requested the time frame be shown as well as the costs.
6. Third Avenue West North
Mayor Kennedy reported the street and water main would have to be lowered 2
and 1/2 feet at the Recycling Center to tie in to the new grade of the
railroad track. The city needs to decide if they want to do this.
Ken Hammer said there was enough funding left in the Tax Increment Budget
and the water main needs to be replaced anyway. He requested the street be
rebuilt at the lower grade.
The council consensus was to go ahead and reconstruct Third Avenue West
North.
7. Burger King Status
Fred Zavodny reported we are not getting compliance with city standards for
work done on City Right -of -Way. He said the city council is scheduled to
order in curbs and sidewalks Monday night. To date, an acceptable site plan
has not been presented in City Hall.
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• Council Workshop June 30, 1986
8. Utility Trenches and Pot Holes
Councilman Ruiz asked Mayor Kennedy if his letter regarding the establishment
of a city crew to patch Utility Trenches and Pot Holes means the call for
Bids ordered by the council has been set aside. The Mayor said yes.
Ruiz asked why the council had been asked to take a position and then the
council action is ignored. He wanted to know how that could be done.
After further discussion, it was decided the Mayor should present a veto
letter at the next council meeting.
9. Sixth Street West
DPW Hammer reported he had made Sixth Street West a two-way street from
Third Avenue West to Fifth Avenue West during construction. The
construction makes it impossible for customers to get to the Drapery Shop
from the one-way street and is causing other traffic problems.
The meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM.
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