[0:00] It is 6.01 p.m. and welcome to the Zula City Council meeting. Welcome all councillors and members of the public. Today's date is August 31st, 2026. And before we get started with our first agenda item, if you'll join me in the pledge of allegiance, please.

[0:37] Thank you. Drumple, would you do our roll call, please.

[0:43] Happy to roll call beginning with Anderson.

[0:49] Present.

[0:49] President

[0:51] Basera,

[0:56] I didn't see her. Campbell

[0:58] Here

[1:00] Crask

[1:01] President

[1:03] Jones

[1:05] Absent this evening, Absent

[1:07] Jordan, President

[1:09] McCoy

[1:11] Here

[1:13] Nelson

[1:15] President

[1:17] Nugent

[1:19] Absent this evening, Absent

[1:26] and we do have a quorum.

[1:30] Excellent.

[1:31] All right.

[1:31] Thank you.

[1:32] Just a note for Council and the public.

[1:37] An adjustment to our agenda this evening.

[1:40] You'll notice under regular business agenda item number 10.

[1:43] The first committee report under budget and finance committee

[1:46] is the holdover of the, from the FY27 Resolution Leving Assessments, and this had to do with the downtown business improvement district.

[1:57] We've still been waiting on the final numbers in order to present those to you to be part of the resolution.

[2:04] They are not quite ready yet, so this item will just continue to stay on the agenda and be held over until the next meeting.

[2:10] So, no 10.1 point A, A. All right.

[2:17] Going back to the top of the agenda, then we do have approval of minutes from August 24,

[2:23] 2026. Any council members have any changes? Questions?

[2:28] Yes, the changes to those.

[2:32] All right.

[2:32] Not seeing any of those will remain as submitted. Thank you.

[2:36] Next up, our committee schedule for this coming Wednesday, September 2nd.

[2:40] Ms. Trumbull, do we have any changes to the posted schedule?

[2:45] No changes and another light Wednesday.

[2:48] Okay, great.

[2:50] Thank you.

[2:52] And then just noting from members of the public

[2:53] that all committee agenda, the schedule and all items

[2:57] are located on the City of Azula City Council,

[2:59] agenda webpage.

[3:02] Okay, next we'll move on to special presentations and proclamations.

[3:06] We do not have any neighborhood council updates this evening,

[3:09] but we do have three proclamations, and so I'm going to go ahead and start with the first one

[3:15] that is on our agenda, and that is Suicide Prevention Week.

[3:28] This is alongside

[3:30] Missoula, County of Missoula as well.

[3:36] Whereas Montana has the third highest

[3:39] suicide rate in the nation and has ranked among the top five states with the

[3:44] highest rates of suicide for the past four decades.

[3:48] And whereas suicide is a community-wide problem,

[3:51] and suicide prevention requires a community effort.

[3:55] And whereas suicide by fire arm accounts approximately

[3:59] 67% of all suicides in Montana, and 70% of all suicides

[4:04] in the Zula County, and safe storage of firearms

[4:07] is known to reduce the risk of suicide.

[4:11] and whereas it is important to support and raise awareness for 988, the

[4:17] National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline with calls answered locally at Western

[4:22] Montana Mental Health in Missoula as well as our mobile support team who can

[4:27] effectively and empathetically intervene in crisis situations and whereas our

[4:33] community will support suicide prevention efforts to the maximum extent possible

[4:38] including promoting free gunlocks and medication safety materials available from Zoola Public Health

[4:45] and initiatives like Project Tomorrow Montana, which uses educational programs and evidence-based

[4:52] policy to work to reduce Zoola County suicide deaths and attempts. Now, therefore, in conjunction with

[5:01] With National Suicide Prevention Week, the Missoula Board of County Commissioners and

[5:07] Andrean Davis, Mayor of the City of Missoula, Montana, do hereby recognize the week of September

[5:13] 6th through 12th, 2026, as Suicide Prevention Week.

[5:19] Do have a member of the community here wishing to make a few remarks and that is Jacqueline

[5:26] Briggs.

[5:27] Jacqueline, please join us at the podium.

[5:29] I'll go ahead and turn your microphone on.

[5:31] And you can adjust the arm of that microphone

[5:35] for more comfort for you.

[5:36] The arm moves up.

[5:38] Just go ahead and get the whole thing.

[5:39] Just kind of moves.

[5:40] There you go.

[5:41] And make sure the microphone is closer to you

[5:43] so we can hear you.

[5:45] And I do want to note for the record

[5:47] that Councillor Mirrored to Bicera has joined us.

[5:49] Welcome.

[5:51] All right.

[5:52] Jacqueline, please.

[5:53] Good evening, Mayor Davis and members of the Council.

[5:56] My name is Jacqueline Briggs.

[6:01] And Jacqueline I'm just going to interrupt you real quick while you're speaking if you can

[6:04] get as close to the microphone as well so I'll just take two hands and just move that

[6:08] arm up like that that'll help you get that closer to you.

[6:11] And then if you can say and spell your name again in looking towards the microphone yeah you

[6:18] can look towards me actually and then that way your voice projects right into the microphone

[6:22] and we can hear you.

[6:23] Jacqueline Briggs, J-A-C-Q-U-E-L-Y-N perfect thank you.

[6:29] I'm trying to get away from that.

[6:32] I'm the coordinator of Project Tomorrow Montana, which is an initiative of United Way of

[6:37] Missoula County, the Suicide Prevention Initiative, in collaboration with Missoula County

[6:43] Public Health.

[6:45] Thank you for recognizing Suicide Prevention Week.

[6:49] Project Tomorrow has created a network of organizations in the community whose mission is very much

[6:57] like ours to prevent suicide and improve mental health awareness.

[7:03] As was mentioned, Montana continually ranks in the top now one to three states of Missile

[7:11] or pardon me, Montana, Alaska and Wyoming.

[7:15] Most of this is because of firearms and alcohol and then the rural pockets that are underserved.

[7:21] 26.6 out of 100,000 is our rate in Montana compared to 14% nationwide.

[7:31] This is why prevention must be something that we do together as a community.

[7:36] Education remains one of Project Tomorrow's highest priorities.

[7:40] In the past year alone, we have trained hundreds of people in our community to recognize and

[7:45] respond to signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and family members' friends and

[7:51] others' people encounter in their lives.

[7:54] We also promote and work closely with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

[8:00] Montana has one of the strongest 988 programs in the country with approximately 80% of the

[8:08] calls they receive resolved while the caller is still on the line.

[8:13] lethal means safety as Mayor Davis read is another essential part of our

[8:18] prevention. Firearms do remain the most common method of suicide in

[8:23] Missoula County accounting for approximately 70% of suicide deaths. Over the

[8:29] past year project tomorrow Montana has happily distributed over 900 gun locks

[8:35] with the accompanying education along with medication lock boxes and all the

[8:41] education that accompanies that. This year, we are especially excited to expand our work in a

[8:48] new direction service industry workers wellness and prevention stylist bartenders servers baristas

[8:56] etc and others in the industry are often trusted listeners people may share deeply personal struggles

[9:03] with someone who is cutting their hair or serving them a drink or serving them a cup of coffee.

[9:09] And they just simply take time to listen.

[9:13] We want to give these community members and the service professions practical tools

[9:18] to recognize the warning signs, respond with confidence and know where to connect for

[9:23] someone with health, help where to connect someone for health.

[9:27] We're having our first seminar for these providers this coming month and then we'll continue

[9:33] to do a monthly seminar to give them these tools.

[9:37] I thank you again for this proclamation and for creating a community where everyone's

[9:45] life matters.

[9:45] Thank you.

[9:46] Thank you very much, Ms. Briggs, and thank you so much for your work, as well as continuing

[9:51] to add new ways to connect with people in our community.

[9:55] Very much appreciate your work.

[9:56] Thank you.

[9:56] Thanks for coming down tonight.

[9:59] All right.

[10:00] We will move on to our next proclamation, which is Health Equity Week.

[10:04] as

[10:18] health equity is defined as a fair and just opportunity for everyone to achieve their

[10:23] fullest health potential and requiring the removal of obstacles to health such as poverty,

[10:30] discrimination, and their consequences. And whereas despite significant advancements in medicine

[10:36] and public health, disparities in health outcomes persist across the United States, especially for

[10:41] people of color, low-income workers, and people with disabilities who experience disproportionate

[10:47] burdens of disease and injury, and whereas addressing the root cause of health disparities

[10:53] requires a collective commitment from our community, which includes government agencies,

[10:58] public and private institutions, businesses, and schools, to promote initiatives, policies,

[11:04] and practices that foster a more equitable future for all residents. And whereas the

[11:09] To walk USA for Health Equity is on its final leg of a 3,450-mile journey for Myrtle Beach

[11:18] South Carolina to Seattle, Washington, raising awareness and will start its final leg in

[11:24] Bozeman, Montana on August 24th, 2026, and travel through Missoula, Montana on September

[11:31] 1st through the 3rd, 2026.

[11:34] 6.

[11:35] Now therefore, I, Andrea Davis, mayor of the city of Missoula in the state of Montana,

[11:40] hereby recognize the week of August 30th through September 5th, 2026, as Health Equity

[11:46] Week and call upon all residents to recognize the contribution of public health in achieving

[11:51] health equity.

[11:53] And this evening, we are joined by Christine White, who is here to share a few words about

[12:00] Health Equity Week, and this initiative, please come on up.

[12:09] Mayor Davis, members of the City Council, staff, and fellow Missoulians.

[12:14] My name is Dr. Christine White-Deeble, and I want to thank you for recognizing Health

[12:19] Equity Week and for issuing this proclamation in support of WACUSA for Health Equity.

[12:25] I am grateful for the opportunity to be here tonight.

[12:28] I am here as a naturopathic physician practicing in Missoula for 25 years, and as a local participant

[12:34] supporting Dr. Dennis Godby's WalkUSA for Health Equity.

[12:38] Over the past five years, Dr. Godby has walked across America to raise awareness

[12:43] about the factors that influence health and to encourage communities

[12:46] to have meaningful conversations about creating healthier futures for everyone.

[12:52] This final leg of that journey now brings that conversation to Montana and to Mozilla.

[12:58] When we hear the term health equity, it can sound abstract, but in practice,

[13:01] It's about whether people have a fair opportunity to be healthy.

[13:05] It includes where we live, work, learn, and age.

[13:09] It includes access to nutritious food, safe neighborhoods, transportation, education,

[13:15] and healthcare.

[13:16] And increasingly, it also includes affordability.

[13:19] As healthcare providers, we see every day how economic pressure is effect health.

[13:24] Families may postpone care because of cost.

[13:26] cost, people may skip medications, delay preventative visits, or struggle to access services

[13:32] because of financial barriers. Health equity is not only about disparities in outcomes.

[13:38] It is also about reducing the economic obstacles that can keep people from getting the care and

[13:43] support they need to live healthy lives. One reason I appreciate this walk is that it reminds

[13:48] us that health is not created solely in clinics, hospitals, or public health offices. Healthy communities

[13:55] These are built through collaboration.

[13:57] They're built when community organizations, businesses, educators, healthcare professionals,

[14:01] and local governments work together to support the well-being of their citizens.

[14:06] That support of partnership is reflected in the support this effort has received from the

[14:11] city of Missoula, the mayor's office, and many people throughout our community.

[14:15] I would especially like to thank Mayor Davis, Jenny Mariam, Heidi Bakula, and

[14:20] the city staff who helped make this proclamation possible.

[14:22] Your willingness to engage in this effort reflects Mozilla's commitment to community and civic service.

[14:28] My hope is that this proclamation serves not only as recognition of an extraordinary cross-country journey, but also as an invitation for all of us to continue asking an important question.

[14:38] How can we help create a community where every person has a fair opportunity to achieve their best possible health?

[14:45] Thank you for this recognition, thank you for supporting the walk for USA for Health Equity as it comes through Mozilla,

[14:50] And whoever wants to join us for meeting at City Hall tomorrow at five o'clock to walk across the bridge to the silver park

[14:58] Where we'll meet with the mayor

[15:00] Mayor for a few minutes and greet Dennis and Rich and whoever happens to be walking with him at the time. They're doing well. They're making good progress. They've only had one dog bites since they got to Montana. But they're doing well. And I think they're enjoying the scenery. Oh, excellent. Dr. White, thank you so much. We very much appreciate all your work in our community and bringing this opportunity to Missoula really looking forward to the walk and the celebration together in Silver Park tomorrow.

[15:28] All right.

[15:31] And I will note that that is right before the Paddlehead's game, and it's the

[15:34] I love the school and I ain't at Paddlehead, so I hope that folks will continue. We'll

[15:39] consider joining us there afterwards to enjoy some good fun.

[15:42] All right.

[15:45] We have one additional proclamation this evening, and that proclamation is in

[15:50] regards to the International Overdose Awareness Day.

[15:57] This is also in recognition alongside Zula County.

[16:03] Whereas International Overdose Awareness Day observed annually on August 31st, honors

[16:10] the lives lost to overdose and aims to reduce the stigma surrounding substance use.

[16:15] and whereas drug overdoses have claimed the lives of more than 200

[16:20] Missoula County residents since 2014, deeply affecting families, friends,

[16:25] and our entire community, and whereas those impacted by overdose are our loved ones,

[16:32] each one deserving of dignity, compassion, and support, and whereas

[16:36] Missoula Public Health provides proven harm reduction strategies including

[16:41] including access to the lock zone and fentanyl test strips, recognizing these are essential

[16:48] to saving lives and preventing future loss.

[16:51] And whereas Mizzoula stands united in grief, resilience, and commitment to preventing overdose

[16:57] through education, connection, and community-driven action.

[17:02] Now, therefore, we, the Mizzoula Board of County Commissioners and Mizzoula Mayor Andrea Davis,

[17:07] do hereby proclaim August 31st, 2026 today, as international overdose awareness day.

[17:16] We don't have any speakers joining us for this. First two proclamations certainly have

[17:24] action and affiliation with what we just talked about. I will mention that

[17:29] continuing to innovate at the local level is something that our teams are committed to and

[17:35] And we do have some folks that are basically developing the lock zone and fentanyl test

[17:45] strip drop-off kits with households that are prone to overdose.

[17:53] So folks can actually administer some of these on their own, and not necessarily have to

[17:57] wait for paramedics and EMT, so providing some training by which people can actually hopefully

[18:04] save lives quicker. These are some of the things that we're finding to be effective ways in which to

[18:10] to treat overdose. So just a brief update there for folks.

[18:15] All right. So that does wrap up all

[18:19] of our proclamations this evening. Thanks again folks for coming down to share your work with us

[18:24] and appreciate all the good things that you do. From Azula County, Azula City of Azula and beyond.

[18:30] Thank you, so

[18:35] that wraps up agenda item number four, which is special presentations and proclamations.

[18:41] And next up on our agenda is public comment for items that are not on the agenda.

[18:47] We will allow first 20 minutes for this first allotment of public comment for items that are not on the agenda.

[18:54] Every speaker gets three minutes. I'll help monitor. Thank you, Claire.

[18:58] I will time you up here. There's a little green yellow and red timer up here to show you where you're at in the three minutes.

[19:09] And then there is another public comment section towards the end of the agenda as well for folks that haven't had a chance to speak yet.

[19:16] We'll start with folks that are in the room and then as time allows, certainly move on to folks that haven't had a chance to sign up and or that are online.

[19:24] But we will start with folks that are in the room and those that signed up for public

[19:28] comment, for items not on the agenda.

[19:30] First one being Sean Bello-Brodrick, I'm going to need you to say your name again, because

[19:36] I know I didn't get that right.

[19:38] It's all good, ma'am.

[19:39] So my name is Sean Bello-Bradic, Sean, SH-A-W-N, Bello-Bradic, B-E-L-O-B-R-A-I-D-I-C.

[19:52] Thank you very much.

[19:53] Thank you. So I own Polk from Security. Our company along with a few others submitted bids for

[20:01] the city's RFP for security. I know I submitted mine earlier this month. I send an email to the

[20:08] council members regarding some contradictory information and asking for a second look at my bid

[20:12] precisely because I got some contradictory, contradictory information. So on the 20th I got an

[20:18] email from Ms. Barth stating that notice of non-selection. Fair enough, don't expect to

[20:24] win every bid. I asked for clarification, namely, what decided for the winning bid? I want

[20:31] to put in a bid next year and maybe you guys want more quality, lower cost, what is it?

[20:36] Answered back was file public record request, fair enough, I filed one. But also, the next part

[20:42] was really interesting. Please also keep in mind that the agreement is still being developed

[20:46] and subject to change until it's been finalized and approved by the City Council.

[20:50] So, when I get a notice of non-selection and then I'm told, well,

[20:53] we might still select someone else, is that really a notice of non-selection?

[20:57] So, I thought that that was somewhat interesting, worth the attention of the City Council in the mayor.

[21:03] And if you have any questions for me, I'm happy to answer them.

[21:08] Thank you very much, Mr. Bello-Brotic. Appreciate you coming down this evening.

[21:11] Thank you for your comments. Thank you.

[21:15] Okay. We don't have any other folks that have signed up for in-person comments, but just

[21:21] asking if anybody does. Anybody for public comment on items not on the agenda? Come on up.

[21:28] Hi, my name is Katie Thompson, and I was just going to bring out that there will be coming

[21:34] before you, a vacating of easements, public easement on the Miramonte property that you approved

[21:42] the sale. Just a reminder, and I am full disclosure part of the lawsuit, that I would hope

[21:51] that things don't proceed full force, and that I guess I have concerns that the growth

[22:03] which the easement does go through that those were public assets that really in

[22:16] the original plan that Miramonte proposed he actually had the ditch as part of

[22:26] that development and it's quite heartbreaking. I would hope that the City Council

[22:31] Council realizes that if you move the ditch to my understanding, and I'd be happy if you ask the city attorney to my understanding, if you move that ditch, the city takes over responsibility and liability.

[22:46] So we have major concerns over that and that it seems this development's going full force despite that assets of the community.

[22:59] I find it kind of crazy that if I were to build a house in Missoula, I would have to submit plans.

[23:05] Those plans would have to be approved. It would be down to the detail.

[23:10] And a week before I plan to build, I could not probably submit another plan and just have it be pushed through.

[23:18] So the fact that that kind of happened with this development is a major concern

[23:26] that the public really didn't have access to what they were proposing to do there to even see what they were thinking about.

[23:35] So when that does come in front of you as City Council, I hope that you will ask Thudbury if we do assume liability if you move that ditch.

[23:46] And in addition, you know, it's interesting that if falls under the wording of redevelopment

[23:55] and that property wasn't developed.

[23:59] So I don't know if that's a workaround to get an environmental assessment on that property,

[24:06] but it seems concerning that you wouldn't want to look at that before you vacate a public

[24:14] like easement and these right away is that the public owns at this point.

[24:20] You know, in 2023, you know, you develop the Mentown Master Plan, this depicted the

[24:29] neighborhood trust is at my time.

[24:31] It is your time.

[24:32] All right.

[24:33] Thank you guys.

[24:33] Thank you.

[24:35] Thanks for coming down to make public comment this evening.

[24:37] I don't see any other members of the public in the audience to make comment.

[24:41] So I will go online, I see a couple of folks have raised their hands online.

[24:46] And the first person has a phone number ending in 1655.

[24:51] You're welcome to go ahead and unmute, and I will time you on this side.

[25:05] Hi, can you hear me?

[25:06] Yes, we can.

[25:09] Okay, so this is Travis Matier, 26-year Mizzoula resident.

[25:14] First, my apologies for using a potty word.

[25:18] Letting my frustration get the better of me is not constructive,

[25:20] and you guys do have difficult jobs.

[25:23] That's something similar to what I said to the policeman who I interacted with,

[25:27] because there's a man in his underwear who had passed out in the tunnel under the orange street bridge.

[25:32] I'm like, you know, difficult job, huh? And he's like, yeah.

[25:35] So, you know, solidarity with the challenges.

[25:38] Service industry, you guys, that focus was interesting to me.

[25:42] And it's a raw raw United Way for focusing on service industry health.

[25:46] One of the things that I could hear with your proclamation, because you had so many, it was

[25:51] like 20 minutes of proclamation. That was pretty long to listen to proclamations.

[25:56] But like a wine cheese pairing, I'm going to suggest that the drug overdose thing and the service sector,

[26:02] I don't know, maybe they're sad, and the service sector is probably for money.

[26:06] But what if guys, you got test strips for drugs, so that all the hard drugs being done in the service sector,

[26:13] make sure that their cocaine doesn't have meth in it.

[26:16] So I think if you had clean, good, quality cocaine

[26:19] for the service sector, you could take some of those strips.

[26:22] And then if it's like messy cocaine,

[26:24] maybe the homeless outreach team might forward a program.

[26:27] Maybe they could deliver that to some of the people on the streets.

[26:30] I know they're already delivering drugs.

[26:31] It sounds like that's one of the big raw raw things

[26:33] that Emily gets fed recently.

[26:38] So just to note, I think those are some ideas.

[26:40] I like to think outside the box.

[26:42] And I like to not make you guys upset and like hang up on me, which doesn't feel good

[26:47] and that's why I'm not going to use Potty Word.

[26:49] So I won't use any Potty Words.

[26:50] And I apologize for that.

[26:51] That was on me.

[26:52] I'm accountable for using Potty Words and you guys have a difficult job.

[26:57] So go about now, take that rubber stamp out and do some stuff with it.

[27:01] You know?

[27:01] Not too violently though.

[27:02] People do get sensitive with like quick action sometimes when they have PTSD and they're

[27:06] mentally ill.

[27:07] Okay?

[27:07] Cool guys.

[27:08] Bye.

[27:09] All right. Thank you for your comment, Mr. Matira.

[27:13] All right. We do have one additional hand up.

[27:16] When H, please go ahead and unmute yourself on your side.

[27:28] Can you hear me now?

[27:29] Yes, we can.

[27:30] Oh, great. Thank you.

[27:33] Thank you for taking my call.

[27:36] I am going to be gone for three weeks,

[27:40] and I won't be there probably when the hearing for the vacation

[27:46] of the easements in the mid-term comes up. So I thought I'd say something now and I agree

[27:54] with Katie Thompson who already spoke. And I did write a letter to the council requesting

[28:02] that the hearing be delayed until after the judge was in for the lawsuit that's up right

[28:13] right now. And I would like somebody to make an amendment at the appropriate time to

[28:22] delay the hearing until we see what the judge has to say. And for me, no matter what the

[28:29] judge says, I'm still against giving away that easement or vacating it because a lot of

[28:38] it has the irrigation canal on it, and that's a very valuable asset to our community.

[28:45] As you know, you've heard, you know, it has the grow on it, and even though some people

[28:50] complain that the, you know, the aspens have their issues and, you know, Siberian Eldens

[28:57] are a problem.

[28:58] It's still providing a great asset in this day and age with the way our climate is going.

[29:04] So I value that so I'm asking somebody to do an amendment to delay that hearing.

[29:12] I think I'm still might have some time left over and I'll say just with that drug overdose

[29:21] issue that came up, I keep a package of the Narcan in my cabinet, I don't expect anyone

[29:30] in this house to have that issue.

[29:32] But if it ever comes up, I want to be prepared.

[29:35] And I want other people to encourage other people

[29:38] to do the same.

[29:39] And one last thing, I'm asking the Parks Department

[29:42] to take care of the weeds along the trail that cuts across town.

[29:49] That I think is the Burlington MRL did take down their weeds

[29:53] and spent a lot of time doing this.

[29:55] So they left a two-foot patch next to the trail.

[29:59] So I'm going to add...

[30:00] I ask the city to please take care of that so it all looks well kept. Thank you for your time. And also just to remind you to please delay that so we can have more conversation. And to honor the Midtown Master Plan that asked for that green way to be to be kept and for the irrigation canal to be kept. So thank you very much. Thank you, Gwen. Thanks for your comments this evening.

[30:28] I'm not saying any other members of the public with their hands raised better online.

[30:34] All right.

[30:36] Okay, that wraps up our public comment for items that are not on the agenda.

[30:42] And so we'll go ahead and move forward to the next action item.

[30:47] And because we do not have any public hearings this evening,

[30:51] we do not have any new business.

[30:52] The next item for action is number nine.

[30:57] That's the consent agenda.

[30:59] And so items on the consent agenda were approved in city council committees to be placed on the consent agenda to save time at council meetings by voting on them as a package.

[31:08] So, Claire is going to go ahead and show them on screen, read them aloud, and then we'll take public comment on the consent agenda.

[31:16] Ms. Trimble.

[31:17] All right.

[31:18] This evening on the consent agenda, we begin with a motion to approve accounts payable

[31:22] or claims for check-stated September 1, 2026 in the amount of $1,656,130 and $23.

[31:32] Next up, we have a motion confirming two police officers who are Melanie Edwards and Derek

[31:38] Ryan.

[31:41] We have a motion to approve a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection

[31:46] protection agency in the amount of 500,000 for Brownsfield cleanup from the Brownsfield

[31:52] revolving loan fund.

[31:55] We also have a motion to approve and authorize the mayor to sign professional services

[31:59] agreement with WGM Group for the Russell Street Water and Sewer Main Replacement Project

[32:04] at a cost not to exceed $78,950.

[32:10] We have a motion to pass a resolution of the Missoula City Council adopting the 2025

[32:17] Missoula Water System Facility Plan.

[32:21] We have another motion which is a resolution of the Missoula City Council adopting the

[32:25] 2025 Missoula Waste Water Facilities Plan.

[32:31] We have a motion to authorize the mayor to sign the agreement for the pro-housing grant funds

[32:36] between the city of Missoula and the Montana League of Cities and Towns.

[32:40] And last up, we have a motion to adopt a resolution of intent to direct city staff to initiate

[32:46] amendments to Title 22, which is the Unified Development Code, establishing targeted code

[32:51] initiatives for income and rent-restricted affordable housing.

[32:56] All right, thank you very much Ms. Trimble.

[32:59] We have any public comments on the consent agenda.

[33:03] Any public comment on the consent agenda?

[33:06] Not seeing any in the room.

[33:10] Ms. Hoppy, you have your hand raised.

[33:12] Do you wish to make public comment on the consent agenda?

[33:16] Sorry, I don't.

[33:19] I'll erase that.

[33:20] Okay, thank you so much.

[33:22] Appreciate that.

[33:24] Not seeing any additional public comment on the consent agenda.

[33:27] I'll ask council members if anybody wishes to abstain or separate the item.

[33:32] All

[33:36] right, then it looks like we can move forward Ms. Trimble with a voice vote on the consent agenda, please.

[33:41] All right, voting on this evening's consent agenda. All in favor? Say aye.

[33:45] Aye. Aye. Aye.

[33:48] And any opposed?

[33:51] That passes unanimously.

[33:53] Thanks, everybody. Appreciate that.

[33:55] All right. So, as mentioned at the top of the agenda, item 10.1 will be held over to the following meeting.

[34:06] and again that is the Downtown Business Improvement District Resolution Levying Taxes.

[34:13] Once those numbers are final we'll be able to complete that item. So next up we do have another

[34:20] committee report and this is 10.1G Public Works and Mobility Committee and this is the

[34:28] item is the Broadway Building Remodel Amendments. So tonight we are joined by Public Works Director Jeremy

[34:34] After the presentation at committee, he does have some additional, I think, new information,

[34:41] clarifying information to start with the staff report.

[34:43] So we'll start there, Mr. Keane.

[34:46] Thanks, Mayor.

[34:47] Chair McKeane, Director for Public Works and Mobility.

[34:50] I just wanted to follow up with a little bit more information from our presentation last Wednesday

[34:56] to clarify something that Mr. Campbell raised about the budget for the overall project.

[35:02] So this, the building project has actually been in our CIP since FY26.

[35:08] It was funded in FY26 at $9.3 million and then in with our FY27 budget that was just

[35:16] adopted that amount went up to $9.8 million.

[35:19] We didn't highlight that in our budget presentation, so I thought it would be a good idea just to offer

[35:24] a little bit more of that background.

[35:26] The difference being that we anticipated adding about $500,000 of MRA TIF money to that project.

[35:36] What we presented on Wednesday was a total of $900,000, a little bit north of $900,000 of TIF money.

[35:43] Because as we have developed the costs for this project and received actual bids, we were able to identify those specific items that MRA could fund in the project.

[35:56] really those things that have good public benefit sidewalks and landscaping and the building

[36:01] building facade improvements that would enhance that project.

[36:05] And so there's a little bit of a timing issue there with when our CIP was approved when

[36:12] we actually had costs and then the contract that is before you tonight, which is to authorize

[36:18] us to begin with the first phase of the project.

[36:21] So our intent here is to come back in the next few months to amend the budget so that we would increase the budget to the amount that we think it's going to take to do the whole project.

[36:35] Hopefully we can move forward tonight with the first phase being that the truck barn and just a contract for about $2.9 million.

[36:43] So I just wanted to offer a little clarification on that.

[36:46] I can certainly answer any questions you might have.

[36:50] So the intent is we're approving a contract and also we're anticipating what the total

[36:56] budget the project is going to be in order to do everything that we plan.

[37:01] Thank you.

[37:01] Great.

[37:02] Thank you, Mr. Keane.

[37:03] Questions from Council?

[37:09] Mr. Campbell?

[37:10] Councilor Campbell, please.

[37:12] Yes.

[37:12] Thank you, Ma'am.

[37:14] If you're keen for those clarifying remarks, I'm just curious, I've had some constituents

[37:22] reach out to me last week or so about the little water bill to just generally speak in

[37:30] terms of access.

[37:32] As I understand it, direct public access is kind of limited right now.

[37:37] I'm just wondering if there's any, just may clarify the status on direct public access.

[37:42] as people don't go into like pay their water bill

[37:44] or they complain or see about a permit,

[37:48] forcess and such,

[37:48] and be able to just walk in and do that.

[37:50] Are there business hours for that sort of thing now

[37:52] or do you anticipate there will be sort of business hours

[37:56] and people to walk in once all these renovations

[37:58] are complete for walk-ins?

[38:00] Yeah, thanks for that question.

[38:02] We don't staff a desk for people to walk in,

[38:05] but we do have our billing representatives available

[38:08] for folks to come in and pay their bill,

[38:09] and they do that on a daily basis.

[38:10] is one of the challenges right now with that building is that the access is really not

[38:14] very good, particularly for anybody who has mobility challenges.

[38:20] So a big improvement we'll have with the new building is ADA accessible parking on the

[38:25] west side, an entrance on the west side that folks would be able to come in more easily,

[38:30] and whether it's to come to a meeting, to utilize our conference room or to pay their water bill,

[38:37] those things will all work better with the new building.

[38:39] Thank you.

[38:41] Great.

[38:42] Thank you for your question, Councillor.

[38:44] Any other questions from City Council members?

[38:51] Not seeing any additional questions.

[38:54] How about we hear the motion before we take public comment?

[38:57] So public works and mobility committee chair.

[39:00] Sarah.

[39:04] Here we go.

[39:06] I move that we approve and authorize the mayor to sign agreement number four with ANE designs

[39:12] for the Broadway building remodel at a cost not to exceed $13,000, and there's another

[39:18] motion that is to approve and authorize the mayor to sign an amendment number four with

[39:25] Jackson contractor group for the Broadway building truck barn at a cost not to exceed $2,921,647.

[39:36] All right, excellent.

[39:38] Thank you very much.

[39:39] So with that, let's take public comment on this agenda item.

[39:44] Again, there's two motions.

[39:46] We'll hear public comment on both.

[39:48] But those council will vote separately on each of those motions.

[39:52] Any public comment?

[39:55] Then in the room, and I don't see any hands raised online.

[39:58] I don't see any hands raised online.

[40:03] Okay.

[40:04] Right, that wraps up our public comment.

[40:06] We'll bring it back to council deliberation and Councillor Campbell.

[40:09] Yes, thank you. Once again, Madam Mayor. My concern going into this from committee last week was the number of concerns preceding this with bonding and whatnot, but my main concern Wednesday was the Tiff element with this that $9,000,000

[40:28] dollars, um, allocated from the Missouri Development Agency for some of these improvements.

[40:33] And, you know, I pondered it, I heard the information tonight, and I still have

[40:38] concerns that, you know, we're taking $900,000 plus of MMR-MRA money. And as was,

[40:48] I lighted last Wednesday, $800,000, some of that's going to be

[40:54] deferred or spent in FY28, so now we're already preloading FY28 with $800,000 when just

[41:03] proved FY27 budgets.

[41:05] So I'm concerned with that, but what I would just say is with this particular project

[41:13] and the MRA may that's going to be used, just to pose behind two bonds that allocate

[41:22] revenue from people's water bills, sewer bills,

[41:26] help pay those bonds over a number of years.

[41:28] But there's another component where,

[41:30] if you live in the city and you don't use

[41:32] mizzle water, you don't use sewer.

[41:35] You're on your own system.

[41:36] There are a few of those properties in town still.

[41:39] You're still gonna pay because of the road district

[41:42] allocation and bonding for that.

[41:45] So now on top of that, we have this list request

[41:48] and it sounds to me like,

[41:49] maybe more as as this proceeds and I just want to highlight touch on one more thing

[41:56] related to this really quickly because there was a comment made Wednesday about

[42:02] you know my opposition to TIFF and you are a D's and unfortunately that particular

[42:07] council person isn't with us tonight so I could report more thoroughly on that but I

[42:12] will just simply say for the record you know I've approved TIFF expenditures I did for

[42:17] the average hotel property I've done for Rivera, I've done for Truman, Sippon, Montana,

[42:22] and Idaho Street, so I'm just going to let that speak for itself.

[42:26] But for tonight, for this particular code here tonight, I'm not being supported.

[42:33] Thank you.

[42:34] Thank you for your comments, Councillor Campbell.

[42:36] Any additional questions or comments, Councillor McCoy?

[42:41] I have a clarifying question, and if there's nobody here tonight that can address it, that's fine.

[42:49] I'm curious about this MRA money and how it gets projected to the future.

[42:59] Some of my understanding with the MRA funding is that as it comes in, they kind of hold that money

[43:06] and if something gets designated for use but isn't going to be used within the immediate future.

[43:17] I mean, I guess this is nothing against you, Bob. I'm just curious if that articulation about it being held over or impacting the 2028 budget

[43:27] is what's happening or how that is actually proceeding, as far as that money and being

[43:39] held over, you know, it's confusing, definitely for me still, being new to this.

[43:47] And so I'm just curious if there's any clarification on the nuances of how that money gets held

[43:53] in for a project and its impact on future budgets.

[43:59] Thank you, Councillor McCoy, and all the time to answer that.

[44:02] Director Buchanan is not here nor is CAO Bickel, but it's a good question, and that

[44:12] is how planning for expenditures, utilizing tax increment financing works in every district.

[44:20] So every district as increment grows there is either bonding capacity or there is actually

[44:27] cash sitting there because increment grew because of those investments that were created.

[44:32] The whole point and ability is being able to forecast investments and those project expenditures.

[44:41] So for example, if it's a water main that's being installed or if it's street lighting for example

[44:48] or facade improvements, any of the things that qualifies an eligible use for public infrastructure for tax increment financing, often those will straddle a fiscal year.

[45:00] So the Zooler redevelopment agency builds out a budget for expected expenditures related to existing projects. They also, in that same planner, often estimate what some future projects may be, right, but they know what has been committed. So this project, for example, has been a commitment. And then the funding is identified on the capital improvement plan that city council approves.

[45:29] in the budget process every year.

[45:32] That capital improvement plan basically takes

[45:36] all the capital improvement needs

[45:38] and you identify more or less

[45:41] what a five-year rolling plan or CIP plan is.

[45:45] But in the fiscal year, so in this year FY27,

[45:49] anything that will be spent down in FY27,

[45:52] the identified funding source,

[45:54] that's approved as part of the budget.

[45:56] So, for FY28, the forecasted amount, the tax increment financing, the increments there,

[46:03] think about it like the savings account, money is sitting there, the ability, the eligible

[46:08] use is there, this project will take over the span of two fiscal years.

[46:13] And so, that spend down of that portion of tax increment financing is expected to be spent

[46:19] down in FY28.

[46:21] Does that help answer your question?

[46:23] Sorry. Yeah, I think so. Definitely a little bit for sure.

[46:28] And please know that MRA staff are always available for a sit down. If you want to go in and

[46:32] hash through any of that, it would be more than happy to do that.

[46:34] I'll have the one-on-one and certainly those questions can always be asked in council chambers

[46:39] as well.

[46:40] Yes, absolutely. Intending to do that in the near future for sure. So with MRA a little bit.

[46:45] Thank you.

[46:45] All right. Absolutely. You bet. Councilor Basera.

[46:50] This debate has sparked a question for me. Is it okay if I just ask a clarifying question?

[46:56] Yeah.

[46:56] Then a comment. I guess this question is for Jeremy. It is not unusual for TIFF funding

[47:04] to go into public work, CIP projects, correct.

[47:11] The entire project is actually eligible as a public building for tip funding.

[47:17] We selected certain elements that we thought were most valuable to the surrounding property

[47:22] and surrounding neighborhood to emphasize this being funded by Amara.

[47:28] And could you remind me again when we were looking at potentially moving to a different location

[47:34] and building a new facility.

[47:37] We were looking at upwards of 40 million, is that right?

[47:41] That's correct.

[47:41] Yeah, we looked at the ZIP average building

[47:43] and the estimate there was $31 million.

[47:46] And then we looked at a new building

[47:48] and the estimate was about $40 million.

[47:52] Thank you.

[47:52] I just want to say that I'm in full support of this.

[47:55] I think that it's a clear, responsible way

[48:02] to address an issue of growth in our public works department to ensure that our employees

[48:10] are being provided, the space and the equipment and the space that they need in order to

[48:18] provide efficient services to our community as we continue to grow.

[48:25] I think it's a significantly more responsible way of using our tax barriers dollars to invest in this part of a neighborhood that needs a catalyst for development.

[48:39] It's in line with our West Broadway master plan that we have and I think it will be a great asset to not only the neighborhood but also to our city staff and our.

[48:54] the number of buildings that we have to provide a good working space for our employees.

[49:01] So I'm happy to support this and happy to see this project move forward.

[49:06] Thank you.

[49:06] Thank you for your comments, Councillor Biserna.

[49:09] We're excited to get the work underway there.

[49:12] Any other council questions or comments?

[49:16] Public agenda item.

[49:19] Councilor Campbell, please.

[49:22] Yeah, appreciate it.

[49:22] Once again, ma'am.

[49:23] I feel I need to clarify based off your question, Councillor McCoy, about what comes

[49:31] out of FY28 and Mayor's comments with what's forecasted of a URD and certainly we could

[49:42] look at URDs within a city here and get a pretty good idea of what kind of revenues come

[49:48] in the next year based on correctly we've seen that then.

[49:54] So I think there's a certain expectation correctly so that there's going to be growth within the POTS

[50:00] so it's going to be a particular ERD for expenditures. But the issue I still have and

[50:05] it goes through my mind is the idea of mentioning, you know, a forecast and, you know,

[50:13] So we're going to be from a budget standpoint.

[50:17] Now I go back to discussions we had in fiscal year 26.

[50:22] We took out $2 million tip for maintenance and I don't recall any, look at my colleagues

[50:29] here.

[50:30] I don't recall any discussion of FY26 about taking it out a $2.5 million remittance of

[50:35] an FY20.

[50:36] Well,

[50:39] I look at that pattern, I'm concerned, you know, where things end up in FY 28 and, you know, $800,000, I mean, a lot of people like to use a term dropped in the bucket to me, nothing's a drop in the bucket at all matters.

[50:55] But, you know, I think, come a year for now, we're going to have those discussions again and just, I think we're saying ourselves of another fiscal situation that, you know.

[51:05] Thank

[51:09] you for your comments, Councillor Campbell.

[51:11] Anybody else?

[51:17] Not seeing any additional council comments, and we can do a roll call vote on each of the

[51:22] motions, please, Mr. Trimble.

[51:32] We need to do these one at a time, so beginning with the motion to approve and authorize the

[51:37] Mayor to sign amendment number four with A&E design for the Broadway building remodel, beginning

[51:42] with Anderson.

[51:43] Corson.

[51:46] Bacera.

[51:48] Yes.

[51:49] Campbell.

[51:50] No.

[51:51] Crask.

[51:52] Yes.

[51:54] Jordan.

[51:55] Yes.

[51:56] McCoy.

[51:58] Aye.

[51:59] Nelson.

[52:00] Yes.

[52:02] Anton.

[52:03] Yes.

[52:05] Savage.

[52:06] Yes.

[52:08] Cheryl.

[52:09] Yes.

[52:12] That's nine in favor.

[52:14] One oppose.

[52:14] That motion passes.

[52:15] Okay.

[52:16] Thank you.

[52:17] Nick Sona, yeah, to approve and authorize the mayor to sign amendment number four with the Jackson contractor group for the Broadway building truck barn beginning with Bacera.

[52:28] Yes, Campbell.

[52:30] No.

[52:31] Crask.

[52:32] Yes.

[52:33] Jordan.

[52:34] Yes.

[52:35] McCoy.

[52:36] Nelson.

[52:37] Yes.

[52:39] Pondton.

[52:40] Yes.

[52:41] Savage.

[52:41] Yes.

[52:43] Chirrell.

[52:44] Yes.

[52:45] And Anderson.

[52:47] Yes.

[52:49] And that also has nine in favor, one oppose and passes.

[52:53] Thank you.

[52:54] Thank you all very much for a good discussion.

[52:56] I appreciate it.

[52:56] Additional information that was presented.

[52:59] Director Keane, thank you for being here.

[53:01] That does wrap up that item and all of our committee reports.

[53:07] So next up we have public comment for items that are not on the agenda.

[53:10] This time is for folks that haven't had a chance to make public comment on items that are not on the agenda.

[53:15] not seeing anybody in the room. Do we have anybody online?

[53:25] Don't see anybody

[53:26] online either, so we'll move on now to communications from the mayor. I just

[53:31] want to share some congratulations first to Habitat for Humanity of

[53:38] Missoula. They had a home dedication ceremony for three families on Friday

[53:44] evening. I also want to congratulate Habitat and those families for an innovative project.

[53:51] This is a triplex. It's the first time they've ever done a new construction project where

[53:56] they've built a triplex. And the organization certainly recognizes that their model needs

[54:03] to evolve in order to meet the targets for the type of families that they serve. It was

[54:11] a wonderful experience, sheer tears of joy and kids that know each other already, immediate

[54:19] neighbors.

[54:19] They've been out there as you are probably familiar with the Habitat model.

[54:24] There's a sweat equity component so people have been participating in the build of their

[54:27] own home.

[54:28] These families know each other already so just big congratulations to them.

[54:32] It was an awesome way to kick off, such a beautiful weekend.

[54:35] That evening I just want to thank the Friends of Irish Studies for hosting an Irish Fest

[54:40] downtown Friday night. It was really fun. And then congratulations to the University of Montana,

[54:48] Grizzly football team for the first one of the season. So with that, I'll turn it over to Council,

[54:53] Councillor Crask for Council comments. Thanks. I just wanted to extend heartfelt gratitude

[54:59] to all the teachers and administrators and educators who are back at school this week.

[55:09] It's certainly

[55:10] summer, and so just really grateful for all the work that our educators do in the community

[55:14] and a reminder that there's lots of kids out there in the morning and afternoons.

[55:19] So have a little caution as you're driving through town.

[55:23] You'd thank you so much.

[55:24] Councillor Carroll.

[55:25] Thanks.

[55:26] I'll pass tonight.

[55:26] All righty.

[55:27] Councillor McCoy.

[55:28] I'll pass.

[55:29] Thank you.

[55:30] I'm around to Councillor Jordan.

[55:33] I'll pass.

[55:33] Thanks.

[55:34] You bet.

[55:34] And Councillor Pondton.

[55:36] Thanks for your days.

[55:36] I'll pass tonight.

[55:37] I thank you.

[55:38] Councillor Campbell? Thank you, Mary and Davis. I just want to give a quick shout out to Peter

[55:45] Krishna at KGBO. Some of you may know this morning was his final broadcast of Top Back Live.

[55:54] I've been doing that for over 20 years. He's still going to be with KGBO. He's going to do

[55:58] the morning. I hope he'll still have affiliation there. But he'll be carrying over the reins

[56:02] to Dennis Bragg as I planned it. But I just want to give a shout out to Peter.

[56:10] Now it was 10, 12 years ago. I was with the PD. It was interesting. I was doing

[56:16] graveyard ship.

[56:20] We'd get news people calling in before we had public information

[56:23] officer calling in and talk to the night shift supervisor. See what happened and

[56:27] I get phone calls, usually around six, six, 30 in the morning from various

[56:33] diphops in town here, but for Peter, there's always between about four, 15,

[56:37] four, 30 in the morning, dispatch the call, say any two, six, two, go ahead, give

[56:41] Peter a call and I call him in. But that was appreciate talking to Peter, is

[56:45] sometimes recording me, sometimes not. But he always did me solid, and I always

[56:50] really easy to converse with and put out the information and felt confident

[56:56] I would put the information out about whatever might have happened overnight in an accurate

[57:01] fashion and we wouldn't have to go back and do damage control because something was

[57:06] no inaccurately put out in terms of what happened so and then of course as I moved on to

[57:15] counsel and I had the opportunity to go on the show three times I think in all between

[57:20] and now I always made you feel at ease, you know, guiding your cup of coffee and bag of coffee usually.

[57:30] Going in just have a great conversation with him and engage with the public

[57:36] and always send that show up to enhance public experience on radio.

[57:42] and NFM radio, which I think is still even 20.5

[57:47] part of the engagement.

[57:52] So I'm going to miss him there.

[57:54] I still like him, but I just want to congratulate him on 20-plus years.

[58:04] That's awesome. Thank you, Councillor Campbell.

[58:06] I appreciate you recognizing Peter Christensen.

[58:09] He's been the host for City Talk all these years,

[58:13] and it's been such a fantastic opportunity for different representatives from the city

[58:19] to participate in caller questions.

[58:25] So it's been a great program.

[58:27] We look forward to the evolution of it.

[58:31] Councillor Basera.

[58:33] I'll pass.

[58:33] Thank you.

[58:34] That.

[58:34] Thank you.

[58:35] And Councillor Savage.

[58:36] Just a quick follow up to this class comment about watching for little's crossing the street,

[58:43] also watching for university students, crossing the street, none of them are paying attention,

[58:47] that's all I have. Thanks. Thank you for that. That's a good reminder, very good reminder.

[58:52] How about for council members that are online, Councilor Melson?

[58:56] Yeah, thanks very Davis. Just a quick note to let folks know that there is a free three day conference

[59:03] at the University of Montana that starts tomorrow called the Montana AI Summit. Lots of smart

[59:10] people tackle in like all kinds of topics about the use of AI including its use in local government.

[59:17] And so if we're folks out there interested to learn about this evolving technology including

[59:21] data centers and all that stuff, check out the AI Summit happening tomorrow at the University

[59:28] of Montana campus. That's it for me. Excellent. Thanks for sharing that.

[59:33] Shade it. How about for other council members online? Anybody else wishing to make council comments this evening?

[59:41] Yes. Thanks so much Madam Mayor Stacey Anderson here. I just wanted to, because we do not have council next week,

[59:49] because of its Labor Day. I'm making this announcement now, and wanted to just let the public know

[59:56] that on Thursday, September 10th, as well.

[1:00:00] As Friday, September 11, the Mizzoula Children's Theater is going to be doing a production of a show called The Guys. And it's a two-person production based on a true story in commemoration of 9-11, where in New York, after the tragedy on 9-11, a fire captain who had lost several of his team was asked to give eulogies to these funerals.

[1:00:28] and struggling with the momentous and overwhelming thought of all that, he actually reached out to a local reporter to help kind of him gather his thoughts.

[1:00:40] And this production is basically that conversation and the gentleman playing the captain is a Missoula fire captain currently and then a local actor playing the reporter.

[1:00:53] So that show is open to the public on both Thursday and Friday evenings at 7.30 and it is a fundraiser for

[1:01:04] Missoula Fire Union Local 271 as well as a Missoula Firefighter's Bednevolent Association which is their charitable organization.

[1:01:14] So there will be lots of events in the community commemorating the 25th anniversary of the tragedy of 9.11

[1:01:22] And this is just one of those events that is happening, but it's pretty unique and I encourage everyone to come out and join the, you know, commemorating and supporting our local firefighters.

[1:01:41] And, you know, it's a pretty big task to be a firefighter who's going to be acting up there.

[1:01:48] So we want everyone to come and give their support and it's for a worthy cause and just

[1:01:54] thank you for a responder, the work they do, day in and day out is such a critical part of

[1:02:00] our community and you never know what they're running into and they get to do it day in and day out.

[1:02:04] So I think 9-11 is a good reminder of the service and sacrifice that all of them do for our community.

[1:02:11] Thanks so much. Thank you, Councillor Anderson. I'm really glad that you made that announcement

[1:02:16] tonight in advance of that that those community shows up as well a community

[1:02:22] theater. It's going to be fantastic. Thank you. All right. I do believe everybody

[1:02:30] online there. All right folks. That means that we are wrapping up our general

[1:02:35] comments of City Council members and I will adjourn our meeting tonight at 7 o' 4 p.m.

[1:02:40] Have a great evening.

[1:02:47] That's a wrap.

City Council Meeting

Transcript