Sign up for the free Missoula This Week newsletter and stay in the loop on Missoula city government, public school meetings, business news and upcoming entertainment and events. Sign up 12/05/2024“Missoula This Week” is reported and written By Katie Fairbanks. Send your Missoula news and tips to [email protected] Council Considers Changes to Sidewalk Assessments, Halts ProjectCiting the economic environment, the Missoula City Council on Wednesday discussed changes to the city’s sidewalk assessment program and paused a project planned for the Franklin to the Fort neighborhood. The council set a public hearing for Jan. 6 to consider changes to the sidewalk assessment program allowing more people to be eligible for deferring some or all of the cost. Under the current cost-share rules, which took effect in 2020, property owners are assessed for adjacent sidewalks, driveway approaches and boulevard work. For single-family homes and duplexes, the city pays the first $1,000, then splits costs until the property owner hits $3,500. The city pays up to $12,000 more, then the city and property owner split costs until the property owner pays $5,500 more, capping the owner’s cost at $9,000.Property owners can pay the assessment in full or over eight, 12 or 20 years. Residential properties with a sidewalk assessment of more than $6,000 or those making less than 80% of the area median income can defer payment until the sale of their home. The deferred amount accrues interest, plus an administrative fee required by state law.Ross Mollenhauer, the city’s engineering manager, told the council that the mayor directed public works to recommend changes to the assessment program to reduce the cost burden on individual property owners. The suggestions are similar to those presented in late February, following concerns from Rose Park neighborhood residents about the cost of a nearby sidewalk project. The proposed changes would allow property owners with an assessment of more than $3,500 or those making less than 120% of the area median income to defer payment until their home sells. “Bringing that down would reduce some of that sticker shock on some of those higher assessments,” Mollenhauer said. “It would give people more options on how they would pay for it.” Although the deferrals get paid eventually, the changes would put more burden on the road district, which carries that cost until the property sells, Mollenhauer said. The department also suggested eliminating the rule that prohibits infill projects that postpone sidewalk construction from getting a cost-share later on, Mollenhauer said. The changes will affect the planned second phase of the Eaton Street sidewalk project and can retroactively apply to the completed Turner/Worden and Ivy/Franklin projects because they haven’t been bonded yet, Mollenhauer said. If the changes are approved, they would go into effect on Feb. 5 and the city would send letters to affected property owners explaining their new options, he said.On Wednesday, the council discussed and ultimately paused a sidewalk project planned for Eaton Street in the Franklin to the Fort neighborhood after neighbors raised concerns about the cost and design. The council discussed the project on Nov. 6 and sent it back to committee during the Nov. 18 meeting after several residents objected to it. Sidewalk assessments on 42 properties make up $256,230 of the $1.2 million project to add new curbs, gutters and sidewalks where missing, curb bulb-outs at certain intersections, two sidewalk bridges at irrigation ditch crossings, stormwater drain sumps and boulevard trees. The project addresses a significant infrastructure gap in the Franklin to the Fort neighborhood, a historically underserved area, said Kevin Slovarp, city engineer for surface transportation. It also aims to improve driver and pedestrian safety as traffic has increased, he said. During the Nov. 18 meeting, eight residents urged the council to rethink the project because of assessment costs and concerns that the design wouldn’t reduce speeding. “I do feel that the plan is overdeveloped and that it does need evaluation,” said area resident Trinity Ferguson. “I do understand being from Ward 6 that we do not have the infrastructure that everybody wants, but this is extreme and it hurts to see that this is what the city is pushing forward because it will force us out of our homes.” City code requires new sidewalks in the right-of-way to be boulevard sidewalks, with limited exceptions, Slovarp said Wednesday. Boulevards are safer, allow for snow storage, reduce stormwater runoff, create fewer conflicts with driveways and leave space for trees, he said. While the project is not specifically designed for traffic-calming, the bulb-outs, street trees and changes to on-street parking should slow speeds, Slovarp said. A new four-way stop at the intersection of Eaton Street and North Avenue West should be installed as early as Wednesday night, he said. Resident Deborah Irvin said while she appreciates the four-way stop, the project is a financial burden, and deferring the cost would cause a “big hassle” down the road. Mayor Andrea Davis recommended pausing the project because of neighbors’ concerns and the current high-cost environment. “I live in the Franklin to the Fort neighborhood,” she said. “I walk every single day in the Franklin to the Fort neighborhood and I understand the need for sidewalks in that area because I’m often walking in the street. … The reality is that we’re in another high tax assessment from the state. We just got notice that we’re likely to see another 21% increase. We don’t know what that’s going to look like for Missoula, but I do think it’s an important thing for us to consider.” Council member Mike Nugent said while he understands the rationale for boulevards, the city should have more flexibility in sidewalk project design.  Council members Sierra Farmer and Mirtha Becerra said they support moving the project forward because it will only get more expensive in the future.“We’ve heard pretty regularly from the neighborhood and these ward representatives that they need more sidewalks in the Franklin to the Fort area,” Farmer said. “I understand the tax burden right now but I don’t see the value of waiting and kicking this can down the road.” The project failed to move forward, with council members Becerra, Farmer, Gwen Jones, Amber Sherrill and Stacie Anderson in support.  Public Notice The Missoula City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, Dec. 9, on the Our Missoula 2045 Land Use Plan. The meeting will be one of the last times the public can comment on the plan before the council adopts it on Dec. 16. The plan will guide growth and development in the city over the next 20 years, using the policies to inform zoning and development decisions.During a press conference Wednesday, Mayor Andrea Davis said the plan sets the framework for achieving the city’s shared vision for growth, including increasing housing availability and affordability.  “In response to this plan, some will feel like the proposed changes are too much for their neighborhood,” she said. “Some are going to feel like we haven’t gone far enough. That probably means that we have struck a balance. … I want to emphasize that we cannot allow perfection to be the enemy of progress.” In November, the planning board unanimously recommended the council approve the plan and take public comment into consideration. The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. on Monday at the City Council Chambers, 140 W. Pine St. People can also join the meeting online via the Microsoft Teams link at the top of the agenda.By the NumbersThe amount of money allocated by the state for Missoula County residents participating in a down payment assistance program run by NeighborWorks Montana. Missoula County commissioners on Tuesday opted in to NeighborWorks’ Community Reinvestment Organization, authorizing the state to release a little more than $6 million in one-time funding set aside by the Legislature for workforce housing. NeighborWorks will fundraise to match up to $12 million total for the program. Through the program, homebuyers making 60% to 140% of the area median income will be eligible to receive down payment assistance of up to 30% of the purchase price. The program caps participants’ monthly payments at 30% of their household’s gross income. Recipients don’t have to make payments on the assistance, but they have to pay it back to the assistance fund when they sell the house. The program also caps the equity the owner can get when selling the home. “You trade the ability to cash in on the market for the opportunity to actually enjoy the stability benefits of homeownership,” said County Commissioner Josh Slotnick. “This gets you into a house you could probably afford the payments on if you get the $50,000, but without that $50,000 addition, you wouldn’t be able to make the payments.” The program will open to applicants working through mortgage lenders after NeighborWorks receives state approval in mid-January, according to the organization. 5 Things to Know in MissoulaThe Missoula City Council on Wednesday accepted a donation of 16 acres for a new 26-acre park planned as part of the West End Farms subdivision in the Sxwtpqyen area west of Reserve Street. The park will include a working farm, as well as playgrounds, trails, sports fields and courts, and open space. Donna Gaukler, parks and recreation director, said the park will be a “game changer” for the neighborhood, which is lacking in parkland. Construction of the park will take several years and begin after homes are built nearby. The Missoula County commissioners on Tuesday approved a $250,000 loan for Stepping Stones Behavioral Health Services to expand its counseling services. The money comes from the county’s mental health revolving loan fund, created using federal COVID relief money. The county approved a similar loan for Western Montana Mental Health Center about a year ago. Shari Rigg, Stepping Stones executive director, said the nonprofit recently hired more therapists to tackle its waiting list and needs more space for them to work. Through December, anyone with outstanding citations from the Missoula Parking Commission can contribute nonperishable food items toward their payment. Each item will count for $2, and people can contribute up to $20. People with outstanding tickets can bring donations to the Missoula Parking Commission office at 128 W. Main St. during normal business hours. The commission will donate the food to the Missoula Food Bank. The program collected 636 pounds of food in 2019 but was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a press release. The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of a scam where callers state Lt. Ben Slater is demanding money for offenses, such as a warrant or missing jury duty. The office urges people to hang up on the caller. Sheriff’s office deputies, civil staff or corrections officers do not call to demand money. The Missoula Public Library is seeking donations of travel-sized personal hygiene items to decorate its “toiletree” through Jan. 8. The items — like toothbrushes, shampoo and soaps — will be packed into hygiene kits with handmade washcloths created by the Yarns at the Library group to be distributed throughout the community.In Case You Missed It On Monday, the Missoula City Council approved changes to the city’s rules restricting camping on city property, including banning camping in all parks and changing violations to a misdemeanor. During the six-hour meeting, more than two dozen members of the public voiced various opinions on the existing law and the changes. Read more about the updated rules here. Might Be Fun The 22nd annual Holidays on Higgins event will bring a variety of festive activities to downtown Missoula on Saturday. Families can meet and take photos with Santa Claus from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Missoula Public Library. Free horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered from noon to 3 p.m., starting at the Missoula Art Park. More than 20 downtown businesses will host festive family activities, listed online. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Higgins Avenue will feature stationary floats, burn barrels, carolers and the Missoula Makers Collective Market. Santa and Mrs. Claus will join carolers and festival-goers at the lighting of the tree at 6 p.m.The post A split City Council halts sidewalk project, considers assessment changes appeared first on Montana Free Press.