The Weekly Update- August 21, 2014

Attachments:

1. Journal of Commission Work Session-August 5, 2014. 2. Notification from Charter Communications of upcoming price increase. 3. Press Release- Board of Adjustment/Appeals Opening. 4. Press Release- Ella Avenue Water Tower Maintenance and Improvements.

A Weekly Report to the Great Falls City Commission l

JOURNAL OF COMMISSION WORK SESSION August 5, 2014

City Commission Work Session Mayor Winters presiding Civic Center, Commission Chambers

CALL TO ORDER: 5:30 p.m.

ROLL CALL: City Commissioners present: Michael J. Winters, Bill Bronson, Fred Burow, and Bob Jones and Bob Kelly.

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager; Director of Fiscal Services; Police Chief; City Engineer; Assistant Fire Chief; Emergency Planner; and the Deputy City Clerk.

**Action Minutes of the Great Falls City Commission. Please refer to the audio/video recording ofthis meeting for additional detail. **

1. PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no comments from the public.

2. BNSF RAIL SAFETY UPDATE

BNSF Railway Regional Public Affairs Director Matt Jones reported there are four days of tank car training (two sessions per day) scheduled next week with Fire Rescue, including training on how to identify what is on the train, how to find information about the materials on the train, and contact information if it is determined that there are hazardous materials. Similar training will be held in Cut Bank on August 12th and in Shelby on August 14th. He noted arrangements can be made for the City Commissioners to observe the training.

Mr. Jones reported that the order requiring railroads to report shipments of Bakken crude oil became effective June 7, 2014. The information is posted on the State of website. The most current report from BNSF for the week of June 5-11, 2014, showed no shipments of Bakken crude oil through Cascade County.

Mr. Jones also reported the U.S. Department of Transportation submitted a notice of proposed rulemaking on July 23, 2014, proposing to phase out older DOT 111 tank cars over a two-year period, an additional classification and testing program for gases and liquids, and new operational requirements for high hazard flammable trains. The comment period last 60 days, and BNSF has not yet filed any comments.

Mayor Winters questioned how residents in the area of an incident would receive emergency notification.

08/05/2014 City Manager Greg Doyon discussed a recent incident of a release from a tanker that was being maintained.

Emergency Planner Kristal Kuhn reported that either Police or Fire will respond and determine the need, and the need will be transferred to Dispatch. Notifications would go out through the Emergency Alert System. She noted that police officers went door-to-door to notify residents when the recent tanker release occurred. Ms. Kuhn noted that when funding is secured to purchase the reverse 911 system, notification goals will be better achieved.

Police Chief Dave Bowen reported the Nixie system has had limited success because there is a reluctance by users to sign up for the service. He explained new software would allow a click over a neighborhood to drag and drop phone numbers into a system that would provide a message to residents.

Ms. Kuhn noted cell phone numbers will also be included in the system, especially smart phones, in coordination with the National Alert System (IPA WS).

In conjunction with her office, Ms. Kuhn reported Vince Kolar, Cascade County DES, Patty Cadwell, Neighborhood Councils, and Janelle Olberding, City-County Health Department are planning a Community Preparedness Forum tentatively scheduled for September 18, 2014, North Middle School cafeteria, that will specifically target neighborhoods and what it means to evacuate and what it means to shelter in place.

Mr. Jones also reported that BNSF, along with other railroads this year, have sponsored first responders in the system to participate in intensive training in Pueblo, Colorado, specific to responding to a crude oil incident. As of this date, four Fire Rescue firemen have participated.

Chief Bowen introduced Sergeant Brian Black, Officer Matt Fleming, and Officer Scott Fisher. Sergeant Black, Patrol Supervisor and Tactical Commander for the SWAT team, also introduced Officer Fleming, Assistant Team Leader, former Marine, and one of the head tactical men, and Officer Fisher, also a former Marine and a new team member given the task of trying to obtain an armored vehicle at little to no cost.

Sergeant Black discussed the 1981 armored vehicle that the department has had since the early 2000's. He noted an armored vehicle is part of tactical planning and one of their biggest assets that provides mobile cover. He also discussed the value of this kind of vehicle in incidents that have occurred locally, and its value in natural disasters.

Sergeant Black reported that the price of most armored vehicles starts at the $300,000 - $400,000 range. The DRMO (1 033) program is a way to acquire equipment from the military that is not being used. Officer Fisher worked tirelessly with the DRMO program to acquire the MRAP armored vehicle. He noted the vehicle is technically a DOD asset that could go back. The vehicle is valued at $689,000, and the only cost to the City involved three individuals driving to Fort Collins, Colorado to pick up the vehicle and two days driving it back.

08/0S/2014 Sergeant Black discussed the local military and business support for the vehicle.

The City Commission took a break at 5:59 p.m. to go outside and view the vehicle. They returned at 6:22p.m.

3. DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL UPCOMING WORK SESSION TOPICS

Mayor Winters postponed agenda Item #3 until the 7 p.m. City Commission meeting.

ADJOL'RN

There being no further discussion, Mayor Winters adjourned the informal work session of August 5, 2014, at 6:23p.m.

08/05/2014 RE.CE.\\/E.D August 13, 2014 ~UG '~ 20\~ City Manager Greg Doyon C\1Y MANAGER Ciyt of Great Falls P.O. Box 5021 Great Falls, MT 59403

Dear Greg Doyon,

Charter customers are enjoying more information and entertainment value today than ever before. Containing costs and efficiently managing our operations are critical to our goal to provide customers with the best value possible. Like every business, Charter faces rising costs that require occasional price adjustments.

As a result, customers in your community will be notified of the following price adjustment through a billing statement message on or after August 15, 2014:

Due to rising programming costs, effective with your next billing statement, pricing will be adjustedfor the Broadcast TV Surcharge from $3.50 to $5. 00. This reflects charges assessed to Charter by broadcast TV stations.

In addition, on August 14, 2014 we will be launching the SEC network in your community. Please find Charter's press release attached for more detail on SEC Network programming and content.

Also, for those communities currently receiving a franchise fee, we would like to remind you of an alternative to U.S. mail-delivered paper checks for franchise fee payments. You now have the option of signing up for an electronic direct payment process for franchise fees, assuring a more efficient and timely manner of receiving your funds. If you would like to pursue the electronic payment process, please contact me at 307-331-3448 or [email protected] and I will forward you the required signup form. We believe this convenient method will be of significant value to you.

We remain committed to providing excellent communications and entertainment services in your community and in each ofthe communities we serve. Ifyou have any questions about this change, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

r "'iA A·.:''/ t,...- - -- - · - . ·, . ~-·· ... . -

Erik Rasmussen I Sr. Mgr. Government Relations Office: 307-426-4900 Mobile: 307-331-3448 611 E. Carlson Street, Cheyenne, WY 82009, Ste. 103 3

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: August 15, 2014 Home to the Lewis & Clark National CONTACT: Joyce Thares, 455-8450 Historic Trail Executive Assistant Interpretive Center City Manager's Office

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT/ APPEALS OPENING Proud Home of Malmstrom Air GREAT FALLS, Montana- The City Commission is seeking applications Force Base for the Board of Adjustment/Appeals for a three-year term beginning & October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2017. Montana Air National Guard The Board hears and decides appeals regarding zoning, housing, and building codes and ordinances; hears and decides requests for variances from standards set forth in zoning ordinances; hears and decides all other Over 60 parks & 40 matters referred to the Board regarding zoning, housing, and building miles of trail along the ordinances. Members must be residents of the City of Great Falls, and must be qualified by experience or training in construction matters. Candidates with architecture or design backgrounds would be preferable but not required. The Board meets on demand, approximately ten times per year, generally at 4:00p.m. Home of the C.M. Russell Museum Contact Craig Raymond at 455-8430 for more information.

Applications are available at the City Manager's Office, Civic Center, Ranked as one of the Room 201, by calling 455-8450; or may be obtained from the Advisory most affordable places Boards section on the City's website at www.greatfallsmt.net. to live in the country Application deadline is Friday, August 29, 2014, by 5:00p.m.

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City of Great Falls #2 Park Drive South P.O. Box 5021 Great Falls, MT 59403 ( 406)-455-8450 www.greatfallsmt.net ~om:CITV OF 6F ~H6IHEERIH6 1+408+7710700 08/07/2014 08:47 B254 P.001/001 4

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: August 7, 2014

CONTACT: Jesse Patton, 406-771 .... 1258 Civil Engin~er Hometothe Lewis & Clark National ELLA A VENUE WATER TOWER ·MAINTENANCE AND Historic Trail Interpretive Center Il\1PROVEMENTS

GREAT FALLS,- Montana - The City of Great falls has a contract with

Proud Home of :W Coatings, Inc, to install structural improvements meeting current OSHA Malmstrom Air· Force Base . standards, sandblast the interior and exterior ofthe water tower, and to apply a new & . MontanaAir · coating systen;~. over the interior and ext~rior of the tower. It is anticipated that the National Guard water tower will be out of service between August 8 and October 24,2014. ·

During the constt:uction period (approximately 11 weeks) the eastern one­ Over 60 parks & 40 miles of trail along the third of Great Falls may experi~ce fluctuations mtheir water pressure. Based on Missouri ltiver analysis of historic water usage, the anticipated fluctuations in water pressure will

be slight and occur during the very early hotirs of each day when irrigatic>n. demand Home of ~he C.M. Russell Museum is iremesL

Th~ public's patience and consideration during this process is appreciated·

For more information about ·the Ella Avenue . Water: Tower Maintenance and Ranked as one of the most affordotb1e places Improvements contact Jesse Patton, Civil Engineer, at 406-771-1258. to live in the country

Great Falls Tribune CD & Cable7 Police/Fire Dispatch KRTV Fire Station # 1 KFBB City of Great Falls KMON. · Great Falls Transit #2 Park Drive South KQDI Amini.HR. P.O. Box 5021 KEIN/KLFM Fiscal Services Great Falls, MT 59403 (406)-455-8450 www.ereatfallsmt.net