Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Service now Available in Greater Helena!!

Update from Les Clark:

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TAXI SERVICE IS AVAILABLE 24/7 IN THE HELENA AREA!!

Capitol Taxi has begun providing rides with wheelchair lift-equipped vans in the Helena area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!! One of the first riders was able to go to the Diamond Rio concert without her parents and get her wheelchair autographed!

Folks with mobility challenges in Helena can now get to events, medical appointments, shopping and visiting the kids without the hassle of driving a vehicle or asking for a ride for just the cost of a taxi ride! Any time, any day!

Capitol Taxi can be reached at (406) 449-5525, 24 hours a day including holidays.

This service is part of a demonstration project developed through the collaborative efforts of the Montana Independent Living Project (MILP), Helena Area Transportation Service (HATS) and Capitol Taxi to expand public transportation options for individuals with mobility challenges.

Until June 30^th, 2014, HATS, when unable to schedule individuals requesting curb to curb service with a satisfactory ride time, will refer them to MILP’s Mobility Manager (Les Clark).  The Mobility Manager will offer financial assistance for a taxi ride through a Premium Ride Voucher program, lowering the cost to $3 per ride.

For those requesting accessible taxi services during the times that HATS is not operating (holidays, weekends and afterhours) financial assistance is also available.  Please contact Montana Independent Living Project’s Mobility Manager, Les Clark at (406) 438-3019 during the hours of 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, for Premium Ride Vouchers that will lower the per ride cost to $3.

The vans have been checked out, the drivers trained and the vouchers printed.  For more information read and print out our attachment titled “How The Accessible Taxi Voucher Option Works” [pictured below, click to enlarge].

Les Clark

MILP/ Helena

Independent Living Specialist

825 Great Northern Bvld. Suite 105

Helena, MT. 59601

406-442-5755

“Promoting Independence for People with Disabilities”

Fund Centennial Trail West!

Friends,

Centennial Trail has long been a priority of the City of Helena.  Recent revelations about available right-of-way for trail construction have the potential to defund the Western part of the trail. Your City Commission will have to decide whether or not to pursue the trail this Wednesday at 4pm. I hope to find support for the following proposal to utilize soon to expire funds for this essential trail.

Sincerely,

- Matt E

Mayor, Commissioners,

I strongly urge dedicating the remaining pool of City and County Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP) funds to Centennial Trail West.  Centennial Trail has long been the focus of the City Commission and our Non-Motorized Transit Advisory Council. Centennial Trail West will provide greatly needed safe, accessible bike and pedestrian routes from Centennial Park through neighborhoods, schools, parks and residential areas.

Based on our many discussions this year and notes in the staff memo prepared for our May 14^th administrative meeting, I recommend we dedicate the remaining City and County CTEP funds to a broad scope from Benton or Henderson through the Leslie/Joslyn/Country Club Intersection to and beyond Spring Meadow State Park. All potential routes should be included to ensure finding the best feasible route with available right-of-way in the coming year.

It is clear that only our strong direction will realize this unique funding opportunity to complete essential components of Centennial Trail with the last remaining CTEP funds. 

Additional material follows.

Thank you very much!

Sincerely,

- Matt E

Matthew A. Elsaesser, Commissioner
City of Helena, Montana, USA
316 N Park Ave 59623
cell: 406.431.0815

Questions:

Why not dedicate the funds in Centennial Trails East (“Phase 1”)?

The million dollars of CTEP currently dedicated for this section of the trail should complete most, if not all of the shared use paths for this section. Sidewalks and bike lanes or bike boulevards for the East section should be addressed by other City funds and Commission action.

Potential (Added) Alternative to include in Scope of Centennial Trail West: 

*Henderson Bridge *Improvements at Joslyn/Leslie/Country Club Intersection

*Trail from Centennial Park to Benton *Benton Crossing *Bike Boulevard or other improvements on Leslie from Henderson to Joslyn *Improvements along existing rail easement from Benton to Joslyn *Connection to Spring Meadow along Country Club or platted Leslie Street *Continued trail West with potential partners such as Green Meadows Country Club, Archie Bray, VA, Fort Harrison, Prickly Pear Land Trust, and others…

Alternative Connections from Josyln Street West:

[Click either image to enlarge]

Exhibit Submitted to Railroad January 2014

Existing Trail Shown in Yellow

Support Recycling in Helena!! Public meeting this Wednesday, Tomorrow!!

Friends,

Please show your support for Recycling tomorrow, Wednesday May 14th! A public meeting will be held by the consultant hired by the City of Helena and Lewis & Clark County Scratch Gravel Landfill District to evaluate solid waste and recycling services in the Helena area. As I wrote last fall and in the following links, the City of Helena and the Helena Valley are at a critical juncture. Decisions made by your elected City and County officials in the next couple months will determine the future of recycling in this community for years to come.

The meeting, hosted by Blue Ridge Services, is this Wednesday at 6pm in room 326 in the City County Building at 316 N Park.

If you cannot attend, please take a moment to let your Mayor and Commission know that you support Recycling. 

Thank you very much!

Sincerely,

Matt E

Matthew A. Elsaesser, Commissioner
City of Helena, Montana, USA
406.431.0815


I distributed the following (image right) memo to my peers on the Helena City Commission last week in preparation for our budget meeting held yesterday. The final budget work session for fiscal year 2015 will be June 2, 2014 at 3pm[details here]. Results from the efficiency study of the City and County solid waste and recycling systems will be unveiled and addressed throughout the Summer and Fall of this year. 

Mayor, Commissioner,

There are many opportunities for efficiency and increased services for waste collection and recycling at the City of Helena Transfer Station within the residential collection utility, and working with the Lewis & Clark County Landfill. A few things:

Attachment A

History: This community voted for an Integrated Solid Waste Management System that would include and encourage recycling. Recycling services have and are currently funded by tipping fees at the Transfer Station, though some fees now vary for some customers.

Attachment(s): _A [image right], D [linked here]___

Costs: Based on staff numbers provided last fall, recycling costs $25 per ton, while trash cost $75 per ton. City of Helena Transfer Station Recycling is supported by assessments on residents in the L & C Scratch Gravel Landfill District (and included East Helena until recently). City residents are paying more for the old landfill than they are for recycling. Attachment(s): E [Images right, linked here]

Transfer Station Capital: The $1,000,000+ capital plans for storing garbage trucks, collecting construction debris into the pit, and managing trash compaction should stay on hold until conclusion of the study. These funds should be invested in diverting construction and demolition waste (C&D) for use as soft fill, recycling market (e.g. gypsum), or the C & D area of the landfill. [a related post here]

De-Coupling: The City’s solid waste and collection operations should be recognized as a tax funded service independent of tonnage (attachment E, shown & linked above). Unused self-haul tonnage by resident (City and County) should be a point system that can account for additional process cost for electronic and household hazardous wastes.

Curbside Recycling: Seventy thousand dollars from FY 2014 per the increased assessment in Residential Solid Waste and Recycling approved last year by the Commission should be designated for recycling. Fiscal Year 2015 funding should recognize this same allocation and fund designated for the blue bag program. These funds may be used support a basic curbside option (e.g. blue bag program with own bins and corrugated cardboard collection), a partnership to encourage glass collection by private parties, or other options that should include RFP’s and annual or semi-annual review.

I have also attached my budget memo from June 2013. Following today’s discussion, I will request more formal amendments our final budget meeting.

Sincerely,

- Matt E..

Matthew A. Elsaesser, Commissioner

City of Helena, Montana, USA

316 N Park, Helena, 59623

406.431.0815

   

Public Meeting of Solid Waste (and Recycling!) this Wednesday at 6pm

Public meeting this Wednesday at 6p.m. in room 326 at the City County Building at 316 N Park in Downtown Helena. Details follow:

[image from email sent to City of Helena staff from managers office 5/9/14]

May Issue of "On the Gulch: A Newsletter For and About City of Helena Employees"

link: https://intranet.helenamt.gov/fileadmin/user_upload/HR/HR_Intranet/HR_Main/Employee_Newsletter/May2014.pdf

Help Plan the Future of Transportation in Helena! Public meeting May 8, 2014, at 6pm!

April 24, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

For more information:

Jeff Key, Project Manager, RPA, (406) 447-5000

Informational meeting to discuss the Greater Helena Area Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) – City of Helena & Lewis and Clark County

Helena - The City of Helena, Lewis and Clark County and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) have initiated a community transportation planning process to update their existing Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).  The Plan provides a blueprint for guiding transportation infrastructure investments based on identified needs.  The first of three informational meetings will be held on Thursday, May 8, 2014 in Helena at the City-County Building, Commission Chambers, 316 North Park Avenue.  The meeting will begin with a presentation at 6:00 p.m., followed by work station break-outs. A question and answer period will be provided at the end of the meeting. 

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss and identify the issues and visioning that should be addressed as part of the Plan. This is an important opportunity to learn about the LRTP Update and to express your thoughts on existing and future transportation conditions in the Greater Helena area.

The LRTP is intended to facilitate community goals and improve the transportation infrastructure and services within the Greater Helena area to meet the needs of existing and future demands.  The Plan will address all modes of transportation in a balanced attempt to meet current and future needs while complying with State and Federal requirements. 

Participation is a very important part of the process, and citizens are encouraged to attend the meeting and participate.  Opinion, comments and concerns may be submitted in writing at the meeting, by mail to Jeff Key, Project Manager, Robert Peccia and Associates, PO Box 5653, Helena, MT. 59604, or by email tojeff.key@rpa-hln.com

                                                                                                 

Please indicate comments are for the Greater Helena Area LRTP.  RPA and the project partners will collect and consider all comments to better understand the potential transportation system issues and concerns within the Greater Helena area.

Future announcements will be made prior to all events through the local media and the LRTP mailing list.  Interested parties are encouraged to join the study mailing list by submitting their name and contact information to Jeff Key at jeff.key@rpa-hln.com

A website has been developed and can be accessed at:

                                http://www.helenaarealrtp.com/

or, visit the project’s Facebook page at:

                               

                                https://www.facebook.com/HelenaAreaLRTP

The City of Helena, Lewis and Clark County, MDT and RPA attempt to provide accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with a person participating in this meeting.  Alternative accessible formats of information presented at the meeting can be provided upon request.   Accommodation requests are encouraged at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.  For further information, call (406) 447-5000 or (406) 447-8099.

---------END----------

Project name:  Greater Helena Area Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) - 2014

City of Helena & Lewis and Clark County

Openings on the City of Helena Board of Adjustment, Civil Service Board, Non-Motorized Travel Advisory Council, Zoning Commission and Lewis & Clark County Heritage Preservation and Tourism Council. Apply by April 17th!

DATE: April 2, 2014

CONTACT: Debbie Havens, Clerk of the Commission

(406) 447-8410 

NEWS RELEASE - PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

The City of Helena has the following board openings:

Board of Adjustment

One citizen to serve as the alternate member on the Board of Adjustment. The term will begin 

upon appointment and expire October 1, 2015.

The five-member board acts on applications for variances in the zoning ordinance. 

Civil Service Board

One city resident to serve on the Civil Service Board. The term will begin upon appointment and expired May 1, 2017.

This three-member board serves as a Grievance and Appeals Board for City employees.

Lewis & Clark County Heritage Preservation and Tourism Council

One city resident to serve on the Lewis & Clark County Heritage Preservation and Tourism 

Council. The term would begin on July 2, 1014 and expire June 30, 2017.

The seven-member Council advises the City and the County on various issues affecting historic resources and focuses on education, planning and zoning, and economic development. 

Non-Motorized Travel Advisory Council (NMTAC)

One city resident to serve on the Non-Motorized Travel Advisory Council. Term will begin upon 

appointment and expire March 31, 2017.

The general purpose of the council is to advise the City Commission and Neighborhood 

Transportation Program. Duties will include: 

1. Recommending priorities in plan implementation and facility maintenance; 

2. Advocating for non-motorized facilities in development projects;

3. Developing, supporting and sponsoring educational programs;

4. Advocating for funding in the City budget and identifying potential funding 

sources;

5. Reviewing and advising on grant applications, including CTEP;

6. Advising on traffic-calming measures;

7. Developing and distributing a non-motorized transportation system map.

Zoning Commission

One city resident to serve as the alternate member on the Zoning Commission. The un-expired 

term will begin upon appointment and expire September 30, 2015.

This commission shall perform zoning functions for the city and shall be the sole Zoning Commission for the City of Helena.

Applications are available at www.helenamt.gov or by calling 447-8410 and can be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office, 316 N. Park Avenue, Room 323, Helena, MT 59623. The deadline for all board applications is 4:00 p.m., Thursday, April 17, 2014.