Sidewalks, City Streets, and Solar Loan Program to be discussed at Wednesday's Admin Meeting

Friends,

Upcoming City of Helena Commission Administrative and formal Monday meeting agenda and packets are now posted at http://www.helenamt.gov/commission.html. They are usually available by late Friday preceding the admin meeting.

This Wednesday's meeting will include discussion of a conservation loan program, methodology for complying with longstanding sidewalk and boulevard ordinances when streets are resurfaced, and opportunities to improve safety on Boulder Avenue following a recent request to make Roberts and Boulder a 4-way stop.

Full Packet Here: http://www.helenamt.gov/commission.html

Commissioner Elsaesser Comments and Notes:

Item 5-CommDev_a: I support City investment in pilot projects or partnerships that can promote energy saving and alternative energy in lighting districts. The City of Helena and residents of Helena pay upwards of a million dollars a years for installation, upkeep, and energy for said districts. The long-term nature of these districts behooves such investments.

Item 5CommDev_b: I support the establishment of this program. Hopefully it will pave the way for residents to be able to fund investments in conservation and alternative energy that reduce their long-term costs AND demands on public infrastructure. Given other demands on staff time, I would support exploring contracting management of the program to the Montana Business Assistance Connection (MBAC) development corp as they already manage city revolving loan funds and related conservation funds for Montana Departments of Environmental Quality (D.E.Q.).

Item 5_Public Work_ a, b, c:  The City of Helena should better coordinate investments in the safety, infrastructure, and traffic improvements as envisioned in Helena "Complete Streets" Policy Resolution and the "Complete and Green" streets concept outlined here. These documents encourage smarter investments that include coordination between city streets, other city utilities, regulatory requirements, and neighborhood safety improvements as part of major public capital investments. The laws related to sidewalks, boulevards, and storm water are long standing city ordinances. More details and an example of better public investments in street right of way posted here.

Full Packet and Links Here: http://www.helenamt.gov/commission.html

Other Upcoming Meetings:

Administrative Meeting- September 30, 2015 - 4:00p.m. - City/Co Bldg, Room 326

City/County Joint Work Session- October 1, 2015 - 4:00p.m. - City/Co Bldg, Room 326

City Commission Meeting- October 5, 2015 - 6:00p.m. - City/Co Bldg, Commission Chambers Special TCC Meeting to Dedicate Urban Funds - TBA, Tentatively Mid-October