Kevin Slovarp, City Engineer with Development Services, said, I’m going to present the Cleveland/Crosby Traffic Calming Circle. I can’t really speak to the Kaboom Park and so I don’t know if it’s something that needs to come back or not, but I wasn’t planning on giving any of that report. I know in an email earlier today that Scott had reached out to some folks in Parks Department and a couple of folks replied and said they weren’t able to attend tonight. So, I don’t know how that affects your deliberations or not, but I wanted to offer some information on the traffic calming circle. So, the request is for $17,500. That amount of money essentially was expended. The Neighborhood Grant Program paid for $2,500 of that. In addition, there were private contributions of $5,050 from the neighborhood and folks that wanted to see that traffic calming circle go in at that location and that was the total amount that came from the neighborhood. We expected that the circle itself would cost anywhere from $7,000 to $9,000 and when this was being contemplated, Ben Weiss asked me if City Engineering could fund the balance of that project and I agreed to do that in order for this project that was desired by the residents for two or three years now to be constructed without further delay. So, what ended up happening is we got out there and started the improvements and we realized that we needed to make more improvements than just physically placing a traffic calming circle in the middle of the intersection. We needed to do some reconfiguration of the northwest corner that included curb and sump and ADA facilities in order for buses to negotiate that corner and so we went ahead and did that and that change order worked and paid for that. The total City contribution, City Engineering, would pay for that out of their general professional services account which is general fund money, was $9,950, and so that’s the finances. I’ve heard that the project works well and that the neighborhood is satisfied with it and is appreciative of it and so I’d be happy to answer any questions if there are any.
Mayor Engen said, thank you, Mr. Slovarp. And I will fill in for Parks staff. The second part of this is an $8,500 contribution that matches support from KAboom which is a national organization that brings playground equipment to communities and sponsors community builds to put that altogether. So, the entire package you’re voting on tonight, is $82,500 and the $8,500 with KAboom that takes care of that park project. And with that, I will open the public hearing. Anyone care to comment on these budget amendments? Alright, seeing none, questions from Council? Ms. Harp?
Alderperson Harp said, Mr. Mayor, could you tell us a little bit more about how many other of our neighborhood parks that have had community builds in comparison to just like our Parks Department installing those themselves?
Mayor Engen said, so, typically, off the top of my head, Ms. Harp, I can tell you we did a KAboom project. I was there and I’m trying to remember which park it was. I can think of one other KAboom project that we’ve done.
Alderperson Harp said, and maybe it’s not KAboom but I remember shortly after I moved to Missoula that Dragon Hollow is one of the first ones as well as the Westside Park.
Mayor Engen said, yup.
Alderperson Harp said, those two.
Mayor Engen said, those two, yup. Yeah, and I don’t recall which park was KAboom. And typically for those of you who will recall those playgrounds typically run in the six digits all day long, so getting help from KAboom is meaningful and it happened fairly quickly. We actually got a request, I want to say about three months ago, and so we had to move quickly to make this work. Other questions? Alright, seeing none, in Ms. Jones’ absence, who is going to make a motion for me?
City Clerk Rehbein said, actually it’s A&F.
Mayor Engen said, oh, it’s A&F. Sorry. Ms. Harp. I had Parks on my mind.
Alderperson Harp said, alright, I move that we adopt a resolution amending the annual appropriations for the City of Missoula, Montana as set forth in the fiscal year 2019 budget and Capital Improvement Program that increases the total City budget expenditures by $82,500 and appropriate the capital improvement fund expenditures in the amount of $82,500 in order to install a traffic calming circle at the Crosby and Cleveland intersection and contribution to KAboom for a playground installation at Rose Memorial Park.
Mayor Engen said, thank you, Ms. Harp.
Alderperson Harp said, and may I speak to that?
Mayor Engen said, yes, ma’am.
Alderperson Harp said, I just want to let everyone know that I fully support both of these improvements. In particular, the traffic calming circle, as Mr. Slovarp indicated, has been a process, to say the least, for a number of years, one in which that shouldn’t have to take so long. So, I want to thank especially Julie Devlin for her inordinate amount of patience of working through this process, working with her neighbors, to make this a reality. And I also want to just support the fact that this particular playground installation in my neighborhood is wonderful, as it’s adjacent to or part of Rose Memorial Park to begin with, it is one that we have many members of our public come in attendance for, whether it’s on Memorial Day or sometimes it’s Labor Day or if we have various different Neighborhood Council meetings there, it is a place that many people arrive and it’s nice to have this particular pocket park upgraded.
Mayor Engen said, further discussion? Ms. Cares?
Alderperson Cares said, I am going to support the motion. I just wanted to mention that the Community Build Day is Saturday, August 17, so it’s coming in hot and we’ll have a new park, playground. Thanks.
Mayor Engen said, further discussion? Mr. Ramos?
Alderperson Ramos said, thanks, Mr. Mayor. I’m going to make it quick. I’m not going to support this just because I’m concerned about the maintenance costs of these parks piling up and causing an additional burden on the taxpayers. I think it’s going to be a great park. I’m not an old grinch. I’m just concerned about the numbers on this one and other parks, so respectfully, I’m voting no.
Mayor Engen said, further discussion? Seeing none, we’ve had a public hearing. We’ll have a roll call vote.