Before Mayor John Engen gave a brief report on urban chickens, MOR President Susan Liane told the Missoula City Council that the money shows the organization's ability and desire to be proactive. Earlier this year, some community members questioned MOR's lack of support for a voluntary residential inspection program, but the funds will go toward carbon monoxide detectors for participants in the program.
During the regular meeting, the council members approved both the Larson Addition and River Place subdivisions, but they also wrangled about where and how many sidewalks are appropriate in those areas.
Ward 3 Councilwoman Stacy Rye pushed for wider sidewalks on the Larson Addition, an industrial and commercial subdivision at International Drive and Patterson Road. Ward 2 Councilman John Hendrickson, on the other hand, pushed to allow the property owner to use - though not develop - more land closer to Grant Creek.
“I think we're just sticking it to the business community,” Hendrickson said.
Ward 6 Councilwoman Marilyn Marler said she wanted to see the stream protected and prefers a riparian buffer to a wider sidewalk, and in the end, that's what the council approved.
Rye voted to approve the subdivision and agreed protecting fish was important, but she said the bigger sidewalks she wanted would have protected another critical animal.
“We're not quite up there with trout, but I think we're close as humans,” Rye said.
The following five council members voted against the subdivision: Hendrickson; Ward 5 councilors Renee Mitchell and Dick Haines; and Ward 4 councilors Lyn Hellegaard and Jon Wilkins.
The same councilors also opposed the River Place subdivision, which the council approved. River Place is a 16-lot subdivision on 4.51 acres north of River Road.
The commonality between the two subdivisions the council approved was the following, according to Hendrickson: “I think it's excess requirements.”
After the meeting, Mayor Engen reported to the Committee of the Whole. The city has issued 30 permits for people to keep chickens in city limits under a recently expanded rule for urban livestock, he said.
In other business:
- Engen said the chances are slim that the city will ask citizens in November for money to pay for a new police station.
- The mayor also said the director of Montana League of Cities and Towns will be in Missoula at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Jack Reidy Conference Room to visit with people about the organization's legislative agenda.
- Ward 1 Councilman Dave Strohmaier said the U.S. House of Representatives passed an Amtrak bill similar to one the Senate passed. A committee will be consolidating the bills and ironing out differences. “Stay tuned on that front,” Strohmaier said. He also said only the Senate bill requires a study of Montana's southern route for passenger rail, though the Montana Department of Transportation will study the route as well.
- Ward 6 Councilman Ed Childers praised the city for repaving Orange Street.
Reporter Keila Szpaller can be reached at 523-5262 or at keila.szpaller@missoulian.com.
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