Commissioners table impact fee ordinance
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POLSON — City of Polson commissioners tabled the second reading of Ordinance No. 661, which is the new improved version of Ordinance 624, regarding the rate structure and implementation of impact fees for new development.
“Impact fees are a reasonable method of regulating new development to ensure that such new development pays a proportionate share of the capital costs of public facilities,” the ordinance states.
Commissioners scheduled a workshop meeting on the ordinance for May 16 at 6 p.m., and Mayor Pat DeVries asked if city staff, such as Ron Melvin, city building inspector, Tony Porrazzo, city superintendent of water and sewer, and Cindy Dooley, city clerk, could also attend. DeVries added that commissioners would like public input.
The commissioners also talked about reducing water and sewer impact fees by 50 percent for developers (Resolution No. 1027) but they decided to work through those issues at the workshop meeting also.
Local developers, such as Mark Nunlist and Duane Smith, commented on the reduction. Smith said 50 percent was not enough of a reduction. Nunlist said when the impact fees went in, they were as high as the state allowed. He asked if a 50 percent reduction would be realistic with the rest of the state.
City of Polson Roads Superintendent Terry Gembala brought the city’s new Elgin Broom Bear street sweeper to the Polson City Commissioner meeting on May 7. While the machine wouldn’t fit through chamber doors, Gembala parked it close to the building so commissioners and the public could take a look.
Purchased with a Montana Air and Congestion Initiative grant, offered through the Montana Department of Transportation, the street sweeper will be easier to maintain, Gembala said.
In other business, Festivals on the Flathead requested the use of Salish Point for a blues festival on July 3 with an open container permit from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. and a suspension of curfew. The commission unanimously agreed to the proposal, and they also approved the appointments of Jill Campbell and Robin Wallace to the park board.
Commissioners also discussed a concern by Diane Alderdice about commissioners serving on boards that advise the city commission.
City Manager Todd Crossett said there are two types of boards. One is an advisory board, like the golf board and the park board; and the other board is quasi-judicial, such as the city-county planning board or the board of adjustment, which makes recommendations to the city commission.
“In my opinion, there is some potential for conflict on a quasi-judicial board, but a commissioner on an advisory board is an advantage,” Crossett said.
He added that it’s up to the city commission to decide.
Alderdice asked that the city commission rescind a commissoner’s appointment to the golf board since she felt that constitutes double representation. No action was taken.
The next city commission meeting will be held on May 21 at 7 p.m.
