A Missoula Update from Mayor Engen
Posted by Adele Gibbs
Minutes of the Missoula Sunrise Rotary Meeting July 22, 2009.
Honorary Sunrise Rotarian and Missoula Mayor John Engen joined us for this week's meeting to present our program. He wore his "summer uniform" -- shorts, sandals-which seemed appropriate given the near 100 degree temperatures that afternoon!
Our meeting opened with Jim Clark leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Bill St. John provided another terrific invocation, asking that we have faith in all mankind and give thanks for all our friendships through Rotary.
Sergeant at Arms David Bardwick was away-his sons Chad and Derrick (along with Adele's son Westin) were participating that morning in the 9-10 year-old Little League All-Stars District Championship-they won and are playing for the state championship this weekend in Billings! With David away, Kara McCarthy filled in and introduced guests Emma Didier (Arnie's daughter), Aaron Clark (Jim's grandson), John Wells (Susan Cramer) and Annie Meyer, who stopped by to "check us out." Visiting Rotarian Bill Jewett of Yuma joined us as well.
Both Arnie Didier and Darko Butorac returned this week. Arnie has been traveling and enjoying summer, and Darko has returned from two guest conductor opportunities, one in Italy (Darko explained that an Italian barber did NOT seem to understand the words, "leave it a little longer") and Seattle. Welcome back to both Arnie and Darko!
Bobby Clay announced that a couple of days remain to purchase special premium seat tickets to Rigoletto which will be presented on July 31st and August 1st. Three dollars of each of these special tickets sold will go to Polio Plus. Contact Bobby ASAP! Bobby also announced that the Service Committee was meeting following the regular meeting.
Trevor Lewis announced that the United Way's Young Leaders Group (S.T.A.N.D.) is sponsoring an "80's Prom" on August 13th. Contact Trevor or the United Way for details. Sounds like a don't miss event!
Arnie Didier announced that the Membership Committee will be meeting next week following our regular meeting. Arnie said that we all need to think about and talk about membership every day. He encouraged us all to read RI President John Kenny's column about membership in the current issue of The Rotarian.
Doug Hadnot encouraged all to attend the ceremony that evening at Heritage Hall at Fort Missoula in which former Rotarian Bo Foster would be receiving the French Legion of Honor medal.
Anne Guest announced that today's Out to Lunch program would be the band "Smoke" and that Downtown Tonight on Thursday will feature the group "Locust Street Taxi."
Julie McFarland provided the Rotary Minute, reading from the current Rotarian magazine. The story was about Herbert J. Taylor, the man who "invented" the Four Way Test. This is a great story-and one we should all read. Thank you, Julie!
Ramey Kodadek provided our Classification Talk. Ramey's classification is non-profit executive and she is Development Director at the Youth Homes. Raised by her civically-minded parents, and her father being a Rotarian for many years, Ramey said Rotary seemed like a great fit. Recently she lived the Four Way Test after finding $30 at the Good Food Store-and returning it. Ramey continues to enjoy her work with the Youth Homes, saying she's had the most satisfaction helping kids to be safe and simply be kids. Ramey said she feels very fortunate to do the work she does. Ramey was raised in Hamilton ("down the 'Root") and met her husband Jesse at UM. They have a dog named Lopez, but no children yet. Ramey said her strongest character trait is that she's friendly, but also embarrasses easily. Ramey is a workout addict (CrossFit), likes to read, enjoys being outside and likes wine and sushi. Ramey said that Ramey is her middle name (a family last name) and her first name is Annabeth-it was no surprise to hear that her parents are Southern! Welcome, again, Ramey to our club, we're glad to have you as a member!
Carl Prinzing then presented both Gordie Campbell and Anne Guest (two of our founding members) with Paul Harris Fellow awards from the club.
Susan Hay Cramer then introduced our speaker, Missoula Mayor John Engen. John is an Honorary Sunrise Rotarian, has served on the City Council, was an award-winning writer at the Missoulian and volunteers for many causes. He became Mayor in January 2006, and came to talk with us today about what is going on in Missoula.
Mayor Engen said we're nearing the end of the annual budget process, and said while this budget has been less contentious, it's still been tough. He said that we're in the process of "hanging on" in this tight economy-the City is not offering new or enhancing existing programs. The focus is keeping people at work. He said that there was a $1.5 million hole to fill in a $42 million general fund budget. Each City department was asked to give up 3.75 % and they got it from most, though not all (i.e. Fire Dept.). The Mayor said while it is tough for Missoula, we are far better off than Oakland, Phoenix, Minneapolis, etc.-cities which are facing huge layoffs, including in their fire and police departments. He said we're expecting another tough year, but will figure it out and ride it out. And, he said, fortunately the Council seems to get it.
Mayor Engen said the recovery act has delivered some federal money to Missoula-much of which can be seen through various street projects and fixing of the Scott Street Bridge. He said there may be additional energy efficiency block grants, such as the green block project done last year. Ninety homes participated last year, at no cost to the homeowners. Energy use is being monitored in those homes. The City partnered with Northwestern Energy on the project and will do so through 2010-with perhaps another 300 homes participating. The Mayor would like to see businesses included as well.
The Mayor said he's been on several conference calls in the past few months with mayors of other cities and the White House-including Vice President Biden. He said the White House is interested in how the economic stimulus is going, and said they are "paying attention." Since mayors work where we live, their input is critical.
There were several questions from the club to the Mayor, including:
--Are street lights going to be eliminated - as part of the Dark Sky Initiative? The Mayor said no, but said some may be retrofitted to LED.
--What about the Salcido Center-what is going on with funding? The Mayor said he wasn't sure where things are on the plea for funding, but said they are trying with the State too. He said one key problem is that there are many competing opinions on what is the best kind of care/center/treatment, etc.
--What does he think about the Downtown Master Plan? The Mayor said he loves it and believes it reflects what Missoula wants. He said it's a blueprint for investors and said with any luck the Council will adopt it. He mentioned the Zoning rewrite, and said, "there is nothing scary about this." He said some of our stuff is 50-70 years old and it needs a rewrite. He encouraged everyone to read the document.
--Has he heard that 5,000 property tax defaults are expected in Missoula? The Mayor answered that collections were down $450,000 last year, but he hasn't heard that it will double. He said they are watching it and expect it and have planned for it.
--What about the congestion on Reserve Street? The Mayor said nothing may ever change there because transportation dollars are hard to come by. He said at a million dollars a mile, it will cost $100 million to do anything, and whatever is done won't fix the problem. He said we can't spend our way out of traffic so we need to focus on other options, like Russell Street.
--What about the problems at OPG-where they make things as tough as possible and "solve problems" with the highest cost option? The Mayor said it's not as bad as we fear, and that a part of it is regulations which are open to interpretation. He said their job is to help folks work with the system and that they're trying to make it better.
Susan Hay Cramer then "pinned" the Mayor with the Rotary Theme Pin for 2009-2010, as our future is in his hands.
COOKIES were then awarded to guests Aaron Clark and Emma Didier for getting up so early on a summer day to join us with their grandpa and dad; to Rusty Babington for offering to be the "Classification Talk Leader"; and to Kara McCarthy-who agreed to stand in as Sergeant at Arms once again, but only for a cookie!
We then closed the meeting with a recitation of the Four-Way Test.
Our meeting opened with Jim Clark leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Bill St. John provided another terrific invocation, asking that we have faith in all mankind and give thanks for all our friendships through Rotary.
Sergeant at Arms David Bardwick was away-his sons Chad and Derrick (along with Adele's son Westin) were participating that morning in the 9-10 year-old Little League All-Stars District Championship-they won and are playing for the state championship this weekend in Billings! With David away, Kara McCarthy filled in and introduced guests Emma Didier (Arnie's daughter), Aaron Clark (Jim's grandson), John Wells (Susan Cramer) and Annie Meyer, who stopped by to "check us out." Visiting Rotarian Bill Jewett of Yuma joined us as well.
Both Arnie Didier and Darko Butorac returned this week. Arnie has been traveling and enjoying summer, and Darko has returned from two guest conductor opportunities, one in Italy (Darko explained that an Italian barber did NOT seem to understand the words, "leave it a little longer") and Seattle. Welcome back to both Arnie and Darko!
Bobby Clay announced that a couple of days remain to purchase special premium seat tickets to Rigoletto which will be presented on July 31st and August 1st. Three dollars of each of these special tickets sold will go to Polio Plus. Contact Bobby ASAP! Bobby also announced that the Service Committee was meeting following the regular meeting.
Trevor Lewis announced that the United Way's Young Leaders Group (S.T.A.N.D.) is sponsoring an "80's Prom" on August 13th. Contact Trevor or the United Way for details. Sounds like a don't miss event!
Arnie Didier announced that the Membership Committee will be meeting next week following our regular meeting. Arnie said that we all need to think about and talk about membership every day. He encouraged us all to read RI President John Kenny's column about membership in the current issue of The Rotarian.
Doug Hadnot encouraged all to attend the ceremony that evening at Heritage Hall at Fort Missoula in which former Rotarian Bo Foster would be receiving the French Legion of Honor medal.
Anne Guest announced that today's Out to Lunch program would be the band "Smoke" and that Downtown Tonight on Thursday will feature the group "Locust Street Taxi."
Julie McFarland provided the Rotary Minute, reading from the current Rotarian magazine. The story was about Herbert J. Taylor, the man who "invented" the Four Way Test. This is a great story-and one we should all read. Thank you, Julie!
Ramey Kodadek provided our Classification Talk. Ramey's classification is non-profit executive and she is Development Director at the Youth Homes. Raised by her civically-minded parents, and her father being a Rotarian for many years, Ramey said Rotary seemed like a great fit. Recently she lived the Four Way Test after finding $30 at the Good Food Store-and returning it. Ramey continues to enjoy her work with the Youth Homes, saying she's had the most satisfaction helping kids to be safe and simply be kids. Ramey said she feels very fortunate to do the work she does. Ramey was raised in Hamilton ("down the 'Root") and met her husband Jesse at UM. They have a dog named Lopez, but no children yet. Ramey said her strongest character trait is that she's friendly, but also embarrasses easily. Ramey is a workout addict (CrossFit), likes to read, enjoys being outside and likes wine and sushi. Ramey said that Ramey is her middle name (a family last name) and her first name is Annabeth-it was no surprise to hear that her parents are Southern! Welcome, again, Ramey to our club, we're glad to have you as a member!
Carl Prinzing then presented both Gordie Campbell and Anne Guest (two of our founding members) with Paul Harris Fellow awards from the club.
Susan Hay Cramer then introduced our speaker, Missoula Mayor John Engen. John is an Honorary Sunrise Rotarian, has served on the City Council, was an award-winning writer at the Missoulian and volunteers for many causes. He became Mayor in January 2006, and came to talk with us today about what is going on in Missoula.
Mayor Engen said we're nearing the end of the annual budget process, and said while this budget has been less contentious, it's still been tough. He said that we're in the process of "hanging on" in this tight economy-the City is not offering new or enhancing existing programs. The focus is keeping people at work. He said that there was a $1.5 million hole to fill in a $42 million general fund budget. Each City department was asked to give up 3.75 % and they got it from most, though not all (i.e. Fire Dept.). The Mayor said while it is tough for Missoula, we are far better off than Oakland, Phoenix, Minneapolis, etc.-cities which are facing huge layoffs, including in their fire and police departments. He said we're expecting another tough year, but will figure it out and ride it out. And, he said, fortunately the Council seems to get it.
Mayor Engen said the recovery act has delivered some federal money to Missoula-much of which can be seen through various street projects and fixing of the Scott Street Bridge. He said there may be additional energy efficiency block grants, such as the green block project done last year. Ninety homes participated last year, at no cost to the homeowners. Energy use is being monitored in those homes. The City partnered with Northwestern Energy on the project and will do so through 2010-with perhaps another 300 homes participating. The Mayor would like to see businesses included as well.
The Mayor said he's been on several conference calls in the past few months with mayors of other cities and the White House-including Vice President Biden. He said the White House is interested in how the economic stimulus is going, and said they are "paying attention." Since mayors work where we live, their input is critical.
There were several questions from the club to the Mayor, including:
--Are street lights going to be eliminated - as part of the Dark Sky Initiative? The Mayor said no, but said some may be retrofitted to LED.
--What about the Salcido Center-what is going on with funding? The Mayor said he wasn't sure where things are on the plea for funding, but said they are trying with the State too. He said one key problem is that there are many competing opinions on what is the best kind of care/center/treatment, etc.
--What does he think about the Downtown Master Plan? The Mayor said he loves it and believes it reflects what Missoula wants. He said it's a blueprint for investors and said with any luck the Council will adopt it. He mentioned the Zoning rewrite, and said, "there is nothing scary about this." He said some of our stuff is 50-70 years old and it needs a rewrite. He encouraged everyone to read the document.
--Has he heard that 5,000 property tax defaults are expected in Missoula? The Mayor answered that collections were down $450,000 last year, but he hasn't heard that it will double. He said they are watching it and expect it and have planned for it.
--What about the congestion on Reserve Street? The Mayor said nothing may ever change there because transportation dollars are hard to come by. He said at a million dollars a mile, it will cost $100 million to do anything, and whatever is done won't fix the problem. He said we can't spend our way out of traffic so we need to focus on other options, like Russell Street.
--What about the problems at OPG-where they make things as tough as possible and "solve problems" with the highest cost option? The Mayor said it's not as bad as we fear, and that a part of it is regulations which are open to interpretation. He said their job is to help folks work with the system and that they're trying to make it better.
Susan Hay Cramer then "pinned" the Mayor with the Rotary Theme Pin for 2009-2010, as our future is in his hands.
COOKIES were then awarded to guests Aaron Clark and Emma Didier for getting up so early on a summer day to join us with their grandpa and dad; to Rusty Babington for offering to be the "Classification Talk Leader"; and to Kara McCarthy-who agreed to stand in as Sergeant at Arms once again, but only for a cookie!
We then closed the meeting with a recitation of the Four-Way Test.