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4/11/2025
Missoula This Week is reported and written By Katie Fairbanks. Send your Missoula news and tips to kfairbanks@montanafreepress.org.
Public Works recommends pausing sidewalk projects to focus on other work
A split Missoula City Council on Wednesday approved reducing the maximum sidewalk assessment from $9,000 to $3,500 after multiple discussions about changing the program over the last several months.
The Public Works and Mobility Department recommended other changes, including largely pausing the assessment program and focusing on grant-funded projects, that will be incorporated in the departments proposed budget, said Jeremy Keene, the departments director.
The change in assessments follows a lengthy council discussion in early March, which ended with the council split on how to move forward but a majority expressing the desire for a change to the assessment program.
Council Member Sandra Vasecka initially proposed lowering the maximum assessment amount for single-family homes and duplexes in March before bringing it to the council on Wednesday. Vasecka said her goal was to decrease the financial burden on homeowners.
I feel like this is a step in the right direction, she said. The majority of assessments are at the $3,500 for these single-family dwellings, but this is to help those folks that do get that $9,000 bill. Like my ward-mate was saying, even $3,500 is devastating to households, so $9,000 is completely devastating to a lot of households.
The city builds sidewalks as part of larger street projects and assesses property owners for adjacent sidewalks, driveway approaches and boulevard work. For single-family homes and duplexes, the city pays the first $1,000, then splits the costs until the property owner hits $3,500. Before this week, the city paid up to $12,000 more, then the city and property owner split costs until the property owner paid $5,500 more, capping the owners cost at $9,000.
Property owners can pay the assessment in full or over eight, 12 or 20 years. Residential properties with a sidewalk assessment of more than $3,500 or those making less than 120% of the area median income can defer payment until the sale of their home. The deferred amount accrues interest, plus an administrative fee required by state law. City staff told the council in March that the deferral option is not often used.
The city builds about one to two miles of sidewalks per year as part of its sidewalk program. The maximum assessment decrease will cost the city an estimated $70,000, Keene said.
Keene presented several staff recommendations, including discontinuing assessments on certain projects that offer a broader community benefit, such as collector streets and greenways. That would reduce the administrative burden of assessments, promote equity and align with the citys goals of enhancing safety and walkability, he said.
We dont ask people to pay for streets, but were asking them to pay for sidewalks, Keene said. On corridors that really provide a real transportation benefit to get you from one place to another by walking, we think theres merit in that argument that it makes sense to pay for those with citywide funds.
Sidewalk assessments make up about $200,000 on a typical project, adding up to about $1 million every five years, Keene said. Discontinuing assessments would mean the city would complete about one less project every five years, he said. Not administering assessments would save about $40,000 and allow staff to work on other projects, Keene said.
The department recommended maintaining the current assessment rates as they might make sense for future projects with narrower benefits. Keene suggested the department focus on grant-funded work with deadlines. Some of those projects will add or improve sidewalks, including adding two miles of sidewalks on South Avenue, he said. Missoula Redevelopment Agency sidewalk projects will also continue.
Keene also recommended the department explore alternative funding options for sidewalks. For example, Denver voters approved a citywide sidewalk fee to help pay for projects, he said.
The department is not recommending Vaseckas proposal because decreasing the assessment amount reduces the efficacy of the program, which already buys less because of inflation, Keene said.
What were actually recommending here is to do more than what Mr. (Bob) Campbell and Ms. Vasecka suggested, which is were just not going to do assessments for a while, he said. We think it might still be a tool that might be useful on certain projects for the future but what we’re seeing right now is the level of effort it requires to go through the assessment process and the level of angst that it causes with property owners just doesnt feel like it’s worth it.
Vasecka agreed with Keene but still wanted to move forward with setting the lower rate for the future.
Some council members who opposed the proposal said the city should keep the assessment rates in place while exploring other options and taking time to see how the budget shakes out.
Given the financial situation of many people across our community, maybe this is a time to slow down a little bit and investigate how other communities are doing this, Council Member Mirtha Becerra said. I would rather do that than right now lower the cap that we have, because in a couple years we don’t know what our financial situation will be.
Council Members Daniel Carlino and Kristen Jordan spoke in favor of the change and maintained their previous position that the city should fully fund sidewalks.
The council voted 7-4 to approve the new assessment maximum, with Becerra, Sierra Farmer, Gwen Jones and Eric Melson opposed. Stacie Anderson was absent.
5 Things to Know in Missoula
On Wednesday, the Missoula City Council approved allocating $20,000 in Neighborhood Improvement Grants for five projects. The council OKd subcommittee recommendations to award: $6,000 for a rapid flashing beacon for a pedestrian crossing at South Third Street West and South Grant Street; $4,700 for planters containing pollinator-friendly plants in the traffic circle at Dearborn Avenue and Lester Street; $3,700 to plant trees at Bellevue Park; $6,000 to replace play area material, a metal soccer goal and two park benches at Pheasant Run Park; and $1,600 for a new garden bed at the Missoula Iris Society Garden at Fort Missoula. The committee recommended not awarding grants to two projects installing sculptures at Silver Park and replacing a deteriorating WWII memorial at Rose Park because of limited funding and the projects options for other grants.
The Missoula Parking Commission on Tuesday approved increasing fees for leased parking spots and University District permits. The commission recommended increased fines for parking violations, which require City Council approval. The price for parking leases will increase by 10% for all lots and spaces except four areas with low demand: the West Front lot, East Alder Street, Owen Street and West Front Street. The cost of loading zone, commercial and special service permits will also increase by 10%. Residential parking permits for the University District will increase by $20. The increases take effect July 1. The commission recommended doubling fines for meter violations from $5 to $10 for the second offense, with $10 increases for a maximum penalty of $40. The first violation will still receive a warning and no fine. The scale will reset after six months of no violations. For other parking violations, including in the University District residential parking area, the commission proposed escalating fines from the initial $20 by $20 for subsequent violations to a $100 maximum. The scale will reset after one year of no violations.
Missoula Parks and Recreation announced the courts at Bonner Park will be dedicated to tennis only after neighborhood complaints about noise from pickleball players. In 2024, parks and recreation set limited hours of play and asked players to use quiet equipment, but the rules were widely disregarded, according to the department. In its decision to no longer allow pickleball at the park, located in the University District, the department considered the courts proximity to nearby homes, an acoustic study showing pickleball likely exceeds the citys permitted noise levels and research showing pickleballs unique sound can be particularly disruptive in residential areas. Those interested can play pickleball at MRL Park and Fort Missoula Regional Park. Pickleball nets and lines will be added to courts at Playfair Park in late July or early August.
The Missoula City Council on Monday approved a developers request to rezone a five-acre property on River Road and California Street to make way for apartments and commercial space. Engineering firm IMEG applied for the zoning change on behalf of property owners Richard and Kammy Zavarelli, who tentatively plan to build apartments, townhomes and mixed-use buildings on the site. The new zoning designation will allow all residential, some commercial and light industrial, with a maximum building height of 65 feet, or about six stories. The proposed site plan includes a four-story multifamily building and three five-story mixed-used buildings, some townhomes and green space between the buildings and River Road. A member of the public raised concerns about building in the floodplain. Any development in the floodplain will require a review and permit before building permits are issued, according to city staff.
Missoula County property owners with horses, cattle or other grazing animals can receive a free pasture evaluation through the countys Department of Ecology and Extension. The MSU Agriculture and Livestock agent will evaluate: pasture productivity, grazing strategies, mitigating parasites, controlling weeds and invasive grasses, making the pasture more fire-wise, irrigation and fencing systems and other topics. Sampling typically begins in April and continues through September. Properties are served on a first-come basis, although residents can hold a place in line by completing .
Photo Op
The Montana Osprey Projects nest camera on Tuesday captured Iris the osprey back at her Hellgate nest, located near Riverside Health and Rehabilitation on the bank of the Clark Fork River, after she returned for the season the day before. The runs two livestreaming nest cameras in Missoula and Lolo as part of its work studying osprey ecology in the upper Clark Fork and its tributaries. Iris has nested in the area at the mouth of the Hellgate Canyon for more than a decade, according to the project.
Happenings
Bernie Sanders Fighting Oligarchy tour is coming to Missoula on Wednesday. The Vermont senator and former presidential candidate will be joined by New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, at the Adams Center at the University of Montana. The event is part of Sanders tour to have real discussions across America on how we move forward to take on the Oligarchs and corporate interests who have so much power and influence in this country.
Doors open at 10:30 a.m., and the speaking program begins at 1 p.m. No bags, signs or firearms are allowed. Parking is available on campus for a fee, but attendees are encouraged to use mass transit, rideshares or carpool. The event is free and those interested are asked to .泭
