Council discusses future goals for city

Improving traffic and pedestrian safety. Providing more activities for citizens. Enhancing the city's economy by getting tourists to stop and stay in the city and attracting business for jobs. Continuing to upgrade the city parks.

These are just a few of the ideas the Columbia Falls City Council has for the future of the city. The council held a special meeting Monday to discuss short- and long-term goals.

Mayor Don Barnhart called for the meeting.

"We want to talk about how we can make our community a little bit better," he said. "This is a way we can share our ideas."

Councilman Harvey Reikofski drew one idea for improving the city right from his own neighborhood. He often spends time walking around town and sees cars driving too fast in residential areas.

"People walk in the road. Toddlers play on trikes on the road way because there are no sidewalks," he said.

He proposed installing signs reading "children at play" or installing radar speed signs to remind drivers of their speed.

Police Chief Perry suggested a few options to improving neighborhood safety.

"You can do a neighborhood adopt-a-sign. They purchase the street sign and the city crew installs it," he said. "Also the Montana Department of Transportation issues about seven to 10 of the speed limit signs per year."

The city could get a portable radar speed sign and move it to various locations to help remind drivers of their speed, he added.

On the idea of pedestrian safety, councilman Shawn Bates suggested improving some of the streets that are used by Columbia Falls High School and Junior High students to get to school. He also suggested adding yield and stop signs to a few key intersections along bus routes from the high school to Glacier Gateway.

"It's narrow in the winter when the buses go by," he said.

Barnhart said he'd also like to see pedestrian crossing signs installed on U.S. Highway 2 and Nucleus Avenue. He pointed to similar signs in Whitefish along Baker Avenue that are in the road at crosswalks to remind drivers that yielding for pedestrians is state law.

City Manager Bill Shaw said state approval would be needed for those signs because both streets are state roads, but he would look into it.

SEVERAL council members said they'd like to see more activities available to teens and adults.

"I would like more stuff for our youth — stuff for the teenagers," Councilwoman Julie Plevel said.

Suggestions included a folf course, a skate park, a theater and a place for organized sports and recreation similar to a civic center.

Shaw pointed to the Glacier Discovery Square as a place that is already turning into a kind of community center.

"At some point we'd expect that they'll come to the taxpayer and ask to turn it into a civic center. That's what we are headed towards," he said. "In the future, they would plan things there, but under the auspices of the city government."

Shaw also noted that two blocks of First Avenue East behind Smith's has been paved wider to accommodate activities. It's similar to the section of First Avenue West, where the Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce holds its annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament during Heritage Days.

Councilman Dave Petersen said the spot might be used for inline skating a few nights per month.

Keeping the city pool open longer hours might be a solution, said Finance Director Susan Nicosia. The addition might add revenue to a pool that often operates in the red.

"We could have the pool open one or two nights per week and adding a teen night," she said.

COUNCILMAN Dave Petersen said he wants the city to continue to draw tourists to the city.

That includes installing welcome signs at the city entrances, erecting the arch over Nucleus Avenue again and advocating for the paving of the North Fork Road to the Camas Road at the entrance of Glacier National Park.

"The welcome signs are a key piece of perception. Hopefully we can show we have a caliber of merchants and amenities," he said. "I'm a big believer of the arch over Nucleus. I know there are obstacles to getting it, but there's nothing we can't overcome."

"We can design an arch that for tourists and people who move here — it's like a logo or calling card," he added. "We want to give them an image and the arch will accomplish that."

Petersen said paving the North Fork Road to Camas Creek could help bring tourists through uptown.

"If we get that accomplished all those people will benefit that come after us," he said.

Last month the City Council approved a proclamation by Mayor Don Barnhart to support paving the road. Several council members Monday said they would continue to advocate for paving.

On the idea of promoting tourist activity, a number of council members said they favor the construction of a motel in the city limits.

CONTINUING upgrades to city parks is also on many council members wish list.

Councilman Mike Shepard said he wants to see work continue at River's Edge Park.

"A lot of people consider that to be like Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase folly," he said.

But it doesn't have to be, he noted, "There's a lot of walkers in town and when we get more trails there will be a lot of walkers down there walking."

A few council members said they often see the need for a dog park in the city. And additional dog waste pickup stations, as well.

"People need a place to take their dogs," Councilman Harvey Reikofski said. "It would help eliminate some of the problems we have with dogs."