C. Falls City Council: Public hearing tonight on budget

The Daily Inter Lake

Columbia Falls' city budget for 2008-'09 will get its first formal airing during a public hearing at tonight's City Council meeting.

The public will have a chance to comment on the budget during the hearing, then the council will take it up again later in the meeting when dealing with unfinished business.

In another public hearing, the council will take comment on a request from Pete Costain to rezone about three-quarters of an acre at First Avenue East and Eighth Street East. He wants to change zoning from R-4 urban residential to R-5 two-family residential. It comes with the Planning Board's recommendation for approval.

The council also will give first reading to ordinances changing the zoning and establishing a planned-unit development for River Highlands, a 48-acre proposal council approved Sept. 2. Developer Lloyd Claycomb, who owns Avi Bree Real Estate Holdings, submitted a preliminary plan for the 151-unit housing subdivision with a neighborhood market on the Loeffler Ridge land southeast of the Flathead River along River Road.

The council also will give a second reading to an ordinance repealing the city's ban on door-to-door sales, and a first reading to an ordinance changing uptown zoning to expand the Nucleus Avenue business district.

They will consider a resolution setting property-tax levies and special levies for the 2008-'09 fiscal year, salary recommendations for negotiation-exempt city employees and a proclamation designating Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in City Hall.