Missoula businesses launch campaign to fill Washington-Grizzly for Saturday's game

By KEILA SZPALLER of the Missoulian | Posted: Thursday, December 10, 2009 6:10 pm | No Comments Posted

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• Raarr!

Fill 'er up.

The stadium, that is.

When the undefeated Montana Grizzlies face Appalachian State on Saturday, some members of the Missoula business community want Washington-Grizzly Stadium to be sold out to a hollering crowd. "First down ... Montana!"

Thursday, some 48 hours before kickoff, WGM Group's Brent Campbell was among the Griz fans who launched an informal campaign to get business owners to buy up remaining tickets and hand them off to employees in the quest to leave no seat empty for the Football Championship Series semifinal game.

"They do so much for our community," Campbell said of the University of Montana. "This is a way to give back."

The idea is to boost roaring and reputation. Campbell said the full stadium will raise the decibel level - and trip up the enemy. Plus, ESPN will be televising the game nationally, and a house packed to capacity at 25,200 will promote the mountain town of Missoula.

"It's getting a growing reputation as a great place to play football," Campbell said.

More than 18 employees or family members from his shop planned to root at Saturday's 2 p.m. kickoff. Among others on the Griz-wagon were Diane Beck at Windermere Real Estate, KPAX, the Rocky Mountain Development Corporation, and AMEC Geomatrix, he said.

http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/article_65df5908-e5f2-11de-93e4-001cc4c002e0.html

Holiday Greetings

http://wgmgroup.com/2009/12/seasons-greetings.html

Building a Sustainable Housing Recovery

Building a Sustainable Housing Recovery

#recovery

#recovery

Tester’s Wilderness Bill, Updates | Bill Schneider | Travel & Outdoors | NewWest.Net

Tester’s Wilderness Bill, Updates Bill Schneider Travel & Outdoors NewWest.Net

Discussion: WGM Group, Inc. | LinkedIn

Discussion: WGM Group, Inc. LinkedIn: "WGM Group is looking at new and improved work space for our business.
We have gotten many questions about the big 'for lease' sign if front of our existing building. We are currently working on a new location. More information will be forthcoming if and when we can ink the deal."

Real Estate Market in the West: Where It’s Going, and How | Amy Linn | New West Blog | NewWest.Net

Real Estate Market in the West: Where It’s Going, and How Amy Linn New West Blog NewWest.Net

Best Places to Launch a Small Business 2009 - Top Small Places - FORTUNE Small Business

Best Places to Launch a Small Business 2009 - Top Small Places - FORTUNE Small Business

New West | Real Estate and Development in the Northern Rockies

New West Real Estate and Development in the Northern Rockies

Taxpayers Benefit By Outsourcing | ENR: Engineering News Record | McGraw-Hill Construction

Taxpayers Benefit By Outsourcing ENR: Engineering News Record McGraw-Hill Construction

The Missoula Independent Online - Lane change

State switches gears on Missoula’s bike infrastructure

By: Jesse Froehling Posted: 06/04/2009

Photo by Chad HarderWith new buy-in from the state’s Department of Transportation, local streets like this stretch of Higgins Avenue could have new bike lanes as early as this summer.Doug Moeller never intended to set a precedent. But when the district administrator for the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) recently announced that he’d take bike lanes into consideration with future Missoula projects, local officials had to do a double-take. Simply put, that had never happened before.


The Missoula Independent Online - Lane change

Cycling experts create innovative on-street bicycle network in New York City | rabble.ca

Cycling experts create innovative on-street bicycle network in New York City | rabble.ca

Shared via AddThis

Demographic trends now favor downtown - Small business- msnbc.com

Demographic trends now favor downtown - Small business- msnbc.com

The Old Streetlamp of the Past Gets Updated for a Green Future - WSJ.com

The Old Streetlamp of the Past Gets Updated for a Green Future - WSJ.com: "

By REBECCA SMITH

Streetlights were the first big users of electricity. Now, they are being re-engineered to improve efficiency, but at a cost that today's municipalities might have a tough time covering.
San Jose, Calif., in the heart of Silicon Valley, is testing a concept called 'adaptive lighting,' in which streets can be made brighter, darker or even be illuminated with flashing strobes upon command.
By summer, the city will have installed 125 streetlamps using LED technology, in one of the biggest urban tests of the science so far in the U.S. The city hopes to cut down on energy use, and, hopefully, lower its utility costs, by tapping LED lighting's greater flexibility.
The test in San Jose coincides with a broad push by federal and state agencies to modernize the nation's lighting infrastructure. Many homes and businesses have replaced incandescent bulbs with more efficient compact fluorescent lights. Now cities, faced with tighter budgets, are looking for ways to cut street-lighting costs and to reduce emissions from power plants."

Cycle Tracks: Lessons Learned

References on Cycle Tracks which are being recomended in downtown on Higgins and Broadway.

http://www.altaplanning.com/cycle+tracks.aspx

http://bikeportland.org/2008/11/20/portlands-first-cycle-track-proposed-cully/

http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/25/plan-for-grand-street-cycle-track-features-new-design-treatment/

Stormwater as Entertainment

Integrating stormwater management with the urban landscape

By Margaret Buranen 1 Comments

A third walking tour covers Portland’s signature stormwater project, its Green Streets program. The first Green Street, SW 12 Street, won the 2006 ASLA General Design Award of Honor. This project was described in the January/February 2007 issue of Stormwater.
The highlight of the Green Streets program is the way that onsite stormwater management is integrated with an urban setting. The comprehensive approach uses different low-impact development (LID) strategies at different sites. Some of the seven locations on the Green Streets tour are included in other tours, such as PSU with the innovative vegetated street planters and New Seasons Market with its green roof and other LID techniques.

more......
http://stormh2o.com/may-2009/portland-public-education-3.aspx

What does this mean for our Region?

What does this mean for our region?

We believe the news is pretty good for the long-term in our region but we need to understand the demographics because the housing market is moving.

• 
  The over-supply of housing appears to be just about back to equilibrium for our Montana market.
• 
  Dramatically fewer households will have children as the boomers age.
• 
  Boomer Population peaks in about 20 years.
• 
  The number of households in our region will continue to grow.
• 
  There will be less demand for single-family housing and an increase in demand for condos and townhomes in the right location.
• 
  People will be moving into urban areas as they leave the suburban residences. This is a trend we have recognized for sometime.
• Projects like the redevelopment of the Old Sawmill Site in Missoula will be where many of the boomers will want to live.

http://www.wgmgroup.com/projects/MisMillSite.htm

Researcher: Northern Rockies Housing Market Near Bottom, Will Rebound Soon

www.NewWest.net
By Greg Lemon, 4-17-09


As the national economy comes out of the recession and sets a course for the future, changes in demographics are going to radically shift demands for housing, not only in the Mountain West, but around the country.
This was the message from Arthur C. Nelson, presidential professor and director of Metropolitan Research at the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Utah, who was the keynote speaker at the Designing the New West Conference in Bozeman Friday...........

http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/dramatic_changes_are_in_store_for_housing_market_in_mountain_west/C35/L35/

Designing the New West

WGM Group a major sponsor of the conference Designing the New West.

Architecture & Landscape in the Mountain West

April 16th and 17th, 2009

Gallatin Gateway Inn

Bozeman, Montana

Designing the New West features leading architects, developers, land planners and landscape designers from around the Rockies, with the aim of tracking design and development trends, showcasing best practices, and understanding how thoughtful and place-inspired design can help us shape our region in the most positive possible ways.Register Now!

http://www.newwest.net/design/

New U of Arizona lab researches medicines in water supply.

Public health officials and civil engineers have long been concerned with public health and the need for clean drinking water. There is a growing concern about pharmacueticals in drinking water and the unkown health effects. This is especially true with the large number of concentrated septic systems interspersed with domestic drinking water wells in Montana. Read more on the subject in the following web story.

By Evan Pellegrino
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona Published: 04.13.2009

A new laboratory at the University of Arizona is giving researchers a better understanding of an emerging concern to health officials — traces of pharmaceutical drugs and other pollutants found in our water supply. Investigations from The Associated Press and the U.S. Geological Survey have discovered that many types of trace compounds have infiltrated the water supplies across the country, including in Tucson. The consequences and effects of these contaminants aren't known, but UA researchers say the Arizona Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants will provide valuable tools that will help address growing concerns associated with the pollutants

http://www.azstarnet.com/news/288452

Tourism Event of the Year

Text from the Govenors Award as

TOURISM EVENT OF THE YEAR – (River City Roots Festival)

OUR NEXT AWARD IS TO BE PRESENTED TO AN EVENT THAT HAS BENEFITED THEIR COMMUNITY IN AN EXEMPLARY AND CREATIVE MANNER.

OUR WINNING EVENT is an IDEAL example of supporting the heartbeat of our communities and hosting an event that brings people to our main streets and downtowns.

Entering into its 4th year this summer, this event hopes to double its inaugural year attendance and bring upwards of 10,000 people to the streets of their vibrant and culturally diverse downtown. It is a signature event which is a celebration of their community and an excellent opportunity to showcase their thriving town, their friendly people and the diverse opportunities available to their visitors.

In a year where the state of our economy leads every headline, the fact that this event is fully supported by private sponsorships and in-kind services and donations, thus providing a FREE 2-day festival filled with quality entertainment for all ages did not go unnoticed by our scoring committee. By providing free entrance to the festival, it allows attendees to spend their discretionary dollars supporting the participants in the event, such as local food vendors, Montana artisans and craftspeople and the businesses that encompass the downtown area.

This late-summer weekend festival is highlighted by an all-day music stage featuring quality live performances from local, regional and national performers as well as a juried art show, entertainment for children and families and Fun run through downtown.

IT IS A TRUE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. MANY ORGANIZATIONS PARTNER TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS EVENT THE SUCCESS THAT IT IS AND IT IS THROUGH THE GUIDING EFFORTS OF THE MISSOULA DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION THAT WE CONGRATULATE Missoula’s River City Roots Festival ON BEING MONTANA’S 2009 TOURISM EVENT OF THE YEAR.

WGM Group Supports the River City Roots Festival

WGM Group has been involved in the River City Roots Festival from the outset. Why?

We believe Missoula's entertainment opportunities are one of the best reasons to live in Missoula. Our downtown is one of the best entertainment districts in the northern rocky mountains. I am a fan of downtowns, classic bars and music. I collect them like some people collect Beanie-baby's. I visit them as I travel around the country. Ours is one of the best around. We get big city entertainment opportunities and the great outdoors that Montana offers. We have great healthcare, a robust economy and the University of Montana. We have three great micro-breweries for locally made sustenance. What else could one ask for?

Roots Fest is a celebration of the Missoula Experience. Help us promote the event and celebrate our great City. Consider donating to the cause to help bring the party this year. Volunteer for the event. Pitch in in whatever way you can. The party will be bigger and better this year with everyone's help.

Downtown's advocates marshaling resources

Officials say downtown Great Falls is on the right path to becoming a vibrant area where people live, work and shop, but it still has more work to do.

About 100 downtown business owners and community members gathered Thursday night at the Art of Downtown Revitalization meeting, with the goal to continue down that path.

The meeting was a continuation of Imagine Downtown, which last met about a year ago.

Brent Campbell, transportation engineer with WGM Group of Missoula, said Great Falls' downtown is off to a good start. A master plan for the area could help with issues such as parking, traffic flow and creating a link between the River's Edge Trail and downtown, he said.

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090320/BUSINESS/903200319/1046/SPECIALSECTION05

Why we need civil engineers

Missoula sorely in need of new zoning rules

Monday, March 16, 2009
By BRENT CAMPBELL

Missoulians are disillusioned with the zoning regulations. Neighborhoods are unhappy with sections on infill, multifamily housing, and parking, which they see as threatening to neighborhood character. Businesses are unsettled by the time and effort it takes to obtain zoning compliance permits or changes. Design professionals are concerned because the code does not easily accommodate contemporary and sustainable design. The city is frustrated with administering outdated codes.

The current codes are broken and need to be fixed. Patching up the old zoning code, as we have done for decades, is no longer an option. We need a fresh, comprehensive document. Thankfully, we are in the process of creating new and efficient zoning regulations for the city of Missoula.

http://missoulian.com/articles/2009/03/16/opinion/guest/guest51.txt

Johns Hopkins Civility Project makes peace person to person, then nation to nation

Piero Massimo Forni sees being considerate to one another as the foundation for everything from the environmental movement to women's rights.

By Richard O'Mara Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
from the December 11, 2007 edition

Baltimore - Pier Massimo Forni is a peacemaker, not between nations, rather on the fundamental level of individual personal relations. He's not a therapist, psychiatrist, or such. He's a master of the ameliorative skills that are as old as human society and, to him, more productive of social harmony than most people realize.
We're talking about manners, courtesy, civility.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1211/p20s01-ussc.html

Missoula Zoning Debate Heats Up

Missoula Zoning Debate Heats UpThe Missoula Consolidated Planning Board is hearing comment on a much-awaited update of the city's zoning and subdivision regulations. One lesson: definitions matter.

http://www.newwest.net/city/article/zoning_debate_focuses_on_definitions/C8/L8/

Blueprint brigade fights back

Infill opponents are speaking out about the zoning rewrite — and the people who have had their noses in the old zoning book are fighting back. Those guys are architects, builders and designers, and plenty spoke Tuesday in favor of the zoning update. Here’s more comments from the Missoula Consolidated Planning Board meeting:

WGM Group President and CEO Brent Campbell: “We believe Missoula badly needs a new zoning code.” He said it’s 40 years old and patched together, and old rules mean old-style development. “Because it’s a ’70s document, it’s driving ’70s development. And this is the 21st century.” He sent this note* to “take action.”

http://missoularedtape.com/

Yellow Is the New Green

An interesting take on waste.

By ROSE GEORGE
Published: February 27, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/opinion/27george.html?em

Local Option Tax Gets BSEDA Support

Written by Evelyn Pyburn
Wednesday, 18 February 2009 18:25

Economic development interests across the state are putting their all behind a bill this legislative session to open up a new revenue stream for local governments. The idea is that local governments need revenue sources to maintain and develop infrastructure and infrastructure is vital in attracting new businesses and growing existing businesses.
Focus on empowering local governments – cities and counties – with the option of instituting a local option tax was initiated several sessions ago by the Big Sky Economic Development Authority (BSEDA). Having confronted the proposal’s failure before, its proponents are optimistic that they have finally straightened out its kinks and will garner the support necessary to get it passed this year.

http://www.bigskybusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=193:local-option-tax-gets-bseda-support&catid=18:citycounty&Itemid=15

Failing Infrastructure Cannot Support A Healthy Economy

Civil Engineers’ New Report Card Assesses Condition of Nation’s Infrastructure

Washington, D.C.—Decades of underfunding and inattention have jeopardized the ability of our nation’s infrastructure to support our economy and facilitate our way of life. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) today released its 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure—assigning a cumulative grade of D to the nation’s infrastructure and noting a five-year investment need of $2.2 trillion from all levels of government and the private sector. Since ASCE’s last assessment in 2005 there has been little change in the condition of the nation’s roads, bridges, drinking water systems and other public works, and the cost of improvement has increased by more than half a trillion dollars.

http://www.asce.org/pressroom/news/display_press.cfm?uid=4511

Stimulus Isn’t Enough to Fix State Budget Woes, Governors Say

Feb. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Aid to state governments in the $787 billion economic stimulus signed by President Barack Obama this week won’t be enough to balance budgets as costs rise and tax revenue shrinks, governors meeting in Washington said.

Governors welcomed the $787 billion stimulus legislation signed into law Tuesday by President Obama as a source of much- needed, albeit temporary, financial assistance. About $100 billion of that is set aside for state road building, bridges, and other infrastructure spending.
Putting the money in context, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, said the stimulus will add about 5 percent to what his state usually gets in federal spending.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aR_T22Ls4D6s&refer=us

Governors debate how to handle stimulus billions

WASHINGTON (AP) — Governors said Saturday they welcomed the money flowing to states from President Obama's landmark stimulus plan and played down disagreements among some Republicans in their ranks about how the dollars should be spent."

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, dismissed GOP concerns about the plan as inconsistent with their willingness to accept federal money in other cases."It does seem out of character for a governor who has been receiving billions of dollars for years to suddenly say 'I'm not so sure I want these dollars,'" he said, noting that a provision in the law would allow state legislatures to accept the stimulus money even if a governor rejects it.

http://http//mtstandard.com/articles/2009/02/21/breaking/hjjajhhiigfhhg.txt

Blackfoot - Clearwater Stewardship Project

"After two years of extensive dialogue, a diverse group of conservationists, loggers, snowmobilers, outfitters, and local landowners have crafted a pioneering vision for the upper Blackfoot Valley. The Blackfoot Clearwater Landscape Stewardship Project uses a landscape-level focus to achieve diverse goals."

Learn more about this mutually beneficial agreement where everyone wins. So much of the history has been based on conflict where everyone loses. We think this a great new direction.

http://www.blackfootclearwater.org/

American Recovery & Investment Act

Infrastructure Funding Formulas for Montana
Clean Water State REvolving Fund - $ 19,194,714
Transit Capital Grants - $ 15,611,710
Highways & Bridges - $ 211,793,391
Large Urban Areas (>200k) - $ 000
Rail Transit - $ 000