Hamilton council considers public art and homelessness policies

By Michael Howell

At its November 10 Committee of the Whole meeting, members of the Hamilton City Council heard from Terry Marasco, owner of the Signal Bar & Grill, about the possibility of having public art on display in the City.
Marasco and Councilor Jenny West both serve on the Business Attraction Committee of the Hamilton Downtown Association. They originally approached the Town about the possibility of having sculptures installed on the four corners of the downtown intersections from 1st to 4th street.
After walking the streets, however, Public Works Director Keith Smith submitted a memo suggesting that the sidewalks along Main Street are too congested to accommodate sculptures without impairing passage on the sidewalks and interfering with access to businesses. They suggested that if public art is to be placed on city property, elsewhere in the city, perhaps in the city parks, would be preferable. Smith also noted that the city has no policy or guidance about placing art in public places.
Marasco said that after hearing Smith’s concerns he was now simply asking that the Council consider establishing an advisory committee to research the issue and come up with some suggestions for a policy.
Special Projects Director Dennis Stranger said that he had been looking at other cities as models and that every one of them had some sort of an advisory committee.
“I’m an advocate for art, but it can be controversial, especially when placed on public property,” said Stranger. “The downtown corners may not be practical, but we need to find appropriate places.” Stranger also noted that most public art does not come at any cost to taxpayers but is generally donated. He said establishing an advisory committee for recommendations concerning a policy was crucial.
It was generally agreed that it would be a good idea but the issue was not moved to Council.
City Attorney Karen Mahar then addressed the Committee of the Whole about the issue of homelessness. She said that Deputy Clerk Jamie Guisinger told her that she does receive frequent inquiries from citizens about services that might be available for the homeless and she has a short list of resource options that she uses.
Mahar said that the City of Missoula has adopted a 10-year plan to end homelessness in that city. Billings, she said, has a two-page guide with links to various services that might be used by the homeless. She said that both the Flathead Valley and Billings hold annual “homeless connect” days, where agencies get together and compose a comprehensive list of services available.
Councilmember Al Mitchell called it “a good idea.” He said it is not a big problem in Hamilton right now, “but as we grow it will be, so it makes sense to get started now and be prepared.”
Mahar said there was a companion issue that surfaced in Missoula related to panhandling and they had adopted an Aggressive Solicitation Ordinance. She said it defines “aggressive manner” as following someone after making a solicitation, using gestures, blocking passage, or touching.
She said her office has occasionally received inquiries about panhandling, but she does not know the real extent of any problems. She suggested that Police Chief Ryan Oster might have a better idea.
Mahar noted that Hamilton does have an ordinance on the books against loitering and blocking sidewalks or entrances to businesses.
This issue was also left in Committee.