Loading...
H2. 2020 911 request for special districtCITY 01F KALISPELL City of Kalispell 201 1" Ave E. P.O. Box 1997 Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997 (406) 758-7000 Fax (406)7757 REPORT TO: Mayor Johnson and Kalispell City Council FROM: Doug Russell, City Manager SUBJECT: Support for Board of County Commissioners to adopt a resolution for a November 2020 ballot election to create a 911 Special District MEETING DATE: April 20, 2020 BACKGROUND: In previous years, Flathead County, in coordination with the cities of Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, and the Flathead Emergency Communications Center's (FECC) advisory board have attempted to create a special district in the county to be the funding source and provide the managerial oversight for the operations of the 911 facility. Both the previous efforts failed to achieve the desired outcome. However, the challenges that the special district would have alleviated remain, including the long-term financial solution for the facility, as was identified in the initial inter -local agreement. The FECC's funding committee provided a recommendation to the FECC advisory board for a special district funded through an assessment on a parcel's taxable value, a methodology that simplified the previous effort, which feedback had identified was complicated and included concerns related to equity across the assessment spectrum. The FECC advisory board voted to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners to adopt the proposed resolution of the funding committed and place it on the November 2020 general election ballot. The recommendation of the FECC advisory board and the proposed resolution are included with this memorandum. As part of this process, the Board of the County Commissioners has requested the Cities of Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls to demonstrate support by passing a resolution or motion supporting the creation of the 911 Special District, such as the resolution of this agenda item. FISCAL IMPACTS: The creation of the proposed special district would reduce the City of Kalispell's direct contribution to the 911 center, as obligated by the inter -local agreement. This amount in fiscal year 2020 was approximately $570,000. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council approve Resolution 5972, a resolution expressing the support of the Kalispell City Council for the Flathead County Board of Commissioners to refer the Flathead Communications Center Special District to a Vote pursuant to the terms of Title 7, Chapter 11, Part 10 Montana Code Annotated 2019. ATTACHMENTS: Resolution 5972 FECC Advisory Boards letter of support and proposed resolution RESOLUTION NO.5972 A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SUPPORT OF THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL FOR THE FLATHEAD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO REFER THE FLATHEAD COMMUNICATIONS CENTER SPECIAL DISTRICT TO A VOTE PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF TITLE 7, CHAPTER 11, PART 10 MCA (2019). WHEREAS, on April 20, 2009, the local government entities comprised of Flathead County, the City of Kalispell, the City of Whitefish and the City of Columbia Falls entered into an Interlocal Agreement to provide oversight and funding for a county -wide emergency communications center; and WHEREAS, the Flathead Emergency Communication Administrative Board, consisting of representatives of each of the local government entities joined in the agreement, have considered the various funding alternatives for the communications center. They have determined that it would be in the best interests of the landowners, residents and visitors throughout Flathead County that they be allowed to vote on a more permanent funding solution through the establishment of a county -wide special district; and WHEREAS, on February 24, 2020, the Flathead Emergency Communication Administrative Board submitted a recommendation of approval of a draft resolution referring the matter of a Flathead Emergency Communication Center Special District to a vote pursuant to the terms of Title 7, Chapter 11, Part 10 MCA (2019); and WHEREAS, the Kalispell City Council has considered the resolution proposed to the Flathead County Board of Commissioners by the Flathead Emergency Communication Administrative Board, attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and finds the proposal to be in the best interests of the landowners, residents and visitors of the City of Kalispell. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KALISPELL, AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Kalispell hereby approves the form of the proposed resolution attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and respectfully requests that the Flathead County Board of Commissioners approve and adopt such resolution and refer the matter of a Flathead Emergency Communication Center Special District to a vote pursuant to the terms of Title 7, Chapter 11, Part 10 MCA (2019). PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF KALISPELL THIS 20TH DAY OF APRIL_2020. ATTEST: Aimee Brunckhorst, CMC City Clerk Mark Johnson Mayor city of Whitefish City of Kalispell FLATHEAD EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS BOARD 625 Timberwolf Parkway Kalispell, MT 59901 * 406-758-5560 TO: Chairman Holmquist, Commissioner Mitchell, and Commissioner Brodehl FROM: Flathead Emergency Communications Center Administrative Board DATE: February 24, 2020 SUBJECT: Recommendation of approval of draft Resolution Referring Flathead Emergency Communications Center Special District to Vote The Flathead Emergency Communications Center Administrative Board met on January S, 2020, and during that meeting the Flathead Emergency Communications Center Funding Committee provided a summary of their work, copies of the draft resolution, with budget projections for the Board's consideration and approval. After reviewing the documents provided by the Funding Committee, and subsequent discussion, the members of the Flathead Emergency Communications Center Administrative Board voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners adopt the attached proposed resolution, and place it on the November 3, 2020 general election ballot. Susan Nicosia Chair, Flathead Emergency Communications Center Administrative Board RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION REFERRING FLATHEAD EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER MILL LEVY TO VOTE WHEREAS, the local government entities consisting of Flathead County, the City of Columbia Falls, the City of Kalispell, and the City of Whitefish entered into an Interlocal Agreement on April 20, 2009, to provide oversight and funding for a county -wide emergency communications center; WHEREAS, the resulting Flathead Emergency Communications Center (FECC) provides emergency dispatch and supporting communication services, equipment, and infrastructure for Flathead County and its municipalities; WHEREAS, Flathead County and its municipalities now wish to provide a more permanent funding solution to perpetuate these activities of FECC through a new county -wide special district pursuant to Title 7, Chapter 11, Part 10, M.C.A. (2019); WHEREAS, the Flathead County Board of Commissioners may order a referendum on the creation of a proposed special district pursuant to §§ 7-11-1003 and 7-11-1011, M.C.A. (2019); WHEREAS, the Flathead County Board of Commissioners wishes to order such a referendum on the creation of a proposed special district (FECC Special District) to provide emergency dispatch and supporting communication services, equipment, and infrastructure for FIathead County and its municipalities; WHEREAS, the boundaries of the FECC Special District will be the boundaries of Flathead County, as shown on attached Exhibit A, and legally described as shown on attached Exhibit B; WHEREAS, the Flathead County Board of Commissioners will administer the FECC Special District; and WHEREAS, each lot or parcel of land, including the improvements on the lot or parcel, will be assessed for that part of the cost of the FECC Special District that its taxable valuation bears to the total taxable valuation of the property of the District; and WHEREAS, the total of the initial proposed assessment is $3,503,652. The impact of this assessment in the current year on a home valued at $100,000 would be approximately $17.68 in additional property taxes; on a home valued at $200,000 the additional property taxes would be approximately $35,36, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that election for the creation of a special district for the funding of FECC shall be placed on the ballot for the November 3, 2020, general election and shall be in substantially the following form: To organize a special district to provide funding for emergency dispatch and supporting communication services, equipment, and infrastructure for Flathead County and its municipalities. The maximum of the total initial proposed assessment is $3,503,652. The impact of this assessment in the current year on a home valued at $100,000 would be approximately $17.68 in additional property taxes; on a home valued at $200,000 the additional property taxes would be approximately $35.36. The proposed boundaries of the district are the boundaries of Flathead County. The Flathead County Board of Commissioners will be the administrator of this special district. Shall the proposition to organize the FECC Special District be adopted? [ ] Yes, it shall be adopted. [ ] No, it shall not be adopted. DATED this day of , 2020. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Flathead County, Montana By: Pamela J. Holmquist, Chair By: Randy L. Brodehl, Member By: Philip B. Mitchell, Member