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