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10-26-20 City Council Work Session MinutesKALISPELL CITY OF CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES October 26, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. A. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Mark Johnson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Council members present included: Mayor - Mark Johnson: Present in Council Chambers Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Present via video conference Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Present via video conference Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present via video conference Council Member - Chad Graham: Present via video conference Council Member - Kyle Waterman: Present via video conference Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Present via video conference Council Member - Tim Kluesner: Present via video conference Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present via video conference Staff present in the City Hall Council Chambers included City Manager Doug Russell, City Attorney Charles Harball, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, and Development Services Director Jarod Nygren. B. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Homeless Task Force Report a City Manager Doug Russell provided a broad overview on this item. Homeless Task Force Co -Chair Rod Kuntz presented the report from the Homeless Task Force and explained how they put together the report. 00:34:31 City Manager Russell spoke to how the information in the report was gathered and to the reasoning behind the composition of the Task Force. He also touched on some of the questions that have been raised and on the recommendations within the report. 00:45:04 Homeless Task Force Co -Chair Jim Atkinson spoke regarding the challenges of a 211 system and his experiences working with nonprofits. 00:48:35 Rod Kuntz clarified recommendations provided in the report. 00:53:30 Mayor Johnson thanked Task Force members for their time on this report. He then asked questions about Point in Time Surveys. Page 1 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 26, 2020 00:54:33 Rod Kuntz responded to questions. 00:55:44 Councilor Graham asked questions of Task Force members and provided discussion. 01:00:22 Mayor Johnson provided discussion. 01:03:37 Councilor Waterman provided discussion. 01:10:17 Councilor Kuntz answered questions. 01:12:17 Councilor Waterman provided further discussion. 01:13:36 Mayor Johnson provided discussion. 01:14:12 Councilor Waterman provided discussion. 01:15:15 Councilor Hunter provided discussion. 01:31:12 Councilor Daoud provided discussion. 01:32:07 Mayor Johnson provided discussion. 01:35:57 Councilor Daoud asked a question and provided discussion. 01:39:25 Councilor Graham provided further discussion. 01:42:57 Councilor Hunter provided further discussion. 01:44:55 Rod Kuntz provided discussion. 01:47:25 Councilor Waterman provided discussion. 01:50:59 Councilor Hunter provided further discussion. 01:51:27 Councilor Nunnally provided discussion. 01:52:14 Councilor Waterman provided further discussion answering a question. 01:53:19Councilor Nunnally provided further discussion. 01:53:31 Councilor Kluesner provided discussion. 01:53:55 Councilor Carlson provided discussion. 01:54:31Jim Atkinson provided discussion. C. PUBLIC COMMENT 01:55:48 Cassidy Kipp, Public Comment Ms. Kipp spoke regarding the history and fiber of the community and the passion within the community. She spoke regarding the Henness licenses saying that they would love to see that expand. She also talked about a data dashboard. She looks forward to more conversations. She spoke regarding self sufficiency training, re -homing individuals, and the housing first model. She spoke to tangible outcomes they can reference. She is interested in collaboration and would ask anyone to join the conversation. Responding to a question from Mayor Johnson she spoke to invitations going out soon regarding point in time surveys. 02:01:24 Nicole, Public Comment Nicole spoke to the need to also be looking at other sub populations of the homeless and widen our scope of discussion. Jamie Quinn, Public Comment Ms. Quinn has fundamental concerns about the report further leading to criminalizing poverty. She feels the report does not represent the nonprofits and shelters in the community. She spoke regarding discussions about Accessory Dwelling Units. She spoke to her experiences in dealing with homeless issues and as a provider saying that all parties must be invested. She spoke further about the Housing First model and looking towards other communities that have had success. 02:07:24 Tonva Horn, Public Comment Ms. Horn, Executive Director of the Flathead Warming Center thanked the Mayors Task Force Page 2 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 26, 2020 though she would like to have seen the task force talk with more service providers and would disagree with some of the findings within the report. She spoke regarding her experiences providing social services to the community for many years. She spoke regarding behavioral disabilities, and mentally ill homeless individuals. She spoke regarding state code that refers to committing the mentally ill to a treatment facility and the lack of ability to do so unless a severe case. She spoke further about this issue. She then spoke regarding the reference made in the report to the need for 40 beds clarifying that is not the number of individuals sleeping outside as many will not shelter at a warming center. She asked whether there are ways for the city to partner with social services. 02:13:06 Barbara Bradford Fenchak, Public Comment Ms. Fenchak, with the Community Kitchen was difficult to hear. The City Clerk requested that she telephone in so she could be heard more clearly. She then talked about the numbers of homeless being much more than 40. She spoke about homeless congregating around the Old Steel Bridge area. She would like to see one place for people to go for referral to help. She spoke regarding the large percentage of homeless that would not register as homeless. 02:19:45 Jane Emmert, Public Comment Ms. Emmert the Director of the non-profit Assist, an affiliation of Kalispell Regional Hospital said they take referrals from the medical community and help them connect with resources in the community. One of their biggest concerns is the housing insecurity and the lack of affordable housing. Even with subsidized housing they cannot find programs easily for the needy in the community. She appreciates that the city is looking into this issue, but she said there are far more than 40 individuals and affordable housing has to be part of the answer. She talked about the inability for many of the homeless individuals to be able to provide the type of information that is required by assistance applications. The nonprofits are working together and communicating a lot. Assist does have a complex website showing community resources. 02:23:56 Christopher Kraemer, Public Comment Mr. Kraiger with the Samaritan House talked about his experiences serving 65 homeless on their campus every night, and the housing they also offer. He spoke for the need for more cheap housing options for this population and how effective that is. He spoke regarding the high success rate they experience when they are able to offer transitional housing. He is excited about the conversation regarding homelessness in the community. He feels the report is partial and would like to see representation in this conversation of people working with the homeless population. He spoke regarding 12 additional beds ready at the former Armory Facility and the need for approval from the city for these. 02:28:45 Public Comment Closed Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Johnson closed public comment. 02:28:53 Mayor Johnson thanked the Task Force members for their summary. He provided discussion about how he would like to move forward with this conversation in the future. D. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS 02:30:41 Councilor Waterman spoke regarding the Point in Contact count coming at the beginning of the year. He spoke regarding the Warming Center coming before the Council at the next meeting. He looks forward to further action by the council on this issue. Page 3 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 26, 2020 02:32:10 Councilor Hunter provided discussion on this report. He then requested an emergency work session to discuss possible COVID-19 restrictions from the city. 02:33:53 Councilor Nunnally asked about actions related to the City -County Health Board. 01:23:11 PM (02:34:49) Mayor Johnson spoke to Councilor Hunter's request and asked for clarification from the City Attorney. 02:36:24 City Attorney Charles Harball spoke to the difficulties that would be inherent in the city declaring COVID related restrictions and related prosecution evidence and enforcement. 02:38:35 Councilor Graham provided his thoughts about an emergency work session. 02:40:44 Councilor Hunter spoke regarding lack of enforcement of the mask mandate by the County and the need for the City to move forward with enforcement. 02:42:32 Mayor Johnson spoke further about the work session request and the requirements that are currently in place. He spoke to continuing COVID education. 02:45:44 Councilor Kluesner spoke regarding news coverage of this issue and the need for more information and more public service announcements. 02:49:06 Councilor Daoud spoke regarding the issues with governmental COVID restrictions and the related court cases. 02:52:28 City Manager Russell spoke to the stated desires of the Council during this discussion not to move forward with an emergency work session. 02:53:25 Mayor Johnson reminded the public that there is a mask mandate and asked the public to wear masks, socially distance, not have events over 50 people, and other recommendations from the Health officials. E. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 9:54 p.m. pORgi�%!! 'Ai e Brunckhorst, CMC 1892 ON-T PAP `tip City Clerk UPCOMING SCHEDULE 1 FOR YOUR INFORMATION Next Regular Meeting — November 2, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Page 4 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 26, 2020 Next Work Session — November 9, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Page 5 of 5