02/20/01 City Council Minutes1733
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A REGULAR MEETING OF THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD AT 7:00
P.M. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2001, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY
HALL IN KALISPELL, MONTANA.'MAYOR WILLIAM E. BOHARSKI PRESIDED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS JIM ATKINSON, DALE HAARR, RANDY KENYON, DUANE
LARSON, FRED LEISTIKO, DOUG SC F, RON VAN NATTA AND CITY MANAGER
CHRIS KUKULSKI AND CITY ATTORNEY GLEN NEIER WERE PRESENT. COUNCIL
MEMBER DON COUNSELL WAS ABSENT.
Mayor Boharski called the meeti
Allegiance.
Boharski thanked everyone for
while he was in the hospital
over.
AGENDA APPROVAL
Haarr moved approval of the
Scarff.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL
1. Council Minutes - Regular
2.
to order and led the Pledge of
sir cards, letters and prayers
also thanked Larson for taking
. The motion was seconded by
on vote.
eting February 5, 2001
Approval of Claims per Pay4bles Register - $625,308.22
Scarff moved approval of the
seconded by Van Natta.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously
HEAR THE PUBLIC
Pamela Kennedy, 1036 6th Avenue
Prevention Council, asked Neier
for Assistant City Attorney Ri
with knowledge of domestic viol(
attend a domestic violence semi
1st.
David Brown, 1925 Belmar, said
educate the community to a highe
and plans to disseminate inf
manufactured food has injured ou
r�raL1�. nri1iC11Vli - 7rmg-.LAL .L1 rAuy
This is the time Council has s
proposed Special Improvement D
Sunnyview Lane and the extensio
Kukulski explained the City has I
SID to become a financial partne
the portion that doesn't involv
expressed a willingness to work
guarantees. Kukulski suggested t
time and then continue the publi
give all parties more time to di
Consent Agenda. The motion was
vote.
est, member of the Family Violence
hen he's considering a replacement
hard Hickel, he hire an attorney
ice. She also invited everyone to
ar at North Valley Hospital March
Lis chief ambition in life is to
level of nutritional discernment
rmation in the future on how
health, mentally and physically.
.eduled to receive comments on a
trict for major improvements to
of Heritage Way.
een asked by those involved in the
in the reconstruction project on
Kalispell Regional Hospital. He
with them, but hasn't given any
ie Council accept comments at this
hearing to March 5th in order to
scuss the issue.
Kalispell City Council Minutes
February 20, 2001
1734
Boharski opened the public hearing and asked for comments from
proponents and opponents.
Bonnie Tally, Windward Place Director, stated she was only told a
week ago that a $26,000 assessment would be placed on Windward
Place if the SID is approved. She said the, assisted living facility
has been in existence since 1993 and would not benefit in any way
from the road improvements. Talley said the SID amounts to nothing
more than taxation without representation.
Van Kirke Nelson, M.D., Medical Arts Building, 210 Sunnyview Lane,
said Medical Arts will not benefit from the SID either. He said
initially, the hospital was going to make the improvements at its
cost, but somewhere along the line more improvements were added and
the City developed the idea of an SID. He said Medical Arts is
willing to help, but it shouldn't have to provide the entire bulk
of the funds.
Boharski adjourned the public hearing until March 5, 2001.
MOUNTAIN VIEW PLAZA DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL
Crosswell Development LLC and Pack and Company are proposing a
commercial development at the southeast corner of Highway 93 and
West Reserve Drive. A former development agreement signed for the
property included a site for a coliseum, or what has been referred
to as the "ValleyDome."
Kukulski explained Crosswell Development and Pack and Company are
now proposing a new Planned Unit Development which eliminates the
coliseum and establishes a 59-acre retail development. He said the
benefit to the City would be approximately $100,000 in taxes
annually. He stated thirty-one conditions for the project have been
agreed upon by the City and the developers. Kukulski said Council
members are being asked to approve the conditions and direct the
staff to write a development agreement.
Public Comment
Cheryl Watkins, Bookworks, Whitefish, asked how many small
businesses will be put out of business for the City to get $100, 000
in taxes. She said the City needs to do some research to see how
these stores will affect the small businesses prior to approving
the agreement. Watkins criticized the Council on its public
participation procedure, adding that a lot of the business owners
wouldn't come to the meeting because they feel this is already a
"done deal".
Bill Schottelkorb, Western Ace Building Center Manager, commented
that it's well documented that Home Depot "destroys" a lot of long
term businesses with long term employees. He said Home Depot,
after the initial "hoopla" ends up with a lot of part-time
employees with no benefits. Schottlekorb commented he doesn't feel
the valley has the economy or population to support five or six
more box stores.
Doug Shanks, Western Building Center employee, said Home Depot
needs thirty to forty million dollars in retail sales to be
successful in an area. He said Home Depot will not expand the
economy, it will simply transfer the money from one business to
another.
Kalispell City Council Minutes
February 20, 2001
Page 2 of 4
1735
Mayre Flowers, Citizens for a Better Flathead, recommended the
Council look at its public .participation procedure and allow public
comment at the work sessions, p for to the Council meetings. She
agreed that an economic impact study should have been done and
would like the Council to set aside funds for documenting how this
development impacts the community.
Boharski commented the decisions made prior to this meeting have
been of a technical nature and it's not fair to state that this is
"done deal." He said the policy decisions are yet to be made.
Leistiko moved Council approve the thirty one conditions for the
Mountain View Plaza project and direct staff to prepare the Planned
Unit Development agreement. The motion was seconded by Atkinson.
There was discussion.
Leistiko said long hours have been put into this project, and the
attached conditions, and he believes the Council is doing the right
thing. He said there will be competition for some businesses but
the City needs to move forward and execute the final agreement.
Atkinson commented the Council doesn't have the ability to tell a
developer there are enough businesses here already. He said they
will be built in the County or the City, and it's the Council's
responsibility to see that the community benefits by them being in
the City. Atkinson said City residents haven't seen any benefits
from Shopko, WalMart, Costco etc.
Kenyon said he has to agree that there has been an "appearance" of
a lack of public participation and that an economic impact study
should have been done. He said looking forward, however, a master
plan is being developed and he feels it's very important that it
reflect the needs of the community.
Van Natta said this hasn't been any easy decision but he feels the
project will provide more good than bad. He said the PUD will allow
for a nicely landscaped development rather than just box stores
with a few trees. Van Natta added that as far as the impact to
local businesses, an impact would occur whether the development
occurs in the City or the County.
Haarr stated he sympathizes with the small businesses, being a
former small business owner himself, but this is a free enterprise
system. He commented the biggest losers will be the local
organizations that collect money for different projects that the
small businesses always find the money to support. Haarr said he
understands all of the concerns, but he will support the motion
only because if doesn't go here, it will end up outside the City.
Larson commented he would have no trouble turning the project down
if there was a guarantee the stores wouldn't be built just north of
the cemetery or in Evergreen.
Boharski said the Council doesn't have the authority to turn down
a proposal based on competition with other businesses.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
Kalispell City Council Minutes
February 20, 2001
Page 3 of 4
1736
RESOLUTION 4600 - RESOLUTION ACCEPTING ADDITIONAL GRANT MONIES FOR
THE PURPOSE OF TRAINING STREAM EMPLOYEES
The Community Development Block Grant Economic Development staff
has awarded an additional $50,000 to the City to be used for
employee training at Stream International.
Kukulski explained a total of $450, 000 in CDBG Economic Development
funds will now be available to assist Stream in their employee
training efforts. He said the City and County are now within
$50,000 of providing the originally negotiated $4,000,000 incentive
package.
Larson moved Resolution 4600, a resolution authorizing acceptance
of additional Montana Department of Commerce Community Development
Block Grant funds to provide employee training for Stream
International Services. The motion was seconded by Atkinson.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
RESOLUTION 4601 - RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
GRANT APPLICATION
This resolution authorizes the City to apply for a Federal Economic
Development Administration Grant in an amount up to $760,000 to
help with extending water and sewer services to School Section 36
and the Reserve Drive area.
Van Natta moved Resolution 4601, a resolution authorizing a pre -
application to the Montana Department of Commerce for financial
assistance from the Economic Development Administration. The motion
was seconded by Atkinson.
There was discussion..
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
MAYOR/COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Kukulski said a work session on the Facilities Plan, scheduled for
tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m., is moved to 6:00 p.m. due to a MEPA
meeting on the School Section 36 property starting at 7:00 p.m. at
Fish, wildlife and Parks.
Kukulski invited the Council and the public to an open house for
the Fire Chief candidates on Sunday, February 25th, at the Buffalo
Hills Golf Course starting at 3:00 p.m.
Kukulski informed everyone that AT&T Cablevision is now televising
the Planning Board meetings the first Tuesday of every month.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Wm. E. Boharski
Mayor
ATTEST:
Theresa White
City Clerk
Approved March 5, 2001
Kalispell City Council Minutes
February 20, 2001
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