08-09-21 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL
KCITY°F WORK SESSION MINUTES
ALISPELL August 9, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers, 201 First Avenue East
The public was able to participate in person in the council chambers or via videoconferencing.
Public comment was also available via email to publiccomment@kalispell.com.
Video of this meeting with time stamped minutes can be found at:
https://www.kalispell.com/480/Meeting-Videos.
A. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Present
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Present via video conference
Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Present
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Present
Council Member - Kyle Waterman: Absent
Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present
Council Member - Tim Kluesner: Absent
Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Present via video conference
Staff present included Public Works Director Susie Turner, City Attorney Charlie Harball, City
Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, GIS Specialists Angie Thomas and Jason Singleton, and Information
Technology Director Erika Billiet.
B. DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. City Uses and Benefits of Geographic information Systems and the Drone Program
Public Works Director Susie Turner provided an overview of tonight's presentation.
00:04:17 GIS Specialist Angie Thomas presented regarding the meaning and uses of Geographic
Information Systems. She explained the ARCGIS Enterprise solution that the city uses to provide
GIS services across city departments and uses. She provided an example of how city field
workers would use the system in the field and the efficiencies achieved. She spoke regarding the
Public GIS Hub which houses all city maps and apps in one place. She demonstrated several of
the available maps and how those maps can be utilized. She summarized by saying they are
working towards further integrations and uses.
00:14:57 Councilor Nunnally asked about County data integration.
00:15:34 GIS Specialist Jason Singleton continued with the presentation discussing GIS and
providing examples. He began showing the Planning Department — GIS webmap and the
information that can be accessed through the various GIS layers and the widgets that can be
turned on and off. He then showed the Building Department dashboard, and then the drone
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, August 9, 2021
imagery web map for the Community Development Department. He also provided an example of
the crime data that can be shown on the Police Department web map. He explained how, after
training, department staff are able to update the data themselves. He explained the Parks and
Recreation Department may pursue using GIS parks inventory data in the future. Mr. Singleton
explained that the software is very flexible and interactive.
00:23:58 Councilor Graham spoke to the increase in productivity these applications have created.
00:25:36 Public Works Director Turner provided perspective related to the time savings being
achieved.
00:27:04 Councilor Daoud explained he would like to hear more about how the Police will be
using the drone.
00:28:06 Jason Singleton spoke regarding drone applications such as mapping, 3D modeling,
volume calculations and project media. He began by showing a comparison between drone
imagery and google earth. He then provided an example of how staff, the public, and contractors
in the field can benefit from this imagery. He showed drone deploy software that he utilizes that
allows him autonomous flight planning.
00:34:21 Specialist Jason Singleton showed an example of drone 3D modeling that was used for
the Glacier Rail Park that can be shared through an email link and does not require software for
external users.
00:35:41 Specialist Singleton showed an example of using drone volume calculations.
00:36:52 Specialist Singleton showed how the drone is being used for project media in both
videos and photos.
00:37:52 Specialist Singleton then spoke regarding Federal Aviation Administration laws and
regulations and how those apply. He explained he takes an exam every two years to keep his
license. He explained drone registration and operator registration.
00:41:39 Specialist Singleton spoke regarding class of airspace and how that applies and then
spoke regarding adding more users and applications across all departments as the future route for
the city.
00:44:52 Councilor Daoud spoke to the professional nature of the presentation.
00:45:33 Councilor Daoud asked about safeguards related to personal property privacy.
Staff provided information related to privacy.
00:48:51 Councilor Daoud provided a scenario related to privacy questions and whether Council
feels policy should be developed regarding how images can be used.
00:51:44 Councilor Graham provided discussion related to the privacy question.
Director Turner spoke to the responsibilities of staff.
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00:52:42 Council discussed further scenarios and policy possibilities related to drone imagery
and privacy.
Councilor Daoud spoke regarding the possibility of noticing drone flights.
Council continued discussion regarding transparency.
Councilor Daoud spoke regarding informing the public about future drone use by the Police
Department once that policy is developed.
Council continued discussion regarding privacy, transparency, and accountability.
01:06:08 Councilor Daoud asked about rules related to drone coverage of open-air assemblies.
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Johnson opened public comment. Seeing none, he closed public comment.
D. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS
01:09:52 Interim City Manager Susie Turner said that next week has a full agenda with the
budget resolutions and a public hearing for the Transportation Plan as well as a final plat.
01:10:18 Councilor Nunnally spoke regarding the Gallatin County Fair. He then spoke regarding
a donation provided to the Sheriff's Posse.
01:11:10 Councilor Daoud thanked staff for the presentation.
E. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m.
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Next Regular Meeting — August 16, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Next Work Session — August 23, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Watch City Council sessions live on Charter Cable Channel 190 or online at the Meetings on
Demand tab at www.kalispell.com.
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