E1. 03-14-22 Work Session Minutes
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CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT WORK SESSION MINUTES
March 14, 2022, 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 or
provide public comment 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 called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Present
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Absent
Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Absent
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Present
Council Member - Jed Fisher: Present
Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present
Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Present
Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Present
Staff present in Council Chambers included City Manager Doug Russell, City Attorney Johnna
Preble, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, and Development Services Director Jarod Nygren.
B. DISCUSSION
1. Housing Resources
Mayor Mark Johnson began the discussion on this item stating why he asked for this work
session. He then spoke regarding the history of housing issues in the valley.
City Manager Doug Russell continued the discussion explaining why he invited representatives
from the State to the work session. He spoke regarding the resources that municipal governments
in Montana have available to them and the shifts that have happened over time to these
resources. He discussed programs and resources that he has had experience with during his
career in municipal government. He then talked about the feasibility of the city starting a
Housing Authority and talked about the process that would need to be followed and the
challenges. He then spoke regarding other possible initiatives that the Council could consider.
07:21:46 PM (00:23:43) Ron Catlett, Regional Director for Montana Senator Steve Daines
Mr. Catlett provided information about Federal programs that may be available. He began with
funding avenues that have come through the State from the Federal level related to the COVID-
19 Pandemic. He spoke regarding the current situation within the valley.
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07:26:51 PM (00:28:47) Smith Works, with Senator Jon Tester’s Office
Ms. Works spoke regarding money available for programs like rental assistance. She spoke
regarding possible programs to look into such as the Community Land Trust HUD program,
Community Block Grants and other possible resources and affirmed that State representatives
would like to help in any manner they can.
07:29:00 PM (00:30:57) Councilor Graham asked how housing tax credits affect a developer’s
project.
00:32:16 Cassidy Kipp with Community Action Partnerships of Northwest Montana
Ms. Kipp answered questions from Councilor Graham about how low-income tax credits get
applied, and details regarding how the process works. She spoke regarding the seven deed
restricted housing complexes that CAPNM owns or manages and other resources that CAPNM
utilizes and the challenges they see. She spoke further about the history of CAPNM, and the
properties they have acquired.
00:43:58 Councilor Daoud asked about possible competition between the city and housing non-
profits if the city were to start a housing authority.
City Manager Russell responded to Councilor Daoud’s queries.
00:46:04 Councilor Daoud provided discussion.
00:47:16 Development Services Jarod Nygren provided information about the projects within the
city that were awarded housing tax credits over the past six or so years.
00:48:34 Councilor Nunnally asked questions.
City Manager Russell responded to Councilor Nunnally’s questions.
00:51:06 Councilor Nunnally provided discussion.
00:51:43 Councilor Hunter provided discussion.
00:53:40 City Manager Russell responded to a question from Councilor Hunter.
00:55:49 Councilor Hunter continued discussion and spoke regarding ideas he has on this
subject.
01:06:22 Councilor Daoud continued discussion.
01:08:47 Councilor Graham asked questions related to approved versus completed subdivisions.
01:10:13 Development Services Director answered Councilor Graham’s query.
01:11:27 Councilor Graham continued discussion.
Development Services Director answered Councilor Graham’s query and provided discussion.
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Councilor Graham continued discussion.
01:14:55 Councilor Daoud continued discussion.
01:15:16 City Manager Russell provided discussion.
01:17:53 Councilor Hunter provided further discussion.
01:21:57 City Manager Russell provided further discussion.
01:23:00 Development Services Director provided information.
Councilor Hunter continued discussion.
01:23:55 Councilor Nunnally asked Frank Garner for information.
01:24:18 Frank Garner, Montana House of Representatives, District 7
Mr. Garner spoke regarding how the state tends to look at these issues. He spoke regarding the
questions around Revolving Fund Money, and the expansion of the definition of land trust. He
then spoke regarding underlying pressures such as inflationary factors, the lack of workforce,
and a lack of necessary materials for building. He mentioned the challenges that housing non-
profits such as CAPNM are seeing. He spoke regarding the limits of the state to react to current
inflationary factors explaining why he feels these types of issues are better handled at a local
level.
01:32:54 Councilor Nunnally provided further discussion.
01:34:04 Councilor Dahlman asked questions.
01:35:16 Councilor Fisher asked questions.
01:35:42 Councilor Hunter continued discussion.
01:37:25 Councilor Graham asked questions.
01:37:49 City Manager Russell answered questions from Councilor Graham as to what a city
housing authority would look like.
01:40:29 Councilor Graham continued questions.
01:41:06 Mayor Johnson continued discussion.
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Johnson opened public comment.
08:47:29 PM (01:49:25) Chris Hall, Public Comment
Mr. Hall of 115 West Evergreen Drive spoke regarding his views related to the housing
issue.
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Chance Barrett, Public Comment
Mr. Barrett, Chairperson from the CAPNM Board of Directors thanked everyone for
having this conversation. He spoke regarding the role of CAPNM and the willingness to
work together with the city towards additional solutions. He then spoke regarding the
need for the state and federal government to loosen restrictions related to funding sources
to allow more flexibility.
08:56:53 PM (01:58:49) Jen Prunty, Public Comment
Ms. Prunty of 137 Sweet Grass Road and founder of the nonprofit My Glacier Village,
where seniors help seniors age in place. She would ask Council as they look at plans to
include ways to make development senior friendly.
Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Johnson closed public comment.
D. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS
City Manager Doug Russell asked about Councilor absences planned for the next meeting.
A buy-sell and a sub-development agreement will be coming before Council soon (related to the
Charles Hotel/garage project.
Mr. Russell explained staff are working with the Montana Department of Transportation on a
RAISE grant (for work on Reserve Drive). A related resolution will come back to Council for
that grant. A Washington D.C. trip will likely be arranged for this spring to support that grant
effort.
09:03:09 PM (02:05:06) Councilor Daoud spoke regarding the actual low number of vacation
rentals in Kalispell and then talked about the historical high use of boarding houses. He then said
he would like to take a deeper look into the idea of inclusive communities that was brought up in
an earlier conversation with the Warming Center. Councilor Daoud then brought up past public
comment related to the stress the school districts are feeling related to growth and spoke as a fan
of Education Savings Accounts.
E. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 9:06 p.m.
_______________________________________
Aimee Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
Minutes approved on , 2022
Kalispell City Council Minutes, March 14, 2022
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Next Regular Meeting – March 21, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. – Council Chambers
Next Work Session – March 28, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. – Council Chambers
To provide public comment live, remotely, please register for the video conference through
zoom and use the raise hand feature to indicate you would like to provide public comment. See
the top of the agenda for the zoom link.
Watch City Council sessions live on Charter Cable Channel 190 or online at the
https://www.kalispell.com/480/Meeting-Videos.