E1. 05-23-22 Work Session Minutes-000 CITY COUNCIL
KMy OF WORK SESSION MINUTES
ALISPELL May 23, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers, 201 First Avenue East
The public was able to person in the council chambers or via videoconferencing.
Public comment was also available via email to publiccomment(cr�,kalispell. com.
Video of this meeting with time stamped minutes can be found at:
https://www.kalispell.com/480/Meetin2-Videos.
A. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Present
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Present
Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Present
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Present
Council Member - Jed Fisher: Present
Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present
Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Absent
Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Present
Staff present in Council Chambers included City Manager Doug Russell, City Clerk Aimee
Brunckhorst, Police Chief Doug Overman, Fire Chief Dan Pearce, IT Director Erika Billiet,
Finance Director Rick Wills, and Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher.
B. DISCUSSION
1. Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget Review
City Manager Russell began the staff presentation.
a. Police Department
City Manager Russell explained this year's budget is similar to last year's budget.
00:05:18 Police Chief Doug Overman spoke to the staffing needs study that is truly needed. He
then spoke regarding a venting system needed for the BEAR vehicle that is stored in the Fire
Department Bay.
07:04:45 PM (00:07:07) Councilor Nunnally asked questions about the staffing needs study that
is planned with the proposed budget.
07:05:24 PM (00:07:47) Police Chief Overman explained a training line item that will be paid
for from Asset Forfeiture Funds.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 23, 2022
00:08:08 Councilor Daoud asked about contract services confirming that the staffing needs study
is within that item.
00:08:34 Special Revenue Funds within Police
00:09:45 Councilor Daoud asked about the status of the Asset Forfeiture Funds mentioned.
00:10:43 Councilor Fisher asked about the status of an evidence storage facility.
00:12:18 Councilor Daoud asked about the status of the Police and Fire Impact Fee Study.
b. Fire / Emergency Medical Services
00:13:17 City Manager Russell explained we are looking at several proposed apparatus
replacements — an ambulance and fire engine.
00:14:11 Fire Chief Dan Pearce explained we currently have two engines and a ladder truck. One
of the engines is a 2001 American LaFrance and new parts are no longer available. It currently
takes two years to get a pumper once ordered. Ambulance chassis production is also two years
out. Hydraulic rescue tools are also outdated and will be replaced with a much safer style. They
are also planning to replace a 2006 ambulance that has high mileage, and a lengthy service
history. They have also budgeted for two defibrillator monitors as well. $47,250 is proposed to
fund a study for the Fire Department. Station 62 has heat tubing that has come up, so the
concrete patio needs replaced.
00:18:13 Councilor Nunnally asked about the in -ground heating within the concrete patio.
00:18:42 Councilor Daoud asked about the location of the fire truck and ambulance within the
budget.
07:17:37 PM (00:20:00) Ambulance
Fire Chief Dan Pearce talked about the increased costs expected for the majority of the supplies
that Fire/EMS utilizes.
Mayor Johnson asked for information regarding reimbursement issues.
00:21:54 Fire Chief Dan Pearce explained that 86% of payers are utilizing Medicare/Medicaid
and we only receive a small portion of what is billed. In addition, a 2% reduction adjustment is
coming this year from Medicare/Medicaid. Lack of adequate reimbursement is a huge problem
across the Nation.
Mayor, Council, and staff discussed the issues related to highly reduced ambulance payments
from Medicare/Medicaid.
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07:28:52 PM (00:31:14) Fire Chief Dan Pearce explained that the City of Columbia Falls was the
author of an AFG Grant for Flathead County to be able to replace hundreds of radios within the
county. The grant should have been awarded already, but we have not received word on that yet.
00:33:47 Hazmat Grant
Fire Chief Dan Pearce explained that the former hazmat grant, is now a sustainment fund of
$40,000, which has been enough to keep up on hazmat equipment replacements. The city
submits a bill to the state and then we are reimbursed.
Mayor, Council, and staff discussed changes to the hazmat grant and the way that hazmat
responses and reimbursements are handled. Chief Pearce explained a recent hazmat response.
c. Parks and Recreation
00:41:14 General Fund — City Facilities Maintenance
00:41:29 Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher explained that Fire Station 62 will need to
have 4 furnaces replaced that have failed, and we cannot get parts. At Fire Station 61, the
concrete apron has cracked and settled, and replacement is a rollover from this year's budget.
They are also planning an asphalt preservation adjacent to city hall.
00:42:44 Councilor Nunnally asked about the asphalt pads.
00:43:59 Special Revenue Funds — Parks and Recreation
00:45:00 Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher explained that the seasonal line item has
been reduced due to a reduction in available recruits for seasonal staff. He then spoke regarding
several specific parks that have repairs scheduled or have automation components budgeted to
create efficiencies for staff. Director Fincher spoke regarding money rolling over from last year
to hire a consultant for trail design along Hwy 93. They will need to advertise the request for
proposals again. Director Fincher also explained that a Parks Master Plan has been included in
the proposed budget. Director Fincher also explained why the department is in need of an
additional tractor.
00:48:45 Athletic Complex — KidsSports Facility
Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher explained that fortunately many seasonals at the
KYAC facility have returned. Biggest increases are within contracted services. The soccer
parking lot failure on the east side needs to be stabilized with several feet of asphalt added. In
addition, the north parking lot still needs striped. Director Fincher explained why the existing
truck needs replaced and the need for a zero -turn mower for the small pocket parks.
00:52:53 Recreation
Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher explained the small increases within the recreation
budget are due to increased numbers in our programs.
00:53:47 Youth Camps
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Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher explained they are seeing very little change from the
last budget. He said he is feeling fortunate they have enough staff to cover camps this year.
00:56:25 Councilor Fisher asked about staffing requirements.
00:57:34 Councilor Carlson asked whether seasonal staff receive health insurance.
00:58:50 Aquatics — Woodland Water Park
Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher explained the wage matrix for seasonal workers and
how that affects the personnel budget. He then explained they are seeing a 15-20% increase in
costs for many of the products needed for the pool. He then spoke regarding a grant awarded but
not yet received. He explained that they would like to make the improvements that will be paid
for with the grant after the pool closes for the year.
01:02:50 Parkline Trail
Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher explained they have budgeted for mowers for the
length of the trail.
Councilor Fisher asked about equipment possibilities along the trail.
01:05:29 Councilor Hunter spoke regarding the now operational trail crossings.
01:06:14 Forestry
Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher explained a proposed capital purchase for the year is
a one -ton dump truck to replace a failing truck, and an air compressor for the air spade allowing
more utility work around trees, etc.
01:09:00 Councilor Hunter asked about ongoing pruning efforts and how it affects the fund
balance within the assessment. He then asked about the funding of trees and the mapping of trees
within the community. He would like to see funding for trees beyond the 50150 tree cost sharing
program.
01:17:11 Parks -in -Lieu
Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher explained receipting in parks -in -lieu funds and how
they would like to replace the Lion's Park playground equipment but are also working on some
grants to expand the equipment. Other parks -in -lieu funds will be used for improvements at the
sports complex — potentially to build a shop to serve the north end of our parks system.
Councilor Fisher stated that the City of Kalispell needs a gymnasium.
d. Information Technology
01:20:02 City Manager Russell began the presentation explaining that IT is an internal service
fund.
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01:20:34 Information Technology Director Erika Billiet explained the number of computers and
servers that will be replaced. She explained why the maintenance contracts line item has an
increase as an add -on will be installed for the help desk system and client management system.
She explained this further. She spoke regarding changes to the Electronic Plan Review project
that involves multiple departments which will allow the public to upload plans onto our servers.
She explained network protection projects, the planned replacement of switches, and back-up,
and recovery systems to be replaced. Director Billiet said the Council chambers AV redesign
will continue into the next fiscal year.
01:25:08 Councilor Nunnally asked about timing for the phone system roll -out.
01:25:33 Councilor Daoud asked about machine deployment.
01:27:08 Director Billiet explained that annual renewal increases across departments have been
substantial.
01:27:40 Councilor Daoud asked about storage space and retention of large videos for things like
bodycams.
01:29:37 City Manager Russell asked what Council would like to see when we bring back the
final budget.
01:30:35 Mayor, Council, and staff discussed mill levies versus the reserve balance.
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Johnson opened public comment.
01:38:11 Tonva Horn, Public Comment
Ms. Horn with the Flathead Warming Center provided an update on the Warming Center
saying it is now closed for the year and then stating related statistics and services. One of
the statistics she related included seeing 349 guests compared to 207 the year prior.
Statistics also related to mental health, the demographics of guests, and the number of
showers and loads of clothes washed. She spoke to the reasons why individuals have a
need for the Warming Center and the wrap around care they have attempted to provide
onsite. Ms. Horn spoke regarding the problems with mental illness, addiction, and
homelessness. She spoke regarding reserving several beds for first responder referrals.
She spoke in favor of supportive housing. She spoke regarding a Gala Fundraising Event
for the Warming Center that will be held on September 23rd at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Johnson closed public comment.
D. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS
City Manager Russell explained there will not be a meeting next week as it is a fifth Monday.
The next work session will likely be regarding the parking structure. The June 27, work session
will include discussion on the design standards.
01:50:24 Councilor Daoud said he appreciated the report from the Warming Center.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 23, 2022
Councilor Daoud spoke to concerns related to cameras operated by governmental entities such as
the Montana Department of Transportation. He requested a work session related to guidelines
and notification for camera use within the City of Kalispell.
Council spoke to Councilor Daoud's request for a work session.
01:59:30 Mayor Johnson spoke to the recent trip he and other delegates made to Washington
D.C. to advocate for the Grant needed for Reserve Drive. Mayor Johnson also announced the
Food Bank's anniversary is coming and to watch about information on that.
02:00:00 Mayor Johnson informed everyone that Former Councilor Wayne Saverud will be
moving to Bozeman.
E. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:58 p.m.
Aimee Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
Minutes approved on, 2022
UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION
City Offices Closed — May 30, 2022 - Memorial Day
Next Regular Meeting — June 6, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Next Work Session — June 13, 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 or later on Charter Cable Channel 190 or online at
htt2s://www.kalispell.com/480/Meeting-Videos.
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