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E1. 09-19-22 Council MinutesCITY ,� KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Sept. 19,2022, 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. Public comment was also available via email to publiccomment(c�r�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 Mark Johnson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. B. ROLL CALL 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: Present Council Member - Rvan Hunter: Present Staff present in Council Chambers included Development Services Director Jarod Nygren, City Attorney Johnna Preble, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, Public Works Director Susie Turner, and Police Chief Doug Overman. C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE D. AGENDA APPROVAL Motion and Vote to approve the agenda. Council Member - Sid Daoud: Motion Council Member - Sam Nunnally. Mayor - Mark Johnson: Approve Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Approve Council Chair - Chad Graham: Approve Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve Page 1 of 8 Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 19, 2022 Council Member - Sid Daoud: Approve Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Approve Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Approve The motion passed unanimously on voice vote. E. CONSENT AGENDA All items listed on the consent agenda will be accepted by one motion. If a council member desires to discuss an item separately, the item can be removed from the consent agenda by motion. Council Minutes — September 6, 2022 1&a 2. Approve Bid Award for Side Loader Solid Waste Trucks &a This item considers purchasing two side loader solid waste trucks from SWS Equipment in the amount of $914,356. 3. Approve Bid Award for Leaf Vacuum Trailer iga This item considers purchasing a leaf vacuum trailer from Normont Equipment in the amount of $115,815. 4. Approve Bid Award for Two Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles This item considers purchasing two Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles from Duval Ford in the amount of $99,117.76. Public Comment Mayor Johnson opened public comment. Seeing none, he closed public comment. Motion and Vote to approve the consent agenda as submitted. Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Motion Council Member - Sandv Carlson: 2nd Mayor - Mark Johnson: Approve Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Approve Council Chair - Chad Graham: Approve Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve Council Member - Sid Daoud: Approve Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Approve Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Approve The motion passed unanimously on voice vote. F. COMMITTEE REPORTS — None. G. PUBLIC HEARING - Downtown & West Side Urban Renewal Amendment Council will accept public comment on proposed amendments to the Downtown Plan and the West Side Urban Renewal -Core Area plan to include the creation of workforce housing for individuals and families with household income of 80% to 120% of area Page 2 of 8 Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 19, 2022 median income. 00:04:16 Cassidy Kipp, Public Comment Ms. Kipp with Community Action Partnership of NW Montana (CAPNM) provided an overview of their services, then referred to the public comment she had submitted previously in written format. She first spoke regarding her thoughts on the request for proposals process. Then she spoke about previous housing studies done and the need for housing studies to receive federal grant funding and how a study may also help in determining whether an 80-120% adjusted median income or something different would be more appropriate. She spoke to their experiences within the community as it relates to housing, wages, and how to determine who to target with this initiative. She spoke regarding having an intentional, targeted plan to deal with workforce housing. She reported the underutilization of rental assistance because the rental units are priced too high or do not meet standards. She asked that if rental assistance is pursued, the State of Montana's Board of Housing qualified allocation plan be used and spoke regarding compliance issues. Ms. Kipp talked about feeling like this process seems to be favoring one development. She mentioned the work session scheduled with CAPNM staff and council on October 10, 2022. 00:18:47 Walter Roundtree, Public Comment Mr. Roundtree on 5th Avenue East spoke regarding the lack of economic distribution within the community, reading a statement into the record. The feels government's role is to inject a small market signal to encourage movement within the private sector. He suggested changes to the way impact fees are handled that would be adjusted every few years. 00:21:41 Elizabeth Langley, Public Comment Ms. Langley, a case manager with the non-profit, The Heart Locker, provided an update on the program, and spoke about the families they are dealing with. She would like to see working families that they provide services for within the community be able to qualify for workforce housing. She also provided her personal story about the lack of housing available for her grown children. 00:24:51 Kim Morasaki, Public Comment Ms. Morasaki, Director for the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust, and a board member with Samaritan House provided an overview of the NW MT Land Trust and the clients they serve, providing specific examples of client situations and where they fall related to adjusted median income. She spoke regarding the most recent home purchases through the program and their housing and workforce stories. She spoke to the difficulties of going after federal funds without a county wide assessment. 00:31:45 Stuart Smith, Public Comment Mr. Smith of 160 3rd Ave WN asked about the details of tax increment financing and the notice letter that was sent out. He does not feel his neighborhood should be considered blighted and is worried about possible eminent domain takings. He also has concerns about apartment buildings. 00:35:10 Keazan Stephen Lawler, Public Comment Mr. Lawler, the affordable housing program coordinator with Community Land Trust spoke to the idea of less restrictive AMI limits and less land use restrictions to increase the flexibility of funds. Page 3 of 8 Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 19, 2022 00:37:34 Ellie Suda, Public Comment Ms. Suda an employee with the Kalispell Grand Hotel spoke to trying to live on minimum wage and the stress when rental costs go up every year. She also spoke to the struggles her grown children have had trying to find housing in the area. She then spoke in opposition to the parking garage proposal saying she does not feel the proposed height fits in to the historic district and feels the parking garage would make the parking problems within downtown worse. 00:45:29 Erika Wirtala, Public Comment Ms. Wirtala, Public Affairs Director with NW Montana Association of Realtors provided information about median home price in Kalispell. She spoke to not including adjusted median income within the definition of workforce housing or lowering the adjusted median income 00:47:23 Mandy Gerth, Public Comment Ms. Gerth spoke to how difficult and stressful it is to find housing within the community, and to keep it long-term. She relayed her housing story as an example. She spoke in support of a housing assessment to see how to leverage TIF money. She is in support of using TIF money in the city of Kalispell, at a lower threshold and the lack of housing for people that would be at 30% of their incomes. She also spoke in favor of walkable density housing. 00:51:37 Laura Reynolds, Public Comment Ms. Reynolds of 22 5th Ave West referred to the public comment she provided via email. She spoke in favor of using TIFF funding for workforce housing or for parking. She feels an eight - story structure feels inappropriate. She would also like to see workforce housing defined more affordable. 00:53:52 Sharon DeMeester, Public Comment Ms. DeMeester spoke in opposition to the income threshold related to this proposal saying it is not affordable and talking about the incomes of service industry employees. She also spoke in opposition to an eight -story building within the historic downtown. She asked the city to look at building requirements. She also feels growth policy plans are being ignored. She talked about struggles developers are having in getting materials and workers, and to restrictive requirements for contractors. 01:01:03 Betty Dehoop, Public Comment Ms. Dehoop a retired nurse spoke saying the income requirements for workforce housing are too high. She talked about the lack of housing for doctors and nurses and traveling nurses and spoke to the need for a variety of types and sizes of housing. She is opposed to an eight -story building downtown and opposed to having workforce housing downtown. 01:05:32 Jamie Quinn, Public Comment Ms. Quinn, Executive Director of the Flathead Food Bank thanked everyone for being here. She spoke regarding her negative experiences as a renter and the experiences of her clients. She spoke to the council meeting related to the closure of The Outlaw Inn and does not feel the situation has gotten better since. 01:12:08 Noelle Barr, Public Comment Ms. Barr, a co-owner of the Kalispell Grand Hotel spoke to her thoughts that the workforce housing definition is trying to fit the Charles Hotel development proposal. She spoke to the Page 4 of 8 Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 19, 2022 charm of Kalispell and finding different parking options downtown. She spoke regarding a request for email records between the Charles Hotel developer and city planners. She continued with stories about her employees having housing issues. 01:19:06 B. Bradford-Fenchak, Public Comment Ms. Bradford Fenchak spoke regarding the low wages of average service and administration workers and the high cost and lack of housing within the community. She spoke to the experiences of people using the soup kitchen who are working but cannot afford housing. 01:21:35 Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Johnson closed the public hearing. H. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Johnson opened general public comment. 01:21:47 Kyle Waterman, Public Comment Mr. Waterman of Second Street East spoke regarding homelessness and the volunteer work being done through the nonprofit group Collaborative Housing Solutions of Northwest Montana. and gave an update on providing continuum of care services. He reported that the collaborative is working on a new work plan on how to address homelessness locally and have divided into five different working groups. One to look at increasing shelter space, one to talk about coordinated entry and how to make sure individuals in need get into the system, one supporting permanent housing, and working on education and outreach. They are also talking about crisis response and proactive community work. Mr. Waterman encouraged Council to involve themselves in the conversation with Collaborative Housing Solutions. He provided an update regarding the Warming Center, and the Samaritan House. He spoke regarding a community conversation he would encourage everyone to attend on October 6, 2022, to have real conversations about homelessness and what the community can be doing. 01:26:20 Lorraine Clarno, Public Comment Ms. Clarno, Executive Director with the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce spoke regarding issues they have had in the past with teenagers and the current problems they are having with homelessness in the area they lease from the city next to Depot Park. She spoke further about the feelings and reasoning of staff and Chamber visitors who are feeling unsafe. She acknowledged the Kalispell Police staff as responsive and helpful, but very limited in what they can do. She reported that chamber leadership will create a facilities team over the winter to determine whether a location change makes sense. She said they look forward with talking with the Collaborative Housing Solutions group. 01:31:24 Erika Wirtala, Public Comment Ms. Wirtala, President of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Board spoke to the concerns of the Chamber staff related to homeless people around the building and making it a priority that staff and visitors feel safe. 01:33:20 Tonva Horn, Public Comment Ms. Horn, Executive Director of the Flathead Warming Center spoke regarding homeless within the community and the Collaborative Housing Solutions group that has formed to work on the issue of homelessness. She provided statistics related to the clients they have served at the Flathead Warming Center, and updates related to the Center. She talked about the community Page 5 of 8 Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 19, 2022 services that have been happening within the shelter. She spoke to the effective crisis response vision that the Collaborative Housing Solution group is working on and the need for the community to work together. She spoke to the high community cost of homelessness. She asked for Council to hold a work session with community partners related to homelessness. She spoke to a homeless service collaborative and having conversations within the community, beginning Thursday, October 6, at 8:30 a.m. at the Warming Center. 01:41:54 Sean O'Neill, Public Comment Mr. O'Neill, the Chair for Collaborative Housing Solutions of Northwest Montana spoke to what the continuum of care is and how it is a HUD requirement to receive federal dollars. He asked Council to come to their meetings. He provided statistics related to the increase in the homeless population within the area, comparing the numbers to other Montana cities. He also cited the demographics related to the homeless. Public comment received via email to the Mayor and Council at publi ccomment2kali spell. com, can be found at: https://time.ci.kalispell.mt.us/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=128274&dbid=0&repo=Kalispell Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Johnson closed public comment. L REPORTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND SUBSEQUENT COUNCIL ACTION Persons wishing to address the council on individual agenda items are asked to provide public comment via email to publiccomment2kalispell.com or during the meeting verbally in council chambers or via the online meeting. Please provide your name and address for the record. Resolution 6105 - Green Acres Cooperative Public Facilities Grant Sui2ort This item considers authorizing the submission of grant applications on behalf of Green Acres Cooperative, Inc., to the Department of Commerce for infrastructure to connect to city sewer. Qa Development Services Director Jarod Nygren provided the staff presentation on this item. 01:48:12 Motion to approve Resolution 6105, a resolution authorizing the City of Kalispell to serve as host for applications to the Community Development Block grant (CDBG) Public Facilities Grants Program as requested by Nei2hborworks Montana on behalf of Green Acres Cooperative, Inc. for the purpose of funding the design and construction of the required infrastructure to connect to the City of Kalispell sewer utility. 01:49:09 Councilor Hunter provided discussion on the motion. Vote on the motion. Council Member - Sid Daoud: Motion Council Member - Jed Fisher: 2nd Mayor - Mark Johnson: Approve Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnallv: Aimrove Page 6 of 8 Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 19, 2022 Council Chair - Chad Graham: Approve Council Member - Jed Fisher: Abbrove Council Member - Sid Daoud: Approve Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Approve Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Approve The motion was approved unanimouslv on roll call vote. 2. Appointment to the Tourism Business Improvement District 15a This item would consider the appointment of Skyler Rieke to the Tourism Business Improvement District. Motion and Vote to approve the appointment of Skyler Rieke to the Tourism Business Improvement District. Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Motion Council Chair - Chad Graham: 2nd Mayor - Mark Johnson: Approve Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnallv: Abbrove Council Chair - Chad Graham: Approve Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve Council Member - Sid Daoud: Approve Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Approve Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Approve The motion passed unanimouslv on roll call vote. J. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS (No Action) Development Services Director Jarod Nygren reported that a discussion regarding the Charles Hotel project and related parking garage/multi-family project is scheduled for the September 26, 2022, city council work session meeting for potential action on October 3, 2022. The Planning Board held a public hearing on that and unanimously approved that recommendation on to Council. The Urban Renewal Agency will be looking at the Tax Increment Finance Application this week. Director Nygren explained for clarity that the development has not requested TIF funds for workforce housing. The request is the city because it is a public infrastructure project. 01:52:16 Councilor Daoud spoke to his views and understanding related to the public hearing that was provided tonight. He spoke regarding his experiences growing up in poverty and how those experiences inform his decisions. Councilor Daoud then asked about the possibility of going back to a more informal work session format. 01:56:44 Mayor Johnson reported that he was involved in a Safety Roundtable discussion last week with the Governor, the County Sheriff, Police Chief, and service workers related to the increase of drugs and the impact on mental health within the community. He spoke to concerns he heard about marijuana being legalized. He was also surprised to hear that many drugs are imported into the community through the postal system. He spoke regarding the areas he has asked the Governor for help with including funding police officers. He also spoke to the Page 7 of 8 Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 19, 2022 Governor about unfunded mandates. Mayor Johnson also said he will try to make the October 6, meeting with Collaborative Housing Solutions as he would like to engage in that. K. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 9 p.m. Aimee Brunckhorst, CMC City Clerk Minutes approved on, 2022 UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION Next Work Session —September 26, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Next Regular Meeting — October 3, 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 hllps://www.kalispell.com/48O/Meeting-Videos. Page 8 of 8