E1. 09-26-22 Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL
KCITY OF WORK SESSION MINUTES
ALISPELL September 26, 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 publiccommentgkalispell.com.
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: Present
Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Present
Staff present included City Manager Doug Russell, City Attorney Johnna Preble, City Clerk
Aimee Brunckhorst, Development Services Director Jarod Nygren, and Community
Development Manager Katharine King.
B. DISCUSSION
1. Hotel Dev Partners Developers Agreement and Parking Lease Agreement
a
City Manager Doug Russell began the staff presentation.
07:07:46 PM (00:09:44) Development Services Director Jarod Nygren continued the staff
presentation.
00:16:22 City Manager Russell explained next steps for this process.
00:17:17 Councilor Graham referred Council to watch the Planning Board meeting video on this
item. He then asked questions for staff related to how the tax increment would be
operationalized.
00:19:28 Councilor Daoud began questions for staff related to project costs. He then asked
details about parking space numbers.
00:25:26 Councilor Daoud continued questions related to proposed units and questions related to
the conditional use permit.
00:27:58 Councilor Dahlman asked follow up questions for staff.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 26, 2022
00:29:28 Councilor Hunter began questions for staff related to discussion at the recent Urban
Renewal Agency Committee meeting.
00:31:27 Councilor Hunter continued questions related to the design review process.
00:32:41 Councilor Hunter asked questions related to how tax increment would be handled.
00:34:26 Councilor Hunter asked questions related to management of the proposed parking
structure permits and management.
00:39:20 Councilor Dahlman continued questions related to how tax increment financing would
be handled.
00:42:06 Councilor Fisher began questions related to the management of the current city parking
lots.
00:43:41 Councilor Graham began discussion.
00:44:47 Councilor Dahlman asked questions related to bike racks and the traffic impact study.
00:47:12 Councilor Nunnally asked questions related to parking during construction.
00:49:24 Councilor Hunter provided discussion on this project.
01:02:08 Councilor Dahlman asked questions.
01:02:39 City Manager Doug Russell provided clarification on multiple points made.
01:03:47 Development Services Director provided further clarification related to how parking
management would be structured.
01:04:55 Councilor Graham provided discussion on this proposed project.
01:09:48 Councilor Daoud provided discussion on this proposed project.
01:11:07 Councilor Carlson provided discussion on this proposed project.
01:11:29 Councilor Hunter provided further discussion.
01:12:47 Mayor Johnson asked for clarification on details and provided discussion.
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Johnson opened public comment.
Ellie Suda, Public Comment
Ms. Suda said she had questions about the process utilized for this project. She then spoke in
opposition to the height of the proposed parking garage, and the multi -family housing proposal.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 26, 2022
She then spoke regarding her experiences working at the Kalispell Grand Hotel related to
parking and traffic.
Rich, Public Comment
Rich spoke regarding traffic and air quality concerns related to this proposal. He then mentioned
that he seldom sees the permit lots more than half full, but was not able to get a permit and
wonders if a different permit system would work better.
Bill Goldber-, Public Comment
Mr. Goldberg with Montana Hotel Development Partners spoke to discussion points made about
management of the parking garage. He explained how this proposal was started and all the
discussions that have occurred and evolved over the last two years to ensure the highest and best
use of the properties in question. He spoke to the historical investments he has made downtown
with the purchase of the KM Building and the emphasis within the design of this project to keep
the downtown character intact. He spoke regarding the difficult teamwork and adjustments that
have been made to accommodate the views of public official opinions. He spoke to having a
professional parking garage management company in place to manage the parking structure and
be involved in the garage design elements. Mr. Goldberg explained the route needed to secure
financing. He spoke about future expansion plans at the KM Building and related parking needs
and other projects he anticipates will increase the need for additional parking needs in the future
for downtown. He thanked Council and commended staff for their time and said he is highly
impressed and thankful for being here.
01:40:43 Councilor Hunter provided discussion regarding Mr. Goldberg's comments.
01:43:15 Mandy Gerth, Public Comment
Ms. Gerth said she is confused about the tax increment financing portion of this project and
wonders if this project is the best use of the properties in question.
01:48:06 John Barr, Public Comment
Mr. Barr, owner of the Kalispell Grand Hotel referenced several letters sent to the city from their
attorney. He spoke to concerns related to how the parking lease agreement is written and
concerns regarding parking for his hotel and other downtown businesses. He spoke in opposition
to the process that has been used for this project.
Cassidy Kipp, Public Comment
Ms. Kipp expressed concerns related to a lack of accessible parking and with parking concerns as
a major utilizer of the parking lot next to Community Action Partnership. She spoke to their
current parking struggles downtown.
Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Johnson closed public comment.
Public comment received via email to the Mayor and Council at publiccomment@kalispell.com,
can be found at:
hiips://time.ci.kalispell.mt.us/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=128274&dbid=0&repo=Kalispell
D. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 26, 2022
08:59:40 PM (02:01:391 Development Services Director Jarod Nygren spoke to public comment
received explaining that Community Action Partnership has been involved in the parking
stakeholder meetings and had conversations with Valley Bank to help resolve some of
CAPNM's parking concerns.
02:02:05 City Manager Russell provided clarification on components of this project and the
process. He also addressed concerns raised about financing of the parking garage project. He
spoke to the importance of balancing public/private partnerships.
09:02:13 PM (02:04: Q Mayor Johnson reported he has a Landfill Board meeting tomorrow. He
explained he will not be in person at the next Council meeting and will have Council President
Chad Graham preside, however he plans to join the meeting via zoom video conferencing. The
Montana League of Cities and Towns Conference will be in Kalispell next week.
E. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 9:03 p.m.
Aimee Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
Minutes approved on, 2022
UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Next Regular Meeting — October 3, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Next Work Session — October 10, 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
hilps://www.kalispell.com/48O/Meeting-Videos.
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