Panhandling and city rate increase Public Comment from Marcy RobertsAimee Brunckhorst
From: Marcy Roberts <MEOMT17@outlook.com>
Sent: Monday, March 13, 2023 10:14 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Panhandling and city rate increase 3/13/2023
Dear Council
I am writing as a homeowner, taxpayer, short term rental owner and as community member. I have been following your
meetings over the past few months and have found that the items on the agenda and the discussions directly affect me
in and they are things I am passionate about. I have appreciated the discussions and have taken away a lot by listening. I
now would like to share some of my thoughts on several topics.
I have worked in the social service system in Flathead County for most of my adult life. I have spent many years working
directly with individuals with disabilities including physical, mental and cognitive. I have worked alone with a room full of
individuals with significant disabilities (mental health), never fearing of being hurt or taken advantage of. As of late, I
find my self concerned in parking lots, walking the sidewalks, leaving my lawnmower out while I go inside to get a drink
of water and I have a bit of concern about the people who are loitering in parking lots, streets, alleys, outside the liquor
store etc.
I own a rental property in the 200 block of 3rd Avenue EN, just north of Smiths. I have had law enforcement trespass
many people from my property. All appeared drunk and or have been drinking, some known by name. Recently I have
had to trim back the trees and bushes to keep people from sleeping, having sex, huffing paint, shooting up and leaving
trash in my yard. I have removed a row of Junipers and plan to put thorny bushes in their place to keep people out. I had
"Paul" a local panhandler who frequented my parking area and shade of the trees there often. I conversed with him at
times and he was always leaving the area for a job, he never left. Last summer, I pulled up to my parking lot and Paul
had left all of his stuff off to the side of my property under a tree. His backpack, food from drivers and a tall ice cold
Mikes Hard Lemonade. He was walking down the alley yelling at the other panhandlers on the corner. I yelled for him to
get his stuff, he didn't, so I moved them down the alley. He came back screaming at me for touching his stuff. He told me
"I don't touch your stuff" and I reminded him that he indeed touches my property every time he loiters in my parking lot
or in the yard. He did not disagree and left very angry. I feared he would return but he didn't. I see him often on the
bypass off -ramp at Hwy 2.
I have read the Panhandling Ordinance for the City and it's not fully enforced and there needs to be some adjustment to
those rules. With the number of panhandlers there would need to be one officer just for that job and that is
unrealistic. The distance from intersection, asking passerby's to stop etc. Many have now moved onto private property
and the business owners say that they cannot do anything about it. Isn't that private property? Smiths has become a
trap for shoppers being bullied by panhandlers. Last week I saw a young man Panhandling at Rosauers when I went into
the store. When I left, he was gone however all of his trash was left where he was standing including his sign. The
abandoned bus shelters (Mountain Climber) have become shelters for loitering and are full of trash, especially near
Smiths, its scary. What I see when panhandlers leave their spot in and out of the city limits there is trash, pizza boxes,
empty cups, cigarette butts etc. This is littering and disrespectful. After seeing Paul and watching some by Lowes, they
do run in groups and this has been proven. I know some of you on the council don't believe this. I see an increase in
trash in my front yard, blankets, backpacks, and liquor bottles. I have picked up needles next to empty sharps
containers. I take pride in my property and its a huge investment for me. I have considered selling so I won't have to deal
with the riff raff of unhoused individuals who are roaming the streets. I would like to help be part of the solution.
As for budget, I stated that I am a short-term rental owner. Our property is that on 3rd Ave EN. I pay $75 a unit annually.
I pay $280 initially to the county and $40 annually. This is a very reasonable cost. When listening to the council and the
discussion, I question why the fire inspector has to come to my property every year if that is an added expense. He has
seen my egress, carbon monoxide detectors, fire alarms, exit plan and emergency contact information. He does check
my fire extinguisher which has to be charged every year. Would it be simpler for me to send a picture of my updated
card and a receipt from Mahugh Fire to prove I have done that each year? The structure doesn't change, my alarms, exit
plan and information remains the same. The county comes once and checks to be sure my water is 120 degrees and
educates me about cleaning products, only once. I mail my $40 to DPHHS for my concession license. I do know that the
$75 doesn't cover the cost and would not be opposed to an increase. I would consider cutting the annual visit from the
fire inspector to save cost and also crack down on those who are not honest and skirting around the $75.
As for recreation fees. Attending a camp or going to the pool is a privilege not a right. Most times we cannot get into the
pool because it has reached capacity within the first half hour. Many people can't get into the pool, not because of cost
but because of capacity. Our pool is more than a pool, it is really a water park. It should cost more than $5. Comparing to
Columbia Falls isn't a fair comparison as Columbia fallsjust has a pool.
The city of Kalispell is not a charity organization and reality is that inflation costs are affecting everything and everyone.
We cannot break even or go in the hole because we would feel bad that someone might be left out. The city is running a
"business". If a local business was charging $5 for an item that cost them $17, they wouldn't be in business very long.
We all want results now and in the short term but we need sustainability for the future. I agree that these rates should
be reviewed annually and raise prices incrementally instead of waiting 6-15 years and make a big jump because you are
behind.
I hope to be part of the solution and I thank you for the work that you do for our community. We are growing by leaps
and bounds and we need to diligent in our work.
Thankyou
Marcy Roberts
886 Lone Coyote Trail
Kalispell MT 59901
Fil