09-19-22 City Council Meeting MinutesCITY 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 p3LbLig jpc 1, �
Video of this meeting with time stamped minutes can be found at:
hgpL-/_/www.k'A[iSEell.com/480/Mecting.-Vid_eos-
A. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Mark Johnson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL
Mayor - Mark Johnsorr Present
Council Me ber - 1 Ka . Gabriel: Present
Cotmcil. Member - San. Carlson: Present
.C.o.u.n.cil Member - Sam Nunnall : Present
("ouncill Chair - Clmad Graham: Present
Council Member -Jed Fisher: Present
Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present
Council Member - Jessica Dahlman.: Present........
Con~uncm.l. Memb el.:: .... °:....... -
. I Punter. 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 l:. aoud: Motion
Council M:ernber Sam 1u'iw al.l� . 2nd
l" ayor ,,,,, Mark Johnson- A, rove
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Council:.... r - S N j1 :.: roye
",�a; 1. Chair .. Chad Graham: grove
..............._ �!....: . .(:............_ d Fisher. .�n rove
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 19, 2022
` uncil Mem.ber . d Daoud.w..... ]f�
L� st:...... t:........... Jessica �f::�a .lr aw .nMY9.
............ .
uncil. Member mm :"an ..... Hunter: A ro,
The motion passed unanimously on voice vote.
E. CG "SE T 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.
1. Council Minutes — September 6, 2022 "m
2. Approve Bid Award for Side Loader Solid Waste Trucks
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 0
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.
" t. .. i.l Member - S 11 unnally MMotiM
Council Member - Sandy Carlson. 2Tid
Ma ar .... Mark .lohx so A .p
ll I....Me.....:..:.._hey......._.Kald. Qabli..e I.......: ,rove
.......... cil Member .... S'1r1d _.:.............j n,':.... l: y
Council. Member - Sam Nunnall : An rove
Council Chair Chad. Graham: A rove
.......................................................................................... ......�
L.a il. Member ,,,,, Jed Irt lsher. Ap PLOVe
Council Member Sid Daoud: A. p
Council. Member ,,,,. Jessica Dahlman: A pigyg
Cowici.i Me ber .,,.1 1...:1u ;tt...el .. ro�re
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The motion passed unanimously on voice vote.
F. COMMITTEE REPORTS — None.
G. PUBLIII[C III4EAR:ICNG - 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
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 19, 2022
median income.
00° 1 Cassid
Y 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.
O�0.1 w4.7 Walter Roundtree Public Comment
Mr. Roundtree on 5 h 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.
00w21, 4 1 El abeth Lan le 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� 2 w 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: 5 Stuart Smith Public Comment
Mr. Smith of 160 3`d 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 3 5 :1 0. Kearan 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.
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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.
00:5:2 2., 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: 4 7w23 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 W3 Laura Reynolds, Public Comment
_.._.....................-................
Ms. Reynolds of 22 5 h 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 w03 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
........ Quinn,.............. rY g
Ms. 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..1.2w0 8 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
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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.
014 i 9:0D6 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.
_1 „5 Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Johnson closed the public hearing.
H. PUBLIC. COMMENT
T
Mayor Johnson opened general public comment.
1 : 2 1 : 4 Z 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 2 0. 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.
0131:2 Erika Wirtala, Public Comment
Ms. Wirtala, President of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Boardspoke 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.
1. ww2 Tonya 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
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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 ublicco elkalisllell.conm,
can be found at:
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Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Johnson closed public comment.
I. REPOR"I°S R.E(.1 11 FN.11I)ALTIONS AND SUBSF U11ENT ,'OUNC]IL ACTION
Persons wishing to address the council on individual agenda items are asked to provide
public comment via email to pia na.ent kalisp„uca:m or during the meeting verbally
in council chambers or via the online meeting. Please provide your name and address for
the record.
1. Re.soluti.on 610, - Green Acres Coo�aerative ��mbli.c 1�acmlutues C1ra,r�1 u.. Dirt
....................................
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. "''.':u:"..
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 Neighborworks 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.
1 w , ,w,0 , Councilor Hunter provided discussion on the motion.
Vote on the motion.
Council Member Sid Daoud: Motion
Council Member -led Fisher: 2nd
...............
Ma or - Mary: Johnson.: Aitaly
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: A , rove
i..] Member - Sand C;;... .A lson:
:oe
Council Member - Sam. 1C' uarmnall : A rove
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 19, 2022
,r�uanci:hair - Chad A py�
;.....
Council. Member - Jed I ishg W p�
Council. Member.....~...., Daou� .w.. rove
:q.:.... Member - Jessica Dahlman: q); tt�ve
Council Member .....- .. Il . ter: Ap rove
The motion was approved unanimously on roll call vote.
2. A . oirutmeum.t to tl.e "l"ourism 13usiruess Ins roveru.eunt District rMqP
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 - Sa.m Nunn.all w Motion
Council Chair - Chad Graham- 2n�1.
.......................................................... _..........................................................................................................
Mayor - Mark Johnson:_A racy
Council Member - Kaii Gabriel: A .... rove
....... .....
Council Member - SgE y Carlson - . Mr(-)ve
ouncil. Member S u N ally- Ap nave
�aaue�l Chair - C,had...r".:.............:w.. . rove
....per
Council Il ember - Jed "isher: A ) rove
Council Member - Sid Daoud,°,,,,, rove
Council Member - Jessica Dahl a is A;p remove
Council 11111111 Member _ R an. Hunter. A rove
The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
J. CITY : A.I A.G]III�R CIOIJl CIL AND MAYOR REPORTS o 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.
1.52:.1 6Councilor 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.
..1.. _ 6: 4 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
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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.
rNEEW41 t��lli1;7►1u I �I�Y i
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 9 p.m.
® O0PC.T ®, Aim e Brunckhorst, CMC
Q F°: City Clerk
SEA1892
Minutes approved on October 3, 2022
MI
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
llp :� www.kalispeU. gnn/4 0/ li eeti � ;i eos.
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