05-08-23 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL
KCrrYOF WORK SESSION MINUTES
ALISPELL May 8, 2023, 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.
Please see the bottom of the agenda for instructions to watch the meeting live or later.
Video of this meeting with time stamped minutes can be found at:
https: 'www.kalispell.corr/480/Meeting-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 included City Manager Doug Russell, Finance Director Aimee Cooke, City Clerk
Aimee Brunckhorst, Public Works Director Susie Turner, Senior Planner P.J. Sorensen, Budget
Resource Manager Terri Loudermilk, Development Services Director Jarod Nygren, Assistant
Finance Director Julie Hawes, and Information Technology Director Erika Billiet.
B. DISCUSSION
1. Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Preliminary Budget Review link to bud et
a. General Fund Administrative Departments
b. Development Services Department
c. Public Works
d. Information Technology
City Manager Doug Russell began the staff presentation with a brief overview and plans
for future work sessions related to budget items.
00:13:38 General Fund Revenue and Expenditures
General Fund Administrative Departments
00:17:50 Councilor Graham asked questions related to whether possible increased noticing costs
related to recent state legislation have been included in the preliminary budget.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 8, 2023
00:21:02 Councilor Hunter asked questions and provided discussion about Mountain Climber
transit funds.
00:22:12 Councilor Hunter provided discussion and asked questions about marijuana tax funds.
00:27:46 Councilor Carlson provided discussion about Council wages.
Council and staff provided discussion regarding Mayor/Council wages.
00:53:20 City Clerk
00:53:36 Finance
00:54:01 City Attorney
00:54:54 Municipal Court
00:55:35 Development Services - Planning
00:56:57 Development Services - Community Development
00:57:51 Councilor Hunter asked questions about personnel.
00:59:09 Councilor Hunter asked questions about timing related to the parking structure and the
Charles Hotel.
01:00:20 Building Department
01:01:05 Councilor Hunter asked questions about state legislation related to building department
balance.
01:05:00 Special Revenue Funds
01:05:56 Councilor Hunter asked questions about personnel in the community development
department.
01:08:08 Mayor Johnson continued discussion regarding personnel.
01:09:42 Community Development Projects
01:12:16 Tax Increment Financing Funds
01:15:03 Development Services Director Jarod Nygren spoke regarding state legislation that
could lead to changing workload and expenses.
01:16:48 Councilor Hunter asked questions about timing.
01:17:22 Public Works — Administration
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 8, 2023
01:18:13 Public Works —Light Maintenance
01:19:10 Public Works Director Susie Turner spoke regarding increases in electricity, gas, and
oil costs across the budget. She then spoke regarding new equipment needed in light
maintenance.
01:20:30 Councilor Hunter asked questions about revenue versus expenditure.
01:24:11 Public Works —Gas Tax
01:27:12 Public Works — BARSAA
01:29:48 Public Works — Special Street Maintenance
Public Works Director Susie Turner spoke regarding equipment replacement needs.
01:33:10 Councilor Hunter provided discussion related to sound signaling at crosswalks.
01:36:48 Councilor Daoud asked questions about traffic calming devices.
01:38:18 Councilor Hunter provided discussion on traffic calming.
01:39:31 Public Works Director spoke regarding the MACI Program and what could be
purchased if we were to receive the funds.
01:41:02 Public Works — Enterprise Funds
01:43:00 Public Works — Enterprise Funds — Water
01:47:55 Councilor Graham asked questions about specific line items such as pumps.
01:50:59 Public Works — Enterprise Funds — Sewer
01:54:19 Public Works — Enterprise Funds — Wastewater Treatment
01:58:19 Public Works — Enterprise Funds — Storm Sewer
02:01:13 Public Works — Enterprise Funds — Solid Waste
02:02:04 Councilor Hunter asked questions about customer increases.
02:04:19 Councilor Daoud asked questions about internal transfers.
02:05:20 Public Works — Enterprise Funds — American Rescue Plan Infrastructure
02:05:45 Public Works — Internal Service Funds — Central Garage
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 8, 2023
02:08:50 Councilor Hunter asked questions related to hybrid vehicle issues that were brought up
by staff.
02:11:28 Opioid Settlement
02:12:26 City Manager Russell spoke regarding a block grant.
02:15:04 Information Technology
02:15:58 Information Technology Director Erika Billiet explained the reasoning behind large or
new budget items within the budget.
02:20:57 Councilor Daoud asked about the planned phone upgrade.
02:22:46 Councilor Nunnally asked questions about a past request for proposals related to
phones.
02:23:43 Councilor Daoud asked about Microsoft Office cost increases.
02:23:58 Councilor Nunnally asked about the generator expenditure and then provided
discussion.
02:25:12 City Manager Doug Russell spoke regarding the intense work that new Finance
Director Aimee Cooke and Accountant Julie Hawes spent rebuilding the finance system while
handling the audit.
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
The public was not present online or in person, so the Mayor did not ask for public comment.
Public comment received to Mayor and Council via email to publiccommentca?kalispell. com can
be seen at
https: time.ci.kalispell.mt.us/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=128274&dbid=0&repo=Kalispell.
D. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS
Mayor Johnson spoke regarding the state legislature and frustrations related to the erosion of
local control. He then spoke on the benefits of tax increment financing. He talked about blanket
zoning that has been passed by the state and how that will affect Kalispell. He talked further
about the legislation that has passed this session and the impacts it will have.
E. ADJOURNMENT
Mark Johnson adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m.
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UO� A- Aim& Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 8, 2023
Minutes approved on May 15, 2023
UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Next Regular Meeting — May 15, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Next Budget Work Session — May 15, 2023, (after regular meeting) at 7:00 p.m.
Watch City Council sessions live or later on Charter Cable Channel 190 or online at
https://www.kalispell.com/480/Meeting-Videos.
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