08-28-23 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL
KCrrYOF WORK SESSION MINUTES
ALISPELL August 28, 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.
Video of this meeting with time stamped minutes can be found at:
httys://www.kalispell.com/480/Meeting-Videos.
A. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Mark Johnson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
B. DISCUSSION
1. Center for Public Safety Management Report - Fire and Emergency Medical Services
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City Manager Doug Russell began the staff presentation with background information on this
item.
00:02:55 Peter Finley, Senior Associate with the Center for Public Safety Management
continued the report going over a PowerPoint presentation outlining the content of the Fire/EMS
Study. <-
00:03:51 Information about CPSM, LLC
00:04:55 What This Study/Report Does
00:08:27 Research and Analysis Done to Complete the Study
00:11:36 Overall Impressions
00:20:15 Growth and Development of Kalispell 2018-2022
00:21:07 Target Hazards
00:22:20 Fire and EMS Demand
00:23:44 Fire and EMS Workload 2022
00:25:38 Fire and EMS Demand Graphs
00:27:49 Response Times
00:33:47 Increased Demand: 2018-2022
00:35:57 Current Operational Staffing and Deployment
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Kalispell City Council Agenda, August 28, 2023
00:37:33 Operational Staffing and Deployment Graph
00:38:59 EMS Responses
00:40:00 Current Operational Staffing and Deployment for Fire
00:43:36 Current Operational Deployment — 240 Second Response
00:44:55 Gap Analysis Recommendations Year 1
00.47:42 Gap Analysis Recommendations Year 2, Year 3
00:48:58 Gap Analysis Recommendations — Kelly Days
00:50:50 Gap Analysis Recommendations — Planning Objective, Fire Station 63
00:53:45 Gap Analysis Recommendations — Graph to show recommended changes to
organizational structure.
00:54:13 Gap Analysis Recommendations — Regional Fire Authority
00:56:37 Staffing and Deployment Metrics and Considerations
00:58:31 Discussion and Questions
00:58:52 City Manager Doug Russell provided discussion about past discussions had regarding
many of the components that emerged within the report, current budget funding, the need for a
levy to meet recommendations and the importance of related public education. He spoke further
about educational efforts needed, anticipated timelines, and next steps regarding reviewing the
study, etc.
01:04i 12 Mr. Finley explained that CPSM can also handle messaging components if desired.
01.04:'2 Councilor Graham spoke to the need for a levy based on the reports reviewed.
Manager Russell continued discussion about fund balances and forecasts and further about the
levy component and education.
01:06:05 Councilor Graham asked about levy funding versus current funding sources.
Manager Russell continued discussion about available funding sources and limitations and
forecasts.
01:07:57 Mayor Johnson provided discussion about the education component and the need to
combat misconceptions and misinformation. He then provided discussion about the current
inflation rate and tax system, and what other municipalities are doing. He spoke further about
funding needs and the importance of an educational component.
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Kalispell City Council Agenda, August 28, 2023
01.-11:38 Councilor Nunnally asked questions about the ISO rating and the related costs for
citizens and businesses.
Fire Chief Pearce spoke to insurance costs or savings related to ISO ratings.
Councilor Nunnally spoke to education regarding ISO ratings and what it means for insurance.
01:12:36 Mr. Finley spoke further about ISO ratings related to insurance and other ways to use
ISO rating components.
01:13:43 Councilor Fisher asked how a levy amount would be set and when.
Manager Russell talked about discussions related to options and what those options would mean.
01:15:32 Councilor Fisher talked further about how a levy would be determined.
Manager Russell provided further information about how decisions would be made, what is
important to consider, and next discussions to have with Council.
01:18:47 Councilor Fisher learned that the last time this type of a levy was considered by the
public was 2014.
�_ 1:_'d _03 Councilor Hunter spoke to the report showing the burden of growth on our community
and the need for a levy. He then asked questions about some of the recommendations.
01:19:48 Fire Chief Pearce spoke regarding the history of the Fire Inspector. Marshall position.
01:21:23 Manager Russell provided input on inspection costs.
01:21:58 Councilor Hunter asked about training and safety and related recommendations.
01:22:44 Chief Pearce spoke to the responsibilities and duties of a training/safety officer and the
importance and needs related to training.
01:25:17 Mr. Finley spoke to the importance of consistency of training between the three shifts.
01.-26:01 Manager Russell spoke further about training.
01:26:40 Councilor Dahlman spoke regarding the importance of ongoing training and
difficulties.
01:26:56 Councilor Hunter asked about EMS reimbursement and programs that were mentioned
related to emergency transport.
01:27:29 Chief Pearce spoke to community -based partnerships related to community -based
medicine models.
01:28:47 Public Comment
Mayor Johnson opened public comment on this item. Seeing none, he closed public comment.
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Kalispell City Council Agenda, August 28, 2023
01:28:58 Manager Russell talked about coming back to council at the second work session in
September with a potential scope of work for public education.
01:29:10 Mayor Johnson thanked city staff for the open dialogue they had with CPSM related to
the report.
2. Urban Renewal ; Tax Increment Financing Supported Projects : a
City Manager Doug Russell began the staff presentation related to past council decisions and
discussions related to this item and the plan documents and state statute that allow the items that
council had discussed.
01:30:30 Depot Park Building
01:31:05 Purchase of Wye Tract
01:31:48 Signage on the Parkline trail.
01:32:08 Remodel of current Parks and Recreation building for the Police Department.
City Manager Russell explained that next steps include taking these items for review before the
Urban Renewal Agency Board, and then back to Council at the first meeting in October.
01:33:23 Councilor Dahlman expressed her enthusiasm with moving forward on these items.
01:33:38 Councilor Hunter asked about the Parkline sign eligibility and design.
01:34:15 Development Services Director spoke to the existing way finding signage and design
plans created previously with related grant money, and the complications that may occur if a
redesign of the sign was desired.
01:36:13 Councilor Hunter spoke to his desire to have the sign indicate the Parkline trail in
addition to "Welcome to Kalispell".
01:36:40 Director Nygren spoke of previous branding done for the trail.
01:37:50 Manager Russell spoke to next steps and further budget considerations related to
shifting city facilities.
01:39:03 Councilor Hunter asked questions related to fire and police impact fee updates.
Manager Russell spoke to fire and police impact fee eligibility.
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Johnson opened public comment. Seeing none, Mayor Johnson closed public
comment.
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Kalispell City Council Agenda, August 28, 2023
Public comment received to Mayor and Council via email to publiccomment(&kalispell.com can
be seen at
https: time.ci.kalispell.mt.us,/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=l28274&dbid=0&repo=Kalispell.
D. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS
City Manager Russell provided the following report:
• The banner policy and the loan program will be coming back for action at the next
regular meeting. At the next work session will be a potential project in our TEDD for
Glacier Rail Park.
• Mr. Russell spoke regarding misconceptions within the community about why the
Council does not show up in mass at a public event or must be careful about individual
conversations explaining that as a transparent public body council members must be
cautious about what they participate in and the conversations they have outside of public
meetings.
• City offices are closed Monday, September 4 for Labor Day. The next council meeting
will be held Tuesday, September 5.
01:43:18 Mayor Johnson spoke regarding a report related to going from price inflation to borrow
inflation and the related affordability and housing factors.
E. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:44 p.m.
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Minutes approved on September 5, 2023
UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION
City Offices Closed — September 4, 2023 — Labor Day
Next Regular Meeting — September 5, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Next Work Session — September 11, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
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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