Loading...
08-30-24 City Manager Report1 City of Kalispell OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER Information Memorandum 8/30/2024 1. Parks and Recreation Forestry staff completed pruning of trees at Lion’s Park and have moved to Hawthorn Park. With the recent wind event, both forestry and parks staff have been removing downed branches throughout the community. The wind event saw gusts up to 45mph. A contractor will be removing fifty-one large dead and dying trees throughout Kalispell’s parks and boulevards in the coming weeks. A new boiler was ordered for the public safety building as the current one is at the end of its life cycle. There are two boilers that serve the public safety buildings, the other boiler was replaced last year. We had our first flag football game of the season on Saturday, August 24. Our Fall into Soccer started on Wednesday, August 28. Fall Little Dribbler registration will open this week as well. Summer camps ended this past week with Outdoor Adventure, Camp Woodland, and Woodland Wonders. We are already planning next year’s adventures. The After School program started August 28 and will run throughout the school year, following School District #5’s school calendar. Our Skip Out Camp registration for October 17 and 18 school-break will open the week of September 3. 2. Public Works Grandview PFAS Treatment Unit Over the past two weeks, City crews and contractors have worked to install twelve treatment units and the internal and external piping to connect the Grandview 2 Wells. During the week of 9/2, a Water Surplus technician will be on site to support the media installation, disinfection, and startup of the treatment process. The remaining tasks include the construction of a building, development of a DEQ sampling plan, and a DEQ site visit. Solid Waste Residential Cleanup Event – Fall Solid Waste Staff have been placing sticker on rollout containers as part of public notification efforts for the new fall cleanup event. Additionally, letters were sent to alley customers providing information on Alley Cleanup services and Bulk Waste collections. 3. Building Department In the last 2 weeks we have issued permits for 2 single-family homes. This brings the total of new single-family/duplex and townhouse units for the year to 102, compared to 73 last year at this time. There have been 80 multi-family housing units issued so far this year. There were a total of 226 combined building and/or fire inspections completed in the last 2 weeks. Residential – 52 Plumbing – 18 Commercial – 49 Mechanical – 12 Electrical – 14 Fire – 81 4. Planning The Planning Commission will hold a Work Session at their September 10 meeting on the agenda items listed below: 1. File #KA-24-08; KPUD-24-03; and KPP-24-04 – Frank Garner and MT Seven Properties have submitted applications for Tronstad Meadows and Whitetail Crossing, including requests for annexation, initial zoning of R-2 (Residential) with a Planned Unit Development overlay and preliminary plat approval for 355 residential lots on approximately 110.5 acres, including lots, roads, and common areas. The property is located on the north side of Tronstad Road between Highway 93 North and Whitefish Stage Road, opposite Sirucek Lane. 2. File #KPUD-24-04 and KPP-24-05 – Bridgeland Development, LLP, has submitted applications for an amended Planned Unit Development (“PUD”) overlay modifying the existing Northland PUD and for preliminary plat approval of Northland Subdivision Phase 5C, a major subdivision with 28 residential lots, roads, and common area on 10.9 acres. The property is currently zoned R-3 (Residential) with the PUD overlay that was approved in 2004. This proposed subdivision would replace a currently approved preliminary plat on the property. The property is generally located on Northland Drive to the west of the intersection with Summit Ridge Drive. 3 The work session is intended for informational purposes only to inform both the public and the planning commission about the various aspects of the project. It is not intended to be a public hearing and the planning commission will not take any formal action on the application. Documents pertaining to the work session are on file for public inspection at the Kalispell Planning Department, 201 First Avenue East, Kalispell, MT 59901, and are available for public review during regular office hours. In addition, information on the agenda item is posted on our website at https://www.kalispell.com/314/Planning-Board under “upcoming agenda.” Interested persons are encouraged to attend the work session and make their views and concerns known to the Commission. 5. Community Development Staff submitted a Safe Streets for All Demonstration grant to U.S. Department of Transportation this week. The grant request includes “LPI” installation (leading pedestrian interval), and improvements on Oregon Street, and 5th Avenue West, which were identified as priority projects within the Main Street Safety Action Plan. These projects would include improvements such as curb extensions, rectangular rapid flashing beacon, pedestrian hybrid beacon, high visibility crosswalks, mini roundabouts, all way stop control and leading pedestrian control improvements. Leading pedestrian control improvements include accessible pedestrian signal (APS) upgrades and curb ramp improvements at the identified intersections. 6. Fire Department From August 14 to August 27, the Fire Department had 170 responses. Of these, there were 120 medical incidents, 1 house fire, 1 grass fire, 10 fire alarm activations-smoke scares, 2 motor vehicle accident with injuries, 5 Haz-Mat incidents, 8 public assists, and 23 with nothing found or dispatched and canceled enroute. Kalispell Fire had a reported basement fire on 3rd Ave East this past week. The fire was due to an electrical issue in the sub panel. Crews were able to keep the fire from spreading beyond the wall. Kalispell Fire assisted Somers Fire Dept. with a fire at Somers Stage Road and Hwy 93 South. All Fire Department hose (9200 feet) had its annual pressure test. Approx 250 feet failed due to age. This hose will be replaced. The Fire Department interviewed 27 candidates for 13 open Firefighter positions. 13 folks were selected and are in the background investigation process currently. The department has been working on logistical items for the upcoming academy for the 4 new hires. The new Training Captains, Joe Hansen and Jeremy Grady, will lead department training in both EMS and Fire and maintain records management and compliance with Fire Service requirements and standards. Their focus initially will be taking the lead on our new Firefighter Academy starting September 30. This will be an approximately 12-week academy focusing on firefighting skills, EMS, Haz-Mat, Rescue practices, etc. The department received one bid for our new fire engine and one bid for our (2) new ½ ton pickups for the new training captain positions. These will be presented for approval on September 3.