09-09-24 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION MINUTES
KALISPELL September 9, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers, 201 First Avenue East
Video of this meeting with time stamped minutes can be found at:
https://www.kalispell.com/48O/Mectina-Videos.
A. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Present
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Absent
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: Present
Council Member -Ryan Hunter: Present
Staff present included Acting City Manager Attorney Johnna Preble, City Clerk Aimee
Brunckhorst, Development Services Director Jarod Nygren and Development Services Assistant
Director P.J. Sorensen.
C. DISCUSSION
Amendina the Downtown Urban Renewal Plan and the West Side/Core Area
Urban Renewal Plan to include workforce housing as projects eligible for Tax
Increment Financing 0 a
Development Services Director Jarod Nygren presented the staff report.
00:04:13 Mayor Johnson clarified how this item could be brought forward after tabling several
years ago. He then asked for confirmation on how tax increment financing works and then
provided discussion.
00:06:33 Council Member Chad Graham asked about the current status of tax increment
financing as it relates to housing. He then provided discussion related to workforce housing.
Development Services Director Nygren spoke to questions posed about the policy within the
current renewal plans.
00:10:00 Council Member Graham provided discussion.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 9, 2024
00:10:52 Council Member Daoud asked about the current definition and range suggested for
affordable housing and asked about previous Council discussion on this matter in 2022.
00:12:38 Council Member Hunter asked how the rules would be developed to use this funding if
made available.
00:14:21 Council Member Hunter asked about median income.
00:15:28 Council Member Hunter provided discussion regarding the income range. He then
provided discussion about the possibilities of use of TIF funds.
00:21:30 Council Member Graham asked about housing authority discussion.
00:22:09 Council Member Hunter spoke to Graham's question.
Council Member Graham provided discussion.
00:25:08 Mayor Mark Johnson provided discussion.
00:25:44 Development Services Director Nygren spoke to questions posed by discussion.
00:27:15 Mayor Mark Johnson confirmed what this item would do.
00:27:39 Council Member Graham provided discussion.
00:27:54 Council Member Daoud asked for clarification related to tax increment finance use and
provided discussion.
00:29:28 Mayor Johnson provided discussion.
00:30:43 Council Member Daoud asked for clarification and then provided discussion.
00:32:15 Council Member Hunter provided discussion.
00:34:22 Council Member Graham provided discussion.
00:34:43 Mayor Johnson provided discussion.
00:35:21 Council Member Fisher asked about the latest tax increment financing projects and
then provided discussion.
00:36:39 Mayor Johnson provided discussion.
00:37:26 Council Member Fisher confirmed with staff that any proposal would come back
before Council.
Development Services Director Nygren provided further information about possibilities.
00:39:05 Council Member Hunter provided discussion.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 9, 2024
00:39:25 Council Member Graham provided discussion.
Council Member Hunter provided discussion.
00:41:44 Development Services Director Nygren explained further possibilities.
00:42:22 Council Member Hunter provided discussion.
00:43:15 Council Member Fisher asked about denied tax increment financing projects.
00:44:00 Council Member Graham provided discussion.
00:45:04 Mayor Johnson confirmed that Council would like this item to be placed on a future
agenda.
D. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Johnson opened public comment.
00:45:56 Kim Morosaki, Public Comment
Morosaki, Executive Director for the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust spoke to how
the Land Trust was started by the City of Kalispell and now has 54 homes with 2 more beign
built. She then explained they have a memorandum of understanding with the City of Polson to
use TIF funds in their District to build or rehabilitate workforce housing, though it has not been
utilized yet. She explained how they are working with the City of Whitefish to layer financing to
make more houses affordable for the workforce and spoke to the definition of affordable
housing. She explained how something similar could work in the City of Kalispell. She
explained how they are also working with Columbia Falls, who have donated land to build 7
homes and are partnering with other organizations. She spoke regarding the importance of these
one-time investments for housing affordability into perpetuity. She thanked Council for having
this conversation and said the Land Trust would be happy to partner with the City to provide
more appropriately priced housing in the valley for the workforce.
00:50:30 Seeing no further comments, Mayor Johnson closed public comment.
Public comment received to the Mayor and Council via email to publiccomment(akalispell.com
or in writing can be seen at
https://time.ci.kalispell.mt.us/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=l 28274&dbid=0&repo=Kalispell.
E. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS
Acting City Manager Johnna Preble announced that City Manager Russell will be back on
Wednesday.
00:50:53 Council Member Hunter asked about the status of the welcome to Kalispell sign.
00:51:23 Development Services Director Nygren explained where the sign was left after Council
voted not to use Tax Increment Financing to award a bid for it.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, September 9, 2024
00:51:59 Council Member Hunter asked about short-term rental permit fees and how the fee
could be used. He then provided discussion about how he would like short-term rental fees to be
used.
00:55:23 Council Member Fisher asked about the public comment received related to the
condition of the former Outlaw Inn and discussion on the need for community decay regulations.
00:57:24 Development Director Nygren provided an update on the development.
00:58:37 Council Member Daoud provided discussion about housing subsidy policy. He then
provided discussion about blight policies.
F. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:02 p.m.
Ainfee Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
Minutes approved on September 16, 2024
UPCOMING SCHN4LE
Next Regular Meeting — September 16, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Next Work Session — September 23, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Watch City Council sessions live with the agenda and supporting documents or later with
documents and time stamped minutes at: https://www.kalispell.com/480/Meeting-Videos.
Watch City Council sessions live or later on Charter Cable Ch. 190 or via the City YouTube
page at: https://www.youtube.com/Acityofkalispellmontana9632/streams.
The City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services, activities, and
employment practices. Auxiliary aids are available. For questions about disability
accommodation please contact the City Clerk at 406-758-7756.
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