Loading...
11-01-24 City Manager Report1 City of Kalispell OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER Information Memorandum 11/1/2024 1. Parks and Recreation Park staff have recently completed the biannual inspection of Kalispell’s twenty playgrounds and are replenishing the fall surfaces with engineered wood fiber, a specialized woodchip designed to absorb impacts that also provides wheelchair accessibility, ensuring both safety and accessibility for all playground users. A contractor is nearing the end of a fifty-tree removal project, focused on eliminating dead or declining trees throughout parks and boulevards across the community. Thanks to a mild, dry fall, staff have been able to continue leaf collection in all municipal parks. Removing leaves from the turf helps protect against snow mold and prevents smothering, contributing to healthier grass in the spring. At the Kalispell Youth Athletic Complex (KYAC), staff are completing the season’s final tasks, including dirt-work on baseball infields, raising tree canopies for easier mowing, and organizing the shop building. These preparations ensure that the complex is ready for next season. Work is set to begin on November 4, to install a new roof on City Hall. The current flat roof has several leaks and has outlived its life expectancy. Work is expected to take 3 - 4 weeks, pending weather conditions. Recreation staff collected pumpkins from community members to display in the Depot Park windows for our First Pumpkin Stroll. Pumpkins were illuminated in the evenings and created a festive atmosphere for an evening stroll. The public was invited to vote for fan favorites within four different categories. Prizes were collected from local businesses for gift baskets that were distributed to those with the highest votes. The Little Dribblers program is entering week three. Participants are learning new skills and scrimmaging with one another. Team pictures are scheduled for November 2 and November 9. The After School program continues to meet the 50-participant 2 maximum. Registration has been continuous throughout the school year. The program is offered to all elementary aged children and bussing is provided from all SD5 schools. 2. Public Works Water Service Line Inventory Staff recently completed the service line inventory to comply with the EPA’s updated Lead and Copper Rule. The City has identified 41 lead service lines, 15 galvanized lines requiring replacement (GRR), and 573 lines with an unknown lead status. Over the next year, staff will continue to investigate and update the status of these unknown lines, submitting the revised inventory annually to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Property owners will receive notification letters if their water service lines (piping) are made of unknown, lead, or galvanized materials within City limits. Notification content will vary depending on whether the property is serviced by a lead, GRR, or unknown-status line. See table below for letter content requirement summary. Solid Waste Residential Cleanup This month, the Solid Waste Division completed its first-ever Fall Cleanup. Over the summer, stickers were placed on each rollout container with instructions on collection dates, acceptable materials, and proper placement. We are pleased to report that the event ran smoothly, was well received by customers, and did not result in the collection of bulk waste items (e.g., couches, large appliances). The total weight collected during the Fall Cleanup was 16.9 tons. In comparison, 47 tons of general cleanup waste and an additional 46 tons of bulk waste were collected this past spring. 3. Planning Department The Planning Commission held a public hearing at their October 8 meeting and took public comments on the agenda items listed below 3 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 of 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.File #KA-24-09 – Greater Valley Health Center has requested annexation and initial zoning of B-2 (General Business) for property located at 1995 3rd Avenue East. The annexation request is based on the need for a new connection to city water service. The Commission recommended approval of the three application requests. The recommendations will be forwarded to the Council for consideration at the November 4 meeting. The Planning Commission will also hold a work session on SB 382 at their November 12 meeting. This work session is the first in a series the Planning Commission will hold in the coming months. It is intended that the focus of this work session will be on the overall process, general parameters of the plan, and preliminary discussions relating to required components of the plan. Future work sessions and a formal hearing will be held before the Commission forwards a recommendation to the City Council for action. 4.Building Department In the last 2 weeks we have issued permits for 5 single-family homes. This brings the total of new single-family/duplex and townhouse units for the year to 121, compared to 91 at this time last year. There have been 128 multi-family housing units issued so far this year. There were a total of 234 combined building and/or fire inspections completed in the last 2 weeks. Residential – 38 Plumbing – 25 Commercial – 35 Mechanical – 27 Electrical – 22 Fire – 87 4 5. Community Development Staff continues to work with BNSF on the Phase 2 environmental for the WYE track property. The Phase 2 work was required as part of the Purchase and Sale Agreement. Once completed the City will be able to move forward with the closing of the property. 6. Fire Department From October 16 to October 29, the Kalispell Fire Department responded to a total of 161 calls. Of these, there were 105 medical calls, 8 responses for motor vehicle crashes, 21 dispatched and cancelled enroute, 27 were for various miscellaneous calls. The fire academy for our new hires is in the 6th week. Crews have been participating in quarterly resiliency training and multiple station tours for area schools.