03-31-23 City Manager Report1
City of Kalispell
OFFICE OF THE CITY
MANAGER
Information Memorandum
3/31/2023
1. Parks and Recreation
Forestry crews have finished pruning trees in the Three Mile and Northview Heights
Subdivisions and are currently pruning in the Ashley Heights Subdivision. A forestry
contractor is pruning hangers and large stubs along 1st Avenue
East. Another contractor is removing 38 dead and dying trees
from parks and boulevards throughout the community. Large
material will be taken to Flathead High School to be milled by
the woodshop students and used in their projects.
Park crews are picking up leaves and branches throughout the
parks that remain after last fall’s early snow events. The Parks
Department also took possession of a new John Deere 3033R
tractor. This piece of equipment will allow for multiple
implements to be used simultaneously throughout our park
system, increasing our efficiency.
A new HVAC system is being installed at Fire Station 62 as parts for the current HVAC
system have become obsolete and the system has several temporary fixes keeping it
operable.
Begg Dog Park has been closed till the high water recedes, turf dries, and staff are able to
perform our annual turf maintenance that includes aerating, thatching, overseeding, and
fertilizing.
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Spring Break Camp is underway. This year’s theme is “The Olympics” with competitive
activities such as relay races, tournaments, a talent show, and with fieldtrips planned for
Rockfish Climbing Gym and swimming at the Summit.
Camp Woodland Summer Day Camp registration will open on April 17, at 8:00am.
Registration forms will be on our website at 8:00am. Paper copies will be available in our
office as well. Summer Camp begins on June 12.
Congratulations to the Flathead Sharks who won the Adult Futsal
Indoor League. Registration for the 7v7 Outdoor Co-Rec Soccer
League will open in April.
We are halfway through the Spring Little Dribblers season. There
are 40 teams and 357 participants this season. Games are played
at Rankin, Elrod, and Peterson Elementary Schools between
8am-6pm.
Registration is open for Spring Soccer. The registration deadline
is April 7 at 5pm.
2. Police Department
On March 6, patrol officers participated in an in-house on defensive tactics, firearm, and
active shooter training.
Several Detectives participated in a Homicide Investigation and Crime Scene
Management training webinar. The training course included in-depth topics and case
reviews. The program has been used as a model for methodologies and principles by
agencies nationwide.
Year to date calls for service for patrol stands at 8534, compared to 8197 in 2022 and
7936 in 2021.
Year to date for detective felony cases stands at 145, compared to 163 in 2022 and 132 in
2021.
3. Fire Department
From the period of March 15 through March 28, Kalispell Fire Department responded to
a total of 153 responses. Of these, there were 105 medical/rescue calls, 17 dispatched
and cancelled enroute, 7 false alarm calls, 7 motor vehicle accidents, 2 building/structure
fires, 2 calls for unauthorized burning, 2 brush/grass fires, 2 vehicle fires, 3 lift assists, 1
public assist, 1 police assist, and 2 smoke investigations.
Chief officer and 2 KFD members attended an organizational development, leadership,
post-traumatic stress, and growth workshop hosted by Butte Fire department, taught by
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Dr. David Griffin, the engineer on the first engine to respond to the 2007 Sofa Super
Store fire that claimed the lives of nine firefighters.
All Lifepak 15 cardiac monitors were recently serviced by Stryker representatives. Both
stations were cleaned and organized- with retired or outdated equipment going to the
Creston Auction. The process of demoing new software to track medications, inventory,
scheduling, training etc. has started.
Engineers are delivering Ladder operation trainings for their respective shifts. All crews
received annual HIPPA and documentation training. Hazmat team meeting took place
with City service Valcon providing fuel /propane trucks for training. All members are
participating in quarterly EMS training.
4. Public Works
In response to the new and forthcoming Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, water
department staff has been continually locating and identifying city-wide water service
lines. To date, 3,300
service lines have
been captured in GPS
with an estimated
6,000-7,000
remaining. Of these
lines, 755 have been
GPS captured in the
field since November
2022 with staff
searching through
snow and ice berms to
ensure we meet
compliance with
EPA’s lead service line inventory requirements. The inventory phase is required to be
completed by October of 2024. The next phase will include new sampling plans,
replacement plans, public education, and replacement of inventoried lead service lines.
5. Building Department
In the last 2 weeks, we have issued permits for 3 single-family homes. That brings the
total of new single-family/duplex and townhouse units for the year to 12, compared to 43
last year at this time.
There have been 36 multi-family housing units issued so far this year. Last year, at this
time, we had issued 24 multi-family housing units.
There were a total of 173 combined building and/or fire inspections completed in the last
2 weeks.
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Residential – 39 Plumbing – 6
Commercial – 26 Mechanical - 12
Electrical – 13 Fire – 73
6. Community Development
Community Development submitted its closeout report to US EPA for its 2016
Brownfields Assessment grant. This $400,000 grant resulted in the following
environmental site assessment reports:
• Six Phase I
• Two Supplemental Phase I
• Six Phase II
Nearly 30 acres in the Downtown and Core Areas of Kalispell were assessed through this
grant which provided environmental assessments to eligible property owners at no cost.
These reports aided in the successful transfer of ownership, cleanup, underground storage
tank removal and/or redevelopment of ten properties in Kalispell.