01-03-25 City Manager Report1
City of Kalispell
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Information Memorandum
1/3/2025
1. Public Works Cellular Water Meter Replacement & Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project:
The City is four years into the meter change out project and well on the way to meeting the goal
for complete change out in 8 years (~1,100 meters/ year). The city’s goal is to migrate gradually (within 8 years) to a fully automated cellular reading system allowing readings to be collected remotely. The new metering system offers a direct and secure access to the utility customer’s water use data through EyeOnWater. The
EyeOnWater includes a secure website to review and analyze water
usage patterns. With these tools, utility customers will be able to view hourly water usage activity and gain a greater understanding of the amount of water they use.
To date, the city has replaced 4,434 meters, which accounts for 44 percent of the old meters scheduled for replacement. Additionally, 566 customers have signed up to use the EyeOnWater tool.
For more information, please visit Kalispell’s website at Cellular
Water Meter Replacement & Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
Project | Kalispell, MT or call Public Works at 758-7720.
2. Planning Department The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and take public comments on the agenda
item listed below:
1. File #KZTA-24-01 – A request from LPW Architecture on behalf of Immanuel Living for a zoning text amendment to allow pedestrian skybridge connections over rights-of-way to encroach into the front and side-corner setback areas. Current setback provisions
do not allow any portion of the structure to encroach into the setback. If a skybridge
crosses a right-of-way, it needs to be within the setback area in order to make the connection. This amendment would allow for the connection to be located within the setback area.
2
Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission will hold a work session on the following project:
1. File #KA-24-10; KPUD-24-05; and KPP-24-06 – Vista Ridge Cottages, LP, has
submitted applications for Vista Ridge Cottages, including requests for annexation, initial zoning of RA-1 (Residential Apartment) with a Planned Unit Development overlay and preliminary plat approval for 96 residential units (53 detached single-family and 43 attached single-family/townhouse) on approximately 15.78 acres, including lots, roads,
and common areas. The property is located at 489 Two Mile Drive containing 15.778
acres.
2. Police and Fire will be providing a brief overview of their services within the City. This
work session is the third in a series the Planning Commission will hold in the coming
months in regards to establishing a land use plan as required by the Montana Land Use
Planning Act. work sessions will be noticed and a formal hearing will be held before the
Commission
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.
Documents pertaining to the agenda item are on file for public inspection at the Kalispell Development Services 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 Planning Commission | Kalispell, MT
(civicplus.com) under Planning Commission “upcoming agenda.” 3. Building Department
In the last 3 weeks we have issued permits for 3 single-family homes. That will keep the total of
new single-family/duplex and townhouse units for the year at 141 compared to 102 last year at this time. There have been 128 multi-family housing units issued so far this year. There were a total of 303 combined building and/or fire inspections completed in the last 3
weeks.
Residential – 62 Plumbing – 22 Commercial – 37 Mechanical – 15 Electrical – 22 Fire – 145
3
4. Parks and Recreation
Park crews have removed Christmas lights and wreaths from city buildings. They are now starting the Christmas tree pickup program, which will run until mid-January. Saff is also working on brush and tree thinning in Woodland and Heritage Parks.
Our Forestry staff continues raising tree canopies of approximately 800 trees in the Silverbrook Estates and Leisure Drive subdivisions.
Kalispell Kickers indoor soccer registration closed December 29. 108 players have registered and there will be 12 teams in the 2025 program. The program begins January 18.
The second session of ice skating lessons begins January 7. Designed for beginners with a focus
on fun, participation, and de velopment of basic skating skills. Lessons are conducted in a group format, teaching the fundamentals of ice skating to prepare indi viduals for recreational skating or youth hockey.
KPR hosted the first “Kid’s Holiday Workshop” on December 24, at the Community Room at
Depot Park. 12 participants enjoyed crafting, games, and cookie decorating.
Youth participants have been having a lot of fun at “Freeze Out Camp” with daily field trips, crafts, games, and friendship. The next school break camp will occur in March over SD5’s scheduled spring break. Registration is currently open.
KPR has teamed up with the Flathead Valley High School and the Glacier High School
Cheerleading squad to offer a one-day workshop at each school. The Glacier cheer workshop is
January 11, and the Flathead workshop is February 1. Kids spend the morning learning to cheer and shout, then perform during halftime at a varsity basketball game.
Registration is open for all winter and spring activities. Two new programs begin on January 7.