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11-10-25 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL KCM01; WORK SESSION MINUTES ALISPELL November 10 2025 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: bttps://www.kalist)ell.com/MeetingVideos. 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 via video conference 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 City staff present included City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, Acting City Manager and Public Works Director Susie Turner, Road and Fleet Superintendent Gene Come, Central Garage Mechanic Supervisor Tom Tinney, City Attorney Johnna Preble, and Human Resource Director Denise Michel. C. DISCUSSION Central Garaize Facility Review and Funding � a Public Works Director Susie Turner began the staff presentation. Bold titles correspond to presentation slides. &a 00:01:42 Facility — Current Director Turner explained the city vehicles and equipment that the central garage repairs and maintains, talked about the capabilities of the mechanics that run the facility, and the advantages of having the central garage. 00:03:10 Challenges Director Turner explained the challenges that the central garage facility is experiencing, including having enough space, height, and infrastructure to safely support current and growing service, repair and maintenance demands, and storage. Page 1 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, November 10, 2025 00:05:09 Facility Needs Director Turner explained the needs and size of the facility and why specific features are needed and talked about an estimated project cost of $6 million. 00:06:14 Preliminary Engineering — Facility Logistics and Cost Estimates Director Turner explained the next step in this process is to procure professional services for citing and preliminary engineering work. Funding for this step was designated in the FY 26 general fund budget. Staff asked for direction on whether Council would like staff to bring forward the budget amendment process to begin securing professional services. 00:06:58 Mayor Johnson provided discussion about getting the process started. 00:07:09 Council Member Hunter asked where the budget allocation funds will come from. 00:07:19 Director Turner spoke regarding carry-over cash that was designated for the Central Garage and confirmed that the allocation is $600,000 which would support citing, 30 to 60% design and cost estimates. 00:08:01 Council Member Nunnally asked how long the proposed facility would be expected to last into the future. Director Turner spoke further about facility needs and features. 00:09:20 Council Member Graham asked about the use of the old building, learning that the sewer crew which is currently experiencing space issues would move into the current garage building, allowing other public works crews to do some needed shifting as well. 00:10:35 Council Member Hunter asked why the budget would need to be further amended. 00:11:25 Director Turner explained that a public hearing for a budge amendment will be the next step and staff will bring that forward per Council direction. 00:11:29 Facility Location and Funding Director Turner explained what staff have been considering looking at the facility location and that depending on the location, several funding options can be considered. 00:12:49 Summary Table Loan Director Turner reviewed a table showing the FY26 budget distribution for the central garage and how and why this is split between the general fund and enterprise and assessment funds. In comparison, numbers were provided assuming a 20-year loan for FY27, and what the breakout would be for the 16 funds that support central garage and a comparison of numbers assuming a 10-year loan for FY27. 00:14:32 Loan Cost Breakouts Director Turner explained a graph showing future central garage budget adjustment options and how that would be split between the 16 affected funds and why. 00:15:43 Mayor Johnson confirmed that the numbers are based on an estimated cost of $6 million. Page 2 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, November 10, 2025 00:15:58 Council Member Nunnally asked about potential costs to move the other departments once central garage was to move into a new facility. 00:16:50 Director Turner talked about the option of locating the facility within the Westside Tax Increment Financing District since the central garage services all city departments. She explained this would be an appropriate use of TIF funds. If desired, this location would help fund the facility instead of the western open space in the shop complex where a loan would need to be utilized. 00:18:11 Council and staff talked about the challenges and opportunities with the location options. 00:19:56 Council Member Hunter asked how the internal transfer fund works and how that would work with a loan. Director Turner spoke to how a loan payment would affect other services in the various departments. 00:22:36 Council Member Hunter asked questions and provided discussion about wanting to look at TIF District funding as an option. 00:23:27 Mayor Johnson provided discussion related to his philosophy regarding the use of TIF funds. 00:24:37 Council Member Daoud provided discussion and asked questions about how future budgeting could be adjusted. 00:25:25 Director Turner talked about preliminary discussions regarding property already owned by a public agency within the TIF District. 00:25:53 Council Member Graham provided discussion about the use of TIF funds. Mayor Johnson provided further discussion about past use of TIF funds. 00:27:11 Staff spoke regarding past ways that TIF funds have been utilized. 00:27:13 Council Member Hunter provided further discussion about TIF funds. 00:28:31 Mayor Johnson provided discussion about the changing landscape of real estate taxes at the state level. 00:29:14 Council Member Graham asked for further clarification on options. 00:29:30 Mayor and Council provided direction that they would like to look at all funding options. Director Turner said that staff will bring forward a future work session on funding options and will bring forward action items for a budget amendment to procure professional services. Page 3 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, November 10, 2025 D. PUBLIC COMMENT Mavor Johnson opened public comment. Seeing none, Mayor Johnson closed public comment. 00:30:27 Mandy Gerth, Public Comment Ms. Gerth of 71" Avenue East said she was speaking from a personal capacity but that she is the Director of Development at North Valley Food Bank. She asked Kalispell to issue a proclamation of support for the Flathead Food Bank. She told a personal story about how she has utilized the Food Bank in the past and how many in the valley work full-time and cannot make ends meet and must count on the nonprofits within the community especially when there are changes to benefits or rising costs pushing families into crisis. She talked about a proclamation issued by the City of Whitefish last week affirming the right to food security for all and pledging its support to North Valley Food Bank, and what a difference that is making. She explained why she would respectfully ask the City of Kalispell to issue a proclamation of support for the Flathead Food Bank, honoring the staff, volunteers and donors who make the food bank possible. Public comment received to Mayor and Council via email to publiccomment(a,kalis ell.com can be seen at www.kalispell.com/PublicComment. E. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS Acting City Manager Susie Turner explained that City offices will be closed tomorrow for Veterans Day. 00:33:57 Council Member Hunter said he would support the request for a proclamation for the Flathead Food Bank. 00:34:35 Council Member Hunter extended his gratitude to the voters for their support in the election and thanked his opponents in the race. He is looking forward to stepping into the role in a few months and appreciates the offer from Mayor Johnson to get advice and will take that offer. 00:35:18 Council Member Graham congratulated those who were re-elected and newly elected and said to the others, they also succeeded by running for office. He said he is ready to be off council and view the new council. 00:36:18 Council Member Carlson congratulated Ryan Hunter and Jed Fisher for their elections. 00:36:21 Mayor Johnson said he would approve a Mayoral proclamation for the Flathead Food Bank and talked about the tremendous amount of good work they do for the community. He talked about the Food Bank needs to remodel and expand and are fundraising to do so. 00:36:59 Mayor Johnson congratulated those who ran for office and talked about how he has enjoyed his twelve years at the helm but will enjoy stepping down as well. 00:37:57 F. EXECUTIVE SESSION — City Manager Recruitment Closed session to discuss employee matters that relate to individual privacy in accordance with Montana Code Annotated. Page 4 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, November 10, 2025 The Mayor closed the meeting to the public at 7:37 p.m. for an executive session to discuss employee matters that relate to individual privacy in accordance with Montana Code Annotated. After the executive session, the Mayor opened the meeting back up to the public at 9:15 p.rn. and then adjourned the meeting. G. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m. a �A `.Cj�FP LTA. � �._ ' S �g Md Aim& Brunckhorst, CMC City Clerk Minutes approved on December 1, 2025 UPCOMING SCHEDULE City Offices Closed — Tuesday, November 11, 2025 — Veterans Day Next Regular Meeting — November 17, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Next Work Session — November 24, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers PARTICIPATION Watch council sessions live with the agenda and supporting documents or later with documents and time stamped minutes at: https://www.kalispell.com/Meetin Vg ideos or live or later on YouTube at: www.kalispell.com/YouTube. 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. Page 5 of 5