09/15/03 City Council MinutesA REGULAR MEETING OF THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD AT 7:00 P.M.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2003, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL IN
KALISPELL, MONTANA. MAYOR PAMELA B. KENNEDY PRESIDED. COUNCIL
MEMBERS BOB HAFFERMAN, RANDY KENYON, DUANE LARSON, FRED LEISTIKO,
HANK OLSON, JAYSON PETERS AND TED POLER WERE PRESENT. COUNCIL
MEMBER JIM ATKINSON WAS ABSENT.
Also present: City Manager Chris Kukulski, City Attorney Charles Harball, Acting City Clerk Judi
Funk, Finance Director Amy Robertson, Police Chief Frank Garner, Fire Chief Randy Brodehl,
Public Works Director Jim Hansz, Community Development Director Susan Moyer, Parks and
Recreation Director Mike Baker, Personnel Specialist Marti Hensley and Tri-City Director Tom
Jentz.
Mayor Kennedy called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
A. AGENDA APPROVAL.
Kenyon moved approval of the Agenda. The motion was seconded.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon vote,
B. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL
Council Minutes — Regular Meeting September 2 2003
Council Minutes — Special Meeting September 4, 2003
2. Ordinance 1480 — Zone Change — National Flood Services — 2nd Reading
National Flood Services has requested a zoning designation of B-3, Community Business, on
property located northeast of Corporate Drive and which is currently zoned RA-1, Low
Density Residential Apartment. Ordinance 1480 passed on first reading September 2nd.
3. Proclamation ---- Good Neighbor Dav — September 28, 2003
Larson moved to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion was seconded.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon roil call vote.
C. STUDENT ISSUES
Kate Reese, 157 Arbour Drive, Mayor of Kalispell Youth Advisory Council, gave an update on
activities and said the youth council is accepting applications for new members and scheduling
volunteer projects.
D. HEAR THE PUBLIC
Jerry Begg, 220 Woodland Avenue, representing the Kalispell Business Owners Association, said
the KBOA has been studying the charter and the association is concerned that the charter is being
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September 15, 2003
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proposed by the Council, not a study commission. He said the association doesn't feel there has
been enough public input into the charter.
E. REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUBSEQUENT COUNCIL ACTION
Ell. FINAL PLAT — MOUNTAIN VIEW PLAZA
This is a request for final plat approval of the Mountain View Plaza subdivision plat which creates
nine commercial lots on approximately 37 acres.
Leistiko moved final plat approval for Mountain View Plaza with the attached conditions.
The motion was seconded.
Jentz explained the preliminary plat approved by the Council on October 21, 2002 indicated there
would be eleven lots in the subdivision. He said in May, the developer received final plat approval
from the city for eight commercial lots, combining three of the proposed lots between Target and
Home Depot into one lot and the remaining seven lots along Highway 93. Jentz stated the developer
never recorded the final plat with the county and is now requesting final plat approval for a total of
nine lots with the same seven commercial lots along Highway 93, but with two lots between Home
Depot and Target.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
E/2. RESOLUTION 4832 —AMENDMENTS TO PERSONNEL POLICIES HANDBOOK
Staff requested several changes to the City of Kalispell Personnel Policies Handbook to address
changes in laws and current personnel issues.
Leistiko moved Resolution 4832, a resolution revising Resolution 4561, adopting a revised
personnel policies handbook for all City employees and declaring an effective date. The
motion was seconded.
Kukulski explained the primary changes include the addition of one Personal Day to coincide with
the APSCME contract. He said there is also a section concerning leave without pay that clarifies that
after twelve months the position will be considered vacant.
Peters asked if every employee will now have to re -read and sign that they've read the new policies
handbook.
Kukulski said there wouldn't be a "sign" sheet but every employee will receive an updated copy of
the personnel manual.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
E13. RESOLUTION 4833 — STOP SIGNS
The Police Department is recommending the installation of stop signs at four intersections at Kelly
Road to better clarify who has the right-of-way.
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September 15, 2003
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Kenyon moved Resolution 4833, a resolution approving the placement of stop signs at the
streets intersecting Kelly Road and declaring an effective date. The motion was seconded.
Kukulski gave a staff report explaining there was no traffic control out of those subdivisions onto
Kelly Road.
Peters clarified the signs will be placed only on roads intersecting with Kelly Road, the traffic flow
on Kelly Road will not change.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
E/4. RESOLUTION 4834 — CDBG GRANT APPLICATION APPROVAL AND SETTING
A PUBLIC HEARING
The Community Development department is asking for authority to apply for funding through the
Community Development Block Grant program to assist ten families to purchase homes. A public
hearing on the grant application is scheduled for October 6th.
Larson moved Resolution 4834, a resolution authorizing submission of a grant application to
the Montana CDBG Program and setting a date for a public hearing. The motion was
seconded.
Moyer said the grant money is restricted to home buyers within the City limits and is a continuation
of a program Kalispell has been doing for about nine years.
Hafferman said this is really a request for grant money for subsidized housing, not affordable
housing. He said subsidizing the cost for getting into a home is one thing, being able to afford the
cost of monthly utility bills, taxes, insurance, etc. is another matter. Hafferan said with all of the
minimum wage jobs in Kalispell, many of the residents cannot afford subsidized housing, and
subsidies don't work. He said he's in favor of helping those less fortunate, but the City needs to help
by striving for better paying jobs and examining taxation, fees and licenses. Hafferman stated
"subsidies are a tourniquet that is never removed".
Mayor Kennedy said she agrees with some of Hafferman's comments but she doesn't feel this is a
subsidy. She said it's a way the City can assist some of the people in the community that currently
pay rent. Mayor Kennedy said it's a wonderful program to help people to afford their first home.
She said the process of qualification is an extensive one and people have to have good credit and
have a means to make the payments.
The motion carried upon roll call vote with Kenyon, Larson, Leistiko, Olson, Peters, Poler and
Mayor Kennedy voting in favor, and Hafferman voting against.
F. MAYOR/COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS
Mayor Kennedy announced there will be a joint Cities/County meeting September 29th in Columbia
Falls and she invited members of the Kalispell Youth Advisory Council to attend.
Kukulski stated there are volunteers in the community that have offered to answer questions
concerning the charter, including Bruce Measure, a member of the last study commission.
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Kukulski announced the City received notice today that Kalispell received the COPS grant it applied
for and because of the grant award, an officer will be added to the Police Department.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
ATTEST:
Theresa White
City Clerk
Approved October 6, 2003
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