Airport Briefing NotesAIRPORT BRIEFING NOTES
FOR
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The location of the Kalispell City Airport was purchased by the City in 1928 for the
[!)urpose of developing a municipal airport. The airport functioned with a grass strip untLI
1985 when the first asphalt runway was put in. The runway has a full length taxiway on
*ne side and a half length taxiway on the other side. Private property runs approximately
two feet from portions of the taxiways. Private property runs approximately 20' along a
small portion of the main runway. It goes without saying that the airport does not meet
FAA standards in some areas. The Runway Protection Zones on both ends of the runway
do not meet FAA standards. The new designed airport meets all FAA standards and has
been approved by the FAA.
1. 1996 The City of Kalispell did an Urban Renewal Plan for the airport and
airport property and relocating them to a complex north of town, Kidsports. With the
approval of the Athletic Complex/Airport Redevelopment Plan the City Council
redevelopment of the airport.
2. 1999 Using TIF money, the City completed a Master Plan Study and a Site
Evaluation. The present location of the airport was selected from a list of five possible
locations in the valley. The two main reasons for keeping the airport close to the City
large chunk of land next to the Waste Water Treatment Plant that would not be
considered developable for housing or for business use.
3. 1999 Several Airport Layout Plans were considered by the City Council and with
the assistance of Consulting Engineers and Airport Engineers they selected what was
called Alternative 2. This design consisted of moving the runway approximately 1,000
feet to the south and turning it 5.5 degrees away from Highway 93S. The move to the
the north end and the swing 5.5 degrees to the west was to accommodate an offset from
current businesses along Highway 93S. The realignment will eliminate the need to
purchase any property from businesses along Highway 93S. The movement to the south
would also help with any noise abatement problems the airport might have.
4. 2002 The City completed an Environmental Assessment on the proposed new
runway site/location. The EA came back with a Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) and was accepted by the FAA. 'Ihe FAA attached a letter to the EA stating
what the Federal Government was willing to fund. However, before the FAA would
participate in any redevelopment, the City of Kalispell had to mitigate the KGEZ radio
towers located 1.8 miles off the south end of the airport. This meant removal or
relocation of the towers. With this in hand, the City started discussions with the owner of
KGEZ radio to remove their towers from protected airspace. (Part 77)
5. 2004 Up to this point the management of the airport had bounced between the Parks
and Recreation Department; to the Public Works Department; to an Airport Association
management. The City Council appointed themselves an Airport Authority, but did not
know what that really meant. The complexity of the development of the airport became
more that what the Council really wanted to handle, so they dissolved the Airport
Authority and placed the Airport, as a Department of the City, under the City Managers
control. It also gave the City Manager authority to appoint an Advisory Council for the
Airport if he/she so wishes. The City Manager brought on board a Consultant to organize
the Airport and lay out the future design and functionality.
6. 2005 The first Airport Manager was hired by the City Manger to operate the Airport.
The following actions were completed during the first year:
• Airport Affected Area legislation was formed and passed by Council.
• Airport was listed on the Federal books for funding.
• Bond issue passed to begin upgrades, paid for through the TIF.
• Land acquisition began.
• Airport Advisory Council formed to work with the CM and AM.
• Budget was established.
• Airport moved to an Enterprise Fund by Council.
7. 2006 A new set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) were put into effect plus
Minimum Standards for doing business on the airport were written and distributed. A
new Standard Lease for hangar sites was written and became policy. A first time Fixed
Base Operator (FBO) lease was developed and signed by the only FBO on the airport.
TIF funds were used to begin fencing the airport for security reasons.
8. 2007 The first Airport Layout Plan (ALP) was approved by the FAA. Discussions
continued on the radio towers.
9. 2008 A proposal was presented to KGEZ to build a new set of towers outside of
protected airspace in exchange for removal of the old towers. The owner refused the
offer. The FAA in conjunction with Montana Aeronautics Division conducted an
Economic Impact Study on selected airports in Montana. The results showed the
Kalispell City Airport a huge economic engine in the community.
10. 2009 KGEZ radio station filed for bankruptcy with debt of $5 million. A new,
revised ALP was approved by the FAA. A plan to revise the Urban Renewal Plan around
the airport was presented to City Council. The new Plan would eliminate the Athletic
Complex and replace it with South Kalispell/Airport Redevelopment Plan.
11. Review the Budget for the Airport, Bond Issue, Tax Increment District.
our the Airport and set up a meeting with business leaders around the airport.
13. The airport has no employees except the Manager. Seasonal workers are hired to
mow grass and spray weeds. Contract labor is used for snow plowing. The Airport pays
administrative fees to the City and pays their own insurance bills. The Airport Manager
manages the Airport TIF and half of his salary is paid with TIF funds.
KGEZ Radio towers
at the four comers.
South Kalispell/Airport Redevelopment Plan
submitted for 2009/2010