1a. Council Minutes - Regular Meeting December 17, 2001A REGULAR MEETING OF THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD AT 7:00
P.M. MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2001, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY
HALL IN KALISPELL, MONTANA. MAYOR WILLIAM E. BOHARSKI PRESIDED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS DALE HAARR, RANDY KENYON, DUANE LARSON, FRED
LEISTIKO, RON VAN NATTA AND CITY MANAGER CHRIS KUKULSKI AND ACTING
CITY ATTORNEY CHARLES HARBALL WERE PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBERS JIM
ATKINSON AND DON COUNSELL WERE ABSENT.
Mayor Boharski called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
AGENDA APPROVAL
Haarr moved approval of the Agenda. The motion was seconded by Van
Natta.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon vote.
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL
1. Council Minutes - Regular Meeting December 3, 2001
2. Approval of Claims per Payables Register - $557,467.04
3. Award Bid - Replacement Deicer Truck
The current General Street budget includes funding for
replacement of an old deicer truck at a budgeted cost of
$31,000.00. Only one bid was received. Bouma Truck Sales in
Choteau, Montana bid $24,950.00.
4. Retirement Acknowledgment - Kalispell Police Department
Dan Bourne is retiring from the Police Department effective
December 31st following almost 22 years of service.
5. Retirement Acknowledgment - Kalispell Fire Department
Richard Seddon, Fire Marshal, and Allen Gustafson, Fire
Captain, are retiring from the Fire Department effective
December 31st. Both men have served more than thirty years.
Van Natta moved approval of the Consent Agenda. The motion was
seconded by Leistiko.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon vote.
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December 17, 2001
Page 1
HEAR THE PUBLIC
Pauline Sjordal, 234 3rd Avenue West, invited everyone to the 4th
annual First Night Flathead.
ORDINANCE 1409 - ZONE CHANGE - FLATHEAD VALLEY ORTHOPEDIC PROFIT
SHARE - 2ND READING
Flathead Valley Orthopedic Profit Share has requested a zone change
from B-1 to B-2 on approximately 4.6 acres of property between the
east side of North Meridian Road and the west side of Highway 93,
north of Three Mile Drive. Council passed Ordinance 1409 on first
reading December 3rd.
Leistiko moved second reading of Ordinance 1409, an ordinance to
amend Section 27.02.010, Official Zoning Map, City of Kalispell
Zoning Ordinance, (Ordinance No. 1175), by zoning certain real
property described as Lot 5 of Hall Addition #82 in Section 6,
Township 28 North, Range 21 West, P.M.M., Flathead County, Montana
(previously zoned City B-1, Neighborhood Buffer District) to City
B-2 (General Business District), in accordance with the City -County
Master Plan, and to provide an effective date. The motion was
seconded by Van Natta.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
RESOLUTION 4674 - ANNEXATION - SUMMIT RIDGE AREA
The City of Kalispell initiated annexation of a small strip of
property approximately 20 feet by 300 feet on the south side of
Summit Ridge Drive west of Parkway Drive. The land was
inadvertently missed during annexation proceedings of adjoining
properties in 1984.
Van Natta moved Resolution 4674, a resolution to provide for the
alteration of the boundaries of the City of Kalispell by including
therein as an annexation certain real property, more particularly
described in "Exhibit A", to be known as Northridge Summit Addition
No. 309, to zone said property in accordance with the Kalispell
Zoning Ordinance, and to declare an effective date. The motion was
seconded by Larson.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
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December 17, 2001
Page 2
ORDINANCE 1410 - INITIAL ZONING - SUMMIT RIDGE AREA - 1ST READING
Staff is recommending a zoning designation of R-3, Residential,
which allows single-family residences as permitted uses with a
minimum lot size requirement of 7,000 square feet.
Leistiko moved first reading of Ordinance 1410, an ordinance to
amend Section 27.02.010, Official Zoning Map, City of Kalispell
Zoning Ordinance, (Ordinance No. 1175), by zoning certain real
property described as approximately 20 feet wide and 300 feet long
on the south side of Summit Ridge Drive west of Parkway Drive
containing 5,052 square feet and more particularly described on
Exhibit "A" (previously zoned County R-4, Residential) to City R-3
(Residential), in accordance with the City -County Master Plan, and
to provide an effective date. The motion was seconded by Larson.
There was discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
FINAL PLAT APPROVAL - BUFFALO COMMONS PHASE 2, BLOCK 3
This is a request for final plat approval of a seven -lot townhouse
subdivision on approximately 1.37 acres on the north side of
Commons way within the multi -family development pod of the Buffalo
Commons development.
Haarr moved Final Plat Approval for Buffalo Commons Phase 2, Block
3. The motion was seconded by Van Natta.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon vote.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR TAX INCREMENT FINANCING
The Flathead City -County Health Department is requesting $500,000
in urban renewal funds to assist with the construction of a new
Health Department Facility.
Larson moved to authorize a grant of $500,000 in downtown urban
renewal assistance money to the City -County Health Department's
building project. The motion was seconded by Van Natta.
Leistiko commented he doesn't feel full grant of $500,000 is
warranted, however, he would be in favor of a partial grant and
partial loan. He said the health department should also seek funds
from Whitefish and Columbia Falls.
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December 17, 2001
Page 3
Leistiko moved an amendment to the motion with the City allocating
$500,000 in urban renewal funds to the City -County Health
Department; $250,000 as a grant and $250,000 as a no interest loan
to be paid back over the next ten years and the repaid funds to be
invested in sidewalk replacement in the downtown urban renewal
area. The motion was seconded by Kenyon.
Larson stated Ordinance 1402, which modified the urban renewal plan
to include the health department's building, states "the project
consists of granting to Flathead City -County Health
Department/Flathead Board of County Commissioners a sum not to
exceed $500,000 to assist in the construction of a new Health
Department Facility within the Downtown Urban Renewal Area". He
said the Council needs to remember this is a City -County Health
Department. The County has stepped forward with help and now it's
the City's turn. Larson said the money's there, so why make the
taxpayers pay additional monies to help pay back a loan of
$250,000.
Kenyon asked about how much would be left in the tax increment fund
after funding Streetscape and, if approved, this grant.
Kukulski said approximately $150,000.
Kenyon asked if Kukulski feels there would be any money to help
with the Parking Commission's request of $113,000.
Kukulski said it's up to the Council how they would like to use the
balance.
Leistiko stated according to the TIF budget given to the Council,
there has also been $239,000 earmarked for sidewalks. He said
according to his calculations, that would leave only $400,000
available to the health department.
Kukulski said infrastructure improvements were listed in the TIF
budget, but there isn't a "specific target" to do a certain number
of sidewalks for a certain amount of money.
Van Natta said the money is available to support this grant and if
the health department is going to maintain its programs it doesn't
need to raise levies to pay back a loan.
Haarr agreed, stating a ten year payback on $250,000 will increase
the health department's budget by about 37 percent which will be
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December 17, 2001
Page 4
passed directly back to the taxpayer. He said the grant is the way
to go.
Public Comment
Bill Goodman, Parking Commission member, said the commission has
submitted a $113,000 urban renewal request for lighting and
landscaping for parking lots which would dovetail perfectly with
the Streetscape project, however, members have been told there
isn't enough money. He said he's a strong believer in the health
department but he doesn't know if the City has enough money to be
that generous.
Mayre Flowers, CFBF, urged the Council to consider the loan option
to help offset the expenses the City will have when the urban
renewal funds sunset. She said she supports asking the other cities
for contributions.
Joe Russell, City -County Health Officer, stated the building for
the health department is in the downtown urban renewal district and
he doesn't know why Whitefish and Columbia Falls would want to
contribute above what they are now to benefit the Kalispell
downtown district. He said the health department provides an
inordinate amount of services to the Kalispell community and he
wants those services to remain as high as possible.
The amendment failed upon roll call vote with Leistiko and Boharski
voting in favor, and Haarr, Kenyon, Larson and Van Natta voting
against.
The main motion to grant the City -County Health Department $500,000
in urban renewal funds carried upon vote with Boharski voting
against.
BPA/BACGEN ELECTRIC POWER REDUCTION AND COST SAVING PROGRAM
Staff is requesting that the City Manager be allowed to sign an
agreement to analyze energy saving alternatives. Boharski explained
the analysis could realistically result in savings of 10 percent in
utility costs.
Haarr moved the Council authorize the City Manager to sign the
letter agreement with Bonneville Power Administration and BacGen
Technologies for BPA to invest approximately $71,000.00 in the
analysis, identification and installation of energy saving measures
and equipment. The motion was seconded by Leistiko.
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December 17, 2001
Page 5
Kukulski thanked the Public Works Department for its work in
obtaining this investment from Bonneville Power. He said when staff
was looking at the budget this year, the City was facing
approximately $175,000 in added electricity costs and this
agreement is about "as easy as it gets".
Kenyon asked if this agreement will utilize an overwhelming amount
of staff time to implement.
Public Works Director Jim Hansz said the bulk of the work will be
performed by BPA's consultant, BacGen, with the City providing
minimal support.
The motion carried unanimously upon vote.
MAYOR/COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS
Kukulski commented on the Commissioner's meeting this morning
dismantling the City -County Planning Board and stated a special
meeting is planned for December 26th at 7:00 p.m.
Haarr stated the Commissioner's move today was no surprise due to
the lack of communication and encouraged everyone to go forward
with open minds, stating that maybe a new start will be beneficial
for everyone.
Boharski said he has drafted a proposed list framing what he thinks
the Commissioners would agree to in the short term concerning
planning issues and said he would get Council members a copy. He
said it's disappointing that something that's existed for over
thirty years has fallen apart, but he agrees that maybe starting
with a clean slate is the best way to go.
Kukulski reminded members there is a Council orientation scheduled
for Thursday starting at 8:00 a.m. at Central School with Ken
Weaver and Judy Mathre from the Local Government Center at MSU in
Bozeman.
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December 17, 2001
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Larson thanked everyone for their support and concern during his
recent illness.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
ATTEST:
Theresa White
City Clerk
Wm. E. Boharski
Mayor
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December 17, 2001
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