1. Growth Policy Discussion2.
Tri-City Planning Office
17 Second Street East — Suite 211
Kalispell, Montana 59901
Phone: (406) 751-1850
Fax: (406) 751-1858
tricity@centurytel.net
REPORT TO: Kalispell Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tom Jentz, Director
Chris A. Kukulski, City Manager
SUBJECT Growth Policy — Work Session
MEETING DATE: August 19, 2002
BACKGROUND: The City Council is desirous of proceeding with development of a
growth policy. The City is in the process of finalizing the appointment of a permanent
City Planning board. The responsibility of the Planning Board under MCA 76-1-601 is
to prepare a growth policy for that area within their jurisdiction that is to be
presented to the City Council for consideration.
Prior to directing the Planning Board to undertake this process, the Council wanted to
provide some overall direction to the process in light of the fact that so much work
has been done to date. Since 1996, no less than 3 separate plan drafts have been
created. The Ci�jCounty Planning Board forwarded a draft to the City and the County
in 1999 and the City Council at the time forwarded a draft to the County
Commissions in August of 2001. All of these draft efforts focused on the original 41/2
mile planning jurisdictional boundary. Note — An historical timeline of activity is
attached for your review.
Staff suggests that there are 4 major philosophical issues to address as we chart a
new course in planning for the City of Kalispell.
What should the jurisdictional area of the Plan be? There are several
options. The plan could address just the city limits, the plan could extend
some distance beyond the city as a policy based on infrastructure
expansion or sphere of interest, the plan could keep the original 41/z mile
boundary.
has already been accomplished Substantial public inputV has already been
received and a wealth of information has been prepared and is available to the
Planning Board to date including three draft plans.
Should the Resources Document be updated? This is the support document that
contains census, economic data and trends, land use information and public
facilities information. Staff has kept the document fairly updated but it does not
contain the latest census information and some portions are slightly dated.
Providing Community Planning Assistance To:
• City of Kalispell • City of Columbia Falls • City of Whitefish
Mayor and City Council
August 15, 2002
Re: Growth Policy Work Session
Page 2
4. What will our working relationship be with the County Commissioners in this
Process. The County is not required to .approve or review the Growth Policy
document. However, one of the criteria for a growth policy requires a description of
how the City and County will cooperate and coordinate efforts.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the following directions:
1. The boundary of the Plan should reflect the boundaries of the City's facility
planning. Specifically, studies being currently undertaken by public works to
determine the future service area of the water and sewer facilities should be
used.
2. The Planning Board should utilize the existing work to date and glean the best
from each of the draft documents crafting a new Growth Policy that reflects the
needs of the current and future needs of the citizens of Kalispell.
3. Staff should be directed to update the resources and analysis document as part
of this process.
4. The County Commissioners should be provided drafts of the plan and offered
an opportunity to comment as the process continues. Joint meetings with the
Commissioners should prove to be beneficial as the plan document becomes a
more formal and final document.
FISCAL EFFECTS: Significant positive impacts once developed.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Council.
Respectfully submitted,
q"' c c
Tom Jentz Chris A. Kukulski
Director City Manager
Report compiled: August 15, 2002
c: Theresa White, Kalispell City Clerk
KALISPELL GROWTH POLICY
TIME LINE
July 1996
City Council directs Planning Board to begin update process
December 1996
Resources and analysis document completed, Appendix A,
maps
Jan - May 1997
Survey crafted by Planning Board
Sent to 1 in 10 households, (1239 surveyed, 512 responded, 42%)
Appendix B of Plan
February 1997
Planning Board creates 3 focus group committees (7-9 members)
• Business and development committee
• Neighborhood and environs committee
• Public Facilities and Services
Feb. -Nov. 1997
Focus committees meet total of 24 pubic meetings and hearings
over a nine -month period. Each committee crafts its own plan
document.
December 1997 Consensus committee consisting of all members of the three
committees meets. A professional facilitator facilitated a day -long
session. Joint committee submits a consensus draft plan to the
Planning Board
Dec. -Feb. 1998 Draft consensus plan is available for public review for 90 days.
Multiple public meetings and forms at high school, grade schools,
City Hall, county building.
March 1998 All public comments from the 90 day public comment period
presented to Planning Board.
Mar 98 - Oct. 99 Planning Board membership changed with new appointments.
New board moves to hold weekly meetings to incorporate public
comments and modify plan.
October 1999 Planning Board holds hearing and forwards plan to City and
County
Oct. 99-Aug. 01 Kalispell Council reviews plan a page at a time, approves plan with
modifications, and incorporates Growth Policy issues. Forwards
plan to County Commissioners.
December 01 County Commissioners withdraw from City -County Planning
relationship and extend Flathead County Planning Board up to
City limits. Status of Kalispell City -County Master Plan and
Planning Board in question.
Jan 02 Interim Kalispell Planning Board formed to review in -city projects.
August 02 Permanent City Planning Board formed - charged with preparing
City Growth Policy p g