I1. Resolution 5760 - Resolution of Intent & Call for Public Hearing - CDBG Submission for FairgroundsCITY OF City of Kalis ell
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Post Office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997
Telephone (406) 758-7701 Fax - (406) 758-7758
MONTANA
REPORT TO: Doug Russell, City Manager'
FROM: Katharine Thompson, Community Development Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Facilities Grant
application on behalf of Flathead County Fairgrounds for Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) Improvements
MEETING DATE: May 16, 2016
BACKGROUND: At the Public Needs Assessment Hearing held November 2015, the critical need
for Flathead County Fairgrounds improvements to increase public safety and accessibility was
addressed. The 58-acre county property hosts the annual Northwest Montana Fair, concerts, sporting
events, trade shows, and college graduation, serving Flathead County and the surrounding areas.
Flathead County has completed an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) evaluation determining
that the Flathead County Fairgrounds are in need of ADA improvements to ensure safe accessibility
for the public. The Preliminary Architecture Report (PAR) for the fairgrounds, recently completed by
Solus Architecture, focuses on ADA improvements to two restrooms, the grandstand entrance, and
the food court as these areas have the highest levels of need.
Flathead County would like to pursue CDBG funding to make these ADA improvements but is not
eligible to apply for a CDBG Public Facilities Grant in this cycle because the County has a grant in
process to support building and ADA improvements to the Senior Centers in Whitefish, Columbia
Falls, and Bigfork, as well as the Kalispell Senior Center office building. Flathead County anticipates
that if funded, this construction project would be completed by the end of 2017, ensuring the City
would have an open public facilities slot for application in the spring 2018 funding cycle.
Cost estimates for overall fairgrounds improvements to the grandstand, food court and two restrooms
are $535,000, with ADA improvements estimated at $235,000. The CDBG Public Facilities Grant
application would request $176,250 with a $58,750 match provided by Flathead County.
FISCAL IMPACT: The project will have no financial contributions from the City of Kalispell.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that City Council approve the submission of a
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Facilities Grant request in the amount of
$176,250 on behalf of Flathead County for the 2017 funding cycle.
ATTACHMENT: Resolution 5760
Flathead County Board of Commissioners Letter of Request
RESOLUTION NO.5760
A RESOLUTION OF INTENT BY THE CITY OF KALISPELL TO GIVE ITS ASSENT TO
FLATHEAD COUNTY IN A GRANT APPLICATION SUBMISSION TO THE MONTANA CDBG
PUBLIC FACILITIES PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSES OF PARTIAL FUNDING FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF ADA COMPLIANT FACILITIES AT THE FLATHEAD COUNTY
FAIRGROUNDS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF KALISPELL AND SETTING A DATE FOR A
PUBLIC HEARING.
WHEREAS, Flathead County seeks to utilize the City of Kalispell's 2016 application allocation for public
facilities funds through the Montana Department of Commerce Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) program to assist in the partial funding of ADA compliant facilities at the
Flathead County Fairgrounds located in the City of Kalispell; and
WHEREAS, because Flathead County Fairgrounds is located in the City of Kalispell and serves as a venue
for many public functions it is therefore in the best interests of the City to promote the
construction of the new accessible facilities that will better meet the needs of the city
population; and
WHEREAS, there are currently no other public facility projects within the city that are known to be
application ready and that would otherwise be eligible for CDBG public facility grant funding;
and
WHEREAS, A public hearing is required to be duly noticed and held to gather specific information on the
potential impacts and benefits related to an upgraded Flathead County Fairground facilities, and
gather public comment prior to the submission of a CDBG Public Facilities application.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KALISPELL, AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. A public hearing is hereby scheduled for June 6, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council
Chambers at City Hall, 201 First Avenue East, Kalispell, Montana for the purpose of
taking public comment on the application.
SECTION 2. That following the public hearing the City of Kalispell may authorize Flathead County
to submit an application to the Montana Department of Commerce for CDBG public
facilities grant funding for those funds allocated to the City of Kalispell for the
construction of facilities at the Flathead County Fairgrounds located in the City of
Kalispell and to provide such additional information as may be required.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
KALISPELL THIS 16TH DAY OF MAY, 2016.
Mark Johnson
Mayor
ATTEST:
Aimee Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
Flathead County
Board of Commissioners
(406)758-5503
Pamela J. Holmquist
Gary D. Krueger
Philip B. Mitchell
Dear Council Members,
March 22, 2016
This letter is to request the City of Kalispell's consideration for sponsorship of a Community Development
Block Public Facilities Grant from the Montana Department of Commerce on behalf of Flathead County.
Public facility funds, if awarded, will be utilized to complete ADA improvements at the fairgrounds.
PROJECT NEED:
Many of the facilities throughout the Flathead County fairgrounds are deteriorating and are in need of
substantial upgrades and improvements. In 2015, Flathead County completed an extensive ADA
evaluation of all buildings and parks owned by Flathead County. It was determined that several of these
same facilities at the fairgrounds were also in need of important ADA improvements to ensure safe
accessibility to the public. Flathead County is currently contracting with Solus Architecture to complete a
Preliminary Architecture Report (PAR) evaluating the most cost effective option for addressing these
accessibility and health and safety challenges at the fairgrounds. The PAR focuses primarily on two
restrooms, the grandstand entrance, and the food court as these areas have the highest level of need.
Flathead County is supporting the development of the PAR but does not have funds available to support
the entire cost of a building renovation and ADA access improvement project. Flathead County would like
to pursue a CDBG public facilities grant to financially support a portion of the fairgrounds project that is
related to ADA access improvements. Based on program requirements, ADA improvements are eligible for
CDBG assistance.
PROJECT BUDGET:
Cost estimates for the entire project including the portion allocated for ADA improvements will be
finalized with the completion of the PAR. For now, it is estimated that the total cost for renovations to the
grandstand, food court and two restrooms will total $535,000. The ADA improvements are estimated to
cost $235,000. If awarded, $176,250 would be provided through the CDBG Public Facilities grant and the
remaining $58,750 in ADA improvements would be provided by Flathead County as the required match
funds. All project costs not related to ADA improvements would be provided by Flathead County.
WHY ARE WE ASKING THE CITY OF KALISPELL TO HOST THIS APPLICATION?
1) The fairgrounds are an important part of our community and have a significant economic
impact on the area. It is vital to ensure they are safe and accessible to the public.
2) Flathead County currently has a 2015 CDBG Public Facilities grant open to support
building and ADA improvements to the Senior Centers in Whitefish, Columbia Falls, and
Bigfork as well as the Kalispell Senior Center office building. Until this project is
completed and the grant is closed out, Flathead County is ineligible to apply for another
public facilities grant.
3) If awarded, Flathead County is committed to completing the project in a timely manner.
From past CDBG Public Facility projects, with a spring application deadline, grant award
announcements are generally made in the fall of the same year. On this schedule Flathead
800 South Main, Room 302 ** Kalispell, MT 59901 ** Fax (406) 758-5861
County would complete the construction project by the end of 2017, ensuring the City of
Kalispell would have an open public facilities slot for application in the spring 2018.
funding cycle.
4) Flathead County would provide administrative support and project management to ensure
all Department of Commerce reporting requirements are met.
This year's deadline for CDBG Public Facilities Applications has not. yet been set, but is anticipated to be
early May. We appreciate your timely response and willingness to consider sponsoring this application.
Sincerely,
Pamela I Holmquist, Chairman
Flathead County Board Commissioners
800 South Main, Room 302 ** Kalispell, MT 59901 ** Fax (406) 758-5861