08-03-18 City Manager ReportCity of Kalispell
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Information Memorandum
8/3/2018
1. Public Works
Stormwater management permit applications for
the City of Kalispell are now online. We are
completely transitioning to an electronic permit
process and will no longer be supporting paper
submittals, additionally payments can now be
made online when submitting the permit. Online
permit applications, inspections, and terminations
information will all be tracked through Cityworks,
Our website provides the link at
www.kalispell.com/467/Stormwater-Permits-
Ordinances to the application along with
additional resources including a stormwater map
and resources on local water quality issues.
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The entire stormwater permit process is now
paperless, from permit submittal to plan review to
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inspections. Stormwater permits will be able to be
linked to building permits within Cityworks and
multiple departments will be able to track progress back and forth. This is an exciting
step forward as we are the first City in Montana to offer online stormwater permits!
Last week, the City's Sewer Crew completed two
major repairs on separate sewer mains that were
semi -collapsed in the west area of town. Due to
the depth of the main, the repairs were completed
in coordination with an excavation contractor.
The City Sewer Crew supported the construction
through installation of the new sections of pipe,
backfill, and materials handling. The
collaborative effort allows for an efficient and
timely repair while minimizing sewer service
interruptions.
2. Police Department
KPD recently took possession of our new Major Crime
Unit/Crisis Negotiation trailer and spent time outfitting
the trailer with cabinets and shelves to store needed
supplies.
KPD officers have competed annual outdoor firearms
qualifications and training.
Recently, Officer Dennis Bain conducted a bicycle safety course at Trinity Lutheran
school and Officer Jason Parce and Cairo gave a K9 presentation at the Summit.
3. Parks Department
Local Master Gardeners partnered with the Flathead Garden Club to spruce up one of the
planting beds at Lawrence Park. They pulled weeds and pruned the dead material from
the shrubs. They are also developing a planting plan for the bed for the future.
A second path was enhanced by a Montana Conservation Corp youth
work crew at Lawrence Park on July 16-20. The trail takes off from
the loop path and connects Whitefish Stage to Lawrence Park. The
enhanced path follows the Stillwater River.
The Woodland Park Pavilion recently received
a fresh coat of paint. Lights have also been
changed to LED's and two yard lights were
added to brighten the park at night.
For our second year in a row, we have partnered with
Imagine If Libraries to offer story time at the Woodland
Water Park activity pool. Last year, we offered one
session and had approximately 30 parents and children
attend. This year, we have had several programs with
over 100 children and parents attending. Our last story
time program of the summer will be on Friday, August 10,
at 10:30am.
Another second -year partnership that continues to grow is our
Performing Arts Camp offered in conjunction with instructors from
the Resound School of Music and Theatre. Growth in this program
increased 20% this year. Special thanks to Sarah Burdick and Amy
Zoltek for their hard work and the wonderful culminating
performance at the end of the camp.
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We have 37 parents and children signed up for our KPR Family Rafting Day on Saturday,
August 11. Families can choose either a half -day whitewater trip or a half -day scenic
float. Both trips take place on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River which boarders
Glacier National Park. The Glacier Raft Company has given the Kalispell community a
great discount for the experience ($20 off their advertised adult rate and $10 off their
child rate). We still have spots available for those that may be interested.
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4. Fire Department
Since the last update, the Kalispell Fire Department has received
390 calls for service and has conducted 5 outreach trainings with
approximately 150 individuals in attendance. This represents
roughly a month of activity.
Recently, eight Kalispell Firefighters participated in a three-day
Confined Space Rescue course. This course focused on safe
operations during confined space rescue in compliance with OSHA
and NFPA regulations and standards.
There are a multitude of permitted confined space areas both in the
public and private sectors that are present in our response area, with
entries being made on a regular basis.
5. Information Services
Two network switches in the public safety building were replaced. IT staff continue to
make changes to the computers connected to switches that were already in use at the
public safety building.
IT staff updated the Stormwater and building permit reports for Cityworks. A server
change required resourcing the database of the 20 permit reports for Cityworks.
6. Community Development
The community volunteer Kalispell Trail Crew group met on July 31 to view preliminary
concepts of trail alignment and features of the TIGER project based on feedback from
June's Deep Dive public outreach. The group viewed for the first time the potential trail
from the north-east end where the overpass bridge crosses US Hwy 2 to the crossing at
US Hwy 93. Incorporating comments received from the Trail Crew, the design team
consultants at Alta and KLJ along with City staff will refine renderings and share those
concepts through community outreach beginning at the Northwest Montana Fair. City
staff will have a booth at the Expo building during the Fair and be available to discuss the
design concepts on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (August 15-17) of Fair week.
7. Building Department
In the last 2 weeks, we have issued permits for 4 single family houses. That will bring
the total of new single family/duplex and townhouse units for the year to 51, compared to
70 last year at this time. The fifth and final apartment building for Owl View Landing
was issued; an 8 unit building is located at 206 Sawyer Lane valued at $745,791. That
brings the total of multi -family units permitted to 44 for the year compared to 44 multi-
family units for all of 2017.
The fire inspection program saw 5 short-term rental inspections and 26 new
fire/life/safety inspections. We have completed all businesses along Airport Road. We
will begin moving down Main Street this month beginning with the County complex at
the south end of Main Street.
8. Planning Department
The planning board has two items scheduled for the August 14 board meeting. The first
item involves the Eagle Valley Ranch PUD which encompasses approximately 99-acres
and creates a new vision for the project site which was known as the Valley Ranch PUD.
The site is located east of US Highway 93 North, south of Ponderosa Estates and adjacent
to the Armory property and Kalispell North. The proposed development calls for 225
residential lots, 12 mixed -use office/residential lots and an apartment complex site. A
work session was held at the planning board in July that was attended by several
adjoining property owners.
A second hearing involves a request by Kalispell Housing Group, LLC for a PUD
amendment on approximately 17-acres of the 325-acre Silverbrook Development. The
site lies north of Silvertip Drive and south of the Commercial POD along Church Drive.
The change would take an area platted for 60 two -unit townhomes (totaling 120 housing
units) and convert the area into twelve 4-plex condominium buildings for a total of 48
units and 180 apartment units situated in four 30-unit buildings and two 15-unit
buildings. The four-plexes would be 2-story in height, the larger buildings would be
three story. The net effect would be taking the proposed 120 housing units and
increasing the density to 228 units. The design is intended to buffer the commercial POD
on the north end by gradually increasing the neighborhood density as the development
proceeds north.
The Kalispell Trail crew met on Tuesday and conducted a very preliminary review of the
east half of the proposed trail design through Kalispell. Staff also presented the results of
the public comment collected this past month and the open house held on July 10 to
discuss the advisability of extending Woodland Drive from Center to Idaho as one the
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Complete Street options which is part of our Tiger Grant application. Staff sent
information to all property owners along Woodland Drive and advertised a 30 day
comment period. 30 people attended the open house and a total of 60 public comments
were received. 58 of the 60 comments supported taking Woodland Drive off the table as
a viable option. The Trail Crew concurred with the results. Staff will contact the
Woodland Drive neighborhood and let them know the results of this process. At this
time, the preferred route for a complete street extension is 8 h Ave. West.