Tab 05 City Council Meeting Minutes February 20, 2001A REGULAR MEETING OF THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD AT 7:00
P.M. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2001, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY
HALL IN KALISPELLI MONTANA. MAYOR WILLIAM E. BOHARSKI PRESIDED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS JIM ATKINSON, DALE HAARRI RANDY KENYON, DUANE
LARSONf FRED LEISTIKO, DOUG SCARFF, RON VAN NATTA AND CITY MANAGER
CHRIS KUKULSKI AND CITY ATTORNEY GLEN NEIER WERE PRESENT. COUNCIL
MEMBER DON COUNSELL WAS ABSENT*
Mayor Boharski called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Boharski thanked everyone for their cards, letters and prayers
while he was in the hospital and also thanked Larson for taking
over.
AGENDA APPROVAL
Haarr moved approval of the Agenda. The motion was seconded by
Scarff.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon vote.
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL
1. Council Minutes - Regular Meeting February 5, 2001
2. Approval of Claims per Payables Register - $625,308.22
Scarff moved approval of the Consent Agenda. The motion was
seconded by Van Natta.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon vote.
HEAR THE PUBLIC
Pamela Kennedy, 1036 6th Avenue West, member of the Family Violence
Prevention Council, asked Neier when he, s considering a replacement
for Assistant City Attorney Richard Hickel, he hire an attorney
w ith knowledge of domestic violence. She also 'invited everyone to
i
attend a domestic violence seminar at North Valley Hospital March
1st.
Kalispell City Council Minutes
February 20, 2001
David Brown, 1925 Belmar, said his chief ambition 'in life is to
educate the community to a higher level of nutritional discernment
and plans to disseminate information in the future on how
manufactured food has injured our health, mentally and physically.
PUBLIC HEARING - SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT #343
This is the time Council has scheduled to rece i've comments on a
proposed Special Improvement District for major improvements to
Sunnyview Lane and the extension of Heritage Way.
Kukulski explained the City has been asked by those involved in the
SID to become a financial partner in the reconstruction project on
the portion that doesn't involve Kalispell Regional Hospital. He
expressed a willingness to work with them, but hasn't given any
guarantees. Kukulski' suggested the Council accept comments at this
time and then continue the public hearing to March Sth in order to
give all parties more time to discuss the issue.
Boharski opened the public hearing and asked for comments from
proponents and opponents.
Bonnie Tally, Windward Place Director, stated she was only told a
week ago that a $26,000 assessment would be placed on Windward
Place if the SID is approved. She said the assisted living facility
has been in existence since 1993 and would not benefit 'in any way
from the road improvements. Talley said the SID amounts to nothing
more than taxation without representation.
Van Kirke Nelson, M.D., Med i4cal Arts Building, 210 Sunnyview Lane,
said Medical Arts will not benefit from the SID either. He said
initially, the hospital was going to make the improvements at its
cost, but somewhere along the line more improvements were added and
the City developed the 'Idea of an SID. He said Medical Arts is
willing to help, but it shouldn't have to provide the entire bulk
of the funds.
Boharski adjourned the public hearing until March 5, 2001.
MOUNTAIN VIEW PLAZA DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL
Crosswell Development LLC and Pack and Company are proposing a
commercial development at the southeast corner of Highway 93 and
West Reserve Drive. A former development agreement signed for the
property included a site for a coliseum, or what has been referred
to as the "'ValleyDome."
Kalispell City Council Minutes
February 20, 2001
Page 2 of 6
Kukulski explained Crosswell Development and Pack and Company are
now proposing a new Planned Unit Development which eliminates the
coliseum and establishes a 59-acre retail development. He said the
benefit to the City would be approximately $100,000 in taxes
annually. He stated thirty-one conditions for the pro3ect have been
agreed upon by the City and the developers. Kukulski said Council
members are being asked to approve the conditions and direct the
staff to write a development agreement.
Public Comment
Cheryl Watkins, Bookworks, Whitefish, asked how many small
businesses will be put out of business for the City to get $100, 000
in taxes. She said the City needs to do some research to see how
these stores will af f ect the small bus inesses prior to approving
the agreement. Watkins crit icized the Counc I'l on its public
participation procedure, adding that a lot of the business owners
wouldn't come to the meeting because they feel this is already a
"done deal".
Bill Schottelkorb, Western Ace Building Center Manager, commented
that it f s well documented that Home Depot "'destroys" a lot of long
term businesses with long term employees . He said Home Depot ,
af ter the initial "hoopla" ends up with a lot of part-time
employees with no benefits. Schottlekorb commented he doesn't feel
the valley has the economy or population to support five or six
more box stores.
Doug Shanks, Western Building Center employee, said Home Depot
needs thirty to forty million dollars 'in retail sales to be
successful in an area. He said Home Depot will not expand the
economy, it will simply transfer the money from one business to
another.
Mayre Flowers, Citizens for a Better Flathead, recommended the
Counci 1 look at 'Its public participation procedure and allow public
comment at the work sessions, prior to the Council meetings. She
agreed that an economic impact study should have been done and
would like the Council to set aside funds for documenting how this
development 'impacts the community.
Boharski commented the decisions made prior to this meeting have
been of a technical nature and it's not fair to state that this is
"done deal." He said the policy decisions are yet to be made.
Kalispell City Council Minutes
February 20, 2001
Page 3 of 6
Leistiko moved Council approve the thirty one conditions for the
Mountain View Plaza project and direct staff to prepare the Planned
Unit Development agreement, The motion was seconded by Atkinson.
There was discussion.
Leistiko said long hours have been put into this project, and the
attached conditions, and he believes the Council 'is doing the r ight
thing. He said there will be competition for some businesses but
the City needs to move forward and execute the final agreement.
Atkinson commented the Council doesn't have the ability to tell a
developer there are enough businesses here already. He said they
will be built in the County or the City, and it's the Council's
responsibility to see that the community benefits by them being in
the City. Atk inson said City residents haven' t seen any benef i ts
from Shopko, WalMart, Costco etc.
Kenyon said he has to agree that there has been an "appearance" of
a lack of public participation and that an economic impact study
should have been done. He said looking forward, however, a master
plan is being developed and he feels it's very important that it
reflect the needs of the community.
Van Natta said this hasn't been any easy decision but he feels the
project will provide more good than bad. He said the PUD will allow
It
for a nicely landscaped development rather than ]ust box stores
with a f ew trees. Van Natta added that as far as the impact to
local businesses, an 'impact would occur whether the development
occurs in the City or the County.
Haarr stated he sympathizes with the small businesses, being a
former small business owner himself, but this is a free enterprise
system. He commented the biggest losers will be the local
organizations that collect money for different projects that the
small businesses always find the money to support. Haarr said he
understands all of the concerns, but he will support the motion
only because if doesn't go here, it will end up outside the City.
Larson commented he would have no trouble turning the project down
if there was a guarantee the stores wouldn't be built just north of
the cemetery or 'in Evergreen.
Boharski said the Council doesn't have the authority to turn down
a proposal based on competition with other businesses.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
Kalispell City Council Minutes
February 20, 2001
Page 4 of 6
RESOLUTION-4600 - RESOLUTION ACCEPTING ADDITIONAL GRANT MONIES FOR
THE PURPOSE OF TRAINING STREAM.EMPLOYEES
The Community Development Block Grant Economic Development staff
has awarded an additional $50,000 to the City to be used for
employee training at Stream International.
Kukulski explained a total of $450,000 in CDBG Economic Development
funds will now be available to assist Stream in their employee
training efforts. He said the City and County are now within
$50, 000 of providing the originally negotiated $4, 000, 000 incentive
package.
Larson moved Resolution 4600, a resolution authorizing acceptance
of additional Montana Department of Commerce Community Development
Block Grant funds to provide employee training for Stream
International Services. The motion was seconded by Atkinson.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
RESOLUTION 4601 - RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
GRANT APPLICATION
This resolution authorizes the City to apply for a Federal Economic
Development Administration Grant in an amount up to $760, 000 to
help with extending water and sewer services to School Section 36
and the Reserve Drive area.
Van Natta moved Resolution 4601, a resolution authorizing a pre -
application to the Montana Department of Commerce for financial
assistance from the Economic Development Administration. The motion
was seconded by Atkinson.
There was discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
MAYOR/COUNCILZCITY MANAGERFS REPORT
Kukulsk i said a work session on the Facilities Plan, scheduled for
tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m., is moved to 6:00 p.m. due to a MEPA
meeting on the School Section 36 property starting at 7:00 p.m. at
Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Kukulski invited the Council and the public to an open house for
the Fire Chief candidates on Sunday, February 2Sth, at the Buffalo
Hills Golf Course starting at 3:00 p.m.
Kalispell City Council Minutes
February 20, 2001
Page 5 of 6
Kukulski informed everyone that AT&T Cablevision is now televising
the Planning Board meetings the first Tuesday of every month.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
ATTEST:
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Theresa White
City Clerk
Approved March 5, 2001
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Wm. E. Boharski
Mayor
Kalispell City Council Minutes
February 20, 2001
Page 6 of 6