11-30-18 City Manager ReportTYOF
f - - City p of Kalispell
- OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
-- ---- MONTANA
Information Memorandum
11 /3 0/2018
1. Parks Department
A tree pruning contract along 1" Ave East has now been completed. 157 trees were
pruned and 13 removed. Another pruning contractor is currently working in the WN
side of town.
Park Staff have been in the process of preparing for the holiday
season by hanging wreaths on city buildings and installing the
Christmas lights on the Community tree at Depot Park for the
tree lighting event on December 8.
During the week of November 19, a forestry contractor began
work to thin the understory brush along the Woodland Park
hillside using a hand crew. In mid -December the contractor will
bring in a masticator attached to an excavator to the park and
complete the work of phase 1 of this project.
On November 19 & 20, Fire Station 62 received new plank vinyl
flooring in the living area and kitchen. The new flooring replaced
some well-worn carpet.
With lack of snow cover this year and wet conditions at Begg Park,
the dog park is becoming muddy. Park crews have installed a temporary fence to help
disperse traffic around high use and impacted areas.
We recently took possession of a 200 gallon boom spray tank that will fit on a Toro
Workman that was purchased last year. This piece of equipment will allow staff to treat
park turf efficiently improving the look of our parks.
On November 16, Parks and Recreation Director, Chad Fincher
presented the nonprofit group, Paws to Play with a Merit Award
of Achievement on behalf of the Montana Trails, Recreation and
Parks Association for Paws to Play's work in helping create
Kalispell's dog park. The group continues to fundraise and add
amenities to the park.
We will be starting our youth ice skating lessons at the
Woodland Ice Center in early December. Our first session will
run from December 4-13. After session 1 finishes, we will take a
break for the holidays and begin our next session on January 8.
No experience is necessary and free skate rentals are included.
Our Santa's Calling event will take place on Wednesday, December 5. Parents that are
interested can sign their children up to receive a personal phone call from Santa. Our
volunteer Santa's are given a list of children to contact along with some information
about each child. This year we have volunteers from Kiwanis, Teletech, Mann Mortgage,
103.9 The Monster, and our Street Tree Committee.
KPR will be participating in the annual Kalispell Art Walk & Holiday
Stroll on December 7. This will be our fifth year participating in the
event. In addition to the art projects from our afterschool program and
woodcraft projects from FHS that will be displayed, we will also have
a cookie decorating station where each child can create their own
edible "masterpiece." Special thanks to Rosauers for donating the
cookies, frosting, and sprinkles for this event.
2. Police Department
On November 16, Canine Officer Jason Parce participated in a media event with NBC
Montana reporter Mackenzie Daugherty.
On November 19, Officers Jordan Venezio and Chad Sweigart gave a presentation at the
Flathead Special Education Coop. The officers spoke to preschoolers with special needs
about how police officers help people in need.
On November 27, assistants Karen Durado, Jerie Betschart and Parking Enforcement
Officer Dave Hutton attended communication and conflict training.
On November 28, Canine Officer Jason Parce went to Missoula to train with MPD's
canine officers.
On November 28, Sgt Ryan Bartholomew brought the BEAR to Edgerton Elementary
School for a career day presentation.
3. Fire Department
Since the last update, the Kalispell Fire Department has received 136 calls for service and
hosted a car seat safety clinic held November 17 at station 62.
2
Kalispell Fire Department's Regional Hazardous Material Response Team concluded
their annual team training for the year. This year's training included 7 team
meetings/trainings for 14 Hazardous Materials Technicians. This is part of a yearly
process to maintain Technician level certification. The most recent training on
November 26, included refresher level training oriented toward identifying unknown
materials with a focus on white powders. The team reviewed the chemical assay tests we
have in our set of detection tools as well as spectroscopy analysis for chemical
identification. This is a multi -step process that includes redundancy in the testing of the
biological substance to provide a solid identification and analysis for proper mitigation.
4. Community Development
Alta Planning and Design is revising the preliminary Kalispell Trail design from July of
this year and expects to have the next iteration of the designs to the City by the end of the
year. This next design will take into consideration wide-ranging input from public
comments and the volunteer committee. The work of design and engineering for the trail
will continue through 2019 with construction slated to begin in the spring of 2020.
Work at Glacier Rail Park under the City's USDOT TIGER grant is winding down as it
nears completion. The street signal masts to be erected on Highway 2 where Conrad
Drive and Flathead Drive converge are scheduled to be installed the week of December
10 or 17, weather permitting.
5. Building Department
We have issued permits for 3 single family houses and 3 townhomes in the last 2 weeks.
That will bring the total of new single family/duplex and townhouse units for the year to
119, compared to 118 last year at this time. Multi -family units are at 82 compared to 20
multi -family units last year at this time.
The CHS Grain Receiving building permit was issued; valued at approximately
$605,000. The project is one of many CHS Buildings being built at the new Glacier Rail
Park located off of Whitefish Stage. MOD Pizza, located at 2244 Hwy 93 North, received
their certificate of completion and has opened for business.
The Building Department conducted 12 Fire Life Safety inspections of existing
businesses, focusing on Main Street this month. Two short-term rental inspections were
conducted in addition to our normal new construction inspection program.
6. Planning Department
Staff has begun working with the Architectural Review Committee to review and update
the architectural review standards for the city. In particular, we will be working to develop
criteria for special areas in the city. Those areas could include the historic downtown, the
Core Area, projects immediately abutting the Kalispell Trail, and projects along our
entrance corridors. These standards were last reviewed in 2006. Staff will also be meeting
with Glacier Park International Airport to discuss our long range planning goals and future
city growth as Glacier Park continues to update their Long Range Planning Documents.
Staff is also working with the KDA and the BID to develop bike standards and locations
for bike racks in and around the downtown.
7. Public Works
Kalispell Bypass
The Bypass speed limit was changed as of 10/30/2018. The Montana Transportation
Commission approved the speed limit change on both the Bypass and West Reserve
Drive. The Kalispell Bypass speed limit changed from 55 mph to 60 mph. The West
Reserve portion between US 93 & US 2 speed limit changed from what was previously
posted at 50 mph to 45 mph.
Street Fleet 2018
The Street Division is in receipt of the 2014 12-yard tandem
truck. The used truck was purchased for $89,000. A total of
$115,000 was budgeted in FY 19 for the purchase of a used
Dump Truck and snow plow. The plow is scheduled for
installation in February of 2019, due to the time of year and
the waiting list for service.
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