05-31-19 City Manager Report1
City of Kalispell
OFFICE OF THE CITY
MANAGER
Information Memorandum
5/31/2019
1. Police Department
Officer Jason Parce and K9 Cairo attended the Pacific Northwest Police Detection Dog
conference in Seaside, OR May 19-24, The organization is dedicated towards enhancing
the professionalism and training of detection dog handlers throughout the Pacific
Northwest. Member states and provinces include Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana,
Washington and British Columbia, Canada.
Officer Bagnoli and Officer Bain attended the Mountain States Tactical Officer’s
Association Conference in Helena May 20-24. They participated in training to enhance
their skills as assigned police snipers.
In May all member of the Kalispell Police Department recertified in AED, CPR, and
choking response.
Officer Randy Kaare participated in a tactical medicine for first responders course in
Kalispell on May 23.
2. Parks Department
A contractor has finished the pruning of the trees at Depot Park. Contract tree pruning is
continuing on 1st Ave W and in the WN part of town.
The Master Gardeners, along with the Garden Club, and
Friends of Lawrence Park came together on May 15, to
continue work on rehabilitating a planter bed at Lawrence
Park.
Park staff have planted flowers in front of the Public Safety
Building as well as the cannon at Woodland Park. They have also prepared the
downtown planters which will be planted by the Downtown Business Association.
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The Forestry Division responded to a couple of hazard trees that
were reported to the department.
In anticipation of the summer event season, we have made some
improvements to the electrical systems in Depot Park. We
added a lockable cabinet for four 50 amp receptacles and four 20 amp GFCI receptacles
on the east side of the park to better serve vendors for events like Picnic in the Park, Arts
in the Park, and the Great Bear Festival. We will also be adding LED lighting to the
gazebo.
Camp Woodland Summer Day Camp registration continues to increase. Staff are
cleaning the facility and transferring sports equipment and art supplies in anticipation of
camp starting on June 10. Staff will also be completing their CPR and first aid training
on June 8.
The children at the Cairo’s Kids Afterschool Program had
a great educational visit from the staff and birds from the
Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center. Beth Watne and
Susan Miller brought several birds from the center and
discussed their mission and the types of birds they assist.
3. Fire Department
Since the last update, the Kalispell Fire Department has received 117 calls for service and
has conducted 2 outreach events with approximately 180 individuals in attendance. Staff
from the fire department also participated in the Spring into Safety Day at the fairgrounds
on May 18 and presented information to middle school kids for a STEM career day at
Flathead Valley Community College on the 21st.
On May 21 and 22 Kalispell Fire Department’s Regional Hazardous Materials Response
Team participated in inter-agency drills with Montana National Guard 83rd Civil Support
Team (CST). HazMat Team and CST members worked in an integrated response model
over the two days to assess and mitigate training scenarios including chlorine leak,
pressurized pipe leak, clandestine lab manufacturing processes, and radiologic source
identification. The CST trains with all of Montana’s 6 Regional HazMat Teams on a
revolving basis. Montana’s Regional HazMat Teams are located in Kalispell, Missoula,
Great Falls, Helena, Bozeman, and Billings.
Fire Department staff are taking part in our annual Emergency Vehicle Operator Course
and recertification. This involves setting up a vehicle obstacle course and completing a
series of driving tests to prove competencies.
4. Human Resources
Human Resources has scheduled this year’s wellness screening for city employees,
dependents, and retirees for September 5-6.
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5. Building Department
In the last 2 weeks, we have issued permits for 9 single-family homes and 2 townhomes.
That will bring the total of new single-family/duplex and townhouse units for the year to
45, compared to 35 last year at this time. We are currently sitting at 24 units of
multifamily housing year to date. Last year, at this time, we had issued permits for 36
apartment units.
A permit was issued for a 2nd shell building in the Treeline Center located at 625 Treeline
Rd. The project is valued at $800,000 and will have 3 lease spaces. The new 7200 square
foot DA Davidson building located at 176 Timberwolf Parkway has begun construction
and is valued at $900,000.
6. Planning Department
Staff testified in Helena before the Montana State Housing Board on May 20 in support
of Creekside Estates, a 40 unit elderly tax credit funded housing project proposed to be
constructed on Financial Drive in Kalispell. The Housing Board was taking comment on
16 applications for tax credit funded housing in Montana. Eight projects from around the
state were selected for the final round. Unfortunately Creekside Estates was not selected
to go forward. The developer indicated that he would try again next year.
7. Information Services
The City’s Electronic Records Management
website has a new look.
The site can be accessed directly from the
https://kalispell.com home page by hovering
over Government and clicking Archive from
the right most list.
The Laserfiche and Utility Billing websites
were setup on new servers. In the coming
week(s) the City’s Public Access website will
be moved to a new web server. The City
Public Access site is where the public apply for public works and building permits.
Limited downtime will occur.
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IT staff setup the pool computers, phones and other equipment at the pool in advance of
the summer season.
Scanners and printers are being setup on the MDTs that will be used during the police
department electronic ticketing training.
8. Community Development
Kalispell’s Brownfields Assessment Grant has been extended to September 30, 2021.
The purpose of the extension is to allow sufficient time for needed environmental site
assessments, both Phase I and Phase II, related to the TIGER grant project.
9. Public Works
Solid Waste Annual Spring Cleanup Collection Day
The City of Kalispell’s Solid Waste Division
completed their sixth annual spring clean-up for
residential rollout customers during the month of May
13. This annual service allows residential rollout
customers to put large items and excess household
items on the curb for rear loader pickup. These items
may consist of couches, washers, dryers, yard debris,
large boxes and other items that do not fit in their
rollout container. This service does not allow the collection of any hazardous products
like oils, antifreeze, batteries, pesticides or weed killers. A two-man crew operating a rear
loader collects the large items and delivers them to the County Landfill.
The solid waste staff, in just one week, removed around 32 tons of debris and multiple
flatbed truck loads hauling 20+ appliances to the landfill.
Water Main Replacement
The water main replacement project for Conrad Drive
is under way. The contractor has installed ~ 50 ft of
new water main starting at College Ave and Conrad
Drive. After completing the mainline installation in
Conrad Drive, the contractor will tie into the existing
water main at the intersection of Woodland Drive and
Second Ave E. The project is expected to be finished
by the beginning of July.