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05-17-19 City Manager Report1 City of Kalispell OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER Information Memorandum 5/17/2019 1. Community Development The City is working with Community Action Partners and the Montana Department of Commerce to close out two housing grants: Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) 1 and 3. The funds were used to acquire foreclosed and abandoned homes in Kalispell, rehabilitate if necessary, and sell the homes to income qualified home buyers (those with incomes ranging from 50-120% of area median income). Since 2009, fifty-four (54) homes have been purchased by qualified buyers in Kalispell. This program was managed by the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust (NWMTCLT). Now that the grant is finished, the Community Land Trust will be transferred to NeighborWorks Montana, to serve as fiscal agent of the Land Trust and provide management of the CLT properties. 2. Building Department In the last 2 weeks, we have issued permits for 7 single-family homes. This brings the total of new single-family/duplex and townhouse units for the year to 33, compared to 35 last year at this time. We currently have approved 24 units of multifamily housing year to date. None had been submitted by this time last year. A permit was issued for Sunrift Pub house, a restaurant/expansion of Sunrift Brewery located at 55 1st Ave WN; the projected is valued at $350,000. There was also a permit issued for Dee-O-Gee, a doggy daycare located at 635 Treeline Rd.; this project is estimated at $280,000. 3. Planning Department The Kalispell Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) met on Thursday May 9 and approved a proposal to request the Montana State Transportation Commission to consider re-designating West Reserve Drive From US 93 to US 2 as a State Primary Road. It is currently designated as an Urban Primary Road. The City Council had passed a resolution supporting this effort on May 6. The request will be heard by the State Transportation Commission later this summer and if approved could open up a significant funding source for the reconstruction of West Reserve Drive. 2 The planning board met on Tuesday, May 15 and heard two requests. Timothy and Naomi Stutzman are requesting to annex a 2.8-acre parcel located at the 724 Sunnyside Drive and zone the land R-4 (Residential). Also, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is requesting a one lot subdivision to be known as Snowline. The request would create an 8.3-acre lot intended for a multi-family project located in Section 36 along Treeline Road, north of Bloomstone, west of Kidsports, and south of the new My Place hotel. Both projects were continued to the Wednesday, May 23 planning board meeting for final action. Staff also held a work session on the proposed Kalispell Bike and Pedestrian plan currently under development. 4.Parks and Recreation Kalispell’s 2019 Arbor Day celebration was held at Woodland Park on April 26. Three hundred and forty-three 3rd graders moved through seventeen environmental stations throughout the park. Volunteers planted thirty-five new trees spread throughout Woodland, Thompson Memorial, Hawthorn, and Washington Parks. A new station and instant favorite at Arbor Day this year was a tree climbing station that allowed harnessed kids to climb ropes 15 feet into the tree. The Begg Dog Park was reopened May 10 after being closed for several weeks while high water drained from the park. This allowed grass to reestablish and Park staff were able to perform their turf management program for the site. Parks staff have been implementing spring turf management practices, turning on irrigation, and preparing planting beds around the community. In partnership with the Kalispell Business Improvement District, forestry staff have planted twelve new trees downtown. The BID has agreed to water during the dry months of the year. In our continued effort to refresh the pavilion area at Lawrence Park, the wood structure has been stained. The next step will extend irrigation to the perimeter of the pavilion to better irrigate the turf. Registrations for Camp Woodland Summer Day Camp continue to be processed. Although registration has only been open for a month, we have already filled 4,742 of the 4,900 spots available (96.7% full). Mondays have the most spots available so we have created an “Amazing Race Mondays” competition to encourage further registrations. On these days, kids will participate in team activities and build points throughout the summer. On the last Monday of the summer, the top five kids in each age group will receive a prize. Children must attend at least five Mondays to qualify. 3 We are still looking for lifeguards at the pool this year. The Woodland Water Park offers a Red Cross Lifeguard class for those who are not currently certified. The class will be offered June 10-14. Individuals must be 15 years of age by the last day of the lifeguarding class. The Picnic in the Park summer concert lineup for 2019 is finalized (see below). The concert series will be featured in the Daily Interlake’s “101 Things To Do In The Flathead” later this month. It will also appear in the Flathead Beacon prior to our kickoff on Tuesday, June 25. Tuesdays (6:00pm-8:00pm) Tuesday, June 25 - Dodgy Mountain Men Tuesday, July 2 - Tropical Montana Marimba Ensemble Tuesday, July 9 - The Talbott Brothers Tuesday, July 16 – Jameson and the Sordid Seeds Tuesday, July 23 - Marshall Catch Tuesday, July 30 - MyTrueFreedom Tuesday, August 6 - Kevin Van Dort Band Tuesday, August 13 - Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts Tuesday, August 20 - Smart Alex Wednesdays (11:30am-1:30pm) Wednesday, July 10 - Flathead Valley Community Band Wednesday, July 17 – John Floridis Wednesday, July 24 - Mike Murray Wednesday, July 31 – New Relm Wednesday, August 7 - The Woodstock Trio 5.Fire Department Since the last update, the Kalispell Fire Department has received 214 calls for service and has conducted 8 outreach trainings with approximately 125 individuals in attendance. Crews also participated in the Blue Ribbon event to raise awareness to help stop child abuse. Fire department staff also participated in the FVCC career fair for middle school students, presenting information in relation to job requirements and duties. Fire department staff are spending time this week completing facilities maintenance and lot clean up at station 62; clearing debris from this winter, removing dead shrubberies and cleaning up landscaped areas. Fire department staff also recently traveled to Coeur’dalene Idaho for an EMS symposium. While there, they learned new treatment protocols for more serious medical events and updated medical treatments for cardiac events, strokes and other medical conditions commonly seen. 4 6.Police Department Attached, please see the latest case and arrest report for the Kalispell Police Department, Officers Lidstrom, Williams, Pokorny, Sweigart, and Turner are participating in the CIT Academy at the Kalispell Armory. Its purpose is to assist first responders (law enforcement officers), detention staff, and dispatchers in engaging, assessing, and assisting individuals in crisis with mental and/or co-occurring substance disorders. CIT is a 40-hour evidence based training that encompasses tools and skills needed for first responders, detention staff, and dispatchers to better manage individuals presenting with mental health and/or co-occurring substance disorders. This training exposes the participants to materials and experiences from trained mental health and medical professionals to better prepare them to effectively and safely work with this unique population. Officers Petersen and Bagnoli participated in the Law Enforcement Memorial Parade on their police motors in Helena on May 15. The parade is to honor those who lost their life in the line of duty.