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.
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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.
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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.
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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.