02-14-20 City Manager Report1
City of Kalispell
OFFICE OF THE CITY
MANAGER
Information Memorandum
2/14/2020
1. Parks Department
Our forestry crew has completed pruning trees in Mountain Vista,
Spring Creek and along Windward Way in Buffalo Commons
Phase II subdivisions in recent weeks. They are now beginning to
prune trees in Westview Estates. A necessary repair to the boom
truck has slowed pruning large trees along 3rd Avenue East;
However, we were able to continue working on small to medium
sized trees.
Park crews are continuing to make park sign repairs. Staff have installed a drinking
fountain adjacent the bathroom at Westview Park for park users to utilize during the
summer months. With the mild weather, staff have been able to spend time completing
fence repairs at KYAC for the upcoming season.
In working with Traffic, Signs and Signals we have begun to replace signage at park
pavilions with the intent to help better identify pavilions and educate patrons regarding
the necessity of reservations to avoid user conflicts.
We had a great turnout for our annual Valentine’s Dance at the Linderman Education
Center Gym on Saturday, February 8. We had over 230 people attend this year which
was our best attendance in the last ten years. Special thanks to our sponsors Able Body
Collision Repair and Kalispell Public Schools for supporting the event this year.
Our last session of ice-skating lessons ends on Thursday,
February 13. This program has seen steady increases over the last
5 years and is now averaging over 17 participants per session,
compared to 8 participants per session in 2016. (There are 4
sessions per season).
Our Little Dribblers Basketball program (ages K-2nd grade) will
be starting on Saturday, March 7 at the Russell Elementary School gym. The registration
deadline for this program is Friday, February 21.
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2. Public Works
Kalispell Area Transportation Plan
The City of Kalispell in cooperation with the Montana
Department of Transportation (MDT) is in the process of
updating the Kalispell Area Transportation Plan, titled
Move 2040.
Move 2040 will consider all modes of transportation.
Considerations will be given to improving a range of
mobility options such as biking, walking, automobiles,
and public transportation. Move 2040 will outline current
conditions for a range of transportation facilities in the
Kalispell Area through development of an Existing
Conditions Report and will outline a full range of needed improvements to meet current
and projected transportation demands to the year 2040. This will include a recommended
list of affordable transportation solutions to address needs for the Kalispell Area.
Move 2040 is supported through a comprehensive public engagement process. Phase 1
involved three listening sessions held Feb 12 and 13 to gather input on Needs, Issues,
Ideas and Strengths regarding transportation in the Kalispell area.
Interested persons are encouraged to participate in the Issues and Needs survey which is
available through the project website at kalispellmove2040.com. The survey provides the
opportunity to provide interactive comments about transportation needs in the Kalispell
area.
Progress, outcomes, and additional public engagement activities for the Move 2040 plan
will be continuing though the spring and summer of 2020. Please visit the website for up-
to-date information.
3. Police Department
The Kalispell Police Department is considering a voluntary camera registration service in
the City of Kalispell. The program would allow residents to voluntarily register exterior
cameras on a GIS Map that would show potential locations. This would be a voluntary
participation by the community and allow the KPD to know if there are security cameras
in the area of reported crimes. The cameras would not be remotely controlled. They
would only be identified on a map that would allow the KPD to contact camera
registrants and ask for assistance if needed.
As of February 12, calls for service are at 4098. That compares with 4312 in 2019, and
3779 in 2018.
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Chief Overman, Sgt. Venzio, Officer Jason Parce and K9 Cairo participated in the
Penguin Plunge to support Special Olympics on February 8.
Chief Overman participated in a community forum along with Sheriff Heino at
Leadership Flathead on February 7. The topics included local trends, challenges,
and funding future growth.
The Detective Division has reviewed 53 Felony Cases reported in 2020.
4.Building Department
In the last 2 weeks, we have issued permits for 3 single-family home and 0 townhomes.
That will bring the total of new single-family/duplex and townhouse units for the year to
18, compared to 5 last year at this time. No multi-family permits have been issued to
date, although a number of projects are currently under review.
There was a total of 166 combined building and/or fire inspections completed in the last 2
weeks.
Residential – 51 Plumbing - 17
Commercial – 17 Mechanical - 10
Electrical – 13 Fire - 58
5.Planning Department
The Planning Board met on February 11 and heard two application requests. The first
request is from Sandra Sulewski to rezone property currently zoned R-3 (Residential) to
B-1 (Neighborhood Business). The property is currently used for residential purposes and
there are no specific development plans at this time. Most of the properties fronting the
west side of North Meridian in the vicinity are also zoned B-1, with residential zoning to
the west and primarily commercial/industrial zoning along the east side of the road. The
property is located at 1260 North Meridian Road. The second application request is from
the Montana Department of Transportation for annexation and initial zoning of city RA-1
(Residential Apartment). The property is currently zoned county R-1 (Suburban
Residential) and is used for residential purposes. There are no specific development plans
at this time. The surrounding area is a mix of R-4 (Residential) and RA-1 zoning. The
property is located at 672/680 Two Mile Drive between Greenbriar and the Highway 93
Alternate Route (“Kalispell By-Pass”). The Board did unanimously recommend approval
of the two requests and their recommendations will be forwarded onto the Council for
their consideration at the March 2 meeting.
6.Community Development
The Surface Transportation Board notified the City of Kalispell on February 12 of its
decision to approve the City’s request for extension of the Notice of Interim Trail Use
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(NITU) to February 10, 2021. The extension was requested to allow for the finalization
of the sale and railbanking agreement already in place between the City of Kalispell and
BNSF which is expected to close in the coming weeks.
7.Fire Department
Since the last update, the Kalispell Fire Department has received 185 calls for service.
Fire department staff have begun to assemble necessary information in regards to our
Insurance Services Office (ISO) audit required approximately every four years. ISO
grades municipality’s fire protection services by grading fire department operations
including training hours, personnel on duty, response times, water service availability,
apparatus and dispatched procedures and equipment. Once all the requested information
is gathered, this information is entered and graded by ISO representatives. Once graded,
insurance agencies use this information for insurance premiums on residential or
commercial occupancy.
Fire Department staff is also preparing the operations budget for both the fire department
and ambulance budget.