08/07/00 City Council Minutes1661
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD AT 7:00
P.M. MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2000, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL
IN KALISPELL, MONTANA. MAYOR WILLIAM E. BOHARSKI PRESIDED. COUNCIL
MEMBERS DON COUNSELL, DALE HAARR, RANDY KENYON, DUANE LARSON, FRED
LEISTIKO, DOUG SCARFF, RON VAN NATTA AND CITY MANAGER CHRIS
KUKULSKI AND CITY ATTORNEY GLEN NEIER WERE PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER
JIM ATKINSON WAS ABSENT.
Mayor Boharski called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
AGENDA APPROVAL
Haarr moved approval of the Agenda. The motion was seconded by Van
Natta.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon vote.
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL
1. Council Minutes - Special Meeting - July 10, 2000
Council Minutes - Regular Meeting - July 17, 2000
2. Approval of Claims per Payables Register-$583,080.42
Scarff moved approval of the Consent Agenda. The motion was
seconded by Van Natta.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon vote.
HEAR THE PUBLIC
Mayre Flowers, Citizens for a Better Flathead, complimented the
Council on its decision to revise the Growth Policy Plan, however,
she said she's concerned with the Council's plan to only accept
public input once the revisions are presented. She suggested
Council hold an "open house" with the public to make everyone
fully aware of the issues, and suggested members look at other
communities to see what they have done.
David Downey, President of the Friends of Lawrence Park, said he's
concerned with the recent vandalism at the park and asked the
Council to lock the gate at 10:00 p.m.
Kukulski commented there has been a high amount of park vandalism
this year and closing the parks has been discussed as an option. He
said in the meantime, police patrol has been increased.
ORDINANCE 1357 - 2ND READING - ORDINANCE AMENDING THE KALISPELL
SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
Currently, the regulations provide for review of subdivisions under
the generic term "days". House Bill 300 clarifies the review time
line to mean "working days", which in effect increases the amount
of time available to local governments to review and act upon
subdivision proposals. Council approved the ordinance on first
reading July loth.
Scarff moved second reading of Ordinance 1357, an ordinance
amending the Kalispell Subdivision regulations by clarifying the
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amount of time allowed for reviewing major and minor subdivisions
in order to comply with State statute, and declaring an effective
date. The motion was seconded by Larson.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
ORDINANCE 1358 - 2ND READING - SALARY ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
A change in the salary ordinance is required following the recent
ratification of the AFSCME Contract. Council approved Ordinance
1358 on first reading July 17th.
Van Natta moved second reading of Ordinance 1358, an ordinance
amending Ordinance No. 1353, fixing the limits of the salary and
compensation of the City officials, supervisors, and employees
pursuant to Title 7, Chapter 4, Part 42, M.C.A., commencing on the
dates indicated herein, and repealing all other ordinances in
conflict therewith. The motion was seconded by Larson.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried upon roll call vote with Haarr, Scarff and
Boharski voting against.
ORDINANCE 1359 - 1ST READING - UNIFORM FIRE CODE
The City needs to adopt the 1997 Uniform Fire Code and the
Appendices and Uniform Fire Code Standards just as they were
approved by the State Fire Prevention and Investigation Program.
Larson moved Ordinance 1359, an
ordinance to adopt, by reference,
the Uniform Fire Code and the Appendices, 1997 Edition (UFC), and
the Uniform Fire Code Standards,
1997 Edition (UFC Standards), with
the additions, amendments, and
deletions enumerated by the Fire
Prevention and Investigation Program (FPIP) in ARM 23.7.301 through
23.7.310, as the Fire Codes
of the City of Kalispell, and
applicable within the corporate
boundaries of the City, to provide
a penalty for the violation of
any lawful order issued pursuant
thereto, and establishing an
effective date. The motion was
seconded by Counsell.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon vote.
RESOLUTION 4568 - ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS
This resolution is adopted annually to provide budget authority for
the operation of the City.
Larson moved Resolution 4568, a resolution fixing the annual
appropriations for the City of Kalispell, Montana, as set forth in
the 2000-2001 Budget adopted by the City Council. The motion was
seconded by Van Natta.
There was discussion.
Kukulski explained that with legislative changes, the City needs to
levy 122 mills this year to create the same revenue as the 114
mills levied last year.
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Leistiko asked Kukulski to explain what funds are available in the
Downtown Tax Increment District concerning the renovation of City
Hall and the Streetscape Program.
Kukulski said it's estimated that approximately one million dollars
will be available in the Downtown District this fiscal year. He
reminded everyone that the Council has yet to approve either the
Streetscape Project, or the renovation of City Hall, and several
workshops will be held concerning both.
Haarr said he can't support the budget, primarily because of the
procedure. He said he feels it's backwards to have all of the
expenditures presented and then set a mill levy to pay for them.
Haarr stated instead, the Council should determine how much money
there is to spend and let the Department Heads build a budget
around that amount. He said it's time the Council consider the
lower income citizens who have to cut their grocery budget when
taxes are increased.
Larson said nobody likes to raise taxes, but the City is affected
by inflation the same as everyone else. He said all costs have gone
up because of inflation and the City doesn't have any control over
it. Larson added, however, that he would be willing to look at a
different method of handling the budget.
Leistiko said he enjoyed the budget process and felt it was very
informative. He said even though it's a lengthy process, it needs
to be done. As far as raising fees, Leistiko stated there hasn't
been rate increases in years and it's long overdue.
Scarff agreed, commenting previous Councils have neglected their
duties by not raising rates a little bit at a time instead of
waiting until the enterprise funds are in trouble. He suggested the
Council establish a policy to raise rates a little bit every year
to prevent this kind of an increase happening again.
Boharski said his property taxes have actually gone down, but when
the rate increases for sewer, water, garbage and the urban forestry
district are added, he will be paying an additional sixty to
seventy dollars next year. He said in a growing community, there
are several things you can do to raise revenue like raising fees,
putting more people on the tax rolls and figuring out ways to cut
costs. Boharski said all options need to be explored because there
are a lot of people who can't afford the increases.
Mayre Flowers, Citizens for a Better Flathead, complimented the
Council on making some tough choices and positive strides with the
budget, but added that she feels its inappropriate to consider
using TIF monies for the renovation of City Hall.
The motion carried upon roll call vote with Haarr, Scarff and
Boharski voting against.
RESOLUTION 4569 - ANNUAL TAX LEVIES
This resolution is adopted annually to provide a levy to fund the
City's Budgets for the General Fund, Comprehensive Insurance Fun,
Health Insurance Fund and the Retirement Fund.
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Leistiko moved Resolution 4569, a resolution making the annual tax
levies for the City of Kalispell for the Fiscal Year 2000-2001. The
motion was seconded by Larson.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried upon roll call vote with Boharski voting
against.
RESOLUTION 4570 - STREETS AND AVENUES
This resolution is adopted annually to provide a levy to fund the
cost of street maintenance within the City of Kalispell.
Haarr moved Resolution 4570, a resolution levying an assessment for
the cost of special maintenance for the purpose of maintaining the
streets and avenues of the City of Kalispell for the Fiscal Year
2000-2001. The motion was seconded by Scarff.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
RESOLUTION 4571 - SPECIAL LIGHTING DISTRICT
This resolution is adopted annually to provide a levy to fund the
cost of maintenance and electricity for City street lights.
Scarff moved Resolution 4571, a resolution levying an assessment
for the cost of lighting the streets and alleys in the City Special
Lighting District for the Fiscal Year 2000-2001. The motion was
seconded by Van Natta.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
RESOLUTION 4572 - DECORATIVE LIGHTING DISTRICT
This resolution is adopted annually to provide a levy to fund the
cost of maintenance and electricity for decorative lights in the
Downtown Lighting District.
Scarff moved Resolution 4572, a resolution levying an assessment
for the cost of lighting the streets in the City Downtown
Decorative Lighting District for the Fiscal Year 2000-2001. The
motion was seconded by Larson.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
RESOLUTION 4573 - STORM SEWER MAINTENANCE
This resolution is adopted annually to provide a levy to fund the
cost of storm sewer maintenance and debt service for the sewer
revenue bonds.
Van Natta moved Resolution 4573, a resolution levying assessments
for the cost of storm sewer maintenance for the Fiscal Year 2000-
2001. The motion was seconded by Counsell.
There was no discussion.
The motion carried unanimously upon roll call vote.
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RESOLUTION 4574 - GARBAGE REMOVAL
This resolution is adopted annually to provide a levy to fund the
cost of the removal of garbage and other offensive matter.
Boharski explained a ten dollar fee increase for garbage removal is
included in the budget for residential buildings taking the cost
from seventy to eighty dollars per year.
Leistiko moved Resolution 4574, a resolution to levy the cost of
removal of garbage or other offensive matter from streets, alleys
or on any premises as a special tax against property from which
such matter was deposited, and the disposition thereof. The motion
was seconded by Van Natta.
There was discussion.
Haarr said the increase amounts to over fourteen and a half
percent. He said there's never been any talk of a problem with the
garbage fund the entire time he's been on the Council, and he
doesn't understand why, in one year, such a high increase is
needed.
Van Natta said there's never been an increase before because
previous Councils have ignored the need to replace capital
equipment. He said now the City is faced with replacing a $150,000
piece of equipment and the increase is needed.
Leistiko said the City needs to start planning for equipment
replacement and part of the increase is planned as a reserve for
future replacement costs.
Kukulski said equipment has been purchased in the past and the City
was able to purchase it with cash. He said, however, the cash is
running out and this past year major breakdowns amounted to about
$35, 000 in repair costs. Kukulski said the increase is essential to
replace the trucks when needed, with two new vehicles planned for
purchase in the next six to eight months.
Public Works Director commented the department has one unit that is
eighteen years old and another that's nineteen years old. He said
the newest side arm loader that the department runs already has
over seventy thousand miles on it.
Scarff said the City, instead of waiting and implementing a large
increase, should plan for small increases each year.
The motion carried upon roll call vote with Haarr, Scarff and
Boharski voting against.
RESOLUTION 4575 - URBAN FORESTRY MAINTENANCE
This resolution will provide a levy to fund the cost of the Urban
Forestry District, a new district, at approximately $6.75 for a ten
thousand square foot City lot with a cap of $150.00 per parcel.
Leistiko moved Resolution 4575, a resolution levying an assessment
for the cost of urban forestry maintenance in the City for the
Fiscal Year 2000-2001. The motion was seconded by Counsell.
There was discussion.
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Leistiko said the Council looked at this district very carefully
and by looking at other funds, and moving some funds, the cost to
the residents has been cut in half from what was first proposed.
Haarr said he hasn't been in favor of the district from the
beginning because he feels it's a general fund responsibility. He
said the City has always come up with the money to take care of the
trees and this is nothing more than an additional tax.
Counsell said several people at the public hearing stated the trees
are not being properly maintained now. He said by establishing the
district, the Parks Department will have the funds needed to
maintain the trees and plant new ones.
Kukulski clarified the district will only maintain the trees in the
public right-of-way, not the trees in "somebody's backyard".
The motion carried upon roll call vote with Haarr, Scarff and
Boharski voting against.
RESOLUTION 4576 - PARKING COMMISSION
Ths resolution is adopted annually to provide budget authority for
the operation of the Kalispell Parking Commission.
Van Natta moved Resolution 4576, a resolution setting the annual
appropriations for the Parking Commission as set forth in the 2000-
2001 Budget adopted by the City Council. The motion was seconded
by Scarff.
There was discussion.
Boharski asked what revenue source is funding the $20,000 parking
lot improvements.
Kukulski said the money received for tickets and parking lot
permits.
The motion carried upon roll call vote with Haarr voting against.
RESOLUTION 4577 - CITY -COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
This resolution is adopted annually to provide a levy to fund the
City's portion of the City -County Health Fund which is administered
by the County.
Counsell moved Resolution 4577, a resolution making the annual tax
levy for the City -County Health Department of the City of
Kalispell, Montana, for the fiscal year 2000-2001. The motion was
seconded by Van Natta.
There was discussion.
The motion carried upon roll call vote with Boharski voting
against.
EVERGREEN SEWER RATE APPROVAL
Each year the City determines charges to be levied on the Flathead
County Water & Sewer District #1 for treatment of sewage by the
City's wastewater treatment plant. The proposed rate for
maintenance, operation and replacement is the same as last year at
$1.61 per thousand gallons. The debt service amount is $10,077.16
per month, a decrease of $48.01 per month.
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Van Natta moved approval of the Evergreen Sewer Rate for. Fiscal
Year 2000-2001. The motion was seconded by Leistiko.
There was discussion.
The motion carried upon roll call vote with Scarff voting against.
MAYOR/COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Haarr asked how the City is proceeding with dust abatement in the
construction zones.
Kukulski said staff is strictly monitoring the situation north of
Kalispell, and the contractor has been warned if the dust cannot be
controlled as required under City Code, the City will take measures
to stop the project.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
ATTEST:
resa White
City Clerk
Approved September 5, 2000
Wg.F-.5ohar*I .
Wm. E. Boharski
Mayor
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