RE: 13 Jul WorkshopThanks for the update. Sounds like your evening last night was a bit frustrating.
Your action plan on the parking sounds good. I'm trying to recall the locational relationship between the high school and the new sports complex. Is there a connection that can be
used for parking at the complex for the high school activities? Ticketing those parking illegally is not an option unless we want more bad community relations?
Hmmm. Does the airport have any strategic plans that the City's endorsed? Many public agencies use partners to do these types of land purchases. I don't suppose the Montana West org
would act as the City's land acquisition arm?
I appreciated all your (and Amy's) time last night. I hope Amy didn't feel hopeless with some of my basic level questions...
I wanted to follow up on a few of the things we discussed last night. The first is the 100k challenge you've given Tom Jentz. We discussed the option of applying some of the code enforcement
civil penalty monies to the building fund as a future possible option to help. Does Kalispell ever project anticipated revenue and budget accordingly? I know it's hard to do this
with a great deal of certainty for a new program but it might also give the fund's employees the motivation to pursue the civil option of enforcement.
So, the Westside TIF should have about $450,000 available next June for the general fund based on the 1.8 million that will sunset. Is this the funding that was discussed last night?
If the $450,000 goes into the general fund, can it be earmarked for either or both the capital equipment (non-fire or police) and the reserve? Does Council understand about not applying
non-recurring revenue to the operating budget?
Did your discussions last night with Council include the solid waste discussion and is that part of what was received lukewarmly?
On EMS, do you think either the County or any of the rural jurisdictions would be interested in financing a piece of apparatus since they are not offsetting our expenses for emergency
calls outside the corporate limits?
Finally, I was interested in contacting staff about the fire union negotiations since it appears these will still be in play when I get to Kalispell. Do you think I should have an "off-line"
conversation with law about this topic prior to any discussions with Dan?
I ran out of lunchtime before I ran out of questions or comments to throw at you. Back to Dayton work...
Thanks again.
Jane
_____
From: Myrt Webb
Sent: Tue 7/14/2009 8:13 AM
To: Jane Howington
Subject: 13 Jul Workshop
Hi Jane:
It was good talking to you yesterday afternoon. I hope you got what you wanted from it. If you need to talk again just let me know.
Last night we had a workshop with the council so I will give you a short report on what happened ….at least from my perspective (which is the only one I have).
On-Street Parking and Emergency Access:
This subject came from some complaints made to CM Larson from a person who lives near the Flathead HS stadium. When the school has an event there they park all over the place and block
emergency access. As I looked more into it I could see a larger issue that I related in my memo to the council. Like so often happens a few of the council members leaped into the weeds
and stayed there just talking about the one issue around the stadium rather than the larger issue I wanted guidance on. Some other members got us out of the weeds and accepted my suggestion
for looking at all gathering places in the city and emergency routes to them. Then a member mentioned that the first high school football game is at the end of August so solving the
stadium issue is now an immediate issue.
Action: I will direct the fire and police chiefs to look at key gathering places in the city and evaluate routes to see if some of them should have parking changed. We will start with
the stadium. If we do decide to restrict parking we will need a public notice process so we don’t irritate anymore citizens than we need to.
City Airport and Monk Property:
Several years ago the city designated a tax increment district with the city airport as the center piece. The district has been very successful. Development has occurred and the district
is in very good financial shape There is a piece of property right next to the runway that also encompasses the southern end of the airfield that has come available for purchase. The
TIF district has the $$ to do this and it makes a lot of sense to buy this property so we have control over the land next to the runway. Enter local politics. Some very loud citizens
do not understand that some city funds can be in good financial condition while others are not and oppose any purchase because they think the city cannot afford it. Two of the council
members have tapped into this and oppose any improvement of the airport. The other seven seem kinda lukewarm.
Action: I will talk to the council members and tell them that they need to figure out what they want to do with the airport. Do we just want to keep it the way it is or improve it. I
will also talk to the Interlake reporter about city finances for the education of the electorate. Wish me luck.
Budget Update:
We talked to the council about the same things we talked to you about. No reaction to speak of. At the next workshop on 27 Jul we have better year end numbers and it will probably be
a mixture of the good, bad and ugly. There will also be two presenters that will pitch to the council about using some of the Westside TIF money for improvement projects. One of the
projects may be worth something the other is a total loser- IMHO. But we may get a better idea of what the council would like to do with the Westside TIF$$
Have a good day.
Myrt