10-26-15 City Council Work Session MinutesKALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES
OCTOBER 26, 2015
View the minutes attached to the audio of the meeting at:
http://kalispell.coni/mayor and city council/meetings.php
A WORK SESSION OF THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD AT 7:00 P.M.,
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL IN
KALISPELL, MONTANA. MAYOR MARK JOHNSON PRESIDED. COUNCIL MEMBERS
JIM ATKINSON, SANDY CARLSON, KARI GABRIEL, CHAD GRAHAM, PHIL
GUIFFRIDA, TIM KLUESNER, ROD KUNTZ AND WAYNE SAVERUD WERE PRESENT.
Also present: City Manager Doug Russell, Planning Director Tom Jentz, Police Chief Roger Nasset,
Captain of Administration Wade Rademacher, Fire Chief Dave Dedman, and Community
Development Manager Katharine Thompson.
State legislators also present: Rep. Frank Garner, Rep. Al Olszewski, Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, and others.
Mayor Mark Johnson called the work session to order, announcing that Kalispell has been awarded a
$10,000,000 TIGER Grant and thanked staff members, particularly Katharine Thompson, for their
hard work.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Legislative Forum
Mayor Johnson listed some of the challenges facing the city, particularly infrastructure costs.
Russell presented a PowerPoint regarding a Local Option Sales Tax.
There was lengthy discussion regarding impact fees and the effect they have on new construction.
There was discussion regarding local government control.
There was discussion regarding unfunded mandates.
Mayor Johnson noted the next step would be to have a conversation with the county commissioners.
Mayor Johnson thanked the legislators for their time and invited them to contact council if they have
additional ideas.
2. Police and Fire Impact Fee Discussion
Russell turned the discussion over to Captain Rademacher, who explained how police impact fees
are assessed and that they used projections 20 years into the future.
Rademacher answered questions.
Kalispell City Council Work Session Minutes
October 26, 2015
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There was discussion.
There was further discussion regarding fire impact fees.
Russell noted the only change would exclude EMS responses in the impact fee and the original
recommendation will be included when police and fire impact fees come before council.
Dedman answered questions.
3. Old School Station Discussion
Russell stated that the city has had two appraisals done on Old School Station in order to get price
point components and the city has the option of paying off the SID now, before they are sold. He said
this would provide options for future purchasers.
There was discussion.
4. Local Government Center Training Initiative Discussion
Russell explained the training is to enhance customer service on a broad scale and take everyone in
the organization to the next level. He said the city is looking at training for one day a month for six
months and this will help to create partnerships with the community.
There was discussion.
Russell stated he does not anticipate needing a budget amendment and this will take care of all
training hours for employees.
Public Comment
Karleen Osorio-Kohr commented that anything that brings legislators and council together is worthy;
stated she is pleased that 3rd and 4th Avenues East are having a traffic study done; and read a section
of Kuntz's letter to the editor regarding herself, stating it is not accurate or factual. She said she did
not threaten litigation, that she tried to find a compromise and stood with her neighbors when that
could not be done.
Tom Rygg commented that these topics should not have been held together in one work session,
because each topic needs more input and thought.
Tony Brockman, FCEDA, commented that we had great news today regarding the TIGER Grant and
thanked council for their partnership, stating he is looking forward to continuing it.
MAYOR/COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER REPORTS
Mayor Johnson thanked Senators Tester and Daines and Representative Zinke for their efforts on
behalf of the city for the TIGER Grant, saying the time and money for lobbying was well invested.
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October 26, 2015
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ADJOURNMENT
The work session was adjourned at 9:48 p.m.
Attest:
Ai a Brunckhorst CMC
City Clerk
Prepared by:
Judi Funk
Deputy City Clerk
Kalispell City Council Work Session Minutes
October 26, 2015
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