05-29-15 City Manager ReportCITYOF _ City of Kalispell
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
MONTANA
Information Memorandum
5/29/2015
1. Finance Department
Buffet
The fiscal year 2016 Preliminary Budget is complete and available to view on the City
website. Budget work sessions are scheduled for June 8, 9, and 10.
The fiscal year 2016 Preliminary Budget is about $50.9 million compared to fiscal year
2015 final budget amount of $45.3 million. This increase of about $5.6 million includes
an increase of $1.4 million in enterprise funds, and about $3.8 million in special revenue
funds. The balance is an increase of about $0.4 million in the general fund.
The fiscal year 2016 increase in enterprise funds is broken down by a $0.8 million
increase in sewer and $0.3 million in both water and solid waste. The majority of the
increase in both the sewer and water departments is capital outlay from impact fees
(projects necessary to accommodate growth). The increase in solid waste is the purchase
of a truck for $0.325 million, which will replace a 2003 truck.
The fiscal year 2016 increase in special revenue funds is mainly due to a $2.5 million
increase in the Westside TIF fund. This increase is redevelopment and loan funding to
accommodate possible future projects. Other special revenue funds that increased
include the ambulance fund ($0.2 million) for the purchase of an ambulance, special
street maintenance ($0.2 million) for pavement maintenance, and the community
development miscellaneous fund ($0.12 million) for the payment of Old School Station
lot assessments.
The general fund increase is split between personal services and maintenance and
operations. The increase in maintenance and operations of the general fund can be
mostly attributed to the necessary operating transfer to the ambulance fund increasing
$0.21 million.
Impact Fee Committee
The Impact Fee Committee met in April and approved the updated Fire and Police impact
fees. A work session will be held with Council in the upcoming months to review the
recommended Fire and Police impact fees. The next impact fee to be reviewed by the
committee is storm water. That process will begin in the fall.
2. City Clerk/Communications Manager
Official City of Kalispell Facebook and Twitter pages are now live. The city will use
these sites to reach the public in an engaging manner while sharing important information
about city services, public safety and emergency alerts, government participation
opportunities, parks and recreation events, and ways to enhance the quality of life for all
Flathead Valley citizens.
In addition to timely news and events, several featured posts will appear weekly
including "Warrant Wednesday", an opportunity for the public to assist law enforcement
locate wanted suspects, and "Throwback Thursday," featuring historic content.
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3. Parks Department
Staff is acquiring two bids for additional Lawrence Park playground amenities per the
request of Friends of Lawrence Park, who have received notice of an award of a $5,000
grant through the Flathead Electric "Round Up For Safety" program.
We are finishing up the process of interviewing for the Woodland Water Park and
Summer Day Camp seasonal summer staff.
Summer Day Camp starts June 15. Staff is in the process of planning, organizing,
scheduling, and cleaning Woodland Camp Center for opening day.
The Picnic in the Park concert series kicks off June 30. Staff will be distributing posters
to businesses by mid -June and are finalizing sponsors for the program guide.
On Tuesday, May 19, Park Staff held a no -host Arborist Breakfast. This provided local
arborists a chance to connect and talk about relevant tree issues in our community.
Wednesday, May 20, was a McKenzie River Pizza fundraiser night for Paws to Play.
Totals are not finalized, but the turnout was supportive for the off -leash dog park in
Kalispell.
Park Staff hosted an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certification test Friday,
May 22. Passing the test is one requirement in becoming a Certified Arborist.
The Street Tree Commission utilized their regular monthly meeting in May to take a tour
of the Flathead High School Wood Shop. It was an opportunity to see the students'
projects. Board members were able to watch as city elm logs were milled into boards to
later be used in student projects.
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Staff is fielding calls regarding aphids, which are extremely heavy this year in both ash
and maple trees around town. Aphids usually are not associated with tree death, but are a
sign of stress. Providing deep watering and mulch to the drip line of the tree will benefit
the tree's health.
4. Fire Department
Since the last update the Kalispell Fire Department have received 107 calls for service
and have conducted 6 outreach trainings with 140 individuals in attendance.
This year, it is predicted that we will see an increasing to above normal wildfire season
for the months of July and August. This is based upon local fuel moistures, past weather
history and predicted weather outlooks for this region. Above normal significant
wildland fire potential indicates a higher than usual likelihood that wildland fires will
occur and/or become significant events. The months of August and September are
historically the key months for the local fire season as this is when the temperatures
remain higher, there is lower moisture accumulation, lower humidity levels and the
curing fuels occurs. As a reminder to the citizens of Kalispell, please be attentive to you
recreational fires and or any hot work such as working with open flames, welders or un-
maintained machinery, and be reminded that there is no open burning within the city
limits.
Fire department personnel have completed all of the needed collection of information and
report for ISO's review and grading. This information was presented to the ISO
representative this week.
5. Building Department
Building permits for 3 single family homes were issued this month, bringing the total to
17 single-family residences & 2 townhomes for the year. This compares to 34 single-
family and 8 townhome residences issued for the same time period in 2014.
On the commercial side, building permits have been issued for a 25,301 square foot
addition to the FedEx building in Old School Station; and a 9,554 square foot tire store,
Discount Tires, located in Spring Prairie Center adjacent to PetSmart.
The Building Department launched their new building permitting program, Cityworks, on
May 1. In addition, fees for building, plumbing, and mechanical permits can be paid by
Master Card, Visa & Discover cards. However impact fees must still be paid by cash or
check. The next phase of the permitting program will be the on-line permitting that will
enable contractors to apply for permits on-line.
6. Planning Department
The planning office has received a request from Kalispell Regional Medical Center for a
Growth Policy Amendment and zone change from RA-1 Multi -Family to H-1 Health
Care for a 9.5 acre tract of land located at 100 Grandview Drive. The site is a former
gravel pit that abuts hospital property. KRMC has acquired the site and has short term
plans to extend parking to this area.
Staff is also preparing an updated Environmental Assessment for the TIGER Grant
application which reflects both the Glacier Rail Park Development and the Core Area
Trail and cross streets to be developed when the rail is removed.
7. Public Works
Spring Cleanup Solid Waste Collection Day
The City of Kalispell's Solid Waste Division completed their second annual spring clean-
up for residential rollout customers during the week of May 11, 2015. The solid waste
staff removed approximately 20 tons of debris and around 30 appliances from the
residents on the roll out accounts.
This annual service allows residential rollout customers to put large items and excess
household items on the curb for rear loader pickup. These items may consist of couches,
washers, dryers, yard debris, large boxes and other items that do not fit in their rollout
container. This service does not allow the collection of any hazardous products like oils,
antifreeze, batteries, pesticides or weed killers. A two -man crew operating a rear loader
collects the large items and delivers them to the County Landfill.
South Meadows Drainage Improvements, Phase II
Phase II of the South Meadows Drainage Improvements includes the installation of
approximately 1,500 linear feet of 12" PVC Storm Main, 10 Storm Manholes, I I Storm
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Drain Inlets, paved surface restoration, landscape restoration and other related items for
Darlington Drive, Garden Way, and Bluestone Drive.
The construction for phase II started in April and is anticipated to be at substantial
completion this week. The following week, construction performance checks will be
performed by public works staff and minor punch list items completed by the contractor.
8. Information Services
The first floor conference room at City Hall has been outfitted for web conferencing
sessions, aiding in employment interviews and training efforts.
Systems at the pool have been updated and activated in preparation for the summer
season.
9. Community Development
The City of Kalispell has been selected as one of four communities nationwide to be
awarded a Project Response Team site visit sponsored by the Council of Development
Finance Agencies' (CDFA) Brownfields Technical Assistance Program funded by the US
Environmental Protection Agency. The site visit will bring a cohort of finance experts to
Kalispell this summer to aid Kalispell in analyzing the financing related to developing the
Flathead County Economic Development Authority's Glacier Rail Park and subsequent
redevelopment in Kalispell's Core Area.
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