03-21-17 City Council Work Session MinutesKALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2017
View the minutes attached to the audio of the meeting at:
hM2:Hkalispell.com/mayor and city council/Streaming-AV.phi)
A WORK SESSION OF THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON TUESDAY,
MARCH 21, 20179 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, City Attorney Charles Harball, and Finance Director Rick
Wills.
Mayor Johnson called the work session to order, stating public comment will be heard after a brief
introduction by Russell. Council will hold discussion following public comment.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Kalispell Downtown Business Improvement District
Russell gave a brief summary of the issue.
Public Comment
Les Codlick, VFW Post 2252, reiterated their suggestions and recommendations for the BID, noting the
VFW does many activities for the community and donates to charities and organizations. He said they
rescinded their support because of inconsistencies in the process and that it is a reestablishment, not a
renewal, of the current BID. He also answered questions from council.
Dick Mohrenweiser, 322 2nd Avenue West, remarked he is not against the BID, but feels it should be
paid for by properties that will receive the benefits, not by everyone. He requested that council approve
the original boundaries of the BID if possible, or leave his petition out of the BID if not.
Dawn Marquardt, 201 3rd Avenue West, commented she is at the edge of the new BID, but she does not
want to pay another tax when she does not see what it will do for her business. She asked if the mall isn't
in the district, why is hers?
Karleen Osorio-Kohr remarked this is a house divided and there is no common ground to bring people
together. She said the original boundaries are where the support is and asked council not to go forward
with the present design.
Debbie Snyder, 128 Main Street, commented that the BID works with the city to improve the area as a
whole and encouraged council to think about the BID carefully.
John Hinchey commented that the revitalization of downtown is due in part to the BID and encouraged
council to support the new BID boundaries.
Kalispell City Council Work Session Minutes
March 21, 2017
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Lee Kozlowski, 131 1 st Avenue East, commented he is a current BID board member and feels others have
perceived an implication of impropriety of how the money is being spent; he said all meetings are open,
there is no favoritism, and he received his facade grant before he was on the board. He said the BID
benefits the downtown as a community.
Karen Sanderson, 115 South Main, read a letter in support of the BID.
Russell Seward commented that he rents property downtown but would like the BID to be restricted to its
original size and scope. He said property values have not gone up because of an organization being in the
area, but because of building improvements, and the "tax and spend" philosophy can't work.
Marshall Noice, 127 Main Street, spoke in favor of the BID, stating that property owners have decided to
invest in their community and now it is up to council. He urged the council to establish the new BID with
the expanded boundaries.
Tim Price, 300 1 st Avenue West, spoke in favor of the BID, stating it has a positive effect on his business
and downtown because his property value went up 10%, and the goal is to protect property value. He said
everyone benefits, including properties not in the core area, and asked that it not be sent back to the
drawing board.
John Fetveit, Chairman of the BID board, remarked that the process is complete from his view; he
described the petition process and urged council to pass the resolution. He also answered questions from
council.
Jayson Peters, Sykes, spoke in opposition to Sykes being included in the BID expansion, but noted he
appreciates councils' deliberation on the matter. He remarked he feels Sykes' assessment is too high.
Bill Hagerman said he is a rental property owner on Center Street and he does not want to be included in
the BID because he does not want to raise the rent on his lessees.
There was lengthy discussion.
Guiffrida thanked everyone for their patience and noted it is important that council has all of the
information they need to make a good decision. He said he feels he has the data he needs to vote.
Kluesner remarked that his biggest issue is the way the boundaries were set up.
Harball answered questions.
Atkinson commented that regarding the mall, it would be a Catch-22 to have it in the district because
their vote would be the majority. He said he appreciates the clarification of information.
Gabriel noted it was good to hear both sides of the argument, and she appreciates the BID members
gathering statistics.
There was further discussion.
Council directed staff to bring the resolution forward at the April 3, 2017 council meeting.
Kalispell City Council Work Session Minutes
March 21, 2017
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CITY MANAGER/COUNCIL/MAYOR REPORTS
None.
The work session was adjourned at 8:57 pm.
Prepared by:
Judi Funk
Attest: ����y��.•`•`"'�!S,®'�iis� Deputy City Clerk
Ai .ee Brunckhorst, CMC 1 92
City Clerk %e�iVTANP • �.��
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Kalispell City Council Work Session Minutes
March 21, 2017
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