12-01-17 City Manager ReportCity of Kalispell
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Information Memorandum
12/1/2017
1. Parks Department
Our park field crews are working on several fall/holiday projects including; hanging
Christmas lights and wreaths on City facilities, picking up leaves from various parks,
installing a new heater at the Woodland Park warming but and continuing with Woodland
Water Park women's shower tile work.
Our Forestry division has been removing hazard branches
within Woodland Park this past couple weeks. Forestry
crews also took delivery of a new Bandit 250 chipper.
This chipper has been budgeted over the last 2 fiscal
years. Our 1993 chipper will remain in our fleet as a
secondary unit to be used in wind events or when the new
one is in for service so not to slow productivity of the
crews.
Building maintenance has completed a remodel project in the basement of City Hall to
create an additional office space for the IT Department. This frees up space in Public
Works for their new Environmentalist position.
Our first session of ice skating lessons at Woodland Park will run from
December 5 - 14. Our first session signups are stronger than last year
at this time. After session one is completed, we will take a break for
the holidays and begin session two starting on January 9.
The Afterschool program is averaging 44 children per day. The staff and
children are busy with the holiday season, creating arts and crafts projects
highlighting upcoming events. Their next project, puzzle piece wreaths,
will be displayed at the annual Art Walk and Holiday Stroll on Friday,
December 1 from 5pm-7:30pm at our office at 306 1" Avenue East.
Recreation will also be running our annual Freeze Out Camp at Elrod Elementary
December 26-29. During this 4-day camp, the kids will have a full schedule of fun
including ice skating, a fire department tour, sledding, and a K-9 presentation from Cairo.
2. Community Development
The 2016-2017 Annual Tax Increment Finance District Report for the City of Kalispell
was approved by the Urban Renewal Agency at its October 18 meeting. The report is
available on the Community and Economic Development website at:
htlp://kalispell.com/community_economic_development/documents/2016-
2017TIFAnnualReport.pdf
The report provides maps of each of the City's four Tax Increment Finance (TIF)
Districts and information on TIF history, annual valuations, and activities over the
reporting period.
3. Fire Department
Since the last update, the Kalispell Fire Department has received 119 calls for service and
has conducted 1 outreach training with approximately 20 individuals in attendance.
Additionally, we conducted the child safety seat clinic hosted at station 62 on November
18.
Crews have been working on conducting some of the necessary EMS training required
for recertification of our EMT Basic and EMT Paramedic certifications. In the past two
weeks, we have concentrated on blood borne pathogen education, emergency child birth
instruction, and review and testing for Pediatric Advanced Life Support. Fire department
staff have also spent time at the Flathead County PSAP preparing response to coincide
with the future software update. Plans must be loaded into the system and tested to
ensure the proper response is allocated upon 911 calls into the system.
4. Information Services
IT staff have been working with the telephone lines for the water clerks. The main water
phone number, 758-7745, now has an announcement only mailbox, if the line isn't
answered. The recorded message gives the second water phone number. The recorded
message also provides the business hours and how to contact the water department for
after hour requests. No messages can be left on the announcement, only recording
message.
A consultant from CivicPlus was onsite and met with staff from various departments
about the website redesign. During the meetings, staff discussed the general business
customers and processes. The consultant was able to introduce modules and offerings
that CivicPlus can provide. Staff were able to view the basic layout of the proposed
redesign test site with limited section headings. Following the consulting meetings, IT
staff completed the content preparation form and submitted to CivicPlus as part of the
project milestones.
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5. Public Works
Standards for Design and Construction Update
Over the last several months the engineering staff has been working on updating the
Standards for Design and Construction. The last major update to the Standards was
completed in April of 2015. This update will include language in response to
requirements of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit, and updates
to street lighting specifications, street, storm, water and sewer system construction and
design, and miscellaneous text amendments to improve clarification of the intent of the
Standards. Public Works Staff will be presenting to council a summary of the update at
the December 11t' Work Session.
Traffic, Signs, and Signals (TSS) Annual Testing
Annually, TSS Staff perform conflict monitoring testing on the City's traffic light
systems. For safety reasons, each traffic signal is equipped with "conflict monitors" that
are placed in the traffic signal controller cabinet. A conflict monitor is an electronic
device independent of the controller that watches the signal operate. It does this by
monitoring a number of conditions, including the voltage to the bulbs in the heads. If
any error occurs in the traffic signal, the conflict monitor automatically detects the error
and shuts down the traffic lights at that intersection. The testing certifies the traffic lights
are operating correctly and in accordance with Federal Highway Standards. In addition,
TSS staff completed the testing of the Opticom Units which are the sensors used by the
Fire Department to change the traffic light during emergency response situations.
6. Building Department
Ten single-family building permits were issued in the past 2 weeks; bringing the total of
new single family/duplex units for the year to 133 compared to 138 last year at this time.
Multi -family units issued so far this year is at 44, compared to 86 for all of last year. The
building permit for the new Kobe Steakhouse located @ 85 Treeline Rd was issued. The
project is valued at $800,000.
The building department conducted 17 Fire Life Safety inspections on commercial
buildings primarily between Kelly Road and Four Corners. The department also
prepared a flyer for the big box stores reminding them to keep fire access areas clear
especially during the busy Christmas season.
7. Planning Department
Planning staff attended the Montana Board of Housing November meeting in Helena to
testify on behalf of two tax credit housing projects proposed for Kalispell. Eight housing
projects from across the state were in the final running for $27 million in funding. Five
projects were funded. The remodel of the 32 unit Courtyard Apartments on south Airport
Road submitted by NW Montana Community Action Program was approved for $4.5
million in tax credit housing assistance. A second project in Kalispell for a new 42-unit
elderly apartment project proposed for Financial Drive was not funded.
8. Finance Department
Citv Financial Statements and Audit
The fiscal year 2017 audit is nearing completion. Field work was performed the week of
November 6. No findings or changes were brought to the departments' attention during
field work. Once the audit opinion is received, the Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report (CAFR) can be assembled and published. The State requires the City's annual
report be submitted within 9 months of the end of the fiscal year (March 31).
Beginning with fiscal year 2010, the City has completed and submitted a CAFR to the
Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada to be
considered for the GFOA's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial
Reporting. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in
governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a
significant accomplishment by a government and its management. The City has received
the award for 7 consecutive years and will submit the fiscal year 2017 CAFR for
consideration. GFOA requires the CAFR be submitted by December 31.
Accounts Payable and Payroll
For November, accounts payable processed 240 checks to pay 451 invoices from over
200 vendors. Total amount of accounts payable checks issued was $2,114,072.
For November, payroll processed 422 payments (checks and direct deposit) to pay
employees and employee benefit providers. Total amount of payroll checks and direct
deposits issued was $894,047.
Utility Billing
There were 37 new water and sewer accounts set up in November. Most of these (33)
new accounts were changes in ownership. Four new accounts were taking possession
from the builder/contractor.
The utility billing clerks processed about 9000 bills for water and sewer service in
November. Total amount of the bills processed was about $600,000.
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