11-14-12 Urban Renewal Agency MinutesCity of Kalispell
Post Office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903
Telephone: (406) 758-7701 Fax: (406) 758-7758
Urban Renewal Agency
Summary of Activities
11/14/2012
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE
Marc Rold — Chairman
Tom Lund — Vice Chairman
Suzanne Faubert
Murphy McMahon
Shannon Nalty
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE
City of Kalispell Staff —City Manager, Doug Russell; City Attorney, Charlie Harball; Planning
Director, Tom Jentz; Community Development Manager, Katharine Thompson.
Daily Inter Lake Reporter, Tom Lotshaw.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Rold called the meeting to order.
Welcome was extended to new URA member, Mr. Murphy McMahon.
ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA
Members have been E-Mailed the following:
• An agenda for this meeting.
• A Summary of Activities of the 02/01/2012 meeting.
ACCEPTANCE OF PRIOR MEETING SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
Reviewed the prior meetings "Summary of Activities" and document was accepted as written.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
No public comment offered.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Old School Station update presented by Charlie Harball
Some property taxes on lots in Old School Station are in arrears, others have been acquired by
investors via back taxes. The City of Kalispell's fund position for bond payments is sufficient
until May 2013. Mr. Andy Miller, a property owner, provides periodic updates to the City and
indicates that he is looking for a single buyer to purchase all remaining lots.
NEW BUSINESS
1. South Kalispell/Airport TIF District expenditure for final relocation of Kidsports
presented by Doug Russell
Mr. Russell presented proposal to finalize the relocation of south Kalispell ball fields as
Kidsports through the acquisition of a permanent easement from the Department of Natural
Resources and Conservation. The proposal would require the allocation of $2.3 million from the
South Kalispell/Airport TIF district to secure the permanent easement.
Mr. Nalty stated that displacing South Kalispell TIF funds to another location is not part of the
original TIF plan; the South Kalispell TIF is intended to be reinvested in the south Kalispell area.
Mr. Nalty indicated that his fundamental issue with the proposal is that it does nothing for the
existing businesses in the south Kalispell area and provides no tax benefit to the south Kalispell
area to lower future taxes.
Mr. Harball stated that there have been multiple visions and goals for the South Kalispell/Airport
TIF since its establishment and that there still are today. Parks, Kidsports do enhance values in
the whole community.
Mr. Nalty expressed concern that those who are invested in the south Kalispell area aren't seeing
the City investment.
Mr. Russell stated that the proposed project would release 13 acres for taxable development in
Kalispell —north of Kidsports.
Mr. Jentz indicated that the appraised land will be sold for 12 to 18 times its original appraisal by
2016.
Mr. Russell completed his presentation by stating that the Kidsports permanent easement
acquisition will require $2.3 million and that the South Kalispell/Airport TIF has approximately
$2.7 million currently with annual increment continuing to increase the balance.
Committee members Mr. Rold and Mr. Nalty expressed concern regarding the lacking
infrastructure in the South Kalispell/Airport TIF including sidewalks, the Outlaw Inn property
not currently in the TIF boundary could be moved in to address its needs, the City Airport's
needs and issues along 18th Street.
Mr. Rold asked, if Kidsports benefits the whole city, then why not bond for the project so that
the whole city can help pay?
Mr. Lund stated that it is understood that there is a need to fund the permanent easement
acquisition for Kidsports and that he and the URA Committee were in agreement with that effort.
However, the URA members feel it is inappropriate for the South Kalispell/Airport TIF to fund
this effort. Committee members echoed their support of the proposed permanent easement
acquisition for Kidsports, but not the use of TIF funds for this project.
Recommendation: The URA recommends City Council not endorse the acquisition
of permanent easement for Kidsports utilizing South Kalispell/Airport TIF District funds.
Motion by Mr. Lund, second by Mr. Nalty. All in favor.
2. Westside TIF expansion including Core Area and Flathead County Fairgrounds
presented by Katharine Thompson
The Westside TIF expansion to include the Core Area Plan area and the Flathead County
Fairgrounds is moving forward for Council approval in December.
The Committee asked for copies of the six newsletters sent to date to property owners in the
Core Area. Committee discussed continuing needs in the original Westside TIF district
including lighting, storm sewer, and other Liberty Street improvements. It was noted that the
Meridian Street improvements have been valuable.
NEXT MEETING
URA Committee invited to attend presentation with Core Area Steering Committee on December
11, 2012 from 3:30 to 5 pm at the First Interstate Bank second floor conference room.
Consulting firm, Willdan Financial Services will be making a presentation of their work on the
Core Area Redevelopment Plan.
Meeting adjourned at 5 pm
End of Summary of Activities 11/14/12