Kalispell City Council meets tonight at 7:00 p.m. and will take public comment on the city-wide parks maintenance district, to raise money to support services at Kalispell’s parks. If the city receives protests from more than 50 percent of the property owners, the district cannot be established.
The city is facing a budget pinch this fiscal year, which City Manager Jim Patrick attributes to a sagging economy and the tax caps imposed by the state Legislature. As a result, the city is unable to continue maintaining the city parks at current levels without finding some additional source of revenue.
The council recently passed a resolution announcing its intent to establish a parks maintenance district, with an assessment at a rate if .0055 of the parcel size in square feet. This means a 7,000 square foot lot would pay about $38.50 annually. A 4,000 square foot lot would pay $22 per year. A cap would limit parks fees on residences to a maximum of $150 per year for a 27,000 square foot lot, and $500 per year for a commercial property at 90,909 square feet.
Written protests must be received by 5:00 p.m., Aug. 18, and should be sent to the Kalispell City Clerk, signed by all property owners, identifying the property. Mail should be sent to: P.O. Box 1997, Kalispell MT 59903 or by e-mail to [email protected]. Questions about the parks maintenance district can be asked of Parks and Recreation Director Mike Baker at 758-7718 or [email protected], or Patrick at 758-7703 or [email protected].
Also on the agenda tonight:
–Council will establish a skateboard park advisory committee to improve the management and direction of the skate park in Woodland Park. There have been problems recently with vandalism, drugs and safety issues.
–Council will vote to adopt a Transportation Capital Improvement plan outlining road improvement projects in the city’s immediate future. While little in the plan is new, its adoption clears the way for the council to take up, once again, the controversial issue of transportation impact fees for new development.
–The Kalispell Planning Board is recommending several changes to the city’s zoning ordinance concerning planned unit development districts.
–Northwest Healthcare is requesting a conditional use permit to locate a daycare center for children under the age of two at 200 Conway Drive.
–Tom Tonkinson is requesting annexation and zoning of a half-acre lot at 610 South Meridian Road.
–Lorna Wilson has requested that a 3,441 square foot portion of her property annexed in error by the city be de-annexed. A hearing will be set for Sept. 2.
The Whitefish City Council will hold a work session at 6 p.m. Monday night to clarify the uses of various business districts within the city. Then the council will hold its regularly scheduled public meeting at 7:10 p.m.
Both meetings are held at council chambers at City Hall.
At the 7:10 p.m. meeting, councilors will discuss:
-A conditional use permit to allow the operation of a bar/lounge at 147 Central Ave.; the planning board has recommended the city council approve the permit
-A conditional use permit to allow an accessory apartment at 14 Minnesota Ave.; the planning board has recommended the city council approve the permit
-A recommendation to approve the purchase of an $82,446 ice resurfacer from Olympia Millennium
-A recommendation to award a consultant contract for the U.S. Highway 93 Utility Improvements Project; the public works department has recommended a contract not to exceed $181,277 to the WGM Group
-Public Works Director John Wilson will recommend that city councilors attend an Aug. 19 meeting updating the U.S. Highway 93 Corridor Study