City Council Agenda

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AGENDA January 10, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers, 201 First Avenue East The public can participate in person in the council chambers or via videoconferencing. Register to join the video conference at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5A2gtLAKS7SqCLK3835gtQ Public comment can also be provided via email to publiccomment@kalispell.com. A. CALL TO ORDER B. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Residency Requirements for Emergency Responders C. PUBLIC COMMENT Persons wishing to address the council are asked to do so at this time. Public comment can be provided in person, verbally during the online meeting, or via email to publiccomment@kalispell.com D. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS E. ADJOURNMENT UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION City Offices Closed – January 17, 2022 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day Next Regular Meeting – TUESDAY, January 18, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. – Council Chambers Next Work Session – January 24, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. – Council Chambers Watch City Council sessions live on Charter Cable Channel 190 or online at the Meetings on Demand tab at www.kalispell.com. Page 1 of 1  City of Kalispell Post Office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903 Telephone: (406) 758-7701 Fax: (406) 758-7758 MEMORANDUM To: Mayor and City Council From: Doug Russell, City Manager Re: Work Session on Residency Requirements for Emergency Responders Meeting Date: January 10, 2022 BACKGROUND: Attached are two sections of Kalispell City Code, 9.1.1 Qualifications of Firefighters, and 20A.1 Residency Requirements. These sections of municipal code outline the residency requirements for emergency responders (Police and Fire/EMS personnel). This requirement requires employees to reside within three air miles or a 15-minute response time from his or her residence. Section 9.1.1 was put in place following a ballot initiative in 1981. Section 20A.12 was put in place at a later time, providing the same residency requirements. As we are looking for ways to increase our applicant and labor pool, these are being presented for discussion for the potential of repealing the residency requirements to be consistent with the rest of the City of Kalispell employees and to provide additional flexibility in residency options for these positions. At the meeting, staff will present an overview of residency requirements, the rationale for residency requirements and how that rationale may not be as relevant in today’s environment. Ultimately, should Council agree to move forward with the recommendation to repeal these requirements, we will also discuss what would need to be done to do so, as Section 9.1.1 was put in place through a ballot initiative. RECOMMENDATION: At the meeting, it is recommended that Council review and discuss the residency requirements for these positions. ATTACHMENTS: KMC 9.1.1 Qualifications of Firefighters KMC 20A.1