City Council Agenda

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AGENDA September 11, 2023, 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_8zvXj4nJTdqf0JJ36C7MNg. Please see the bottom of the agenda for instructions to watch the meeting live. A. CALL TO ORDER B. DISCUSSION 1. Rail Park Drive Request 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 Next Regular Meeting –September 18, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. – Council Chambers Next Work Session – September 25, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. – Council Chambers To provide public comment live, remotely, please register for the video conference through zoom and use the raise hand feature to indicate you would like to provide public comment. See the top of the agenda for the zoom link. Watch City Council sessions live or later on Charter Cable Channel 190 or online at https://www.kalispell.com/480/Meeting-Videos. The City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services, activities, and employment practices. Accessible parking is available at the rear entrance to City Hall off of the alley, where there is an accessible entrance, and accessible restrooms nearby. Auxiliary aids are also available. For questions about disability accommodations please contact the City Clerk at 406-758-7756. Page 1 of 2 Kalispell City Council Agenda, September 11, 2023 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE Adopted July 1, 1991 Section 2-20 Manner of Addressing Council a. Each person not a Council member shall address the Council, at the time designated in the agenda or as directed by the Council, by stepping to the podium or microphone, giving that person's name and address in an audible tone of voice for the record, and unless further time is granted by the Council, shall limit the address to the Council to three minutes. b. All remarks shall be addressed to the Council as a body and not to any member of the Council or Staff. c. No person, other than the Council and the person having the floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion either directly or through a member of the Council, without the permission of the Presiding Officer. d. No question shall be asked of individuals except through the Presiding Officer. PRINCIPLES FOR CIVIL DIALOGUE Adopted by Resolution 5180 on February 5, 2007 ◼ We provide a safe environment where individual perspectives are respected, heard, and acknowledged. ◼ We are responsible for respectful and courteous dialogue and participation. ◼ We respect diverse opinions as a means to find solutions based on common ground. ◼ We encourage and value broad community participation. ◼ We encourage creative approaches to engage in public participation. ◼ We value informed decision-making and take personal responsibility to educate and be educated. ◼ We believe that respectful public dialogue fosters healthy community relationships, understanding, and problem solving. ◼ We acknowledge, consider and respect the natural tensions created by collaboration, change, and transition. ◼ We follow the rules & guidelines established for each meeting. Page 2 of 2  Development Services Department 201 1st Avenue East Kalispell, MT 59901 Phone: (406) 758-7940 Fax: (406) 758-7739 www.kalispell.com/planning REPORT TO: Doug Russell, City Manager FROM: Jarod Nygren, Development Services Director SUBJECT: Rail Park Drive DATE: September 11, 2023 (Work session) BACKGROUND: Rail Park Drive, which provides access to the Glacier Rail Park is currently a private road owned by Flathead County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). It was constructed as a private road at that time because of the nature of the development (Industrial) and the thought that semi-trucks would be staging on the roadway during harvest season as they unload at the CHS facility. Since its completion Rail Park Drive has never been gated and has been open to the public, providing users an additional route to the greater transportation system. Since the roadway is functioning similarly to a public roadway, FCEDA has expressed interest in turning ownership of Rail Park Drive over to the City. At this time the City is unable to take ownership of Rail Park Drive as it was not constructed to City standards, which would have included a landscape boulevard, street trees, and sidewalks. This was previously discussed with the Council, at which time the City had budgeted $100,000.00 out of the Glacier Rail Park TEDD to assist FCEDA in construction of the needed improvements so that the roadway could be transferred to the City. FCEDA has since put the project out to bid and the costs of the improvements have come in much higher than anticipated making the project unfeasible with the monies FCEDA and the City currently have budgeted. Accordingly, staff will be presenting to Council a number of potential options for their consideration if they feel taking ownership of Rail Park Drive is appropriate. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Council receive the staff presentation and direct staff as necessary.