Sewer issues, pool fees come before council
The Kalispell City Council will reconsider a previous decision related to sewage treatment service north of Evergreen during tonight's regular meeting.
Afterward, a workshop will be held to discuss a $60,000 shortfall in the new Woodland Water Park's operating budget.
Last month, the council agreed to provide sewage treatment service to a proposed subdivision on East Reserve Drive. Andrew Farris has been trying to develop the project for more than six years. However, it involves 54 lots on 18 acres, so he needs some sort of public sewer service before he can proceed.
Although the property borders the Evergreen sewer district, Farris can't connect to those lines until both the sewer district and Kalispell agree. (The city has a say in the decision because it provides sewage treatment capacity to the Evergreen district.)
The sewer district says Farris can connect as long as it owns the new lines, and as long as the required sewage treatment capacity comes from Kalispell's allocation, rather than the district's.
The Kalispell council agreed to provide the necessary capacity - but also said that the city must own the new lines.
Given the impasse, Farris is now trying to form a new sewer and water district, which would allow him to put in an onsite treatment facility of his own. The Flathead County commissioners will hold public hearing regarding that proposal on Oct. 25.
In an unrelated move, the council met with the Evergreen sewer district at the end of September and worked out a compromise that would allow Farris to connect to the district lines, if he's still interested.
The compromise is the subject of tonight's agenda item. It essentially says the district can own the lines as long as that doesn't prevent Kalispell from annexing the subdivision, if it so chooses, at some point in the future.
Farris would also have to sign a waiver of protest to any future annexation, and he'd have to build the subdivision to urban standards - something he has previously indicated that he's willing to do.
Other items on tonight's agenda include:
. An update from Flathead County Planning Director Forrest Sanderson regarding the Two Rivers master plan amendment, which would change the land-use designation on more than 1,800 acres just north of Kalispell.
. Final plat approval for phase 2 of the Empire Estates subdivision, which creates 33 single-family home lots and 26 duplex sublots, for a total of 59 residential units on 11 acres located at the intersection of Three Mile Drive and Stillwater Road.
. A proposal to accept ownership and maintenance responsibilities for Juniper Bend Drive, a private road in the Juniper Bend subdivision.
The council will meet in City Hall, beginning at 7 p.m.
Following the regular meeting, a workshop will be held to discuss a major shortage in the Woodland Water Park's operating budget, together with a proposed budget amendment that would bridge the gap with general fund revenue.
This was the first summer for the new water park. Despite a positive response from patrons, the net result was a $60,000 shortfall between revenue ($177,000) and expenses ($237,000). Consequently, the council may have to discuss raising the pool rates.
In a memo to the council, Parks and Recreation Director Mike Baker and Finance Director Amy Robertson indicated that cooler temperatures in June and over-priced season passes may have hurt the revenue side, which came up about $30,000 short of the initial estimate.
On the expense side, natural gas costs came in at $36,000, or $24,000 over budget. There were also some initial start-up issues and mechanical issues that had to be addressed.
The memo did not point out that the council, at the urging of some city residents, opted to reduce the daily pool fees that were initially proposed last spring. The council also eliminated a surcharge for out-of-city residents - meaning they paid the same daily rate as the city taxpayers whose property taxes were raised to pay for the $3.6 million facility. (Season pass and swimming lesson fees, however, were higher for out-of-city residents.)
Projected revenues from the initial fee proposal ranged from $211,000 to $245,000, compared to $207,000 for the revised fee schedule. Under either scenario, total expenses were projected to be just over $200,000.
Robertson is recommending that the council approve a $65,000 operating transfer from the general fund to the pool account to cover the budget shortfall. A public hearing would be needed prior to taking this action.
The council also wills review several proposed changes to the city's sign regulations during tonight's workshop.