Kalispell studies system of business licenses

Business licenses could be on the agenda for Kalispell business owners soon.

That’s the word from City Manager Jane Howington.

“There’s a lot of public safety reasons why you would” want business licenses, said Howington, who has been on the job for just over six months. “We have no idea what kind of businesses we have in the residential areas.”

Home occupation permits, which some cities require for home-based businesses, likely will be on the council’s agenda for the July 19 meeting, Howington said.

The fee for such a permit could be as little as $10, she said, noting the city would not be trying to make money from the permits.

In other action, the council last week tabled a proposed increase in impact fees for police and fire services until a better study could be done, Howington said. A study was completed a year ago.

The Kalispell Impact Fee Committee recommended a decrease in impact fees for single-family homes and apartment units and an increase for commercial buildings.

The proposal would have reduced the police services impact fees by $3 for single-family residences and $4 for apartment units, and increased fees by $8 for commercial buildings.

For fire services, the proposed impact fees would be reduced by $64 and $66 for single-family residences and apartment units, respectively, and increased by $163 for commercial properties for the first 1,000 square feet.

“We are finding that calls for service associated with commercial needs are higher and more time-consuming than expected,” Police Chief Roger Nasset said. “In specific ... is the disparate time associated with calls for service ... in commercial parking lots and associated traffic accidents.”

The current police service impact fees are $44 for a single-family residence, $35 for an apartment unit or $13 for commercial.

The current fire service impact fees are $547 for a single-family residence, $433 for an apartment unit or $246 for commercial.

Impact fees for water, sewer, stormwater, fire and police have been in place in Kalispell since 2006, with transportation fees added in 2009, Howington said.

Also last week, the council approved:

n A road resurfacing contract to LHC for $448,565. The improvements will be funded with federal stimulus money.

n Appointments of Jason Mueller and Craig Woods to the Planning Board and Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund Committee, respectively.

n First reading of the adoption of the International Energy Conservation Code, 2009 edition, which was mandated by Congress. If council decides not to adopt the code, the city would not be able to enforce building codes, Howington said.

“People would build at their own risk,” she said.

Reporter Caleb Soptelean may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at csoptelean@dailyinterlake.com.