Kalispell council to hear public input on impact fees

The Kalispell City Council tonight will hear from the public about proposed increases to police and fire Impact fees.

A public hearing will consider the proposal by the Kalispell Impact Fee Committee to increase police impact fees from $41 to $277 for single-family residential units, $31 to $210 for apartment units and $16 to $179 per 1,000 square-feet of commercial building space.

The last time police impact fees were adjusted was in 2010, when single-family and apartment units both dropped, by $3 and $4, respectively, and commercial buildings increased by $3.

In October, Kalispell Police Capt. Wade Rademacher presented data to the City Council explaining the current situation: 44 positions (35 officers, nine support positions) for 20,972 residents, meaning the department has 2.1 employees per 1,000 residents.

Growth projections expect the population to reach 32,422 by 2035, which would require 68 total employees to keep the same ratio.

Rademacher said the department is looking to build a secondary station to meet the expected growth.

Proposed fire impact fees would jump from $483 to $1,067 for single-family residential units, $367 to $811 for apartment units and $350 to $778 per 1,000 square feet of commercial space.

In 2010, fire impact fees fell $64 for single-family units, $66 for apartments and increased $104 per 1,000 square-feet of commercial buildings.

In expectation of the growing population, the city has planned for up to three new fire stations and equipment, according to a February report by the Impact Fee Advisory Committee.

In other business, the council will consider a resolution setting a public hearing for Jan. 19, 2016, on the city’s intent to be the conduit for $35 million in revenue bonds for Immanuel Lutheran Corporation.

The bonds will be used by Immanuel Lutheran to refinance its debt and borrow additional money for improvements to its facilities on Buffalo Hill.

The council will also vote on a construction agreement with the Montana Department of Transportation for a federal aid project. The work includes installing reflecting tape on traffic lights located on Meridian Road, Center Street, Second Street and Fourth Street. The project would be done at no cost to the city.

The City Council meeting begins tonight at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.