Kalispell council to vote on amendment to agreement regarding Gateway assets

At tonight’s meeting, the Kalispell City Council will vote on an amendment to the memorandum of understanding between the city of Kalispell and Flathead County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) regarding the transfer of Gateway Community Center assets.

In 2013 the city transferred its interests in the assets of the former Gateway West Mall space that is leased to TTEC to FCEDA.

Although the city holds no security interests in the subject property, the memorandum of understanding does deal with FCEDA sharing deficiency tax payments derived from the property with the city for the term of the Westside Tax Increment Finance District, Harball said.

The council will also hear a request from Siderius Construction, LLC, regarding its subdivision development at 1702 S. Woodland Drive known as Jaxon Ridge. The company is requesting an alteration of the plan’s boundaries to include 3.9 acres in the 24-townhome project.

Siderius Construction also is requesting the property be zoned R-4, a designation that is “comprised of primarily single-family and duplex dwellings” and requires “all public utilities and community facilities.” The council previously held public hearings on Oct. 8 and Nov. 12 about the project and received no public testimony.

Another development issue for the council’s consideration is the South Kalispell Urban Renewal Project intersection improvements at 18th Street and Airport Road. On Jan. 1, 2015, the city contracted with CTA Architects and Engineers to update the city’s Airport/Athletic Complex Redevelopment Plan.

More recently, the city contracted with WGM Engineering “to mitigate impacts associated with these new development and address blighted conditions within the plan boundary” and “to facilitate an urban renewal project that would seek to mitigate the impacts of these developments and benefit the greater neighborhood and the Tax Increment Finance District,” according to the meeting agenda.

The council held a public hearing on the plan on Nov. 12 but received no public comment. They will consider holding another public hearing about this development on Dec. 16. There are details and drawings related to the development in the meeting agenda.

The council will also consider approving the intent to reimburse expenditures on the 4 Mile Drive water project from proceeds to the state revolving fund bond. This proposal results from budget discussions of the capital improvement project on 4 Mile Drive. The council expects to take up a resolution approving this funding at their second December meeting, so it is now considering reimbursing earlier preliminary expenditures on the project from the state revolving fund.

During the meeting, there will also be a public hearing on the re-establishment of the Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District. The TBID expires at the end of this fiscal year, and the city passed a resolution of intent to re-establish it after receiving petitions from property owners in the subject area. Following this public hearing, the council will consider the resolution to re-establish the district at its Dec. 16 meeting.

Finally, the council will consider appointing Officer Tara Oster as a patrol officer with the Kalispell Police Department. Oster graduated from the University of Montana, previously worked for the Flathead 911 center and received the Jack Wiseman Award from her peers at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy.

The agenda is available at https://www.kalispell.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12022019-359

The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the Kalispell City Council Chambers, 201 First Ave. E.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.