10-22-18 City Council Work Session MinutesKALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES
OCTOBER 22, 2018
View the minutes attached to the audio of the meeting at:
htt2://kalispell.com/480/Meeting-Videos
A WORK SESSION OF THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD AT 7:00 PM ON
MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2018, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL IN
KALISPELL, MONTANA. MAYOR MARK JOHNSON PRESIDED. COUNCIL MEMBERS
SANDY CARLSON, KARI GABRIEL, CHAD GRAHAM, PHIL GUIFFRIDA, TIM
KLUESNER, ROD KUNTZ, WAYNE SAVERUD AND KYLE WATERMAN WERE
PRESENT.
Also present: City Manager Doug Russell, Public Works Director Susie Turner, Planning Director
Tom Jentz, and Senior Planner Jarod Nygren.
Mayor Johnson called the work session to order.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Urban Renewal Board Recommendation for Airport Road Traffic Improvements
Jentz summarized the traffic improvement project and noted that a lot of public outreach has been
held. He then turned the discussion over to Mike Brodie with the WGM Group, the engineering
consultants on the project.
Brodie noted the goal was to try to distribute the traffic downtown and eliminate some of the traffic
on Main Street by pushing traffic to 1 st Avenues East and West. He remarked that traffic counts are
very important on Main Street and MDT would need to approve any signal warrants. He also said
one of the options they looked at was making 1 st Avenue East an extension of Main Street, which
would be a low cost solution in order to create pedestrian crossings; there are none between 1 lth and
18th Street.
Brodie noted that when they looked at the intersection of Main Street and Airport Road, there were
three feasible options: do nothing; make Main Street a three lane road without any new signals but
with bulb -outs for pedestrian crossings; or make Main Street a three lane road with a roundabout at
Airport Road. However, MDT will not support any of these options right now.
Brodie then discussed the 18th Street and Airport Road intersection improvements, noting there are a
few options: a four-way stop; a roundabout option that would require 18th Street to be realigned;
realign 1 st Avenue West to match 18th Street; or create a new section of 1 st Avenue West to the
north so it is not an angle crossing.
Brodie noted there is a lot of stormwater infrastructure and significant utility issues in the area; the
estimated costs could be $640,000, but the options are feasible.
Brodie concluded by noting the city really can't do anything at Airport Road and Main Street, but
that Airport Road and 18th Street could be fixed by building a new section of 1 st Avenue West to the
Kalispell City Council Work Session Minutes
October 22, 2018
Page I
north (and closing the existing section) and creating a parking lot on city -owned property that could
be used for Legends Field and snow storage.
Jentz remarked that staff will come up with additional information and present it to council.
Public Comment
Steven Franks stated that he owns property on Airport Road, and does not want extra traffic coming
through his property; the city should provide a sidewalk to Legends Field but he is worried
pedestrians will cut through his property and not go up to 12th Street. He also requested security
lighting for his tenants and remarked that the snow dumping is very loud in the mornings on the
snow lot.
2. Downtown Plan
Nygren gave a brief summary of the Downtown Plan, stating this is the first step in creating a Tax
Increment Finance (TIF) District funding tool to help redevelop the downtown area. He said it will
create a base year of 2018 and a distinct boundary for the downtown area.
Nygren noted there has historically been a TIF in the area, but that it expired in 2003; it is allowed to
be reinstated with a finding of blight and a public hearing being held.
Council consensus was to move forward with the first steps toward adopting the Downtown Plan.
Public Comment
None.
CITY MANAGER/MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORTS
None.
ADJOURN
The work session was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Attest:
,�®�
Ai e Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk �A
1892
MONTN
Prepared by:
Judi Funk
Deputy City Clerk
Kalispell City Council Work Session Minutes
October 22, 2018
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