06-14-21 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL
KCHYOF WORK SESSION MINUTES
ALISPELL June 14, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers, 201 First Avenue East
The public was able to participate in person in the council chambers or via videoconferencing at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN mZFY6cRTSNgaZg9T9xbssg.
Public comment was also available via email to . ubliccomment wkalis ell.com.
A. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Present
Council Member - Karl Gabriel: Present via video conferencing
Council Member
- Sandy Carlson: Present
Council Member
- Sam Nunnally: Present
Council Member
- Chad Graham: Present via video conferencing
Council Member
- Kyle Waterman: Present
Council Member
- Ryan Hunter: Present
Council Member
- Tim Kluesner: Present
Council Member
- Sid Daoud: Present
Staff present included City Manager Doug Russell, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, Development
Services Director Jarod Nygren, Senior Planner P.J. Sorensen, and Planner Rachel Ezell.
B. DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Accessory Dwelling Units ADU's
City Manager Doug Russell provided an overview of this item.
00:03:33 Senior Planner P.J. Sorensen continued the presentation explaining what accessory
dwelling units are and where they are currently allowed. He then spoke regarding the zones that
ADU's are proposed to be allowed. He provided further details regarding the proposal before
council.
00:05:58 Councilor Waterman asked about the method staff chose to suggest the zones.
00:06:47 Councilor Nunnally asked about height restrictions.
00:07:22 Councilor Graham asked about the permitting process in current zones where ADU's
are currently allowed.
00:08:49 Mayor Johnson began discussion summarizing past Council conversations on this issue.
00:11:29 Councilor Daoud provided discussion talking about the way we would prefer this move
forward.
Page 1 of 5
Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 14, 2021
00:12:00 Councilor Kluesner continued discussion about ramifications and whether the Planning
Board should look deeper into these issues.
00:20:21 Councilor Waterman continued discussion about whether a `deep -dive' is needed. He
then asked about future development possibilities. He spoke about extensive public comment
that has been received in favor of ADU's.
00:23:41 Councilor Graham spoke regarding the proposed changes in the standard for the permit
process and parking for zones that currently allow ADU's. He feels the new zones should mirror
the current permit process and parking for the zones that currently allow ADU's.
00:28:10 Councilor Hunter provided discussion about how he relates ADU's to affordable
housing and continued his arguments in favor of moving forward with the proposal.
00:37:46 Councilor Nunnally provided discussion about concerns regarding height and size
possibilities with the proposal. He then spoke regarding parking issues he sees in areas of the
city. He mentioned the large amount of public comment heard on this issue.
00:41:14 Councilor Daoud provided discussion about the short-term rental argument and said he
feels the current short term rental restrictions already in place are sufficient. He spoke regarding
personal property rights and how it is not equitable that duplexes are allowed without CUP'S but
a short-term rental would require one.
Staff presented information about current zoning requirements.
Council discussed size and height and having the square foot sizing recommendations further
defined.
00:49:25 Councilor Daoud provided discussion in favor of the proposal saying it encourages
inf ll.
00:50:34 Councilor Graham continued discussion.
00:54:00 Councilor Carlson provided discussion in favor of parking requirements.
00:55:41 Councilor Hunter provided further discussion regarding parking. He then spoke about
size.
00:58:05 Mayor Johnson continued discussion about how to drive housing inventory. He spoke
regarding looking at long term solutions. He spoke regarding further defining size and whether
height should be further restricted in some way. He talked about the possibility of requiring
administrative use permits. He asked Council for their direction on whether this should move
forward with Council or whether it should go back to the Planning Board.
01:05:16 Councilor Waterman requested that this comes back at a future work session.
01:06:00 Councilor Gabriel said she would be comfortable if this came back as amendments.
01:06:26 Council discussed what amendments they would like staff to bring forward.
Page 2 of 5
Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 14, 2021
01:07:52 Councilor Nunnally discussed whether this should involve the Planning Board.
01:08:29 Councilor Graham feels the Planning Board does not need to be involved.
City Manager Russell suggested the path forward with another work session.
01:11:18 Public Comment
Mayor Johnson opened public comment on this item.
01:11:41 Pam Carbonari, Public Comment
Ms. Carbonari of 14 3d Street East said this is not about affordable housing but could meet other
challenges such as wanting to provide a place for an elderly family member or bringing their
children home in an ADU when other housing is not available. She suggested that Council move
forward with this proposal with adjustments that they feel comfortable with.
01:15:03 Luke Rumage, Public Comment
Mr. Rumage spoke regarding moving here several months ago saying he has a great job and
loves the area but has to live in a hotel because housing is not available. He would like to see this
proposal pass.
01:17:15 Jamie Quinn, Public Comment
Ms. Quinn of 1403 4th Avenue East thanked Council for the progress on this issue and implored
Council to move this forward quickly due to the housing and employee shortage.
Public comment received on this item recently via publiccommentna_,kalispell.com is available at:
https:Htime.ci.kalispell.mt.us/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=145239&dbid=0&repo=Kalispell.
2. Downtown Historic Design Standards
City Manager Russell and then Development Services Director Nygren provided an overview on
this item.
01:19:44 Planner Rachel Ezell went over the changes that were made to the proposal based on
discussion during the last work session.
01:22:31 Councilor Hunter provided discussion saying he does not believe it is the government's
role to decide the color of buildings.
01:23:57 Councilor Waterman spoke with questions about why we dropped massing.
01:24:38 Planner Rachel Ezell spoke to the massing discussion.
01:25:29 Development Services Director spoke to massing. He then spoke regarding roof forms.
Council discussed massing.
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Johnson opened public comment.
Page 3 of 5
Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 14, 2021
Cara Lemire, Public Comment
Ms. Lemire with the Architectural Review Design Committee and the Kalispell Business
Improvement District Board spoke regarding how both boards look forward to these historic design
standards moving forward so staff and the Committee can steer people in the right direction
regarding designs. They would love to see this move forward prior to additional development
coming into downtown.
Pam Corbanori, Public Comment
Ms. Carbonari, Executive Director of the Kalispell Downtown Association, and the Kalispell
Business Improvement District spoke to the importance of having these standards, and re -iterating
that this proposal has the strong support of both organizations she represents. She spoke to their
long existing fagade grant improvement program and how nice it would be to have everyone
dealing with the same historic standards. The Business Improvement District will be providing
another $5000 into this program on top of the grant that they received. This will help the overall
integrity and appearance of our downtown core. They would like to see this move forward prior to
new development or fagade improvements in downtown.
D. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS
City Manager Doug Russell provided the following report:
• Mr. Russell will be attending MMIA and Montana League of Cities and Towns Board
meetings in Helena at the end of the week.
• Very large planning agenda for the June 21, 2021, council meeting.
• The Accessory Dwelling Unit continuing discussion could go on the July 12, 2021, work
session.
• Recreational Marijuana Implementation discussion is planned for the June 28, 2021,
Council work session. Attorney Johnna Preble will be providing an overview of the
legislation.
• Also at the June 28, 2021, Council work session we will be reviewing potential public
work projects for the ARPA funds. July 15, 2021 is the deadline to apply for competitive
grant funds through the state.
01:33:54 Councilor Kluesner will not be present at the July 12, 2021, work session.
Council discussed adding the ADU discussion to the June 28, 2021, work session.
01:35:17 Councilor Waterman said that Senate Bill 121 will be under discussion at the upcoming
City -County Board of Health Directors Meeting. He then provided further clarification for the
benefit of the public about the Health Centers separation from the Health Department. The
Health Center has changed its name to the Greater Valley Health Center, but it is still in
partnership with the Health Department. He confirmed that July 5, 2021, is a city holiday.
01:36:19 Councilor Daoud said he is happy to see the accessory dwelling unit discussion moving
forward.
01:36:39 Mayor Johnson provided discussion about the lack of employees and lack of housing
within the community. He is anxious to see some of the things Council has put into place with
Page 4 of 5
Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 14, 2021
construction and development move forward. He also talked about the influx of people, scarcity,
and inflation. He then mentioned how great it is to have the public back in council chambers.
E. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:38 p.m.
Ainke Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Next Regular Meeting June 21, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.
Council Chamber
Next Work Session —June 28, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers
Watch City Council sessions live on Charter Cable Channel 190 or onlinf
Demand tab at www.kalispell.com.
Page 5 of 5