07-12-21 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL
KCITY OF WORK SESSION MINUTES
ALISPELL July 12, 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.
Public comment was also available via email to publiccomment(wkalispell.com.
Video of this meeting with time stamped minutes can be found at:
https://www.kalispell.com/480/Meeting-Videos.
A. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Mark Johnson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
B. DISCUSSION ITEMS
Montana Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act
City Manager Russell provided an overview of the previous discussion on this item.
00:02:28 Councilor Daoud asked for thoughts on the agricultural component of marijuana.
00:03:58 Planning staff explained the city does not have any land under agricultural zoning.
Council discussed the nature of traditional agriculture in comparison to the growing of marijuana
and spoke regarding the possibility of allowing cultivation in industrial zones.
00:05:44 Councilor Carlson confirmed with staff that dispensary hours are limited by the State
Law to be closed from 8 p.m. to 9 a.m.
00:07:13 City Manager Russell provided a possible framework regarding how Council could
approach the discussion on this subject.
00:08:53 Councilor Waterman spoke to the solid nature of these businesses and would prefer not
to push these businesses out of town.
00:10:01 Councilor Daoud spoke reminding Council there is no consumption in a dispensary, so
would not fall into a category similar to a casino.
00:10:53 Councilor Hunter spoke regarding voter support for this act. He spoke to a possible
400-foot walking distance buffer between dispensaries to avoid clustering.
00:12:55 Councilor Daoud spoke to allowing free market highs and lows.
00:14:07 Councilor Hunter spoke to his expectations regarding high demand.
00:15:45 Councilor Nunnally spoke to hearing constituents ask for location control of
dispensaries.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, July 12, 2021
00:16:49 Councilor Carlson spoke in opposition to having dispensaries scattered along the
Kalispell Parkline or downtown.
00:17:30 Councilor Graham spoke regarding his thoughts on zoning dispensaries in the B-2 and
not allowing them in residential.
00:18:48 Councilor Daoud and Graham discussed reasoning related to whether dispensaries
should have zoning restrictions or not.
00:22:14 Staff spoke regarding the existing restrictions in state law related to a 500-foot buffer
for schools and churches.
00:24:20 Staff spoke regarding existing zoning and how it works. They then brought up an
interactive map of the city to help council visualize varieties of zoning and buffers.
00:26:13 Councilor Gabriel joined the meeting.
00:27:42 Councilor Daoud provided his views about current medical marijuana dispensaries and
then spoke to the need to draw businesses into town.
00:28:47 Councilor Hunter asked about buffers and how that would affect possible zoning.
Council discussed possible zoning along the Parkline and whether other parks should be buffered
or not.
00:36:14 Council discussed specific zones they would be comfortable seeing dispensaries within.
00:42:58 City Manager Russell spoke regarding the process this item would go through for any
zoning changes.
Council continued discussion around parks.
00:46:40 Council spoke regarding state regulations in the act and the expected additional
guidance that will come from the state later in the year.
00:48:06 Mayor Mark Johnson summarized tonight's discussion and the path forward with the
process.
00:51:10 Councilor Gabriel feels dispensaries should not be allowed near parks and provided her
reasoning.
00:52:32 Councilor Carlson, Councilor Graham, and Councilor Nunnally would agree with a
parks buffer.
Staff confirmed they have a general idea of where Council would like to start moving forward
with the process.
00:54:38 Public Comment
Mayor Johnson opened public comment.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, July 12, 2021
Zach Block, Public Comment
Mr. Block, owner of Montana Canna north of town explained he has been sharing his experience
in the industry with lawmakers and rule makers in Helena. He provided information from an
industry perspective saying he feels marijuana will be used widely and there will be a ton of
commerce. He does feel local dispensaries that are able to, will move into city limits, as will big
money once the permits open up. He spoke to this as an emerging industry. Mr. Block said that
dispensaries expect to be taxed and are okay with the County receiving the 3% tax. Medical and
recreational will have two different cost rates. He spoke to the out-of-state money that he feels
will cause a big boom in the next 18 months only to be slowed by production. He spoke
regarding manufacturing and the need for hydrocarbons and CO2's which are explosive and
having those in an explosion proof room.
01:02:15 Marty Flores, Public Comment
Mr. Flores of 148 Parkridge Drive spoke regarding the consumption of marijuana. He would
argue for the allowance of consumption clubs as a way to curb public use.
01:03:54 Jamie Quinn, Public Comment
Ms. Quinn of 1403 4`" Ave East does not feel the Kalispell Parkline or the parks need a buffer.
She feels these businesses should be allowed to have the same opportunities to open along the
Parkline as other types of businesses.
01:06:03 Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Johnson closed public comment.
Cites egg Russell provided the following report:
• Montana League of Cities and Towns are holding annual Municipal Summits. They will
be in Kalispell September 1. He explained what the summit entails.
• Next Meeting — Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance
C. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m.
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UPCOMING SCHOWL E / FOR%hOUR INFORMATION
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Next Regular Meeting — July 19, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Next Work Session — July 26, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Watch City Council sessions live on Charter Cable Channel 190 or online at the Meetings on
Demand tab at www.kalispell.com.
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