10-11-21 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL
KCFrYOF WORK SESSION MINUTES
ALISPELL October 11, 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@kalispell.com.
Time stamped minutes attached to the video of this meeting can be found online at:
httns://www.kalist)ell.com/480/Meeting-Videos.
A. CALL TO ORDER
Mark Johnson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Present
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Present via video conferencing
Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Present
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present via video conferencing
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Present
Council Member - Kyle Waterman: Absent
Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present
Council Member - Tim Kluesner: Absent
Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Present via video conferencing
Staff present included City Manager Doug Russell, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, Public Works
Director Susie Turner, and Senior Engineer Keith Haskins.
B. DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Traffic Calming Review a
City Manager Doug Russell provided a brief overview and introduced Public Works Director
Susie Turner.
00:04:11
Public Works Director Susie Turner began the staff presentation.
00:05:50 Senior Engineer Keith Haskins went over the traffic review methods that Engineering
staff uses to review traffic related requests. He then spoke regarding following the Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) to decide whether a traffic calming device is
warranted and what types of devices may be most appropriate. He spoke why the MUTCD
specifically states Yield or Stop signs should not be used for speed control.
00:11:58 Councilor Graham asked questions regarding behavior related to stop signs and then
questions related to liability.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 11, 2021
00:14:01 Senior Engineer Haskins spoke regarding traffic calming options related to traffic
speeding. He provided information on the trade-offs related to these options. He went over
specific traffic calming options such as types of horizontal deflections, and vertical deflections,
street width reductions, routing restrictions.
00:25:48 Senior Engineer Haskins provided an example of how engineering went through the
process of reviewing a traffic request that came in regarding East Oregon.
00:31:30 Councilor Graham asked questions related to law enforcement response to speeding.
00:33:16 Engineer Haskins presented information regarding a second review of East Oregon. He
then spoke regarding why engineering is investigating whether traffic circle(s) may be the right
type of traffic calming device for the particular issues on East Oregon. Engineer Haskins
provided discussion points for Council. He also explained that Public Works intends to develop a
policy document for when traffic calming should be initiated.
00:46:23 Engineer Haskins provided information related to installation and maintenance costs
and options of traffic calming devices.
00:48:39 Councilor Nunnally provided discussion as it relates to East Oregon. He then provided
feedback regarding his views of traffic circles.
00:50:06 Councilor Hunter provided support for traffic calming devices and traffic circles. He
then asked about pedestrian crossings on traffic circles.
00:51:42 Engineer Haskins provided information
00:52:23 Councilor Hunter spoke in opposition to utilizing SID funding mechanisms versus
using city-wide funds.
00:53:29 Councilor Daoud asked about the ability to conduct a further study emulating a traffic
circle.
00:54:26 City Manager Russell spoke regarding a neighborhood initiative model that has been
put into place in other municipalities.
00:55:31 Public Works Director Turner provided information about how Billings handles traffic
calming.
00:55:52 Mayor Johnson confirmed information provided.
00:57:05 Councilor Graham explained his concerns regarding emergency response if a traffic
circle is installed.
00:58:36 Mayor Johnson provided discussion on Councilor Graham's comments.
00:59:29 Public Works Director Turner discussed the policies they would like to work on and
other research they can continue on this subject.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 11, 2021
01:01:39 Mayor Johnson asked questions related to MUTCD and related latitude.
01:05:30 Councilor Daoud asked about the effectiveness of feedback speed limit signs.
01:06:26 Mayor Johnson asked about traffic warrants versus the neighborhood character.
01:08:42 Councilor Graham asked about the process staff used to consider a traffic circle on East
Oregon.
01:10:23 Councilor Gabriel spoke regarding traffic circles that work well in Whitefish. She then
spoke in support of a traffic circle on East Oregon.
01:13:37 Councilor Hunter provided discussion regarding traffic calming funding.
01:15:41 Councilor Nunnally asked about reports regarding truck traffic on East Oregon.
01:17:14
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Johnson opened public comment.
Phil Heeley, Public Comment
Mr. Heeley, a resident on Woodland Avenue spoke saying he feels the problem is the amount of
traffic going through 3`d Avenue and East Oregon. He does not want to see Woodland Avenue to
be built through as a north -south connector.
Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Johnson closed public comment.
Council discussed the public comment received.
D. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS
City Manager Russell provided the following report:
• The sewer crews last week worked through the night to fix a catastrophic failure.
Public Works Director Susie Turner spoke further about the incredible response of the city crews
in a very difficult situation.
01:30:41 Mayor Johnson commended the staff for their work.
01:31:02 City Manager Russell spoke regarding the Police Department's recent need to provide a
24-hour watch at the hospital.
01:31:35 Adjutant Rich Hickel won an award during the League of Cities and Town's
Conference.
E. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:29 p.m.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 11, 2021
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Next Regular Meeting — October 18, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Next Work Session — October 25, 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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