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04-25-22 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL KMy OF WORK SESSION MINUTES ALISPELL Aril 25, 2022 at 7:00 P � 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. Video of this meeting with time stamped minutes can be found at: httys://www.kalispeti.com/480/Meeting-Videos. A. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Mayor - Mark Johnson: Present Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Present Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Present Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present Council Chair - Chad Graham: Present Council Member - Jed Fisher: Present Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Present Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Present Staff present in Council Chambers included City Manager Doug Russell, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, Public Works Director Susie Turner, and Senior Engineer Keith Haskins. B. DISCUSSION 1. Draft Traffic Calming Policy 20221� <= City Manager Russell began the staff presentation. 00:02:33 Public Works Director Susie Turner provided a refresher of items presented at the previous work session on this item. 00:03:57 Councilor Kari Gabriel joined the work session. 00:04:02 Senior Engineer Keith Haskins provided history behind the reasoning for developing this draft policy. He began with the definition of Traffic Calming. He then provided sidebars regarding how to weigh functionality versus liability when it comes to traffic calming. 00:11:19 Councilor Hunter asked why traffic calming devices are not allowed in new development. 00:12:37 Senior Engineer Haskins spoke to Hunter's question. Page 1 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, April 25, 2022 00:14:45 Councilor Hunter continued discussion regarding design features he would like to see in new development. Staff spoke to traffic design standards and the rationale behind them. 00:16:45 Councilor Daoud asked questions related to expected speed in a traffic calming device situation. 00:17:33 Engineer Haskins spoke to traffic circle signage. 00:18:31 Councilor Daoud continued questions related to speed and liability. Staff spoke regarding risks and minimizing those risks to the municipality. 00:20:00 Councilor Dahlman asked about what other cities do about emergency vehicles utilizing traffic circles. 00:20:24 Engineer Haskins spoke to the goals of a traffic calming policy and then spoke regarding traffic calming methods. 00:23:37 Councilor Hunter provided discussion regarding why he feels tools like road diet and curb extension measures should be allowed on new construction. Staff explained what would need to be considered. Mayor Johnson spoke to what this draft policy is designed to handle. 00:28:50 Council and staff discussed how the policy would be implemented if approved. Discussion then focused on the design process and how designs are reviewed. 00:32:30 Engineer Haskins then continued his presentation regarding additional calming tools. 00:33:06 Engineer Haskins explained the standard procedure for review when traffic calming may be needed. 00:35:52 Engineer Haskins spoke regarding traffic calming criteria on a local street and then went into criteria for arterial and collectors. 00:37:52 Councilor Hunter asked about typical traffic volume numbers. Staff discussed traffic volume numbers on specific streets through an online MDT map. 00:43:40 Council and staff discussed review considerations when traffic calming would be appropriate. Staff explained the proposed process for qualifying projects and finding funding. Council and staff discussed funding options and funding hurdles. Page 2 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, April 25, 2022 00:59:50 Engineer Haskins spoke how final engineering and construction would be handled per the draft policy. 01:01:17 Engineer Haskins spoke specifically about numbers related to the East Oregon traffic request from 2020. 01:02:44 Councilor Nunnally asked questions about traffic patterns on East Oregon. 01:03:23 Council discussed the challenges with these issues. 01:07:48 Councilor Dahlman asked about other areas that have received speeding complaints. She then asked about the costs associated with different types of calming devices. 01:10:44 Councilor Dahlman asked about safety and city liability. Then she asked about other ways to measure the safety of city streets. Staff spoke regarding the limited resources available. 01:14:57 Councilor Dahlman spoke about pedestrian safety concerns. 01:15:42 Councilor Fisher asked about a specific area of town that had a solution implemented. 01:16:52 Councilor Hunter spoke regarding creating standards that allow traffic calming in areas like Oregon Street. He provided discussion about funding and corrective measures. Council and staff discussed further how this could be implemented and costs for funding traffic data. Council and staff discussed the numbers on East Oregon. Council discussed the challenges and benefits that may exist with traffic calming devices. C. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Johnson opened public comment. 01:31:43 Walter Roundtree, Public_ Comment Mr. Roundtree of 22 51h Avenue East spoke regarding housing being purchased more often by investors for rentals and the difficulties of passing a Street Improvement District if owners are out of state. He would encourage the City (when creating an SID) to approach those homeowners with the idea that it will increase property values. 01:32:57 Rick HoWman, Public Comment Mr. Hoylman of 1240 71h Avenue East feels the problems caused on local streets is caused by backed up traffic on the main streets and he feels the lights are timed incorrectly. He then spoke regarding issues he sees on Woodland Avenue. 01:34:56 Laura Reynolds, Public Comment Ms. Reynolds of 22 5`h Avenue East spoke regarding the benefits of quieting a street through traffic calming devices. She referred to the noise on Main Street for pedestrians. Page 3 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, April 25, 2022 01:35:52 Sherie Defosse, Public Comment Ms. Defosse of 380 51h Avenue EN explained she feels traffic on East Oregon feels very unsafe. She spoke regarding the young families and children that live in the neighborhood, and said they see people speeding from 8 to 5 pm. She feels it is obvious that East Oregon is a bypass from Whitefish Stage to Hwy 93. She emphasized this is not only a safety concern for speed, but also with volume. She asked about the possibility of putting several stop signs on East Oregon. 01:37:29 Mayre Flowers, Public Comment Mayre Flowers with Citizens for a Better Flathead, spoke regarding written public comment she sent in today. She said she appreciated the information presented by staff tonight. She talked about concerns with funding through an SID (Special Improvement District) saying the need for traffic calming is not generated by the neighborhood but by other factors. She feels the policy should include more about SID's. She then spoke regarding the concept of traffic sheds. She then referenced links she provided in her written comment. She would like more information about how Bozeman has funded these types of measures. She spoke about looking at design standards for new construction and whether they are held accountable for off -site impacts. She would encourage broader public participation and public input. Ms. Flowers feels handling traffic calming as complaint driven is inappropriate and suggested an alternative. She asked about legal structure and neighborhood bonding to avoid liability and public education. She spoke to further information within the policy about what the policy focuses on and link it to other city policies. She asked how Council plans to bring funding avenues for these types of issues before the State legislature. 01:47:19 Brian_ne Owings, Public Comment Ms. Owings 459 3`d Avenue EN spoke to safety concerns for her children from the volume and speed of traffic on East Oregon. She spoke regarding the city gathering input from people all along a street when considering traffic calming. She then asked about the possibility of a flashing speed sign or additional lines like bike lanes. She said she appreciates the effort to make our streets safer. 01:50:03 Emry Owings. Public Comment Ms. Owings stated that it is hard to go across the street without worrying that a car may hit her because there are constantly cars coming down the street. 01:50:46 Tim Defosse. Public Comment Mr. Defosse of 380 5`h Avenue EN spoke in agreement with the comments made by Sherie Defosse. He also feels this is a bigger issue saying we need to decide the purpose of East Oregon Street - neighborhood street or bypass. Public comment received to publiccommenlgkaliMell.com can be seen at: https://time.ci.kalispell.mt.usfWebLink/Browse.aspx?id=153430&dbid=0&repo=Kalispell. Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Johnson closed public comment. 01:52:07 City Manager Russell asked for Council direction moving forward. Council discussed additional information they would like gathered. Page 4 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, April 25, 2022 02:04:30 Mayor Johnson spoke regarding how Special Improvement District's work. D. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS City Manager Doug Russell reported budget meetings will occur during the work session monthly meetings in May (May 9, and May 23). After the regular meeting on May 16, he would like to schedule a third budget meeting on solid waste as a work session. Manager Russell explained that the Infrastructure bill put funding into other areas. One of these was Rural Transportation funding. The city plans on submitting work on West Reserve into that possible funding pool as well. A resolution as such will be placed on the May 2 agenda. E. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m. Air ee Brunckhorst, CMC City Clerk Minutes approved on May 2, 2022 UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION Next Regular Meeting — May 2, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Next Work Session — May 9, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Watch City Council sessions live or later on Charter Cable Channel 190 or online at https://www.kalispell.com/480/Meeting-Videos. Page 5 of 5