01-09-23 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL
CM OF WORK SESSION MINUTES
KALISPELL January9 2023 at 7:00 .m.
� � P
City Hall Council Chambers, 201 First Avenue East
The public was able to participate in person in the council chambers or via videoconferencing.
Video of this meeting with time stamped minutes can be found at:
https://www.kalispell.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 Nunnallv: Present
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Present
Council Member - Jed Fisher: Absent
Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present
Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Present
Council Member - R an Hunter: Present
Staff present in Council Chambers included City Manager Doug Russell, City Clerk Aimee
Brunckhorst, and Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher.
B. DISCUSSION
1. Kalispell Bicycle and Pedestrian System Plan Review 101P
City Manager Doug Russell began the presentation on this item.
00:02:52 City Manager Russell referred to the specific chapter within the Transportation Plan
beginning with the bicycle facility figure that shows the different types of bicycle facilities.
00:05:59 City Manager Russell began going through the plan beginning on page 183.
00:08:44 City Manager Russell displayed the project identifier map on page 185 and spoke
regarding how the map is laid out.
00:15:16 City Manager Russell spoke regarding the possibilities if a special district to pay
associated costs is desired.
07:21:23 PM (00:22:051 Mayor Johnson confirmed that a district if desired would'be approved
through a vote of the public.
Page 1 of 4
Kalispell City Council Minutes, January 9, 2023
City Manager Russell spoke further about funding details while responding to Mayor Johnson's
questions.
00.24:31 Councilor Dahlman asked how money collected by a city district would be distributed.
She then spoke regarding when the plan was developed and how priorities would change over
time.
00:29:25 Councilor Daoud asked when something like this would be on the ballot if the Council
chose to move it forward. He then spoke regarding timing of property valuations coming out
from the state.
00:32:28 Councilor Nunnally felt the priority matrix that was used within the plan was well
thought out and feels many of these items are much needed.
07:34:21 PM 00:35:03 Councilor Graham asked questions about how the plan can be used and
how flexible it is.
07:35:52 PM 00:36:34 Councilor Hunter would like to see traffic calming as a part of any
funding. He then provided discussion about the lack of existing funding sources for these types
of projects and the need for a source. He then asked questions about specific projects.
07:40:27 PM (00:41:021 Councilor Hunter spoke specifically about contradictions he felt he saw
within the plan and areas he feels the recommendations should be adjusted.
07:44:45 PM (00:45:27} Mayor Johnson provided discussion related to funding maintaining
routes.
07:45:18 PM (00:46:OQI Councilor Dahlman asked about grant funding details.
07:47:12 PM (00:47:54) Councilor Graham continued discussion about maintenance.
07:49:56 PM (00:50:39} Councilor Hunter continued discussion about maintenance.
07:50:40 PM i00:51:221 Councilor Dahlman continued discussion about maintenance.
07:50:54 PM 00:51:36 Councilor Carlson asked about limits to the number of grants that can
be applied for and received.
07:51:39 PM 00:52:21 Mayor Johnson provided discussion about the study area.
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Johnson opened public comment.
07:52:29 PM (00:53:11 } Terry Richmond, Public Comment
Mr. Richmond of 1136 2"d Avenue East spoke as a long-time resident regarding wanting
sidewalk installations on existing homes on the east -west streets of town to become an increased
priority. He feels the lack of interconnectivity decreases the use of existing sidewalks.
Page 2 of 4
Kalispell City Council Minutes, January 9, 2023
07:55:31 PM (00:56:13) Richard Hall, Public Comment
Mr. Hall of 5`h Avenue West and with his wife is a volunteer for Rails to Trails. He would also
like to see sidewalk installation become a major priority. He also talked about problems with
trees and bushes impeding the use of sidewalks as well as cars sometimes blocking the
sidewalks. He also spoke regarding utilizing trails for transportation versus exercise. He would
advocate for more lighting on some of the existing trails. He spoke to looking into utilizing
funding from Rails to Trails or other community groups. He mentioned several areas of the map
that he feels are erroneous or would like routes added. He would like sidewalks better taken care
of and more often maintained.
08:02:01 PM (01:02:43) Julie Tickle, Public Comment
Ms. Tickle, Executive Director with Dream Adaptive Recreation spoke regarding the work that
Dream Adaptive does and the projects accomplished, and their collaborations with other non-
profits. She spoke to the importance of utilizing universal design whenever possible, taking all
citizens into consideration. Dream Adaptive would like to be a resource regarding the universal
design process.
08:03:40 PM (01:04:22) Mandy Gerth, Public Comment
Ms. Gerth spoke in favor of a district being put before the voters. She then spoke regarding the
extensive use of the sidewalks for teenagers walking between Linderman and Flathead High
School in Kalispell to Evergreen.
08:06:16 PM (01:06:58) Martv Flores, Public Comment
Mr. Flores spoke regarding increased access to bike and pedestrian routes and prioritizing routes
that can take vehicular travel off the roads. He also would support universal design.
Public comment received via email to the Mayor and Council at publiccomment(&,kalispell.com,
can be found at:
https://time.ci.kalispell.mt.us/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=128274&dbid=0&repo=Kalispell.
08:07:52 PM 0 1:08:351 Councilor Hunter spoke regarding existing trees versus sidewalk
installation.
08:09:01 PM (01:09:44) Mayor Johnson provided discussion about hearing the need for sidewalk
installation where it is needed.
08:09:21 PM (01:10,03) City Manager Russell spoke regarding the current policy related to
sidewalks.
Mayor Johnson continued discussion about sidewalks.
Councilor Nunnally discussed the cost of sidewalks.
D. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS
City Manager Russell provided the following report:
• Reminder to Council that the meetings are now utilizing closed captioning and that
speaking into the microphones and pronunciation is important especially during votes.
Page 3 of 4
Kalispell City Council Minutes, January 9, 2023
Mayor Johnson thanked the public for participating in the meeting.
E. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:13 p.m.
.1111111���'
1C QPo����5' �'•, Aim Brunckhorst, CMC
O:
F•;•�; City Clerk
v:: 18g2 Q: Minutes approved on January 17, 2023
UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION
City Offices Closed — January 16, 2023 — Martin Luther King Jr Holiday
Next Regular Meeting — TUESDAY, January 17, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Next Work Session — January 23, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Page 4 of 4