Transient issues Public Comment from Tim PorterAimee Brunckhorst
From: Tim Porter <ttporter5@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2023 7:44 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Transient issues
I typed the below email and was going to send it to you a week or two ago. I noticed that the transient problem at the
gazebo in Depot Park was being handled so I held off on sending the email. Thank you for taking action. Today I noticed
that the Board of Commissioners released a statement regarding the transients. I support their statement and think it's
about time that the transient issue gets addressed.
One of the things I loved about Kalispell when I moved here years ago was that I felt like it was a safe place for my family
and grandkids. With the influx of transients that has changed a little bit. My hope is that the city will support the
commissioners and work to take care of the transient issue. If something can be done about the pan handling and if the
debris from their camps can quickly get cleaned up they will hopefully move on.
One of the questions I have for you is can anything be done about the panhandlers on the street corners as well as on
and off ramps of the bypass? I realize some of the areas aren't city responsibility but the light by Cabelas and Hwy 93 is
city. There is alway a panhandler there. Also by Smiths and at times by Albersons there will be panhandlers. There is a
large camp on the bike path that parallels the bypass. It is between the Foys Lake round about and the Rails for Trails
that comes off of HWY 2. At this camp you can find a tent, numerous shopping carts and trash. Again thank you for
taking care of Depot Park. Hopefully other areas of the city can be addressed as well
Respectfully,
Tim Porter
Good morning,
On July 29, 20211 emailed Doug Russell regarding transients in various areas of the city. I received a reply back stating
the issues that I brought up would be looked into. Since then the transient issues have only increased. Some of the areas
are in city limits while other areas are in the county. I will be following up with the commissioners as well since some of
the areas are county or state responsibility areas.
A few years ago I retired from a large fire department. I held the rank of Assistant Fire Chief upon retiring. The district I
worked for was responsible for protecting 19,278 square miles with a population of 2+ million people. Calls for service in
20-21 was 130,400.There is a huge homeless population in the fire district where I served. The homeless population
taxed not only fire resources but law enforcement as well as code enforcement and hospitals. Issues ranged from
assaults, stabbings, shootings, robberies, fires, etc.
Unfortunately, if nothing is done Kalispell is heading the same direction regarding transients as where I worked. Depot
Park is one example. You can drive by the canopy at any time and find transients, tarps, sleeping bags, trash, feces, etc.
Go to the bridge on Reserve by Home Depot and they can be seen coming up from the river where camps have been set
up. Go to the bike path along the river between Hwy 2 and Foys Lake Road and you will find a large camp with multiple
shopping carts, a tent, as well as allot of trash. On Rails to Trails just west of the bypass there's a canopy set up right off
the bypass. I realize not all of these areas are city, some belong to the state and county. In addition to camps multiple
pan handlers can be found throughout the city at any time. They are always at the traffic light coming out of Cabela's
onto Hwy 2 as well as Smiths grocery store and many other street corners in the city. I have seen warming fires in the
parking lot by Sears. These fires will most likely get larger as they force their way into vacant buildings and other areas
that will protect them from the outside environment. Even the post office had to recently lock their doors at night due
to transients entering and sleeping inside.
My family no longer uses the bike paths or rails for trails in the Kalispell area due to transient activity and their trash that
is left behind. Would you be able to tell me if the city has any plans to handle the rapidly growing transient problem?
Thank you,
Tim Porter