ordinances Jan 23 Public Comment from Nicholas RamlowAimee Brunckhorst
From: nicholas ramlow <n.ramlow@outlook.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 2, 2023 10:36 AM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL ordinances Jan 23
Attachments: 2023.02.02 Press_Release.pdf
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Fixed some clerical mistakes. See attached.
Nicholas Minim Construction LLC
97' Foys Lake Rd. qq
Kalispell, M'T 59191101
nxwnlo w@outloole:.,com
wT.
-hWoerty coalffion
February 2, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
On January 23ra, 2023, the Kalispell City Council reviewed three (3) proposed
ordinances intended to preempt illegal activity that may occur in "public spaces."
The first ordinance would make it "unlawful for a [person(s)] to place, store, or
maintain more personal property than is reasonable for the use of the public
property," The second ordinance provides that, "[n]o person shall, in any park or
other public grounds, erect, maintain, use or occupy any tent, lodge, shelter,
structure or unattended installation or display," (exemptions may be granted by
permit). The third ordinance amends Section 19-20 of the Kalispell City Code and
provides, "[u] se of any and all City Park structures by any person be limited in time
to no more than 90 cumulative minutes of use within one calendar day," (any use
beyond 90 minutes requires a permit). Each ordinance is punishable as a
misdemeanor with a civil penalty (citation). (emphasis added).
After thoughtful consideration we have determined that the proposed
ordinances have the look and feel of other well-intentioned legislation that
inevitably have the effect of placing onerous restrictions on law-abiding citizenry
while failing to produce liability for the culprits that induced these machinations in
the first place. Put differently, the local police have made it clear that they often do
not arrest vagrants as they "have nowhere to put them." In the rare instance that a
vagrant is arrested they will often be released, avoid arraignment and civil liability,
and thereby impose the full cost of legislative enforcement upon the innocent
taxpayer.
We believe that the people of our community should remain unencumbered
and free to innovate in the use of their public spaces, lest they invade the rights of
their fellow Man. We pray that they rejoice in their responsibility to cultivate a
family friendly environment within their public spaces and act conscientiously when
called upon to provide what their city government cannot; a normative culture that
displaces vagrancy.
Sincerely,
FLC Advisory Board
PRESS RELEASE
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