06-24-24 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL
UTYOF WORK SESSION MINUTES
KALISPELL June 24, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers, 201 First Avenue East
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.
B. ROLL CALL
or - Mark Johnson: Present
Council Member - Karl Gabriel: Present
Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Absent
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Present
Council Member - Jed Fisher: Present via video conference
Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present via video conference
Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Present via video conference
Council Member - Rvan Hunter: Absent
Staff present included City Manager Doug Russell, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, Development
Services Director Jarod Nygren, and Katharine King, Community Development Manager.
C. DISCUSSION
Main Street Safety Action Plan G
00:01:1-1 Development Services Director Jarod Nygren began the staff report providing
background on this item and potential next steps. He introduced consultants with
Kittelson and Associates, Planner Rachel Grosso, and Senior Principal Engineer Andy
Daleiden.
00:02:58 Rachel Grosso, Planner with Kittelson and Associates provided a visual and
verbal presentation beginning with an overview of tonight's presentation agenda.
00:03:39 Main Street Safety Action Plan Planning Process
Rachel Grosso explained a timeline.
00:04:49 Safe Streets for All Program Safe System Approach
Rachel Grosso explained this competitive grant program administration and approach.
00:06:10 Planning Area and Vision and Goals
Rachel Grosso explained the planning area map which described the planning area and
then spoke on the vision and goals of the plan.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 24, 2024
00:07:57 Project Advisory Committee
Rachel Grosso explained the makeup of the committee and how they provided input at
key decision points.
00:09:10 Partner Listening Sessions
Rachel Grosso explained the listening sessions that happened throughout the process.
00:09: 51 Community Engagement — March and May 2024
Rachel Grosso talked about community engagement in -person and online, what they
learned, and the key themes that emerged in those sessions.
00:10:59 Survey Responses
Rachel Grosso discussed survey results and engagement.
00:12,05 Needs and Deficiencies
Rachel Grosso explained that community input, safety and mobility analysis and equity
areas is combined,
00:12:58 Council Member Chad Graham asked about the reasoning behind the location
of the plan boundaries.
00:13:03 Ms. Grosso and Director Nygren provided information about why the plan
boundary was chosen.
001.1.1: 1 Council Member Kari Gabriel asked for information about the locations on the
map identified as Other and labeled with green dots.
00:15:30 Mobility
Planner Grosso spoke regarding traffic operations analysis performed and results.
00:17:27 High Injury Network
Planner Grosso talked about the analysis that goes into the High Injury Network that
explains the highest concerns related to safety. She then spoke regarding US Department
of Transportation's Equitable Transportation Communities Explorer analysis.
00:19:37 Needs and Deficiencies and Priority Locations
Planner Grosso talked about 10 priority corridor and intersection locations with a
provided map. She explained why areas were or were not included.
00122:07 Mayor Johnson asked a question about the Flathead County Sidewalk
Moratorium.
Council Member Nunnally asked about several locations.
00:23:02 Main Street
Planner Grosso talked about recommendations within the plan related to Main Street
including roadway reallocation providing renderings.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 24, 2024
00:24:43 Main Street
Planner Grosso talked about planning near St. Matthews School and surrounding areas.
She explained the map provided and the legends.
00:26:14 Main Street - South of the Courthouse Couplet
Planner Grosso explained several intersection recommendations in this area.
00:27:1 5 Director Nygren talked about the lack of a school zone for St. Matthews and the
delineation of school zones by the School District based on Main Street.
00:28:41 Council Member Nunnally asked about truck utilization of roundabouts on
Main Street.
00:29:31 Andy Daleiden spoke regarding roundabouts being able to accommodate trucks.
00.129: S' Council Member Nunnally talked about views related to truck navigation.
00: ,0- , ; 111 Avenue East and West
Planner Rosso spoke regarding these and the treatments they would recommend for these
streets.
00:34:04 Separated Bicycle Facility
Ms. Rosso spoke regarding what this type of facility would look like and how it would
operate and could also serve as snow storage.
00:3 5: 12 Council Member Nunnally asked about how snow storage would work with this
type of solution.
Ms. Rosso spoke to how further traffic impact studies would be done at intersections if
recommended projects would go forward.
00:36:30 Council Member Graham asked about sharrows.
00:37:02 Director Nygren answered questions.
00:37:29 Council Member Graham provided discussion about sharrows.
00:38:05 City Manager Russell spoke to previous discussions about sharrows and how
those could be further narrowed down.
00:39.23 Council Member Graham provided discussion and asked questions about
expectations related to bike lanes and snow storage.
00:41:11 East and West Streets
Ms. Grosso spoke to systemic treatments within the High Injury Network on the east and
west streets. She spoke regarding bicycle and pedestrian safety recommendations. She
provided extra details regarding Center Street.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 24, 2024
00:43:42 Ms. Grosso talked regarding curb extensions explaining that they are low cost
and highly affective.
00:45:02 Council Member Nunnally asked about 5`h Avenue West.
00:45:30 North / South Avenues
Ms. Grosso spoke about possible safety measures for pedestrians within this area.
00:46:36 Woodland Avenue / 71' Avenue EN
Ms. Grosso spoke to planning in this area and how feedback was considered and
provided renderings.
00:50:00 11" St E, Park Place and Woodland Avenue
00:50:26 Woodland Park Drive
Ms. Rosso spoke regarding identified recommended solutions within this area.
00:51:34 Sunset Boulevard
Ms. Rosso talked about hearing strong safety concerns from the public in this area and
possible solutions.
00:52:34 Meridian Road
Planner Rosso spoke regarding concerns identified in this area and possible solutions.
00:54:1 1 Grandview Drive / Evergreen Drive
Planner Rosso explained this is a big priority for first responders and from Flathead
Valley Community College for safety, mobility and increased connectivity.
00:33:0 Mr. Nygren explained planning that has been done in the past and current right
of way.
00:56:26 Council asked questions related to this area.
00:58:24 Conrad Drive / Shady Lane
Ms. Rosso spoke regarding crashes happening in this area and what could be done to
make this area safer.
00:59:37 Priority Locations Summary
Planner Rosso provided further information about priority locations and conservative cost
estimates.
01:00:35 Director Nygren spoke regarding next steps related to implementation grants
that could be sought.
01:01:09 Manager Russell talked about next steps to adopt the plan and then look in the
long term towards implementation through the grant process.
01:02:41 Council Member Graham provided discussion related to prioritization of Main
Street.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 24, 2024
01:03:17 Mayor Johnson spoke to moving forward with adoption.
01:03:47 Director Nygren explained that 30° o of design of a project is included in the
current grant funds.
01:04:21 Council Member Dahlman provided discussion to her views on priorities and
her desire to move forward.
01:05:19 Council Member Daoud provided discussion about the difficulty of funding
these types of projects.
C, It Manager Russell spoke to the adoption of the plan and priorities and a
resolution of intent for the public hearing on July 1, with the public hearing on July 15.
01:07:58 Policies
Ms. Rosso spoke to building a culture of roadway safety within the area talking about
policies and strategies. She explained four policies they would recommend.
01:10:46 Strategies
Ms. Rosso talked about eight recommended strategies.
01:12:14 Implementation
Ms. Rosso talked about a SS4A Demonstration Grant that could be applied for with an
application deadline August 29, 2024. She then explained that phase 2 of the current
grant includes money for 30% conceptual designs that will occur in 2024-2025. She
talked about submittal of an application of a SS4A implementation grant in 2025.
01:13 ;� 7 Mayor Johnson asked about one of the strategies listed as it pertains to state
legislation.
01:15:12 Council Member Graham asked about 20% grant match funds.
01:15:48 Director Nygren spoke to the priority related to safety measures to reduce
serious injuries and death.
01:17:28 Manager Russell explained the resolution of intent to hold a public hearing will
come forth at the next regular meeting.
D. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Johnson opened public comment.
01:17:35
Rose Asbiz, Public Comment
Ms. Asbig has concerns related to designs for Main Street and how particular designs may move
traffic to outlying streets. She spoke in comparison to traffic issues she sees in Whitefish. She
then spoke to safety concerns and traffic congestion on Meridian. She then talked about her view
that turn lanes are necessary at every intersection.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 24, 2024
01:19:31 Gene Webe!
Mr. Webel spoke in support of adoption of this plan and thanked Kittelson and city staff for the
work they have put into the draft plan. He spoke to his community input throughout the process.
He spoke to his experiences with connection issues and his appreciation of these issues being
addressed in the plan. He talked about his reasoning for priority areas and bicycling and
pedestrian concerns throughout the City and the specific points in the plan he appreciates and
why. He would like to see Main Street as a safer and more enjoyable route for pedestrians and
bicyclists.
Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Johnson closed public comment.
Public comment received to Mayor and Council via email to publiccomment@kalispell.com can
be seen at
https://time.ci.kalispell.mt.us/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=128274&dbid=0&repo=Kalispell.
E. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS
City Manager Doug Russell followed up with Council about additional positions that staff would
like to move forward in advertising prior to final budget adoption if Council is amenable.
1:'C:20 Manager Russell said that no work session has been planned for July 8. He then spoke
to the hearing for the Warming Center conditional use permit and asked for Council direction
related to action.
01:27:32 Mayor Johnson and Council provided discussion that they would like to move forward
with action the next evening.
01:28:33 Manager Russell explained that staff will move forward with a special meeting July 16,
2024 for potential action related to the Warming Center conditional use permit. Staff and
Council discussed when public comment would take place.
01:31:00
F. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Aim e Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
Minutes approved on July 15, 2024
Next Regular Meeting —July 1, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
City Offices Closed — July 4, 2024 — Independence Day Holiday
Next Work Session — July 8, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 24, 2024
PARTICIPATION
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