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10-28-24 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL KMy OF WORK SESSION MINUTES ALISPELL October 28, 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 Council President Graham called the meeting to order. B. ROLL CALL Mayor - Mark Johnson: Absent Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Present Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Present via video conference Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present Council Chair - Chad Graham: Present Council Member - Jed Fisher: Present Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Absent Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Present Staff present included City Manager Doug Russell, City Attorney Johnna Preble, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, and Police Chief Jordan Venezio. C. DISCUSSION Concerns with Downtown Traffic on Friday Nights a City Manager Doug Russell provided the staff report. 00:05:07 Council Member Daoud provided discussion. 00:06:42 Council Member Fisher provided discussion. 00:12:54 Council Member Hunter provided discussion. 00:16:14 Council Member Hunter asked questions related to enforcement and timing. 00:16:36 Police Chief Jordan Venezio answered questions. 00:17:17 Council Member Hunter asked questions regarding the special event permit system. 00:18:28 Chief Venezio answered questions. Council Member Hunter asked further questions. Page 1 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 28, 2024 00:19:11 City Manager Russell answered questions. 00:20:06 Council Member Nunnally provided discussion. 00:21:44 Council Member Gabriel provided discussion. 00:24:57 Council Member Daoud provided discussion. 00:27:57 Council Member Fisher provided discussion. 00:30:59 Police Chief Venezio answered questions related to safety. 00:31:34 Council Member Hunter provided discussion. 00:33:06 Council Member Hunter asked about enforcement related to the noise ordinance. City Manager Russell and Police Chief Venezio answered questions related to enforcement and safety issues. 00:35:00 Council Member Hunter provided further discussion. 00:36:30 Council Member Gabriel provided further discussion. 00:38:29 Council Member Nunnally provided further discussion. 00:41:04 Council President Graham provided discussion. 00:44:26 Council Member Daoud provided discussion. 00:46:04 Council Member Hunter provided discussion. 00:46:37 Council Member Carlson provided discussion. D. PUBLIC COMMENT Council President Chad Graham opened public comment. 00:48:16 Duke Brown, Public Comment Brown of Columbia Falls spoke in opposition to a cruising ban and spoke regarding difficulties with enforcement. He feels the increased police presence is helping to reduce reckless behavior. 00:51:42 Teresa Narduzzi, Public Comment Narduzzi of 2nd Avenue E. spoke with frustration regarding high speeds every night and cars with illegal mufflers and vehicles racing through the neighborhoods and Main Street, ignoring stop signs, and revving engines. 00:53:38 Katie Larson, Public Comment Larson of 1" Avenue East spoke regarding viewing extremely inappropriate and unlawful activity and having small children who cannot sleep on Friday nights and asked about her rights to enjoy her home. Page 2 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 28, 2024 She feels we should be encouraging safe communities that uphold laws, that believe in safety, further explaining the unlawful and disruptive behaviors she has seen. She spoke regarding feeling that while these activities may be difficult to enforce, we should be encouraging community gatherings that includes everyone in the community. She spoke further about not feeling safe on her street due to this behavior. 00:57:12 Brandon Huntley, Public Comment Huntley of 690 Bulldoc Road spoke regarding the right of both sides of this issue to enjoy the area. He spoke regarding laws in place that may need to be stricter or governed better. He spoke to his view that policing cruising may not be the best use officer time. He spoke of enjoying cruising with his family and the traditions of cruising, and not letting people with bad behavior ruin it for everyone. 01:00:43 Elma Giavasis, Public Comment Ms. Giavasis spoke as a downtown business owner and downtown resident, saying she is heavily involved with downtown and was speaking on behalf of some of the business owners. She explained that she has been talking with downtown business owners about the cruising and said many of the businesses do oppose the cruise but fear retaliation if they speak up. Those who are open on Friday evenings have been seeing negative financial impacts on Friday nights during cruising. She provided examples including severe decline in sales, some businesses having to cancel all Friday evening events, and room rentals suffering. She understands the need for an event but would like to see some sort of permit put in place just like downtown businesses must have to put on an event downtown. She would also like to see people work with the businesses downtown, so they don't continue to suffer and possibly need to shut down. 01:05:27 Bridget Calobeer, Public Comment Calobeer of Gunsight Loop, spoke as the General Manager of the Kalispell Grand Hotel saying guests are leaving many more negative reviews related to noise and disturbances over the last year. She suggested the possibility of speed bumps or other traffic measures throughout the area. She spoke regarding the possibility of losing the business if things don't get better. 01:07:40 Terry Solomon, Public Comment Solomon of 1st Ave. East said her quality of life has been severely impacted and are no longer able to invite people to her home on Friday evenings and can no longer enjoy eating downtown on Friday nights because it feels very unpleasant. She has seen racing on 1st Avenue East until at least 1 1pm, drivers with open cans of beer, running red lights, and burning out and has seen officers not enforce laws. She feels some of the suggestions that have been brought up are worth exploring such as specific dates and times allowing businesses to work around it. She would like Council to work with those who would like to cruise to find parameters where everyone's interests are served. She was disappointed that Council members stated they had made up their mind before hearing the public. 01:12:32 Peg Hosler Hays, Public Comment Hosler Hays of Addison Square thanked Council for understanding cruisers and talked regarding enjoying cruising and owning a local business for many years. She spoke regarding her views related to how police officers see enforcement issues, and her belief that people who complain are from out of town. She spoke to her view that burnouts are not good for the streets and online requests for that to stop. She spoke regarding cruises in memory of a long-time resident. She spoke regarding not allowing a few bad apples to ruin it for everyone and the possibility of not allowing burnouts and a rule that cruising stop at 10 pm. Page 3 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 28, 2024 01:15:34 Bruce Guthree, Public Comment Guthree of the 1600 block of 5th Ave. East spoke regarding a lack of enforcement of laws. He feels that Council is in place to protect citizens rights on both sides of the issue. He spoke regarding the importance of citizens being neighborly and asking themselves if they are being neighborly. He would like to see additional law enforcement on Friday nights to address those not being neighborly referring to noise, speed, rolling coal, etc. He spoke regarding cruise participants utilizing peer pressure to encourage neighborly behavior and Council to engage issues that people are raising. 01:19:23 Willy McGuire, Public Comment McGuire of Columbia Falls spoke regarding his involvement with the cruise scene and car clubs. He spoke to his belief that law enforcement should be attempting to enhance positive relationships with the public. He suggested the possibility of ending cruising at 10 p.m. He spoke regarding being neighborly and then spoke further about wanting officers to have conversations with people saying that would make a huge impact. He spoke regarding a few people having bad behavior. He suggested involving downtown businesses in the cruises. 01:23:09 Alicia Glenn, Public Comment Glenn of 7th Avenue East said she is in agreement with comments related to working together and being respectful. She spoke regarding having many children and working with teens and their desire to have fun downtown and taking an interest in cars instead of drugs and alcohol. She feels businesses must be profiting from the cruise. She does not feel regulating cruising is appropriate, speaking in detail as to why she feels that way. She spoke further about advocating for young adults. 01:30:19 Cory Farris, Public Comment Farris of 206 Grand Fur Trail spoke as part of Funseekers Corvette Club talking about the Club doing activities that benefit the community. He feels where he grew up has too many ordinances that have ruined it. He spoke regarding why he believes cruises are so important and fun. He spoke regarding learning lessons regarding speeding and would like those breaking laws to be held accountable. He would like Council to work with the community instead of passing laws. 01:39:22 Gavin, Public Comment Gavin of Lakeside said he is 19 and feels cruising is one of the best things young people like him can do in the summer and is a way to have fun without turning to drugs. He does feel legislation regarding cruising would not be appropriate and asked that enforcement be done for those causing problems. 01:42:00 Jandy Cox, Public Comment Cox with Rocky Mountain Outfitter said he has heard a lot of good ideas this evening. He spoke about having a business on Main Street for 35 years and said since 2020 the decibel level has increased drastically. He spoke regarding noise, dangerous and unlawful behavior, burn -outs, near misses, drag - racing on Main and other streets and spoke regarding the unprecedented increase that has been unprecedented since Cruise Kalispell started. He spoke regarding enforcement of laws and asked people to encourage each other to do the right things and not to use illegal mufflers, roll coal, racing, etc. Every merchant on Main Street has lost business. Rocky Mountain Outfitters has had to stop being open on Friday night. He spoke regarding disrespectful and rude behaviors happening and provided an example of the behaviors during Downtown Ladies Night. 01:46:27 Jody Cross, Public Comment Cross of 755 Helena Flats Road said that she was one of the people that initially pushed Cruise Kalispell and said the last cruise through the official Cruise was in May and only happens about 4 Page 4 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 28, 2024 times a year. She spoke regarding the reasons why Cruise Kalispell started during COVID and the benefits it provided, and how events are created to benefit nonprofits such as Veterans, etc. She asked that people make the choice to drive and behave responsibly. She talked about giving kids activities and hope and spoke regarding the high cost of driver's education and the importance of teaching kids to drive safely. She does not feel Ordinances would be the answer, and asked the community to deal with this problem instead of expecting law enforcement and Council try to do with it. 01:53:28 Kagan Rutz, Public Comment Rutz of 1125 First Ave East said he has noticed the loud disruptions and behavior from cruising and said he believes we need more police officers to handle enforcement of existing laws. 01:55:37 Shawn Jepson, Public Comment Jepson of Lakeside said he visits Kalispell almost every Friday night to enjoy cruising and spends money at the restaurants. He spoke to his children attending the cruises. 01:56:52 Kyron, Public Comment Kyron spoke regarding having a big truck with a cut-off muffler and how much he enjoys cruising and the good friends he has found through cruising. He spoke regarding enjoying seeing kids on the side of the road enjoying seeing the vehicles and to teenagers mostly keeping out of trouble by attending the cruise. 02:00:32 Kayla, Raindancer, Public Comment Raindancer said she is a hot-rodder and said when she cruises Main Street she likes to support downtown businesses but said she sees them cater more to visitors. She believes permits would be a money grab and people would still break the law. She spoke regarding a fundraiser she attended to help support police efforts. 02:02:18 Nate Prince, Public Comment Prince off Old Reserve Drive spoke regarding receiving a ticket for a burn -out and cut muffler when he was sixteen and how that taught him not to do it. He said he does not want to see government overreach and feels that would damage a cherished tradition. He spoke regarding enforcement of current laws. He believes businesses should get creative. 02:04:35 Seeing no further comments, Council President Graham closed public comment. 02:04:49 Council Member Hunter thanked public comment and said he is hopeful that there will be some self -policing of people participating in cruise — keeping it during certain hours and not doing it every Friday, and not altering vehicles to make them louder, and be a good neighbor. 02:05:48 Council Member Graham agreed with Hunter thanking public comment and provided comments about not moving anything forward. 02:06:26 City Manager Russell said Council can continue to observe and monitor the situation and staff will continue enforcement efforts and spoke regarding the resource component. He spoke regarding the best policing being the community policing itself. E. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS City Manager Doug Russell provided the following report: • Veterans Day is November 11, and the work session that week has been cancelled. Page 5 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 28, 2024 02:08:06 Council Member Daoud spoke regarding comments that their has been speeding and dangerous driving on Main Street and the side streets and that it was also happening on non cruise nights. He spoke regarding the importance of using community solutions and asked that cruise participants hold each other accountable, and do things like frequent downtown businesses, invite out of town friends to participate and ask them to stay in a downtown hotel. 02:10:24 Council Member Nunnally said it is National First Responder Day and thanked the Police, Fire and Ambulance responders for all that they do. 02:10:46 Council Member Gabriel said she appreciated the conversation tonight from the Council and the audience, saying she appreciated the civility shown and hopefully doing the right thing and holding each other accountable to have some more lawful cruises. 02:11:54 Council Member Graham said that he hopes the discussion fosters a healthy respect for both sides. He spoke regarding the people not at the meeting not being able to hear both sides and hopes the conversation helps. F. ADJOURNMENT Council President Graham adjourned the meeting at 9:13 p.m. `��etiall►r7oo KA 1892 ►71i91 UPCOMING SCHEDULE Cif Aim e Brunckhorst, CMC City lerk Minutes approved on December 2, 2024 Next Regular Meeting — November 4, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers City Offices Closed — Tuesday, November 5, 2024 — Election Day City Offices Closed — November 11, 2024 - Veterans Day Holiday (No work session the week of November 11, 2024) Next Work Session — November 25, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Watch City Council sessions live with the agenda and supporting documents or later with documents and time stamped minutes at: https://www.kalispell.com/480/Meeting-Videos. Watch City Council sessions live or later on Charter Cable Ch. 190 or via the City YouTube page at: https://ww-vv.youtube.com/gciiyofkalispellmontana9632/streams. The City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services, activities, and employment practices. 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