10-21-24 Sidewalk & Trails Subcommittee Meeting Minutesart or
KALISPELL
SIDEWALK AND TRAILS ASSESSMENT DISTRICT SUB -COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
October 21, 2024, Immediately Following Regular Meeting
First Floor Conference Room, City Hall, 201 First Avenue East
Links are to audio; video is not available.
A. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at about 7:10 pm.
Council Members Jed Fisher, Ryan Hunter and Chad Graham make up the Sub -Committee and
were in attendance.
Staff present included City Manager Doug Russell and City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst.
B. DISCUSSION
1. Initial Subcommittee Discussion for Sidewalk, Trails, Etc., Assessment District
City Manager Doug Russell began the meeting explaining that the Sub -Committee goals are
identifying what categories the committee would like to look at, and then staff can bring back
more information for committee discussion related to prioritizing projects and look at a 10-year
timeframe. The committee would then report back to the full Council for any decisions.
The categories that Mr. Russell brought forward as a starting point for discussion included:
Sidewalk Replacement
Sidewalk Installation — expansion of 50150 program
ADA — Intersections — expansion
Trails Maintenance
Traffic Control — Need more information
New Trails
Mr. Russell asked whether these categories are appropriate and if the committee would like to
add additional categories.
00:02:54 Council Member Hunter asked for clarification related to trails. He then spoke to his
desire to add a category for protected bike lanes or shared use roads. He spoke about prioritizing
projects that would not have other avenues for funding.
Kalispell Sidewalk Trails Sub -Committee Minutes, October 21, 2024
00:04:38 Council Member Hunter spoke regarding prioritizing each year understanding that not
all categories could be funded each year.
00:05:43 Council Member Hunter spoke regarding his vision for the traffic controls category as
items like traffic circles, bump -out curbs, and possibly traffic islands if they would not be funded
through a road project and referred to the Safety Action Plan.
00:06:53 Council Member Fisher agreed that the categories seem appropriate.
00:07:05 Council Member Graham asked about resistance from homeowners related to sidewalk
installation and subsequent maintenance responsibilities of the homeowner.
00:08:15 Council Member Hunter spoke regarding supplementing the 50150 sidewalk program
with full replacement. He would like to see the City fully fund replacement of sidewalks.
City Manager Russell spoke regarding policy decisions being the purview of the full Council. He
spoke regarding bringing forward costs for consideration.
00:10:15 Council Member Fisher spoke regarding his past experience related to building trails
for the County and asked about and spoke regarding the importance of trail maintenance upkeep
on current trails.
00:11:07 Council Member Fisher asked about other trail funding mechanisms.
City Manager Russell spoke regarding projects that have been funded and then answered
questions about grant fund matching sources.
00:12:50 Council Member Graham spoke to the need for maintenance to be included in bike
lanes and his concerns related to managing reasonable maintenance expectations especially in the
winter.
00:14:11 City Manager Russell spoke to policy questions being discussed by the full Council and
the importance of including maintenance into an assessment district.
00:16:10 Council Member Fisher spoke regarding maintenance and liability concerns.
00:16:46 City Manager Russell asked for initial thoughts related to a 10-year horizon for each
category and then discussions regarding prioritizing.
00:17:40 Council Member Hunter spoke regarding the need for flexibility and keeping the
options broad. He then spoke regarding prioritizing so that the District costs would be
reasonable.
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Kalispell Sidewalk Trails Sub -Committee Minutes, October 21, 2024
00:19:49 Council Member Fisher asked whether costs were included in the completed Main
Street Safety Action Plan. Staff spoke regarding gathering general costs.
00:21:20 Council Member Fisher asked how the District would be brought before voters, and
Council and staff talked about offering Council options to discuss.
00:22:34 Council Member Graham spoke regarding the possibility of an option that would
address current problems with things like sidewalks and trails maintenance and replacement, and
looking at wants versus needs.
00:25:12 Council Member Fisher spoke regarding the existing maintenance and responsibilities
and having a way to fund safe current trails before moving forward. He spoke further regarding
trail lifespans and full rebuilds.
00:26:59 City Manager Russell spoke regarding going to staff for further information to come
back to the Sub -Committee with.
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
00:27:30 Scott Daumiller, Public Comment
Daumiller spoke to his concerns related to the cost of property taxes. He spoke regarding a
neighbor's struggle paying for replacement of her damaged sidewalks. He would like to see a cap
on property taxes and spoke regarding many people struggling to stay in their homes when
property taxes increase. He provided examples of road engineering decisions made by the City
and by Montana Department of Transportation that he does not agree with and ways in which he
believes they are not appropriate. He spoke to frustration that taxpayers pay for traffic
engineering he does not agree with. He spoke regarding history of funding for trail maintenance
prior to the 1980's. He asked that the old infrastructure be taken care of as well as the people
paying for it.
00:36:56 RoseAskvia, Public Comment
Ms. Askvig spoke regarding the difficulties in keeping everyone happy. She spoke to her belief
that taking care of current infrastructure is important prior to moving forward. She appreciates
the idea of multiple options and prioritizing and feels excited.
Seeing no further public comment, public comment was closed.
Daumiller spoke further regarding his views and regarding trail safety issues.
Manager Russell said that staff will gather information to bring back to the Sub -Committee and
will schedule the next meeting after that can be compiled.
D. ADJOURNMENT
Staff adjourned the meeting at about 7:52 p.m.
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Kalispell Sidewalk Trails Sub -Committee Minutes, October 21, 2024
Aimee Brunckhorst, CMC
y' f mod+.
••QoF pry%' City Clerk
t w, Minutes approved on December 9, 2024
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