E1. 02-18-25 Council MinutesMy OF
KALISPELL
CITY COUNCIL DRAFT MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, February 18, 2025, 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 at 7 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Absent
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Present
Council Member
- Sandy Carlson: Present
Council Member
- Sam Nunnally: Present
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Present
Council Member
Council Member
- Jed Fisher: Present
- Sid Daoud: Present
Council Member
- Jessica Dahlman: Absent
Council Member
- Rvan Hunter: Present
Staff present included City Manager Doug Russell, City Attorney Johnna Preble, City Clerk Aimee
Brunckhorst, Public Works Director Susie Turner, Development Services Director Jarod Nygren,
and Police Chief Jordan Venezio.
C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
D. AGENDA APPROVAL
Motion and Vote to approve the agenda as presented.
Council Member - Sam Nunnallv: Motion
Council Member
- Kari Gabriel: 2nd
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Absent
Council Member
- Kari Gabriel: Approve
Council Member
- Sandy Carlson: Approve
Council Member
- Sam Nunnally: Approve
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Approve
Council Member
- Jed Fisher: Approve
Council Member
- Sid Daoud: Approve
Council Member
- Jessica Dahlman: Absent
Council Member
- Ryan Hunter: Approve
The motion passed unanimously on voice vote with Council Member Dahlman and Mayor
Johnson absent.
Kalispell City Council Minutes, February 18, 2025
E. CONSENT AGENDA
All items on the consent agenda will be voted on with one motion. If a council member
desires to discuss an item separately, the item can be removed from the consent agenda by
motion.
Council Minutes — February 3, and February 10, 2025 � a � a
2. Wastewater Treatment Plant Biosolids Professional Service Agreement Amendment with
Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services U a
This item considers allowing the City Manager to sign this agreement to support upgrading
the biosolids dewatering equipment.
3. Ordinance 1933 — Second Reading — Immanuel Living Skybridge Zoning Text Amendment
This ordinance considers amending Zoning Ordinance 1677 to allow a pedestrian skybridge
in B, H, or P zones to encroach into the setback area. 0 a
4. Confirmation of Police Officers Matthew Praetzel and Connor McKinnon &a
This item considers confirming these Officers as they have completed their one-year
probationary employment period.
Public Comment
Council President Graham opened public comment. Seeing none, he closed public comment.
Motion and Vote to approve the consent agenda as provided.
Council Member - Sam Nunnallv: Motion
Council Member
- Kari Gabriel: 2nd
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Absent
Council Member
- Kari Gabriel: Approve
Council Member
- Sandy Carlson: Approve
Council Member
- Sam Nunnally: Approve
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Approve
Council Member
- Jed Fisher: Approve
Council Member
- Sid Daoud: Approve
Council Member
- Jessica Dahlman: Absent
Council Member
- Ryan Hunter: Approve
The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote with Council Member Dahlman and Mayor
Johnson absent.
00:03:07 Police Chief Jordan Venezio introduced newly confirmed Officers Praetzel and
McKinnon.
00:07:15 Newly confirmed Police Officer Praetzel provided a few words regarding his service over
the past year to the Police Department.
00:07:37 Newly confirmed Police Officer McKinnon provided a few words regarding his service
over the past year to the Police Department.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, February 18, 2025
F. COMMITTEE REPORTS — None.
G. PUBLIC COMMENT
Council President Graham opened public comment.
00:08:34 Cameron Dexter, Public Comment
Dexter with Citizens for a Better Flathead spoke regarding the proposed reclassification for lower
Ashley Creek (discussed at the 2-10-25 work session) asking about and voicing concerns regarding
public engagement in the process and asking questions about the approval process. She requested
that the City oppose the expansion of the project at the Lakeside County Water and Sewer District.
She spoke regarding previous comments submitted to DEQ related to the expansion. She asked
that the Kalispell Ashley Creek Plan be forwarded to Citizens for a Better Flathead. She then spoke
regarding their belief that the Lakeside expansion plan does not have an appropriate place for their
expansion and that they do not believe that Ashley Creek's standards should be lowered. She asked
questions regarding the roles of the EPA and DEQ and asked about other Montana locations where
this has been done and where the public can submit comments. Dexter spoke regarding emailing
further comments.
00:10:30 Mayre Flowers, Public Comment
Flowers with Citizens for a Better Flathead spoke regarding previous comment she provided
related to a request for the City to look at emerging technology related to dealing with biosolids as
an energy source. She spoke to the idea of the creation of a sub -committee with Citizens for a
Better Flathead to explore options that do not stress water quality.
Seeing no further public comment, Council President Graham closed public comment.
Public comment received to the Mayor and Council via email to publiccommentgkali spell. com
can be seen at
https://time. ci. kalispell. mt.us/WebLinkBrowse. aspx?id=128274&dbid=0&repo=Kalispell.
H. REPORTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND COUNCIL ACTION
1) Amendments to the Glacier Gold Biosolids Management Agreement 0 a
This item considers amending and extending the agreement for Glacier Gold to manage
solid waste treatment sludge.
00:12:49 Public Works Director Susie Turner provided a staff report.
00:14:31 Public Comment
Council President Graham opened public comment. Seeing none, he closed public comment.
00:14:42 Motion and Vote to approve the amended sludge management agreement with
Gincier (told_
Council Member - Sid Daoud: Motion
Council Member - Sandy Carlson: 2nd
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Absent
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, February 18, 2025
Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Approve
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Approve
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Approve
Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve
Council Member - Sid Daoud: Approve
Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Absent
Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Approve
The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote with Councilor Dahlman and Mayor
Johnson absent.
2) Resolution 6240 —Emergency Purchase — Buffalo Hill Well Repair � a
This resolution considers declaring an emergency to allow the City to bypass the formal bid
process to acquire a contractor and equipment to expedite repairs at this well.
City Manager Russell provided a summary of this item.
00:16:31 Public Works Director Turner provided further information.
00:17:20 Council Member Nunnally asked questions related to the life expectancy of the well.
Director Turner answered questions.
Manager Russell continued providing information.
00:20:00 Council Member Hunter asked where repair funds will be taken.
Manager Russell continued providing information.
00:20:53 Council Member Hunter asked for clarification about prior water system issues and
changes.
00:22:58 Council Member Daoud asked questions about the origination of the $80,000 bid process
limit.
Public Comment
Council President Graham opened public comment. Seeing none, he closed public comment.
00:24:39 Motion to approve Resolution 6240, a resolution declaring an emergency and
authorizing the Public Works Department to proceed, without advertising or bidding, with
the immediate acquisition of a contractor and equipment for repairs at the Buffalo Hill well
source.
Council Member — Sam Nunnally: Motion
Council Member — Jed Fisher: 2nd
00:25:15 Council Member Daoud provided discussion on the motion.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, February 18, 2025
Council Member
- Sam Nunnally: Motion
Council Member - Jed Fisher: 2nd
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Absent
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve
Council Member
- Sandy Carlson: Approve
Council Member
- Sam Nunnally: Approve
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Approve
Council Member
- Jed Fisher: Approve
Council Member
Council Member
- Sid Daoud: Approve
- Jessica Dahlman: Absent
Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Approve
The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote with Council Member Dahlman and Mayor
Johnson absent.
3) Appointment to the Tourism Business Improvement District lij a
This item considers the Mayoral appointment of Mitchell Bump.
Council President Graham appointed Mitchell Bump to the Tourism Business Improvement
District on behalf of the Mayor.
Motion to approve Council President Graham's appointment of Mitchell Bump to the
Tourism Business Improvement District.
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Motion
Council Member - Sandv Carlson: 2nd
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Absent
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve
Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Approve
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Approve
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Approve
Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve
Council Member - Sid Daoud: Approve
Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Absent
Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Approve
The motion passed unanimously on voice vote with Council Member Dahlman and Mayor
Johnson absent.
L CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS (No Action)
City Manager Doug Russell provided the following report:
• Manager Russell continues to track the State Legislative session.
• The next council work session includes a discussion on an alternative service delivery
option for the biosolids project.
• The March lOm work session is the same night as League of Cities so a meeting will not be
held.
00:28:08 Council Member Hunter asked staff to follow up with the public comment received
during general public tonight.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, February 18, 2025
00:29:06 Council Member Gabriel spoke regarding the Glacier Gold contract explaining to the
public that Council had an extensive work session on this item previously. She then spoke
regarding the rarity of emergency actions and that the Council does not take approving emergency
actions lightly.
J. ADJOURNMENT
Council President Graham adjourned the meeting at 7:28 p.m.
Aimee Brunckhorst, City Clerk
Minutes approved on
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Next Work Session — February 24, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Next Regular Meeting — March 3, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
PARTICIPATION
Watch 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 or live or later on
YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/(a�cityofkalispellmontana9632/streams.
The City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services, activities, and
employment practices. Auxiliary aids are available. For questions about disability accommodation
please contact the City Clerk at 406-758-7756, or cityclerkgkalispell. com.
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