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E1. 06-02-25 Council MinutesCITY OF KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL DRAFT MEETING MINUTES June 2, 2025, 7:00 P.M. City Hall Council Chambers, 201 First Avenue East See the bottom of the agenda to learn how to provide public comment and watch meetings live or later. Video of this meeting with time stamped minutes can be found at: https://www.kalispell.com/Meetin Vg ideos. A. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. B. ROLL CALL Mayor - Mark Johnson: Present Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Present Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Present Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present Council Chair - Chad Graham: Present Council Member - Jed Fisher: Present Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Present Council Member - Rvan Hunter: Present Staff present included City Manager Doug Russell, City Attorney Johnna Preble, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, Assistant Director of Public Works Keith Haskins, Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher, Development Services Director Jarod Nygren, Community Development Manager Nelson Loring, and Police Chief Jordan Venezio. C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE D. AGENDA APPROVAL Motion and Vote to approve the agenda as presented. Council Member - Sid Daoud: Motion Council Member - Sam Nunnallv: 2nd Mayor - Mark Johnson: Approve 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: Abbro, Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 2, 2025 Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Approve The motion passed unanimously on voice vote. 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 — May 5, May 6, May 7, 2025 a a a 2. Award Professional Consultant for the Stormwater Decant Facility Project � a This item considers awarding this agreement to Robert Peccia and Associates. 3. Award Equipment Procurement Contract for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Dewatering Improvement Project. &a This item considers awarding this contract to Process Wastewater Technologies LLC in the amount of $839,000. 4. Approve Amendment to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Grant Agreement q� a This item considers accepting an additional $126,362.20 for aquatic facility improvements. Public Comment Mayor Johnson opened consent agenda 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 - Sandy Carlson: 2nd Mayor - Mark Johnson: Approve Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Abbrc Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Approve Council Chair - Chad Graham: Approve Council Member Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve - Sid Daoud: Approve Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Approve Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Approve The motion passed unanimously on voice vote. F. COMMITTEE REPORTS - Flathead City -County Health Department Health Officer Jen Rankosky, will provide a budget report. 00:02:59 Health Officer Jen Rankosky presented the budget report. She explained they have had significant cuts. The community health center will move into their own building soon. The state cut $100,000 worth of federal and state grants. They will need to increase the mills this year depending on House Bill 231 and Senate Bill 532. House Bill 853 did increase license fees they can collect. She spoke regarding personnel costs and changes. The Behavioral Health Program Page 2 of 10 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 2, 2025 may be expanded within the next year, and they hope to hire another co -responder in the next year. She talked further about the work of the Behavioral Health Program and co -responder program. She spoke further regarding slight increases in several funds. 00:06:02 Council Member Hunter asked about the bills mentioned. 00:06:19 Health Officer Rankosky explained that several bills were passed regarding taxable amount of the levies. They are still waiting to learn what those bills will mean for the County Health Department. G. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Johnson opened public comment. 00:07:22 Cary Wevrauch, Public Comment Weyrauch of Old Reserve Drive and owner of commercial property on 2nd Avenue West spoke on action item 1 referring to his written public comment and then suggesting that the city set up a trial run with cones blocking several Main Street lanes to see how the Main Street Concept design might work saying he believes the design would cause traffic backup. He is not in favor of the design explaining why he believes that way. He then asked what caused the safety problems reported in the study and asked how the changes would increase safety. Public comment received to Mayor and Council via email to publiccomment@kalispell.com can be seen at https://time. ci. kalispell. mt.us/WebLinkBrowse. aspx?id=128274&dbid=0&repo=Kalispell. Seeing no further comments, Mayor Johnson closed public comment. H. REPORTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND COUNCIL ACTION Resolution 6255 — Main Street Concept Design Grant Application Submission a This resolution considers authorizing staff to submit the Kalispell Main Street Concept Design to the U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All Implementation Grant Program. City Manager Doug Russell provided a brief report summary of this item. 00:11:09 Development Services Director Jarod Nygren provided the staff report on this item. 00:21:43 Council Member Hunter asked for a summary of conclusions reached from parking studies downtown. 00:22:06 Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:23:13 Council Member Hunter asked for information on how snow storage would be handled. 00:23 :19 Director Nygren provided information requested. Page 3 of 10 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 2, 2025 00:23:59 Council Member Hunter asked about concerns that businesses may have about shoveling more snow into parking lanes. Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:26:04 Council Member Hunter asked questions about lane width. 00:26:03 Council Member Hunter touched on comments that have come up including emergency response access. 00:26:47 Director Nygren and Manager Russell provided information requested. 00:27:07 Council Member Hunter asked whether current code would allow for covered heated sidewalks in the winter. Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:28:24 Council Member Hunter asked how the City would maintain business activity downtown during construction. Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:29:58 Council Member Hunter asked about the history of Main Street when it was two lane and how it compares to the current configuration. Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:30:57 Council Member Hunter asked about the 20% match requirement that would be needed if the grant were awarded. 00:31:08 Manager Russell provided information requested. 00:31:45 Council Member Hunter asked how future growth would be handled if this concept was not implemented. Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:33:55 Council Member Hunter asked about the process related to this item. 00:34:23 Director Nygren and Manager Russell provided information requested. 00:35:19 Council Member Nunnally asked further about snow plowing. 00:35:41 Montana Department of Transportation District 1 Administrator Bob Vosen talked about snow plowing plans. Page 4 of 10 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 2, 2025 00:37:06 Council Member Nunnally asked about the intersection of Hwy 93 and the Hwy 93 bypass. 00:37:34 Montana Department of Transportation District Administrator Vosen provided information requested. 00:38:23 Mayor Johnson asked about travel time estimates. Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:39:45 Mayor Johnson asked about future traffic expectations. 00:40:34 Council Member Fisher asked about parallel parking concerns. Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:41:39 Council Member Gabriel asked how many public meetings we have had throughout this process. Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:42:44 Council Member Gabriel asked about delivery concerns. Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:43:36 Council Member Fisher asked further delivery questions. 00:44:16 Council Member Daoud asked when we expect to learn whether we receive the grant for the bypass and how that may affect this grant application. Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:46:36 Council Member Daoud provided discussion about the problems with construction if both grants were awarded. He then asked further related questions. Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:47:51 Council Member Carlson asked about the stipulations related to the application and use of this grant. Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:48:52 Council Member Nunnally asked about funding for infrastructure below the ground. Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:50:12 Mayor Johnson asked about traffic numbers in the future. Page 5 of 10 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 2, 2025 00:51:05 Director Nygren provided information requested. 00:51:54 Council Member Fisher asked who did the study and how it was funded. Public Comment Mayor Johnson opened public comment. 00:52:31 Debbie McPherson, Public Comment McPherson of Kila said she loves the bypass. She then said she does not believe there is enough parking where she works at Central Christian Church downtown and said she believes parking would get worse with the plan. She then asked questions about the design and said she does not understand the safety components. She spoke in opposition to the application and feels the downtown buildings and sidewalks should be fixed. 00:55:03 Braus Milcott, Public Comment Milcott of Rocky Mountain Trail spoke about the importance of safety and then said he worries that parades would not be possible with the design concept presented and talked about the importance of parades. 00:56:21 Carie Earl, Public Comment Earl of 551 West Center Street believes research should be conducted on the condition of the sidewalk on Main Street and the east side and how many people have fallen speaking about her own slips. With sidewalk replacement she is in favor of the design. 00:57:38 Jayden Webel, Public Comment Webel spoke in favor of the grant application saying there are many reasons this would be a good thing for Kalispell as he has read in the reports and seen in the work sessions and public meetings. He spoke regarding the current configuration being put into place by Montana Department of Transportation solely for the purpose of moving people from north to south. He talked about Hwy 93 as more than a highway and the Main Street experience. He would like to be able to walk around and experience the businesses and have more reasons to enjoy that space. He remembers conversations in the 1970's related to the bypass and conversations about this design in 2008 and wonders how much longer we will wait to put these plans into place, and concerns related to increases in traffic and accidents if the plan is not implemented. 01:01:05 Gracelyn Abel, Public Comment Abel of the west side of Kalispell thanked Council for prioritizing community and safety and bringing this plan forward. She spoke to the high number of crashes on Main Street and her concerns with those numbers, saying they are not acceptable. She spoke to being grateful that there is action and a plan to implement safer streets. She talked as a lifetime resident of Kalispell about all the time spent on Main Street working and as a patron. She talked about the many events downtown that are pedestrian centric and how valuable this plan would be for the human pedestrian experience which is how communities are built. 01:02:52 Nicole Schubert, Public Comment Schubert said she has not seen people drop their kids off in front of the school on Main Street Page 6 of 10 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 2, 2025 and does not feel people utilize the sidewalks in that area. She believes there is currently room for three people to walk side by side on sidewalks. She asked what type of accidents have happened. She talked about difficulties with parallel parking and difficulties with exiting cars. 01:06:30 Fran Tabor, Public Comment Tabor of 3rd Street West talked about problems she sees in predicting safety patterns and the behavior of people. She talked about safety issues at specific intersections and does not understand how the plan would increase safety. She spoke to her views related to increased parking concerns and her view that less people would visit downtown. She then talked about snow concerns on Main Street if the concept were put into place. She asked whether a cheaper alternative is possible. 01:11:53 Susanne Wun-inton, Public Comment Wigginton of 3rd Avenue East talked about the parking garage that was approved and concerns she has on when it may get built. She spoke regarding references to the plan being in place since 2018 but spoke to all the changes that have occurred, and the growth experienced since 2017. She spoke to her opposition with this concept design and believes the city would regret the changes if implemented. 0 1: 15:06 Gabe Mariman, Public Comment Mariman, owner of Bias Brewing and downtown resident talked about the importance of relying on data and the plans. He talked regarding the high percentage of thru traffic that goes down Main Street that is not intended for Main Street and the importance of the completion of the bypass. He spoke to concerns that Main Street is under the jurisdiction of the Montana Department of Transportation making it harder for local business owners to do anything with their businesses particularly with the water mains on the other side of the road. He spoke to many organizations supporting this plan including the Downtown Association, Business Improvement District, and Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and asked that this application be submitted. He spoke to the importance of finishing the bypass. He would like to see the 37% of thru traffic with heavy machinery and trucks bypassed off Main Street. He spoke to all the money spent in the basement of his business to shore up the walls due to the vibration of the heavy thru traffic. 01:18:44 Mark Riscoviak, Public Comment Riscoviak f the east side of Kalispell talked about the need for increased safety at St. Matthews School and getting across Main street. He explained it takes him a long time to get to the bypass from his home downtown, and his concerns with safety with the two-way traffic on side streets. He would like the lower east side to be taken into further consideration and an alternative traffic route provided. He asked about construction details and the cost of the project, and how cost over runs would be paid for and his concerns that taxes might be raised. He spoke further to the frustrations he feels this project would cause. 01:24:12 Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Johnson closed public comment. 01:24:27 Motion to approve Resolution 6255, a resolution of approval for the submission of an application to the United States Department of Transportation for a "Safe Streets and Roads for All" implementation grant. Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Motion Page 7 of 10 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 2, 2025 Council Member — Kari Gabriel: 2nd 01:25:10 Council Member Hunter provided discussion in favor of the motion. 01:34:18 Council Member Daoud provided discussion in opposition to the motion. 01:36:36 Council Member Fisher provided discussion in opposition to the motion. 01:48:36 Council Member Nunnally provided discussion in opposition to the motion. 01:53:35 Council Member Graham provided discussion in opposition to the motion. 01:59:19 Council Member Carlson provided discussion in favor of the motion. 02:01:01 Council Member Gabriel provided discussion in favor of the motion. 02:04:18 Council Member Hunter provided further discussion in favor of the motion. 02:08:11 Mayor Johnson provided discussion in opposition to the motion. Vote on the motion. Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Motion Council Member - Kari Gabriel: 2nd Mayor - Mark Johnson: Disapprove Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Disapprove Council Chair - Chad Graham: Disapprove Council Member - Jed Fisher: Disabbrove Council Member - Sid Daoud: Disapprove Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Approve Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Approve The motion failed with Council Members Hunter, Gabriel, Carlson, and Dahlman in favor and Council Members Daoud, Graham, Fisher, Nunnally, and Mayor Johnson opposed. 2. Resolution 6256 — Intent to Hold a Public Hearing on Police and Fire Impact Fees �a This resolution considers calling for public comment on June 16, 2025, regarding Council's intent to consider changes to these impact fees. Public Comment Mayor Johnson opened public comment. 02:15:22 Motion and Vote to hold a public hearing to approve Resolution 6256, a resolution of intent to amend the impact fees for city of Kalispell Police and fire services pursuant to MCA 7-6- Page 8 of 10 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 2, 2025 1601 through 7-6-1604, setting a public hearing and directing the city clerk to provide notice therefore. Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Motion Council Member - Sam Nunnally: 2nd Mayor - Mark Johnson: Approve 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: Approve Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Approve The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. Appointment to the Parking Advisory Board � a This item considers appointment of Cody Hunter to this board. Mayor Johnson appointed Cody Hunter to the Parking Advisory Board. Motion and Vote to accept the Mayor's appointment of Cody Hunter to the Parking Advisory Board. Council Member - Sid Daoud: Motion Council Member - Sam Nunnally: 2nd Mayor - Mark Johnson: Approve 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: Approve Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Approve The motion passed unanimously on voice vote. L CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS (No Action) City Manager Russell provided the following report: • The next work session will include a presentation and discussion on the hazard mitigation plan. • A waiver for a Special Improvement District for the Green Acres/Morning Star project will come before Council. He confirmed that Council does not feel a work session on the subject is needed. • Audio visual equipment upgrade is needed for the equipment in council chambers, and nothing is scheduled for the meeting on June 23, 2025. 02:19:11 Council Member Daoud thanked everyone for their public comment. Page 9 of 10 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 2, 2025 02:19:55 Council Member Daoud talked regarding federal grant spending. 02:20:52 City Manager Russell explained there is a request from the Northwest Montana History Museum to purchase the building. 02:22:31 Council Member Hunter asked about the status of trying to improve the intersection at Treeline, and learned it is a State of Montana intersection. 02:24:06 Mayor Johnson provided discussion about his views on his Main Street vote. J. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m. Aimee Brunckhorst, City Clerk Minutes approved on UPCOMING SCHEDULE Next Work Session — June 9, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Next Regular Meeting — June 16, 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/MeetingVideos or live or later on YouTube at: www.kalispell.com/YouTube. 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. Page 10 of 10