Loading...
10-13-25 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL K"°F WORK SESSION MINUTES ALISPELL October 13, 2025, 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/Meetin Vg ideos. A. CALL TO ORDER B. ROLL CALL Mayor - Mark Johnson: Present Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Absent Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Present Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Absent 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 City staff present included Interim City Manager and Development Services Director Jarod Nygren and Deputy City Clerk Judi Funk. C. DISCUSSION 1. Hazard Mitigation Plan P; a Interim City Manager and Development Services Director Jarod Nygren presented the staff report. Juanita Nelson, Emergency Management Planner for the Flathead County Office of Emergency Services was present via video conference for questions. 00:04:14 Mayor Johnson asked Planner Nelson for a brief update on changes made. 00:04:26 Nelson explained that some of the blanks within the tables on E41 through E43 have been filled in, but there are still inconsistencies. She reported that there is an upcoming Western Regional Workshop scheduled at the Flathead National Forest Supervisor's office on November 14, 2025. Some of the updates can be made to the plan at that point as part of the annual review. She explained that municipalities have until November 14 to adopt the plan and still be eligible to apply for mitigation grant funding unless the municipality does their own plan. Annual updates can be made, and changes can be made then. If substantial changes were made, the municipalities would need to re -adopt the plan. Page 1 of 4 Kalispell City Council Agenda, October 13, 2025 00:06:13 Council Member Fisher said that the plan was well written and educational. He then asked about the areas that are not within the plan. 00:06:59 Nelson answered questions explaining that three counties decided not to participate in these regional plans including Missoula and Gallatin Counties as they were already through a substantial portion on their own when the regional plans began. Wheatland County did not have a coordinator so did not participate. All of the other counties have been involved. Council Member Fisher continued questions about adoption of the plan by other municipalities. 00:08:31 Council Member Fisher asked about updates learning that the plan will expire in November of 2029. 00:08:57 Council Member Graham asked about more frequent changes and the process that would then be utilized. 00:09:59 Council Member Daoud talked about provisions for Federal Agencies and asked how coordination with the state and local municipality would happen. 00:10:43 Mayor Johnson asked about the role of Flathead County within the plan. 00:12:03 Council Member Daoud spoke in appreciation for additional time to read and process this large plan. 00:12:33 Nelson spoke regarding discussions on updates and corrections that need to be made. 00:13:14 Council Member Hunter spoke to the importance of a comprehensive mitigation plan despite corrections needed in the annual update process. 00:13:52 Mayor Johnson spoke to the need for adoption prior to the deadline, and that the plan should be a working plan with changes made as needed. He confirmed that the general consensus is to move forward with a vote at the next regular meeting. 00:15:44 Nygren spoke to the document as important to long -use planning and knowing what some of our vulnerabilities are. He spoke regarding partnering with the County as things are progressing. 00:16:17 Planner Nelson explained that projects can be added as needed at any time explaining it is a living document. Mayor Johnson thanked Juanita Nelson for joining the discussion. D. PUBLIC COMMENT 00:17:24 Paula McDowell, Public Comment McDowell of 205 Meadow Vista Loop talked about her expectation of installation of a roadway tabletop on the east side of Kidsports on Meadow Vista Loop. She said huge trucks are coming down the road at high speeds and she worries they will crash into bedrooms. She said they slow down for the flashing lights but then speed up again. She said she was passed in a no -passing Page 2 of 4 Kalispell City Council Agenda, October 13, 2025 zone and relayed other stories about worries about traffic in the area. She thanked the City for the trail being installed but feels something awful will happen there. She said she will encourage the neighborhood to call the police when they see speeders. Seeing no further comments, Mayor Johnson closed public comment. Written public comment to the Mayor and Council available at w-"-v.kalispell.com/publiccomment. E. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS Interim City Manager Jarod Nygren provided the following reports: • On Friday, November 14, 2025, from loam to 3pm at 650 Wolfpack Way in Kalispell, an annual MT Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan workshop session will be held. He will forward to Council and will plan to attend. • An action item regarding consideration of transfer of the property to the Northwest Montana History Museum will be included at the next meeting. • A report on traffic and police enforcement on Main Street on Friday evenings will be included in the City Manager report on Friday. • Nygren provided a reminder to be cautious of clicking links that could be cyber phishing attempts and to notify staff if that does happen so proper precautions can be taken. 00:23:44 Council Member Graham spoke regarding public comment provided tonight about speeding along Kidsports. He asked if it was possible to treat that area as a school zone. 00:24:27 Interim Manager Nygren said he would look into that explaining that Montana Department of Transportation would likely need to be involved. He will report back. Council Member Graham spoke further about the possibility of school zone speed limits in that area, and of his views regarding speedbumps and roadway tabletops. 00:25:53 Council Member Hunter spoke to safety concerns with widening roads or adding turn lanes mentioning discussion around Four Mile during the adoption of the Transportation Plan. 00:26:46 Council Member Hunter spoke to a public comment received related to concerns regarding insurance costs and flooding in the valley, and what a major flood might mean. He spoke regarding the public comment referring to encouraging participation in the rating system. 00:27:31 Nygren explained it was analyzed in the past when the County became part of the community rating system. It would take significant staff time to participate with very little property within City limits that is within the floodplain. 00:29:05 Mayor Johnson asked about the status of water on Main Street referring to comments made. Page 3 of 4 Kalispell City Council Agenda, October 13, 2025 00:29:12 Interim City Manager Nygren explained there is water on Main Street with adequate pressure and flow. The issue is that fire suppression service on the west side of Main Street requires tapping into the main on the east side and costs can be prohibitive. He talked further about possible solutions and the costs associated for business owners. 00:31:59 Mayor Johnson talked about his experiences with seeing excessive speeding happening on narrow roads and talked about the importance of driver responsibility and drivers having basic consideration of your neighbors and the community. F. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 7:33 p.m. *�q�,►►EIltfBg o _ ✓ (JI I'-' �j .� _ Aim Brunckhorst, City Clerk rJ'•©� e Minutes approved on November 3, 2025 R;. UPCOMING SCHEDM►��`°` Next Regular Meeting — October 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Next Work Session — October 27, 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/Mectin2Videos or live or later on YouTube at: ww-w.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. Page 4 of 4