10-06-25 City Council Meeting MinutesCITY OF
KALISPELL
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
October 6, 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:
hqps://www.kalispell.com/MeetinaVideos.
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: Absent
Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Present
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Absent
Council Member - Jed Fisher: Present
Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present
Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Prese
Council Member - Rvan Hunter: Present
Staff present included Interim City Manager and Development Services Director Jarod Nygren,
City Attorney Johnna Preble, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, Assistant Director of Development
Services P.J. Sorensen, Fire Chief Jay Hagen, and Police Chief Jordan Venezio.
C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
D. AGENDA APPROVAL
Motion and vote to approve the agenda as published.
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Motion
Council Member - Sandy Carlson: 2nd
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Approve
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Absent
Council Member - Sandv Carlson: Approve
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Approve
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Absent
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 with Council Members Graham and Gabriel
absent.
Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 6, 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 — September 2, September 8, and September 15, 2025 0 a 0 r3 D a
2. Bid Award for Lift Station 36 Upgrade Project 0 a
This item considers awarding this project to Strods Contracting in the amount of
$3,099,048.
Approve Flathead Valley Hockey Association Use Agreement 0 a
This item considers approving a new version of this expired agreement.
4. Agreement Amendment for Emerging Contaminant Professional Services for Water
Source Replacements and or Treatment Alternatives 0 a
This item considers an amendment to the agreement with Robert Peccia & Associates for
this project to support design completion, coordination and construction management
f.Y-fiLl"HIM
Confirmation of Nine Firefighter/Medics 0 a
This item considers confirming Sidney Becker, Jon Hageness, Seager Higgins, Mitch
Kline, Jessica Lyles, Jeremy Odio, Vinny Thompson, Ian Whalen, and Michael Martinez
as Kalispell Firefighters as they have completed their one-year probationary employment
period.
Public Comment
Mayor Johnson opened public comment on the consent agenda. Seeing none, he closed public
comment.
00:02:41 Motion and Vote to approve the consent agenda as presented.
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Motion
Council Member - Jed Fisher: 2nd
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Approve
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Absent
Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Approve
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Approve
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Absent
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 with Council Members Gabriel and Graham
absent.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 6, 2025
00:03:13 Fire Chief Jay Hagen presented newly appointed firefighters speaking about each one.
From left to right they are Mitch Cline, Sydney Becker, Ian Whalen, Jon Hageness, Jessica Lyles,
Vinny Thompson, Jeremy Odio (absent Michael Martinez), and Seagar Higgins.
00:06:42 Mayor Mark Johnson binned badges on the newly confirmed firefighters.
00:10:30 Mitch Cline spoke on behalf of the class saying they believe working with each other
and for the community of Kalispell is the best job they could have.
F. COMMITTEE REPORTS —None.
G. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Johnson opened public comment. Seeing none, Mayor Johnson closed public comment.
Public comment received in writing to the Mayor and Council can be seen at
www.kalispell.com/publiccomment.
Seeing no further comments, Mayor Johnson closed public comment.
H. REPORTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND COUNCIL ACTION
1) Ordinance 1946 — First Reading — Eave Encroachment Zoning Text Amendment ® a
This ordinance considers a zoning text amendment to allow residential eaves to extend up
to two feet into setback areas.
Interim City Manager Jarod Nygren provided the staff report.
00:17:38 Mayor Johnson asked questions related to venting.
00:17:55 Council Member Nunnally asked about the frequency of this request from developers.
00:18:42 Peter Hayden, Public Comment
Peter Hayden, representing Hayden Homes the applicant spoke in favor of this amendment
explaining multiple reasons why he believes this amendment would bring meaningful benefits to
the Kalispell community. He spoke regarding alignment with international codes, streamlining
the process, promoting good design and housing availability, and allowing for more attractive
and livable neighborhoods, and benefits to housing affordability.
00:20:55 Mark Freidline, Public Comment
Freidline with the Flathead Building Association spoke in favor of this amendment providing
reasons including consistency across the state, flexibility of design, and maximizing space thus
helping with affordability.
00:22:23 Seeing no further comments, Mayor Johnson closed public comment.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 6, 2025
00:22:32 Motion to adopt Ordinance 1946, an ordinance amending the Kalispell Zoning
Ordinance no. 1677, by amending Sections 27.04, 27.05, 27.06, 27.07 and 27.08, Residential
Setback, Eaves; adding Section 27.20.093, Setback Encroachment for Eaves; and amending
definitions Section 27.37.010(177), Setback, to amend how setbacks are applied to a
structure's eaves in residential zones and declaring an effective date.
Council Member — Ryan Hunter: Motion
Council Member — Sam Nunnally: 2nd
00:23:50 Council Member Hunter provided discussion on the motion.
00:24:33 Mayor Johnson provided discussion on the motion.
Vote on the motion.
Council Member - Rvan Hunter: Motion
Council Member - Sam Nunnally:2nd_
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Approve
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Absent
Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Approve
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Approve
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Absent
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 with Council Members Graham and
Gabriel absent.
2) Resolution 6294 — Police and Fire Impact Fee Reports and Fees D a
This resolution considers adopting these reports and fees including removal of the
administration fee and the addition of a price index annual increase per SB 133.
Interim City Manager Jarod Nygren provided the staff report.
00:27:22 Public Comment
Mayor Johnson opened public comment. Seeing none, he closed public comment.
00:27:35 Motion to approve Resolution 6294, a resolution amending Resolution Nos. 5744
and 5745 to accept and adopt the September 2025 Police and Fire Impact Fee Reports as
findings of fact and to adiust the police and fire impact fee schedules pursuant to council
approval.
Council Member — Sid Daoud: Motion
Council Member — Jed Fisher: 2nd
00:28:09 Council Member Daoud provided discussion in favor of the motion.
00:28:42 Council Member Hunter provided discussion in opposition to the motion.
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 6, 2025
00:29:55 Council Member Daoud provided further discussion on the motion.
00:30:14 Mayor Johnson provided discussion on the motion.
Vote on the motion.
Council Member - Sid Daoud: Motion
Council Member - Jed Fisher: 2nd
Mayor - Mark Johnson: Approve
Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Absent
Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Approve
Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Approve
Council Chair - Chad Graham: Absent
Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve
Council Member - Sid Daoud: Approve
Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Approve
Council Member -Ryan Hunter: Disapprove
The motion passed 6-1 on roll call vote with Council Members Daoud, Fisher, Carlson,
Nunnally, Fisher and Dahlman in favor, Council Member Hunter opposed, and Council
Members Gabriel and Graham absent.
3) Appointment to the Tourism Business Improvement District Board D a
This item considers an appointment to this board.
Mayor Johnson appointed Nathan Black to the Tourism Business Improvement District Board.
Motion and Vote to approve the appointment of Nathan Black to the Tourism Business
Improvement District Board.
Council Member - Sam Nunnallv: Motion
Council Member - Ryan Hunter: 2nd
Mavor - 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: Annrove
Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Approve
Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Approve
The motion passed unanimously on voice vote with Council Members Gabriel and Graham
absent.
I. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS (No Action)
Interim City Manager Jarod Nygren provided the following report:
• Next week's work session will include discussion on the Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• The City received a Safe Streets for All Demonstration Grant for East Oregon. Staff is
continuing to work with Federal Highways on that but there have been many changes to
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Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 6, 2025
the program. Discussion on the agreement will be included in an upcoming work session
to be determined. Since the project is extensive, staff plan on notifying and inviting the
neighborhood to that work session.
The Planning Commission is looking at text amendments related to Conditional Use
Permits and enforcement. That item will be upcoming.
00:35:55 Council Member Daoud spoke regarding recent discussions with people in the
downtown area who are complaining that the noise and problems with cruising are still
occurring. He asked staff for a report regarding tickets Kalispell Police have issued in the core
area from 7pm to 11 pm on Friday evenings so we can track if we are addressing this problem.
Staff agreed to pull information for Council Member Daoud.
00:37:53 Council Member Hunter spoke regarding a conversation he had with the Flathead
Builders Association regarding the letter that they had sent and his assumption regarding political
timing. He learned that was not the intention and it was a well -intended letter.
00:38:31 Mayor Johnson spoke regarding wanting builders and developers to talk with Council
about issues.
00:39:11
J. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 7:38 p.m.
F KA4 /�
Aiml Brunckhorst, City Clerk
%_. Minutes approved on November 3, 2025
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Next Work Session — October 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Next Regular Meeting —October 20, 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/Meetin Vg ideos 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 cityclerk a,kalispell.com.
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