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10-27-25 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL KCITY or. WORK SESSION MINUTES ALISPELL October 27, 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.kalist)ell.com/Meetin Vg ideos. A. CALL TO ORDER Council President Chad Graham called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. B. ROLL CALL Mayor - Mark Johnson: Absent Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Absent Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Present via video conference Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Absent Council Chair - Chad Graham: Present Council Member - Jed Fisher: Present Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present via video conference Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Present via video conference Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Present Staff present included Interim City Manager and Development Services Director Jarod Nygren, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, Community Development Manager Nelson Loring, Public Works Director Susie Turner, and Deputy Director of Public Works Keith Haskins. C. DISCUSSION Safe Streets and Roads for All Demonstration Grant AjZreement East Oregon 9� a Bold text coincides with presentation slide titles. D a Interim City Manager Jarod Nygren provided an introduction to this item talking about the original grant application and all the projects that were included, the partial award details, and the subsequent changes to the award parameters. He spoke further regarding history on this item. 00:04:18 Community Development Director Nelson Loring provided the staff report beginning with a history of this project. He spoke regarding results of speed studies conducted on East Oregon, and the designation of the street. He talked about the demonstration grant that was applied for and the partial award. He explained that East Oregon was one piece of the Main Street Safety Action Plan. 00:05:57 Demo Grant App vs Partial Award Nelson explained further the initial application and the measures that were applied for, and the partial grant award details, providing funding details. Page 1 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 27, 2025 00:07:36 Council President Graham asked about match money. 00:07:31 Director Nygren talked about match amounts. 00:08:07 Partial Award Nelson continued the report explaining components of traffic calming treatments within the partial award. 00:08:49 Demo Grant Agreement — Timeline Nelson spoke regarding the grant agreement process and timeline and how- the agreement was delayed and changed by the FHWA. 00:09:30 Temporary Treatment Nelson explained recent guidance from Federal Highways and how it has changed from permanent calming treatments to temporary treatments since initial grant guidance. 00:10:31 Interim Manager Nygren further explained the difference between the original grant award versus the guidance we are now getting. He explained the difficulties with temporary treatments in Kalispell's environment. 00:12:43 Council President Graham asked questions about temporary installations and the purpose behind the temporary nature. Manager Nygren talked further about the difficulties of portable, temporary measures. 00:14:30 Council President Graham asked further about non -permanent structures. 00:14:58 Public Works Director Susie Turner talked about the possibility of discussing a traffic calming policy in the future and referred to a previous meeting about traffic calming. 00:15:21 Deputy Public Works Director Keith Haskins spoke regarding a temporary demonstration on East Oregon that was previously conducted with cones and candlesticks to see how a permanent structure would work. 00:16:00 Council Member Fisher asked about conversations with the Montana Department of Transportation. 00:16:36 Direction from Council Manager Loring asked for direction from Council providing several options. 00:17:44 Nygren spoke further about options moving forward and then talked about the importance of a traffic calming policy. 00:19:33 Council Member Hunter asked for further details on the treatment options for East Oregon. Director Nygren spoke to questions. Page 2 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 27, 2025 00:20:53 Public Works Director explained that temporary installations would likely be destroyed by snowplows. 00:21:11 Council Member Dahlman provided discussion that she is not interested in temporary treatments and would be in favor of future policy discussions. 00:21:38 Council Member Hunter continued questions about locations of treatments mentioned. 00:21:51 Haskins answered questions and explained what would be necessary to change directions. 00:22:42 Nygren spoke further about options but re -iterated the issues inherent in spending money for temporary installations and the maintenance issues that would ensue. 00:23:01 Council Member Graham asked further questions. 00:23:21 Haskins explained grant reporting expectations. 00:23:29 Council Member Hunter asked further questions about further funding opportunities and possibilities for the grant. 00:24:46 Nygren explained how all the interconnected grants work including the Safe Streets 4 All grant program. 00:25:24 Council President Graham asked follow up questions. 00:26:12 Council Member Fisher asked questions about timing. Nygren talked further about the overall grant program. 00:27:10 Council President Graham provided discussion in opposition of moving forward with this grant agreement due to its temporary nature, and re -prioritizing, and moving forward with discussions about traffic calming policy. 00:28:25 Council Member Hunter asked about the data that Federal Highways is looking for. 00:28:58 Haskins explained the data desired, and why East Oregon was chosen. 00:29:34 Council Member Daoud joined the meeting in person. 00:29:40 Council Member Hunter asked further questions and further discussion about the difficulties with the temporary nature and about costs. 00:32:10 Council Member Hunter provided discussion about reduced costs for temporary measures, and the possibility of seeing if we can shift to another project. 00:33:20 Nygren spoke further about costs. 00:33:52 Council President Graham provided discussion about budget allocation. Page 3 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 27, 2025 00:34:12 Council Member Fisher provided discussion in opposition to spending money on temporary measures. 00:34:28 Council Member Daoud provided discussion in opposition to temporary measures. 00:34:40 Council President Graham provided further related discussion. 00:35:09 Council Member Fisher asked about other solutions for East Oregon. 00:35:33 Public Works Director Turner explained that people throughout Kalispell call regarding speeding concerns and the need for traffic calming. She said a traffic calming policy is needed so that it could be implemented uniformly, including budgetary considerations. 00:36:40 Council Member Hunter provided discussion about different sources for street standards. 00:37:18 Haskins answered questions and referred to the City of Kalispell Traffic Plan and previous Council discussion on the matter and then spoke regarding the issues with funding traffic calming. He then spoke about speeding being a problem throughout the community referencing speeding studies that have been conducted. 00:39:10 Council Member Hunter provided further discussion about options and being in favor of further discussions on traffic calming. 00:40:27 Haskins provided information and discussion about design guidelines. 00:41:09 Council Member Hunter provided further discussion about design guidelines. 00:41:47 Nygren spoke further regarding recommendations. 00:42:46 Council Member Daoud asked about timing related to grant details. 00:44:03 Council asked about timing for policy discussions. Interim City Manager Nygren explained that traffic calming policy discussions could be brought forward early winter. D. PUBLIC COMMENT Council President Graham opened public comment. 00:44:36 Gail Thomas, Public Comment Thomas, a resident at Oregon and 41" Ave EN referred to emails she has sent and conversations she has had with staff. She spoke in opposition to the possibility of any roundabouts on Oregon Street providing reasons why including her concerns about the small size of the intersection, concerns regarding the safety for homeowners, concerns about a reduction of property value, and other issues she believes would occur. She would like to see other measures taken related to the volume of traffic and speeding. She referred to other solutions she has seen elsewhere that she provided in her written public comment. Page 4 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 27, 2025 00:49:52 Logan, Public Comment Logan of 220 East Oregon Street asked about the possibility of installing stop signs to limit traffic flow and talked about seeing extreme speeding, and high volume. He spoke regarding the potential of removable speed bumps that could be removed in the winter and referenced where he has seen them locally. 00:52:55 Frank Meely, Public Comment Meely of 387 4ch Avenue EN said he has not observed traffic accidents on Oregon during his long residency and does not see a problem. He then talked about the use of the road as a route from Hwy 93 to Whitefish Stage Road. He talked about the possibility of crosswalks and his view in opposition to stop signs and speed bumps. 00:56:18 Michelle Mayberry, Public Comment Mayberry of Big Fork talked about living previously in the neighborhood and the dangers of backing out of driveways on Oregon while people are speeding by. She spoke further about the width of the street and asked for solutions related to speed and high traffic volume that do not include roundabouts. She believes roundabouts would cause safety issues for the neighbors and pedestrians especially in the winter. 00:59:06 Tim, Public Comment Tim of 5ch and East Oregon is opposed to roundabouts, talked about safety concerns in the area and said he does not believe they would slow traffic significantly. He spoke regarding his observations in viewing speed bumps on Denver Avenue. He is concerned about traffic volume and feels Oregon Street is dangerous and should be made less convenient for through traffic. 01:02:45 Tammy Severson, Public Comment Syverson of East Oregon asked about other possibilities in the grant application besides mini roundabouts. East Oregon is listed as an arterial roadway, and she believes that would then disqualify it for stop signs. She talked about utilizing other options to demonstrate effectiveness. Seeing no further public comment, Council President Graham Public comment received to Mayor and Council via email to publiccommentgkalispell.com can be seen at www.Kalispell.com/PublicComment. 01:06:24 Council Member Hunter talked about living on 3`d Avenue East and safety concerns there and how traffic volume and speed have reduced since the street was made into a 2-way street. He then provided discussion about installing stop signs. 01:08:20 Deputy Public Works Director Haskins spoke regarding the increase in crash incidents on Oregon Street where there are four-way stops and provided discussion on professional engineering judgments. 01:10:30 Council Member Hunter provided further discussion and asked questions about crash data. Deputy Director Haskins spoke further about crash data. 01:12:23 Council Member Hunter spoke further regarding severity of crash incidents. Page 5 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, October 27, 2025 01:12:40 Interim Manager Nygren spoke regarding working through a traffic calming policy in the future and the grant emphasis on safety. E. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS Interim City Manager Jarod Nygren provided the following report: • The meeting for November 3 includes the Flathead County Public Safety annexation and zoning. He spoke regarding state law changes that allow the annexation and zoning to be completed in one resolution. • Staff will keep Council informed as discussions continue with Federal Highways to see if we can change the grant direction for other priority projects. 01:14:57 F. ADJOURNMENT Council President Graham adjourned the meeting at 8:14 p.m. .1892 Q- 4 Aim e Brunckhorst, City Clerk A's Minutes approved on November 17, 2025 'r��lY! 11116'ii,� UPCOMING SCHEDULE Next Regular Meeting — November 3, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Next Work Session — November 10, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers City Offices Closed — November 11, 2025 — Veterans Day PARTICIPATION Watch council sessions live with the agenda and supporting documents or later with documents and time stamped minutes at: https://www.kalisl2ell.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. Page 6 of 6