Concerns With Protocol Public Comment from Rose Askvig with Hunter response Aimee Brunckhorst
From: Ryan Hunter
Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 11:03 AM
To: Izmae; Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: Re: EXTERNAL Concerns With Protocol
Hi Rose,
Thank you for your comment and your concern. I'd like to offer my perspective on your points.
These meetings on the land use plan are work sessions. Formal voting rules occur during regular
session meetings and when the land use plan comes for a vote before Council, any Council
member will have an opportunity to make motions for changes and there will be a formal vote if the
motion is seconded.Work sessions have always been more informal. Previous Councils under the
previous Mayor also guided staff on ongoing work items through a general show of majority opinion
on Council. Nothing has changed in that regard except perhaps that there is a greater amount of
discussion and guidance being given at the work sessions with this Council than with previous
Councils.
With regards to decorum, I regret losing my temper with Mr. Fisher, but I feel decorum was
seriously breached when he effectively called me a liar without offering any evidence to support
such a serious accusation.
Finally,with regards to the concern about the conflict of interest. I have reviewed the conflict of
interest rules and am comfortable with my participation in the discussions. I disclosed my
employment with the Flathead Land Trust at the beginning of the process and made clear at that
time that I have not been instructed by my employer to take a particular position on any issues
before Council, nor is there an expectation to vote a certain way or take a particular action. I'm
salaried at the Flathead Land Trust and my pay is in no way impacted on whether or how much
conservation occurs in the West Valley. Flathead Land Trust is a non-profit, any money used to
conserve properties through a conservation easement would be pass thru grant money, so the
Flathead Land Trust also does not benefit financially in any way from further conservation in the
West Valley.
I will also point out that a couple of years ago the City had discussions and a vote regarding the
Conditional Use Permit of the Flathead Warming Center.The County Commissioners had
previously released a letter urging the City to not support homeless services in the community,
which was widely understood to be particularly pertaining to the Warming Center. Council member
Nunnally is an employee of the County. Conflict of Interest concerns were raised at that time
regarding his participation and the conflict of interest rules were reviewed during a public meeting
with legal counsel and it was determined that his employment with the County, despite the
County's letter urging a certain decision,was not a conflict of interest. I believe that situation is
instructive with regards to your concern.
Ryan Hunter
Mayor of Kalispell
i
rhunter@kalispell.com
KALISPELL
From: Izmae<izmae0845@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, March 3, 2026 10:22 AM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment<publiccomment@kalispell.com>
Subject: EXTERNAL Concerns With Protocol
My name is Rose Askvig, I reside in Kalispell on Liberty street and have been a faithful follower of
the City Council for a few years now. I am concerned about the lack of protocol I have been
witnessing with the new Mayor and council members. It seems there are a number of protocol rules
that people need brushing up on.These rules of protocols for Kalispell City Council meetings are
published and should be read by each of you and followed.
2-12 "Council Rules of Debate"
-Raise your hand to be called upon
-No interruptions, let people finish
2-14"Voting Procedure"
-Motions are not being made for items being added to or stricken from the current Kalispel"Land
Use Plan"that Kalispell needs to completed in May in order to comply with the updated Montana
State Statuets. Mr. Hunter just simply disregards the City Council's input&asks that his agenda be
added and reviewed later.This is of GREAT concern.You all may be too tired of the nonsense when
the final review comes to actually remind Mr. Hunter that these things need an actual VOTE to be
added &stricken from our current plan, even when you are just discussing it.
2-21 "Decorum"
A-is not being followed. I watched Mr.Hunter get openinly angry at Mr.Fischer for expressing his
point of view at the March 2nd meeting. It's rude and very disrespectful to behave this way when
you don't like someone's point of view.The issue that was being discussed is one that Mr.Hunter
should recuse himself from because he "works as a Land Protection Specialist for the Flathead
Land Trust",which makes this issue a conflict of interest.
I also want to remind everyone that you were elected to reflect your ward's ideas and be their
voice of reason at these meetings. It's not your job to push your own personal adgendas. I love
Kalispell and have a tremdous amount of respect for our city emplyees and would love to see our
new City Council support them, uplift our community, and be respectful while moving ahead.
There's no doubt this is a tough job, I have seen the weight of descisions on past City Council
memebers and Mayors face. I am respecfully asking for all of you to get these meetings back on
track.
Respectfully, Rose Askvig
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