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02-23-26 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL Kcil'yor WORK SESSION MINUTES ALISPELL February 23, 2026, 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 Mayor Hunter called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. B. ROLL CALL Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Present Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present Council Member - Jed Fisher: Present via video conference Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present Ma, or- Ryan Hunter: Present Council Member - Wes Walker: Present Council Member - Lisa Blank: Present Council Member -Kyle Waterman: Present Council Member - Dustin Leftridge: Present Staff present included City Manager and Development Services Director Jarod Nygren, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, Assistant Director of Development Services P.J. Sorensen, Planner II Donnie McBath, Deputy Public Works Director Keith Haskins, and Police Chief Jordan Venezio. C. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Hunter opened general public comment. Seeing none, Mayor Hunter closed public comment. Public comment received in writing to the Mayor and Council can be seen at www.kalispell.com/publiccomment. D. DISCUSSION 1. Ongoing Kalispell Land Use Plan Draft Review 2 a 00:03:04 Assistant Development Services Director P.J. Sorensen began the staff report reviewing draft changes to Chapter 4 based on Council discussion at the last review meeting. 00:05:24 Page 63, and 64 Addition of item related to Biosolids Disposal Page 1 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, February 23, 2026 00:06:36 Page 68 Expanded opportunities for recycling 00:06:53 Page 72 and 73 Item 7 within transportation 00:07:30 Page 79 Explore opportunities 00:07:52 Parks and Recreation — page 82 and 83 00:08:45 Chapter 5: Economic Development Sorensen reviewed this chapter. 00:09:36 Maps -page 87 00:10:16 Issues — page 89 00:12:36 Mayor Hunter asked a question about wording on issue item 9 related to industrial and commercial development within the City versus the County. 00:14:03 Staff and Council discussed issues related to item 9 and possible wording changes. 00:15:36 Goals page 90 and 91 00:16:19 Mayor Hunter discussed Goal 9 and compatible businesses within residential areas. 00:18:01 Policies, page 91 Council Member Jed Fisher left the meeting. 00:18:35 00:19:33 Mayor Hunter provided discussion regarding entrance corridors related policy item 7. Staff spoke regarding highway community entrances. 00:21:20 Mayor Hunter provided further discussion on this policy item. 00:21:58 Council Member Walker provided discussion about highway community entrances. 00:22:39 Staff continued information about the standards on highway community entrances and past Council history and discussions. 00:24:09 Council Member Nunnally provided discussion about recreational use in these areas. 00:24:50 Staff continued information about the standards on highway community entrances and past Council history and discussions. Page 2 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, February 23, 2026 00:26:01 Mayor Hunter referred to an email he sent to Council related to his views on preferred highway community entrances and his preference to change standards. 00:28:02 Council Member Daoud provided discussion on highway community entrances. 00:28:45 Council Member Walker provided discussion on highway community entrances. Council and staff continued discussion on entrances. 00:39:29 Recommendations — Page 93 00:40:16 Council Member Waterman asked questions about item 6 related to a market study. Staff provided background on this item. 00:41:32 Council Member Waterman provided discussion regarding listing opportunity zones within this document. Staff and Council discussed listing opportunity zones further. 00:46:51 Council Member Leftridge provided discussion on his view that item 8 be written broader. 00:48:04 Chapter 6: Natural Resources, Environment, and Hazards — page 94 Sorensen reviewed this chapter. 00:50:17 Mayor Hunter discussed public comment received related to events beyond a 100-year floodplain. 00:50:48 Staff and Council discussed floodplain issues. 01:00:58 Staff spoke regarding adding wording about partnerships and education related to the floodplain. 01:01:39 Goals — page 95 01:04:27 Mayor Hunter spoke regarding the crane habitat as an environmentally sensitive area being added to the map. 01:04:58 Goals Continued 01:06:01 Policies — page 98 01:07:48 Mayor Hunter provided discussion on item 7 on page 99 related to conservation easements. 01:10:03 Environmental Background — beginning on page 100 01:11:17 Council Member Waterman asked questions about the wastewater treatment plant. Page 3 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, February 23, 2026 01:12:00 6.1.3 Floodplains — page 102 01:12:54 Mapping 01:13:08 Staff spoke regarding the floodplain map. 01:14:08 6.1.4 Groundwater — page 107 01:14:39 Council Member Gabriel mentioned a typo on the wording on item 1. — page 107 01:15:17 Depth to Water Table Mayor Hunter provided discussion about underground tanks within high ground water areas. Staff provided background information on regulations and Mayor Hunter provided further discussion. 01:20:56 6.1.6 StormvN-ater Runoff — page 110 01:21:46 6.1.8 Topography — page 114 01:22:04 6.1.9 Soils — page 115 01:22:26 6.1.10 Agricultural Soils — page 117 01:22:58 6.1.11 Seismic — page 121 Council Member Waterman spoke regarding seismic considerations downtown. 01:24:37 6.1.12 Air Quality — page 123 01:24:58 Mayor Hunter spoke regarding wood burning stoves as an impact to air quality. 01:26:12 Council Member Daoud provided discussion about air quality, 01:26:48 6.1.13 Wildfire and Wildland Interface — page 123 01:27:37 slaps — page 127 01:28:08 6.2.2 Fisheries — page 128 01:28:58 Mayor Hunter talked about the lack of mapping by Fish, Wildlife and Parks in relation to elk travel corridors. 01:30:48 Sand Hill Cranes — page 132 01:31:29 Council and staff discussed habitat areas and mapping. Page 4 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, February 23, 2026 01:37:19 Council Member Gabriel spoke to broadening item 6.2.12 Migrating Waterfowl to include other birds besides waterfowl. 01:38:55 Mayor Hunter spoke regarding the west valley wetlands and nearby farmland as it relates to Sand Hill cranes. 01:41:13 Council Member Daoud provided discussion about the wetlands and farmland. 01:42:58 Council and staff provided further related discussion. 01:47:51 Council Member Waterman provided discussion about adding the crane viewing area to the list. — page 131. Council and staff further discussed sensitive areas. 01:54:46 6.2.13 Wildlife Human Conflict — page 132 01:59:12 Mayor and Council discussed further review at the next work session. 01:59:55 Public Comment 02:00:08 Kimee Nelson, Public Comment Nelson spoke regarding her views on private property. 02:01:00 Ryan LaGrowth, Public Comment Mr. LaGrowth asked about the liquor license related to the Scoreboard. He then spoke regarding house structure fires. He asked about an additional fire station and questions about the jail. He then talked about asphalt at the airport. 02:03:29 Nathan Dugan, Public Comment Development on 93 North — good example in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. E. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS City Manager Jarod Nygren provided the following report: • Quite a few items on the agenda. • Highway 93 corridor — MDT initiated an access control plan — public outreach in the last year — year and a half. Brief presentation • 51h Monday coming. 02:05:43 Council Member Blank acknowledged the amount of staff time that goes into the draft land use plan and the plan as an important educational tool and thanked staff for their patience. 02:06:51 Council Member Waterman, Leftridge and Daoud agreed with Blank. 02:08:43 Mayor Hunter responded to public comment questions saying that a lot of issues raised is outside of city jurisdiction. 02:09:27 Mayor Hunter spoke regarding a town hall event on the fifth Monday. Page 5 of 6 Kalispell City Council Minutes, February 23, 2026 F. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Hunter adjourned the meeting at 9:08 p.m. OO�QOR 4 Allnee Brunckhorst, City Clerk Minutes approved on March 16, 2026 UPCOMING SCHEDULE Next Regular Meeting — March 2, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Next Work Session — March 9, 2026, 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. Page 6 of 6