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05-04-26 City Council Meeting MinutesCITY or KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 4, 2026, 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/MeetingVideos. ice. 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: Absent Council Member - Jed Fisher: Present Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present Mayor - Ryan Hunter: Present Council Member - Wes Walker: Present Council Member - Lisa Blank: Present Council Member - Kyle Waterman: Absent Council Member - Dustin Leftridge: Present Staff present included City Manager Jarod Nygren, City Attorney Johnna Preble, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, Director of Development Services P.J. Sorensen, Planner II Donnie McBath, Public Works Director Susie Turner, C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE D. AGENDAAPPROVAL Motion and Vote to approve the agenda as published. Council Member - Sid Daoud: Motion Council Member - Jed Fisher: 2nd Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Absent Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve Council Member - Sid Daoud: Approve Mayor - Ryan Hunter: Approve Council Member - Wes Walker: Approve Council Member - Lisa Blank: Approve Council Member - Kyle Waterman: Absent Council Member - Dustin Leftridge: Approve The motion passed unanimously on voice vote with Council Members Nunnally and Waterman absent. Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 4, 2026 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 — April 6 and April 13 2026 &a &a 2. Ordinance 1950 — Second Reading — Zoning Regulations 0 a This ordinance considers amending the Kalispell Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance 1677, in order to be in compliance with the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA). 3. _Ordinance 1951 —Second Reading —Subdivision Regulations 9� a This ordinance considers amending Kalispell City Code, Chapter 28, Subdivision Regulations, in order to be in compliance with the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA). Public Comment Mayor Hunter opened public comment on the consent agenda. Seeing none, he closed public comment. 00:02:29 Darla Provencio, Public Comment Provencio asked about regulations for ADU's for keeping the characteristics of downtown in place related to aesthetics. 00:03:29 Motion to approve the consent agenda as presented Council Member - Sid Daoud: Motion Council Member - Kari Gabriel: 2nd Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Absent Council Member - Jed Fisher: Ap rove Council Member - Sid Daoud• Approve Mayor - Ryan Hunter: Approve Council Member - Wes Walker: Approve Council Member - Lisa Blank: Approve Council Member - Kyle Waterman: Absent Council Member - Dustin Leftridge: Approve The motion passed unanimously on voice vote with Council Members Nunnal1v and Waterman absent. F. COMMUNITY REPORTS — Flathead Valley Reentry Center L7 a Jim Sanderson, Operations Manager, FVRC, Montana Department of Corrections Jim Sanderson, Operations Manager, FVRC, Montana Department of Corrections provided information about the Reentry Center showing a presentation. 00:04:25 Details about the Center Page 2 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 4, 2026 00:05:42 Resident Offender Numbers and where they were Convicted and Plan to Reenter 00:06:47 Resident Offender Employment and Time Frames 00:08:29 Resident Offender Population Details 00:09:28 What are they doing and what programs are provided? 00:11:52 FRC Employment 00:12:22 Complaints Complaints have not been received to this point, but if anyone has any please call 406-758-6202 and they'd be happy to address them. 00:12:55 Council Member Lisa Blank asked how they are seeking employment and what support they may need. 00:13:01 Sanderson spoke regarding relationships established throughout the community and their philosophy on employment. He spoke regarding a new Job Service employee and what that will bring. 00:14:09 Council Member Daoud asked about transportation to and from their jobs and then confirmed the Reentry Center is for only male residents. 00:14:22 Sanderson spoke regarding not allowing resident offenders to walk through residential neighborhoods and providing bus services. 00:15:32 Mayor Hunter asked about re -offending rates for reentry programs in general. Jim Sanderson answered Council questions and spoke about drastic reductions in recidivism rates with reentry programs. 00:16:55 Council Member Blank spoke to this center being the only state run reentry (versus private) facility in the state and asked about financial support as time goes on. 00:17:08 Sanderson spoke of this as the first Department of Corrections reentry center in the state with the rest run by not for profits under state guidelines and why they chose to do so in this area. G. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Hunter opened general public comment. Seeing none, he closed public comment. Public comment received in writing to the Mayor and Council can be seen at www.kalispell.copL/publiccomment. Seeing no further comments, Mayor Hunter closed public comment. Page 3 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 4, 2026 H. REPORTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND COUNCIL ACTION 1) Resolution 6324 - South Town Plaza Subdivision Preliminary Plat � a This resolution considers approval of a Major Preliminary Plat with ten commercial and light -industrial lots on 36.99 acres at 2295 U.S. Highway 93 South. Planner II Donnie McBath presented the staff report. 00:25:17 Council Member Leftridge asked about the intersection and the left turn onto the highway and what the traffic impact study required will include. Staff answered questions. 00:26:27 Mayor Hunter asked about architectural standards and review within the entrance corridor. 00:26:58 Staff answered questions. Public Comment Mayor Hunter opened public comment. 00:28:23 Eric Mulcahy, Public Comment Mulcahy of Sands Surveying spoke representing the applicant. Seeing no further comments, he closed public comment. 00:28:08 Motion to approve Resolution 6324, a resolution conditionally approving the Preliminary plat of South Town Plaza, described as a tract of land Iving in the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter and in the northwest Quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 28, Township 28 north, range 21 west, P.M.M., Flathead County, Montana Council Member — Sid Daoud: Motion Council Member — Kari Gabriel: 2nd 00:28:42 Council Member Daoud provided discussion in favor of the motion. 00:28:58 Mayor Hunter talked about prior review and discussion of this item when it came before Council as part of a Planned Unit Development, and that preliminary plats will not be coming before Council in the future. 00:29:30 Vote on the motion. Council Member - Sid Daoud: Motion Council Member - Kari Gabriel: 2nd Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Absent Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve Council Member - Sid Daoud: Approve Ma o�yan Hunter: Approve Page 4 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 4, 2026 Council Member - Wes Walker: Approve Council Member - Lisa Blank: Approve Council Member - Kyle Waterman: Absent Council Member - Dustin Leftridge: Approve The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote with Council Members Nunnally and Waterman absent. 2) Collective Bargaining Agreement with AFSCME Labor Union 0 a This item considers approving the proposed agreement between the City of Kalispell and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 256 Union. City Manager Jarod Nygren presented the staff report. 00:31:45 Public Comment Mayor Hunter opened public comment. Seeing none, he closed public comment. 00:32:12 Motion to approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Kalispell and AFSCME. 00:32:30 Council Member Daoud provided discussion on the motion. Vote on the motion. Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Motion Council Member - Lisa Blank: 2nd Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Absent Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve Council Member - Sid Daoud: Approve Mayor - Ryan Hunter: Approve Council Member - Wes Walker: Approve Council Member - Lisa Blank: Approve Council Member - Kyle Waterman: Absent Council Member - Dustin Leftridae: Approve The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote with Council Members Nunnally and Waterman absent. 3) Resolution 6325 — Non -Union Employee Salary Adjustment ® a This resolution considers adopting the updated 20-step matrix and annual step increase for eligible employees. City Manager Jarod Nygren presented the staff report. Public Comment Mayor Hunter opened public comment. Seeing none, he closed public comment. Darla Provencio, Public Comment Provencio asked whether there is money in the budget for this item. Page 5 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 4, 2026 Seeing no further public comment, Mayor Hunter closed public comment 00:36:37 Motion to approve Resolution 6325, a resolution adiusting the salary and compensation of the city officials, supervisors, and all other nonunion employees pursuant to Title 7, Chapter 4, Part 42, M.C.A. commencing on the date indicated herein. Council Member — Kari Gabriel: Motion Council Member — Wes Walker: 21d 00:37:04 Council Member Daoud provided discussion on the motion and spoke to budget discussions happening on May 11, and May 13, 2026, and the ability for the public to review last year's budget on the city website. 00:37:51 Council Member Leftridge provided discussion in favor of the motion. 00:38:14 Mayor Hunter provided discussion in favor of the motion. 00:38:36 Vote on the motion. Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Motion Council Member - Wes Walker: 2nd Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Absent Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve Council Member - Sid Daoud• Approve Mayor - Ryan Hunter: Approve Council Member - Wes Walker: Approve Council Member - Lisa Blank: Approve Council Member - Kyle Waterman: Absent Council Member - Dustin Leftridge_Ap rove The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote with Council Members Nunnallv and Waterman absent. 4) Appointment to the Economic Revolving Loan Fund Committee O a This item considers the appointment of Darla Provencio to this Committee. Public Comment Mayor Hunter opened public comment. Seeing none, he closed public comment. 00:39:26 Mayor Hunter recommended to Council the appointment of Darla Provencio to this Committee. 00:39:37 Motion and Vote to take the Mayors' recommendation for the position and move Darla Provencio to the Economic Revolving Loan Fund Committee 00:40:00 Mayor Hunter thanked Provencio for applying to this position and spoke to vacancies. Vote on the motion. Page 6 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 4, 2026 Council Member - Sid Daoud: Motion Council Member - Jed Fisher: 2nd Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Absent Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve Council Member - Sid Daoud: Approve Mayor - Ryan Hunter: Approve Council Member - Wes Walker: Approve Council Member - Lisa Blank: Approve Council Member - Kyle Waterman: Absent Council Member - Dustin LeftridgeApprove The motion passed unanimouslv on roll call vote with Council Members Nunnallv and Waterman absent. 5) Appointments to the Architectural Review Committee ® 4M This item considers the appointments of Dwight Camillucci, Star Ironside, Marshall Unger and Shawn Pauly to this Committee. Public Comment Mayor Hunter opened public comment. Seeing none, he closed public comment. Mayor Hunter made the recommendation for those individuals stated (Dwight Camillucci, Star Ironside, Marshall Unger, and Shawn Pauly) for the open positions on the Architectural Review Committee. 00:41:23 Motion to appoint the slate of candidates that the Mayor recommended to the Architectural Review Committee. Council Member - Sid Daoud: Motion Council Member - Kari Gabriel: 2nd Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnallv: Absent Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve Council Member - Sid Daoud: Approve Mayor -Ryan Hunter: Approve Council Member - Wes Walker: Approve Council Member - Lisa Blank: Approve Council Member - Kyle Waterman: Absent Council Member - Dustin Leftridge_Approve The motion passed unanimously on voice vote with Council Nlembers Nunnally and Waterman absent. 6) Appointment to the Urban Renewal Agency Board � This item considers the appointment of one applicant to this Board. Public Comment Mayor Hunter opened public comment. Seeing none, he closed public comment. Page 7 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 4, 2026 00:42:37 Mayor Hunter recommended Jason Oberhausen to the Urban Renewal Agency Board 00:43:01 Motion to appoint Jason Oberhausen to the Urban Renewal Agency Board per the Mayor's recommendation. 00:43:28 Mayor Hunter explained he spoke to both applicants and they both seemed like great candidates and appreciated them both applying Vote on the motion. Council Member - Sid Daoud: Motion Council Member - Lisa Blank: 2nd Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Approve Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Absent Council Member - Jed Fisher: Approve Council Member - Sid Daoud: Approve Mayor - Ryan Hunter: Approve Council Member - Wes Walker: Approve Council Member - Lisa Blank: Approve Council Member - Kvle Waterman: Absent Council Member - Dustin Leftridge: Approve The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote with Council Members 1\unnally and Waterman absent. I. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS (No Action) City Manager Nygren explained he will be a panelist at the Growth Summit this Thursday. Budget work sessions will occur next Monday and next Wednesday at 6 p.m. 00:44:40 Council Member Blank thanked those who applied for the committees. 00:44:44 Council Member Daoud said that cruising season has started with lots of online talk pro and con. Enforcement has been happening with more officers having been hired. He talked about this as a community/cultural issue and he asked people to be more respectful to each other. He spoke further regarding hearing from both sides of the issue. He asked people to handle this from a cultural aspect and to be more lawful. 00:46:53 Mayor Hunter spoke to public comment received tonight during the consent agenda asking about accessory dwelling units. He talked about the state legislation, (the Montana Land Use Planning Act), that requires ADU's in all residential zones. He talked about the extensive public participation that happened throughout the process. 00:47:54 Director of Development Services PJ Sorensen spoke regarding the changes within the subdivision regulations related to accessory dwelling units. Page 8 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, May 4, 2026 00:48:58 Mayor Hunter said he attended the highway cleanup mentioned by Council Member Nunnally a few weeks ago organized by Adam Moore and said there was a good turnout and stated his appreciation for Adam for his commitment to public service. J. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Hunter adjourned the meeting at 8:41 p.m. Ai e Brunckhorst, City Clerk Minutes approved on May 18, 2026 UPCOMING SCHEDULE Budget Work Sessions — May 11, and Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Next Regular Meeting — May 18, 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. 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 cityclerkAkalispell.com. Page 9 of 9