06-12-26 City Manager report1
City of Kalispell
OFFICE OF THE CITY
MANAGER
Information Memorandum
6/12/2026
Parks & Recreation
Parks Department staff have successfully completed the annual flower planting program,
enhancing the visual appeal of parks and public spaces throughout the community. At Woodland
Park, approximately 4,300 annual flowers were planted within the formal garden beds, creating a
vibrant seasonal display for residents and visitors to enjoy.
In addition to the planting program, staff installed hanging flower baskets along the Parkline
Trail corridor. These colorful floral displays contribute to the overall beautification of the trail
system, enhance the user experience, and support the City's ongoing efforts to maintain attractive
and welcoming public spaces.
With seasonal irrigation systems now fully operational,
Parks Department maintenance crews have resumed work on
the reclamation of the former tennis court area at Northridge
Park. To support the conversion and long-term establishment
of turf, crews have installed more than four hundred linear
feet of irrigation line and twelve new sprinkler heads,
extending water coverage throughout the project site.
System testing and calibration are scheduled to take place in
the coming days to ensure adequate coverage and operational
performance. Upon successful completion of testing, crews
will proceed with backfilling trenches, placing additional
topsoil, and seeding the area.
In preparation for the upcoming operating season, Parks
Department staff have completed a variety of maintenance and improvement projects at
Woodland Water Park to ensure the facility is safe, functional, and ready for opening day
operations. Seasonal signage has been reinstalled throughout the facility, and repairs were
completed on the footbridge spanning the Lazy River, including the re-securing of angle iron
supports to maintain structural integrity and visitor safety.
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Staff also modified the swim lesson platforms to improve functionality, usability, and overall
program efficiency. These enhancements will provide a more effective instructional environment
for aquatic programming and improve the experience for both instructors and participants.
Additionally, a plumbing contractor recently completed an upgrade to the Lazy River filtration
system by installing a larger basket strainer in place of the original unit. The larger strainer is
expected to improve operational efficiency by increasing debris collection capacity, reducing
maintenance requirements, and supporting more reliable filtration system performance
throughout the season.
These projects represent ongoing efforts to maintain high-quality aquatic facilities and ensure
Woodland Water Park is fully prepared to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for patrons
during the summer season.
The Urban Forestry Division has transitioned its seasonal maintenance efforts to the downtown
core and is currently conducting pruning operations on mature street trees along the nine hundred
block of 6th Avenue West. These activities are part of the City's ongoing urban forest
management program and are intended to improve tree health, maintain proper clearance for
pedestrians and vehicles, enhance public safety, and preserve the long-term vitality and
appearance of the downtown streetscape.
In addition to routine pruning operations, Urban Forestry crews continue to perform stump
grinding at locations where tree removals have occurred, helping to prepare sites for future
landscaping or tree planting opportunities. Crews are also applying mulch around trees planted
within the last five years as part of the City's young tree establishment program. Proper mulching
helps retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperatures, reduce weed competition, and protect root
systems, all of which contribute to improved tree health and successful long-term establishment.
Recreation programming continues to transition into the summer season, with a variety of
activities underway for residents of all ages. Adult Tennis continues each Wednesday evening at
6:00 p.m. on the south courts at Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC). The program
provides adults of all skill levels with opportunities to remain active, develop tennis skills, and
participate in organized recreational play while fostering social connections within the
community.
Staff are also finalizing preparations for the 35th Annual Picnic in the Park Summer Concert
Series. Promotional materials are currently being distributed throughout the community, and
radio advertising is scheduled to begin airing during the week of June 22. The concert series will
kick off on June 24 at 6:00 p.m. in Depot Park with a performance by the Kenny James Miller
Band. In addition to free live music, the event series will feature community art activities, lawn
games, food vendors, and family-friendly entertainment, continuing a long-standing tradition that
attracts residents and visitors throughout the summer months.
Camp Woodland staff training was conducted on June 10 and 11 in preparation for the arrival of
campers on June 15. Registration remains strong, and limited opportunities are still available for
families interested in participating in the program. Registration also remains open for a variety of
specialty camps, including art, woodworking, and nature exploration programs. While
enrollment numbers are currently slightly below previous years, staff anticipate that participation
will continue to increase as summer approaches.
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The Spring Soccer season officially concluded with a makeup game held on June 3. Throughout
the season, participants, volunteer coaches, and families successfully adapted to a variety of
spring weather conditions, resulting in a successful recreational experience for all involved.
Additional youth programming begins next week, with Session 1 of Youth Tennis Lessons
scheduled to run from June 16 through July 2 at FVCC. The Youth 3-on-3 Basketball League
will also begin on June 16 and continue through July 28 at Thompson Memorial Park, providing
additional recreational opportunities and organized athletic programming for local youth
throughout the summer.
Staff continue to prepare Woodland Water Park for the upcoming operating season. The lap pool
has been filled and is currently warming in anticipation of the facility opening on June 16. Initial
open swim hours will be Tuesday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Swim lessons
will be offered Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. and again from 4:30 p.m.
to 7:00 p.m.
The Lazy River resurfacing project remains in progress. Upon completion of the project and final
staff training requirements, additional evening open swim opportunities may be incorporated into
the operating schedule. Staff continue to collaborate closely with contractors and seasonal
personnel to ensure all facilities are prepared to provide a safe, enjoyable, and successful summer
recreation season for the community.
Public Works
Biosolids Dewatering Project: The Biosolids Dewatering Project is on schedule and continuing
to move forward. The new screw press, pictured below, and the polymer equipment have been in
operation for the last week. The next step of the process is to move the existing screw press, test
different polymers for dewatering optimization, demo of the temporary conveyor and truck bay,
and installation of the cat walks for the screw presses. The dewatered biosolids pictured below
were measured at 15-16% solids.
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2026 Street Restoration Projects: The table below outlines the streets slated for in-house
restoration projects during the 2026 construction season. To date, the City has completed or is
nearing completion of seven mill-and-overlay road section projects, performed major patching
and crack sealing in preparation for upcoming chip seal projects, and supported TSS with
pavement marking operations along the Meridian Road corridor.
Status Projects* Street Name From Location To Location ~.Ln Feet
Complete M/O North Palmer Ritzman New asphalt 1,688
Scheduled M/O W Montana St Main St 1st Ave W 531
Scheduled M/O 1st St E Main St 3rd Ave E 1,060
Scheduled M/O 5th Ave EN E Idaho St Dead End 550
Complete M/O Bismark St 1st corner at
trail Denver Ave 850
Complete M/O Rimrock Ct Denver Ave Denver Ave 580
Scheduled M/O Salish Ct Garland St Hilltop Ave 582
Complete M/O W Utah Street West End Hwy 93 N 990
Complete M/O 5th Ave WN W Wyoming St W Colorado St 800
Complete M/O 7th Ave W 11th St W 1545 7th Ave W 1,450
Complete M/O Ashly Dr Sunnyside Dr Bismark St 1,170
Scheduled M/O 4th St E Main St 2nd Ave E 690
Scheduled M/O 1st Ave EN Montana Washington 630
Scheduled M/O Teton St/Iris
Ct Hawthorn Iris Ct 940
Design ReC 3rd Ave E Center 6th St E 2,160
Bid/Const ReC 8th St W 5th Ave W 8th Ave W 1,080
Bid/July CS Rose Crossing, Palmer and Trivino Rds (Glacier
Village Greens) 15,000
Bid/Const M/O Materials
Yard
Sweeping
Storage
Ongoing Misc.
Work
In -between larger overlay projects street crew will be performing
major patching, pothole patching, crack sealing, alley
restoration, milling placement
M/O = Mill and Overlay, ReC = Reconstruction, CS= Chip Seal
All projects are subject to change based on weather, workload, and any unforeseeable
incidents that may occur in the construction season.
Planning
At the Planning Commission meeting on June 9, the Commission held a work session on the
Birchwood Planned Unit Development. Birchwood is a residential development consisting of
approximately ninety-five (95) residential units including townhomes, cottages, and detached
single-family residences on approximately 21 acres located west of Northland Drive, south of
Four Mile Drive, east of the U.S. Highway 93 Alternate (Kalispell Bypass), and north of
Northridge Drive. It is scheduled for a public hearing on July 14.
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As part of the implementation of the Montana Land Use Planning Act and the updates to the
city’s public participation plan, we have updated our website to include the new land use plan,
updated regulations, and a platform for projects under administrative review, as well as the
ability for members of the public to sign up for email notifications (Public Platform for
Subdivisions, Conditional Use Permits, & Variances | Kalispell, MT). Applications for
subdivisions, conditional use permits, and variances will now be reviewed under the new process
which will include posting on the website and the ability to submit written public comment.
Building
In the last 2 weeks we have issued permits for 3 single-family home, 2 townhouses, and 1 ADU.
That will keep the total of new single-family/duplex and townhouse units for the year at 95
compared to 52 last year at this time. There have been 96 multi-family housing units issued so
far this year compared to 32 last year at this time.
There were a total of 263 combined building and/or fire inspections completed in the last 2
weeks.
Residential – 86 Plumbing –22
Commercial – 40 Mechanical – 23
Electrical – 19 Fire – 73
Community Development
The Montana Disaster & Emergency Services intends to fund the City of Kalispell's Montana
Resiliency Funding Grant application for the installation of a backup generator at the public
safety building. The City Council will vote on the authorization of funds at the Ju ne 15, 2026,
City Council meeting.
The Urban Renewal Agency meeting June 18th has been cancelled due to lack of business.
Fire
The Kalispell Fire Department has been honored with the 2026 Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold
Achievement Award from the American Heart Association. This recognition reflects our
continued commitment to delivering rapid, evidence-based care to individuals experiencing heart
attacks and other life-threatening cardiac emergencies.
The pre-design deliverable for the new fire station has been received.
Two new fire engine apparatus are nearing completion – on track for August delivery
KFD is working on submitting a SAFER grant for staffing assistance associated with the new
station.
Kalispell FD MT
Address: 312 1st Ave E, Kalispell, MT, 59901
Incident Count by Primary Incident Sub Group 05/27/2026 - 06/09/2026
PRIMARY INCIDENT GROUP / PRIMARY
INCIDENT SUB GROUP
COUNT
Fire 2
Fire - Outside Fire 1
Fire - Structure Fire 1
Hazardous Situation 2
Hazardous Situation - Hazardous Materials 1
Hazardous Situation - Investigation 1
Medical 147
Medical - Illness 88
Medical - Injury / Trauma 58
Report ID: 118208 This report was generated on : 06/10/2026 07:41 AM Page: 1 of 2
Incident Count by Primary Incident
Sub Group
Kalispell FD MT
Address: 312 1st Ave E, Kalispell, MT, 59901
PRIMARY INCIDENT GROUP / PRIMARY
INCIDENT SUB GROUP
COUNT
Medical - Other 1
Public Service 9
Public Service - Citizen Assist 7
Public Service - Alarms (Non Medical)2
Rescue 2
Rescue - Structure 1
Rescue - Water 1
No Emergency 21
No Emergency - False Alarm 13
No Emergency - Good Intent 2
No Emergency - Cancelled 6
Total 183
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Report ID: 118208 This report was generated on : 06/10/2026 07:41 AM Page: 2 of 2