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E1. 06-08-26 Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL KCITY OF DRAFT WORK SESSION MINUTES ALISPELL June 8, 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.kalisl2ell.com/MeetingVideos. A. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hunter called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. B. ROLL CALL Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Present via video conference Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present Council Member - Jed Fisher: Present Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present Mayoryan 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 Jarod Nygren, City Clerk and Communications Manager Aimee Brunckhorst, Development Services Director P.J. Sorensen, and Planner II Donnie McBath. C. 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.com/publiccomment. D. DISCUSSION 1. Creation of an Affordable Housing & Homeless Advisory Committee Mayor Hunter presented his ideas on this subject and items he believes would be appropriate for this type of committee to discuss and how he would envision it to be managed. 00:05:28 City Manager Nygren asked questions about the vision for this possible committee. 00:06:26 Council Member Nunnally asked Mayor Hunter questions about the reasoning for this committee. He then asked whether there are current affordable housing projects within the city that are subsidized. Page 1 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 8, 2026 City Manager Nygren answered questions related to projects that do not pay property taxes. 00:10:31 Council Member Nunnally asked about staff time that another Committee would need and what would be required by staff. Council Member Nunnally asked how a future housing study that has been planned (once the awarded grant is received) would be implemented. 00:14:58 Council Member Waterman said he is supportive of having a Committee help Council have conversations related to a housing study and developing a housing study request for proposals, study review and related recommendations. He provided discussion about current nonprofit committees, challenges and related items that could be considered. 00:20:15 Council Member Nunnally provided discussion about funding concerns. 00:23:05 Council Member Walker provided discussion about his support for a committee. 00:24:11 Council Member Waterman explained the funding difference between an entitlement city and Kalispell and how that effects lack of funding for a dedicated staff person for these types of committees. 00:26:45 Council Member Nunnally provided further discussion. 00:27:15 Council Member Waterman spoke regarding tax funds related to housing. 00:27:55 Council Member Daoud provided discussion that defining what is to be reported to Council and how often they would report would be important. He would like a definition of affordable housing and spoke regarding different definitions he has heard. 00:30:26 Council Member Leftridge provided discussion in favor of this type of committee as experts collaborating to provide recommendations. 00:32:02 Council Member Nunnally asked what further steps would be. 00:32:29 Mayor Hunter provided discussion related to staffing costs, the work that collaborative housing solutions are doing and the value of a separate committee. He spoke regarding further dialogue with the community. 00:35:15 Manager Nygren talked about boards and reports. 00:35:45 Council Member Daoud provided discussion about current boards and committees and how they report. He talked about the importance of diversity on the committee. 00:37:33 Mayor Hunter spoke regarding committee reports and recommendations. He talked about the definition of affordable housing, and what the committee could be tasked with. Manager Nygren talked about the creation of a resolution if this were to be a permanent committee and what would be included within the resolution. Page 2 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 8, 2026 Mayor Hunter recommended a long-term committee and what he would see them handling. 00:41:44 Council Member Fisher asked for success stories related to these types of committees and provided discussion. 00:42:53 Council Member Waterman talked about collaborative housing solutions working with larger cities that have a dedicated staff paid for with federal funds. 00:43:47 Council Member Fisher provided discussion about wanting to hear directly from the public. 00:44:10 Mayor Hunter provided further discussion in support of a committee. 00:45:36 Council Member Blank provided discussion about affordable housing finance. She talked about homelessness as a regional tri-city issue, and that it should be addressed that way. She is not in support of an endless committee and the need for a mission, timeframe and delivery. She talked further about a regional plan, and specific deliverables. 00:47:58 Mayor Hunter provided further discussion addressing concerns. Council Member Blank provided further discussion about who she would want on a committee depending on what the goal would be. 00:49:30 Mayor Hunter provided further discussion about his vision for the committee and spoke to a regional approach and past attempts at reaching out to regional cities. 00:51:07 Council Member Daoud provided discussion about creating a temporary committee with a specific goal and time period. He talked about his view that Kalispell is impacted by homelessness more than other area communities because the services are here. He provided ideas for representation on the committee from the other area cities. 00:53:26 Mayor Hunter provided further discussion about the regional component. 00:54:08 Council Member Gabriel said she agreed with a lot of the discussion and the importance of defining the committee's purpose, reasoning for why she would like the committee to be temporary, and regional representation, taking input from other housing committees in the community, and how solutions will be paid for. 00:56:45 Council Member Waterman provided discussion about the Flathead Health Board as community and environmental health focused and the decrease in funding for community health and utilizing that Board for tri-city discussions, though they are not charged with housing policy. He read the Collaborative Housing Solutions Sub -Committee on Housing definition related to affordable housing and provided related discussion. 00:59:32 City Manager Nygren spoke to the housing study budgeted with grant funding and having a committee to help staff develop a request for proposals, and other deliverables related to the housing study. The committee and study could also help define affordable housing. Nygren then explained the state definition for work -force housing and provided further discussion. Page 3 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 8, 2026 01:01:09 Council Member Nunnally asked about the Collaborative Housing Solutions Sub - Committee and then provided discussion about having city representation on that existing Committee. 01:02:13 Mayor Hunter provided discussion about the proposed Committee representing a larger constituency and broader range of topics. 01:04:00 Mayor Hunter provided further discussion and questions about Council preferences. 01:05:03 Answering a timing question from Council Member Blank, Manager Nygren spoke to tying the committee timeline to the housing study itself. He talked about the timeline for the housing study. 01:05:45 Council Member Blank spoke further to the regional approach for related issues and the need for regional data and solutions. She then spoke to the importance of looking at finance and studying demographics. 01:07:23 Manager Nygren talked about key deliverables and forecasting within the study. 01:07:57 Mayor Hunter summarized Council direction. 01:08:30 Council Member Nunnally provided discussion about preference for the make-up of the committee. 01:09:25 Council Member Daoud provided discussion in opposition to the long length of the agenda based on time constraints. 01:10:47 City Manager Nygren clarified that Council would like an Interim Committee Related to the Housing Study. 2. Parkline Trail Design Standards Mayor Hunter spoke to the vision within the Core Area Plan and his concerns related to the lack of trail design standards. He provided discussion about what standards he would like to see and referred to downtown design standards. He referred to a public comment from Jim Watson, and Watson's preference that any standards extend to the Bypass and the Spring Creek Park. He asked staff to review standards related to the downtown area. 01:14:34 Director of Development Services P.J. Sorensen reviewed the downtown historic district design standards within section 27.21A.030. 01:16:48 Mayor Hunter asked for further review of the Core Area Plan and trail renderings. 01:17:56 Manager Nygren and Director Sorensen talked about the B-3 zone that was created for the Core Area to encourage development and implantation of the plan. 01:19:33 Council Member Fisher asked for clarification. Page 4 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 8, 2026 01:19:46 Mayor Hunter explained why he would like the standards within section 27.21A.030 or similar standards to the Parkline area and requiring multiple stories. 01:21:00 Council Member Walker provided discussion in support of design standards and referred to safety components along a trail including visibility, and a variety of public uses. 01:22:01 Manager Nygren explained how implementation could happen by directing staff and the Planning Commission to work on design standards that would come up to Council as a zoning text amendment ordinance. 01:23:09 Council Member Daoud provided discussion about constituency concerns regarding the high costs of housing and the lack of housing, and the resultant high cost to developers related to design standards, and his related hesitancy. He then talked about concerns related to private property rights, what he has viewed in Bozeman, and not wanting to hinder the market. He then spoke about his experiences renting homes, and further discussion about design mandates. 01:29:03 Council Member Gabriel talked about the long history of the creation of the Core Area Plan. She asked who is desiring density, and issues she sees with multiple stories along the trail, and further concerns about changes to the Core Area Plan. 01:31:13 Council Member Walker provided clarification about his views on `eyes on the trail'. 01:31:21 Manager Nygren talked about the history of the B-3 zone creation as an enterprise, redevelopment zone with less standards to entice development. He pointed out that the Architectural Review Committee does review every commercial development. 01:32:18 Council Member Nunnally provided discussion about his views on `eyes on the trail' and wanting open designs. 01:34:07 Council Member Waterman talked about this area as a key project for Council for a long time, and previous re -zoning of the area, current Architectural Review, and building standards. He provided discussion related to his interest within the Westside Tax Increment Finance District and incentivizing development to reinvest in that area and infrastructure needed in that area to make development possible. He talked about affordable housing on a large scale and further discussed the infrastructure missing in the west end of the core area. 01:39:56 Council Member Daoud provided discussion about the possibility of standards hindering development in the area under discussion. He discussed his views related to the benefits of density. 01:41:31 Council Member Waterman talked about the previous Council making zoning changes removing height restrictions. 01:42:10 Council Member Daoud talked about seeing mixed -use development after Council suggestions and giving ideas a try prior to mandates. 01:43:13 Mayor Hunter addressed various points made by Council members and his visions for development along the Trail. Page 5 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 8, 2026 01:48:07 Manager Nygren talked about current downtown design standards and the nuances that would need to be worked through at the Planning Commission level if directed by Council, and considerations related to multi -level, mixed -use. 01:50:01 Council Member Leftridge spoke about his experiences along the Parkline Trail. He provided discussion in favor of incentivizing beneficial development along the trail and directing the Planning Commission to provide suggestions utilizing standards or incentives to do that. 01:51:34 Council Member Nunnally talked about current mechanisms already in place for multi- level development. Mayor Hunter asked about support for the suggestion made by Leftridge. 01:53:12 Council Member Blank spoke in support of suggestions made by Leftridge and Waterman (Westside TIF). 01:53:29 Council Member Waterman spoke in support and talked about tasking the Commission to look at the policies within the Core Area Plan on page 26 and whether they are being accomplished. 01:54:36 Mayor Hunter would prioritize the trail over the street for the frontage of a building. 01:55:07 Council Member Nunnally provided discussion about increased costs based on four- sided architectural design. 01:56:28 Manager Nygren spoke to what the Architectural Review Committee attempts to mitigate and various considerations and factors based on the site such as topography and drainage. He then talked about considerations related to the use of Tax Increment Financing. 01:58:40 Council Member Blank asked questions about TIF use. Manager Nygren talked about Council decisions and developer considerations related to the use of TIF funds. 02:00:05 Council Member Blank spoke in support of utilizing TIF funds to incentivize development along the Parkline Trail. 02:00:38 Mayor Hunter provided an overview and then further discussion about the standards he is proposing. 02:02:06 Manager Nygren asked for further direction. 02:03:35 Council Member Fisher provided discussion that the process to incentivize development is there. 02:03:52 Council Member Walker provided discussion in favor of design standards. 02:04:27 Council Member Daoud provided discussion that great incentives already exist. Page 6 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 8, 2026 Mayor Hunter provided an overview of what the majority of Council would like to be considered. 02:05:47 Manager Nygren talked to the direction he is hearing on this item. 3. Utilizing City -Owned Property for Construction of Affordable Housing Council discussed whether time allows for the last two items on the agenda and decided to move these items to a future work session. 02:09:34 E. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Hunter opened public comment. Public comment received in writing to the Mayor and Council can be seen at www.kalispell.com/publiccomment. 02:09:56 Kim Morasaki, Public Comment Morasaki, the Executive Director of the Northwest Community Land Trust explained how the Trust was started by the City of Kalispell in 2009, how the trust works as a homeownership program, and how it has expanded and benefited community members. She also spoke as a Member of the Collaborative Housing Solutions Group and on their Sub -Committee related to permanent housing. She explained the nonprofits who have members on the Sub -Committee and said there are lots of examples of success that can be shared. She talked about the group working with for profit, non-profit developers, across all three municipalities. She talked about the benefits of a tri-city group they could communicate with. She explained the main non -profits as Neighborworks Montana, Habitat for Humanity, Housing Whitefish, Whitefish Housing Authority, the Warming Center and Samaritan House as well as private individuals. She explained last month they developed a housing inventory of rentals and affordable home ownership units in Flathead County by various categories and a database related to vouchers. They plan to share it with the staff at the cities of Kalispell, Whitefish, and Columbia Falls. They also have a pipeline of projects they are working on and talked about some of those. She talked about rentals that will lose their subsidies and plans to keep them affordable and the need for help from the City to accomplish that. 02:17:45 Erika Wirtala, Public Comment Wirtala, Board Member of the Northwest Community Land Trust pointed out all the Northwest Community Land Trust homeowners pay property taxes on their property and their home. 02:18:28 Rose Askviz Public Comment Askvig spoke to the importance of defining affordable housing and said she is opposed to free housing for homeless individuals and referred to negative experiences she has had near the Warming Center. She asked for transparency in definitions and goals. 02:19:38 Kyle Voiztlander, Public Comment Voigtlander of 4th Street West believes that height restrictions should not have been lifted in the core area explaining why. He then spoke regarding affordable housing and his views of negative impacts with subsidized housing. He talked about what he does not like about construction happening in downtown Bozeman and his views that design standards increase development costs, increasing the cost of housing. He talked about his concern that a Housing Advisory Page 7 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 8, 2026 Committee would not have members with diverse backgrounds. He spoke about the current development along the Parkline Trail and how additional standards may hinder re -development and make lots undevelopable, providing examples. He agreed with Council discussion that the western area near Albertson's on Meridian does need development. He talked about developer costs, and tax rates. He spoke regarding high rental costs and being cautious. Seeing no further comments, Mayor Hunter closed public comment. 4. Short Term Rental Statistics This item was not discussed due to time constraints. E. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS City Manager Jarod Nygren provided the following report: Committee reports from the Business Improvement District and Tourism Business Improvement District are scheduled during the June 15, 2026, council meeting. The City was awarded the Resiliency Grant for a public safety generator so an item will be on the next agenda to initiate the grant agreement and approve the required match. 02:30:56 Council Member Nunnally explained he spent time in Houston for a National Board he sits on, and they filmed board members in the replica of Independence Hall reading the Declaration of Independence. He encouraged everyone to listen to the Declaration and what the authors were going through at the time. He then spoke regarding the size of other cities while flying over them and how large the combined city landscape of all the cities in Flathead valley really are. He spoke about the importance of combined planning with other area jurisdictions including local unincorporated areas. 02:35:05 Council Member Nunnally talked about visiting Great Falls and comparing the population of 65,000, with a county of 85,000 to Kalispell with 38,000, in a county of over 100,000. He talked about the additional resources a city over 50,000 receives, and investing through the Westside TIF. He would like a report from the Flathead County Library. 02:36:58 Council Member Leftridge asked for a work session on how the City is addressing the lawless behavior downtown on Friday nights. He explained he would like a report from the Police Department, City Attorney's Office, judicial branch, Public Works and Montana Department of Transportation if possible, and what he would like included in that report. Council members discussed support for the topic brought forward and timing of a work session. Council decided to add an additional work session on the fifth Monday of the month to address the topic brought forward by Council Member Leftridge. 02:41:58 Council Member Daoud challenged everyone to read the Constitution with their family before Independence Day. Page 8 of 9 Kalispell City Council Minutes, June 8, 2026 02:43:01 Mayor Hunter thanked everyone for the conversation this evening. F. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Hunter adjourned the meeting at 9:43 pm. Aimee Brunckhorst, City Clerk Minutes approved on, 2026 UPCOMING SCHEDULE Next Regular Meeting — June 15, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Next Work Session — June 22, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers PARTICIPATION Written public comments received to council at least one day prior to the meeting can be seen at www.kalispell.com/publiccomment. Council may not have the opportunity to review written public comment received the day of the meeting. 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 9 of 9