09-11-17 City Council Work Session MinutesKALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 11, 2017
View the minutes attached to the audio of the meeting at:
ht!p:Hkalispell.com/mayor—and—city council/Streaming-AV.php
A WORK SESSION OF THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD AT 7:00 PM ON
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2017, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL IN
KALISPELL, MONTANA. MAYOR MARK JOHNSON PRESIDED. COUNCIL MEMBERS
JIM ATKINSON, SANDY CARLSON, KARI GABRIEL, CHAD GRAHAM, PHIL
GUIFFRIDA, TIM KLUESNER, ROD KUNTZ, AND WAYNE SAVERUD WERE
PRESENT.
Also present: City Manager Doug Russell, Planning Director Tom Jentz, Community Development
Manager Katharine Thompson, and Community Development Coordinator Krista Lammers.
Mayor Johnson called the work session to order.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Urban Renewal Agency Board Recommendation for a Traffic Impact Study in the
South Kalispell/Airport Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District
Russell briefly explained the topic and asked Jentz for further details.
Jentz described the 18th Street - Airport Road issue, which is a lack of alignment on 18th Street and
Airport Road.
In response to a question, Jentz stated the green lines on the photos are water and sewer lines, and he
thinks the white lines may be driving lines for Google.
Jentz noted there is money in the TIF fund and the Urban Renewal Agency (URA) decided
something needs to be done with Airport Road because of the school construction, new homes, etc.
Jentz stated there is a significant amount of stuff in the road: lots of utilities, a sewer lift station, a
large storm water main, etc. He said the city could do a modified roundabout, change the road
alignment, close a small portion of 18th Street, or continue 17th Street across the existing lot and
make it a right or left turn on Airport Road.
Jentz said the next step is to go out for an RFQ for an engineering firm to do a traffic impact study,
which is already in the transportation plan. He said the intended uses will be limited because of the
Clear Airport Zone.
Jentz answered further questions.
Jentz then described the problem at the junction at 13th and Airport Road. He said this is where the
new highway project stopped; it transitions from four lanes to two lanes at the Courthouse Couplet
Kalispell City Council Work Session Minutes
September 11, 2017
Page I
and is ready for a traffic light.
Jentz noted that the city wants to shift the traffic off of 3rd & 4th Avenues, and wants to make using
1 st Avenues East and West easier.
Jentz answered additional questions, noting the update of the transportation plan is already in the
budget.
There was discussion regarding moving the city shops and improving access to Legends Stadium.
Marc Rold, Chairman of the Urban Renewal Agency, remarked that changing both intersections
would be a good use of TIF money, and that 18th Street is deteriorating now and is not going to get
any better until it is redesigned.
Russell remarked that he will bring the Request for Qualifications to council for action at the next
meeting.
Public Comment
Mike Rochen, 288 4th Avenue EN, stated he has previously used 1st Avenue East as a short cut
when he lived on that side and that it will be good to create a 1 st Avenue West short cut and increase
the southern access to Legends Stadium.
Diane Bokor, 312 Bismarck Street, thanked council for the dog park and invited them to attend the
Grand Opening on Sunday, September 17 at 2:00 pm.
MAYOR/COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER REPORTS
Russell informed council he will be going to Helena this week for a meeting.
Mayor Johnson informed council there is a 911 committee meeting on Wednesday but that he will
not be able to attend.
ADJOURN
The work session was adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
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Prepared by:
Judi Funk
Deputy City Clerk
Kalispell City Council Work Session Minutes
September 11, 2017
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