City Council approves sidewalk plan

But Mayor Kennedy's workshop request means fix-up policy may not be set in concrete

Kalispell's game plan for dealing with substandard sidewalks is in place - with one potential caveat.

On Tuesday, the City Council approved 7-1 how it will tackle sidewalks that don't meet Kalispell's specifications. The approved plan is:

-Developers of subdivisions with substandard sidewalks installed before Dec. 3, 2005, will be fined - with the money put into a fund for repairing those sidewalks when they crumble or fail. The amount of the fine will depend on how much the sidewalks fall short of the city's standards.

. Substandard sidewalks installed after Dec. 3, 2005, will be ripped out and replaced.

This plan came after the city staff determined and the council learned that of 40,568 feet in eight relatively new subdivisions, about 27,500 feet - or 68 percent - did not meet the city's specifications.

"The problem that has arisen is because of our rapid growth, and we haven't been able to monitor development properly. This document will help the consumers - our citizens," council member Jim Atkinson said.

Council member Hank Olson opposed adopting the plan, saying the council has not finished addressing all of the ramifications. Council member Duane Larson was out of town Tuesday, but sent a letter to the council supporting the plan that the rest approved.

Three developer and contractor representatives criticized the plan during Tuesday's meeting.

Engineer Bob Stauffer of Schwartz Architecture and Engineering said that the city's regulations require more than Montana's standards.

Developers Wayne Turner and Charles Lapp contended that, though their sidewalks might not meet the city's standards, that does not mean they are defective or will crack or crumble prematurely.

Council member Tim Kluesner requested that the council hold a workshop session to see whether it wants the city staff to review Kalispell's sidewalk standards in the next six months to see whether the current requirements are justified.

Atkinson said: "I have a problem with it because we just set up a standard … and now we're directing the staff to look at it again."

Mayor Pam Kennedy told the city staff to schedule such a workshop session.