City studies plan to drop helmet law

The issue of requiring helmets at Woodland Park's skateboard area apparently has split the Kalispell City Council.

A skateboard park advisory committee has recommended that the skate park's rules be changed to advise - but not require - that head gear be used.

Right now, Kalispell is the only Montana city with an enforced helmet law.

The committee's rationale is that enforcing the rule gobbles up a lot of police patrol time, with sporadic results.

A noticeable number of skateboarders don't wear helmets even though they are required, said Patrick Brooks, spokesman for the advisory committee.

The committee believes that fewer hassles on enforcing a helmet rule will lead to less rebellion and a better attitude by skateboarders toward keeping the park clean and safe.

Two council members -Bob Hafferman and Hank Olson -'supported the recommendation Monday at a council workshop.

Council members Kari Gabriel, Duane Larson and Wayne Saverud opposed it because of concerns over head injuries.

Mayor Pam Kennedy and council member Jim Atkinson gave no clear indications of where they stood. Council members Tim Kluesner and Randy Kenyon were absent.

City Attorney Charles Harball was skittish about potential head injuries. Police Chief Roger Nasset voiced mixing feelings -'safety concerns versus the difficulty in enforcing a helmet law.

Brooks said the committee recommended that signs be posted at the skateboard park to strongly advise the use of helmets, while stopping short of requiring them.

Kennedy told the committee and city staffers to send the recommendations to a formal council vote soon.

Council members appeared favorable to three other committee recommendations:

n Eliminating a requirement that all BMX bikes in the skate park have protective coverings on the pegs.

n Giving the Parks Department the authority to close the skateboard park for a period of time if vandalism or behavioral problems get out of control.

n Providing additional trash cans at Woodland Park and moving large containers closer to the skateboard park.

The council created the committee last October to deal with vandalism and bad behavior at the skate park area.

Committee and staff members said problems have decreased since the committee was formed.

Brooks said the committee later will consider allowing longboards in previously banned areas as long as they are used for transportation instead of stunts.