Council considering core area study, Willows contribution

Kalispell City Council tonight considers awarding a contract for Willdan Financial Services to do a market analysis and feasibility study of the city’s railroad corridor.

The study would be included as part of the Kalispell Core Area Revitalization Plan, and is meant to help stakeholders make informed decisions about redeveloping the 364-acre railroad corridor.

Based in Temecula, Calif., Willdan would prepare a comprehensive evaluation of the corridor’s strengths, weaknesses and redevelopment opportunities.

The firm also would analyze the costs and benefits of some of the revitalization plan’s major goals, including removing the railroad tracks, relocating rail users to the Flathead County Rail Park and building a linear park through the railroad corridor.

The grant-funded study’s cost is not to exceed $60,000. The work is expected to take three to four months to finish.

IN OTHER business, City Council will again consider what to do about a special improvement district requested by residents of the Willows.

If the SID is approved, Kalispell would issue bonds to pay for an estimated $392,556 of stormwater drainage improvements in the neighborhood, with homeowners there paying extra property taxes to pay off the debt. That would bring the system up to standard and have the city assume maintenance of it.

The Willows’ system does not meet standards, but was approved by the city a decade ago with an inadequate detention pond and discharge pipe.

Council members have said Kalispell should pay for some of the project using stormwater impact fee and annual stormwater assessment revenues.

Discussions first touched on the city paying for about a third of an 18-inch pipe that would route stormwater from adjacent Muskrat Slough and Leisure Heights neighborhoods and a county-owned property around the Willows. The estimated $129,000 pipe also would serve as an overflow for the Willows’ system, and the Willows would use about a third of the pipe’s capacity.

Several council members have pushed for Kalispell to contribute whatever it takes to keep Willows homeowners’ monthly payment at either $15 a month or $20 a month, as compared to about $30 a month if homeowners paid for all of the project.

With only pre-engineering done, it’s not certain what that contribution would be. A staff memo indicates it could range from $122,000 up to $210,000 depending on the terms of the bonds and final engineering costs.

CITY COUNCIL will consider accepting a Montana Department of Transportation grant for up to $130,462 to continue Kalispell Municipal Court’s DUI Court program.

Tonight’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. in Kalispell City Hall, 201 First Ave. E. It is open to the public.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.