Two meetings study permits for parking on west side
The city of Kalispell recently sent out about 600 notices alerting residents in the Flathead High School and Elrod Elementary School areas about upcoming meetings on a proposed parking district that would involve parking permits for residents.
The city Planning Board will meet Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. in City Hall for a public work session on the proposal and there will be an Oct. 14 public hearing.
A parking district has been discussed for more than a year because residents in the west-side neighborhood have long complained about the impacts of nonresident parking, particularly during the school year.
The city surveyed residents in spring 2013, hearing concerns about safety, noise, litter and the general tranquility being impacted by nonresidents who park in the neighborhood.
After that survey, polling was carried out by volunteers who live in the neighborhood starting last fall and continuing until early spring of this year.
Based on that effort, a district boundary has been proposed that encompasses 207 properties. Within that area, 182 residents were contacted and 176 of those indicated support for a district. That effort was spearheaded by recently appointed City Council member Rod Kuntz.
Kevin LeClair, a senior planner for the city, noted that an advisory committee of residents from the neighborhood has had considerable discussions about how much parking permit fees should cost.
The mail notice mentions a cost of $20 to $30 per vehicle and residents would have the option of buying up to two guest passes for the same price. People not living in the parking district would not be able to park in it, nor would they would be able to purchase permits.
LeClair emphasized that those rates are merely proposed and are on par with permits in other areas, plus the upcoming public review likely will influence permit pricing.
“The intention is to get [the public’s] attention and to get people to express about how much they are willing to pay,” he said.
During pricing discussions among the advisory committee, “it was always understood that the cost of the permit needs to pay for the program,” LeClair said, adding that the parking district would involve installation of signs and police enforcement.
Parking districts are not new in Montana.
There is one in Missoula around the University of Montana and Hellgate High School. There are others in Bozeman around Montana State University and Bozeman High School; in Helena around the state capitol and downtown; and in and around the downtown area of Great Falls.
After the upcoming meeting and hearing, it will be up to the Planning Board to decide whether to recommend a parking district to the City Council.
Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.