Compromise FHS parking plan passed by Kalispell council

The Kalispell City Council on Monday passed a long-awaited parking ordinance for the Flathead High School residential area that will regulate who can park in front of houses and where.

“It’s do this or do nothing,” council member Jim Atkinson said prior to the vote. “And the residents have had nothing for quite some time now.”

The plan restricts parking on 15 blocks east of the high school to a permit zone. Residents will get two free permits, while students and school staff must purchase them. The suggested cost is $10.

The measure passed on a 5-2 vote.

Council members Chad Graham and Wayne Saverud cast the dissenting votes on the plan.

Graham, who presides over the Kalispell Planning Board, said many of the problems will remain with this parking plan.

“It allows them [students] to purchase a permit to impact the area,” he said. “I look at that and I think, ‘why have a district then?’”

Council member Rod Kuntz stepped down from voting last month to work more closely with residents. Council member Phil Guiffrida was absent from Monday’s meeting.

Proponents like Atkinson hailed the final plan as a compromise, but not full relief. He said this plan takes the cost away from residents, restricts students from one side of the street and doesn’t push the drivers farther out into other neighborhoods.

From neighborhood meetings to the Planning Board to the council, the parking issue has drawn a great deal of commentary. This final leg of council procedure was no different.

Chief among critics of the plan is Karlene Osorio-Kohr, who came armed with a petition that contained the names of a few dozen residents who opposed the plan. She recently filed her candidacy for a city council seat.

“There are many things that the school could still consider and still do that could be helpful,” she said, reading from her letter to the Daily Inter Lake.

She urged council members to hold off on a decision so that Kalispell School District 5 could explore bussing, carpooling or other options for student transportation.

Others have echoed the view that the school — not the city or residents — should alleviate student driver traffic on neighborhood roads.

Those living in the area have complained of trash, smoking and reckless behavior of students.

“They create part of the problem with the open campuses and allowing these kids the half-hour lunch,” Kalispell resident Sharon DeMeester said.

The school district has dealt with up to 250 more vehicles than parking spaces available at Elrod Elementary and Flathead High.

But city officials have made a point to negotiate with the school district on terms. As part of those talks, the district is adding 38 parking spaces to Elrod and 21 to Flathead High.

There was still push back from a couple of council members. Saverud said the “obvious solution” would be a parking structure or construction of a parking lot.

Once the signs are posted, the district should be in effect for the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year.

Those who spoke in favor of the plan indicated that some relief is better than none, even if all the problems aren’t solved. Council member Tim Kluesner called it a “darned if you do, darned if you don’t” situation.

Mayor Mark Johnson had the last word and echoed that sentiment: Something is preferable to nothing.

“I’ve wrestled with it for quite a while, and I’m more in favor of this alternative than any other we’ve seen,” Johnson said.

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.