Kalispell council to vote on Business Improvement District

The proposed new Business Improvement District (BID) will go before the Kalispell City Council in a meeting tonight after several months of debate and discussion.

The BID has worked toward bettering the downtown district of Kalispell over the last 10 years through beautification projects, marketing and other projects.

With the current BID set to expire soon, a new BID with expanded boundaries has been a topic of dispute for business and property owners who would be included within the new boundaries.

Those in opposition feel the tax they would have to pay to be in the BID would not yield equal benefits for their businesses/properties.

Those in favor say that the BID has been responsible for an increase in property value and increased business, benefits the members’ neighbors reap now without paying for the services.

IN OTHER business, the first reading of the proposed rezoning of a portion of the core area of downtown Kalispell will also go before council for approval.

The project would create a B-3 Business Core Area that will affect 45 property ownerships and encompasses an area bounded on the north by the center line of U.S. 2 (Idaho Street), on the west by the center line of Fifth Avenue West North, on the south by the center line of West Center Street and on the east by the center line of U.S. 93 (Main Street).

There has been no opposition to the zone from business or property owners so far.

The city and Kalispell Police Association have negotiated and agreed on terms for an new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which will go before council for approval tonight.

The agreement will adjust a salary and compensation increase for Kalispell Police over the next three years and clean up the language in the agreement.

The fiscal impact for the agreement on the city is $69,000 in 2018, $55,000 in 2019 and $70,000 in 2020.

A one-year extension to the Collective Bargaining Agreement was requested between the city and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees until the fiscal year of 2018. The council will vote on whether to approve the extension in tonight’s meeting.

For more information on council meetings and agendas, visit http://www.kalispell.com/mayor_and_city_council/agenda.php.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.