City to hold second reading on lodging in cars

The Kalispell City Council will have its second reading on the controversial decision to make it a civil infraction to lodge in vehicles on city streets this evening, along with decisions on a number of other council items.

After a lengthy discussion about the proposal on Sept. 16, the council slimly approved the first reading of the ordinance. However, all ordinances require two readings before going into effect.

“…the public right-of-ways in the city are being increasingly used for the purposes of parking and lodging within motor vehicles,” reported the agenda for the meeting. It expressed concern over this practice “because it unreasonably increases the intended density of residential use and it does not provide the sanitation services necessary for such residential use.”

Council-members in favor of the ordinance also pointed out at the previous meeting this issue is currently against the city’s zoning code, and the new ordinance would simply change the enforcement of the violation to a civil infraction.

Multiple community members and council representatives voiced concerns at the prior meeting about the unintended effects this ordinance could have on the city’s homeless population. The council will hear additional public comments on the ordinance at tonight’s meeting.

The council will have a second reading on another ordinance that would make it a civil infraction to park vehicles in a way that obstructs city sidewalks. The agenda stated the council “has received numerous complaints and comments from the public” about cars blocking sidewalks. It added, “this may cause a pedestrian to walk out into the street creating an unsafe conflict with motor vehicle traffic.”

The first reading of this ordinance passed unanimously at the Sept. 16 meeting, but there will be a second opportunity for public comment this evening.

THE COUNCIL will also vote on multiple resolutions at the meeting.

Unlike ordinances, resolutions only require one reading and can go into effect immediately after approval.

One resolution on the agenda for tonight’s meeting is the adoption of the city’s 2019 wastewater facility plan. For months, the city has been in discussions to update the collection and conveyance portions of the sewer system.

According the meeting agenda, “the 2019 Wastewater Facility Plan provides a guide for planning, maintenance, operations and capital improvements to meet the city’s foreseeable wastewater system needs for present and future sustainability.” Full details of the plan are available in the agenda for the meeting.

Another resolution would set a public hearing for Oct. 21 on a proposed new stormwater ordinance. The proposal would combine two existing ordinances dealing with construction and illicit discharges in the city’s stormwater system. This update is part of a five-year plan incumbent upon the city under their permit from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

The council will also decide whether to accept a grant from Montana Disaster and Emergency Services. The $40,000 Homeland Security Grant would go toward regional hazmat teams and, if accepted, would not require any match for the funds. Further details about the grant are provided in the meeting agenda.

Tonight’s meeting will also include a decision on the city’s professional consultant to assist with stormwater and wastewater discharge regulations. The council is considering appointing HDR Engineering for Water Quality Technical Assistance Services based on their “technical expertise and knowledge” of numerous relevant standards.

The Urban Forestry Committee will also present their selections for the 2019 Urban Forestry Awards for the council’s approval. The awards, initiated in 2017, recognize groups and individuals for a diversity of contributions to urban forestry in Kalispell. The Urban Forestry Committee has selected the Stillwater Corporation for this year’s Commercial Stewardship award, Vic and Barb Anderson for the 2019 Residential Stewardship award and the Kalispell Downtown Business Improvement District for the Public Lands Stewardship award.

Finally, the council will make two personnel decisions for the Kalispell Police Department and the Economic Revolving Loan Fund Board. They will vote to confirm Brady Gray and Chad Sweigart as patrol officers for the KPD. On Sept. 24, both officers completed their one-year probationary period. Both Gray and Sweigart have multiple years of experience as police officers elsewhere in Montana.

The council will also vote to appoint Scott Blodgett to the Economic Revolving Loan Fund Committee, which “reviews loan applications for Economic Development Revolving Loan Funds.” Blodgett is the Commercial Loan Manager at Whitefish Credit Union and would fill a recent vacancy on the board.

The full meeting agenda is available here: https://www.kalispell.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10072019-329

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 201 1st Ave. E.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.