City holds hearing on new stormwater ordinance

The Kalispell City Council will hold a public hearing tonight on a new, more comprehensive stormwater ordinance.

In 2017, the city received a permit from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality for stormwater discharges. This year marks the third year of the five-year permit. According to a memorandum from Public Works Director Susie Turner, the permit requires the city “to implement and enforce a new post-construction stormwater management program” at this time. The new stormwater management program must include “annual inspections of both public and private stormwater features.”

As part of this new program, the Public Works Department has proposed a new stormwater ordinance combining two existing ordinances. The existing ordinances pertain to construction for erosion and sediment management and illicit discharges.

The proposed new ordinance also “adds language to support the required post-construction stormwater management program.” Additionally, the proposed ordinance updates the enforcement section of the program. According to the agenda for the meeting, “the enforcement process consists of six basic steps beginning with identification of a violation and concluding with closing the complaint.”

So far, the council reported it has not received any public comments on the proposed ordinance.

In Other business, there will be time for members of the public to comment on any issue they would like to bring up to the council.

The only other matter for the council to consider is the reappointment of Councilor Tim Kluesner to the Flathead County Solid Waste District Board. Kluesner has served as the city representative to the board since 2016 and his current term expires on Dec. 31. According to the mission statement, the Solid Waste District Board’s purpose is “to provide environmentally sound and cost-effective refuse collection, disposal and recycling opportunities for Flathead County residents and businesses.”

City Manager Doug Russell’s report for the meeting also provided an update on the Kalispell Trail project. The report stated the Federal Rail Administration approved the city’s Supplemental Environmental Assessment “addressing the Complete Streets portion of the Trail.” The council plans to start a public comment period on this development on Monday, Oct. 21.

The detailed meeting agenda is available here: https://www.kalispell.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/135

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. tonight at the City Council Chambers, 201 First Ave. E.

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