Kalispell council will set legislative priorities

by BRET ANNE SERBIN
Daily Inter Lake | October 19, 2020 12:00 AM

The Kalispell City Council is poised to finalize its priorities for the 2021 legislative session when it holds a virtual meeting tonight via Zoom videoconference.

These priorities provide a unified platform to guide city councilors and city staff when presented with attempts to initiate legislation and to respond to proposed legislation.

The council reviewed its policy positions at a work session on Oct. 12. They include support for a local option sales tax; maintaining tax increment financing as an economic development tool; streamlining special district legislation; legislation that mitigates the economic impact for increasing regulatory standards for municipalities; legislation that addresses infrastructure needs associated with rapid growth; legislation that provides options to enhance or improve service delivery for the city of Kalispell; legislation that provides effective public resource management; and legislation that supports and facilitates affordable housing.

In other business, the council will consider a final plat request for the Rhodes Subdivision, a two-lot residential subdivision at 362 and 370 Second Ave. WN. The property currently contains two single-family residences zoned R-3 Residential. The subdivision proposal would divide the 0.33-acre lot into two lots.

The preliminary plat was waived on May 8 because it was found that the proposed subdivision met the criteria for preliminary plat waiver, per the Kalispell Subdivision Regulations.

The council also will hear an update from the Flathead City-County Health Department, in the wake of the Board of Health’s vote last week against imposing tighter restrictions on public gatherings.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. and members of the public can register to participate at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Y13W4ZMNRAmKnAB_SebeuQ.

The council will also accept public comments via email at publiccomment@kalispell.com.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at (406)-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.