Kalispell City Council to consider land deal for Parkline Trail expansion

Kalispell City Council will discuss buying land that would allow it to extend the Parkline Trail at its work session Monday.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 201 First Ave. E., and will be streamed live on Zoom. It will not be available this week on public access television or the city’s website while they update technology in City Council Chambers.

According to a memo by City Manager Doug Russell, municipal officials have entered into negotiations with BNSF Railroad to purchase an additional 14.4 acres along railroad tracks running from Meridian Road to Fenn Way and then south to Foys Lake Road. The stretch was discussed as part of the initial project, but the city decided to complete the first section before moving forward.

The city and railroad have agreed to a price of $50,000 for the property, should the Council approve of the purchase.

“This parcel is an important piece as it would provide future recreational and community development activities as a potential extension of the Parkline Trail,” Russell wrote in the memo.

COUNCIL ALSO will discuss increases to the city’s planning fees, as proposed by the planning department.

The department is proposing three potential options, including 75%, 100%, and 125% increases. Planning staff say the lowest would allow the city to stay below comparable municipalities, the middle option would allow for the department to roughly cover current costs, and the largest increase would bring rates in line with comparable cities while allowing for cost increases going forward.

Finally, Council will begin mulling proposed capital improvement projects, including supporting infrastructure construction for new, replacement and rehabilitation work on the city’s stormwater, sewer, treatment plant, water and street assets.

In his memo, Russell wrote that the objective of this work session is “to inform the City Council on the status of engineering, bidding, construction schedules, and review of the necessary budget to complete the planned infrastructure projects.”

Reporter Adrian Knowler can be reached at 758-4407 or aknowler@dailyinterlake.com.