Kalispell City Council to run downtown banner policy up the flagpole

Kalispell City Council on Monday will consider a new downtown banner policy.

Under the proposed policy, banners flying over the Parkline Trail and downtown streets should advertise events sponsored by the city or the associated business improvement districts and “highlight activities, general messaging or seasonal displays occurring in or around the city of Kalispell.” Council last discussed a banner policy during a January work session.

The meeting will be held at City Hall, 201 First Ave. E., at 7 p.m. and can also be attended virtually via Zoom.

Per the proposal, banners advertising events would be allowed to adorn the downtown area for 14 days. A banner review committee, composed of representatives from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, Clerk’s Office, Kalispell Business Improvement District and Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District, would approve display dates.

The policy would explicitly prohibit banners that mention businesses by name in any form, even if the company is sponsoring the event featured on the display. Banners, under the proposal, would not be permitted for advertising purposes or political campaigns, to include candidates, parties or issues.

The policy would also establish size and printing requirements.

COUNCIL WILL also discuss handing off its Community Development Block Grant and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Rural Development Intermediary Relending Programs to Montana West Economic Development.

The economic development authority already administers its own version of the programs and is well equipped to assume the responsibility currently handled by the city’s Development Services Department, according to a memo by Planning Director Jarod Nygren.

As part of the proposed transition, the city would hand off around $650,000 in funds earmarked for small business development loans.

In the memo Nygren said the move would eliminate redundancies and described it as “mutually beneficial.”

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