Kalispell Council steps into sidewalk and trail funding discussion

Kalispell City Council weighed options Monday regarding potential funding for sidewalk and trail construction, while several expressed reservations about putting the creation of an assessment district for such work before voters.  

City Manager Doug Russell presented four general options for how a sidewalk and trails assessment district could look. If one is selected by Council, it would have to go before voters for approval.  

Each option would generate a different level of funding that would then impact the number of blocks of sidewalk constructed, the length of trail and including American with Disabilities Act improvements. Options did not look at what specific areas of the city could see construction.   

Councilor Ryan Hunter voiced his support of moving forward with a levy and suggested that a broader plan be funded to not just construct sidewalks and bike lanes but to implement traffic calming measures.  

Councilor Sid Daoud expressed concern about a sidewalk and trails levy.   

“This is a terrible time to add anything to the cost of the government here,” he said. “People are already being really squashed by just our normal operations becoming more expensive.”  

Hunter acknowledged that while the timing of the levy is not ideal, it most likely never will be.  

“I’ve been on council almost five years now, I've been looking for the right timing for this,” he said. “And it's never been, it’s never been good timing.” 

Work sessions were held in both 2019 and 2023 on the funding and maintenance of trails and sidewalks, according to a memo. Both the sessions in 2023 and on Monday were in relation to the Bicycle and Pedestrian System chapter of the broader Move 2040 Transportation Plan prepared by KLJ Engineering.  

The transportation plan recommends various path types that would improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, utilizing priority-based ranking to target specific areas that promote connectivity between neighborhoods, economic hubs, recreation and schools.  

If a sidewalk and trail district is approved, property owners would be assessed based on the square foot size of their parcel. The higher amount of funds generated would allow for more construction of sidewalks and trails.  

Under the first option, just under $400,000 would be generated and would cost the average homeowner about $27 per year. This would allow for about 3.5 blocks of sidewalk and just under 3.5 miles of trail to be constructed.  

The second option would generate about $531,000 allowing for additional construction. It would result in an average assessment of about $35. This would allow for about four blocks of sidewalk and about 4.5 miles of trail. 

Option three, which would be set at the same level of assessment as the city’s current urban forestry assessment, would generate about $625,000 resulting in an assessment of about $42 per year. This would allow for about 5.5 blocks of sidewalk and about 5.5 miles of trail.  

The final option would generate about $665,000 in funds. It comes with an average assessment of $44 per year. This would allow for just under six blocks of sidewalk about just under 6 miles of trail.  

The revenue generated through an assessment could be saved to fund projects as they occur or used as a source to pay off bonds, Russell noted.  

Voters in March approved a public safety levy to bolster funding for the Kalispell Police and Fire departments.  

Hunter said he views a sidewalk levy through the same lens of safety.  

Councilor Kari Gabriel said the emergency services levy benefits more of the community.   

“That was a very different levy and campaign,” she said. “That was personal safety that benefited everybody from age six months up to age 100.”  

Gabriel acknowledged the importance of creating new trails and sidewalks, but that it would be difficult to sell to community members who don’t utilize such pathways, particularly senior citizens.  

Mayor Mark Johnson recognized that some community members, if introduced with a levy to fund sidewalk construction, will not want to see their tax dollars going to infrastructure that they may not experience the benefits of.  

“When we lose that nexus, that immediate feel of use or benefit, it’s a lot harder to sell,” Johnson said.  

Russell suggested creating a subcommittee of three councilors to aid with messaging and outreach for the project, along with selecting which option to present to Council.  

The few community members in attendance voiced support for the creation of a subcommittee to identify priority points within the city and emphasize child pedestrian safety.  

Johnson suggested that a priority list of areas in Kalispell that need attention must be decided before presenting a levy to voters.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 or junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.