Ken Whitehair

The council conducted a work session to discuss the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2027. Key topics of deliberation included the upcoming budget adoption timeline, strategic personnel planning regarding the potential addition of a Public Information Officer, and the efficient utilization of existing staff for code and parking enforcement duties. The council also reviewed the possibility of cleaning up outdated municipal ordinances, implemented a cost of living adjustment for council salaries, and approved funding for a recreation plan feasibility study.

The commission agenda includes public hearings for the acquisition and rehabilitation of an existing senior rental housing community known as The Elms Apartments, the construction of a new low-income rental housing community titled Outpost at Kalispell, and a request for annexation and planned unit development approval for the Birchwood PUD, which consists of residential units including townhomes, cottages, and single-family residences.

The City Council held a work session to address the issue of dangerous driving behavior within the city. Key discussion topics included current law enforcement strategies for traffic safety on Friday nights, the legal distinctions between reckless and careless driving, and the specific enforcement of ordinances against engine revving and rolling coal. The council reviewed current citation data, discussed methods for citizen reporting, and examined the judicial process for traffic offenses, including the role of municipal court in handling citations, sentencing, and the use of defensive driving programs as an alternative to fines.

The council held a work session to review and discuss three infrastructure-related facility plans: the water facility plan, the wastewater system facility plan, and the advanced wastewater treatment plant facility plan. Public comment addressed homelessness, housing solutions, and concerns regarding wastewater treatment capacity and water quality standards. Staff and consultants provided an overview of the planning process, highlighting the consistency with the city's growth policy and the strategic importance of refreshing these plans to guide future infrastructure investments.

The meeting includes a public comment session and a post-event report regarding the Rumble in the Rockies event. The board will discuss the FY27 media plan and review staff reports.