Kalispell council approves plats, extensions and bonds; schedules Aug. 11 special meeting

The Kalispell City Council on Aug. 4 approved a series of routine and financial actions, including final plat and subdivision agreements, preliminary‑plat time extensions, issuance of bonds for wastewater and a special improvement district, and set a special council meeting for Aug. 11.

Key votes taken on the consent calendar and during the meeting included approval of three consent items (council minutes from July 21, acceptance of a $1,600 Betty Woods grant for neonatal ambulance restraints to the fire department, and authorization of a task order for professional services for the Lift Station 36 replacement project not to exceed $144,003.32). The consent agenda was approved by voice vote early in the meeting.

The council approved the final plat and subdivision improvement agreement for Starling Phase 4A, a 3.885‑acre phase containing 16 residential lots south of Old Reserve Drive. The subdivision improvement agreement was secured by a cashier’s check for $157,487.50. Staff reported infrastructure for the phase had been installed and accepted or bonded for, and recommended approval; the motion to approve passed by roll call.

The council granted two separate two‑year extensions to preliminary plats for Meadows Edge. Resolution 62‑71 extended the preliminary plat for Meadows Edge Phases 4A and 4B (98 lots, approximately 38 acres). Resolution 62‑72 extended the preliminary plat for Meadows Edge Phase 5 (a single commercial lot of roughly 3.25 acres). Staff said these extensions were routine requests under subdivision regulations; the Phase 5 extension was the second and final two‑year extension allowed under city rules.

On financing, the council authorized the issuance of two sets of bonds. Resolution 62‑73 authorized sewage‑system revenue bonds to fund a fermenter rehabilitation project at the wastewater treatment plant, structured as a taxable series and a tax‑exempt series under state programs. Resolution 62‑74 authorized special‑improvement‑district bonds for the Green Acres community to finance sewer improvements, with a taxable series not to exceed $268,386 and a tax‑exempt series up to $175,000; staff said these are obligations of the SID properties rather than the city.

The council also scheduled a special City Council meeting for Aug. 11 (6 or 7 p.m.), with agenda items that may include selection of a recruitment firm for a city manager search and appointment of an interim city manager; staff said the exact agenda would be published with Thursday’s packet before the meeting.

Votes on the items above were recorded by roll call; most motions passed unanimously unless otherwise noted in meeting minutes. There were no public comments on the Starling final plat or the Meadows Edge extensions. Staff presentations on these items were delivered by Seth Russell and PJ Sorensen.

Speakers on these items included Seth Russell and PJ Sorensen (city staff), Mayor Johnson and multiple councilors who participated in roll‑call votes. The meeting packet contains the full staff reports, the cashier’s check securing the Starling subdivision improvement agreement, and the traffic, geotechnical and other technical exhibits referenced by staff.