Council OKs $112,700 open-space purchase along Clark Fork River near Kim Williams Trail

The Missoula City Council voted 10-1 on May 5 to approve up to $112,700 from open-space bond funds toward acquisition of a roughly 16.5-acre property along the Clark Fork River adjacent to the Kim Williams Trail.

Parks and Recreation open-space manager Zach Covington told council the property, owned by Brian Tipp, contains riparian forest, wetlands, wildlife habitat and user-made trails and lies largely within the 100-year floodplain. The city presented the property as a high-priority parcel under the Missoula Urban Area Open Space Plan and the Open Space ordinance (City Ordinance 12.56).

Why it matters: The parcel would expand conserved river corridor land, protect habitat and provide potential nonmotorized public access and trail connections where the Kim Williams Trail overlaps a proposed national Great American Rail Trail corridor.

Price and funding: Staff reported an appraisal around $200,000, estimated due diligence costs of about $30,000 and a total project estimate of $230,000. The landowner indicated a willingness to contribute roughly 51% of total project costs; staff said that equates to about $117,300, leaving a city ask of $112,700 from the 2006/2018 open-space bond funds. Annual stewardship was estimated at $3,500'$4,000 and would be covered by the city's conservation land stewardship levy (not the general fund).

Open Space Advisory Committee: The Open Space Advisory Committee reviewed the site, conducted a site visit and the committee vice chair Anne Iverson told council the committee was overall supportive of the acquisition. Committee members noted riparian habitat value and flagged concerns about existing homeless encampments and perceptions of user safety.

Public comment: A resident who identified as "Big K, Montana" urged the city to keep the site in a natural, rustic state and to limit interaction with people who might create safety concerns. A few council members spoke in favor of purchase; Councilor Campbell was the lone no vote and cited concerns about erosion risk on the riverbank and questions about long-term value relative to bond priorities.

Vote and next steps: The motion, read by the climate and conservation committee chair, authorized acquisition using a mix of 2006 and 2018 open-space bond funds, including due diligence costs. The council recorded a 10-1 vote in favor. Staff will proceed with negotiations; the owner reserved naming rights for a 51% contribution and suggested the site be named for Ray Tipp.

Ending: Council and staff said the purchase fits the city's open-space goals for riparian and trail protection and could improve public access; management and stewardship will be handled from the conservation lands stewardship levy.