Kalispell council adopts code changes targeting egress, ingress at vacant buildings

The Kalispell City Council on Jan. 21 approved Ordinance 19-32, revising city municipal code to create a civil enforcement avenue to secure vacant buildings and address unsafe egress and ingress.

The ordinance, introduced as a first reading and moved for approval by Councilor Nunnally and seconded by Councilor Fisher, amends Ordinance 18-90 by adding new sections labeled 10-12 and 10-13 to Kalispell Municipal Code Chapter 10. The council approved the ordinance in a roll-call vote, 6-3 (Carlson, Gabrielle, Dahlmann, Fisher, Hunter, Nunnally — yes; Graham, Dowd, Mayor Johnson — no).

City staff said the change is intended to give an expedited civil process for securing vacant buildings that present safety or security risks. "We're...adding two different sections in municipal code under 10‑12 and 10‑13...codifying [the fire code] that deals with vacant structures and egress and ingress," Mr. Russell said during the staff presentation.

Why it matters: Council…