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City manager outlines Gateway to Glacier schedule, downtown work and right-of-way guidance
Summary
City staff reported no current risk to federal funding for the Gateway to Glacier safety mobility project, adjusted bid and outreach schedules, delays to downtown sidewalk work, state right-of-way impact letters affecting property owners, and upcoming meetings on a fishing pier and signage improvements.
City Manager told the Columbia Falls City Council that the Gateway to Glacier safety mobility project is still expected to receive federal funding and that the city has signed documents and is awaiting a Federal Highway Administration signature to obligate funds. The manager said there were "no indications that we're at risk of losing federal funding" and that the project's bidding schedule was delayed slightly; staff now aim to advertise late October or November with a public open house in mid-January and construction beginning in March.
The downtown sidewalk and parking improvement project was delayed for a couple of weeks to allow an additional road segment and drainage work to be included after citizen comments at the project open house. Phase 2 of the downtown improvements and a rural street pathway remain scheduled for 2026.
The City Manager described recent state-issued impact and non-impact letters about obstructions in state right-of-way. Impact letters require homeowners to remove obstructions that would interfere with project construction, with the homeowner bearing removal cost or being billed if the state removes items. The city noted a difference in treatment for some projects: for the Gateway to Glacier work the city will pay to remove and reinstall fences that are on or adjacent to the right-of-way; for other state projects homeowners may be billed. The city's interim approach is to allow non-impact items to remain unless they affect the project, while impact items must be removed prior to construction.
Staff announced a Fish, Wildlife & Parks and engineering meeting on Oct. 22 to discuss a proposed fishing pier and rock placement at River's Edge with the aim of early spring construction, and said staff will meet with the destination marketing organization and River Association about improved Flathead River informational signage that would include bear-safety messaging for visitors.
The City Manager also said selection of a land-use planning consultant is imminent; the city received six proposals and expected to make a consultant selection soon. Finally, staff said a planned website update was delayed by the vendor until at least January.
Council did not take formal action on these items at the meeting; staff provided schedule and policy updates and identified follow-up steps for project teams.
