Missoula County concurs with city on two open‑space bond projects for Clark Fork River access and restoration
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Summary
County staff sought and the Board of County Commissioners concurred with two city 2018 open‑space bond expenditures tied to Clark Fork River access and restoration; staff summarized remaining bond balances and project scope, and the city’s planning and implementation funding sources.
The Board of County Commissioners voted to concur with two city‑led projects funded from the 2018 countywide open‑space bond that advance Clark Fork River access and restoration work downtown.
County staff (Kaylee) told commissioners the county’s role under the interlocal agreement is limited to determining whether the proposed city expenditures align with open‑space bond purposes and are legally permissible. Kaylee said the city’s recent approvals leave roughly $3,000,000 in the city’s share of the 2018 bond and about $5,300,000 remaining in the county portion for other projects.
Kaylee summarized a prior city resolution (No. 8393, 2019) that authorized up to $775,000 split across three projects: about $225,000 for Clark Fork River access planning, $250,000 for reforestation work and $300,000 for conservation lands and trailhead improvements. She said the city is preparing a resolution that would designate related areas as open space so the projects can be eligible for reimbursement under the bond.
City consultant Jeff Gigglehorn described the Clark Fork River access and restoration plan as a downtown river‑corridor effort to build hardened, managed access points (for example at Caras Park and other takeout/launch locations), close and restore roughly 60‑70 mapped informal access points, and stabilize heavily impacted bank areas. "We're constructing these hardened, manageable access points… and then coming back in and closing the social access points and actively restoring those," Gigglehorn said. He noted a federal Economic Development Administration grant (about $1.3 million) and a separate city approval for $1,000,000 toward implementation; transcript discussion included 63 or 67 mapped social access points (the speaker expressed uncertainty about the exact count).
After discussion the board took a concurrence vote. The chair stated, "The Board of County Commissioners concurs," following which the motion was recorded as approved by voice vote.
Next steps: the projects will return for any required final county approvals once the city finalizes open‑space designations and reimbursement requests. The county concurrence is procedural and does not move county bond dollars directly without subsequent action.
