Kalispell council weighs creating a dedicated communications/PIO role as clerk’s workload grows

Several councilors told the May 11 work session that the city clerk’s office is stretched by both statutory clerk duties and rising communications demands, and they urged exploring a dedicated public information officer (PIO) or similar staffing solution.

Councilor Walker said the clerk currently juggles two full‑time roles and recommended examining whether communications work should be split into a standalone position. “We’re asking you to be the city clerk and the communications department. The city’s gotten big enough, I think, that we need a full‑time communications…whether it’s a single person or a department of one or two,” he said.

Several councilors pointed to the county’s PIO as an example of more consistent messaging and said a dedicated communicator could improve emergency notifications, construction project outreach and routine public information. Staff noted Amy, the city clerk, is credentialed and has performed PIO duties but that the workload and the need for consistent after‑hours updates (for events such as water‑main breaks) warrant a study.

City staff recommended a one‑year review to track current communications time commitments and to evaluate options: designate the clerk as a full‑time PIO, hire a dedicated PIO, or create an assistant city manager role that includes communications. Any new position, staff said, could be proposed in a future budget cycle after scope and costs are defined.

What’s next: Council asked staff to study communications demands, estimate costs, and bring a proposal for council discussion; staff cautioned it might not be feasible to add a permanent position within the current budget cycle.