The Kalispell City Council met virtually through Zoom videoconference on Monday evening to discuss an emergency resolution related to sheltering-in-place, concerns about an official on the Flathead City-County Health Board and other matters .

The council’s first action item at Monday’s meeting was an emergency resolution to allow for a shelter-in-place facility to accommodate the city’s “unhomed population” during the outbreak. The council unanimously passed a resolution that approved a temporary shelter at 1110 Second St. W., the property that includes Samaritan House.

This resolution temporarily lifts zoning requirements at that property to allow unhomed individuals to shelter there overnight until 30 days after the governor’s shelter-in-place order has expired. The decision was a result of a collaborative community-wide effort to provide shelter to homeless Kalispell residents during the coronavirus outbreak, and council member Kyle Waterman worked extensively on the initiative.

Mayor Mark Johnson reported the council has received more than 250 public comments regarding Dr. Annie Bukacek, a City-County Health Board member who has recently generated controversy for protesting Kalispell’s state of emergency declaration and her comments about the outbreak that defy public-health guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the White House and Gov. Steve Bullock.

The council discussed the pandemic and its local impacts during the meeting with Flathead County Health Officer and Incident Commander Hillary Hanson. Some members of the council spoke in defense of Bukacek’s First Amendment right to speak freely about her opinions on the public-health crisis, while others expressed concerns about Bukacek allegedly spreading misinformation through her role as a public health official.

There was no action item for the city to decide at the meeting regarding Bukacek’s position.

The council also discussed statewide directives from Gov. Steve Bullock regarding the pandemic, and City Manager Doug Russell anticipated the city will receive additional guidance this week on orders such as sheltering-in-place. Johnson urged the governor to start reopening the state’s businesses.

IN OTHER business, the council unanimously approved an amendment to the city’s interlocal agreement with Flathead County Economic Development Authority regarding the Gateway West Mall property leased to TTech.

In 2013, the city of Kalispell transferred its ownership interests in the assets at Gateway West Mall to FCEDA but retained some rights to deficiency tax payments on the property. A buyer recently purchased a portion of the parking lot property from TTech to build a housing development there and asked the city to amend its interlocal agreement to transfer those assets.

Since the city reportedly no longer generates deficiency tax payments from this property, the council unanimously agreed to the amendment.

The council also unanimously passed a resolution in support of a voter election to determine the establishment of a Flathead Communications Center Special District.

This special district would be a joint effort to provide funding and managerial oversight of the county’s 911 facility. Previous attempts to organize the special district failed.

The city of Kalispell has now elected for this decision to be determined by a voter election in response to the county commissioners’ recent request that the cities of Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls demonstrate support of the special district by passing a resolution or motion.

The council is currently taking public comments through email at publiccomment@kalispell.com.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at (406)-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.