More comments from local residents about the Black Lives Matter rally held in Kalispell last month prompted the Kalispell City Council on Monday to take more public feedback at its Monday meeting.

Numerous people offered their perspectives and firsthand experiences of the June 6 event during a public comment period that lasted for almost an hour. The June rally attracted more than 1,000 people, some championing the Black Lives Matter cause and others standing guard with firearms around the Flathead County Veterans Memorial at Depot Park.

Some commenters had previously discussed the event at a council meeting on June 15. The conversation continued with some citizens feeling intimidated by the presence of armed counter protesters, while others, such as Kelly Tindell, insisted “there was no intimidation.”

“I apologize that you experienced this intimidation,” Tindell said after Valerie McGarvey described feeling intimidated by the armed entourage at the rally. But Tindell said she thought this feeling of unease was unwarranted, since the armed individuals “were cooking hamburgers and hot dogs for the public, anybody that stopped by.”

CJ Cummings described a different experience: “we got a problem, it’s not a cookout ... when you’re imposing on somebody with an assault rifle, that’s intimidating,” he said. He reported one of the counter protesters casually pointed a gun at him while yelling racist comments and profanity.

Despite the lengthy public comment period at the meeting, there were no public comments during the public hearing about the council’s proposed $82.5 million budget for 2020-2021 fiscal year.

IN OTHER business, the council discussed resolutions related to land use, development and school zones in the city.

The council unanimously passed a resolution to amend the Kalispell Growth Policy, annex and rezone a 3.27-acre property located at 216 Hutton Ranch Road to allow for the development of a multi-family residential project. It voted to change the designation of the property from urban residential to commercial on the Kalispell Growth Policy Future Land Use Map and zone the property as city B-2, general business.

Senior Planner P.J. Sorenson explained amendments to the Kalispell Growth Policy usually arise from “changed circumstances from the time the growth policy was enacted.” In this case, nearby road connections and property boundaries have changed since the policy was put into place in the early 2000s.

The council also unanimously approved a conditional-use permit for a youth group home at 1005 Eighth Ave. E. Eureka-based Chrysalis Schools of Montana requested the permit for a group home for a maximum of eight girls going through a residential treatment program for mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. The council is legally required to approve the conditional-use permit, although they have the option to place “reasonable conditions” on the facility.

The council therefore added five conditions to the permit, mostly related to building improvements.

Council member Ryan Hunter asked about potentially overflowing shared garbage receptacles and Sorenson explained the Kalispell Public Works Department would address that problem if it arises.

Two residents of Kalispell’s east side spoke in favor of the project on Monday evening.

“This is a really good thing to do,” said Tracy Tuller. “Please back this up.”

The final resolution at the meeting, which also received unanimous approval, was a change to the Hedges Elementary school zone and speed designation.

The council recently became aware the school zone boundaries are in violation of the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices standards. A recent traffic study conducted by the Kalispell Public Works Department also revealed “roughly 85% of the vehicles were speeding in the school zone” on Fourth Avenue West. As a result, the council will install driver feedback signs near the posted speed limit signs.

City Manager Doug Russell informed the council the Montana League of Cities and Towns conference that was expected to be held in Kalispell this year has been moved to an online format due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and Kalispell will instead host the conference in 2022.

Hunter asked a few clarifying questions of Kalispell Police Chief Doug Overman related to the June 6 rally, including whether KPD had received any information indicating ANTIFA would be present at the event or if there was evidence the armed counter protesters had helped keep the event peaceful. Overman carefully explained he didn’t have evidence indicating any of these claims were true.

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