The Kalispell City Council on Monday approved a 3.1% salary increase for non-union city employees, but voted to exempt city elected officials from the raise.

Council member Chad Graham proposed an amendment to exclude city council members and the mayor from the increase, and it passed with only councilor Kyle Waterman opposed. Waterman expressed concerns with keeping down budget items such as this until a point when they are forced to be raised significantly.

The overall motion, which increases non-union city employee salaries starting July 1, is “consistent with the average collective bargaining agreement wage adjustments of the unions represented by city employees,” according to the meeting agenda.

City Manager Doug Russell added, “the council is really focused on creating equality throughout the organization.” The motion passed unanimously.

The council unanimously voted to expend certain operations funds in the city budget on July 1, before formally approving the final 2021 budget in August. This process is typically followed every year as the city grapples with the start of the new fiscal year on July 1 while waiting for the state’s final property valuations, expected in late August. However, this year’s proposal, which includes some early expenditures for the Kalispell Police Department, prompted considerable discussion by the mayor and council members about the role of Kalispell Police Department in the local community.

“Has there ever been any discussion at this council position about doing anything as idiotic as defunding our police?” Mayor Mark Johnson asked City Manager Doug Russell, in reference to nationwide calls to defund police departments in the wake of several officer-involved killings of people of color.

Russell reported the council has never previously considered defunding the police department. Johnson asked council members to nod their heads if they wanted to further discuss this proposal, and upon seeing no nods, he said, “we don’t anticipate ever cutting the funding for the police force and we will maintain that funding as long as I am the mayor…If you don’t like that, vote me out.”

This statement was met with a round of applause from members of the public present at the meeting who later in the meeting had the opportunity to talk about their concerns on police funding and gun rights. Those comments were the focus of a story in Wednesday’s Daily Inter Lake.

IN OTHER business, the council held a public hearing on a growth policy amendment for a 3.27-acre multi-family project at 216 Hutton Ranch Road, known as Colton Lee Communities. There was no public comment except for a representative of the applicant.

The council unanimously approved another growth policy amendment, as well as an accompanying request to annex and rezone a single-family property located at 1110 Two Mile Drive, owned by Connie Behe. The resolution will connect the property to city sewer services since the nearby services are failing.

The council was also unanimous in its approval of a two-year preliminary plat extension for Northland Phase 5, a development that received its original preliminary plat approval in 2017. The applicant missed their deadline to apply for an extension, but due to the extraordinary circumstances caused by COVID-19, the council approved the extension.

The council unanimously approved appointments to the Tourism Business Improvement District Board of Trustees, an organization that was renewed in 2019 with updated regulations.

Following a short discussion, the council also unanimously passed a resolution to amend the master plan for the Kalispell City Airport to provide space for additional hangars and parking spaces. The amendment reportedly will not require any additional funding commitments from the city.

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