The Kalispell City Council will hold a virtual meeting tonight to consider officially adopting an ordinance against feeding ducks in city parks. The first reading of this new ordinance was approved at the council’s last meeting on Sept. 21.

The meeting will be held via Zoom videoconference, starting at 7 p.m. on Monday. To register to watch the meeting and provide public comment during the video conference, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FE4oQ0oZS4Wzmz1nl3mTuw. Public comments are also accepted via email at publiccomment@kalispell.com.

The second reading of an ordinance forbidding feeding and abandoning animals in city parks is on the table for Monday’s meeting. The city approved the first reading of the ordinance on Sept. 21, but approval of the second reading would make the bird-feeding ban official.

Councilor Sid Daoud was the only council member to vote against the ordinance at the last meeting. He explained he was concerned the ordinance, which includes a civil penalty for those caught intentionally feeding waterfowl or abandoning pets in city parks, would not be enforced and would therefore become “an exercise in government waste.”

Proponents of the ordinance, including Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, believe the measure would improve the health of birds in city parks, help the animals avoid unnatural behaviors like aggression and human conditioning, and help clean up park spaces such as playgrounds and Woodland Park Pond.

The council will also consider two budget adjustments that were discussed during the Sept. 21 meeting.

At the previous meeting, the council held a public hearing on two budget adjustments that have been proposed to remedy incorrect carryover amounts from the previous fiscal year. The 2020 Bridge and Road Safety and Accountability Act Special Revenue Fund Budget would be reduced by about $200,000, and the Community Development Miscellaneous Special Revenue Fund Budget would go up by almost $32,000.

There were no public comments on either budget adjustment at the Sept. 21 public hearing.

Finally, the council will take up a proposal to annex and rezone a property on 8th Avenue West so that the property owners can access city sewer services.

Sarah and Alexander Musso of 904 Eighth Ave. W. have requested that their single-family residence, currently located in the county R-1 residential zone, be annexed into the city of Kalispell and rezoned city R-4 residential zoning. The current septic field near the property is failing, and the Mussos have stated their intent to hook up to the nearby Westside Interceptor city sewer service.

The Kalispell Planning Board held a public hearing for the request on Sept. 9, 2020, but there were no public comments. The Planning Board unanimously recommended the annexation and zoning request be recommended to the city council.

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