Kalispell City Council on Monday appeared in favor of both permitting neighborhood block parties and making downtown municipal parking lots available for weekend events.  

City Hall has occasionally received requests for block parties and events on municipal parking lots in the past. They are typically denied — save for occasionally allowing food trucks on municipal lots — because the city lacks clear guidelines for either, according to City Manager Jarod Nygren.  

Several councilors, though, suggested that groups interested in hosting events in city-owned lots post security deposits to cover any potential damage. Councilor Jed Fisher, the longtime former director of Flathead County Parks and Recreation, said fees, insurance requirements and security deposits are needed to protect the city.  

"This comes from personal experience where I'd love to just say everything is free for everyone. Wouldn't that be cool? But there's a cost and it takes time to deal with the aftermath," Fisher said.  

Conversely, Councilor Dustin Leftridge suggested striking vendor fees while requiring a security deposit to incentivize vendors and invite more foot traffic downtown.  

"Let's utilize our downtown and our open spaces on the weekends in particular for events to draw in more people," he said.  

But Fisher worried that regular weekend events featuring outside vendors could result in unwelcome competition with brick-and-mortar businesses. 

"It doesn't seem fair to our downtown business owners," he said.  

Downtown Kalispell Forward, on behalf of downtown business owners, recommended in a March report that the municipality consider leasing city-owned downtown parking lots for weekend events at nominal fees.  

The coalition was formed to create a unified front, one that organizers hoped could be more effective in pushing the city to address issues facing the neighborhood. The group is made up of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, Business Improvement District, Tourism Improvement District, Flathead Builders Association and the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors.  

COUNCIL ALSO backed the idea of letting residential neighborhoods close public streets for block parties.  

"I would love to see us put something in place to encourage this and see if we can't get more of these communities having block parties. It's a great idea. I love it," Councilor Kari Gabriel said.  

Mayor Ryan Hunter said he was unaware such gatherings were not already permitted. 

Hunter added that he has encouraged the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce to explore organizing a "porchfest," a type of community event popular in other cities where musicians perform from residents' front decks.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 406-758-4407 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.