Kalispell City Council on Monday will discuss curbing reckless driving along Main Street, a problem that has long ground the gears of downtown business owners, customers and nearby residents.  

Council will hold a work session at 7 p.m. June 29 in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E.  

Friday night cruising on the municipality’s historic thoroughfare is seen by many as an opportunity for teens and adults across the Flathead Valley to show off their passion for automobiles. But the social activity has proved troublesome for nearby businesses — who say they’ve lost customers due to the ruckus of unmuffled engines — and pedestrians afraid to cross the street as speeding cars whiz by. 

The meeting comes after Councilor Lisa Blank in May urged Council to take stronger action on reckless driving after witnessing the chaos of Friday evenings firsthand. Earlier this month, Councilor Dustin Leftridge followed up by requesting a work session to hear updates from the Kalispell Police Department, City Attorney’s office, Public Works Department and Montana Department of Transportation on steps taken to address the complaints.  

Councilor Kyle Waterman then suggested holding a work session on Monday. Council typically doesn’t convene formal meetings on fifth Mondays of the month, which occurs at a handful of times a year.  

Hunter said he would prefer to hold a meeting another day so he could continue hosting informal town halls on fifth Mondays, part of a campaign promise to give residents a chance to connect with him and other councilors outside formal meetings. He last held one on March 30.  

However, councilors argued that given the volume of complaints from the public regarding reckless driving, the work session should take precedence.  

COUNCIL IN October 2024 abandoned an effort to change city code to curb cruising. The proposed ordinances were geared toward limiting the number of times a vehicle can pass a certain point on the main drag.  

The Police Department has since beefed up its presence downtown on Friday nights over the summer to patrol for unlawful activity. While the increased patrols have led to more ticketing, some residents say that loud, reckless driving is a persistent issue throughout the week.  

The Downtown Forward Coalition last month also began meeting with cruising enthusiasts, exploring ways to restore the pastime to its roots: celebrating classic cars. 

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.