City Councilors on Monday opted to use tax increment financing funds for new benches, trashcans and planters in downtown Kalispell.

The Kalispell Business Improvement District board submitted a request for $508,650 in tax increment financing funds to procure at least 63 benches, 55 trash receptacles and 54 planters. 

The new purchases would replace the nearly 30-year-old fixtures that have fallen into disrepair. The total number of benches downtown will shrink while the number of trashcans will expand, according to Business Improvement District board member Kisa Davison.  

Councilors found agreement on investing in upgrades to stoke downtown commerce, though a minority unsuccessfully sought to keep from spending money on benches with center armrests. The feature, requested by the improvement district board, is intended to deter people from sleeping on the benches. 

Councilor Wes Walker said he opposed the "hostile architecture," a term used to describe urban designs that deter homeless people.  

Walker argued that installing a center arm would be more costly while limiting the number of people that can sit on a bench at a time.  

"In an attempt to punish a very small subsection of the population, everybody has to deal with a worse asset," he said.  

Mayor Ryan Hunter argued that pushing homeless people out of public view could leave them more vulnerable to violence. 

"We have not spent a dime to provide resources to the homeless," Hunter said. "So spending city money to have hostile architecture, to try push them out so that they're less visible, I have a real problem with that."  

"My value system is, we are judged by how we treat the most vulnerable in our community," he said.  

Other councilors supported the armrests, arguing that they would improve accessibility for the city's senior population. Councilor Jed Fisher said an extra armrest could help people like his 92-year-old mother get in and out of the benches.  

"We're not installing cots, we're installing benches," Fisher said.  

Hunter argued that a single armrest at the center of an 8-foot bench would be too far from either end to provide meaningful assistance.  

"I also don't want to pretend that these armrests are about help. There's a specific reason these armrests were put in this proposal, and that's the homeless," Hunter said.  

Compass Construction owner Bill Goldberg described during public comment the negative experiences he had with a homeless individual laying on a bench outside his downtown office. He said the person littered and threw food at his window.  

"I get it that it's probably controversial to some people. But it's like it does have a function," Goldberg said of center armrests.  

Other residents opposed spending any money on downtown amenities, arguing that the benches are rarely used.  

"I think it's a giant waste of money," resident Kyle Voigtlander said. " I think we need to incentivize businesses, hospitality businesses, to move in downtown."  

Davison argued that employees use the benches on their lunch breaks and trash receptacles are helpful for downtown events.  

She said the board "is not interested in spending money will nilly over things just because they look nice."  

Swank Enterprises offered to remove and replace the items for free if its crews are available, which would reduce the total project cost by $100,160. Goldberg offered the same donation if Swank Enterprises was too busy.   

Development Services Director PJ Sorensen said staff plans to meet with the Kalispell Business Improvement District board on addressing missing curbs and dilapidated streetlights downtown. The board mentioned the issues in its application but did not request money to fix them.  

COUNCIL ALSO voted to fast-track construction of a new city equipment garage.  

Historically, when the city undertakes projects, it waits to hire a construction contractor until design plans are complete. But the alternative method will lock in a contractor earlier in the design phase, shrinking the project timeline.  

Hunter said the process prompts contractors to provide more accurate cost estimates, since initial bids often end up lower than the project's final cost.  

City officials say a new garage is needed soon to accommodate Kalispell's growing array of vehicles and equipment. To quickly move the project forward, Council last month approved $10.4 million in tax increment financing funds to cover the cost as opposed to budgeting for it through a capital fund.  

FLATHEAD HIGH School seniors with the Flathead Wellness Association asked Council to get involved in deliberations over how the city plans to spend any potential money it receives from Montana's settlement with the social media giant Meta.  

The student-led effort raises awareness about teen mental health.  

Attorney General Austin Knudsen launched an investigation and subsequent lawsuit in 2023 resulting in up to a $127 million settlement with Meta Platforms Inc. The lawsuit claimed that the company intentionally made Facebook and Instagram addictive to minors.  

Council last month sent a letter asking for a portion of the settlement funds to build a recreation center or support youth mental health programs.  

Council also appointed Marshall Unger to the Impact Fee Advisory Committee and Kalispell Public Schools Director of Business Chris Campbell to the Urban Renewal Agency board.  

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.