Kalispell City Council on Tuesday will consider accepting a federal grant to help fund temporary safety improvements on Oregon Street and to retime several traffic signals around downtown.  

Also on the docket, Council will mull over a naming policy for public parks and facilities, hiring a consultant to conduct a citywide housing study, appointing a county representative to the Urban Renewal Agency and approving the final plats for two developments.  

Because of the Labor Day holiday, Council meets at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8 in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E.  

If the federal grant is accepted, East Oregon Street between Sunset Boulevard and Seventh Avenue EN would receive high-visibility crosswalks that include temporary rectangular rapid flashing beacons and speed feedback signs. 

Traffic signals at 10 intersections along First Avenues East and West, North Meridian Road and Fifth Avenue East would be retimed to give pedestrians a three- to-seven second head start to enter the crosswalk before vehicles receive a green light. Known as a leading pedestrian interval, the change makes pedestrians more visible to drivers turning left or right.  

The grant agreement requires the improvements to be temporary and removed at the end of the project if an evaluation finds they do not improve safety. 

If Council accepts the Safe Streets and Roads for All Demonstration Grant, the city would be required to contribute $180,045, or 20% of the project's $900,225 cost. Council could use tax increment financing funds to cover $167,545 of its share for the traffic signal retiming work, according to a memo from Community Development Manager Nelson Loring.  

Kalispell in 2024 applied for $10 million through the grant program to fund traffic calming measures on Fifth Avenue West and Oregon Street, as well as retime traffic signals downtown. The city ultimately received $2.4 million, which required a $600,000 local match to construct permanent quick-build improvements on East Oregon Street, including the installation of mini roundabouts. 

But after President Donald Trump took office, the Federal Highway Administration changed its tune, requiring the money to be used on removable upgrades rather than permanent, concrete ones.  

Council in October 2025 backed away from accepting the grant, arguing that the short-term changes were not worth the cost. Councilors agreed with Public Works staff that snowplows would likely tear them up during the winter.  

Several residents who live on or near the corridor attended the discussion to express concerns over excessive speeding and the increasing volume of traffic over the years. Some wanted to see stop signs or speed bumps installed but vehemently opposed mini roundabouts.  

COUNCIL WILL also consider adopting a policy governing naming and renaming requests for city parks and other public facilities.  

The proposed policy sets naming criteria based on geographic features, historical and cultural significance, facility function and individuals or organizations that have made lasting contributions to Kalispell, according to a memo from City Planner Donnie McBath.  

For names honoring people or organizations, the policy considers their connection to the facility and gives a preference for individuals who are dead or whose contributions can be evaluated over time.  

Councilor Jed Fisher urged his colleagues to consider a policy for naming public facilities during a meeting last year after Council voted to rename the Kidsports Complex in honor of Dan Johns, one of its founders.  

He supported the athletic facility's name change but said that in his 30 years directing the Flathead County Parks and Recreation Department, he routinely fielded requests from people hoping to see their names adorning public property.  

COUNCIL IS expected to hire Cushing Terrell to conduct a study of the municipality's housing market.  

The city received 11 submissions after issuing a request for proposals in August, according to a memo from Development Services Director PJ Sorensen. 

After interviewing three finalists, the newly formed Housing Advisory Committee selected the architecture, engineering and design firm involved in renovations at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish earlier this year.  

Council established the committee in June to help staff develop the request for proposals, support the consultant throughout the study process and provide housing policy recommendations upon its completion.  

The contract amounts to $126,000 and will be funded through a portion of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's PRO-Housing grant awarded to the city. The agreement runs through September 2027.  

MAYOR RYAN Hunter recommended appointing Flathead County Administrator Pete Melnick to represent the county on the Urban Renewal Agency board.  

The current board has five members, but a change in state law means the body must include a county and school district representative as well. Kalispell Public Schools has not yet submitted an application, according to a memo from City Clerk and Communications Manager Aimee Brunckhorst.  

COUNCIL WILL consider approving two final plats for a single and multi-family development.  

Developer Whitefish West Limited Partnership is looking for final plat approval for phase 5C of the Northland Subdivision development. The land is around 10 acres that encompasses 28 single-family lots. The property sits west of Northland Drive and south of Four Mile Drive.  

Developer Stillwater Residential 1, LLC, is requesting final plat approval of the second phase of the Stillwater Bend development. The area, located along the Stillwater River west of U.S. 93 and between Lincoln Street and Rose Crossing, is around 16 acres and includes one multifamily lot.  

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.