Kalispell City Council is expected to sign a proclamation Monday pledging support for the Flathead Food Bank and encouraging residents and visitors to donate to food security programs.  

Council meets on Monday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E.   

The move comes after Mandy Gerth, director of development at North Valley Food Bank in Whitefish, requested that the city issue a proclamation during a Nov. 10 council meeting.  

“Thousands of our neighbors in Kalispell rely on local food banks as a lifeline,” Gerth said.  

Whitefish issued a similar proclamation earlier this month in support of the Whitefish-based food bank. Gerth asked that Kalispell follow suit by supporting its local food bank.  

Gerth said she used the Flathead Food Bank in 2020 when she was a recently divorced single parent of three children earning just above the federal poverty line. Over half of her full-time income was being spent on rent, but the food bank — paired with support from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — helped feed her family.  

“My story is not unique. Many in the Flathead Valley work full-time and still can’t make ends meet,” Gerth said. “With the rising costs of housing, child care expenses, heating, the price of groceries … even a small disruption like delayed benefits or new eligibility rules can push families into crisis.” 

The move follows a period of uncertainty surrounding SNAP funding before the government’s record-long shutdown ended Nov. 12. Local food banks around the valley stocked up in preparation for high traffic as funding was expected to lapse at the beginning of the month.  

“It sends a powerful message that food security is a shared community value across our region,” Gerth said about the proclamation. 

The Flathead Food Bank serves an average of 1,039 individuals per month through its commodities program for senior citizens, its mobile pantries, and food deliveries for children.  

“I think anything we can do to help support them is needed,” Mayor Mark Johnson said during the Nov. 10 meeting. 

COUNCIL WILL vote to transfer an acre of city property near Kalispell Legends Stadium to Kalispell Public School District 5.  

The district has used the property as a ballfield for decades, according to a memo from interim City Manager Jarod Nygren. 

The fields are separated from the adjacent city shops with a fence, and transferring the property would not affect municipal operations, according to the memo.  

If Council authorizes the transfer, a reversionary agreement will be executed to ensure that the land is transferred back to the city if used for anything other than school purposes.  

Council will also vote on whether to no longer require city managers to live within city limits after the body informally agreed to scrap the requirement during a September work session.  

The decision to do away with the requirement comes as Council searches for a successor for Doug Rusell, who left the city manager position in late August. GMP consultants was hired in August to spearhead the four- to six-month recruitment process and Development Services Director Jarod Nygren has taken over as interim city manager in the meantime.   

Council will vote to schedule a public hearing on whether to allocate $600,000 of carry-over cash from fiscal year 2026’s general fund to begin planning for a new equipment garage.  

The old garage has run out of space to accommodate the city's growing fleet of vehicles and equipment, according to officials.  

If authorized, a public hearing will be held Dec. 1.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and [email protected].