The Kalispell City Council on Nov. 17 approved the first reading of Ordinance 1947, an amendment to Kalispell Municipal Code section 2-36 that would permit the council to waive the city manager residency requirement through contract language.

City staff explained the change follows a Sept. 8 work session in which the council expressed a desire to negotiate residency terms in employment contracts. "In order for us to do that, we can't contract contrary to our codes," staff said, summarizing that the code change would give the council the ability to negotiate residency provisions.

Councilor Hunter said he remains a strong proponent of the city manager living within city limits so the manager experiences city life, but he supported the ordinance because it gives the council discretion in exceptional cases. Councilor Dowd said she also prefers a manager who lives in the city but would support contractual flexibility and the ability to include a timeline for moving into city limits. Councilor Carlson asked procedural questions about how residency expectations would be presented to candidates and expressed misgivings about changing a clear, longstanding rule without explicit contractual clarity.

Councilor Hammer (mover) presented the ordinance; it was seconded and adopted on first reading by unanimous roll-call vote of Councilors Dowd, Dahlmann, Hunter, Nunnally, Carlson and Mayor Johnson.

The ordinance now advances through the city's ordinance-adoption process; the change would take effect on the date declared in the ordinance if the council approves subsequent required readings or actions.