Mayor & City Council

WHITEFISH CITY COUNCIL July 18, 2022 7:10 P.M. 1) CALL TO ORDER Deputy Mayor Sweeney called the meeting to order. Councilors present were Qunell, Feury, Caltabiano, Davis, and Norton. Mayor Muhlfeld was absent. City Staff present were, City Clerk Howke, City Manager Smith, Planning and Building Director Taylor, Public Works Director Workman, Parks and Recreation Director Butts, Police Chief Kelch and Fire Chief Page. Approximately 3 people were in the audience and 0 attended virtually. 2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Deputy Mayor Sweeney asked Nathan Dugan to lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3) COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC– (This time is set aside for the public to comment on items that are either on the agenda, but not a public hearing or on items not on the agenda. City officials do not respond during these comments but may respond or follow-up later on the agenda or at another time. The mayor has the option of limiting such communications to three minutes depending on the number of citizens who want to comment and the length of the meeting agenda) Nathan Dugan, 937 Kalispell Avenue, addressed the request from the SNOW Bus for additional funding. He would like the SNOW Bus to increase their pickups during the day. He also mentioned the Governor appointed him to the Housing Advisory Council. The first meeting will be held Wednesday, at 2:00 p.m. and are open to the public. Vincenzo Siravo, 1013 Wisconsin Avenue Unit A, reported he has brought back the Whitefish Lake Triathlon. The triathlon will be held August 14, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. at City Beach. He invited the Council, staff, and community to come out and participate or volunteer. Jenny Cloutier, Big Mountain Commercial Association, spoke towards the letter that is appended to the packet pertaining to the request for additional funding for the SNOW Bus. She reported the SNOW Bus is now providing more routes in the summer than they did in the winter of 2006. They are trying to expand and have expanded greatly in the last three years. 4) COMMUNICATIONS FROM VOLUNTEER BOARDS Deputy Mayor Sweeney reported the Park Board has received request from events for the use of Depot Park that would include parking of very heavy vehicles in the park. That is currently against regulation for using the park. They are looking into a temporary solution for this season and revisit it for next year. 5) CONSENT AGENDA (The consent agenda is a means of expediting routine matters that require the Council’s action. Debate does not typically occur on consent agenda items. Any member of the Council may remove any item for debate. Such items will typically be debated and acted upon prior to proceeding to the rest of the agenda. Ordinances require 4 votes for passage – Section 1-6-2 (E)(3) WCC) a) Minutes from July 5, 2022, Regular Session (p.40) Councilor Norton made a motion, seconded by Councilor Caltabiano to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion carried. 6) PUBLIC HEARINGS (Items will be considered for action after public hearings) (Resolution No. 07-33 establishes a 30-minute time limit for applicant’s land use presentations. Ordinances require 4 votes for passage – Section 1-6-2 (E)(3) WCC)) None 7) COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER a) Written report enclosed with the packet. Questions from Mayor and Council? (p.44) None b) Other items arising between July 13th through July 18th Manager Smith touched on a few things from the Under the Big Sky event that occurred over the weekend. There were some challenges with commercial properties garbage’s overflowing in the alleys. It is hard do know if it is an ongoing occurrence, or due to the events that were held, or illegal dumping of household garbage. Staff will monitor the issue and contact the businesses if it continues. Cell phone usage became an issue. Staff encouraged the event organizers to work with the Flathead County Office of Emergency Services to provide units to help boost cell phone services. The event organizers were not able to obtain that equipment. Police Chief Kelch stated the event went well on the police standpoint. They had eight officers working each night Friday and Saturday night and provided downtown foot patrol and mobile patrol. They monitored the bus unload behind the Library parking lot which helped to spread everybody out to find their way back into town. They were able to work around the cell phone issues with dispatch. c) Consideration of proposed lease with Yoga Hive Montana for both spaces in the Parking Structure and authorization for City Manager to execute proposed lease (p.45) Manager Smith presented her staff report that is provided in the packet on the website. Councilor Norton made a motion, seconded by Councilor Caltabiano to approve the lease with Yoga Hive Montana and to authorize the City Manager to execute the lease. The motion carried. d) Consideration of a request from Big Mountain Commercial Association (BMCA) for an increase in the city support for SNOW Bus to $15,000 annually (p,60) Manager Smith presented her staff report that is provided in the packet on the website. Councilor Qunell made a motion, seconded by Councilor Feury to approve the increase in the annual contribution for the SNOW Bus to $15,000 and to direct City Manager Smith to include the additional $7,500 in the FY23 Budget. The motion carried. 8) COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILORS Both Councilors Qunell and Sweeney will not be able to attend the Planning Board meeting on Thursday July 21st, and to have a quorum for the meeting, Councilor Norton volunteered to fill their position. 9) ADJOURNMENT (Resolution 08-10 establishes 11:00 p.m. as end of meeting unless extended to 11:30 by majority) Deputy Mayor Sweeney adjourned the meeting at 7:47 p.m. /s/Francis J. Sweeney Deputy Mayor Sweeney Attest: /s/Michelle Howke Michelle Howke, Whitefish City Clerk