Mayor & City Council

WHITEFISH CITY COUNCIL May 20, 2024 SPECIAL SESSION AT 5:30 PM 1) Call to Order Mayor Muhlfeld called the meeting to order. Councilors present were Caltabiano, Sweeney, Feury, Davis, Norton, and Sweeney. Councilor Qunell was absent. Staff present was City Manager Smith, City Clerk Howke and Planning Director Taylor. 2) Interview The City Council interviewed Elizabeth Zachman for the Architectural Review Committee. 3) Public Comment None 4) Appointment Councilor Sweeney made a motion, seconded by Councilor Norton to appoint Elizabeth Zachman to the Architectural Review Committee to serve a 3-year term. The motion carried. 5) Adjournment The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 5:45 and opened the Work Session. /s/John Muhlfeld Mayor Muhlfeld Attest: /s/Michelle Howke Michelle Howke, Whitefish City Clerk  WHITEFISH CITY COUNCIL May 20, 2024 7:10 P.M. 1) CALL TO ORDER Mayor Muhlfeld called the meeting to order. Councilors present were Feury, Caltabiano, Davis, Sweeney, and Norton. Councilor Qunell was absent. City Staff present were, City Clerk Howke, City Manager Smith, City Attorney Jacobs, Finance Director Gospodarek, Planning and Building Director Taylor, Public Works Director Workman, Parks and Recreation Director Butts, Police Chief Kelch and Fire Chief Hadley. Approximately 2 people were in the audience and zero attended virtually. 2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Muhlfeld asked Ron Brunk to lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3) PRESENTATION FROM MAYOR MUHLFELD (Video 1:24) Mayor Muhlfeld presented a plaque to Ron Brunk who has served 26 years on the Park Board as Vice Chair and Chair. He was the Park Board representative for the Ice Rink Advisory Committee from 2013 through 2024 and was instrumental in working on the management agreement with the Whitefish Sports Facility Foundation and was a consistent advocate for the availability of public open skate times at Stumptown Ice Den. He also served on the Bike/Ped Committee from 2006 through 2015. He has been a community advocate for bike paths in the City starting with his involvement with the Fish Trails Committee which evolved into the Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Committee. He was one of the original community members who envisioned a bike path system for our community. While on the Park Board, he was involved in the implementation of multiple park projects such as the Depot Park Master Plan, Memorial Park Pickleball Courts, Riverside Park Tennis Court reconstruction, the Armory Park Master Plan, and the Bakke Nature Preserve, among other projects. He has offered a historical perspective, a strong sense of dedication and moments of laughter. Parks and Recreation Director, Maria Butts, presented to Ron a visual representation of his accomplishments, a map of the bicycle path system he helped envision and bring to life. Ron Brunk stated people have said that he runs a really good Parks Board meeting. It is because he followed Councilor Feury (as Mayor) and Mayor Muhlfeld’s lead. They so respectfully welcome people fairly and listen to both sides of the argument. He also stated we have a great Parks Department. He has had the privilege of working with every Parks Director, Jim Ponek, Dan Keyes, Karl Cozad and now Maria Butts. It has been his privilege to work with them. 4) 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) None 5) COMMUNICATIONS FROM VOLUNTEER BOARDS None  CITY COUNCIL MINUTES May 20, 2024 6) 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.) a) Minutes from May 6, 2024, Special Session (p.17) b) Minutes from May 6, 2024, Regular Meeting (p.18) c) Resolution No. 24-18; A Resolution authorizing participation in the Montana Board of Investments Short-Term Investment Pool (STIP) (p.26) d) Ordinance No. 24-04; An Ordinance submitting to the qualified electors of the City of Whitefish, Montana, the question of whether to amend Article II, Section 2.01(4) of the City Charter to delete the provision prohibiting City Council members from receiving salaries (Second Reading) (p.33) e) Consideration of a recommendation for confirmation of Firefighter/Paramedic Saxton Coorough, pursuant to MCA 7-33-4107 (p.37) Councilor Caltabiano made a motion, seconded by Councilor Sweeney to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilor Norton had a correction to the minutes, page 4, second paragraph “She has concerns that there is only $99,000 $9,000 in our affordable housing fund.” The motion carried to approve the Consent Agenda as corrected. 7) 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.) NONE 8) COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER a) Written report enclosed with the packet. Questions from Mayor and Council? (p.39) None b) Other items arising between May 15th and May 20th None 9) COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILORS Councilor Sweeney stated he is grateful to Jan Brunk for allowing the City to have Ron Brunk for as long as we had him. 10) ADJOURNMENT (Resolution 08-10 establishes 11:00 p.m. as end of meeting unless extended to 11:30 by majority) Mayor Muhlfeld adjourned the meeting at 7:19 p.m. /s/John Muhlfeld Mayor Muhlfeld Attest: /s/Michelle Howke Michelle Howke, Whitefish City Clerk 2