Mayor & City Council

WHITEFISH CITY COUNCIL October 7, 2024 7:10 P.M. 1) CALL TO ORDER Deputy Mayor Sweeney called the meeting to order. Councilors present were Qunell, Caltabiano, and Norton. Mayor Muhlfeld and Councilors Davis and Feury were absent. City Staff present were, City Clerk Howke, City Manager Smith, Finance Director Gospodarek, Senior Planner Compton-Ring, Public Works Director Workman, Police Chief Kelch and Fire Chief Hadley. Approximately 2 people were in the audience and no people attended virtually. 2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Deputy Mayor Sweeney asked Carter Unger 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) (YouTube Video 1:38) Carter Unger, 2375 Mountain Shadows Drive, on behalf of the Lions Club, invited the Council, city staff and the community to help harvest on October 16th at noon, at 237 Tyler Farm Lane in Columbia Falls. Portion of the harvest goes to the Whitefish School District. 4) COMMUNICATIONS FROM VOLUNTEER BOARDS (YouTube Video 4:48) Councilor Norton reported the Tree Committee October meeting is cancelled but will meet in November to walk the Karrow Avenue Reconstruction Project. She also reported historian Delia Hagen will be surveying historic residences on October 10th & 11th. 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.) (YouTube Video 5:51) a) Minutes from September 16, 2024, Special Session (p.48) b) Minutes from September 16, 2024, Closed Executive Session c) Minutes from September 16, 2024, Regular Meeting (p.49) d) Consideration of a request from the members of the Whitefish Lake Lodge Homeowners Association to amend Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CCRs) (p.54) Councilor Qunell 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. NONE 7) COMMUNICATION FROM FINANCE DIRECTOR a) Review and consideration of the annual 2024 Impact Fee Report (p.64) (YouTube Video 6:17)  CITY COUNCIL MINUTES October 7, 2024 Finance Director Lanie Gospodarek reviewed the annual 2024 Impact Fee Report that is provided in the packet on the website. Councilor Caltabiano made a motion, seconded by Councilor Qunell to approve the annual 2024 Impact Fee Report. The motion carried. 8) COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER (YouTube Video 15:00) a) Written report enclosed with the packet. Questions from Mayor and Council? (p.72) None b) Other items arising between October 2nd and October 7th Manager Smith announced the Fire Department will hold an Open House on October 19th from 11am to 2pm, and there is an Open House scheduled for Safe Streets For All on October 8th at 5:30 pm. c) Consideration to appoint a Selection Committee for Lobbying Services for the 2025 Montana Legislative Session (p.73) (YouTube 17:13) Manager Smith presented her staff report that is provided in the packet on the website. Deputy Mayor Sweeney, seconded by Councilor Caltabiano appointed Manager Smith, Attorney Jacobs and nominated Mayor Muhlfeld to serve on the Selection Committee. The motion carried. d) Resolution No. 24-44; A Resolution approving the First Amendment to the License Agreement with Gold Creek Cellular of Montana Limited Partnership d/b/a/ Verizon Wireless for the use of City Property at the Emergency Services Center, Whitefish, Montana (p.74) (YouTube Video 19:52) Manager Smith presented her staff report that is provided in the packet on the website. Councilor Caltabiano made a motion, seconded by Councilor Norton to adopt Resolution No. 24-44; A Resolution approving the First Amendment to the License Agreement with Gold Creek Cellular of Montana Limited Partnership d/b/a/ Verizon Wireless for the use of City Property at the Emergency Services Center, Whitefish, Montana. The motion carried. 9) COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILORS (YouTube Video 26:48) a) Resolution No. 24-45; A Resolution amending the annual goals for the City (p.121) Councilor Qunell made a motion, seconded by Councilor Caltabiano to adopt Resolution No. 24-45; A Resolution amending the annual goals for the City. The motion carried. b) Consideration to appoint Whitefish Housing Authority member-at-large to complete the term ending 12-31-2026, Nick Farmer interviewed during the September 16, 2024, Special Session, mayoral appointment (p.125) (YouTube Video 27:24) Deputy Mayor Sweeney appointed Nick Farmer to the Whitefish Housing Authority to complete the term ending 12-31-2026. Council ratified the appointment. c) Letter from Pat La Tourelle concerning tree removal near the stormwater pond in Riverside Park (p.131) (YouTube Video 27:57) 2  CITY COUNCIL MINUTES October 7, 2024 Manager Smith provided feedback from Parks and Recreation Director Butts. Staff has seen beaver activity on the Golden Willows around Riverside Park, Kay Beller Park, Roundhouse Landing and near the Duck Inn. They will eat whatever is available at the time; they are not species specific. Caging trees protect them from beaver activity. All newly planted trees around Riverside Pond will be protected with caging. Every tree is susceptible to disease. Staff will monitor the newly planted trees to make sure they have the best chance for success. Golden Willows are susceptible to ice and windstorm damage along with multiple pest problems. The Boxelder was damaged by an early snowstorm two years ago. When staff was able to perform maintenance on the tree, they found birds nesting in numerous holes. As the tree did not pose any hazards, they left it standing for bird habitat. However, they have since noticed that it began to sucker out. They have placed it on their removal list and will make sure no birds are harmed in the process of removal. This is an example of what Golden Willows do when they are cut; they grow week and brittle limbs that grow outward instead of upward. It is very difficult to maintain proper structure of Golden Willows. The stump that was not treated, as it was part of a large limb connected to a living willow. Staff did not treat the stump, as it would have killed the rest of the tree. This tree is one of trees slated for removal in this project. All of the stumps in the Riverside Pond project will be treated to prevent them from “suckering out.” The project engineer is supportive of leaving the stumps for bank stabilization. Deputy Mayor Sweeney asked staff to respond to Pat with those comments. Council Comments (YouTube Video 31:29) Councilor Caltabiano suggested since we will not be able to implement the viaduct project as planned, because of the bid proposal, to hold a work session to discuss the possibility of making a 10-foot-wide path on the east side of the viaduct. Director Workman stated to redesign the drawings and rebid would be $10,000. With a change and scope that drastic, we would have to go back to the public. The two 10-foot pedestrian paths would allow for three lanes in an emergency situation. Council did not show support to redesign the project. Councilor Caltabiano also mentioned that the Museum of Mountain Flying and Glacier Park International have signed a lease agreement for land to build a Glacier Aviation Campus. This is a new Vocational School that will be located north of the airport. Miss Montana, our state aircraft will be at the museum six months of the year. He also reported the museum just acquired the A26 Invader, a twin-engine World War II bomber that was used in the movie Always. They are currently negotiating taking the lookout tower in the movie and place it at the entrance of the museum. 10) 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 7:46 p.m. /s/Francis J. Sweeney Deputy Mayor Sweeney Attest: /s/Michelle Howke Michelle Howke, Whitefish City Clerk 3