Mayor & City Council

WHITEFISH CITY COUNCIL October 21, 2024 7:10 P.M. 1) CALL TO ORDER Deputy Mayor Sweeney called the meeting to order. Councilors present were Feury, Caltabiano, Davis. Mayor Muhlfeld and Councilors Norton and Qunell were 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 four people were in the audience and zero attended virtually. 2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Deputy Mayor Sweeney asked Richard Hildner to lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3) PROCLAMATION (YouTube Video 1:21) a) Children’s Grief Awareness Month (p.13) Deputy Mayor Sweeney read the Children’s Grieve Awareness Month proclamation. 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) (YouTube Video 3:08) Richard Hildner, 104 5th Street, stated he has provided a list of ten potential action items that the Council could accomplish before the next wildfire season. One of his suggestions is to require mowing of vacant lots during fire season. There should be a record of lots that have not been mown. There are three ways to reduce, remove this particular fire hazard; Educate, Regulation and Enforcement. The city should be proactive in its enforcement and not rely on complaint driven notifications. He will back in a month to work on and remind Council of nine other items he thinks should be considered. Alyssum Ahler, 27 Park Avenue, thanked the Fire Department and the Police Department for holding their Open House this past weekend. Mike Hein, 612 Lupfer Avenue, stated Karrow Avenue is beautiful. It has become one of the best places to run and walk. 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 7:49) a) Minutes from October 7, 2024, Regular Meeting (p.15) b) Consideration of a request from Sikola Family Trust for a Whitefish Lake and Lakeshore Protection Permit to install a 70-foot-long dock within the Lakeshore Protection Zone located at 1490 Barkley Lane (WLP 24-17) (p.18) Councilor Caltabiano made a motion, seconded by Councilor Davis to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion carried.  CITY COUNCIL MINUTES October 21, 2024 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) COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER (YouTube Video 8:11) a) Written report enclosed with the packet. Questions from Mayor and Council? (p.34) None b) Other items arising between October 16th and October 21st Manager Smith reminded the public that City Hall will be open on Election Day. The City Hall is not a polling place and will not have a ballot box. Ballots can be dropped off on Election Day at a polling place or at the Flathead County Election Department. 8) COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILORS (YouTube Video 8:55) Councilor Feury stated the patch on Texas Avenue that was done for the sewer connection for the Ruis development needs to be fixed. Director Workman stated the patch will be fixed this season. Deputy Mayor Sweeney stated the Karrow Avenue reconstruction project turned out great. 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 7:30 p.m. /s/Francis J. Sweeney Deputy Mayor Sweeney Attest: /s/Michelle Howke Michelle Howke, Whitefish City Clerk 2