Mayor & City Council

WHITEFISH CITY COUNCIL January 6, 2025 SPECIAL SESSION AT 5:15 PM 1) Call to Order Mayor Muhlfeld called the meeting to order. Councilors present were Qunell, Feury, Caltabiano (Virtual), Davis, Sweeney, and Norton. City Staff present were, City Clerk Howke, City Manager Smith, Finance Director Gospodarek, Planning and Building Director Taylor. 2) Interviews The City Council interviewed incumbent Grant Hughes for the Flathead City-County Health Department Board, and Richard Hildner for the Community Development Board. 3) Public Comment None 4) Appointment a) Flathead County Health Board – 3-year term – City Council appointment Councilor Sweeney made a motion, seconded by Councilor Norton to re-appoint Grant Hughes to continue to serve on the Flathead City-County Health Board for a 3-year term. The motion carried. b) Community Development Board – 1 position – 2 letters of interest (Mallory Philips and Richard Hildner) – 2-year term – Mayoral appointment Mayor Muhlfeld appointed Mallory Phillips to the Community Development Board for a 2-year term. The Council ratified his appointment by a raise of hands. 5) Adjournment Mayor Muhlfeld adjourned the meeting at 5:45pm and opened the work session. /s/John Muhlfeld Mayor Muhlfeld Attest: /s/Michelle Howke Michelle Howke, Whitefish City Clerk  WHITEFISH CITY COUNCIL January 6, 2025 7:10 P.M. 1) CALL TO ORDER Mayor Muhlfeld called the meeting to order. Councilors present were Qunell, Feury, Caltabiano (Virtual), Davis, Sweeney, and Norton. 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, Fire Chief Hadley, and Planner MacDonald. Approximately five people were in the audience, and one attended virtually (Councilor Caltabiano). 2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Muhlfeld asked Carter Unger to lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3) PROCLAMATION a) Arbor Day – April 25, 2025 (p.31) Mayor Muhlfeld read the Arbor Day Proclamation that is provided in the packet on the website. 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) Matt Lawrence, MT Creative, was available in the audience if the Council had any questions regarding Agenda Item 8a. 5) COMMUNICATIONS FROM VOLUNTEER BOARDS Councilor Qunell reported concern that was brought up at the last Community Development Board meeting about the amount of time that is set aside for public input on the growth policy update. At the end of the meeting, he would like to get Council’s feedback on their thoughts. 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 December 2, 2024, Special Session (p.33) b) Minutes from December 2, 2024, Regular Meeting (p.34) Councilor Sweeney made a motion, seconded by Councilor Norton to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilor Norton had a correction on the December 2, 2025, Special Session minutes: item 2) Interviews, new applicant Regan Peschel to the Whitefish lLake and Lakeshore Protection Committee. 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.) a) Resolution No. 25-01; A Resolution adopting legislative priorities for the 2025 Montana Legislative Session (p.39)  CITY COUNCIL MINUTES January 6, 2024 City Manager Dana Smith presented her staff report that is provided in the packet on the website. Mayor Muhlfeld opened the Public Hearing. There being no public comment, Mayor Muhlfeld closed the Public Hearing and turned matters over to the Council for consideration. Councilor Sweeney made a motion, seconded by Councilor Feury to adopt Resolution No. 25- 01; A Resolution adopting legislative priorities for the 2025 Montana Legislative Session. Councilor Davis stated he read through the Governors Housing Task Force. He mentioned a couple ideas that are recommended for legislature that includes capping Impact Fees at the rate of inflation; eliminating any design review committee; eliminating any conditions that are allowed to be placed on subdivisions; eliminating any height restrictions less than six stories that are included in the Governor’s Housing Task Force. The motion carried. b) Ordinance No. 25-01; An Ordinance amending § 1-4-4, Municipal Infractions; Penalties of the Whitefish City Code (First Reading) (p.44) City Attorney Angela Jacobs presented her staff report that is provided in the packet on the website. Mayor Muhlfeld opened the Public Hearing. There being no public comment, Mayor Muhlfeld closed the Public Hearing and turned matters over to the Council for consideration. Councilor Qunell made a motion, seconded by Councilor Sweeney to adopt Ordinance No. 25- 01; An Ordinance amending § 1-4-4, Municipal Infractions; Penalties of the Whitefish City Code. The motion carried. c) Ordinance No. 25-02; An Ordinance adopting § 5-2-10 to Whitefish City Code, Police Regulations; General Offenses (First Reading) (p.49) City Attorney Jacobs presented her staff report that is provided in the packet on the website. Discussion followed between Council and staff regarding adopting this ordinance would give the police the authority to act, intervene, and move the behavior on. Mayor Muhlfeld opened the Public Hearing. There being no public comment, Mayor Muhlfeld closed the Public Hearing and turned matters over to the Council for consideration. Councilor Sweeney made a motion, seconded by Councilor Qunell to adopt Ordinance No. 25- 02; An Ordinance adopting § 5-2-10 to Whitefish City Code, Police Regulations; General Offenses (First Reading). The motion carried. 8) COMMUNICATION FROM PLANNING AND BUILDING DIRECTOR a) Consideration of a request from Todd Barrett for a standard lakeshore permit with a minor lakeshore variance to relocate an existing city sewer main, located at 422 Dakota Avenue (WLV 24-03) (p.53) Planner Lauren MacDonald presented her staff report that is provided in the packet on the website. Councilor Norton made a motion, seconded by Councilor Feury to approve the request from Todd Barrett for a standard lakeshore permit with a minor lakeshore variance to relocate an existing city sewer main, located at 422 Dakota Avenue (WLV 24-03). The motion carried. 2  CITY COUNCIL MINUTES January 6, 2024 9) COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER a) Written report enclosed with the packet. Questions from Mayor and Council? (p.73) Councilor Davis asked, and Manager Smith stated staff is working through the sewer agreements between Big Mountain Sewer District and the City to determine the property boundaries that would be included. Staff will be working on a plan on how this annexation will occur. Staff will provide an update to the Council in the spring, once the properties are identified and the plan laid out with what the process should be. We may be looking at a working group with elected officials to assist in those discussions with the fire district and the sewer district. b) Other items arising between January 1st through January 6th Manager Smith reported the City received three grants; Chris Hunt with the IT Department applied for four grants and obtained two grants. 1) a grant to help cover the cost of our KnowBe4 software subscription; 2) a grant to assist in Cybersecurity training for the IT Department. 3) Department of Commerce reached out to Director Taylor and reported they have been authorized to provide $25,000 worth of funding to help us with the Community Wildfire Protection Plan as it relates to Senate Bill 382. 10) COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILORS a) Letter from Marti Brandt asking Council to consider providing childcare services during City Council meeting and Community Development Board meetings, or online participation (p.76) Mayor Muhlfeld stated kids are always welcome, and we do provide online participation at the Council meetings. b) Consideration of appointment to volunteer boards and committees not made during the Special Session preceding tonight’s meeting. Appointments were made during the Special Session prior to the meeting. Councilor Comments Councilor Qunell shouted out to the Glacier Nordic Club for getting the course opened. He also mentioned he is looking for direction or guidance from the Council on public participation during the growth policy update. The Community Development Board has been starting their meeting at 5:00pm before their 6:00pm general meeting. That hour was reserved to go through a section of the updates. This is not providing enough time. He is looking for guidance or ideas to better their process. Councilor Norton stated she is in communication with FWP Bear Management Specialist, who had recommendations to limit the risk of bear and human interaction. The city has implemented the animal resistant containers. FWP also recommends eliminating apple trees on public lands. Apple trees attract bears and can increase the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease. The third recommendation is to remove bird feeders during the spring and summer months. We have a responsibility to work with the experts that are helping us manage our environment safely. She thanked everyone for participating in the conversation about compensating the mayor and city council. This town has been built by wonderful volunteers and she hopes people understand how that changes a community when people show up to put their best self forth. She feels the disparities between the people in our town with extreme wealth and people that are living smaller lives is becoming more pronounced. She appreciates the Council for considering making things a little bit more possible for someone to volunteer. 3  CITY COUNCIL MINUTES January 6, 2024 Mayor Muhlfeld gave a shout out to Public Works for the excellent work with street maintenance and plowing. It is a notable difference from past years. 11) 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 7:52 p.m. /s/John Muhlfeld Mayor Muhlfeld Attest: /s/Michelle Howke Michelle Howke, Whitefish City Clerk 4