Mayor & City Council

WHITEFISH CITY COUNCIL January 21, 2025 7:10 P.M. 1) CALL TO ORDER Mayor Muhlfeld called the meeting to order. Councilors present were Qunell, Davis, and Norton. Councilors Sweeney, Feury and Caltabiano 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 13 people were in the audience and zero attended virtually. 2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Muhlfeld asked Andrew “Bear” Barinowsky 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 1:41) Rhonda Fitzgerald, 412 Lupfer Avenue, spoke towards agenda item 4a, the letter from the Climate Action Plan Committee recommending establishing metered parking in the downtown area. There was parking meters years ago that were taken out because it was a deterrent to commerce. The small businesses in Whitefish are already in a pretty difficult retail environment competing with the big box stores to the south. The downtown property owners pay an SID to help defray the expense of the parking structure. That is a better way to have businesses support parking than to put parking meters which create a deterrent to customers supporting their businesses. It is well documented that meters do prevent some people from supporting local establishments. Kurt Vomfell, Terra Designworks stated he is available for questions pertaining to agenda item 5a, Whitefish Lake and Lakeshore Permit 25-01. 4) COMMUNICATIONS FROM VOLUNTEER BOARDS (YouTube Video) a) Recommendation from the Climate Action Plan Committee to establish metered parking in downtown (p.45) Dakota Whitman, Whitefish Climate Action Plan Committee Chair, reported the committee thought it was timely to revisit the transportation and land use chapter within the Climate Action Plan given the Growth Policy update and Safe Streets for All Plan. Free parking is promoting car dependency within the town. The Committee met with Julie Dixon, with Dixon Resources Unlimited, who wrote the Downtown Parking Master Plan. She provided data and info that commerce within areas of paid parking actually has increased. There is much more technology now to allow for flexibility, such as time windows, seasonality, and to implement a local’s exemption. The funds generated could be used to put serious investments into public transportation options. The Committee believes it is worth the Council’s time to investigate it further. Nathan Dugan, Whitefish Climate Action Plan Vice Chair, added that the Committee is not saying whether or not this should happen. The Committee thinks there is potential to fund other modes of transportation that would allow people to get out of their cars. It is hard to park in the summer and we need some more management of that, and this is definitely one tool that is a funding stream for alleviating some of that.  CITY COUNCIL MINUTES January 21, 2025 Mayor Muhlfeld recommended until the full council is in attendance to defer any discussion or direction back to staff. 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 7:56) a) Minutes from January 6, 2025, Special Session (p.48) b) Minutes from January 6, 2025, Regular Meeting (p.49) c) Ordinance No. 25-01; An Ordinance amending §1-4-4, Municipal Infractions; Penalties of the Whitefish City Code (Second Reading) (p.53) d) Ordinance No. 25-02; An Ordinance amending §5-2-10 to Whitefish City Code, Police Regulations; General Offenses (Second Reading) (p.56) e) Consideration of a request from RKS Stumptown LLC for a Whitefish Lake and Lakeshore Protection Permit to remodel the existing lakeshore to reduce impervious cover within the Lakeshore Protection Zone, located at 1550 W. Lakeshore Drive (WLP 24-1725-01) (p.58) f) Resolution No. 25-02; A Resolution declaring certain property to be unneeded and obsolete, and authorizing the disposal of such property (p.90) Councilor Qunell made a motion, seconded by Councilor Davis 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.) a) Resolution No. 25-03; A Resolution adopting a Safe Streets for All Action Plan (p.93) (YouTube Video 8:26) Public Works Director Craig Workman presented his staff report that is provided in the packet on the website. Sarah Nicolai and Kerry Lynch from Robert, Peccia and Associates presented highlights of the plan. The PowerPoint presentation is appended to the packet on the website. The public review period of the draft plan closed January 20, 2025. The comments that were received range from comments that are addressed in the plan versus comments that could be minor revisions to the plan. A list of the revisions follows: • Memorial Plan Vision Plan Update Changes: Update PROJ-3: 1) Remove mid-block crossing on 4th Street; 2) Change 4th Street sidewalks to shared use path • Downtown Business District Master Plan & Bike/Ped Projects: 1) Note as a past plan in the project prioritization section; 2) Spokane Avenue bike/ped improvements from DBDMP; 3) “Flush Pedestrian Ramps” and concrete sidewalks at 2nd/Spokane; Update PROJ-8 • MDT Comments: 1) Editorial changes/clarifications; 2) Inclusion of MDT plans; 3) Strategy updates: description, example actions, resources/guidance; 4) Project updates: All- maintenance; PROJ-8, PROJ-10; 5) Disclose bike/ped focus; 6) Rationale for focus areas & overlap between crash types Mayor Muhlfeld opened the Public Hearing. Richard Hildner, 104 5th Street, provided a few suggestions; 1) the plan does not specify if e-bikes are motorized or non-motorized and where they are appropriate and not-appropriate for use; 2) in regard to inventorying use, he suggested utilizing the security camera at the Mountain View Manor, that bike path from Riverside Park to Whitefish Lake is one of the most popular segments to collect data. 2  CITY COUNCIL MINUTES January 21, 2025 There being no further public comment, Mayor Muhlfeld closed the Public Hearing and turned matters over to the Council for consideration. Attorney Jacobs suggested amending Section 1 of the resolution to read The Whitefish City Council hereby Adopts the Safe Streets for All Action Plan as provided in Exhibit A, amended as needed. Councilor Qunell made a motion, seconded by Councilor Davis to adopt Resolution No. 25-03; A Resolution adopting a Safe Streets for All Action Plan as amended. Councilor Norton thanked Karin Hildner, Senior Project Engineer for her work on this plan. The motion carried. 7) COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER (YouTube Video 34:13) a) Written report enclosed with the packet. Questions from Mayor and Council? (p.298) b) Other items arising between January 15th through January 21st Manager Smith provided an update the Montana Department of Commerce and the Montana League of Cities and Towns was awarded $7 million to the HUD Pro Housing Grant. Of that $7 million, $5 million will go to the communities that are working to implement SB 382. When the original application went into place the City of Whitefish noted that we could utilize $500,000 to update the growth policy including a Community Wildfire Protection Plan for $100,000; a transit study; zoning for affordability study with a no net loss and preservation policy; a housing needs assessment update; environmental constraints; and vacant land and highest and best use analysis. c) Consideration to approve the Second Amendment to the Developers Agreement with the Whitefish Housing Authority and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement (p.303) Manager Smith presented her staff report that is provided in the packet on the website. Councilor Norton asked, and Manager Smith stated she does not know when this development will be completed, but did add that Council did extend the permit for three years from May 2024. Councilor Norton would like to hear a report from Whitefish Housing Authority on the progress of the project. Manager Smith will ask the Housing Authority to provide an update at a future meeting. Councilor Davis made a motion, seconded by Councilor Qunell to approve the Second Amendment to the Developers Agreement with the Whitefish Housing Authority and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement. The motion carried. 8) COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILORS (YouTube Video 45:46) Councilor comments. Councilor Qunell reported the Whitefish High School students presented to the Community Development Board their policy papers about the growth policy. He asked Manager Smith to add those to the list of things to talk about at the next Council retreat. He also reminded the community to keep their dogs on a leash while utilizing the Glacier Nordic Track at the golf course. Councilor Davis recapped the two work session items and asked Manager Smith what are the next steps for the Transportation Impact Fee Study. Manager Smith asked the Council to share if they have any major concerns for staff to provide feedback to the consultants, TischlerBise. The next step is for the consultants to finalize their report for Council’s consideration. If Council approves moving forward, staff will proceed through the public process of adopting the plan by ordinance and setting the fees by resolution. 3  CITY COUNCIL MINUTES January 21, 2025 Discussion followed between the Council with concerns of what was presented at the work session prior to the meeting. The dollar amounts seem high, relative to the other impact fees and the impact it will have on multifamily projects, especially affordable housing. Council felt they needed time to process the information. Manager Smith stated we need a plan that is equitable for all projects. If the Council does not adopt the maximum, the City will have to make up the difference to get those projects completed. By adopting the fees at any rate, the City is saying they will complete the expansion projects listed in the plan in 10 years. Having policy on affordable homes or deed restricted affordable homes outside the Impact Fee Study is different. There needs to be an analysis on using resort tax fund on expansion projects, and how reconstruction projects will be prioritized. Transportation impact fees are historically the highest impact fee. The other concern was related to right of way acquisition and how the land value was established. Discussion followed between the Council pertaining to Fish Wildlife and Parks presentation on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Manager Smith stated it is important that there is financial planning with deer management plans. One of the costliest parts is what we do with the deer after the fact to get community buy in. Council asked Chief Kelch to distribute to the Council example plans to review. It was also suggested to start education and outreach on not feeding deer including information that CWD is close by. Councilor Norton stated the City can be proactive on removing fruit bearing trees on city property as recommended by FWP. She also thanked the four firefighters, Sal Baccaro, Jamison Smith, Glen Hartman and Saxton Coorough for their service in Los Angeles. 9) 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 8:34 p.m. /s/John Muhlfeld Mayor Muhlfeld Attest: /s/Michelle Howke Michelle Howke, Whitefish City Clerk 4