Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley has asked Whitefish to consider its proposal to construct 22 townhomes for the Depot Park project planned at the property formerly used as the city’s snow lot.  

Habitat Executive Director MaryBeth Morand told City Council last week that it would follow the model the organization used on a project in Columbia Falls, wherein the land is transferred to the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust.  

“Habitat Flathead has reviewed all of the construction drawings for Depot Park, or the snow lot, in great detail, and we are confident that we can build these units close to plan for under $305,000 per unit,” Morand told councilors, and added that if the city would consider slight modifications to the plans that do not diminish the aesthetics, Habitat could build the units for between $250,000 and $300,000 each. 

Morand said Habitat would work with the city to determine how many of the units would be dedicated to households earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income. Those units would be built by Habitat staff, volunteers and the selected homeowners via sweat equity, and the units serving households above 80% would be built by Habitat’s private construction partner, Iron Star Construction. 

She said Iron Star anticipates completing its units by January 2027, and the Habitat-built units could be completed about 11 months later. 

JENNIE BENDER, executive director of Glacier Nordic Club, reported on the status of a new grooming barn to be built at the cross-country ski trailhead on Big Mountain Road. The footprint for the new building is 37 feet by 66 feet and includes a carport. 

She noted Glacier Nordic Club has programs for about 250 kids and over 100 adults. It owns and runs the Glacier Nordic shop on the Whitefish Lake Golf Course and consistently grooms 65 miles of trail over four venues.  

“We have a lot of machinery, a lot of trailers, a lot of gear,” she said. “Last year we groomed 3,688 miles of trail in the winter.” 

Bender said the design process has been completed. She said the club is working with the city to finalize construction and lease agreements. 

“Having this building will be super beneficial to all of our operations and grooming,” she added. 

A CONDITIONAL USE permit was approved for the Whitefish School District to expand academic and athletic facilities at the current campus. 

The project includes a two-story academic expansion to the existing Whitefish High School. An addition to the west elevation of the existing gymnasium will provide additional classroom space, and one on the southeast corner will house new Career and Technical Education classroom space.  

The project also includes upgrades to the athletic fields east of the school, including a new track surface, a bleacher structure with press box, and a facility to be used for ticketing, concession, storage and a restroom. 

Daniel Wright, owner of Bonsai Brewing Project, received a permit to add a beer and wine license to the establishment's current brewery license which will allow Bonsai to stay open until 11 p.m. in the summer and serve wine. 

The council also granted a request from Kim Morisaki, executive director of the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust, to release the deed restriction on two homes in the Trailview neighborhood and to give $40,000 for each home to help the land trust buy the land and bring down the purchase prices. 

A RESOLUTION to increase ambulance fees and establish new fees for some fire rescue services provided by the Whitefish Fire Department passed by a vote of 5-1, with Davis in opposition. 

Most of the cost of medical response calls beyond city limits, come from charges billed to the patient. The last time fees were increased for ambulance services in Whitefish was 2019. 

The updated rates are lower than what the consultant recommended. Whitefish City manager Dana Meeker said the increase in ambulance fees would increase by about 22%. The fee for basic life support services would increase from $1,070 to $1,304, compared to the consultant's recommendation of $1,691. 

New fees for medical services provided by fire personnel and broken gas lines will be added. 

“This system, in my view, is a farce. I'm talking about the broader medical system,” Davis said. “Nobody should be scared to call EMS if there’s an emergency.” 

He said the system involves artificially high rates that hurt people who are un- and under-insured. 

THE COUNCIL also voted unanimously to award the consulting contract for the community wildfire protection plan to SWCA Environmental Consultants, the firm found to be the most qualified, after the city interviewed five firms. 

Before the vote, Mayor John Muhlfeld made a statement in the interest of transparency. 

“For the record ... SWCA did acquire my company, River Design Group, 18 months ago. I had no role in the selection process,” Muhlfeld said. “I’ll have no affiliation with the project. I will not be voting at any point on the adoption of this plan, and I have no financial gain associated with how the council votes tonight.”  

The vote was also unanimous to authorize the submittal of a Montana Coal Endowment Program infrastructure planning grant application.  

IN PUBLIC comment, Keegan Siebenaler, Shelter WF executive director, expressed concern over the use of population projections based on pre-pandemic numbers in the housing needs assessment. He cited a memo from the growth policy consultants which said adopting higher numbers is a “viable option for understanding potential needs.” 

City Planner Alan Tiefenbach said the Feb. 2 work session on the housing element will afford a chance to review all facets of the chapter. 

“It comes down to what the numbers are, and then it comes down to what the policies are and whether the numbers are going to affect the policies,” Tiefenbach said. “That's what it comes down to, is whether or not changing the numbers is really going to change the content of the housing element because we’re just trying to get housing built, whether it’s 100 units or 300 units a year.” 

Other concerns included enforcement of the city’s dark skies ordinance and lakeshore violations, E-bike regulations, the availability of electric car charging stations, a deer management plan, the beautification of power boxes in town, and the status of the rubble cleanup at the former O’Piccolo’s Pizza building. 

Whitefish Public Works Director Craig Workman said an asbestos remediation company is expected to begin work on the rubble pile at the site of the former O’Piccolo’s Pizza building in the next couple weeks.