[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6251212,"mediaKeyId","3196146-dfb5f3389c409b4178417ed9ff077a0b","parentId",3196146,"title","Council authorizes bidding for Armory Park master plan Phase 4, including WAG well and drainage work","audioSeconds",392,"startMs",4997000,"endMs",5389000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196146-dfb5f3389c409b4178417ed9ff077a0b&start=4997&end=5389","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196146-dfb5f3389c409b4178417ed9ff077a0b/thumbnail_4997000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6251212/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/Council-authorizes-bidding-for-Armory-Park-master-plan-Phase-4-including-WAG-well-and-drainage-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251212-488d30752d9bf82b3ccdb41517339854/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442795&Signature=iRNhzVI4NCoCAAascK3NqNW0jWsgdXDKm9-t1C0Qqe-y0E~2-Z6B3THnvByB-zaz6S7VJbdV-95-mNQ4vHOfititXGQGypCN26WxLKPZ8dsXQeJGWDsUVFsmScNLG8lKVTYxSSr~HHz2gBZClZqXHcwJSIe73EJ3DZ-aztUoatUcP~RAExlqeHSLfj7DCdrK1zAfK44czvu1Q9TQ-XMYXGRymPYkO0Ac6f76Jckpn9E8jhuk65D0o9d60pt8cG5ZpHHoi8psWIUVQt-mHana4Uc8twImpFDP0PItxWtNJ3Vw4K-zFNwPWTAVGWRrwNL0O4Lfmw0qUVmzNzst34OT6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Whitefish, MT","date","2025-05-06T09:11:38.28Z","article","The Whitefish City Council on May 5 authorized staff to proceed with final design and public bidding for Phase 4 of the Armory Park master plan, which includes a storage-garage foundation, drainage improvements and a new well for WAG Park irrigation.

Project details and funding: Maria, Parks and Recreation staff, said the FY25 capital-improvement program earmarked $450,000 in resort tax funds for Armory Park Phase 4. The preliminary construction estimate for the portion to be bid is $208,205. The work to be publicly bid includes a storage garage foundation, drainage improvements around the Armory Building and development of a WAG Park irrigation well. Maria said the new well will be dedicated to irrigation; the existing well that feeds the pond will remain in place.

Schedule and scope: Staff proposed a bid advertisement in May, a bid opening on May 27, an award at the June 2 council meeting and a construction start in mid-July with substantial completion targeted by Sept. 12. The Parks and Recreation Department completed engineering for the listed items and reviewed a five‑year prioritization that the Park Board finalized in October.

Council action: The council voted unanimously to authorize staff to proceed with final design and sealed bidding for the Phase 4 elements as presented.

Why it matters: The authorization moves a planned set of park improvements into procurement and construction and aims to reduce treated-water irrigation by installing a dedicated irrigation well for the WAG Park, one of the city's highest irrigation users.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Whitefish City Council May 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council authorized staff to proceed with final design and public bidding for phase 4 of the Armory Park master plan, with a preliminary construction estimate of $208,205 covered by approved resort tax funds.","taxTitle","Whitefish, Flathead County, Montana","taxId",56558,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6251216,"Council adopts updated ethics policy with new removal option for elected members",740,4307000,5047000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196146-dfb5f3389c409b4178417ed9ff077a0b&start=4307&end=5047","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196146-dfb5f3389c409b4178417ed9ff077a0b/thumbnail_4307000.jpg","/articles/6251216/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/Council-adopts-updated-ethics-policy-with-new-removal-option-for-elected-members","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251216-e856b97dfd455c0b656de8d57b94b442/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442795&Signature=OZCR8ElCEnuWNFK9ln6bqHpG5QCDQeuib~3yq0VCirstftRAyGcMk0Y0OAR2wUd8BXcwrN89kFEBgexfwkFF7zhPTov8uxY1ki1Lop-vG0mFPtjJL7q~p-NqXmsRb67~ofI9b3lgwQZpJQIQTLL~JNgLsXiRCoOsIjxqDsKgCcQhhiBIHjGNefLDGzBlvPa8JB6RsU1fDZx8c5Rsmqd5s6ZfIl2nNjDIiNGTY2Zx5YSXVVZsssndlTW8nneg5bFmDQAWF6lveF0AF8ZwBPGn3Fiwo3KaRVKawv3f~r1sZdrPcsQKZpJFKPBEE-t0MbszuzR33fO1D4peruWA8WfX5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Whitefish City Council adopted a revised city ethics policy on May 5 that mirrors Montana’s code of ethics for public officers and employees and added a council amendment providing a process to remove an elected member by supermajority.

Staff background: Angie, the staff lead on the rewrite, told the council the city’s policy dated from the late 1990s and that Montana law has changed since then. The draft policy tracked state law and incorporated council direction from two prior work sessions. Angie said she exempted advisory committee members from quasi‑judicial restrictions except for boards that make binding quasi‑judicial decisions (for example the planning board or police commission), because committees generally provide recommendations rather than final decisions.

Amendment and vote: During the meeting Councilor Frank proposed an amendment to the draft policy that would permit the council to remove a member who refuses to resign for ethics reasons by a supermajority vote that includes the mayor. Councilors discussed thresholds and enforcement mechanisms; staff said removal pursuant to charter or state law could be structured as a supermajority requirement. The council approved the amendment and then voted to adopt the updated ethics policy unanimously.

Why it matters: The updated policy aligns the city with current Montana statutory standards, clarifies expectations for committee members and quasi‑judicial roles, and adds a local mechanism for removal of an elected member when resignation is refused. Staff indicated the county attorney may receive referrals under state law in some circumstances, but councilors expressed skepticism that the county attorney would pursue prosecutions in ethics cases; the local remedy was added to provide council-level recourse.

Implementation: Staff will incorporate the supermajority provision (four of six votes including the mayor) into the final adopted policy language and publish the updated policy for council and board members.","The council adopted an updated city ethics policy that mirrors Montana law and added a council-approved amendment allowing removal of a council member by a supermajority (4 of 6, including the mayor) if the member refuses to resign after an ethics finding.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6251221,"Council approves zoning amendment clarifying setbacks for Whitefish airstrip",1608,2671000,4279000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196146-dfb5f3389c409b4178417ed9ff077a0b&start=2671&end=4279","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196146-dfb5f3389c409b4178417ed9ff077a0b/thumbnail_2671000.jpg","/articles/6251221/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/Council-approves-zoning-amendment-clarifying-setbacks-for-Whitefish-airstrip","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251221-3d743f499ffa32421ead41aecd984eba/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442795&Signature=hp3UpP1fIauI84BkcdlJs9tFZbxn0M4nbdT9How236jTBQfY~byQCiPdx6FHaXt2LxF3OSeFsf7kul1lpeGH0ZSIwUpC5UrfMTk8HsKFxRM66iLFCRZyVugydTkQOejZ6j147LOQzF15~cfLLoqxS8e4xKklNX2MXDpt8dmerULFV~RbmSdxnvwh9YCmShFA6VGmAIukixCLMZYwUxLyvFZZX5XMoQLbaqltstCz9V6Rt8nwAH2N~JoCP55ja9fsOM3RZLqwtalJ2MN8gnuYMDfyR2y-fnnBv0DH-hCeiIrS8x4IRcevlC1CjGn4lasQgVN38B42Vyp4-O~q~H4CKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Whitefish City Council on May 5 approved a zoning text amendment, Ordinance 25-5, clarifying standards for airports, landing strips and helipads in the WA zoning district and aligning local setback language with FAA design guidance.

Staff presentation: Dave, the city planner, told council the amendment was prompted after the Community Development Board (acting as the Board of Adjustment) overturned an administrative interpretation of setbacks in January. The 2014 code language had been read to require a 300-foot setback from adjacent property lines in some interpretations; staff said that interpretation effectively rendered the long-standing Whitefish Turf Airstrip nonconforming. The proposed changes clarify that aircraft safety setbacks apply to runways, landing strips, helipads and accessory buildings — not to an entire airport property — and base runway setback distances on FAA guidance.

Key changes: The amendment sets runway safety setbacks at 125 feet from the runway centerline (staff said accessory building setbacks were set at 150 feet, exceeding FAA guidance) and retains a 300-foot setback for helipads (staff noted FAA guidance is about 280 feet). The amendment also removed a 2014 termination provision that would have allowed a heliport conditional-use permit to lapse if not actively used.

Public input and planning board recommendation: The Community Development Board held a public hearing April 17 and recommended the amendment 6–1. City staff said it received roughly 30–40 public comments in the packet, a majority supporting the change. Residents and local aviators who spoke at the council hearing, including Corey Seaman and others, described the airstrip’s long local history and urged the council to align setbacks with FAA practice; some neighbors asked for a more detailed master plan to address off-site impacts such as noise and safety.

Council action: Councilor Giuseppe moved the ordinance and Councilor Cornell seconded. After discussion the council approved the ordinance on a recorded vote of 4–2, with Councilors Davis and Norton recorded in opposition. Council members who supported the amendment said it was a limited clarification, not an expansion of operations, and staff reported consultation with the Montana Aeronautics Division and FAA references.

Why it matters: The amendment restores clarity to how the city applies safety setbacks in the WA zone and affects future conditional-use reviews involving the Whitefish turf airstrip and any proposed helipads or accessory structures adjacent to runways.","City Council adopted an amendment to Title 11 clarifying that aircraft safety setbacks apply to runways, landing strips, helipads and accessory structures and aligning local language with FAA guidance; council voted 4–2 to approve ordinance 25-5 on first reading.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6251226,"Whitefish council approves 18% residential garbage rate increase; debate continues on mandatory service",3559,821000,4380000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196146-dfb5f3389c409b4178417ed9ff077a0b&start=821&end=4380","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196146-dfb5f3389c409b4178417ed9ff077a0b/thumbnail_821000.jpg","/articles/6251226/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/Whitefish-council-approves-18-residential-garbage-rate-increase-debate-continues-on-mandatory-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251226-45479c40e9fadbe7c21971b0ef713930/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442795&Signature=AqKWCRL8M0rdlCA7801kdSsBVvuqDpHMGa3mVQe~a5GDIe0WSOmiJdsOHaIbtD7c2-WHzzw3LTJJ0~Dz1Hg3FG3JUnmNl15avUCwp2IqX~~mx9-QieG~HczanCvuPSOcJFT3lJswjkVgv3IPqiOFLNLve2t8jo~DkgaJL5IaJtA1vJUQj4vviUEKvGrSckPgyShuDSGTYv~1-aKnbesorK04u9dCNZTzFxS3WAWi84KCAKiv84NH6lhYfTk0SYdCERoqkjoOkydysg2sVlDzJta7sHfoieV1J3eAAxvIA1-nVd8EJ84iJPaAADauIHwGT7Nl83O5Hqj6z39sMpzTag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Whitefish City Council approved Resolution 25-8 on May 5 to revise solid waste disposal fees, passing along past contract increases from Republic Services to customers and authorizing automatic annual increases tied to the hauler’s contract.

Staff said the city had not raised residential garbage rates since June 2022 and had absorbed three annual contract increases from Republic Services, which contracts for collection in the city and includes a 3.25% annual escalation clause. Dana, the city staff presenter, told council the solid waste fund has about $1.7 million in annual expenses, of which roughly $195,000 are city-administered costs such as billing and downtown collection. There are about 4,100 residential and 469 commercial accounts on the city roll.

The new rates: The proposed standard residential cart rate would rise from $17.25 to $20.34 per month, an 18% increase (about $3.09). Dana said $17.34 of the new $20.34 charge represents the fee Republic Services bills to the city; the city’s administrative billing component would increase from $1.50 to $3.00. Commercial accounts would see the administrative fee changed from $5 per business to $7 per utility account, capped at $14 for accounts with multiple businesses.

Council debate centered on options other than rate increases. Several councilors and speakers said the city should consider eliminating mandatory municipal garbage service, a policy the city has required for many decades. Staff said state Public Service Commission rules and the existing 10-year Republic Services contract — which provided funding for bear-resistant containers spread over time — complicate any immediate exit from the contract. Staff said if the city removed the mandatory requirement, the contract still includes provisions that assume mandatory service and the city could remain financially liable unless the contract is renegotiated or the Public Service Commission allowed competition or other changes.

Other alternatives discussed included: creating a manned \"green box\" drop site (as exists in Columbia Falls), encouraging a second commercial hauler (an applicant, Jonathan Proto, has signaled interest and will seek council support letters), and pacing future increases annually rather than passing multiple missed increases at once. Dana said the resolution also proposes automatic 3.25% increases in May 2026 and May 2027 to match likely contract escalators.

Vote and next steps: Councilor Frank moved and Councilor Norton seconded the motion to approve Resolution 25-8, which the council approved on a 5–1 vote. Councilor Giuseppe Caltabiano (referred to in the record as Caltabiano) voted in opposition. Staff will implement the new rates effective May 15, 2025, and continue public outreach, including an online survey about mandatory service; a potential new hauler will present a request for a letter of support at a subsequent meeting.

Why it matters: The increase shifts previously absorbed contract costs onto ratepayers and rekindles a broader policy debate over whether municipal mandatory garbage service is still necessary. The change affects about 4,100 residential accounts and several hundred commercial customers in Whitefish.","Council approved Resolution 25-8 to pass contract-driven increases from Republic Services to customers after years of absorbing prior rate hikes; councilors debated mandatory garbage service and other alternatives.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6251231,"Whitefish residents press council over Border Patrol role after recent traffic-stop detention",5680,0,5680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196146-dfb5f3389c409b4178417ed9ff077a0b&start=0&end=5680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196146-dfb5f3389c409b4178417ed9ff077a0b/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6251231/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/Whitefish-residents-press-council-over-Border-Patrol-role-after-recent-traffic-stop-detention","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251231-55cfb0eff57968952de36c43afda0b07/orig.mp4?Expires=1770397458&Signature=RKghtlqBZqJ8kB0ghA02~oVQEhy9M9pL22OegRZMl-nrxN-lsK5BtaGmNUH0-bSnW71MpiKtvzbqAyl24tBZn2Ypb8sDtBHNjq4Wywq~KRd0HE66c0nGtQ~crEw~1C1cmwtbDHe21voTf~V1JPDcrhQyMxsKF7B75ig9StZDomXolGBPqE1MxIDJjibz0GFYRN0GClfZFJoUYZlOMc~5EFtBND3l9gHN2Qp2rr9nMedSKdQcQ4LBiktA7kFOtT-~8VWEr92yGnSjDzfgBIRO9RksqV-hus3-J2cg4bSQfYbpoU7UJRD-XdVinp4WsgIG7~1DeGU4JKkYxK5TWpPlrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents at the Whitefish City Council meeting on May 5 urged the council to review how Whitefish Police interact with U.S. Border Patrol after a recent traffic stop that led to an immigration detention.

Speakers said the incident has left immigrants and U.S.-born residents with brown skin fearful of routine encounters with law enforcement. \"Today, my greatest fear is meeting law enforcement,\" resident Shannon told the council, adding she has lived in Whitefish for 24 years.

The comments followed an extended public-comment period in which local advocates described what they called an increase in local law enforcement calling Border Patrol. John Ratka Skinner, who said he is a personal sponsor for Renjifo del Castillo under a USCIS parole program, told council members that at the time of the stop the man had a Montana driver’s license, car insurance and a valid work permit. \"There's really no reason for Whitefish police to call Border Patrol other than the fact that he was brown and didn't speak English,\" Skinner said.

Why it matters: Council members and staff heard repeated appeals for a formal statement or policy changes to reassure immigrants that normal municipal policing will not automatically lead to immigration enforcement. Speakers urged the council to clarify limits on referrals to federal immigration agents and to consider a proclamation that Whitefish is welcoming to immigrants.

City staff and a police representative responded in the meeting. Staff noted the department has access to telephone interpretation services provided through a vendor, LanguageLink, and that Border Patrol should not be contacted for interpretation-only assistance. A Whitefish police representative told the council the department \"does not enforce immigration law\" and that officers may query dispatch about status but that Border Patrol dispatch in the Spokane sector — when contacted — made its own determination and dispatched agents in the cited incident. The representative said the traffic stop in question lasted 14 minutes, a written warning was issued for the violation, and Border Patrol conducted the immigration follow-up.

The police representative said the department has taken steps in response to community concern, including placing a requirement that a supervisor be notified before contacting Border Patrol. The department also made its bias-based policing and immigration-related policies available to the council and public, and staff said the city has no current interest in entering federal immigration task-force agreements.

Council reaction and next steps: Councilors and staff acknowledged public concern and noted the distinction between local policing duties and federal immigration enforcement. Council members asked staff for a clearer summary of the department’s contacts with immigration authorities and for the relevant policies to be made available to the public; staff distributed the department's written bias-based policing and immigration policies during the meeting. No formal ordinance or resolution was proposed at the meeting.

Community context: Several speakers linked the issue to a broader climate of fear among people of color and immigrants in the Flathead Valley and urged the city to act to preserve community trust. John Ratka Skinner referenced a recent federal court decision affecting parole statuses under a USCIS parole program and said that had bearing on the legal status of some local residents.

What remains open: The council did not take formal legislative action at the meeting. Staff and police said they will continue reviewing procedures. Residents who testified urged the council to consider a public proclamation and to clarify when and how local officers should involve federal immigration authorities.","Multiple Whitefish residents urged city leaders to limit referrals to Border Patrol and to clarify police practice after a traffic stop led to an immigration detention; Whitefish Police officials said Border Patrol should not be used for interpretation and said internal safeguards are being strengthened.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council authorizes bidding for Armory Park master plan Phase 4, including WAG well and drainage work

Council adopts updated ethics policy with new removal option for elected members

Council approves zoning amendment clarifying setbacks for Whitefish airstrip

Whitefish council approves 18% residential garbage rate increase; debate continues on mandatory service

Whitefish residents press council over Border Patrol role after recent traffic-stop detention