[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6191991,"mediaKeyId","4204705-52726e68cd44983a4bb51fba1b37667b","parentId",4204705,"title","Planning board discussion urges priority on Big Mountain secondary egress after public safety warning","audioSeconds",381,"startMs",59040,"endMs",440935,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=4204705-52726e68cd44983a4bb51fba1b37667b&start=59&end=440","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4204705-52726e68cd44983a4bb51fba1b37667b/thumbnail_59040.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6191991/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/Planning-board-discussion-urges-priority-on-Big-Mountain-secondary-egress-after-public-safety-warning","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191991-aef2f1ee537dcd3ee277a27de220814b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177086&Signature=LdoU8R03vfKZfgxArw0EV~LahiUdliO1alH~qKyC9W2ztHaQat6Yp77KQYPathAI3fC9PwcrDGAkV3VwwNk~p-c0ab2-jheQ2FDOXbw7iMekGuZeGUhYEgsMbE4KBZ1ld-3NT44v8p7txJWFVo8zQM02k9k~7Nmu-u5ygclxqcGPDw67JhoTJZ7tIu3Vya7ASYcNW0QXUBik~2IlrXeFeyh3Zr~IiBRGjhKTNv2LkgJ~AHlDwogO1yayLBE7odWGbAGZOPFsnw1T5ub6eSz~jH2n34TaDBXqN50er9WHi0igRUZ~UMt4-V5ReEm-XX5RY-qgNZk3ZnMfQObZ9zDKKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Whitefish, MT","date","2025-06-20T06:31:57Z","article","The Whitefish Planning Board continued line-by-line edits to the hazards draft element during a work session, after a public commenter urged the board to remove Haskell Basin as a listed evacuation route and to prioritize obtaining a second egress for Big Mountain.

Richard, a public commenter, told the board that listing Haskell Basin as a potential evacuation route is dangerously misleading. “To send anyone or anyone to think they can escape a wildfire, down the Haskell Road is to, I don't think I'm being too strong. It...it's a death trap,” he said, arguing the route has wooden bridges and other choke points that could fail in an active wildfire.

Why it matters: The hazards element will guide future land-use and infrastructure decisions. Board members and staff said the document should not imply unsafe routes are reliable evacuation options, because the plan could influence buyer decisions and emergency planning.

Board discussion focused on two outcomes: clarifying language in the hazards text about which routes are considered feasible evacuation corridors today, and elevating a goal to pursue a functional secondary egress for Big Mountain. Staff said the draft already contains objectives to “assess existing and potential evacuation routes” and to “determine improvements or strategies that could improve egress and provide directional information.” Participants asked that the plan be explicit about routes that are not safe for evacuation under wildfire conditions.

Board members also cautioned about use of proprietary labels. A staff member noted that Firewise is a trademarked/community-certification program and suggested the draft avoid implying the city itself is certifying neighborhoods as Firewise without the program’s process and standards. The group agreed to replace or define proprietary terms so the plan remains actionable without misusing program names.

Next steps: Staff will incorporate the public commenter’s concerns into the hazards chapter wording, clarify which routes are feasible now versus potential (subject to future engineering or land acquisitions), and retain an objective that prioritizes obtaining or securing a secondary egress for Big Mountain. The board signaled it expects the revised hazards language to return in a future packet for review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Community Development Board Work Session Hazards - Part II","oneSentenceSummary","The Whitefish Planning Board reviewed the hazards draft element and, after public comment, directed staff to clarify evacuation-route language and prioritize obtaining a secondary egress for Big Mountain.","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},6191978,"Board supports exploring environmentally friendlier fireworks with goal of removing lake-sourced perchlorate contamination",484,4358240,4842909,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4204705-52726e68cd44983a4bb51fba1b37667b&start=4358&end=4842","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4204705-52726e68cd44983a4bb51fba1b37667b/thumbnail_4358240.jpg","/articles/6191978/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/Board-supports-exploring-environmentally-friendlier-fireworks-with-goal-of-removing-lake-sourced-perchlorate-contamination","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191978-02e97c17a2c98125db5ebb98101886c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177086&Signature=NdW9pXyj1MzIDcppMf8dOGdDQdHFVrhkkZfLpCoOZqNTpYaqAbcaP8MnHFoCXKrdwcZT8xglwmiwVPXoDdMQfWQljUDcyUZ4Hk5qj~m5Al~WeSj-2QCQeC6QdMBpDWfiL~WJWmUxCF3O~QEdspItHK-smeT9b3jYLo2u7tqg~HDroav8ctkJirt0vcOqjeu-0whAZU06uj4YOIP~ho3LJOFbsIYaTx0eHETir8JivWuS5AmfzYiIHdAfffK2hytAzfzLfgnmiDz-ugbkHaaa2niKfHIyqtXcxLhbbO5-RTUs8S1jFXjmOHkqSKQ4F6yV7mqJJK8RT4c-lZUTTS~uRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning board members reviewed a proposal to reduce contaminants from fireworks and discussed whether to recommend moving fireworks away from Whitefish Lake due to perchlorate contamination risk.

A participant flagged the potential for perchlorates and other contaminants to enter drinking-water sources after fireworks displays. The draft objective presented to the board said the city should “move all fireworks off Barge's Lake due to the risk of perchlorates entering drinking water.” Participants debated feasibility, enforcement and public reaction; board members emphasized that the growth-policy goal should not itself impose a new ordinance but can direct staff and council to study and pursue alternatives.

Board members proposed softer, actionable drafting: continue to explore and implement more environmentally friendly fireworks alternatives with the long-term goal of eliminating fireworks that introduce perchlorates into the lake. Several speakers pointed to an existing 2021 city ordinance that sought to reduce perchlorate-producing fireworks to 50% by a target year; staff characterized the draft growth-policy language as consistent with the city’s ongoing direction but suggested the plan frame the objective as a city goal rather than an immediate mandate.

Next steps: The board asked staff to retain language that encourages exploring and implementing environmentally friendly alternatives, add a long-term goal to reduce/eliminate lake contamination from fireworks, and cross-reference the existing city ordinance in the implementation notes rather than create immediate new regulatory burdens in the growth policy.","Board members discussed language to reduce perchlorate contamination from fireworks in Whitefish Lake. The group endorsed exploring alternatives, setting a reduction goal and keeping the ordinance direction in mind rather than mandating immediate removal.",{"_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},6191984,"Board recommends encouraging environmental certification for city and private sports fields and golf courses",913,3341730,4254899,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4204705-52726e68cd44983a4bb51fba1b37667b&start=3341&end=4254","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4204705-52726e68cd44983a4bb51fba1b37667b/thumbnail_3341730.jpg","/articles/6191984/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/Board-recommends-encouraging-environmental-certification-for-city-and-private-sports-fields-and-golf-courses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191984-157b3691f2d8dc028fe633a7a5abad14/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177086&Signature=XIeLn0GN2vzj5x9LpXMxs2VdpBuJCJyWlskPbAPRh9QkJY3RH~5mBeAV4r4LuaEduO9HXhHW7VwJDSMAQJWthqqdPVBDkqEY9EmI41fb5eqwwfv~lJJdQrfcEUvvv1tVJh4APgbEuGHOqKQzZVq4D4~D28FhnrR-1wNvuqsHxqONE92eDQSAqILVjlA04Qamv43qjvrthoxTeYKZkvVgePFUVFop05UgO-4fCADIPQq9Kpp~~yktONS6yoB2qhJdUHWI~U2l8Tr-fQfBxwWeiDfVtrCQ9~xjix8rh-4enmJMCO9WZ-AhCIRes~BT~kmfa-JMRA2SoJszzViMlteNqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Whitefish Planning Board members reviewed a draft goal to limit sediment and nutrient loading from golf courses and recreational fields into city water bodies and discussed how to encourage environmental stewardship among public and private operators.

The draft goal for city-owned facilities proposed that the city seek zero sediment and nutrient loading from maintenance activities at city-owned golf courses and recreational fields into Whitefish Lake, Ken Lake and other water bodies. For fields leased to outside entities the board discussed adding lease language at renewal that would require or encourage environmental best practices and participation in recognized certification programs.

Board members and staff suggested encouraging certification from accredited organizations rather than prescribing a single program. The discussion named Audubon International’s Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (for golf courses), the Golf Environment Organization (GEO), and sports-field environmental certification programs as examples. Participants recommended two parallel tracks: (1) include objectives for city-owned properties that can be implemented contractually at lease renewal, and (2) add an encouragement objective for privately owned facilities to pursue accredited environmental certification and best management practices.

Next steps: Staff will combine overlapping objectives, add language that explicitly encourages accredited environmental certification programs for public and private facilities, and include suggested implementation points (lease-renewal language for city leases and voluntary incentive/education for private operators).","The planning board discussed goals to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff from city-owned and private recreational fields and golf courses, recommending encouragement of recognized environmental certification programs and lease-language options for city-owned properties.",{"_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},6191988,"Board backs periodic Whitefish Lake reporting and seeks clearer septic, BNSF and stormwater objectives",1794,859285,2653930,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4204705-52726e68cd44983a4bb51fba1b37667b&start=859&end=2653","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4204705-52726e68cd44983a4bb51fba1b37667b/thumbnail_859285.jpg","/articles/6191988/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/Board-backs-periodic-Whitefish-Lake-reporting-and-seeks-clearer-septic-BNSF-and-stormwater-objectives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191988-592b73551b0a48c5e28f2ae18f72d783/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177086&Signature=lyfDIsXIggtgG6XS57q7BcGFyOx6R1jYHmDSkxTdcWiDfMcX4h9P8PtDoV81ywFxYniOpJ2wAHWSLzKnWDvVNOGW0JktHXadkeL1fux6owYWCldRq6Zk1AVS4xCIvmmmPCDjrLnikPDqtbSCYA~n5NmJkP7nMVgMUVj05FDOJrthJDDkxVQtoESX3oQUjz0vUjKSP1qtjLEKHvjBKJP5mu9VSwZebEgQ6jCw2-DH63O~q3L95AwFZxcWS0VLTU7V7SfSBpXpV9WVQoQAX3SCJ8GD5hcqotlEcMmkmfIQG0m2-nJYWA8hV7XE8hfNo3wxnw51sWPZ-lUdd5rOFRpoew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the same Whitefish Planning Board work session, members reviewed a cluster of water-quality objectives: updating public records on aging septic systems, partnering with the Whitefish Lake Institute (WLI) for regular water-quality reports, seeking BNSF cleanup/monitoring records, and preparing for stormwater (MS4) permit requirements.

The board discussed a draft objective that reads in part: “No septic waste shall enter the Whitefish Lake or Whitefish River or associated water tables.” Staff presented a range of implementation options. Board members agreed the city should focus on feasible, enforceable measures — for example, requiring septic inspection at annexation rather than attempting a citywide mandatory inspection at every sale, which some participants said could be preempted by state law. The county maintains primary septic records; staff said those records are not in the city’s files and must be requested from the county.

On monitoring and reporting, the board discussed using existing partners. Staff and board members said the Whitefish Lake Institute already produces benchmarks and trend reporting; the group proposed adding an objective that the city obtain formal water-quality reports at a regular cadence. A staff speaker suggested, “At least every 5 years,” as a minimum reporting interval for comprehensive lake-condition reports; other participants preferred more frequent updates where funding permits. The board agreed to include a periodic-report objective in the draft, with implementation details to be defined in the plan’s implementation section.

Board members also discussed contaminants linked to the railyard. The draft includes an objective to obtain records of “BNSF cleanup and monitoring activities during the past 5 years.” Participants debated scope and frequency; some favored annual summaries to establish baselines, while others noted the city could obtain DEQ and EPA submittals and ask WLI or an independent consultant to summarize them for public reporting.

Finally, the board reviewed stormwater objectives. Members noted the public-works section will contain more detailed MS4 and stormwater implementation language but agreed to reference those requirements in the water-quality chapter and to support coordination with Public Works to map outfalls and green infrastructure strategies.

Next steps: Staff will keep the objective that the city partner with WLI for periodic lake (and possibly river) reporting, refine language around septic inspections to reflect legal constraints (annexation-based inspections vs. sale-based mandates), add a targeted objective to obtain BNSF monitoring records for summary reporting, and reference MS4 preparations in the public-works implementation section.","Planning board members reviewed water quality objectives including septic-system records, periodic reporting from Whitefish Lake Institute, requests for BNSF cleanup and monitoring records, and stormwater (MS4) preparation. Board suggested setting a regular reporting cadence and clarifying who will produce reports.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning board discussion urges priority on Big Mountain secondary egress after public safety warning

Board supports exploring environmentally friendlier fireworks with goal of removing lake-sourced perchlorate contamination

Board recommends encouraging environmental certification for city and private sports fields and golf courses

Board backs periodic Whitefish Lake reporting and seeks clearer septic, BNSF and stormwater objectives