[{"_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",6191264,"mediaKeyId","4826138-e6db3b8ca69634be8e54a90700427c6b","parentId",4826138,"title","Detention of migrant and border-patrol contacts draw public outcry; council seeks transparency on training and records","audioSeconds",290,"startMs",6118000,"endMs",6408000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=4826138-e6db3b8ca69634be8e54a90700427c6b&start=6118&end=6408","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4826138-e6db3b8ca69634be8e54a90700427c6b/thumbnail_6118000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6191264/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/Detention-of-migrant-and-border-patrol-contacts-draw-public-outcry-council-seeks-transparency-on-training-and-records","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191264-7598501a7606b2e9929a54ac1ebfb841/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199413&Signature=Yh~tOzWslJN0RwTZUlrjIkH6SxKLxtNdZTGJVTLUQKpEvucNv6sMredoqKr0XRnCacz1Kn1TuZ~eepNf0WjG6Gg-2XgFN6OXmh5Fqy83vGPHlJ1K6CtAfRP3pxWLE2~iHw9jUZze5SaSM5n~o8dgNrJ1B4-BU-FOUaSRFZnfY8ghK78ixawvOshuHbc42kaSeq5baw3dbToMaj99jWbdSryVmiIEDuPwRPLQwe3qqMKmPP3OAQEy85muaelyBC77TFEv5T6NyTZK0CuRrk4KTK71KEigFQVFgSUJH3Qf12QL-PzHOQxO-WBUZROd1u7UWOcHIkWQeFvE6Ho6VcPM-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Whitefish, MT","date","2025-06-20T18:22:10Z","article","Residents and local advocates urged the Whitefish City Council on June 2 to investigate a recent traffic stop that led to a federal immigration detainment and to publish training materials and policies governing when local officers contact U.S. Border Patrol.

Video shown at the meeting and speakers who testified cited the detainment of an individual later identified in local reporting as Paquero N. del Castillo and drew parallels to other recent detainments beyond the valley. \"What you just heard is the detainment of Noemi Berrios in Maryland by ICE with no warrant,\" one speaker said while playing a recorded video of a separate incident; other speakers tied that example to local concerns.

Rebecca Miller, an immigration advocate, said she read the police incident report and found no indication the driver posed an immigration-law threat that would normally justify contacting federal immigration authorities. \"Once a call was made to CBP, a domino effect is triggered,\" Miller said, describing how the local officer’s contact with federal agents removed local control over the encounter.

Demands from speakers included: release of training materials used to instruct Whitefish officers about immigration and bias-based policing; disclosure of any policies governing local officers’ contacts with Border Patrol; an independent review of the traffic-stop procedures; and formal apologies and disciplinary review where appropriate.

City response and records: City attorney Angela (surname not specified in the meeting transcript) and Whitefish’s police chief told the council that the department’s policies and training records are public and will be produced to media and the public on request. The city attorney said, however, that body-camera footage and certain records that meet the definition of confidential criminal-justice information cannot be released by the department and would require a court order or in-camera court review before the city could disclose them.

Public testimony and reactions: Several dozen speakers — including local residents, business owners, former residents and organizers — addressed the council. Testimony ranged from calls for immediate policy reform and transparency, to expressions of support for law enforcement and warnings about the consequences of undermining police.

Organizers who spoke at the meeting said their protest activity is now better organized than in the immediate aftermath and warned officials that the community will escalate if they do not see changes in policy and accountability from the police department and from any outside agencies with whom local officers cooperate.

What the council asked for: Council members asked staff to provide the public copies of training materials and relevant policy documents that are not protected by criminal-justice confidentiality. The city attorney reiterated that footage identified as confidential criminal-justice material will only be released if a court orders it; she said Becker’s attorneys (the individual’s counsel) have been told the route to seek that footage is via court process.

Where it goes from here: Councilors and staff said they will continue to gather available public records on officer training and department policy. At least one councilor urged patience while staff completes internal and legal reviews; several speakers said they want faster, public-facing action and formal answers about how and when Border Patrol is contacted during routine stops.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Community Development Board Work Session - June 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents and advocates pressed the Whitefish City Council on June 2 for transparency after a traffic stop that led to a federal immigration detainment, asking the city to publish training materials and policies that govern contacts with U.S. Border Patrol.","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},6191269,"City planner outlines Whitefish 2045 growth-policy draft, planning board debate over edits",2103,2185000,4288000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4826138-e6db3b8ca69634be8e54a90700427c6b&start=2185&end=4288","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4826138-e6db3b8ca69634be8e54a90700427c6b/thumbnail_2185000.jpg","/articles/6191269/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/City-planner-outlines-Whitefish-2045-growth-policy-draft-planning-board-debate-over-edits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191269-9599828df3a8e9f522c279039ea419a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199413&Signature=d972XChNM0QvcdsMlGqW-aflCJqQgcglVg5DKK-HU07HO1TUSrqt4mIHbQD8cX2DcLyr2HFNbfeWv6ZHnsks8t7HD0KeY73HZ71qu-7Z35Qg3QkQuNWUCVw~CveN7BTOJRbmhqJ1dPC1RNhBZ1eF75n5zC~7kvK2qt3uk81qkBbML2eT3xtEpNm~eS2CNPFH3f~Q5OXYZ5saf715aGgrphEXOoVolkr3S1torRhPNld6qcEvT061Pz~KrRafsGsVGcDh-ke~DK1fXMrHrLSBfLIyb50DDz-18~JczQhjDxfI1CUBMyYimZ2CUGchGOXd5Js7XVrqH7XwsvzQ5HodIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alan Siebenbach, the city of Whitefish’s long-range planner, told the City Council on June 2 that the Whitefish 2045 update is a policy document — required under the Montana Land Use Planning Act — that sets vision, values and goals to guide future land-use regulations and programs.

\"This is the growth policy or the community plan update,\" Siebenbach said, explaining the document’s role and the review steps taken so far, including stakeholder interviews, agency review and public outreach.

The draft, Siebenbach said, is organized into required plan elements — environment and natural resources, housing, transportation, public facilities, economic development and hazards — and includes chapters on history, demographics and a vision statement derived from community visioning sessions. He told the council the planning team has posted chapter drafts and red-lined community-development-board comments on the project website so the public can follow revisions.

Why it matters: the Montana Land Use Planning Act now requires cities above specified population thresholds to adopt growth policies and to include population projections and the statutory elements the state prescribes. Those policy choices will drive future zoning, permitting and capital programs, city staff said.

Siebenbach summarized technical issues the draft addresses: population projection options recommended by the state, demographic analysis of seasonal versus year-round residents, an economic-development analysis that found a heavy tourism concentration in local employment, water-quality and septic-leachate mapping, and a proposed approach to a future land-use map that relies on place-type (transect/form-based) concepts instead of solely use-based (Euclidean) zoning.

Contested chapter and process: a red-lined chapter produced by an outside group known as Heart of Whitefish was brought to the Community Development Board (CDB). At its May 21 work session the CDB voted 4–2 to accept the Heart of Whitefish draft chapter with a single revision; that decision drew an influx of public letters and comments asking for greater transparency and review before the version is forwarded to council.

Councilors and residents at Tuesday’s meeting debated whether the CDB’s adoption of the alternate chapter followed standard practice and whether the public had adequate notice that a substantially rewritten chapter would be considered. Multiple council members asked that any future packet sent to the council include both a \"clean\" assembled draft and a red-line showing all edits so councilors and the public can see what changed.

Next steps and funding: Siebenbach said the city received a state implementation grant to help complete the growth policy and associated zoning work; during the meeting staff referred to grant amounts of $390,000 and $309,000 in separate remarks. Siebenbach said that the grant is intended primarily to fund consultant assistance for preparing zoning text amendments and implementing the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA). He warned that some zoning work may not be completed by the state’s compliance deadline without outside assistance.

Council direction and consultant RFP: Several councilors said the city should issue a request for proposals for a land-use/zoning consultant to help facilitate outreach, prepare zoning language (including consideration of form-based or transect approaches), and build consensus on the future land-use map. Staff said they would draft a scope of work and that consultant expense is expected to be drawn from the state grant if allowable.

Public reaction: dozens of residents and stakeholders attended and spoke during the council’s work session and the meeting about specific language in the economic-development chapter, concerns about commercial uses in residential neighborhoods, parking, the role of short-term rentals and how the plan characterizes tourism’s benefits and costs. Speakers urged clearer documentation of public comments and cautioned against wholesale red-lining without additional public review.

Timing: Siebenbach outlined an anticipated review schedule that includes further CDB work sessions through the summer and fall, posting of revised chapters for public review, and continued agency reviews. He said some required technical inputs (water and sewer master plans) are still pending and may affect timing for the public facilities chapter.

What’s next: staff will prepare a draft scope for consultant assistance on the land-use element and return with a proposed RFP; council members requested both a clean assembled draft and a red-line version when chapters are forwarded for council review so changes are easier to evaluate.","City staff described the draft Whitefish 2045 growth policy, the Montana Land Use Planning Act requirements, and next steps. The Community Development Board’s recent 4–2 vote to accept a redlined alternative chapter drew public pushback and prompted council discussion about process and an outside consultant to help finish the land-use element.",{"_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},6191248,"Council awards Armory Park phase 4 contract to Lipka Excavating; project within resort-tax budget",470,14755000,15225000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4826138-e6db3b8ca69634be8e54a90700427c6b&start=14755&end=15225","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4826138-e6db3b8ca69634be8e54a90700427c6b/thumbnail_14755000.jpg","/articles/6191248/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/Council-awards-Armory-Park-phase-4-contract-to-Lipka-Excavating-project-within-resort-tax-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191248-93906a8cbeb8da4732bd7f9c2640fe5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199413&Signature=jd80tUNgWa2vRhJ8MJ7PYNNJNmHJT1JdZ1kRzmtmVgd1UXAKyZ3JcNi6Pjkct1TTZ9qp5vigHuV5~bJIoldL7EeMQI8rn~H5VDhXTmVwcvmmNrnK4nGHi43eP70um2UEXDQiQviE3OpYRkHLMEo83PMHvath73YvFu2YKmAc2JrNVKjh-0CF15qvDA4fSVX-4Z2NJ3QOWcZhBIWlxhy08xEmIetvSlcoGi0LMJK2VTOjW2tKS6A-5rPW-NGQVDbALauv97BJo4wuxYrrWm65ropYDRzSb9qxAJiseVdBwv2d2lSWD9PPlRDCZhqjAfCOtF4OAJ9qjlmEGp46zbQCQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Whitefish City Council on June 2 awarded the Armory Park Master Plan Phase 4 construction contract to Lipka Excavating for $153,880, the apparent low bidder.

Parks and Recreation Director Maria (surname not given) told the council that the city received six bids opened May 27 and that bid totals ranged from roughly 20 percent below to 77 percent above the engineer’s estimate. She said the current overall project budget for fiscal years 2025–26 is $950,000 in the resort-tax fund, leaving sufficient funding to cover the low bid.

The council voted unanimously to award the contract. Staff said project priorities will guide the initial Phase 4 work and that standard city contract and insurance requirements apply.

What’s next: staff will execute a contract with Lipka Excavating, schedule construction work, and report progress and final costs back to the council as required.","Council awarded the Armory Park master-plan Phase 4 construction contract to Lipka Excavating for $153,880, the apparent low bidder. Staff said the resort-tax fund includes sufficient budget for project execution.",{"_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},6191254,"Council adopts updated snow-and-ice ordinance to clarify expectations and fees",92,14368000,14460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4826138-e6db3b8ca69634be8e54a90700427c6b&start=14368&end=14460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4826138-e6db3b8ca69634be8e54a90700427c6b/thumbnail_14368000.jpg","/articles/6191254/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/Council-adopts-updated-snow-and-ice-ordinance-to-clarify-expectations-and-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191254-f11a2da6aed5b71675dd14018198f4f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199413&Signature=KRbqS27OurRZ54oaO5PWLWWASAEA23ARqJr0lGj~fNPBuShBcqlhQV8hPuCj7Jt4irro-wfNM6FNDRmZTVacfemHYT5jO1sdn2Dw-USPCRnu7-uQDzuZcFYgo~hKZufGSNrU~LG8FmmYV5lHgoN8JcMdmXGdRnKs~qHYkaY9~VIIGipxzxXbm0u3SDia~wPkuPp5fkjG021ePebW0b9iBjrAGGRq0J1X01paJ2AGTseLa5lwedTZ6Op5~2jF5OxB4Jf0FWBxEzt-M1BdLUIQBeclTmC6YLXOaYA656to2D7UGcYqLlnnHBg981nm7iHDfwEuNqKXtieOGv7RfTBi3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Whitefish City Council on June 2 adopted Ordinance 25-06 revising the city’s snow- and ice-removal code (Title 7, Chapter 2, Section 2).

Parks and Recreation Director Maria (surname not specified in the transcript) presented the staff report and said the revisions clarify the city’s expectations and enforcement procedure for private property owners. The ordinance replaces language that required sidewalks and paths to be ‘‘free and clear’’ of accumulations with a more attainable standard requiring sidewalks and paths to be \"reasonably clear of accumulations of snow and ice and passable for pedestrians.\" Staff emphasized the change is meant to set a realistic expectation for Montana winter conditions while reducing municipal liability and increasing enforceability.

Key changes: the update adds commercial zones that were omitted in the previous language, explicitly lists boulevard areas in business districts as areas to be cleared, authorizes mitigations for managing snow buildup, notes that some de-icers can damage new sidewalks or street trees, and revises administrative billing language. The ordinance sets an administrative-fee structure for contractor removal with a $60 minimum and a $300 maximum to better match staff time and encourage compliance.

Public hearing: a public hearing was advertised and held; no substantive objections were sustained in the meeting record. After staff presentation the council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 25-06.

Implementation: staff said they will proceed with the updated enforcement steps (door-hanger or mailed notice prior to contracting removal), and the new fee schedule will apply to administrative costs the city recovers when it hires contractors to clear obstructing snow or ice.

Why it matters: the revision aims to clarify obligations for property owners while giving staff clearer tools to manage public rights of way during winter months and a predictable administrative fee structure for cost recovery.","The council unanimously adopted Ordinance 25-06 updating Title 7, Chapter 2, Section 2 of the Whitefish City Code to require sidewalks and shared paths be kept \"reasonably clear,\" add business-district specifics, and set a $60–$300 administrative fee range for city removal.",{"_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},6191260,"Council approves $100,000 to land trust to buy down Trail View home, 4–2 vote",1265,14779000,16044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4826138-e6db3b8ca69634be8e54a90700427c6b&start=14779&end=16044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4826138-e6db3b8ca69634be8e54a90700427c6b/thumbnail_14779000.jpg","/articles/6191260/Whitefish/Flathead-County/Montana/Council-approves-100000-to-land-trust-to-buy-down-Trail-View-home-42-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191260-90736e7ffe04423924b534a2748640e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199413&Signature=R32qKB1v1uxidLfxhw-tWVPv5HPfoL9AcKxjoEWV0dGyxifL6oBtOwch5pBSY2FPSat0aGU5aG61JtPfxXjUrMmgWgi9SIs8TZ4P98cbpPFVCRD9PsqccbWipzOPXPTbO~haqV4P~vYExq5qIgJ2aYEXwMeHsJB0w0s5JXRxBOnncfQRNrHe1jSVxQw6PNRDnEkib7G1lkalAqMnMl1xag4cwtqbpb8BKzQ8kfs3GzYr~7bPDV58c2w42ArNwyZ-SKFV6MG3PC6kSZ4gyI-cjwvUxiiMVn7mGFK4p5FOnBmGhhLysDUYZBdM3XawhNLfDcIjw~Ws3ehWVp5rDxb2Vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council on June 2 approved a $100,000 payment to the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust (NWMT CLT) to support purchase of 405 Trail View Way and to lower the home’s resale baseline so it remains affordable under a community-land-trust ground lease.

Kim Morisaki, executive director of the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust, told the council the organization routinely acquires deed-restricted homes in the Trail View neighborhood to convert them to community-land-trust ownership and keep them permanently affordable. \"Our hope is to continue to buy those homes, buy the land underneath those homes, and continue to bring them back down into the $300,000 range,\" Morisaki said, noting several qualified buyers had declined the house at its current restricted price.

How the transaction works: under the proposed arrangement NWMT CLT will contribute toward the purchase and take ownership of the land under the house; the current owner will be paid the agreed sales amount. The city’s $100,000 contribution reduces the baseline purchase price for the next household; future resales will increase by the deed-restriction formula (the organization said the standard annual adjustment is 3 percent). The land trust said the arrangement creates a permanently affordable home for households at an income level defined in the CLT ground lease.

Council debate: councilors discussed the city’s limited affordable-housing fund balance and whether the city should conserve funds for larger projects such as Alpenglow 2 (a previously-planned multifamily project currently on hold). Several councilors noted the average city contribution to prior Trail View homes has been about $31,000 per unit and argued this request is larger than typical. Supporters said the long-term affordability guarantee and permanent CLT ownership justify the higher one-time contribution; opponents said the fund could cover more units if used for smaller subsidies or through a revolving-loan mechanism.

Vote: the measure passed by a 4–2 roll call. Two councilors voted against the payment; meeting minutes record those no votes were cast by Giuseppe and Ben. The remainder voted in favor.

Funding and accounting: staff said the $100,000 will come from the city’s affordable-housing fund (four-mill levy proceeds and other commitments). After approval staff will coordinate closing with NWMT CLT, which plans to place an income-restricting ground lease on the property.

What happens next: NWMT CLT will complete the purchase and record the CLT ground lease and resale restriction. Staff said the city will continue to pursue larger, multi-unit affordable projects (including seeking grant matches), while also supporting one-off acquisitions where permanent affordability can be achieved.","The City Council approved a $100,000 contribution to the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust to support the purchase of 405 Trail View Way and reduce the resale baseline so the home remains affordable under a community-land-trust ground lease. The measure passed 4–2; two councilors voted no.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Detention of migrant and border-patrol contacts draw public outcry; council seeks transparency on training and records

City planner outlines Whitefish 2045 growth-policy draft, planning board debate over edits

Council awards Armory Park phase 4 contract to Lipka Excavating; project within resort-tax budget

Council adopts updated snow-and-ice ordinance to clarify expectations and fees

Council approves $100,000 to land trust to buy down Trail View home, 4–2 vote