Council debates wildfire ordinance scope, urges targeted approach and CWPP development

Whitefish City Councilors debated an ordinance to reduce urban wildfire risk on Aug. 18 and directed staff to pursue targeted measures for high-risk properties while using the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) process to guide further action. Councilor Ben Bennett said the council should consider focusing regulations on larger-acreage properties where wildfire risk is greatest and suggested involving homeowners associations in enforcement. "I think my in my thinking, it would make sense to maybe pair it back a bit to apply only to those larger acreage properties," Bennett said. Cole, the community development director, said the CWPP should provide recommendations for tailoring requirements to target-hazard areas. "That's something that I hope that we will get from the CWPP is just some better direction for individualizing some of the areas that are target hazards," Cole said. Councilors expressed differing views on whether the draft ordinance—prepared by staff member Bridger—should be adopted now or refined. Several councilors urged a broad citywide standard with a mechanism to help residents who cannot maintain properties for reasons such as age, disability or low income. Councilor Rebecca proposed creating a hardship fund or assistance program so enforcement does not fall solely on residents unable to perform the work. Councilor Andy said he favored creating assistance mechanisms before narrowing exemptions and emphasized the community-wide risk of ignition from any single neglected lot. "I'd rather see us…come up with some kind of mechanism to take care of those folks that would be harmed by it," Andy said. Councilor Frank said the council should require standards to apply to all properties and develop solutions for individual hardships afterward. No ordinance vote occurred on Aug. 18. Councilors directed staff to pause moving the Bridger-drafted ordinance forward as-is and to incorporate CWPP recommendations and targeted risk analysis into further drafting and outreach. Cole noted the CWPP and the broader growth-policy process will offer an opportunity to refine rules and identify priority neighborhoods for additional mitigation measures. Councilors said they want the city to balance prevention with support for residents who cannot meet new standards and to prioritize high-risk slopes and heavily wooded subdivisions in subsequent policy refinements.