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Residents ask council to provide childcare for growth‑policy visioning sessions
Summary
Speakers at the Sept. 2 public comment period asked the city to provide childcare at upcoming growth‑policy land‑use visioning sessions to increase working‑parent participation; council staff said they will explore options.
During public comment at the Whitefish City Council meeting on Sept. 2, residents urged the city to provide childcare at September growth‑policy land‑use visioning sessions to reduce barriers for working parents and increase participation.
Why it matters: City staff and the Community Development Board are scheduling public visioning sessions as part of the growth‑policy process; speakers said childcare would broaden participation by younger workers, renters, and parents who otherwise cannot attend evening sessions.
Martie Brandt described volunteer childcare options and offered to help coordinate providers, noting available rooms in city facilities. Mallory Phillips, who said she serves on the Community Development Board, backed the request and said some residents are reluctant to attend live sessions because they fear their comments will not be heard or acted on. Phillips asked the council to clarify the board’s role in listening to public input and asked for stronger support for staff expertise.
Council members and staff discussed feasibility. Parks staff and the city manager said they would approach after‑school staff and counselors about providing childcare during the scheduled public sessions and assess costs and logistics; this would initially be a pilot depending on demand and staffing availability.
What happens next: City staff will explore childcare options, including using city facilities and after‑school counselors, and will report back to council before the September visioning sessions.
