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Whitefish adopts Western Region Hazard Mitigation Plan to preserve FEMA grant eligibility
Summary
Council adopted resolution 25‑7 adopting the Western Region Hazard Mitigation Plan (including the Flathead County annex). Staff said adoption preserves eligibility for FEMA mitigation grants; council approved the resolution after brief public comment and discussion.
The Whitefish City Council unanimously adopted Resolution 25‑7 on March 17, approving the Western Region Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Flathead County annex. City staff said the regional plan was developed to promote consistency across jurisdictions and to ensure eligibility for pre‑ and post‑disaster FEMA mitigation grant funding.
City staff member Dana presented the plan and explained that the State of Montana Disaster and Emergency Services coordinated the regional plans to reduce local administrative burdens and improve grant eligibility. “Approval of this plan will ensure that we’re eligible for FEMA mitigation grant funding both post and pre disaster,” Dana told the council, and noted there are no immediate direct financial requirements for adopting the plan; specific mitigation projects would be considered during normal budget processes.
Juanita Nelson, Emergency Management Planner with the Flathead County Office of Emergency Services, said the Flathead County annex was reviewed by FEMA in February and received approval pending local adoption by jurisdictions in the region. Nelson also answered council questions about jurisdictions that chose not to participate in the regional document.
Speakers during public comment included Richard Dillner, who urged the council to take more time to review the 500‑page packet before adopting, saying some data may be more than two years old; Joan Ehrenberg suggested the council consider an overlay safety zone for logging roads in certain upland neighborhoods. Council members asked staff about the level of department input; staff said multiple departments (fire, public works, planning, IT) contributed to actionable items in the plan and that the plan will undergo an annual review once adopted.
Councilor Andy moved to adopt Resolution 25‑7; the motion was seconded by Councilor Caltabiano and carried unanimously. The adoption makes Whitefish eligible for FEMA mitigation grants under the regional plan; staff said the city will incorporate specific appropriations for mitigation actions into future budget cycles as needed.
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Votes at a glance: Resolution 25‑7 — Motion to adopt Western Region Hazard Mitigation Plan (including Flathead County annex); mover: Councilor Andy; second: Councilor Caltabiano; outcome: approved unanimously.
