Whitefish board votes to add growth‑plan work sessions, settles on Wednesday/Thursday cadence
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Summary
The Community Development Board agreed to add a second monthly session focused on the Vision Whitefish growth policy and to trial back‑to‑back Wednesday/Thursday meetings in the third week of each month, with work sessions to start at 5 p.m. and regular meetings remaining at 6 p.m.
Whitefish — The Whitefish Community Development Board agreed on Jan. 16 to adjust its meeting cadence to give more time for the city’s Vision Whitefish 2045 update, directing staff to pursue two meeting patterns and report back on staffing and fiscal implications.
Planning staff member Dave outlined multiple options for handling the growth‑policy review at the Jan. 16 work session, including moving the regular meeting to 7 p.m. and starting work sessions at 5 p.m., keeping current hours but finishing work sessions after regular meetings, scheduling a monthly second meeting devoted to the growth policy, or using special daytime educational sessions for complex chapters. Board members debated tradeoffs including public‑accessibility, volunteer schedules and staff capacity.
After discussion the board reached consensus to test a pattern of two meetings in the same week — a work session on Wednesday followed by the regular meeting on Thursday in the third week of the month — with work sessions starting at 5 p.m. and regular business at 6 p.m. Staff was asked to check whether that sequence is feasible staffing‑ and cost‑wise and to coordinate the formal notice schedule. Board members also emphasized clearer public agendas and asked staff to avoid re‑presenting material that the public and board have already read; several members suggested strictly limiting staff recaps and starting public comment and discussion sooner.
Board vice chair and others said a repeated weekly pairing could increase attendance for members who travel and make it easier for the public to plan. The board directed staff to return on the next meeting with recommendations on scheduling and the fiscal impact for having an additional meeting cadence.
The action is intended to give the board more uninterrupted time on complex chapters — notably land use and environment sections — while keeping a predictable schedule for the public. Staff cautioned that extensive chapters may still require special meetings or additional public outreach sessions.
