Keegan Siebenaler, executive director of ShelterWF, told the council that public comment on the draft transportation element was largely positive but that a downtown business group urged the planning commission to remove references to mixed use. "If we want Whitefish to be a multimodal community...you need people near amenities," Keegan said, arguing that mixed-use zoning is essential to increase use of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.

Mary Flowers of Citizens for a Better Flathead said she commends planner Allen's work but criticized the planning office's public participation procedures for the growth policy update, saying they are "not in alignment with the Montana Land Use Act" and specifically referenced MCA 76-25-201. Mary urged the city manager to redirect planning staff toward a more supportive role, to post the group's recommendations on Engage Whitefish, and to consider adding a public comment opportunity to an upcoming council agenda.

Both speakers framed mixed use as central to achieving multimodal goals and stressed stronger, clearer public-participation steps. Council members and staff noted the timeline for growth-policy work sessions and that additional meetings or special work sessions may be scheduled to ensure adequate public input.

Next steps: the planning commission process continues; speakers indicated they would return with objections if mixed-use language is removed and planned to meet with the city manager to provide concrete recommendations.