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Whitefish council approves annexation, Verizon lease amendment and addressing policy; appoints housing authority representative
Summary
At its Nov. 17 meeting the Whitefish City Council unanimously approved the annexation of 632 Lund Lane (resolution 25-36), a five-year Verizon license amendment affecting tower rent and Glacier Twins revenue, adopted a site-addressing and road-naming manual (resolution 25-37), and appointed Thomas Shea to the Whitefish Housing Authority.
The Whitefish City Council on Nov. 17 approved a series of routine and administrative measures, including an annexation, an amendment to a cellular tower lease that adjusts projected rent receipts, adoption of a site-addressing and road-naming manual, and several appointments.
The council voted unanimously to approve resolution 25-36, annexing approximately 2.02 acres at 632 Lund Lane and rezoning the property to WR-1 to match the county’s R-3 designation, after a staff presentation noted a completed site survey and a proposed 30-foot easement on the north side of the property to create a 60-foot right-of-way. "So after careful consideration... we are recommending approval of this annexation with the proposed easement," planner Wendy told the council.
The council also approved a resolution to adopt a second amendment to the city’s license agreement with Verizon Wireless for the Memorial Park cell tower. City attorney Angie summarized the proposed changes and the financial terms: the amendment extends the agreement five years with one automatic five-year extension and sets initial annual rent in the first term at about $26,644. "For the annual rent during the initial first term, it's $26,644 and change," Angie said. She said renewal-term annual rent would increase by 12% for each five-year renewal period. The report noted that under the existing arrangement the Glacier Twins receive a share of the lease revenue and that adopting the amendment would reduce the amount the city receives in the initial term compared with the original historical agreement; councilors asked for additional accounting transparency from the Glacier Twins organization, which staff said would be provided.
Michelle, on behalf of staff, presented a site-addressing and road-naming policies and procedures manual intended to standardize address numbering, signage, and coordination with Flathead County GIS and the U.S. Postal Service. The manual requires council involvement for renaming local roads where a public hearing is appropriate. Council moved and approved resolution 25-37 adopting the manual unanimously.
Appointments approved included the appointment of Thomas Shea as a resident representative to the Whitefish Housing Authority for a two-year term and the reappointment of Mike Kopitsky and Mary Ellen McCarthy to urban supervisor positions on the FCD Board; both motions carried unanimously.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 25-36 (annexation, 632 Lund Lane) — approved unanimously; Resolution (second amendment to Verizon license agreement) — approved unanimously; Resolution 25-37 (site-addressing and road-naming manual) — approved unanimously; Appointment — Thomas Shea to Whitefish Housing Authority — approved unanimously; Reappointments — Mike Kopitsky and Mary Ellen McCarthy to FCD Board — approved unanimously.
Councilors flagged follow-up correspondence from Glacier Twins counsel that will appear on a future agenda and discussed staff capacity for zoning code updates related to the growth policy; no other formal actions were taken at the meeting.
