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Residents urge council to adopt pride flag, support Habitat and rethink winter public space; consent agenda approved
Summary
Public commenters pressed the Whitefish City Council to schedule a hearing on adopting the pride flag, to support Habitat land requests, and to create winter placemaking; council unanimously approved the consent agenda and thanked presenters.
Several residents used the communications-from-the-public portion of the Dec. 1 Whitefish City Council meeting to press the council on social and housing topics.
A speaker identified as "Z" (for the record at 418 E. 2nd Street) urged the council to "demonstrate moral courage and schedule a public hearing to discuss designating the pride flag as the official flag of the city of Whitefish," citing research the speaker said shows welcoming communities reduce suicide risk among LGBTQIA+ people.
Cameron Blake (825 Lehi Trail) praised Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley’s capacity-building and urged the council to make city lots available or run an RFP so Habitat or other builders can deliver workforce ownership housing. "We need 47 units between 50–80% AMI in the next 10 years," Blake said, summarizing a housing-needs assessment referenced during his remarks.
Jamie Gogan (117 Washington Avenue) proposed low-cost winter placemaking — outdoor winter cinema, an ice ribbon and neighborhood skating — as a way to build community during months when public life typically contracts.
Nathan Dugan (937 Kalispell Avenue) asked council members to consider demographic balance in upcoming planning commission appointments so younger residents feel represented and remain in the community.
Separately, council moved and seconded approval of the consent agenda, including minutes from the Nov. 1 retreat and the Nov. 17 meeting; the motion carried unanimously.
No formal council action on the pride-flag request or the winter placemaking proposals was recorded at this meeting; public commenters were encouraged to pursue follow-up with staff and councilors.
