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Whitefish council approves first-reading changes to impact-fee ordinance and adopts new water/wastewater rates
Summary
On July 20 the Whitefish City Council approved Ordinance 26-9 on first reading and adopted Resolution 26-18, which amend the city impact-fee ordinance and set updated water and wastewater impact fees after a consultant study showed lower measured consumption and some capital projects coming in under budget.
The Whitefish City Council voted July 20 to advance amendments to the city's impact-fee ordinance on first reading and to adopt a companion resolution updating maximum supportable water and wastewater fees.
Lainie, a city planner, told the council the changes respond to 2025 state law and a consultant update by Tishler Baez. She said the city's consultant revised usage data and capital-cost estimates, driving a 23% reduction in measured water consumption and a roughly 20% reduction for wastewater that together lower the fees developers can be charged. "The water impact fee was reduced as a result of the cost of the water storage tank project coming in under anticipated cost and a reduction in water consumption by 23%," she said.
Councilors sought clarification about whether the council was adopting the maximum supportable fee; Lainie confirmed the table in the staff memo shows the new maximum supportable rates the council was moving forward to adopt. Craig, a utilities staff member, said much of the wastewater reduction relates to infiltration and inflow work and cast-iron main replacement, while consultants also used updated meter readings and billing data.
During public comment, Michael Hein (Impact Fee Advisory Committee) explained why the portion of a large project immediately paid by impact fees can appear small: projects like an oversized water tower are financed for long lives and growth can be charged for capacity over time.
After closing the public hearing, Councilor Andy moved to approve Ordinance 26-9 on first reading; the motion was seconded and carried among members present. Andy then moved to approve Resolution 26-18 updating rates and policies; the council approved that motion as well.
The ordinance and resolution will return for required follow-up and signature language at the second hearing scheduled Aug. 3. Staff noted some citation typos in the packet (a reference to an MCA section was corrected before the signed ordinance).
