Whitefish
Upcoming
Mayor & City Council
The Whitefish City Council will hold a work session to review the Whitefish Lake Institute’s annual Aquatic Invasive Species report and the FY27 budget request for the Our Lake Our Future water quality program. Staff will present data on watercraft inspections, early detection monitoring, and Eurasian Watermilfoil removal efforts. Council members will discuss program updates and provide direction to the City Manager on future management priorities.
- FY27 budget request for the Our Lake Our Future aquatic invasive species program
- Review of 2025 watercraft inspection data and Eurasian Watermilfoil removal in Beaver Lake
- Discussion of Whitefish Lake Institute’s ~$18,000 annual staffing cost-share
- Public comment period (3-minute limit per speaker)
Pedestrian & Bicycle Path Advisory Committee
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Path Advisory Committee will consider approval of previous minutes, receive updates on the Riverbend/Miles Avenue Path Project and the Connect Whitefish Plan, and discuss the formation of a new Transportation Advisory Committee. They will also review a future project list for shared-use paths including the Whitefish River Trail segments with funding and easement challenges.
- Riverbend/Miles Avenue Path Project update
- Connect Whitefish Plan update with revised cost estimates
- Discussion on forming a Transportation Advisory Committee
- Future project list: Whitefish River Trail – Snowy Mountain, Goguen Property (1,561 ft), and Walgreens & Duck Inn (1,332 ft) with easement issues
- Public comment period on agenda and non-agenda items
Impact Fee Advisory Committee
The committee will discuss a recommended change to the Water Impact Fee based on an updated study by Tischlerbise. They will also review capital improvement projects funded by impact fees and discuss the use of impact fees collected before the program was discontinued.
- Discussion of recommended Water Impact Fee rate change from Tischlerbise study
- Review of Capital Improvement projects using Impact Fees
- Discussion of use of Impact Fees collected before discontinuation
Tree Advisory Committee
The Tree Advisory Committee will select 10 replacement trees for removed Green Ash along Kalispell Avenue as part of a DNRC grant. They will also choose new trees for Eastern Taylor Cedars removed at Riverside Storm Pond due to fire hazard concerns. The meeting includes public comment and approval of previous minutes.
- Select 10 replacement trees for Green Ash removed along Kalispell Avenue (DNRC grant)
- Select replacement trees for Eastern Taylor Cedars removed at Riverside Storm Pond (fire hazard)
- Approval of March 18, 2026, minutes
- Public comment period
- Incident and vandalism reports
Climate Action Plan Standing Committee
The Climate Action Plan Standing Committee will review a revised parking study letter to be sent to City Council. They will also discuss updates on priority action items and project updates from previous meetings, including a MOD strategy for revising the Climate Action Plan.
- Review revised parking study letter to City Council
- Discussion of priority action item tracker updates
- Project updates including MOD strategy for Climate Action Plan revision
- Public comment on Whitefish School District and Center for Sustainability tour
- Approval of minutes from May 11, 2026 meeting
Last 30 days
Whitefish Housing Authority
The board will consider adopting the FY2027 Public Housing Operating Budget (Resolution #309) after it was tabled last month. They will also discuss the Whitefish Housing Strategy and approve an updated Memorandum of Agreement for Legacy Homes Program rental units. Additionally, the board will review Housing Choice Voucher cost savings measures (Resolution #310) and conduct a bylaws review.
- Adoption of FY2027 Public Housing Operating Budget (Resolution #309)
- Discussion of Whitefish Housing Strategy
- Approval of updated Legacy Homes Program Rental MOU with developer/owner
- HCV Cost Savings Measures (Resolution #310)
- Bylaws review
Resort Tax Monitoring Committee
The committee reviews May 2026 resort tax collections and April 2026 revenue reports. They hear updates from Public Works and Parks & Recreation, and recap the Montana Resort Tax Association Conference. Officers are elected for the upcoming year. The agenda includes review of the ongoing allocation percentages for property tax relief, streets, housing, bike/ped paths, Whitefish Trail, and admin costs.
- Annual election of officers for 2026-2027
- Review May 2026 resort tax collections
- Review allocation: 25% to property tax reduction
- Review allocation: 48% to streets and utilities
- Montana Resort Tax Association Conference recap
Whitefish Sustainable Tourism Management Plan Standing Committee
The committee will review April meeting minutes, hear public comment, and receive updates on the 2026 Green Business Awards (one applicant) and the Community Survey timing. They will also debrief the May 18th City Council work session and the Spring Town Hall event. No major decisions or votes are on the agenda.
- Debrief of May 18th work session with City Council
- Debrief of Spring Town Hall event (May 19th)
- Update on 2026 Green Business Awards (one applicant so far)
- Update on Community Survey coordination with ITRR
- Staff updates from Pedestrian & Bicycle Path Advisory Committee, Connect Whitefish, Climate Action Plan Committee, Whitefish Community Housing Committee
Mayor & City Council
The Whitefish City Council will hold a work session to discuss the Resort Tax Community Housing Program, which proposes reallocating 10% of the city's 3% resort tax to fund affordable housing projects and programs. This would generate an estimated $27 million over 20 years. The council will also receive an annual update from the Whitefish Community Center. Both agenda items include public comment and potential direction to the city manager.
- Public comment and direction on Resort Tax Community Housing Program reallocation
- Annual update from Whitefish Community Center
- Proposed 10% resort tax reallocation (~$27M over 20 years) for community housing
- Resolution No. 23-15 adopting the Community Housing Plan: Resort Tax included in packet
Park Board
The board conducted annual elections and committee appointments. Nominations for the WAG board were deferred. No substantive policy or funding decisions were made.
- Elected Terri Dunn as Chair (all ayes)
- Elected Thomas Shea as Vice Chair (all ayes)
- Appointed DeHerrera to Pedestrian/Bicycle Advisory (all ayes)
- Appointed Dunn to Tree Advisory (all ayes)
- Appointed Schmidt to WSFF (all ayes)
- Deferred WAG board nominations to next meeting (all ayes)
- Approved April 14 minutes (all ayes)