Whitefish council meets tonight

The Daily Inter Lake

Whitefish City Council is slated for a full agenda tonight, including the final reading of an ordinance that offers developers incentives for building affordable homes.

The ordinance includes numerous incentives, such as setbacks and density bonuses and a cash in-lieu option that allows developers to give the city money to put toward building homes affordable for the Whitefish workforce. If the council passes the ordinance, it will the be the first time Whitefish has established a policy for encouraging affordable housing.

The council also will address:

. An ordinance that would prohibit snow storage on public rights-of-way.

. An ordinance that would define what powers the city has concerning state and federal issues. The proposed ordinance is a result of a citizen group asking the council in June to address the Patriot Act. The council declined to act, saying the issue fell outside its jurisdiction and expertise.

. Defining the scope of a committee that will address lighting standards.

. Awarding a contract for $13,500 to Thomas, Dean and Hoskins for survey work on the planned bike path on the portion of Second Street between Shareview Alley and Armory Road.

. Authorizing an application for a grant that would allow the Whitefish Housing Authority to help homeowners make down payments. The housing authority will handle all work and costs associated with the grant.

. A park land dedication in the amount of $101,920 by the developers of the Great Northern subdivision planned near U.S. 93 across from Riverside at Whitefish.

The meeting begins in council chambers in City Hall at 7:10 p.m., following a special session on regulating big box stores that begins in the council conference room at 5:30 p.m.