Coughlin touts experience in both mayor, council roles

The philosophy that guides Whitefish Mayor Cris Coughlin's votes on the City Council is this: "Make sure we make decisions today that are for the benefit of Whitefish in the long run and not for the short-term gain of a few."

Coughlin is one of three candidates for mayor in the mail-in election that begins Wednesday.

Coughlin served as deputy mayor on the council before being appointed mayor in August to fill the remainder of Andy Feury's term. As mayor, she votes only to break a tie.

Her experience in both arenas will serve Whitefish well, she said.

"My past and current experience is crucial at a time when Whitefish has so many important issues on the plate," she said. "I feel I run a fair and open process."

Coughlin was born and raised in the Flathead Valley and moved to Whitefish in the late 1970s. That adds to the consistency she says she can provide.

"I have history about why things transpired the way they did," she said.

Whitefish's biggest challenge is growth, Coughlin stated, and how to manage growth "in a fashion that we'll still have a community we all want to live in."

Coughlin is a stickler for the "process" of local government, gathering input from all sides before making decisions.

"I don't think any one person can change policy," she said. "It is all done through the process that involves our talented city staff, boards and the public."

COUGHLIN DEFENDS the city's proposed critical areas ordinance aimed at protecting water quality, particularly in drainage-challenged areas.

"Maintaining a higher standard of water quality will increase property values in the long run," she said.

Coughlin said the reasonable-use exemption is a tool in the proposed law that actually will protect the rights of property owners.

"The only reason in the current draft that someone is not allowed a reasonable-use exemption is if what they propose causes damage or a public-safety hazard. Any person with a lot of record will be able to build."

She pointed out that the ordinance was drafted in response to recommendations in the city's stormwater master plan and wasn't instigated by the council.

"The reason it's more technical is the public didn't think it was detailed enough," she said. "It is now a technical document, but it needed to be."

Regarding the recent controversy over city control in the two-mile planning area, Coughlin said it's unfortunate the state Legislature didn't change the law to allow residents in planning jurisdictions to vote for city officials.

The city needs to be able to plan in those areas, "to make it all mesh," she said. The fact that the Whitefish City-County Planning Board recently worked through contentious issues and unanimously recommended approval of the Whitefish Growth Policy "is a huge statement."

Coughlin also addressed recent controversy over city budgeting and spending, saying it's unfair criticism.

"Gary Marks [Whitefish city manager] does a wonderful job with the budget, making sure we spend within our means. Whitefish is very thorough," she said.

Building height is an issue ready to bear down on the city, and Coughlin isn't inclined to favor projects that push past the 35-foot limit.

"Precedent is a mighty influential force," she said. "Building height needs to be looked at carefully because you can't change it afterwards. Allowing higher buildings would give a tunneling effect and limit the openness."

Traffic is a dilemma for Whitefish, she said, noting that the city desperately needs better north-south and east-west routes to take the burden off Wisconsin Avenue and Second Street.

She doesn't favor a four-lane highway through the downtown corridor.

"I'd love to see a bypass, but where do you find the money? At this point, realistically, it may not happen," Coughlin said.

Parking is likewise a challenge. The city is in desperate need of a parking garage, a recommendation laid out in the downtown master plan.

"We're looking at it, narrowing in on a design, but the financing has not solidly gelled," she said.

Affordable housing is on Coughlin's agenda because she says Whitefish's nurses, firefighters, teachers and other workers need to be able to have the opportunity to live in the town in which they work.

"The current council is headed in the right direction," she said. "I think we'll see mandatory affordable housing sooner than later and I think it's an investment in the community. You're not giving them anything they won't give back."

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com