Vendor, marijuana hearings top Whitefish agenda

The Whitefish City Council faces five public hearings at tonight’s meeting, on high-profile topics ranging from a moratorium on temporary food vendors to rate increases for garbage collection and sewer service. A continued moratorium on medical marijuana also will be considered.

First on the hearing list is a community-needs assessment for Bresnan Communications’ cable-TV franchise agreement renewal. The hearing will determine if there are any problems with the existing cable service that would warrant a formal renewal process. It is also to begin a community assessment to determine if the public has problems with Bresnan or wants to see service improved.

Hearing No. 2 regards a proposed rate increase for garbage collection and disposal. The city proposes boosting bills by $1 per month to offset rate increases imposed by Montana Waste Systems, the firm with which the city has a contract for collection and disposal. The proposed rate increase will generate about $7,300 a month for the city.

Next on the hearing list is a resolution approving an increase in sewer rates. Monthly sewer bills would increase less than 2 percent for about 40 percent of city customers, while the average increase for all customers is estimated at 11.7 percent. The increase would raise $194,000 in new annual revenue to help pay for capital improvements.

A hearing will be held to consider extending a moratorium on selling and growing medical marijuana. In December 2009 the city imposed a moratorium on the opening of any business that sells, grows or distributes medical marijuana. The proposed amendment would extend the moratorium past the June 6 expiration date to give the Planning Board more time to work through issues that have been raised.

Perhaps the most controversial hearing of the evening will be a proposed moratorium on temporary food vendors that operate on a regular basis in Whitefish. The council will consider repealing a temporary ordinance it passed a year ago allowing for vendor permits and will consider a study of a new permanent ordinance regulating temporary vendors.

The vendor issue recently reached the boiling point with Red Caboose Diner owner Richard Kramer, who depends on his late-night shift for a good portion of his revenue. He maintains that vendors such as the pizza stand operated from midnight to 2 a.m. by Second Street Pizza are creating a hardship for his business.

The council will meet in special session from 5:15 to 7 p.m. to interview candidates for a number of committee vacancies. The regular meeting begins at 7:10 p.m. Both meetings will be held at Whitefish City Hall.