Muhlfeld vows to work for 'common benefit' of citizens

Balance figures prominently into John Muhlfeld’s view of city government. It’s something Whitefish needs and he feels equipped to deliver if elected mayor.

“Being an effective leader requires a balanced approach to problem-solving, compromise and mutual respect,” said Muhlfeld, adding that he’ll work to keep the budget balanced, too, “through a transparent and open process.”

Muhlfeld was appointed to fill Tom Muri’s Whitefish City Council seat in 2006 and was elected the following year to a four-year term he’ll finish the end of December. He faces fellow councilman Turner Askew in the bid for Whitefish mayor in the Nov. 8 city election.

Muhlfeld said his accomplishments as an experienced and successful business leader who has created many sustainable jobs in Whitefish give him an edge over his opponent. A hydrologist, he is president and co-founder of River Design Group, a Whitefish-based water-resources engineering firm.

Last year Outside magazine named River Design Group among its “Best Places to Work” in the United States. Muhlfeld said the recognition is a testament to his company’s successful business model and dedicated work force.

Economic development is high on Muhlfeld’s goals for the city. He hopes to create a steady economy in Whitefish with not so many peaks and valleys.

Critical areas ordinance

Muhlfeld served on the advisory committee that helped draft the comprehensive drainage ordinance for Whitefish’s planning jurisdiction. He maintains the critical areas law is needed to help protect Whitefish’s water resources.

“It was the right thing to do,” he said. “Certain components have worked well; others have not. Any number of ordinances are considered living documents, and [fine-tuning them] is part of the process.”

Muhlfeld supported two major text amendments he believes have made the law less restrictive and more user-friendly. A key change was limiting the application of the law to the most critical drainage-sensitive areas, which exempted several subdivisions such as Iron Horse, Lookout Ridge, Grouse Mountain Estates and Lion Mountain.

Another amendment that Muhlfeld suggested includes a recommendation to eliminate the controversial steep-slope language in the law and deal with slopes through erosion control standards instead.

Muhlfeld said the real estate brokers he’s talked to have not found that the new regulations restrict property sales and development, but added that he respects the opinions of those who say otherwise.

The ‘doughnut’

He admits the issue of Whitefish’s 2-mile planning “doughnut” around the city is a tough one.

“This issue is so complex, with a myriad of legal issues that makes it difficult for the public to understand where we are in the process,” he said.

Muhlfeld said he realizes getting the legislative change needed to allow the doughnut area to have representatives in city government is a difficult task, but is worth pursuing. He also favors a county-sponsored land-use advisory committee that could make recommendations to the Whitefish City Council.

“I would like to see the council adopt a position of honoring recommendations of the [doughnut] land-use advisory committee,” he said. “It would have to be binding to be meaningful.”

Regarding the referendum to decide the fate of the 2010 revised interlocal agreement for the doughnut area, Muhlfeld said he believes citizens have the constitutional right to question the actions of their government, though he’s not sure it’s the best method of resolving the issue.

City Hall

Muhlfeld wants to “push the brakes hard” on any decision for a new City Hall until the local economy recovers.

“I think the real estate committee jumped the gun and acted prematurely,” he said about five options recently outlined for a new facility. “I’m not advocating for any site. The people should say when and where. The bottom line is that we need to be responsible stewards of our tax dollars. Being frugal in today’s economy is OK.”

Budget

Muhlfeld voted in favor of the budget for the coming year, saying it’s the council’s responsibility to present a transparent and responsible budget. He noted the city didn’t raise taxes this year and that Whitefish enjoys the lowest property tax rate among Montana’s larger cities.

He acknowledged it will be a challenge to continue providing essential services to citizens and invest in the amenities “that make Whitefish such a special place to live, work and raise our children,” such as public schools, library, parks, downtown and open spaces.

Perception

“I think there’s an old-time healthy rivalry between Columbia Falls, Whitefish and Kalispell, but I hope we’re not viewed as elitist,” Muhlfeld said. “Whitefish has been forced to make some tough decisions [to ensure it remains] a desirable place to live.

“When you’re [one of the] fastest-growing cities, you have to act quickly to preserve what drew us to Whitefish in the first place.”

Last words

“As I see it, the job of the mayor is to put Whitefish and its citizenry first, to keep taxes down and to ensure that the community and City Council work together for our common benefit.”

John Muhlfeld

Age: 38

Family: Wife, Stephanie Sunshine

Occupation: Hydrologist and president of River Design Group

Background: Moved to Whitefish in 1995 after studying water resources at University of Queensland in Australia; Connecticut native. Degree in hydrology and geoscience from Hobart College in upstate New York; served on Whitefish City Council from 2006 to present; served as deputy mayor from 2010 to present; vice chairman of Whitefish Lake Protection Committee from 1998 to 2007; board member of Whitefish Lake Institute; member of Legacy Land Use Advisory Committee.

Email: jmuhlfeld@riverdesigngroup.net

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