Whitefish leaves impact fees alone

 The Whitefish City Council on a split vote Monday decided to make no changes in the city’s impact fee schedule.

Mayor John Muhlfeld broke a 3-3 tie with council members Chris Hyatt, Bill Kahle and Phil Mitchell in opposition.

The Impact Fee Advisory Committee had recommended that the city eliminate the City Hall, Emergency Service Center, and Parks Maintenance Building impact fees as a way to encourage more growth.

The committee had recommended that Whitefish retain its water, wastewater, stormwater and paved trail fees.

Muhlfeld said there was no evidence that Whitefish’s impact fees have hindered growth, and he noted that the city’s total fees are only slightly higher per home than similar fees in Kalispell.

In 2012, Whitefish charged $6,443 in impact fees per newly constructed single-family residence.

That includes $2,314 for water, $1,864 for wastewater, $210 for stormwater, $813 for the Emergency Services Center, $771 for City Hall and $29 for the park maintenance building.

Kalispell charges a total of $6,357 in impact fees for a new home while Columbia Falls charges $4,731.

In other action on Monday, the Whitefish council:

 Voted unanimously to construct a connecting road between Dodger Lane and Veterans Way so residents in that neighborhood won’t be isolated during the upcoming reconstruction of East Second Street.

 Voted unanimously to improve its storm drainage facilities along East Fourth Street near Whitefish High School at an estimated cost of $138,000. The improvements would collect drainage along Fourth Street and pipe it through the school property to Pine Avenue, and then drain to the existing wetland detention pond at the south end of Pine Avenue. This pond would provide treatment and detention before releasing to Cow Creek.

 Voted unanimously to let the Ad Hoc Cemetery Committee continue its search for a new city cemetery site for an additional two years.