Whitefish proposes City Beach rangers, tighter regs

No dogs — even on a leash.

No more lifeguards.

No fishing, swimming or sunbathing on the boat launch dock.

Those are a few of the stipulations in a proposed ordinance the Whitefish City Council will consider on Tuesday to better regulate how Whitefish City Beach can be used.

The Whitefish Parks and Recreation Department also has initiated a City Beach ranger position to enforce the revised beach rules. Under state law, the city may authorize a person to enforce city regulations by issuing a civil citation, Parks and Recreation Director Maria Butts said.

There will be multiple beach rangers on duty at any given time, she said. They will be certified in life-saving techniques, and also will hand boat inspections, monitor parking and other beach-related duties.

City Beach, arguably one of the most popular municipal beaches in the region, is a magnet for thousands of patrons during the peak summer months.

“Due to its popularity, staff seeks to provide the balance of an enjoyable experience for all with … rules for the overall health and safety of each visitor,” Butts said in her staff report to the council, adding that historically an orderly beach environment largely has been maintained through rules enforced by seasonal lifeguards.

“Although most patrons are amiable and cooperative, staff can encounter situations where [the lifeguards’] limited authority to fully enforce the rules at the beach presents them with a confrontational situation in which they do not have the necessary tools to be impactful in ensuring a clean, safe, recreational experience for all patrons,” Butts wrote.

The ranger will be given authority to issue civil violations and cite people for misdemeanors.

Eliminating the lifeguards and dismantling the lifeguard towers at the beach is the biggest change. Other regulations have been part of city rules but are being tweaked and revised.

For example, dogs currently are not allowed on the beach even on a leash, but many dog owners routinely bring their dogs to the beach.

“With dogs we’re always challenged with enforcing” the city code, Butts said.

The proposed rules for City Beach include:

• No dogs allowed on the beach or park area.

• No lifeguards on duty. Swim at your own risk. No diving off floating dock.

• All children must be directly supervised by an adult.

• No fishing, swimming or sunbathing on boat launch dock.

• No skateboards, skating or biking on the sidewalks.

• No smoking, alcohol or glass containers.

• Comply with the no-wake zone within 200 feet of the boat launch.

• No commercial vendors within 200 feet of the beach, swimming area and docks.

• No fireworks.

No public hearing is scheduled for the beach rule changes, but the council will take comments during the public comment portion at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting.

In other business, the council Tuesday will consider a resolution authorizing support for a state transportation alternatives grant application for the Baker Avenue underpass project.

The underpass for many years has been identified as a critical link to tie the commercial Railway District west of Baker Avenue to the downtown area.

A work session at 5:15 p.m. will focus on funding future fire apparatus and equipment, followed by a review of staff recommendations for revisions to the urban growth boundary.

The regular meeting begins at 7:10 p.m. at the interim City Hall, 1005 Baker Ave. in Whitefish.

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