Whitefish plans to double invasive species budget

The city of Whitefish plans to more than double the amount of money it will spend in the coming year for the city’s aquatic invasive species management program.

The Whitefish City Council will devote an hour of its work session tonight to managing aquatic invasive species and will get input from Whitefish Lake Institute, which prepared the management plan and budget.

Whitefish budgeted $30,000 for the current fiscal year’s management program, but proposes to spend $79,330 for the fiscal year that begins July 1, with the lion’s share earmarked for watercraft inspection and decontamination.

In 2013 the city began supporting an aquatic invasive species management plan as recommended by the Whitefish Lake Institute. The overriding goal is to prevent the transfer of aquatic invasive species to local water bodies through early detection and monitoring, watercraft inspections, and education and outreach.

Each year the management program has proposed specific tasks to reduce the threat of invasive species to the Whitefish area, according to the city manager’s report to the council. Those tasks have changed slightly over the years based on new information and the ability to leverage other partnerships.

This year’s budget proposes $64,830 for watercraft inspection and decontamination; $5,000 for Beaver Lake Eurasian water milfoil monitoring and control; $7,500 for DNA analysis of select lakes; and $2,000 for annual management report preparation.

Also during tonight’s work session, the council will talk with Whitefish Legacy Partners on its “Close the Loop” campaign; that discussion begins at 5 p.m., following by the invasive species discussion at 6 p.m.

During the regular council meeting that begins at 7:10 p.m. the council will hold several public hearings on proposed ordinances to rezone properties the city is annexing. Those properties include 13 parcels in the Ramsey Avenue area and the Ramsey Avenue right of way; 0.8 acres at 6356 U.S. 93 S.; 0.8 acres at 1210 O’Brien Avenue and the O’Brien Avenue right of way; 0.14 acres along the south side of West 19th Street; and 1.87 acres between Lenna Joy Drive, Shiloh Avenue and the Whitefish River.

The council will consider approving a contract for $116,200 to Robert Peccia & Associates to begin work on the Somers Avenue reconstruction project. The city plans to rebuild six blocks of Somers Avenue between Second and Eighth Street. The project will reconstruct all existing roadway surfacing, but is anticipated that most of the existing sidewalks will remain, except at intersections, the city manager’s report noted.

Bids are expected to be let in March with construction this summer.

Both the work session and council meeting will be held at the interim City Hall, 1005 Baker Ave.

For more information and a full agenda, visit http://www.cityofwhitefish.org.

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