Whitefish council to vote on curbside recycling, short-term rental rules

The Whitefish City Council has packed its final meeting agenda for the year with a number of big decisions, ranging from a proposed mandatory curbside recycling program to a reconsideration of where marijuana may be sold in the city starting in January.

The council also is poised to adopt the Highway 93 South Corridor Plan and a Long-Range Fire Department Master Plan.

Amendments to the city’s short-term rental regulations also are up for consideration. The council aims to tweak the city zoning code to update and improve regulations and enforcement for residential short-term and medium-term rentals.

Public hearings will be held on all of the proposals.

One of the strategies in Whitefish’s Climate Action Plan is to implement single-stream residential curbside recycling.

To that end, the curbside program, if approved, will cost $6.25 per month for each stop, or $75 annually, and the charge will be mandatory regardless of use, according to the city manager’s report to the council.

The curbside program is for residential use only.

“Since different businesses produce vastly different volumes of recyclable materials, it is not possible to determine a standard unit rate for billing, which is why commercial businesses are not included in the program as currently proposed,” the staff report said. “Commercial customers wishing to recycle still have the option to contract directly with Republic Services, or any other entity offering recycling services, as many businesses already do.”

THE COUNCIL will reconsider whether it wants to allow recreational marijuana sales and facilities in the WB-2 zone along the U.S. 93 South corridor. At its Nov. 15 meeting, the council postponed a second reading of the Marijuana Facilities Ordinance, and directed staff to create an alternative ordinance removing the WB-2 zone.

“Staff has received significant interest from entrepreneurs hoping to open dispensaries in Whitefish city limits,” a staff analysis noted. “Removing the WB-2 zone from the possible conditionally permitted zones for marijuana dispensaries will put a premium on the few available locations downtown. The WB-2 currently has the most available vacant commercial properties in the city, a few of which have been vacant and/or dilapidated for years.

“While the WB-2 is generally intended for retail sales or services that require large display or parking areas, there are also uses permitted in the WB-2, such as electronic stores and antique stores, certain types of building or garden supply stores, convenience stores, and farm supplies that may specialize in selling smaller retail items that wouldn’t necessarily need huge buildings, parking lots, or display areas,” the report notes. “Adding cannabis sales to the WB-2 would not be completely out of character with the intent of the district.”

The report pointed to the “mostly empty former Mountain Mall” as a reasonable place for such businesses.

“Banning dispensaries in the WB-2 could also cause many to locate just outside of city limits on commercial property to the south,” the report stated.

Another alternative would be to require a full conditional-use permit for marijuana businesses in that zone.

IN OTHER business, the council is poised to appoint Caitlin Overland as Whitefish municipal judge. Overland would begin work Dec. 13, and the agreement terminates Dec. 31, 2023. The council will vote on a resolution setting the base salary would be $85,000 per year.

Overland has been employed as a deputy county attorney for Flathead County.

Whitefish Municipal Judge William Hileman was running for reelection this year, but died Oct. 18 after an accidental fall.

The meeting begins at 7:10 p.m. at Whitefish City Hall. It also can be accessed remotely via Webex; instructions may be found on the city website.

News editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 406-758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.