Whitefish council considers short-term rental rule changes

The Whitefish City Council on Monday will wrap up a public hearing for a proposal that aims to update and improve regulations and enforcement for residential short-term and medium term rentals.

The council began the hearing on Dec. 6, but with a full agenda that evening opted to continue the hearing, which remains open for public comment.

The key change is a recommendation from the city’s Sustainable Tourism Management Planning Committee to change the definition of short-term rentals, from less than 30 days to less than 90 days.

In a letter to the editor published in the Whitefish Pilot, committee chair Lauren Oscilowski stated the committee’s goal “is for Council to pass these changes and ensure that traditional residential neighborhoods are not turned into tourist areas to the detriment of long-term residents.

“Our neighborhoods should not become investment opportunities for folks who are looking to get income from their vacation home by operating a ‘part-time hotel’ in a residential neighborhood,” Oscilowski further wrote.

IN OTHER business, the council will hold a public hearing for a resolution adopting a long-range fire department master plan.

According to the long-range plan completed by AP Triton, the fire department needs to bring on additional firefighting personnel and plan for future equipment upgrades.

The council will create a five-person strategic planning committee to set tangible prioritized goals, with defined objectives, timelines, funding recommendations and assigned responsibilities, according to the city manager’s report to the council.

The meeting begins at 7:10 p.m. Monday at Whitefish City Hall, and can be accessed remotely via Webex. Instructions for a Webex link can be found on the city’s website.