The Whitefish City Council adopted changes to the snow and ice removal section of city code, awarded the contract for Phase 4 of the Armory Park project, approved the location of a storage shed for Glacier Nordic Club and supported removing the deed restriction on a Trailview Way home while supplying funds to buy the house down. 

The only hearing on the agenda was an ordinance about snow and ice removal. Parks and Recreation Director Maria Butts said three departments worked together to amend the code to say residents and business owners are required to keep sidewalks “reasonably clear” of snow, ice and slush. The code had read the sidewalks had to be kept “free and clear.” 

Other housekeeping changes can be seen on the redline version of the code on the city’s website. 

The council voted unanimously to adopt the changes made by the Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and Planning departments. 

PHASE 4 of the Armory Park master plan includes the installation of a small children's playground, drainage improvements, a WAG well development and the foundation for a storage garage.  

Butts said the city is continuing to work on engineering for the reconstruction of a softball field, improvements to the second existing softball field, restrooms, playground paths and benches and an additional south parking lot. 

The city received six bids and Lipka Excavating had the lowest bid, $153,880. The highest was over $344,000. 

The council voted unanimously to award the construction contract to Lipka Excavating, and the project will be covered by the Resort Tax Fund. 

KIM MORISAKI, executive director of the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust, asked the council to release the deed restriction on another home in the Trailview Way neighborhood.  

She also requested $100,000 to assist with the purchase of the land under the house to increase the affordability of the home. It would bring the purchase price down from $476,000 to $376,000 for the next buyer. 

“With the current deed restriction ... there’s a base price ... and every year, every single person who has a deed restriction on their house, they get 3% of that base price added on.” Morisaki explained. “The houses, if they were market rate, would be $650,000.” 

Essentially, the influx of funds is lowering the base price for future buyers. 

While the current deed restrictions do not define specific area median income levels, the land trust would limit the area median income to 80-140%. 

The councilors voted 4-2 in favor of granting both requests, with Councilors Giuseppe Caltabiano and Ben Davis voting in opposition. 

JENNIE BENDER, executive director of the Glacier Nordic Club, a nonprofit that grooms several cross-country ski trails and leads youth ski lessons, updated the council about a groomer barn to store equipment. The building will be located at the Big Mountain Trailhead.  

“I'm glad we ultimately ended up finding a spot, which was the spot we had originally,” Councilor Andy Feury said. “Jenny and Jesse ... went through a very thoughtful analysis of all of the other potential sites.”