Whitefish is looking to increase the fees charged to launch boats at City Beach.  

The city collects fees for private and commercial watercraft. Funds are used to support the aquatic invasive species program, including inspections at City Beach and Whitefish Lake State Park.  

The increase in fees will be a topic of discussion during a work session on Tuesday, when City Council meets, beginning at 5 p.m.  

The regular meeting follows at 7:10 p.m. Both meetings will be held at City Hall, 418 E. Second St., on Tuesday, due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday.  

Proposed fees for a day pass for residents (watercraft registered in Montana) would increase from $10 to $15, while the season pass would double to $100. Non-residents would be charged $30 for a day pass and $200 for a season pass.  

Last year, the city sold just over 1,000 day passes and 350 season passes.  

Commercial permits are a flat fee, which includes one season pass or one punch card good for a set number of launches. Commercial fees range based on several options, but the basic fee would increase from $125 to $500.  

Total revenue generated by the boat ramp fees in 2025 was about $32,000, which only covers about 20% of the costs to run the ramp, maintain City Beach Park, and perform inspections and boat decontaminations, according to a memo from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.  

“Recently, the city has made financial investments in infrastructure improvements that were not supported by revenues generated from the boat ramp use,” the memo says. “By increasing user fees directly tied to the boat ramp use, the cost to operate the boat launch is passed on to both private and commercial users who utilize the amenity the most.”  

In 2016, Council approved the last boat fee increase from $5 to $10 for a day pass and from $40 to $50 for a season pass.  

DURING THE regular meeting, Council is set to vote on eliminating the city’s Architectural Review Committee, which reviews and makes a recommendation on applications for those seeking to construct commercial, industrial, public or municipal buildings or two-unit townhouses or multi-family residential.  

“[The committee] has been instrumental in creating a well-designed community that is aesthetically pleasing for citizens and visitors,” City Attorney Angela Jacobs said in a memo to Council.  

However, the Montana Legislature in 2023 passed a law that prohibits municipalities from requiring review by an external board with respect to compliance with local design review criteria.  

Jacobs said the city changed the committee to be a recommending body rather than mandatory, but that has been challenged by one organization.  

During the work session at 5:30 p.m., a review of the update to the city’s growth policy, Vision Whitefish 2045, is set. Council will look at the first three plan elements — economic development, environment, natural resources and hazards, and public facilities.  

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 406-758-4421 or [email protected].