Whitefish City Council last week agreed to commit funds to the Workforce Rental Assistance Program.

Daniel Sidder, executive director of Housing Whitefish, proposed a funding plan for the next three years. The city would contribute $200,000 in fiscal year 2026, $250,000 in 2027 and $300,000 in 2028. 

Housing Whitefish will raise funds to match the city’s contributions one to one. Sidder said it has already secured $120,000 in grants and donations for fiscal year 2026 and will fundraise the remaining $80,000 to meet its matching commitment. 

Whitefish’s Workforce Rental Assistance Program has provided rental assistance payments to 65 households, which affects 126 individuals. 

“We are continuing to hear that this program is really helping folks continue to live in the community,” Sidder said. “We’d like to continue to build out the program, establish more partnerships and to do that we’d really like to see an increased funding request from the city.” 

The council voted unanimously to support the rental assistance program for the next three years. 

THE COUNCIL awarded the contract for the East Sixth Street reconstruction project to Watson Excavating. 

In November 2024, Council chose one of two options for the design, wherein East Sixth Street will be limited to one-way eastbound traffic from Columbia Avenue to Pine Avenue. 

The city received three bids. Only Watson’s bid was below the engineer’s estimate. LHC and Knife River were also considered. 

The total cost of the project is $2,470,000 and will be paid for via the resort tax fund.  

Joseph Raudabaugh, resident of the north Whitefish Lake area, proposed a North Lake Fire District. The city agreed to apply for an easement on Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation land for the district. 

Raudabaugh displayed maps that show stranded neighborhoods, areas that are not within 5 miles of the Big Mountain fire station, the city of Whitefish station 22 or Olney. 

"We hope the community will support this build-your-own station giving model because we think that’s tax efficient,” he said.  

The far north unmanned station would house supporting equipment and water. There is a section of DNRC Trust Lands, approximately 1.5 acres, that could be obtained through an easement for a fire station for the proposed North Lake District.

He told Council he was not asking the city to pay for anything.

“We would have a services agreement with you, like the service area does today,” he said. “We would be covering all costs so there’s no burden to the city.”

The council voted unanimously to apply for the easement and be “supportive but not burdened.” 

TROVARE, A gourmet kitchen store on Central Avenue that offers cooking classes, was approved for a permit to sell beer and wine at chef’s dinners and classes.

Council also approved a zoning map amendment at 6575 U.S. 93 South and 1325 Columbia Ave., the site of the old North Valley Hospital, to remove a planned unit development overlay. In 2019, Council approved Riverbank Residence to develop 234 apartments at the location. The overlay expired in 2022. 

Kurt Blades, president of Project Whitefish Kids sent a letter to Council “asking the city to consider matching the player fees paid on a yearly basis to solidify the park’s funding.” That amount is $100,000. 

Council discussed the matter with Whitefish City Manager Dana Smith. Councilor Frank Sweeney said the item had been discussed in Park Board meetings and while the board was amenable, the sentiment was, “We’d love to help. Where are we going to get the dollars?”