Thanks for all the participation in the surveys! The surveys have been closed. Staff received up to 250 responses, depending on which of the three surveys were used. Staff is still analyzing the results of these surveys, but they have been posted in a documents folder titled "Survey Results".

Here is the survey regarding what people value most about Whitefish.

Here is the survey regarding what people believe are the biggest challenges to Whitefish.

Here are the topics most important ranked in level of importance.

City of Whitefish Long Range Planner Alan Tiefenbach was invited to discuss the growth policy on the KGEZ morning show. You can listen to this interview here.

The workshops which were tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, November 29 and Thursday November 30 HAVE BEEN POSTPONED. Full details of this will be described in the upcoming November Newsletter.

We understand there are a lot of moving pieces regarding the Growth Policy! Staff will be available online for those who were not able to attend the kick off meeting or still need additional information. Staff recommends you review the recorded video from the kick off meeting and the kickoff handout prior to this meeting.

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting(External link)

Meeting ID: 228 881 980 024
Passcode: 3H2po7

Download Teams(External link) | Join on the web(External link)

Or call in (audio only)

+1 406-426-9898,,785209284# United States, Billings

(833) 563-1751,,785209284# United States (Toll-free)

Phone Conference ID: 785 209 284#

The August 24, 2023 5:30 PM Growth Policy Kickoff Meeting will be streamed online for those who are unable to be there in person. It will be available on the City YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=city+of+whitefish

The first Growth Policy Update kick off meeting is scheduled! This kick off will be from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM on August 24, 2023 at Whitefish City Hall Council Chambers, at 418 E 2nd St.

This kick-off meeting will be a town hall style format. Staff will give a general overview of the project, present the existing conditions of the City, describe how interested parties can stay involved in the process and explain how to use this Public Engagement Website. The methods staff will use to notify the public of this meeting are described in the “Tools for Outreach” section of the Public Engagement Plan posted on this website.

We want the Growth Policy to be a reflection of OUR community! The City is soliciting artists of any age to submit ideas for a logo for the Growth Policy. Artwork should be consistent with the theme "Vision Whitefish 2045" and can be black and white or in color. Winning submission will receive a $250 gift card, memorialization and credit of the artwork in the Growth Policy and the website, a printed copy of the Growth Policy and a framed poster of the artwork.

Please submit all ideas by October 2, 2023 to Alan Tiefenbach, Long Range Planner, at atiefenbach@cityofwhitefish.org

On July 17, 2023, 2023 the City Council approved a public engagement plan. This Plan is intended to outline and describe how the community will be engaged in the growth policy update process, the stakeholders that should be engaged, the means for communications, and the anticipated public meetings.

The Plan can be viewed here:

The Montana Legislature has recently passed numerous statutory mandates that have significant impacts on the Growth Policy process. In addition, statutory mandates require review and changes to the City’s Municipal Code. This may delay the start of the Growth Policy. Staff is presently assessing the new Montana legislation.

Legislation pertinent to the Growth Policy and municipal code can be viewed at the Montana Association of Planners Legislation Tracker here.

On February 16 and February 21, Staff made an existing conditions presentation to the Planning Board and City Council as a start to the growth policy. You can see the video to this presentation HERE. The growth policy discussion begins at approximately 55 minutes.