At a glance: Council approvals Jan. 5 — school expansion CUP, Bonsai license, CWPP contract, grants and appointments
January 06, 2026 | Whitefish, Flathead County, Montana
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Whitefish — During its Jan. 5 meeting the Whitefish City Council handled a range of routine and substantive items. Highlights of council action:
• Whitefish High School conditional use permit (WCUP 25-13) — After staff presented the proposal to construct a two-story academic addition, redevelop athletic facilities, add stormwater treatment features and roughly 388 parking stalls, the council approved the planning-commission-recommended findings and conditions (unanimous vote).
• Bonsai Brewery beer-and-wine CUP (WCUP 25-15) — Little Bear LLC asked to add a beer-and-wine license and to extend summer hours to 11 p.m.; staff recommended approval with eight conditions including updated parking striping and compliance with the city noise ordinance (outdoor live music not allowed past 10 p.m.). Planning Commission recommended approval; council approved the CUP unanimously.
• Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) contract — Staff described a competitive RFP and interview process; SWCA Environmental Consultants was unanimously selected. The city budgeted $100,000 and SWCA proposed $87,364.73; council authorized staff to finalize the professional services agreement.
• MCEP infrastructure-planning grant application (Resolution 26-02) — Council voted to apply for a $30,000 Montana Department of Commerce (MCEP) planning grant with a local match budgeted at $50,000 (unanimous).
• FY25 impact fee report — Finance staff presented required annual reporting of impact-fee activities and noted recent legislative changes that eliminated some allowable impact fees; council accepted the report unanimously.
• Board and committee appointments — Council confirmed designees and alternates for park, planning, legacy-lands and other advisory committees.
• Library trustee appointment and consent agenda — Council appointed Moyer McKinnon as trustee in training and approved the consent agenda (including minutes) with an amendment; both motions carried.
The council also addressed other matters in public comment and directed staff follow-ups (noted in individual items).
• Whitefish High School conditional use permit (WCUP 25-13) — After staff presented the proposal to construct a two-story academic addition, redevelop athletic facilities, add stormwater treatment features and roughly 388 parking stalls, the council approved the planning-commission-recommended findings and conditions (unanimous vote).
• Bonsai Brewery beer-and-wine CUP (WCUP 25-15) — Little Bear LLC asked to add a beer-and-wine license and to extend summer hours to 11 p.m.; staff recommended approval with eight conditions including updated parking striping and compliance with the city noise ordinance (outdoor live music not allowed past 10 p.m.). Planning Commission recommended approval; council approved the CUP unanimously.
• Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) contract — Staff described a competitive RFP and interview process; SWCA Environmental Consultants was unanimously selected. The city budgeted $100,000 and SWCA proposed $87,364.73; council authorized staff to finalize the professional services agreement.
• MCEP infrastructure-planning grant application (Resolution 26-02) — Council voted to apply for a $30,000 Montana Department of Commerce (MCEP) planning grant with a local match budgeted at $50,000 (unanimous).
• FY25 impact fee report — Finance staff presented required annual reporting of impact-fee activities and noted recent legislative changes that eliminated some allowable impact fees; council accepted the report unanimously.
• Board and committee appointments — Council confirmed designees and alternates for park, planning, legacy-lands and other advisory committees.
• Library trustee appointment and consent agenda — Council appointed Moyer McKinnon as trustee in training and approved the consent agenda (including minutes) with an amendment; both motions carried.
The council also addressed other matters in public comment and directed staff follow-ups (noted in individual items).
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