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Whitefish prepares future goals in climate action plan

by Daniel McKay
Whitefish Pilot | June 27, 2017 5:07 PM

Whitefish is creating an action plan designed to outline the ways the community can conserve energy, reduce costs and prepare for future climate goals.

Speaking to a crowded lobby in City Hall, City Councilor Richard Hildner stressed the importance of public input during a recent Climate Action Plan open house.

“The climate, we know, is changing. It’s a question of how we will adjust and live in that changing climate and how we will be able to slow it. In so doing, what we hope to do as a city is reap the rewards and benefits of any conservation,” he said. “We need your input. We need you to say, ‘I think this is a critical area to explore.’”

The Whitefish Climate Action Plan Committee was established by Whitefish City Council and tasked by Mayor John Muhlfeld with identifying opportunities for the city, school district and community to work on those overreaching goals for Whitefish.

The committee is focusing on shaping climate action strategies in nine specific areas: buildings and energy use; transportation; water sources and conservation; wastewater management; waste reduction and purchasing; future growth and hazard areas; forests and open land; local food sourcing; and education and behavior.

People in attendance were encouraged to leave sticky-note comments on poster boards with different topics revolving around sustainability and climate change. For ways the city can improve downtown, suggestions included things like energy-efficient LED bulbs in streetlights, solar panels and improved rainwater storage systems. For transportation, many people suggested a public transportation system, and for food and beverages, no more water bottles.

Maja Tregidga stressed the importance of more public transportation, especially for Whitefish’s older residents.

“We transport people to go skiing. We need to transport people who just need transportation,” she said.

While the climate plan is an encouraging start, Tregidga said the problem just feels too big for easy solutions.

“We’re doing things. I don’t think that this is enough, but I don’t know what’s more. The box feels too small, with what’s being done,” she said. “We need people to quit thinking about their pocketbooks and think about life.”

The city’s sustainability coordinator and Energy Corp member Rachel Sussman said a big challenge in putting the plan together is addressing certain little facets of a city government while not excluding other factors.

“It’s never quite as easy as it might seem,” she said. “Like, ‘OK, just put LEDs in the streetlights.’ We tried putting some on West Seventh Street and people don’t like them because they’re brighter, so maybe we can’t just go in and change all of them.”

The plan is still in its early stages, Sussman said, and after reviewing public input the committee hopes to have a plan created by August.

Last week Muhlfeld during the Whitefish City Council meeting read a proclamation declaring Whitefish’s intent to uphold the Paris Climate Agreement.

“The city of Whitefish believes that meaningful action is needed at all levels of government to mitigate and adapt to climate change, protect the public trust, ensure a resilient community, and leave a healthy environment and atmosphere for future generations,” Muhlfeld said. “The City of Whitefish recognizes that energy conservation and other actions to address climate change can complement economic development and offer the community opportunities for new technology, new business ventures and more.”

Muhlfeld said the city commits to making the mitigation of climate change a priority and will increase its efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, create a clean energy economy and stand for environmental justice.

Whitefish joins a list of more than 300 “Climate Mayors” who have signed onto the agreement despite President Donald Trump announcing his plan to pull the United States out of the voluntary agreement.