Excessive personal items can’t be stored in public areas
The gazebo in Depot Park downtown has become a place where people are leaving personal items. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
Personal items, such as duffel bags, backpacks or suitcases, can no longer be left to clutter public spaces in Whitefish, under a city new ordinance.
City Council last week approved the ordinance that says storage of “excessive personal property” is not allowed on public property as it interferes with the use of public property.
Police Chief Bill Dial said the police department gets complains every year about people storing personal items in public areas such as on a bench on Central Avenue or in the gazebo at Depot Park.
“There was really nothing we could do to make them relinquish the bench,” he said. “This ordinance will help manage people who don’t want to share public areas.”
Dial says that those who leave items in public areas are doing so for their personal use and that has an impact on businesses and residences.
The ordinance defines excessive as “more than what a reasonable person would carry with them for the enjoyment or use of the public property” or an amount that would “interfere with another’s sue of public property.”
Items can not be left or stored in parks, parking lots, streets, sidewalks or any other public right-of-way.
Violation of the ordinance could result in a fine of up to $500 and up to 6 months in jail.