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Your input is needed ... by 4 p.m. today!
City holds 'emergency' meeting tonight
to consider Halloween COVID crackdown
The Whitefish City Council will hold an emergency meeting at 7:10 p.m. tonight to consider imposing a number of Halloween Weekend restrictions on local restaurants, bars and social gatherings, in an effort to prevent a Coronavirus "super spreader" event over the usually festive fall holiday.
In a press release issued this afternoon, Mayor John Muhlfeld asked the local business community to weigh-in on the proposed restrictions by testifying at tonight's City Council meeting and/or by submitting comments to City Clerk Michelle Howke by 4 p.m. today.
Halloween restrictions could last a while City officials have asked for the business community to weigh-in on the additional restrictions being proposed for the Halloween Weekend, as well as on the prospect for extending those restrictions "indefinitely." Possible restrictions that could be imposed by the Council tonight for the Halloween Weekend (Oct. 30 and 31) include: - Banning public or private gatherings of more than 10 individuals;
- Limiting capacity at local bars, restaurants, breweries and distilleries to 50% of normal;
- Requiring restaurants, bars and casinos to be completely closed (i.e. patron-free) by 11:30 p.m.
- Limit seating to no more than six (6) individuals per table; and
- Strictly prohibit customers from sitting or standing at bars or service counters.
The proposed Emergency Ordinance excludes "houses of worship," child care facilities and local schools from the 10-person group limit.
City officials have indicated that the restrictions approved tonight could be extended for an indefinitely period of time next Monday, when the Council will meet in regular session to discuss taking local action to address the growing COVID-19 crisis in Whitefish and the Flathead.
Want to weigh-in? here's how ... Business owners -- especially those in the food & beverage industry -- are urged to provide input to the City Council by either submitting email remarks to City Clerk Michelle Howke at [email protected] by 4 p.m. this afternoon, or by attending tonight's Emergency Meeting of the Whitefish City Council virtually via WebEx. CLICK HERE to register for the meeting. Tonight's meeting number is 146 660 4272; the Password is: C0unc!lss0ct. | 
