Council tweaks alcohol law for city parks

Events that serve alcohol in Kalispell parks would have a bit more wiggle room thanks to an amended city ordinance given initial approval on Monday.

The changes allow for special event permit applicants to have a larger area to sell and consume alcohol as long as the parameters are outlined and cleared by city staff.

“At the work session, council did provide some direction about trying to find some language that would broaden the footprint but still have some review process by the council,” City Manager Doug Russell said.

Kalispell City Council members discussed the changes on April 13 before voting Monday on the first reading of the ordinance. The issue arose after the Pond Hockey Classic made a quick venue change this year due to weather. Alcohol sales at Woodland Park, the new venue, were denied by the council based on the previous ordinance.

Alcohol at previous Woodland Park events was confined to the enclosed hockey rink. The new provision adds “and surrounding grounds” to allow for more space if needed. 

Another change dealt with the request deadline for an event serving alcohol. The previous ordinance required that it be submitted three weeks before the event. In the case of this year’s Pond Hockey Classic, the application was submitted days before the event.

There was some discussion among the council about that deadline. Some, such as council member Chad Graham, said three weeks was more than enough time, but reducing the window to a week or less was too little.

Others wanted to account for unforeseen factors in the wake of the Pond Hockey Classic. 

“I would like to see flexibility left in for weather-related events,” council member Kari Gabriel said. “Our Montana weather can be very different from one period to the next.”

The proposed deadline was written as “in time to be scheduled on the next regular city council meeting.” That’s generally at noon on the Wednesday before a Monday meeting, Russell said.

That’s the language that passed with the rest of the ordinance. The final vote was 5-3 with council members Graham, Phil Guiffrida and Tim Kluesner against. Council member Wayne Saverud was absent.

Even with a shorter window, City Attorney Charlie Harball pointed out that applications still will receive full reviews from parks, fire and police departments.

“That already has to be checked off by everybody,” Harball said.

Contingent on applications, the city currently allows alcohol events at the Hockaday Museum of Art, the Conrad Mansion, the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce building, the Museum at Central School, Depot Park, Lakers baseball fields and Woodland Park.

THE COUNCIL also appointed residents to new terms on various boards and commissions. Most of the 12 groups had equal numbers of applicants and vacancies. 

Exceptions included the Board of Adjustment, which had four openings and no applicants. The board currently has one member and thus cannot operate.

The Police Commission had four applicants for one opening. Mayor Mark Johnson recommended Barbara Truckner, who reapplied to remain on the board, over the new applicants. She was confirmed by a council vote.

The Street Tree Committee had four applicants for two openings. Johnson recommended Marcus Grail, a new applicant, for one of the positions. He was confirmed as well as David Jones, the reapplying applicant.

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.