Kalispell opens event alcohol sales to businesses

The Kalispell City Council on Tuesday approved amendments to the rules involving alcohol sales on city property that would extend opportunities to for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

Businesses will now be able to apply for special permits that will allow them to sell alcohol for special events in the downtown Kalispell area.

The issue ultimately passed by one vote.

According to council member Rod Kuntz, a “Pandora’s box” was opened in 2013 when the council agreed to make a special exception for the Flathead Valley Hockey Association by bypassing municipal code that did not allow the city manager to issue permits for events with alcohol sales or consumption in city parks.

The alcohol addendum was tied to the city’s parade and special-use permit. The addition was made in order for the nonprofit hockey association to host its annual Craft Brewers Festival and Hockey Tournament.

In May 2015, the city again amended the code related to alcohol consumption on public places that narrowed the location to Woodland Park.

The council agreed that the alcohol addendum should be separated from the parade and special event permit, but continued to debate over the issuing of permits to for-profits versus nonprofits.

Kuntz argued for the amendment, saying that it would “level the playing field” between businesses and charities and that there was “no good reason other than a feel-good reason to discriminate.”

Council member Jim Atkinson fought against the amendment, stating that the original purpose for allowing the permits was to help nonprofits and that by issuing permits to businesses as well, it might take away from charities’ opportunities to partner with them. Atkinson went on to vote against the entire motion saying it had “gotten out of hand.”

Council members Tim Kluesner and Chad Graham also voted against the amendment. Kluesner said he felt the council did have “some moral obligations.”

“You’re giving liquor licenses to public property,” Kluesner said. “While we’re at it ... let’s have some downtown casino events.”

Graham said he felt the council was on a “slippery slope” with the amendment and that they were stepping out of their boundaries.

Council members Sandy Carlson, Phil Guiffrida and Mayor Mark Johnson voted with Kuntz to pass the amendment.

Carlson disagreed with Atkinson, saying that it was not fair to discriminate against businesses because they made donations to nonprofits and played a big part in giving back to the community.

Johnson also said he was against discriminating between businesses and nonprofits. He felt the amendment would improve upon the overall goal of the council, which was to bring more vitality and vibrancy to downtown.

The motion also amended the dates when alcohol sales would be permitted and separated the alcohol addendum from the parades and special events permit.

The council voted 4-3 to pass the amendments and the motion as a whole.

For more information on this an other items on the agenda, go to http://www.kalispell.com/mayor_and_city_council/agenda.php.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.