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The Kalispell City Council is set to workshop rules around requirements for alcohol sale at city park events as council members continue to debate whether to change the rules and allow for-profit events to apply for the chance to sell alcohol.

In 2013, 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.

At the time, council member Bob Hafferman told the Daily Inter Lake he had no problem with allowing the event for the worthy cause, “If this was a request in summer, I would vote no,” he said.

In May, 2015, the city again amended the code related to alcohol consumption on public places that narrowed the location to Woodland Park. It also limited the time nonprofit associations are allowed to sell alcohol to dates between Dec. 21 and Nov. 21 each year.

In November 2016, the council ran into a new question when the association requested to host its fundraiser on a date outside the allowed timeline and was denied the permit. Soon after, the association requested the council reconsider the date range so the tournament could move to the first weekend in December each year.

The council has agreed that the alcohol addendum should be separated from the parade and special event permit. Council members, however, are still debating whether the alcohol permits should be limited to nonprofits or expanded to include for-profit events.

The work session will take place today at 7 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 201 First Avenue East.

For a full copy of the agenda, go to http://www.kalispell.com/mayor_and_city_council/agenda.php.