Whitefish to vote on lobbyist contract

Whitefish City Council on Monday will look at hiring a lobbyist ahead of the Montana Legislature session next year.  

Council is being asked to approve a contract with Montana-based Communications Management Services, which provides a variety of services including governmental affairs. City Council meets at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall, 418 E. Second St.

Four firms applied for the job, according to City Manager Dana Smith, and the city ratings panel recommended Communications Management Services after interviews. 

The primary lobbyist for the city would be managing partner of the firm, Drew Geiger, who has worked in the Montana Legislature as a lobbyist for many years and was a research analyst for the Legislature, Smith notes in a memo to Council.  

Whitefish also worked with Communications Management Services earlier this year to complete its wage market rate study examining city employee pay levels.  

The contract is anticipated to be up to $25,000, which is within the amount budgeted by the city for lobbying services.  

Also on the agenda, Council will be asked to approve an updated lease for the property that houses the Whitefish Community Center along East Second Street. The city, which also owns the adjacent Kay Beller Park, entered into an interlocal agreement in 1976 with Flathead County that allowed for the construction of the building to benefit the elderly and community.  

The agreement obligates the city to lease the property either yearly or on a five-year basis.  

The last lease expired in 2019, but because of the pandemic the parties have not negotiated a new agreement until now, according to a memo from City Attorney Angela Jacobs.  

The lease agreement requires the community center to pay for maintenance of the building and utility bills. The city is responsible for improvements to its property outside of the building. The community center has to add the city as an additional insured on its liability policy.  

Jacobs suggests that Council may consider a provision in the lease agreement that allows renewal with 60 days notice while noting that the city property could be a potential site for the development of affordable housing. However, the interlocal agreement with the county provides the city the first right to purchase the property at two-thirds appraised value which might not be financially viable, and Council may also consider the value the community center provides to citizens, she notes.  

Council will also consider a request from Northwest Montana Community Land Trust to release deed restrictions on property at 711 Trailview. Doing so would allow the land trust to place a ground lease on the property, which would lower the purchase price for a homebuyer.  

A discussion about changes to the city charter regarding Council compensation is on the evening’s agenda. Voters earlier this month approved changing the city charter to allow city councilors to receive pay.  

Council will have to decide whether to pursue the option of compensation. If so, a public hearing on the matter would be held prior to a vote.  

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.