Three months ago, volunteer organizers of the Craft Brewers Cup met with city officials in Kalispell to discuss hosting the annual fundraiser, which includes a brewfest, at the Woodland Park Ice Center in early November.
The city received a permit application on Nov. 1 for the planned adult hockey tournament and brewfest on Nov. 11-12. Roughly 150 players registered from across Montana and Canada and breweries from Havre, Philipsburg and beyond were enlisted for the Saturday afternoon festival.
And then last Friday, a week before the event, city staff informed organizers that the brewfest was disallowed. City Manager Doug Russell said city staff began routing it through departments for compliance and at that point it was discovered that it was out of compliance. According to a city ordinance established three years ago, special permits allowing alcohol consumption at Woodland Park are only valid between Dec. 21-March 2.
On Monday night, organizers pleaded with the Kalispell City Council seeking an exemption but to no avail.
The council voted 7-0 to deny the permit request, prohibiting the brewfest. Councilors Tim Kluesner and Kari Gabriel were absent from the meeting.
“This is a very hard thing when this occurs. We understand. But you also need to understand the code is specific,” Councilor Phil Guiffrida said.
“I don’t know how to say this politely: Ignorance of the law isn’t an exception.”
Guiffrida and Mayor Mark Johnson said the city should not play favorites by allowing variances and approving the permit even though it goes against city law.
“We’d love to see this happen,” Johnson said, adding, “We have to abide by the laws we put in place.”
This is the second time in as many years the city has sparked frustration among event organizers because of alcohol permitting at Woodland Park. In February 2015, organizers of the Montana Pond Hockey Classic were forced to move the event from Foys Lake to the downtown city park at the last minute because of unseasonably warm weather. A week before the event, organizers asked the city to allow beer sales and consumption at the site even though the Kalispell ordinance requires applicants to submit special event permits three weeks prior to an event.
“If I grant this variance tonight, and I was a member of pond hockey that we denied, how do I justify that?” Guiffrida said.
Organizers of the Craft Brewers Cup said city staff never described the law when initial plans were presented in September, nor did the application show blackout dates explaining when a brewfest would be prohibited. The event, organized by Flathead Valley Hockey Association to raise funds for youth hockey programs and the rink at Woodland, was previously held in January but was moved to November after the pond hockey tournament moved to January.
Kim Morisaki, who has volunteered to help organize the event for FVHA, said none of the volunteer members were aware of the city law.
“I hope we can find a common-sense solution to this,” she said.
Sean Hinchey, president of the FVHA, said the ordinance was “arbitrary” in terms of blackout dates. He described the brewfest as an important fundraiser for the organization and that funds raised during the day were going to help pay for $15,000 worth of improvements at Woodland’s ice rink, which is owned by the city and would benefit summer programs.
“We’re hoping for a little flexibility from the city,” Hinchey said.
Diane Medler, director of the Kalispell Convention and Visitor Bureau, said the Craft Brewers Cup was a benefit to the local economy because it drew visitors from out of market.
“It’s a good impact for our hotels,” she said.
“I do applaud council for the progress and improvements that have been made in regards to accommodating special events,” Medler added. “I hope you do recognize the importance of these special events.”
Following the council decision, Morisaki said last-minute plans were being made to move the event to Whitefish.
Correction (Nov. 9) — The story previously incorrectly stated the city of Kalispell issued a permit for the brewfest on Oct. 19. The application was filled out Oct. 19 and turned into the city for approval Nov. 1.