Kalispell offers temporary permits for events with beer or wine sales at some city properties such as Conrad Mansion, Hockaday Museum of Art and the Museum at Central School.

But permits are not offered for events in city parks, where alcohol is prohibited outright.

At a work session Monday, the Kalispell City Council will review that situation and possibly explore a permit process to allow events with beer or wine sales in parks.

“Council hasn’t gone there before,” City Attorney Charlie Harball said of that review.

Monday’s discussion comes at the request of the Flathead Valley Hockey Association. It wants to hold a hockey tournament, skills competition and beer festival at its outdoor ice rink in Woodland Park.

Proceeds from the Craft Beer Cup, sponsored by the Montana Brewers Association, would help pay down the mortgage on the hockey association’s privately owned rink at the city park.

A similar event last year without beer was popular enough for the groups to try to expand upon it this year in early March.

“All the youth hockey games and schedules and practices are ceased at that time, so it would be kind of a last hurrah for the ice before the sun bakes it away,” said Josh Townsley, vice president of the Montana Brewers Association, owner of Tamarack Brewing Co. and a volunteer coach in the Flathead Valley Hockey Association’s youth leagues.

Kim Morisaki, president of the hockey association, said the two groups “don’t want to overthrow the system” Kalispell has in place for events with alcohol.

“We understand there might be a problem with having every wedding in Woodland Park be able to have alcohol. We’re talking about a one-time annual event in a closed and controlled area that’s run by people who are trained to do those sorts of things,” Morisaki said.

“We’re trying to figure out how to work with the city so it benefits the community, hotels, restaurants and hockey association, and brings more people to town, staying in hotels and eating out during the shoulder season.”

One hockey team from Canada and three from Montana attended last year’s event. Four teams from Canada have expressed interest in attending this year’s event.

At the places where events with beer or wine sales are allowed, Kalispell requires sponsors to buy enough insurance coverage to protect the city. That’s an expense the Flathead Valley Hockey Association and Montana Brewers Association have explored, Morisaki said.

WHETHER THE needed ordinance changes can be made in time for the proposed hockey tournament and beer festival in March will depend in part on the Kalispell City Council’s willingness to make them quickly.

“We’ll find out Monday if the council wants to fast-track things for this event or not,” Harball said.

“Council usually doesn’t do something for just one event. But if it makes sense for one, maybe it will make sense for others.”

Some on the Kalispell City Council are willing to at least explore the issue. “I’d like to talk about it,” council member Tim Kluesner said.

In other business Monday, the City Council will continue its discussions about a proposed ethics code.

The work session starts at 7 p.m. in Kalispell City Hall, 201 First Ave. E. It is open to the public.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.