The next step for the proposed Whitefish City Hall and parking structure complex is for the City Council to approve a conditional-use permit for the project.

The city needs a permit because of a city law that requires one for building footprints greater than 7,500 square feet. The City Hall footprint is 29,000 square feet, while the parking facility is 84,000 square feet that will contain 214 spaces.

A public hearing on the city’s permit request will be held at tonight’s council meeting before a vote is taken.

The council has been proceeding with the City Hall/parking structure project amid 11th-hour controversy over the $14.8 million cost and a campaign to put the project up to a public vote. Demolition of the existing City Hall is scheduled to begin in September to make way for the new facility.

A public hearing will be held to consider a conditional-use permit request from Danette Sefcak to open a handcrafted micro-distillery at 220 Wisconsin Ave. The property has an existing commercial building and is zoned a limited business district.

It’s the third location Sefcak has proposed for Whitefish Handcrafted Spirits. Initially the Sefcaks received a conditional-use permit to operate their distillery in a building on the south end of Baker Avenue. When that location didn’t pan out, they considered a site on East 13th Street. Recently the project shifted to yet another site on Wisconsin Avenue.

In other business, the council will consider awarding a contract for construction of Skye Park Bridge, a pedestrian bridge over the Whitefish River east of Oregon Avenue. In addition to creating a bike and pedestrian route to City Beach, the new bridge and path will provide emergency-vehicle access to the Birch Point neighborhood when the railroad crossing is blocked.

Dick Anderson Construction provided the low bid of $1.16 million, which includes concrete retaining walls and installation of donated stone veneer. The engineer’s estimate was $789,737.

The low bid for construction with a mechanically stabilized earth wall alternate was just over $1 million from Sandry Construction. This bid also is over the engineering estimate of $744,737.

City Manager Chuck Stearns said in his council report that city staff believes the project has been competitively bid.

“It is apparent that the engineer’s estimate did not account for the higher costs due to the location and complexity of the project,” Stearns said.

The council will decide whether to tap into tax-increment revenue to make up the funding shortfall.

The council will hear a request from the Whitefish Hotel Group for $147,000 in tax-increment money for a sidewalk, bicycle promenade and streetscape improvements for the public right of way around the hotel being constructed on the southeast corner of the intersection of East Second Street and Spokane Avenue.

Also up for consideration tonight is a resolution approving the purchase of a lot near City Beach to be used for additional parking. Stearns made an offer of $270,000 for the property at 55 Woodland Place, subject to council approval. There’s a dilapidated building on the lot that would be torn down.

The meeting begins at 7:10 p.m. at Whitefish City Hall.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at [email protected].