Nov. 18—The Whitefish City Council on Monday will look at hiring a lobbyist ahead of next year’s session of the Montana Legislature.
The Council is being asked to approve a contract with Montana-based Communications Management Services, which provides a variety of services, including government affairs. The City Council will meet at City Hall, 418 E. Second St., at 7:10 p.m.
According to City Manager Dana Smith, four companies applied for the job and the city review panel recommended Communications Management Services after interviews.
The top lobbyist for the city would be the firm’s managing partner, Drew Geiger, who worked for many years as a lobbyist in the Montana Legislature and was a research analyst for the Legislature, Smith noted in a memo to Council.
Whitefish also worked with Communications Management Services earlier this year to complete the Wage Market Rate study on city employee wage levels.
The contract is expected to be for a maximum of $25,000, which is within the amount budgeted by the city for lobbying services.
Also on the agenda will be asking Council to approve an updated lease for the property that houses the Whitefish Community Center on East Second Street. The city, which also owns adjacent Kay Beller Park, entered into an interlocal agreement with Flathead County in 1976 that allowed construction of the building to benefit the elderly and the community.
The agreement requires the city to lease the property annually or for five years.
The last lease expired in 2019, but due to the pandemic, the parties have not yet negotiated a new agreement, according to a memo from city attorney Angela Jacobs.
Under the lease agreement, the community center must pay building maintenance and utility bills. The city is responsible for improvements to its properties outside the building. The community center must add the city as an additional insured to its liability policy.
Jacobs suggests that Council could consider a provision in the lease agreement that would allow renewal with 60 days’ notice, noting that the city-owned property could be a potential site for affordable housing development. However, the interlocal agreement with the county gives the city the first right to purchase the property at two-thirds of the appraised value, which may not be financially viable, and the Council may also take into account the value the community center provides to citizens , she notes.
Council will also consider a request from Northwest Montana Community Land Trust to remove deed restrictions on property at 711 Trailview. This would allow the land trust to place a leasehold on the property, which would lower the purchase price for a homebuyer.
The evening’s agenda includes a discussion about changes to the city charter regarding Council compensation. Voters earlier this month approved changing the city charter to allow city council members to receive pay.
The council will have to decide whether the possibility of compensation will be continued. If so, a public hearing on the issue will be held prior to the vote.
Deputy Editor Heidi Desch can be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.
