After heated public comment, Whitefish council approves amendments to Glacier Twins stadium lease
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Summary
Council approved Resolution 26-04 amending the Glacier Twins' long-term lease at Memorial Park to require greater transparency on Verizon funds, align terms with the Verizon license, allow termination if the property is unused for baseball/programming for more than a year, and require annual financial reporting; public speakers both criticized and defended the Twins.
The Whitefish City Council voted on Resolution 26-04 to amend the Glacier Twins' long-term lease of stadium land in Memorial Park following extended public comment and staff review.
City attorney (identified at the meeting as Jacobs/Angela) summarized the proposed changes, which staff and the Park Board recommended after reviewing concerns raised by residents about the lease length, use priority, and financial transparency. Key amendments include: aligning the MOU term with the city's amended Verizon license; holding Verizon funds in the Memorial Park account with disbursement to the Twins only on written request accompanied by invoices; obligating the Twins to provide annual tax returns to the city; converting automatic lease renewals into renewals that require written approval by both parties; giving the city the right to terminate the lease if the Twins do not use the stadium for baseball or related programming for more than one year; permitting city inspections with 48 hours notice; and requiring the Twins to adopt an equitable schedule of rates for use and to cap sublease charges to the school district to recover utilities, maintenance and damage repairs rather than to generate net revenue.
Residents raised several concerns during public comment. Ray Queen said the Twins effectively controlled Memorial Park and that school teams were paying thousands of dollars to use the field, urged guarantees of operational independence for the school when it uses the facility, and challenged some reported "in-kind" valuations and oversight for donated work. Julio Delgado asked for clearer definitions of what counts as sufficient "use" to preserve a lease, expressed concern over vague language on who determines field condition and cancellation authority, and asked for limits on rates the Twins can charge for subleases.
Representatives of the Glacier Twins, including Johanna Muller and Mark Volker, defended the organization, said volunteers built and maintain the field infrastructure, denied misappropriation allegations, said they had opened their books to city staff and met with finance reviewers, and expressed willingness to work with the high school and park board. Twins representatives said the amendments mostly formalize current practices and add transparency.
Councilor Frank (mover) said evidence to date did not support the claim that the Twins were overcharging the school and urged moving forward; Councilor Furey seconded. The chair announced the motion carried unanimously.
The amendments are intended to increase transparency about Verizon revenue and sublease arrangements, provide the city options to terminate if programming ceases, and give the park board and city the ability to review the Twins' annual subleases and rates.
