Belgrade City Council

BELGRADE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Zoom Video Platform January 19, 2021 ( Tuesday) 7: 00 PM This meeting was open to the public and attended via the Zoom video conference platform. Mayor Russell Nelson called the meeting to order. Other Council Members in attendance were: Brad Cooper, Mike Meis Jim Simon, Kristine Menicucci, Jim Doyle and Ken Smith. City staff in attendance were: City Manager Ted Barkley, City Clerk Sue Caldwell, City Attorney Rick Ramler, Planning Director Jason Karp, Accounting Tech Kris Norby, Finance Director Diane Eagleson Others in attendance were: Judy Doyle, Diana Setterberg, Eric Reinhardt, Tessa Crowder, Bailey Kaiser and Blythe Ganje. APPROVE MINUTES ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to approve meeting minutes for January 4, 2021. Council Member Menicucci seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Nelson opened the public forum and called for public comment. City Clerk Sue Caldwell reported that she had received late notice that members of a local Boy Scouts of America ( BSA) Troop were planning to be in attendance at this Council meeting. Mayor Nelson asked for any members of the troop to speak up for recognition. Blythe Ganje, representing Scout Troop # 635 spoke and confirmed that she was working on requirements for her Tenderfoot Badge. Mayor Nelson thanked her for being in attendance and commended her for her efforts. Mayor Nelson called 2 more times for public comment. There was none and the public forum was closed. REPORTS Mayor' s Report— Mayor Nelson had nothing to report City Attorney' s Report— the City Attorney had nothing to report. Page 1 of 5  City Manager' s Report City Manager Barkley reported that the Library and Community Center project was continuing to progress. Barkley discussed the proposed special Ballot election date for 2021. September 14, 2021 would fall in line with the date reserved for holding a primary, if warranted. This election date would also match the timeline with private fund raising. The goal was to be the only issue on the ballot and not compete with other requests for funding. This would require the Council to pass the corresponding resolution by June 7, 2021 in order to place the question on the special ballot. Barkley reported his attendance of a legislative virtual hearing last week on House Bill 107. Many cities and towns were in opposition to this Bill as it would require a 2/ 3 majority vote for any mill levy to be passed. Barkley noted that the Bill was still alive at this time and had not been classified otherwise. He would be monitoring its progress. Barkley reported on efforts to support House Bill 86 which would allow creation of regional fire authorities. Our support of this issue was part of our good faith obligation toward those who supported Belgrade' s efforts in regard to our own fire services last session. Barkley reported that, as first responders, almost all of the Belgrade Police officers had been able to receive a Covid- 19 vaccination. Central Valley Fire District workers had also been vaccinated. In regard to requiring the vaccination, Barkley noted that the City was strongly encouraging employees to be vaccinated. A waiver form would be involved for those who chose not to be vaccinated. Barkley reported on a recent meeting with Montana Department of Transportation ( MDT). The Jackrabbit underpass project was on track and MDT planned to start working with a consulting firm later this month for designs. This would include splitting out some of the traffic signals related to future projects in areas such as Jackrabbit & Main, on the I- 90 onramps and at Broadway& Main Street. Barkley reported that Montana League of Cities and Towns ( MLCT) was working on an agreement with MDT on projects and maintenance with a model to cover projects that affect State right- of-way areas in towns and cities. This would be standardized across the state under the new model agreement. Barkley reported that improvements that would widen the area around West Main and Bolinger, along with improvements to curb, gutter and sidewalks was progressing. A preliminary design agreement was in process between the City, MDT and Montana Rail Link. Construction could start as early as this summer. DISCUSSION AGENDA Consider Resolution 2021- 4 Intent to Create Special Improvements Street Lighting District 2443— Ry en Glenn Subdivision Phase 8 Planning Director Karp noted this was a routine process and next step for the subdivision. He 16t1i. and to set a public hearing for recommended adoption February Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. Page 2 of 5  Council Member Meis stated that he would abstain from voting on this item due to his employment with NorthWestern Energy. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to approve Resolution 2021- 4 Intent to Create Special Improvements Street Lighting District# 2443 Ryen Glenn Subdivision Phase 8 and set date for Public Hearing and fmal Resolution for February 16, 2021. Council Member Doyle seconded the motion. Council Member Meis abstained from the vote. All others voted aye, motion carried. Consider Resolution 2021- 5 Intent to Create a Special Improvements Lighting District# 2444 for Prescott Ranch Phase 1 Planning Director Karp noted that Phase 1 had 3 subphases upon final plat approval, and this was a good point at which to create the lighting district. He recommended approval of this next step in 16th. the subdivision process and to set date for public hearing on February Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. Council Member Meis stated that he would abstain from voting on this item due to his employment with NorthWestern Energy. ACTION: Council Member Doyle moved to approve Resolution 2021- 5 Intent to create Special Improvements Street Lighting District# 2444 for all subphases of Prescott Ranch Subdivision Phase 1 and set a date for public hearing and final Resolution for February 16, 2021. Council Member Menicucci seconded the motion. Council Member Meis abstained from the vote. All others voted aye, motion carried. Consider Quarterly Financial Update City Manager Barkley reviewed the quarterly financial report. He noted that property tax contributions were delayed in being transferred from the County to the City and this was reflected in the report. He noted funds that were being applied for and would be used to cover specific expenses eligible for reimbursement under Covid- 19 assistance programs. He also highlighted that the annual gas tax under the Bridge and Road Safety Act had increased over last year and would be used toward our future micro pave project. Under capital improvements, Barkley noted the need to replace the roof on City Hall, the sooner the better. Council inquired about progress on the Sewer Plant upgrade project. Barkley noted that the contractors are doing a lot of setup and dirt work at this time. Consider Draft Agenda and Items for Discussion for Council Planning Retreat on 2/ 1/ 2021 City Manager Barkley reviewed a list of proposed discussion items and asked Council for additional items. Council generally agreed that they would like to discuss impact fees, the Senior Center, the Airport agreement, street lighting, City facilities plan and the transition plan for the new City Manager. Page 3 of 5  City Clerk Sue Caldwell noted consideration of locations where the retreat could be held in person with the use of face coverings and where we would have adequate space for social distancing requirements. She would confirm the location and advise. Council Member Simon asked to consider a long-term agreement with Belgrade Baseball ( BB) for a term of 3 to 5 years instead of annually. He noted that BB had provided a rough estimate of 36, 000 to repair the fencing and the dugouts. Simon noted that this also circles back to the impression that the Senior Center receives funding and the City Parks do not. One of the Park Board members had expressed concern that the Council was not sharing funding like they should. Discussion followed about how the City built the fences and dugouts initially. Barkley said he had talked to Public Works Director Klotz about multi- year contracts and identifing responsibilities of each entity. Barkley noted that if we modify these areas, we will need to meet different safety requirements and that may result in significant cost. Barkley noted that Park improvements would be added to the list of discussion items at the retreat. CONSENT AGENDA Payroll for December 2020 Warrants Payable for December 2020 ACTION: Council Member Cooper moved to approve the consent agenda items. Council Member Menicucci seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. FOR YOUR INFORMATION Council Member Doyle had nothing to report. Council Member Menicucci reported that there was no Water Quality meeting held in January, however, they were still monitoring the Pole Plant development. She reported that the Library had lost the funding for the STEAM program which included summer program kits. This was a very popular program and she was happy to report that the Library Foundation contributed the $ 25, 000 needed to continue the program. She also reported receipt of a grant from Knife River toward the new Library in the amount of$ 25, 000. Council Member Meis reported that the windstorm last Wednesday had wreaked havoc across the state. Council Member Simon reported that the introductory Library Design meeting was scheduled for January 28th and would be held on zoom. This meeting would start the design review process and he was excited to get things started. He asked about design related to the rumor that restrooms might be installed on the outside of the community center. Barkley noted that he was not sure who brought it up in the first place, but it probably would not be part of the design. Council Member Menicucci said she had not heard of that in the plans. Simon confirmed that he and the Park Board felt that it would be redundant and a waste of resources in view of the improvements they had already considered for the existing restrooms in Lewis Page 4 of 5  Clark Park. He noted that the existing restrooms would not be destroyed but would be remodeled into family restrooms with new restrooms added. Barkley commented that there would also be restrooms in the community center, not specifically aimed at outside users. Barkley also noted that he would add the subject of a Park Maintenance District to the discussion items for the upcoming retreat. Council Member Cooper reported that he had attended the Central Valley Fire District Board Meeting earlier today and that they had 4 seats up for election. CVFD planned to run their normal mill levy election for 10 mils on a special ballot in May 2021. Barkley said it was not an increase. Cooper noted that CVFD had purchased new radios and equipment. Cooper requested that the subject of Fire Impact fee usage be added to the discussion items for the retreat. Council Member Smith noted that residents living in the Prescott Ranch Subdivision had asked about when street lighting would be installed. Planning Director Karp discussed the usual process and that it could also depend on the individual developer if they are willing to carry the associated cost as they wait for the homes to be built. It also takes time for the County to start billing the individual property owners so it lags a bit from the beginning of the development to when the lighting is installed. Discussion followed that this particular lighting district would probably come in no earlier than Fall 2021. The wiring and conduits for lighting in a subdivision were typically installed and stubbed in during the first part of development so that would not hold up installation of lighting. Council Member Smith reported that residents near the area where Butler Creek comes into 13u' Street had safety concerns because of too many trailers and trucks being parked near the intersection. This was blocking the line of sight because drivers could not see to pull out into the intersection. Barkley said he would have City staff look at that location. ADJOURN Council Member Smith moved to adjourn the meeting at 8: 00 pm. 6/(///: Russell C. Nelson, Mayor Attest pct Susan Caldwell, City Clerk Page 5 of 5