Belgrade City Council

1= 1 I. l 1 BELGRADE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES COUNCIL CHAMBERS August 16, 2021 7: 00 PM This meeting was open to the public and attending in person and online via Zoom video. Mayor Russell C. Nelson called the meeting to order. Council Members in attendance were Brad Cooper, Mike Meis, Jim Simon and Kristine Menicucci. ti City staff in attendance were City Attorney Rick Ramler, City Clerk Susan Caldwell, Admin Assistant Dana Jambor, Planning Director Jason Karp, Maintenance Labor Ed Roe. City staff in attendance via Zoom were City Manager Ted Barkley, City Engineer Tom Eastwood, Finance Director Diane Eagleson, Water Operator Matt Rolsma- Allen and Permit Tech Molly Johnson. Others in attendance were Elizabeth Marum, Eric Reinhardt, Vivian Crouse, Renae Mattimoe, Paul Reichert, Ross Hoyle. Other in attendance via zoom was Diane Setterberg. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to excuse Council Member Doyle and Smith. Council Member Cooper seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. A 1 PUBLIC FORUM k Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There being none, public forum was closed. PUBLIC HEARING Consider Ordinance 2021- 4 to Adopt the updated International Mechanical Code, National Electrical Code and International Fuel Gas Code ( second reading) City Planning Director Karp noted that each time the State Building Codes Bureau adopts updated codes, the local governments must also update their codes. Belgrade was staffed to be certified and do these inspections ourselves now. Funding for this process was paid for by permits, same fees that the state charged. Karp noted that that another full-time inspector that was previously on a contract basis would be coming City payroll. He discussed onto the staff gaining residential inspection credentials and how City inspectors were being trained. Mayor Nelson opened the public hearing and called for public comment. There being none, the public hearing was closed ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to approve Ordinance 2021- 4 adopting the 2018 International Mechanical Code, 2017 National Electrical Code and the 2018 Page 1 of 6 International Fuel Gas Code, all with applicable State amendments. Council Member Simon seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING Consider Resolution 2021- 32 adopting the Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2021- 2022 is{ 4 City Manager Barkley noted the absence of 2 council members, along with himself being out of the office. He asked the council to open each budget resolution and open the public hearing but then continue the hearings to the next meeting on September 7, 2021. He wanted to work more on the general fund and finalize the numbers which would still allow the City to 9th. certify the budget and send it to the State by the September Barkley noted lack of staffing which had affected the quality and clarity of the budget reports. Mayor Nelson opened the public hearing and called for public comment. There being none, the public hearing was noted for continuation to September 7, 2021. ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to continue consideration to the next meeting on September 7, 2021 to consider approval of Resolution 2021- 32 Adopting the Final Budget and set the Mill Levy pursuant to compliance with MCA 7- 6- 4030. Council Member Meis seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING Consider Resolution 2021- 33 Permissive Medical Levy for Employee Group Health Insurance Barkley noted a similar request to continue consideration on September 7, 2021 as a budget consideration. He noted that the Permissive Medical Levy helped offset the cost of employee health insurance premiums. Mayor Nelson opened the public hearing and called for public comment. There being none, the public hearing was noted for continuation on September 7, 2021. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to continue consideration of Resolution 2021- 33 to September 7, 2021 to consider Adopting Fiscal Year 2021- 2022 Additional Mills Levied for Employer Group Health Insurance. Council Member Cooper seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING Consider Resolution 2021- 34 to Budget Additional Property Tax Revenue Barkley noted a similar request to continue consideration on September 7, 2021 as a budget consideration. Page 2 of 6  Mayor Nelson opened the public hearing and called for public comment. There being none, the public hearing was noted for continuation on September 7, 2021. ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to continue this item to September 7, 2021 to consider approval of Resolution 2021- 34 to budget additional property tax revenue for Fiscal Year 2021- 2022. Council Member Meis seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING Consider Resolution 2021- 35 to Set Annual Salary for the City Court Judge Barkley noted a similar request to continue consideration on September 7, 2021 as a budget consideration. The Judge' s proposed rate was based on a 5. 2% increase. This was the cost of living adjustment that was being recommended for all positions of City staff, with some positions subject to market adjustments. Mayor Nelson opened the public hearing and called for public comment. There being none, the public hearing was noted for continuation on September 7, 2021. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to continue consideration of Resolution 2021- 35 to September 7, 2021, to consider setting the annual compensation for the Belgrade City Court Judge at $83, 434. 12 per annum for Fiscal Year 2021- 2022. Council Member Simon seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. REPORTS Mayor Nelson had nothing to report. City Attorney Ramler had nothing to report. City Manager Barkley reported that the census numbers were estimated at 10, 440 as of 4/ 1/ 2020. 10, 551 was the estimate for end of 2021 for Belgrade. He noted that 10, 000 or over would require designation as of City of First Class and would bring more requirements related to managing storm water. Barkley reported he had been out of office for the last 2 weeks, and would continue working from home due his recent Covid 19 diagnosis, despite being fully vaccinated. DISCUSSION AGENDA Discuss Compensation for City Council Members Barkley noted that low compensation has been brought up as a barrier to drawing people to serve on the City Council. Page 3 of 6  Elizabeth Marum spoke about comparisons to other local governing bodies and when Belgrade had set the level of compensation at$ 50 per meeting back in 2004. She noted that in 2004 the population was around 6, 500 and now it was over 10, 000. She noted the cost of living had increased, including council duties and challenges. She reviewed the pay and benefits that Bozeman officials receive for their service as a comparison. She also noted the amounts paid by Manhattan, Three Forks and West Yellowstone, all higher than what Belgrade allotted. Marum proposed $ 500 per month for council/ mayor members and that they ask for approval from constituents. Leadership needed more energy and greater diversity. Lack of compensation was holding people back from serving. Public service should be recognized as an important part of society, offering training and leadership development. Discussion followed about the current makeup of the council body. Younger members would be a positive addition upon retirement of senior council members. Increased pay would assist with the cost of childcare for those wishing to serve. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. City Attorney Ramler discussed the process involved in amending the City Charter. He suggested that the proposed amendment authorize setting future salary adjustments by resolution, not affective immediately, but for the next term of office. Council directed Ramler to draft the language for an amendment to the Charter. Consider Sub- Recipient Agreement with Prospera Business Network Revolving Loan Fund Program Paul Riechert, Executive Director of Prospera, noted their work with the City over the past 4 years. The contract was due for renewal and they were proposing one changes to the current arrangement to increase the term from 2 years to 4 years. Renewal would take them through the year 2025. He noted there was one active loan and one pending prospect at this time. They do other business lending in the community in additional to Belgrade funds. Riechert noted that the arrangement was working well and they appreciated working with the City. City Manager Barkley was in support of extending the term to 4 years. The cancellation clause was still 30 days and would stay as stated. Barkley noted that this was the same agreement that existed with the Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District NRMEDD) group and these were both effective programs for the City of Belgrade. Barkley recommended approval. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION:Council Member Menicucci moved to approve renewal of the Sub Recipient Agreement with Prospera Business Network with a term of 4 years and authorize the City Manager to sign said agreement. Council Member Cooper seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Page 4 of 6 Consider sub- recipient agreement with Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District ( NRMEDD) Revolving Loan Fund Program City Manager Barkley noted that this sub recipient agreement was the same with NRMEDD and Prospera and was also coming up for renewal. He noted the same language for the Escape clause. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to approve renewal of the Sub Recipient Agreement with NRMEDD with a term of 4 years and authorize the City Manager to sign said agreement. Council Member Meis seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Barkley reviewed an amendment related to the City' s Small Business Emergency and Stabilization Loan Program. He noted the extension of one more year due to continued Covid 19 concerns. The $ 15, 000 fee was included in the amendment copy included with the council packet. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to approve the amendment# 3 as stated to extend the emergency loan and grant fund for one additional year and authorize the City Manager to sign said agreement. Council Member Cooper seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. City Manager Barkley advised that the Gallatin County Election Office had requested Belgrade to pay a proportionate share of the postage for return ballots for the upcoming general election. Use of a pre- paid return envelopes would encourage voters to return their ballot. It would be a similar cost as previous such elections at about $ 500 to $ 600 for Belgrade' s part. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to approve payment toward a proportional share of postage as stated for return ballots for the upcoming general election. Council Member Simone seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. At 8: 06pm City Manager Barkley asked to be excused and signed off of zoom video. FOR YOUR INFORMATION Council Member Menicucci reported attending the ribbon cutting for the new streamline bus services. She noted efforts to have the new stop at the Belgrade Library established. Council Member Simon reported on the recent Park Board meeting where they talked about residents looking into creating a Bike Park. No bids were received on the recent request on the Lewis & Clark restroom improvements so that would go back out to re- bid. They were also working on agreements with baseball groups for next year. Page5of6  Council Member Meis reported on attending a recent PCC meeting. He had sent a link to the report on affordable housing in Gallatin County. He inquired about the upcoming schedule for interviewing candidates for City Manager. City Clerk Caldwell reviewed the tentative schedule of events for consideration of applicants. A Meet and Greet reception was schedule for Tuesday evening, August 24th at the Holiday Inn Express conference room. Interview sessions were scheduled throughout the day on 25th. Wednesday, August City Human Resources Director Sherry Brown would be contacting Council members and other on the Interview panels with more information. Council Member Cooper reported excess weeds along the irrigation ditch along Alaska Road, Story Creek and Bridger Heights. Ed Roe commented that Public Works was told to cut weeds in the right- of-way only, and the other areas were up to the ditch riders. Council Member Menicucci said Corbett Park in the Prescott Ranch subdivision was beautiful with the walking paths, picnic tables and playground equipment. She encouraged others to view the area. ADJOURN Council Member Simon moved to adjourn the meeting at 8: 23pm. Russell C. Nelson, Mayor Lee. 14 Susan Caldwell, City Clerk Page 6 of 6