Belgrade City Council

BELGRADE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES COUNCIL CHAMBERS September 7, 2021 ( Tuesday) 7: 00 PM This meeting was open to the public and attended both in person and via Zoom video platform. Mayor Russell C. Nelson called the meeting to order. Council Members in attendance were Brad Cooper, Mike Meis, Kristine Menicucci and Ken Smith. Council Member Jim Simon attended via Zoom. City staff in attendance were City Manager Ted Barkley, City Attorney Rick Ramler, City Clerk Susan Caldwell, Assistant City Clerk Dana Jambor, Police Chief Dustin Lensing, Planning Director Jason Karp, Police Sergeant Justin Sharp and Public Works Maintenance Ed Roe. City staff in attendance via Zoom were City Engineer Tom Eastwood and Finance Director Diane Eagleson. Others in attendance were Robert Willis, Vivian Crouse, Eric Reinhardt, Rachel Lensing, Debbie Clark, EJ Clark, Renae Mattimoe. Others in attendance via Zoom were Jennifer Slate, Becky Winters, Diana Setterberg, Sue Ellen Willis, Elizabeth Marum, Willis, Martha Sellers. ACTION: Council Member Cooper moved to excuse Council Member Doyle. Council Member Smith seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There being none, public forum was closed. City Manager Barkley called on the Lensing family to come forward and pin Dustin Lensing as the newly appointed Chief of Police. He reviewed Lensing' s various experience over the last 20 years with the City of Belgrade and congratulated him on the recommendations of many other agencies. He asked Dustin' s wife Rachel to do the honor of placing the Chief' s badge and pin. Police Chief Lensing thanked City Manager Barkley and the Council for the opportunity to continue serving and confirmed his commitment to the Belgrade community. PUBLIC HEARING Consider Resolution 2021- 32 Adopting the Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2021- 2022 City Manager Barkley reviewed the highlights of the final budget and noted no substantive changes to the information presented for approval. He noted proposed wage Page 1 of 5 increases at the rate of 5. 2% for most employees and 4% for police officers. He reviewed the mill levy summary and fund revenues and expected expenses. He reviewed potential uses of Cares Act funds and ARPA funds and their allowed uses. The Capital Improvement list of projects was also reviewed. Barkley discussed potential issues and concerns related to the Sewer Upgrade project. Cost and availability of materials was becoming a problem. The pandemic had caused supply chain issues as well. Barkley noted that the project was progressing, however supply and timing was a challenge. Discussion followed about comparative compensation in our area and challenges of filling open positions. Mayor Nelson opened the public hearing and called 3 times for public comment. There being none, the public hearing was closed. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to approve Resolution 2021- 32 adopting the Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2021- 22. Council Member Smith seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING Consider Resolution 2021- 33 Permissive Medical Levy for Employee Group Health Insurance City Manager Barkley noted that this was a levy used each year to assist with the cost of employee group health insurance. Barkley noted further clarification was being sought on this levy and he asked the Council to approve the levy at the level allowed per MCA. He noted wording in the resolution" in the amount allowed by MCA" Mayor Nelson called 3 times for public comment. There being none, the public hearing was closed. ACTION: Council Member Smith moved to approve Resolution 2021- 33 authorizing a Permissive Medical Levy for Employee Group Health Insurance in the amount allowed by Montana Code Annotated for Fiscal Year 2021- 22. Council Member Menicucci seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING Consider Resolution 2021- 34 Budgeting Additional Property Tax Revenue Barkley reviewed the calculation of the taxing authority raising the rate by %2 the rate of inflation and taking into consideration the value of new construction. Page 2 of 5  Mayor Nelson called 3 times for public comment. There being none, the public hearing was closed. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to approve Resolution 2021- 34 Budgeting Additional Property Tax Revenue for Fiscal Year 2021- 22. Council Member Simon seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING Consider Resolution 2021- 35 Setting the Annual Salary for the City Court Judge Barkley noted the proposed amount of the Judge' s annual salary was based on a 5. 2% increase. Mayor Nelson called 3 times for public comment. There being none, the public hearing was closed. Council inquired as to why the prosecutor made more than the City Judge. Barkley said it was being reviewed. ACTION: Council Member Smith moved to approve Resolution 2021- 35 setting the annual salary for the City Court Judge at$ 83, 434. 12 per annum for Fiscal Year 2021- 22. Council Member Cooper 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 on a positive report from the water attorney and the position of the City regarding water rights according to the recent decision of the water court. He would bring more details back to Council. Barkley reported that Neil Cardwell was actively looking for housing and following up on leads and he thanked everyone for their continued referrals DISCUSSION AGENDA Consider Resolution 2021- 36 Adopting updated Planning/ Building Fee Schedules Planning Director Karp noted that Belgrade was now fully certified and authorized to perform mechanical and electrical inspections as of the first of September, 2021. These new permits would require additional related fees and he reviewed the updated fee schedule. Fees were in line with similar fees charged by the County for consistency. Page 3 of 5  Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to approve Resolution 2021- 36 adopting the updated Fee Schedules for the Belgrade Building Department and City- County Planning Department including the adoption of mechanical and electrical permit fees and an annexation review fee. Council Member Meis seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Consider Resolution 2021- 37 regarding Election Process for Uncontested Council Seats City Manager Barkley noted that there were two uncontested council seats where only one person was running for each of the seats of Ward 1 and Ward 3. In this situation, the local election officials had provided notification that Belgrade had the option to cancel these specific contests and these candidates would be elected to their respective position by acclamation. This action would result in removing the wording from the ballot before it went to print. Discussion followed about Voting Wards in view of recent growth. Barkley thought this would be reviewed once the next census data was verified. Council declined to consider the resolution. The ballot language was unchanged. Consider a Maintenance Agreement for City Maintained Urban Highway System Routes with Montana Department of Transportation ( MDT) City Manager Barkley noted this form had been reviewed by the Public Works Director and City Engineer and they had expressed concerns. Barkley was recommending approval because this was a master agreement with MDT and it was no longer in the negotiating stage. By signing the master agreement, Belgrade would be able to avoid debating every future project. Barkley noted this was a general agreement as a result of coordinated efforts and negotiations between the Montana League of Cities and Towns ( MLCT) and MDT and was applicable to many other cities and towns in Montana. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to approve the Maintenance Agreement for the City Maintained Urban Highway System Routes between the City of Belgrade and the Montana Department of Transportation and authorize the City Manager to sign said agreement. Council Member Menicucci seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Consider Contract for Services— New City Manager City Attorney Ramler reviewed the contract for services proposed for Neil Cardwell as the new City Manager for Belgrade. Ramler noted the base salary set at $ 145, 000 per year with an initial term of 3 years with a proposed start date of October 18, 2021. Page 4 of 5  The first performance evaluation would occur after 6 months with annual reviews thereafter. The amount of$ 25, 000 would be provided to defray costs related to moving, housing and travel, in addition to a monthly car allowance in the amount of$400. Other aspects of the contract such as benefits, retirement and paid leave time were the same as the current City Manager' s arrangement. Council discussion followed about the higher pay rate. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Cooper moved to approve the Contract for Services as presented for Neil Cardwell as the City Manager of the City of Belgrade, to commence employment on October 18, 2021. Council Member Menicucci seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. CONSENT AGENDA Pledged Securities August 2021 Warrants Payable for months of June and July, 2021 ACTION: Council Member Cooper moved to approve the consent agenda items as presented. Council Member Smith seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. FOR YOUR INFORMATION Council Members Cooper, Smith and Simon had nothing to report. Council Member Meis asked about the status of sidewalk installation on the Town Pump along Jackrabbit Lane. Barkley said he would follow up with Karp on the status. Council Member Menicucci asked if the stop sign at the intersection of Broadway and Cameron was really necessary. Barkley said he would have it reviewed. ADJOURN Council. Member Smith moved to adjourn the meeting at 8: 36 pm Mike eis, Deputy Mayor Attest: cezAer, Susan Caldwell, City Clerk Page 5 of 5