Belgrade City Council

I!14141 BELGRADE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES i< COUNCIL CHAMBERS September 20, 2021 I' 1± 7: 00 PM This meeting was open to the public and attending 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, Jim Simon, Kristine Menicucci, Jim Doyle and Ken Smith. City staff in attendance were City Manager Ted Barkley, City Attorney Ramler, City F, Clerk Susan Caldwell, Admin Assistant Dana Jambor, Public Works Maintenance Ed Roe, Library Director Gale Bacon. Finance Director Eagleson attended via Zoom. Others in attendance were John Brown, Joe Skinner, Whitney Bermes, Eric Reinhardt, Vivian Crouse and Judy Doyle. Diana Setterberg attended via Zoom. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There being none, the public forum was closed. REPORTS I 1 Mayor Nelson had nothing to report. City Attorney Ramler had nothing to report. Joe Skinner, Gallatin County Commissioner, presented information about the proposed County Court Facilities Plan and the related ballot question that would appear on the upcoming ballot at the general election. He noted the current lack of space, safety concerns and estimated costs of a remodel versus new construction. Skinner noted the plan to speak and present for various groups to share this information to better prepare voters to make a well informed choice. Honorable John C. Brown, district court judge for the 18th District Court in Montana, spoke about conditions and problems in the current facilities. He noted there were 4 judges, but they needed 8 due to the caseloads. Space constraints were negatively affecting the flow and a1 availability of staff to properly consider such areas as Family law which currently did not have their own court room. City Manager Barkley reported on the successful passage of Library bond. The official Canvass results were expected by September 22nd at 10am. Once the certification took place, Barkley noted they could proceed to choose a bond writer, commission the architect and so on. Barkley noted it would probably take about 3 years for total buildout. Page l of 4  Barkley reported continued work on a plan for the Senior Center. He also noted that Neil Cardwell was moving into an apartment in Belgrade so he was planning on visiting the City office later this week. Barkley reported that the Fall Festival was set for October 2nd and plans were to use the Public Works Annex similar to last year. Barkley noted that staff was watching the statistics on Covid infections rates and noted that the City might receive further direction from the State and County level. Barkley reported that he had signed 2 change orders for the Sewer Upgrade project, one was under$ 100, 000 related to the inflow line expansion. He noted that now was the logical time to implement this improvement and it was cheaper to do so at this time. The other significant change was for$ 35, 000 related to a corrosive inhibiting agent being applied. Barkley noted that the Sewer Upgrade issues related to costs and timing/availability of materials was all across the board. We were authorized to use our ARPA funds at about $ 2. 5M. Barkley noted that the contract with the builder didn' t really speak to this circumstance. We were exploring how use of these funds would affect our grant funds. If the change orders were associated with Covid, then it may not affect or take away our grant funds. City Attorney Ramler noted the contractor' s requests for additional time due to Covid related expenses and delays in receiving materials. Ramler had scheduled a conference with their attorney and with the City' s Attorney John Guin. Ramler would bring back updates as ongoing meetings took place. He noted that USDA needed a statement in writing that the City intended to use ARPA funding but that we did not want to lose our grant funds as a penalty. Council inquired about a tour of the WWTP facility to see the progress. Barkley suggested the first week in October. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to authorize the City Manager to use ARPA funds to address costs related to COVID on the Sewer Upgrade/ WWTP project with the condition of not giving up grant funds. Council Member Simon seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Barkley reported that October 4, 2021 would be his last full Council meeting and he would plan on turning over the helm to Neil Cardwell at the Council meeting scheduled for October 18, 2021. DISCUSSION AGENDA Discuss Intent to Update the list of Authorized Signers on City Bank Account City Manager Barkley noted this was not ready to be completed so this item would be considered at a future meeting. He explained that all of our checks required 2 signers so we would be updating the list of City staff authorized to sign. Page 2 of 4 Consider Ordinance 2021- 5 ( first reading) to Amend the City Charter, change CounciUMayor Salaries and set date for Public Hearing City Manager Barkley reviewed the current manner and amount of compensation for each council meeting attended. Discussion followed about pay amounts and whether to base it per month or per meeting. Barkley noted the goal was to remove the barrier from those who may have challenges to participate due to cost of babysitting as an example. City Attorney Ramler suggested that the revised draft could include a process for future changes so it would not have to go to voters every time. Discussion followed about the next available election date. Barkley noted a revised draft would be prepared and staff would find out when this could be placed on a ballot. Council declined to take further action on this item until a revised draft ordinance was prepared by staff FOR YOUR INFORMATION Council Member Smith noted an unsafe traffic area on 13th Street, northbound, due to cars parking on both sides, it was difficult to see oncoming traffic. Barkley said that area was being already under review. Council Member Doyle asked why the school zone speed limit through Broadway had not yet been changed. Barkley said it was in process and he would report back on the status. Council Member Menicucci thanked Council and the City Manager on behalf of the Library Foundation for their efforts to educate everyone on the Library project. Council Member Simon thanked Council Member Menicucci for her recent donation toward trees for the City parks in the amount of$ 3, 000. These funds would be used to plant trees in Lewis & Clark Park in and around the Library Project. He said the Park Board was thankful. Simon also reported that there was interest in having a bike pump track at the Prescott Park. An individual had approached the Park Board and was putting together a funding plan. He hoped they would soon have a presentation for the Council. Council Member Meis reported that he was contacted about who was striping streets on Rosebud. The striping was not straight. Barkley said there was some miscommunication about whether the City or MDT was applying the striping and he would be following up on these discrepancies. Meis reported attending the Fire Board meeting. It was a packed room as they considered concerns regarding their leadership issues and unrest among their staff. The trustees were considering bringing in a third party to review process and procedures. Council Member Cooper reported weeds around poles and on the right of ways. Barkley noted the staff shortage in the Public Works department. He noted there was a cleanup effort scheduled right before the Fall Festival. Page 3 of 4  Mayor Nelson brought up the overgrowth of weeds in and around the Yellowstone Airport Plaza and asked Barkley to contact the landowner regarding cutting and removal. ADJOURN Council Member Smith moved to adjourn the meeting at 8: 15pm. Mik eis, Deputy Mayor Attest Susan Caldwell, City Clerk Page 4 of 4