Belgrade City Council

BELGRADE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES COUNCIL CHAMBERS November 15, 2021 7:00 PM This meeting was open to the public and attended both in person and via the 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 Neil Cardwell, City Attorney Rick Ramler, City Clerk Susan Caldwell, Admin Assistant Dana Jambor, Planning Director Jason Karp. Finance Director Diane Eagleson and HR Director Sherry Brown attended via Zoom. Others in attendance were Renee Koenig, Kristi Gee, Ali Vasarella, Judy Doyle, Bill Siebrasse, Ashley Siebrasse, Garrett Schultz, Diana Perry, Renae Mattimoe, Dan Petty. Others in attendance via Zoom were Myra Cook, Diana Setterberg, Kaye Trevarthen, Nicole Cardwell, Ethan Cote. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There being none, public forum was closed. PUBLIC HEARING Consider Resolution 2021-42 Final Adoption of the Triangle Trails Plan as an amendment to the Belgrade Growth Policy City Planning Director Karp reviewed the Triangle Trails Plan. Karp noted the Gallatin County Commission would also be considering this for final adoption next week. Mayor Nelson called for public comment and opened the public hearing. A letter was acknowledged in support of the Triangle Trails Plan. There being no other public comment, the public hearing was closed. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to approve Resolution 2021-42 adopting the Triangle Trails Plan as an amendment to the Belgrade Growth Policy. Council Member Simon seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. REPORTS Mayor Mayor Nelson read a Proclamation acknowledging “Small Business Saturday” to be observed on November 27, 2021. Page 1 of 6  Kristi Gee, Executive Director of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce spoke about local support of Small Business Saturday in the community. Mayor Nelson read a Proclamation acknowledging “American Education Week” to be observed from November 15th through the 19th of 2021. Kristie Gee reported on coordinating efforts with the School district for a Career Fair on November 22nd with 55 different business and area colleges to attend the event. Mayor Nelson reported his attendance at the recent Fire board Meeting where they had announced the retirement of Chairman Joe Nelson. There was a lot of comment by staff and union representatives of the firefighters. There were conflicts to be considered and the Fire Chief Lindroth was on administrative leave at this time. An interim Fire Chief had been brought in. City Attorney had nothing to report. City Manager City Manager Cardwell reported on hiring of a new Police Officer who would be introduced soon. Cardwell noted he would be spending Thanksgiving with his family in Texas. Police Chief Dustin Lensing would be the designated Acting City Manager in his absence. Cardwell congratulated the Council Members who had recently been elected to serve Belgrade. He discussed progress on the Library project and working with 45 Architecture. He noted the need to consider options for relocating the Public Works facilities before the Library construction could begin. Cardwell asked council members to think about serving on various advisory boards. City Clerk Caldwell said she would be sending out information showing the current board members, their terms and vacancies. Renewals and appointments were typically done in December each year and would take effect January of the new year. Cardwell reported on plans to host an Employee Pancake Breakfast on December 13th at 7:30am at the Public Works Annex. He invited Council Members to attend and help serve. Cardwell reported on plans to present to Council an adjustment to payroll in regard to the number of pay periods. The City was currently on a monthly pay schedule. DISCUSSION AGENDA Consider Resolution 2021-43 Setting Application/Permit Fee for keeping of Domestic Chickens City Manager Cardwell reviewed the proposed fee structure. The fee would help defray costs of associated inspections related to the permit. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. Page 2 of 6  Diana Perry, inquired about requirements for electric heating for a chicken coop. She asked if there was a waiver option for the heating requirement. In her experience, she felt the chickens could keep each other warm inside the coop. Renae Mattimoe reviewed the wording of the ordinance requiring a covered, predator- proof enclosure, and if there was an electrical connection, this would have to be inspected. Dan Petty, residing on Oakwood, spoke in support of the permit and fee, however, he felt there should be an annual inspection done and the fee should be annual as well. Bill Sieabrass, residing in Belgrade, inquired about the electrical requirement. Kaye Trevarthen, residing in Belgrade, spoke in support of the $100 fee. She inquired about violation provisions and if the permit could be revoked. Cardwell noted this would be handled by the Code Enforcement Officers and would follow the standard penalty codes. Discussion followed about the permit process. It was clarified that it was up to the resident to find out if ownership of chickens was allowed by their individual Homeowner’s Association before applying for a City permit. The City would not be responsible for enforcing individual covenants or bylaws of the various subdivisions. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to approve Resolution 2021-43 setting the application/permit fee at $100 for keeping of domestic chickens. Council Member Doyle seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Consider Ordinance 2021- 8 Camping Code amendments (1st reading) and set date for Public Hearing City Manager Cardwell reviewed the proposed ordinance. The permit could be issued for a period of up to one year and the applicant would be required to show proof of service in regard to cleaning and pumping waste tanks on at least a quarterly basis. He also suggested setting a fee for this permit going forward. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. Dan Petty, residing in Belgrade, asked why this was now being brought up. The lack of housing and higher costs of rent was noted as recent contributing factors, based on hardships brought to the Council’s attention. Petty felt this was not feasible to keep under control. City Attorney Ramler noted that residents would also be subject to allowances under their individual Homeowner’s Associations rules. ACTION: Council Member Smith moved to approve Ordinance 2021-8 upon first reading regarding Camping code amendments as presented, with a fee of $50, and to set date for public hearing on December 6, 2021. Council Member Doyle seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Page 3 of 6 Council Members voting aye: Smith, Doyle and Meis Council Members voting no: Cooper, Simon and Menicucci Mayor Nelson voted to break the tie – Mayor Nelson voted aye Motion carried 4 to 3 Consider Improvements Agreement for Bridger Heights Subdivision Phase 4 Planning Director Karp reviewed the Improvements Agreement and associated Letter of Credit. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to approve the Improvements Agreement for Bridger Heights Subdivision Phase 4 to be accompanied by a Letter of Credit acceptable to the City in the amount of $45,000 and complying with the terms of the Improvements Agreement. Council Member Simon seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Consider Request for Final Plat Approval for Bridger Heights Subdivision Phase 4 Planning Director Karp noted that with the approval of the Improvements Agreement, the council could now consider approval of Final Plat for Bridger Heights Subdivision Phase 4. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to grant final plat approval to the Bridger Heights Subdivision Phase 4 subject to the transmittal of the signed Improvements Agreement and Letter of Credit that is acceptable to the City, finding that all conditions of preliminary plat approval have been met and the subdivision complies with the Montana Subdivision and Platting act and the Belgrade City Code. Council Member Meis seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Consider Request to use City Hydrant for County Minor Subdivision Fire Protection - Kallestad Planning Director Karp noted that the applicant was requesting that a City fire hydrant near the Story Creek Elementary School be allowed for use as the proposed minor subdivision’s fire protection. The small subdivision would include 5 lots off of Bolinger Road. Garret Schultz, Headwaters Engineering, spoke as representative of the applicant, offered to answer questions. He discussed current developments in the area. Lot 1-A would remain at 5 acres, with the other 4 lots at 2.5 acres. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to approve the Kallestad Subsequent Minor subdivision to utilize the City of Belgrade fire hydrant along Bolinger Road as a fire Page 4 of 6 protection water supply, subject to the stipulation that new structures in the subdivision have fire sprinkler systems, and the developer waive the right to protest future annexation into the City of Belgrade. Council Member Menicucci seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Consider Resolution 2021-44 confirming issuance of Sewer System Revenue Bonds: Series 2021B for $5.9M and Series 2021C for $5.4M City Manager Cardwell noted this was the next series of bonds to be issued for the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade project. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to approve Resolution 2021-44 to issue Sewer System Revenue Bonds Series 2021B for $5.9M and Series 2021C for $5.4M. Council Member Cooper seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. CONSENT AGENDA -Warrants Payable for month of October 2021 ACTION: Council Member Cooper moved to approve the consent agenda items as submitted. Council Member Smith seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. FOR YOUR INFORMATION Council Member Cooper asked if Cardwell would be attending the Library Board meeting. Cardwell said he would be there. Council Member Meis reported plans to coordinate hanging of Christmas lights for the season starting this weekend. Council Member Simon reported attending the Park Board meeting. They discussed the Belgrade Baseball park use agreement. They also discussed changing the name of the park formerly known as Prescott Park and asking for public input. They discussed plans for a gazebo and playground equipment in Lewis & Clark Park. Council Member Menicucci inquired if there were any ordinances in effect that could help in avoiding the racetrack events put on by a church in the area. She had complaints from some of her constituents. They had already tried to talk with the church about the complaints. Cardwell asked if she had the contact information for the church to try and work something out. Council Member Doyle had nothing to report. Council Member Smith inquired about Town Pump being interested in City property located behind their store next to Lewis & Clark Park. Cardwell said he was in discussions with Town Pump and was reviewing their ideas so he could present it to Council for more review. Page 5 of 6  Mayor Nelson reported that there would be more trucks participating in the Christmas Convoy this year. ADJOURN Council Member Smith moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:26pm. Russell C. Nelson, Mayor Attest City Clerk Page 6 of 6