Belgrade City Council

BELGRADE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Council Chambers January 3, 2022 7: 00 PM This meeting was open to the public and attended both in- person and via the Zoom video conference platform. Mayor Russell Nelson called the meeting to order. Other Council Members in attendance were Mike Meis, Jim Simon, Kris Menicucci, Jim Doyle, Renae Mattimoe and Martha Sellers. City staff in attendance were City Manager Neil Cardwell, City Clerk Sue Caldwell, Executive Assistant Dana Jambor, Planning Director Jason Karp, Police Chief Dustin Lensing, Library Director Gale Bacon, City Engineer Tom Eastwood. City Staff in attendance via Zoom were City Attorney Rick Ramler, Finance Officer Diane Eagleson, HR Manager Sherry Brown and Police Sergeant Justin Sharp. Others in attendance were Judy Doyle, Vivian Crouse, Mark Lehman, Louise Mercier. Others in attendance via Zoom were Kaye Trevarthen, Diana Setterberg and Nicole Cardwell. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Nelson opened the public forum and called for public comment. There was none and the public forum was closed. REPORTS Mayor Nelson thanked Interim City Judge Wanda Drusch for coming in at 6: 30pm and officiating the Oaths of Office for those who had been re- elected and newly elected to the Council. He welcomed newly elected Council Members Mattimoe and Sellers and congratulated Council Member Menicucci on her re- election. City Attorney Ramler had nothing to report. City Manager' s Report City Manager Cardwell congratulated and welcomed newly elected Council Member Mattimoe and Sellers and re- elected Council Member Menicucci. He said he looked forward to working together. He thanked Council for granting staff the allowance of Christmas Eve as a paid holiday. He noted that the Library Director and the Chief of Police would be giving department updates for Council' s information. Library Director Bacon reported on recent efforts related to programing and provided the monthly newsletter. She invited Council members to come into the Library and see for themselves. Page 1 of 4  Police Chief Lensing reported on statistics for 2021 and provided Council with a summary report. He noted the challenge of responding to calls in view of low staffing levels. He noted a rise in domestic violence and mental health related calls. More vehicles on the roads also brought more traffic collisions. He noted a significant increase in sexual assaults, car break- ins and weapon concerns. He noted his appreciation of working with City Manager Cardwell and his support of the department. DISCUSSION AGENDA Consider Request for Reduction of Financial Guaranty— Bridger Heights Phases 1- 3 Planning Director Jason Karp reviewed the request for reduction of the financial guaranty commensurate with work completed thus far with regard to street paving, curb and gutters within the subdivision. The request was to reduce the letter of credit by$ 293, 359. 00. The applicant requested that the original letters of credit ( 7 letters) be released and replaced with one new letter of credit for the reduced amount total of$ 269, 099. 80 Karp noted that City Engineer Eastwood had reviewed the request and found it acceptable. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to approve the Request to reduce the Letter of Credit for Story Creek Subdivision Phase 1 commensurate with the work completed, replacing the existing letters of credit with a new letter of credit in the amount of$ 269, 099. 80. Council Member Menicucci seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Consider Re- appointment of Planning Board Members Mayor Nelson recommended re- appointment of Sandy Lee, Elizabeth Marum and John Youngberg to continue serving as City of Belgrade representatives on the City- County Planning Board. He noted that all three had indicated their willingness to continue serving. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to approve and reappoint Sandy Lee, Elizabeth Marum and John Youngberg to the City County Planning Board with two- year terms expiring on December 31, 2023. Council Member Doyle seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Consider Application for Right of Way Easement for Utilities on State Owned Land City Manager Cardwell noted this application was for a sewer force main easement to serve the proposed Ashton Meadows and Four Graces Subdivisions generally located between Bolinger Road and Collins Road. City staff recommended approval of the request. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to approve the Application for Right of Way Easement for Utilities on State Owned Land and authorize the City Manager to sign said Page 2 of 4 application. Council Member Simon seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Consider Resolution 2022- 1 Sewer System Revenue Bonds in the amount of$ 6. 35M City Manager Cardwell noted this was the next issuance of bonds related to the Wastewater Treatment facility upgrade project, and the first round of Sewer Revolving ( SRF) funding. They allowed Belgrade to split this in half while we worked out the rate increases. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to approve Resolution 2022- 1 for authorizing issuance of Sewer System Revenue Bonds in the amount of$ 6. 35M. Council Member Doyle seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Discuss and Appoint Deputy Mayor for Calendar Year 2022 City Manager Cardwell noted that Council Member Meis had served as Deputy Mayor for calendar year 2021. Mayor Nelson recommended appointing of Council Member Meis as Deputy Mayor for 2022. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to appoint Council Member Meis as Deputy Mayor for calendar year 2022. Council Member Simon seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Discuss Council Members' Annual Advisory Board and Committee Appointments for 2022 Discussion followed about board appointments. The following appointments were suggested: City County Planning Board: Mike Meis Planning Coordinating Committee( PCC): Mike Meis Library Board: Martha Sellers Gallatin Local Water Quality District: Kris Menicucci Park Board: Renae Mattimoe Central Valley Fire District: Jim Simon Revolving Loan Fund Committee: Jim Doyle, Kris Menicucci, Martha Sellers Disaster Emergency Services Committee: Simon and Doyle Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to approve appointments as stated. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. CONSENT AGENDA Pledged Securities for December 2021 ACTION: Council Member Doyle moved to approve the consent agenda items. Council Member Meis seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Page 3 of 4 EXECUTIVE SESSION - Update on potential legal issues At 7: 31pm Mayor Nelson called for a closed executive session and allowed attendees to exit the chambers. At 8: 02 pm Mayor Nelson closed the executive session and reopened the regular council meeting to the public. FOR YOUR INFORMATION Council Member Meis asked about progress on setting up interviews for a new City Judge. Cardwell noted plans to interview early the next week. They planned to interview 5 of the 11 applicants. The interview committee would be himself, Meis, Ramler and HR Director Brown. Council Member Meis reported working with the Belgrade Community Coalition to take down the 16t. Christmas decorations on Sunday January Council Member Menicucci welcomed the new council members. Council Member Simon, Mattimoe and Sellers had nothing to report. Council Member Doyle asked if Council Member Meis would attend the Planning meeting. ADJOURN Council Member Simon moved to adjourn the meeti g at 8: 12 pm. Russell C. Nelson, Mayor Susan Caldwell, City Clerk Page 4 of 4