Belgrade City Council

CITY OF BELGRADE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES COUNCIL CHAMBERS September 18, 2023 7: 00 PM This meeting was open to the public and attended in person. Mayor Russell C. Nelson called the meeting to order. Council Members in attendance were Jason Guffey, Mike Meis, Jim Simon, Kristine Menicucci, Jim Doyle, and Renae Mattimoe. City staff in attendance were City Manager Neil Cardwell, Assistant City Manager Greg Tryon, Jordan Ramler( in place of City Attorney Rick Ramler), Executive Assistant Dana Jambor, Executive Finance Director Charity VanKirk, Fire Chief Lonnie Rash, Chief of Police Dustin Lensing, Director of Information Technology Ryan Curtis, City Engineer Tom Eastwood, Director of Community Development Jason Karp, Director of Parks and Recreation Steve Klotz, Director of Human Resources Becky Wilbert, Building Official Lucas Sobeck and Wastewater Foreman Sam Stephens. Others in attendance were Vivian Crouse, Krista Dicomitis, Kieley Parker, and Scott Monger. Clerk Note: The meeting video recording started during the public forum announcement. However, the pledge and roll call were conducted. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Nelson called for public comment. Scott Monger, residing at Hoffman St., wanted the Council aware that people are parking their cars in his neighborhood and walking to the airport. He stated these people leave their cars parked on the street for a week or more. He said he had spoken to several police officers about the matter. One of the officers encouraged him to bring the issue to the Council. Mayor Nelson called two more times for public comment. There being none, the public forum was closed. DISCUSSION AGENDA Discuss HRDC 2022 Community Needs Assessment Findings. HRDC Strategic Planning Officer Krista Dicomitis presented a brief PowerPoint presentation on HRDC' s needs assessment. She said HRDC will do this assessment every three years. The assessment helps inform the City' s strategic plan, which runs for another three years. Page 1 of 4 3  Council Member Meis asked what percentage of the population fit into the " Persons in Poverty" category in 2019. Dicomitis said she would have to look up the exact figures in the Census Report. However, she knew that rate had increased in Bozeman, Belgrade, and Manhattan. Council Member Simon asked if the numbers highlighted in red indicate a drastic change. Dicomitis said those numbers are meant to show how local figures compare to state- level numbers. She said if you see a red median income, it indicates a county or town is making less than the state- level numbers. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. Discuss and Consider Changes to Belgrade Regional Parks, Trails, and Recreation Bylaws. Director of Parks and Recreation Steve Klotz asked the Council to approve the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Board' s change to their meeting start time. The change moves the Board' s start time from 6: 00 p.m. to 6: 30 p. m. on the first Thursday of the month. He explained that this would be a one- time change, and if the City Council approves the change then he will take it to the County Commission for their approval. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to approve District Resolution 2023- 27 to grant permission for changes to the Belgrade Regional Parks, Trails, and Recreation District Bylaws, specifically changing the meeting time from 6: 00 PM to 6: 30 PM on the first Thursday of every month. Council Member Guffey seconded the motion. There was a roll call vote: Motion carried 6- 0. Council members voting " aye": Guffey, Meis, Simon, Menicucci, Doyle, Mattimoe Council Members voting " no": None. Discuss Participation in Water Quality Board and Other Organizations. Council Member Kristine Menicucci stated that she has been a member of the Local Water Quality Board for many years. She explained that there is a staffing shortage for water quality monitoring. However, the money isn' t there to fund more staff Menicucci asked if the City would help pay for another employee to help with workload, noting it would help ensure that water quality in the Valley continues to be monitored. There was a discussion between the Council and City Manager Cardwell on potential options. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. Discuss City Manager Annual Review Process. Page 2 of 4  Mayor Nelson thanked HR for the changes on the form for the City Manager' s review. He then explained that he was looking for two members to join a committee to review the results from the review forms and discuss any changes to the City Manager's contract. He asked who on the Council would like to join that committee. Council Members Meis and Menicucci volunteered to join Mayor Nelson on the committee. Nelson asked all Council Members to get their completed forms to him by the 29th for committee review. Mayor Nelson said he would then meet with the City Manager before the Council' s second meeting in October, to review any comments from the committee. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. Discuss Community Development Update. Director of Community Development Jason Karp gave a brief PowerPoint presentation on the Community Development( CD) Department. He introduced his staff and mentioned that Levi Simonson will transition from CD to Information Technology. CD will be looking for a Senior Planner to fill Simonson' s spot. Karp also mentioned that CD will eventually grow out of the building they are currently housed in and said they will be looking to utilize some of the space the City has acquired after they hire a new planner. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. REPORTS Mayor Nelson had nothing to report. Jordan Ramler had nothing to report. City Manager Cardwell introduced Sam Stevens as the interim Public Works Director. He noted that Assistant City Manager Tryon will look for a permanent replacement. Cardwell also notified the Council that, after hiring S. K. Rossi as a legislative consultant, the City of Belgrade has joined the Montana Infrastructure Coalition as voting members. The Coalition is the entity that the legislative gas tax conversations went through. The Coalition has asked Belgrade to host their annual meeting this year. The date for that meeting is TBD. FOR YOUR INFORMATION Council Member Guffey had nothing to report. Page 3 of 4  Council Member Meis stated he attended the PCC meeting. They went over the sensitive land study. He also had an opportunity to see the interactive map that has been developed. Council Member Simon mentioned he would be traveling for work and hopes to appear by 2nd Zoom for the October meeting. However, he wasn' t sure if he would be able to do so. Council Member Menicucci had nothing to report. Council Member Doyle had nothing to report. Council Member Mattimoe attended the New Belgrade Parks, Trails, and Recreation Board meeting. She said they reviewed their budget and discussed changing their meeting start time. ADJOURN Council Member Simon moved to adjourn the meeting at 8: 22 p.m. a/ 1421 Russell C. Nelson, Mayor Attest: 4 Camille Grevoiy, Ci Cl t Y pts eA 440 r Page 4 of 4