Belgrade City Council

CITY OF BELGRADE COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES COUNCIL CHAMBERS September 9, 2024 6: 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 via Zoom, and Renae Mattimoe. City staff in attendance were City Manager Neil Cardwell, Assistant City Manager Greg Tryon, City Attorney Kyla Murray, City Clerk Camille Gregory, and Municipal Court Judge Chris Gregory. Others in attendance were Robert Blakeman. ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to go out of order from the Agenda. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. DISCUSSION AGENDA Discuss and Consider Setting Date for Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of City FY25 Budget on September 30, 2024 City Manager Cardwell explained that tonight, the Council is asked to set a public hearing for the adoption of the FY25 budget. The hearing to consider the FY25 budget was originally set for September 16, 2024. However, due to the Department of Revenue' s ( DOR) continued work on the certified taxable values, it is impossible to complete the budget by the original September 16 date. Cardwell noted the budget will now be heard in a special meeting of the City Council, at 7: 00 p. m. on September 30, 2024. He noted this is the latest possible date to hold the required public hearing if the budget is to meet the County, DOR, and the City' s statutory requirements for public notice. Cardwell further advised that the special meeting will take place at 7: 00 p.m. because the Belgrade Regional Parks, Trails, and Recreation District( BRPTRD) Board will also hold a Public Hearing at 6: 30 p.m. the same night to adopt their Budget. Part of the Council special meeting will include certifying the adoption of the Parks Budget, as well as the FY25 budget. He noted the Council is not required to attend the BRPTRD board meeting. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. Page 1 of 6  ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to set the date for the public hearing to consider adoption of City FY25 budget adoption on September 30, 2024 at 7: 00 p. m. Council Member Simon seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. Discuss and Consider Application for Ward 2 Vacancy. Mayor Nelson welcomed the applicant Erin Bell and thanked them for their interest in serving on the Council. Erin Bell was the only applicant for the Ward 2 Council position. The Council then went around the dais and asked a series of questions. ( see attached) Bell answered all questions that were asked. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Mattimoe moved to appoint Erin Bell to fill the Council Seat for Ward 2 that was vacated by Jim Doyle. Council Member Menicucci seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried unanimously. City Manager Cardwell pointed out that the next regular meeting will be next Monday, September 16, 2024, at 7: 00 p. m. He then asked Bell to arrive for the meeting at 6: 45 p.m., so that Judge Gregory could swear her in before the meeting. ADJOURN Council Member Simon moved to adjourn the meetin. .' 6: 38 pm. joe i/ ale Russell C. e son, Mayor Attest: Camille Gregory, Ci Clerk a Page 2 of 6  Section 2. 02 Powers And Duties Of The Council A. The city council shall be the legislative and policy determining body of the City of Belgrade. Except as otherwise provided by this charter, the Council shall provide for the exercise of all powers of the City of Belgrade and for performance of all duties and obligations imposed upon the City by law. B. The Council shall appoint and remove the city manager by majority vote of the whole number of the Council. C. The Council shall provide for an independent annual audit of all city accounts and may provide for such more frequent audits as it deems necessary. If the state makes such an audit, the Council may accept it as satisfying the requirements of this section. D. The Council shall adopt by ordinance or resolution and maintain an administrative code and a personnel system a provided in article IV. E.The Council may make investigations into the affairs of the City and the conduct of any city department, office, or agency, and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and require the production of evidence. F. In the event of a vacancy, the Council shall, within 60 days by majority vote of the remaining members, appoint a person eligible to hold a council seat to fill the vacancy until the next regular city election at which time the remainder of the term shall be filled as required by law. G. The Council shall be the Judge of the qualifications of its members and of the grounds of forfeiture of their office, as provided for in article II section 2. 01 of this charter, and for that purpose shall have the power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and require the production of evidence. A member charged with conduct constituting grounds for forfeiture of his or her office shall be entitled to a public hearing on demand and notice of such hearing shall be published in a manner consistent with state law. H. A quorum of the Council shall consist of 50% of the council members plus one. Section 2. 04 Restrictions Of The Mayor And Council A. Except where authorized by law, the mayor or any council person shall not hold any other city office or employment with the City. ( Ord. 87- 1, 3- 16- 1987) B. Neither the mayor, the Council, or council members shall in any manner dictate the appointment or removal of any city administrative officers or employees whom the manager or any of his/ her subordinates are empowered to appoint. C. Except for the purpose of inquiries and investigations under section 2. 02, article II, the Council or its members shall deal with city officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the Page 3 of 6 manager solely through the manager, and neither the Council nor its members shall give orders to any such officer or employee, either publicly or privately. Section 2. 05 Council Procedure, Public Participation A. Council procedure shall be prescribed under state law. B. The Council shall meet at least once per month in regular session. C. The Council shall determine its own rules and order of business and shall provide for the keeping of the minutes of its proceedings. D. All meetings shall be open to the public except in such circumstances as prescribed by state law. E. All documents and records of the Council shall be public records and shall be made available for examining or copying. Page 4 of 6  COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING QUESTIONS SUGGESTIONS Mayor Nelson begins the meeting by providing and introduction to the position( Ward 3 Vacancy) describing the role of the City Council and opening it up to the Council to give input on the role as well. Staff has prepared the following list of possible questions the Council can ask the candidates. As a matter of good practice if you ask a non- listed question to one( out of the gate not follow up) you should ask it of all. 1. Tell us about yourself and what interests you in the City Council position. 2. What do you feel is Belgrade' s biggest challenge? 3. What about Belgrade gives you the greatest sense of pride? 4. What is your greatest quality( superpower) that will make you successful as a Council Member? 5. Please describe what you feel is the function of Belgrade' s local government. 6. What do you know about Belgrade' s local government? Page 5 of 6 7. What do you like about Belgrade and what do you feel needs to be reviewed/ changed? 8. If Belgrade received a$ 1 million grant to use for the City in any way it wanted, what would you do with it and why? 9. Serving on the City Council requires you to attend at least two regular session meetings per month, plus committee meetings. Tell us about your ability to manage time and if you are able to make this commitment. 10. Serving on the Council requires leadership skills. Please share with us some examples of you serving in a leadership position; and tell us about the one time you were most proud of being a leader and what you did. Page 6 of 6