Belgrade City Council

CITY OF BELGRADE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES COUNCIL CHAMBERS February 18, 2025 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, Erin Bell, and Renae Mattimoe. City staff in attendance were Assistant City Manager Greg Tryon, City Attorney Kyla Murray, City Clerk Camille Gregory, Executive Assistant Dana Jambor, Executive Director of Financial Services Charity VanKirk, Municipal Court Judge Chris Gregory, Director of Community Development Jason Karp, Chief Building Official Lucas Sobeck, Sinor Planner Brad Stein, City Engineer Joe Hauck, Director of Parks and Recreation Steve Klotz, Police Chief Dustin Lensing, and Public Works Director Camaree Uljua. No others were in attendance. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There being none, Public Forum was closed. CONSENT AGENDA Consider Approval of Council Minutes: 12- 16- 25 Workshop, 12- 16- 25, 1- 21- 25 & 2- 3- 25. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING Discuss and Consider Resolution 2025- 03, a Resolution Creating Special Improvement Lighting Maintenance District( SILMD) No. 2600 ( West Post - Phases 1 & 2 and East Frank Road) Director of Public Works Uljua explained that this resolution is to create the Special Improvement Lighting Maintenance District located in the West Post development. She noted the Council already adopted a resolution of intent to create this district during their meeting on January 21, 2025. Notice of its passage was posted in the local paper and was mailed to the property owners. Uljua noted no written objection was submitted on this project, and the cost for the proposed district will be recovered through a special assessment. She further advised that this will be the first such district managed by the City of Belgrade. Page 1 of 4  Uljua advised that petitions to create these districts are required for final plat approval. She also advised that the staff predicts there will be more lighting districts to come for Belgrade, and there is potential that the City will take over older lighting districts if there is enough support from the property owners. ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to open the Public Hearing. Council Member Meis seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Mattimoe moved to close the Public Hearing. Council' Member Simon seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Uljua clarified that because the lighting district is concentrated in the commercial area of West Post, the property owners in the commercial portion of the district will be the ones paying through the special assessment. ACTION: Council Member Mattimoe moved to adopt Resolution 2025- 03, a Resolution Creating Special Improvement Lighting Maintenance District ( SILMD) No. 2600 West Post- Phases 1 & 2 and East Frank Road) of the City of Belgrade, Montana. Council Member Menicucci seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. DISCUSSION AGENDA Discuss and Consider a Resolution of Intent to Amend Fees and Creating a Master Fees Schedule Executive Director of Financial Services VanKirk explained that this resolution of intent will direct staff to review and update specific ordinances. The ordinances reviewed would be those required to facilitate amending and updating fees, processing and reviewing administrative fees, and fees required for inspections that are necessary to approve applications, permits, and required payments. VanKirk noted this resolution of intent also directs staff to update their fees into a Master Fee Schedule that will be accessible to staff and the public. It also directs staff to review the schedule annually and bring it to the Council for review of any amendments. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to approve the Resolution of Intent, to direct City staff to amend city fees, create a Master Fee Schedule to be reviewed annually, and bring these changes back to the City Council for review by April 1, 2025. Council Member Simon seconded the Motion. Page 2 of 4  Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. REPORTS Mayor Nelson reported on legislative matters, pointing out SB 146 in particular. He noted SB146 is a bill that would do away with zoning districts. The Mayor stated he will continue to monitor bills raised in this legislative session. City Attorney Murray had nothing to report. Assistant City Manager Tryon reported on behalf of the City Manager that the RFQ status for the water storage expansion has moved to the interview stage. He noted that five engineering firms have applied. The final interview will be held on Friday, February 21. A recommendation will be given the following week. Tryon then reported that the Finance Department is working diligently on the 2024 audit, but they still have some things to work on before they can turn everything over to the auditor. He noted that it will be finished soon. He also noted that the Planning Department will hold an open house on February 19, 2025, at 5: 30 p.m. The purpose of the open house will be to present the final zoning draft that they hope to present to the County for their adoption. Tryon then thanked the Parks, Streets, Wastewater, and Water Departments for working so hard to clear the streets, trails and parks of snow. He noted that staff are dealing with a lot of frustration from people in the community. Tryon then congratulated the Community Development Department on obtaining new certifications. FOR YOUR INFORMATION Council Member Guffey had nothing to report. Council Member Meis had nothing to report. Council Member Simon thanked the City' s street crews for their efforts in plowing his neighborhood and making a path through one of the parks. Council Member Menicucci reported that she was approached by someone asking if there could be a special water rate for churches and non- profits. Council Member Bell reported that the Senior Center could not hold its February meeting due to illness. Bell also mentioned that she had talked to the Senior Center Manager Lisa Beedy about holding the Senior Center' s bingo fundraiser at the new library, and that Beedy was open to the idea. Page 3 of 4  Council Member Mattimoe reported that the Parks Board met to finalize the Parks Master Plan and that it was approved. ADJOURN Council Member Simon moved to adjourn. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7: 29 pm. iii _ Resell- E-Netson,# ayei.— Attest: IVB', A. Nkcis i t p.u4- j PAT"- C„\ 1; kiaitul Camille legory, ' ity frk ro l}: Page 4 of 4