Belgrade City Council

CITY OF BELGRADE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES COUNCIL CHAMBERS April 1St, 2025, at 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 via Zoom, Erin Bell, 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, Executive Assistant Dana Jambor, Executive Finance Director Charity VanKirk, Chief of Police Dustin Lensing, Municipal Court Judge Chris Gregory, Executive Consultant to Community Development Jason Karp, Chief Building Official Lucas Sobeck, Director of Human Resources Becky Wilbert, Director of Community and Economic Development Katharine King, City Engineer Joe Hauck, Director of Parks and Recreation Steve Klotz, Public Works Director Camaree Uljua, Director of Operations James Percival, Library Director Alina Prunean, and Fire Chief Jay Wittwer. Others in attendance were William McCartney Jr., Dan Sampson, and Joe Murphy. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There being none, the Public Forum was closed. CONSENT AGENDA Consider Approval of Council Minute Draft: 3- 3- 25. Consider Resolution No. 2025- 6, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Belgrade, Montana, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute All Related Agreements for the Land Exchange with the Belgrade School District, Subject to Certain Conditions. Consider a Subdivision Improvements Agreement Reduction for Ashton Meadows Phase 1 Consider Resolution No. 2025- 7 Restricting Irrigation Water Usage and Setting Specific Hours ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Page 1 of 10 PUBLIC HEARING Discuss and Consider a Second Reading of Ordinance 2025- 1 an Ordinance Amending the Trees and Shrubs Ordinance Provisionally Adopted 3/ 3/ 2 City Attorney Murray explained that this is the second reading of this ordinance. The Ordinance serves to update the trees and shrubs section of Belgrade City Code. This update adds a City Forester position, dissolves the Tree Board, and will allow the City to address and/ or enforce recent issues with trees. Murray noted there was no public comment, and all notice requirements were fulfilled. ACTION: Council Member Mattimoe moved to open the Public Hearing. Council Member Simon seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. William McCartney Jr., who lives at 1403 Powers Blvd., raised a possible conflict in the Ordinance' s tree trimming and planting sections. Mayor Nelson called two more times for public comment. There was none ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to close the Public Hearing. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Murray stated that she would amend the Ordinance before its signing so that it states the tree/ shrub spacing would be at the discretion of the City Forester. Cardwell mentioned that the fund in this matter would be a future assessment that could be collected. He also reiterated that the City Forester will not immediately become a full- time position. Instead, the City Forester' s duties would be assigned to a current employee in the short term, but it would eventually become a full- time position. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to finalize the adoption of Ordinance 2025- 1, an Ordinance Amending the Trees and Shrubs Ordinance in Title 3, Chapter 4 of the Belgrade City Code, creating a City Tree Fund and City Forester Position with 2b amended as all street trees shall be planted in line with each other and at a spacing determined by the City Forester. Council Member Simon seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Page 2 of 10 Discuss and Consider the Second Reading of Ord. No. 2025- 02 for a Zone Map Amendment of the Parcel at the Corner of Jackrabbit Lane and Amsterdam Road, Owned by Town Pump BELGRADE 5 RE2, LLC) to be Changed to Commercial Corridor( CC) District Executive Consultant to Community Development Karp explained that the property being discussed in this item is the former Flying J/ Bair' s lot. He further explained that the current zoning for the property is Flex Employment( FE), which has restrictive setback requirements that require that the building be at the front of the lot, near the street, and parking must be in the back. Karp noted that if the lot were zoned as a Commercial Corridor( CC) District, as proposed, it would allow the property owners to build their new store/ building in the middle of the property instead of requiring it to be at the front. Karp further noted that the Planning Board voted unanimously to zone the lot as a Commercial Corridor( CC) District. Joe Murphy, of Big Sky Civil and Environmental Engineering, pointed out that the primary reason for the zoning change from FE to CC was to accommodate a better traffic safety layout. Dan Sampson, with Town Pump, provided the Council with documents comparing the site' s layout under FE zoning and under the proposed CC zoning. Sampson noted he believes the CC zoning would be safer. The layout documents provided by Sampson are available for the public to view in the Belgrade City Clerk' s office. Council Member Guffey asked how they plan to direct the Town Pump customers to exit out onto Amsterdam instead of trying to make a left onto Jackrabbit. Sampson answered that signage could be put in place to direct the traffic to Amsterdam. However, there have been conversations with MDT to move the southernmost approach further south to allow for more spacing and a left turn onto Jackrabbit. 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 Menicucci seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to approve the zoning change of the property owned by Town Pump ( BELGRADE 5 RE2, LLC) at 6505 Jackrabbit Lane, at the corner of Jackrabbit Lane and Amsterdam Road, to be zoned Commercial Corridor( CC) District as defined in the City of Belgrade Zoning Ordinance. Council Member Simon seconded the Motion. Page 3 of 10  Council Member Mattimoe expressed concern that if they approved the zoning amendment, it would allow another hotel to be built on the property. She worried this would create traffic congestion. Cardwell noted that a deed restriction prevented the property owners from building another hotel on the property. Sampson confirmed that the previous owner of the Flying J sold the property to the hotel next door. As part of that sale, they agreed to put a covenant on it for no further hotels. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, motion carried 5- 1. Council members voting " aye": Guffey, Meis, Simon, Menicucci, Bell. Council Members voting " no": Mattimoe. Council members Absent: None. DISCUSSION AGENDA Discuss and Consider Res. No. 2025- 09, a Resolution to Rename Jackrabbit Lane to North Jackrabbit Lane Executive Consultant to Community Development Karp explained that the primary reason for this measure is to address the issues resulting from buildings having duplicate address numbers on both the north and south ends of Jackrabbit Lane. This double-numbering of addresses has led to a number of issues and confusion amongst emergency personnel, mail or package carriers, and others trying to locate a proper address. Karp noted that another option was to give a new address to everyone on Jackrabbit Ln. located between Four Corners up to Belgrade. However, that would be a bigger undertaking and could cause significant confusion for the community. Karp advised City staff recommends renaming the area from Main Street to Rizzo Lane, titling it" North Jackrabbit Lane." He noted there was no written protest sent to the planning office on this matter. Karp also mentioned that if this is approved, he recommends that anyone on the renamed side of Jackrabbit submit a change of address to the Post Office to ensure they receive their mail. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Mattimoe moved to approve Resolution No. 2025- 09, the resolution to rename Jackrabbit Lane to North Jackrabbit Lane from Main Street to Rizzo Lane within the City of Belgrade and to direct the City Clerk to file this resolution of name change with the Gallatin County Clerk and Recorder as required by Section 7- 14- 4112 ( 2), MCA. Council Member Guffey seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Page 4 of 10 Discuss and Consider Resolution 2025- 8 relating to Financing of Certain Proposed Water System Improvements Executive Director of Financial Services VanKirk explained that the City had begun the process of issuing debt for the new water storage capacity project. The City expects that debt issuance to be completed by the end of the fiscal year. However, the City needs to make a property purchase to get started with the design. VanKirk noted that this resolution will allow the City to reimburse itself for any expenditures on the water storage project, including the property purchase, once the City receives the bond proceeds. She advised that the City is allowed to do this with this bond specifically, because it was built into the plan for purchasing the land and placing the water improvement on the property in question. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to adopt Reimbursement Resolution 2025-8 relating to financing of certain proposed water system improvements and establishing compliance with reimbursement bond regulations under the Internal Revenue Code. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. There was a roll call vote. Motion carried 6- 0. Council Member voting " aye": Guffey, Meis, Simon, Menicucci, Bell, Mattimoe. Council Member voting " no": None. Council Member Absent: None. Discuss and Consider Transportation Alternatives Program Funding Applications for the Hoffman Street- Main to Cameron and Helen - Hoffman Sidewalk Improvements Projects City Engineer Hauck explained that the Engineering Department is considering two applications for the Transportation Alternative ( TA) Program. Through this program, he hopes to add ADA- compliant sidewalks in neighborhoods with no sidewalks or with a sidewalk on just one side of the street. Hauck noted these projects were chosen mostly because of their proximity to schools and also to the Cameron Avenue Project that will be built this summer. The City is also considering improvements to the HRDC Streamline bus stops, but that requires letters of support from outside groups and residents. Mayor Nelson asked if the City could still make these sidewalk improvements without grants. Page 5 of 10  Cardwell answered that the sidewalks will be done whether or not the City receives grants. However, it would be easier and less time-consuming if the City could get help from grants. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Mattimoe moved to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of support for funding applications for the Hoffman Street- Main to Cameron and Helen - Hoffman Sidewalk Improvements projects through the Montana Department of Transportation' s Transportation Alternatives Program with the edit to changing the intermediate school to the middle school. Council Member Guffey seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Discuss and Consider Preliminary Adoption of Ordinance 2025- 5 a City Master Fee Schedule and Set Public Hearing City Attorney Murray explained that this ordinance establishes a uniform and transparent fee system that is in one location where the public can more easily locate and use it. It is advised that the fee schedule be updated periodically by resolution. She noted the fee schedule is almost complete and will be provided to the Council in two weeks, along with a resolution. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to adopt Ordinance No. 2025- 5, an ordinance establishing a Master Fee Schedule for the City of Belgrade by amending the code providing for the adoption, amendment, and enforcement of fees for City services, permits, and programs to be reviewed and updated annually by resolution of the City Council and set a Public Hearing for consideration of Final Adoption on April 21st, 2025. Council Member Simon seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Discuss and Consider Ordinance No. 2025- 3, an Ordinance Amending the Parking Ordinance in Title 5, Chapter 4 of the Belgrade City Code City Manager Cardwell advised it has been approximately two years since the City adopted the last significant update to its parking ordinance. The last update fixed many of the issues the City faced in recent times that the old ordinance did not address. However, the City would like to make several small adjustments in this new update to further address new issues. Cardwell stated the first proposed update is in regard to trailers being left in the City' s right- of-way. He noted that community members had voiced concerns about trailers continuing to be stored in the right- of-way( ROW herein). Cardwell noted the original intent of the ordinance was to allow three( 3) days for a vehicle to be parked in the ROW while adequate storage was acquired for the trailer. However, the three- day rule had been abused, and it was very clear the ROW is being Page 6 of 10 used to store a trailer. He stated the new language in the Code states that the obvious storage of recreational vehicles is impermissible. Cardwell then advised the second update to the Code on this issue adds language to prohibit parking in front of mailboxes. It also increases the citation amount from $ 20 to $ 40 for violation of that part. Cardwell offered that the third update in this part would increase the storage fee from$ 100 to $ 175. He noted this is only if the vehicle is stored in a city lot. Finally, Cardwell advised that these amendments include a cleanup of the Code' s language, as has been done in other ordinance updates. This new language identifies the duties of specific employees and identifies the City Manager as the Council's only employee. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Mattimoe moved to provisionally adopt Ordinance# 2025- 3, amending Title 5, Chapter 4 of the Belgrade City Code, and set a Public Hearing for consideration of Final Adoption on April 21St, 2025. Council Member Menicucci seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Discuss and Consider Ordinance 2025- 4, an Ordinance Amending the Speed Limits in Title 5, Chapter 2 of the Belgrade City Code City Manager Cardwell pointed out that this portion of the City Code has not been updated since the 1980' s. He also noted the City' s impending land exchange with the School District has highlighted the need to remove currently designated school zones. Cardwell also noted that the larger communities in Belgrade have moved towards no longer having the Council dedicate each and every street. Cardwell advised that the Amendment proposes adopting a staff-driven analysis process for establishing these conditions, which would be done through the Engineering Department. He went on to note the language of the Amendment is compiled from the language in several other communities in Montana, and that the police have reviewed and approve of the Amendment. Mayor Nelson called two times for public comment. Don Davis, who lives on Louisiana St. in the Las Campanas subdivision, asked if it was possible to lower the speed limit to 20 m.p.h. and triple the fines for any violation. Mayor Nelson called one more time for public comment. There was none. Page 7 of 10  ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to provisionally adopt Ordinance 2025- 4, amending Title 5 Chapter 2 of the Belgrade City Code, and set a public hearing for consideration of final adoption on April 21St, 2025. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Discuss and Consider Upcoming Municipal Election City Manager Cardwell mentioned that the Gallatin County Elections Office has notified the City Clerk that the open file date for this upcoming election is April 17th Mayor Nelson inquired about changing the term for Mayor of Belgrade from two- year to four-year terms. Cardwell explained that making that change requires a charter change ordinance. Such a change would have to be undertaken before the November election so that citizens could consider and have input on the change. He advised that the City is already drafting a proposed amendment on this issue for the Council to consider. Cardwell also advised that there is currently a bill before the Legislature that could remove the municipal election cycle entirely and place municipal candidates on the General Election cycle. Cardwell advised this bill could potentially cut current terms short, and some are arguing it is an unconstitutional violation of the powers awarded by the Montana Constitution to city charters. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. Discuss and Consider Annual City Manager Evaluation Mayor Nelson asked the Council to return evaluations of the City Manager to him by April 11, 2025. He noted that Council Members Meis, Simon, and Mayor Nelson are volunteers for the committee to review the City Manager, and that the committee will meet at 6: 00 p. m. on April 21, before the next regular meeting. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Mattimoe moved to appoint Mayor Nelson, Council Member Meis, and Council Member Simon to the City Manager Review Panel and set the date for the evaluations to be returned to the Mayor by 4- 11- 25. Council Member Menicucci seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Page 8 of 10 Executive Session EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Mayor may close to the public all or portions of this meeting, pursuant to§ 2- 3- 203( 4)( a), MCA, to discuss strategy with respect to litigation when an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the City, or when the discussion is related to a matter ofindividual privacy and the presiding officer determines the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits ofpublic disclosure. Discuss and Consider City Manager Employment Update At 8: 25 p.m., Mayor Nelson called for an Executive Session. He allowed a brief intermission for all attendees to vacate the chambers. Those remaining in the session were the entire City Council, Mayor Nelson, City Manager Cardwell, and City Attorney Murray. At 8: 54 p.m., Mayor Nelson closed the Executive Session. He then re- opened the regular meeting to the public and called it back to order. No action was taken on this matter. REPORTS Mayor Nelson reported on a quick legislative update. City Attorney Murray had nothing to report. City Manager Cardwell reported that, per Belgrade City Code, the city manager is allowed to enter into certain contracts on things such as personnel items. Pursuant to that, Cardwell advised that the City is adjusting the worker' s compensation coverage, moving from Montana Municipal Interlocal Authority( MMIA) to the Montana state fund for Workers' Compensation. He noted this change will save the City approximately$ 60, 000 over three years. Belgrade is one of many Cities moving away from MMIA for worker' s comp. Cardwell then mentioned that the Belgrade Community Library Grand Opening will be held April 5, 2025, at 10: 00 a. m. Cardwell also asked the Council to think about where the temporary Council Chamber should go after the Land Exchange. He noted the staff has come up with two possible options. One option would be to put the Council Chamber in the original Quaw gymnasium. He noted that this is the City' s recommendation because it could be made into a permanent space for the Chamber. The second option would be to hold meetings in the new library. Cardwell also recommended a seating change that would place the City Manager on the Dais with the Council in the new chamber. Page 9 of 10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION Council Member Guffey had nothing to report Council Member Meis gave a short update on the League of Cities Conference, where JD Vance was the primary speaker. Meis mentioned that he had some really good talks with the Montana representative there. Council Member Simon echoed Meis' statement that Montana' s representatives listened to their concerns and were interested in Belgrade' s growth. Council Member Menicucci advised that she went on a tour of the new library and was very impressed with the building. Council Member Bell reported that the Senior Center Bingo Fundraiser is officially set for April 24, 2025, from 5: 30 p. m. to 8 p. m. and that it will be held at the new library. Council Member Mattimoe reported that she participated in the library' s Book Brigade last month. She said she was very impressed with the new library and is excited for Belgrade to have the beautiful building. 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 9: 11 p. m. 1 Russell C. Nelson, Mayor Attest: Camiipe. Gregory City I erk r, s .... Page 10 of 10