Belgrade City Council

CITY OF BELGRADE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES COUNCIL CHAMBERS June 2° d, 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 City Manager Neil Cardwell, Assistant City Manager Greg Tryon, City Attorney Kyla Murray, City Clerk Camille Gregory, Executive Assistant Dana Jambor, Executive Director of Financial Services Charity VanKirk, Chief of Police Dustin Lensing, Municipal Court Judge Chris Gregory, Executive Consultant Jason Karp, Director of Internal Services Becky Wilbert, Director of Community and Economic Development Katharine King, City Engineer Joe Hauck, and Public Works Director Camaree Uljua. Others in attendance were Tammy Reichert, Erin Howard, Mike Cash, Pual Wilson, and Dustin Vertin. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to excuse Council Member Simon. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Nelson called for public comment. Tammy Reichert, residing at 1114 Sunrise Dr., asked whether the Council discusses ordinances outside of the noticed meetings. She also inquired whether there are any neighborhoods grandfathered in to allow them the use of wells. She also mentioned that the most recent parking ordinance passed by the Council should be revisited if the Council will already be revisiting their recent decision on the sign ordinance. Mike Cash, representing Town Pump, asked whether the sign ordinance is on the Council Agenda. It was confirmed that it was. Mayor Nelson called two more times for public comment. There being none, the Public Forum was closed. CONSENT AGENDA Consider Upcoming Municipal Election 2025 Consider Approval of Council Minutes: 4. 21. 25 & 5. 2. 25 Page 1 of 6  ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to approve the Consent Agenda items as submitted. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. DISCUSSION AGENDA Discuss and Consider Setting the Date for the Public Hearing and Adoption of the Preliminary Fiscal Year 2026 Preliminary Operating Budget Executive Director of Financial Services, VanKirk, presented the preliminary working budget for Fiscal Year 2026. VanKirk stated that one of the key points to note in the Budget is the creation of a Public Works Superintendent position, which will require a vehicle. She also noted that all non- contract and non- director employees City will be given a 5% cost of living raise this year. Meanwhile, of the City Directors will receive a flat raise rather than a percentage increase. The proposed salary increase for directors this year is $ 5, 000. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. Tammy Reichert inquired whether the City must ask citizens for a tax increase if the Heck/ Quaw renovations are not included in the operating budget. City Manager Cardwell answered that the City will not be asking the citizens for additional taxes at this time. Any renovations that the City undertakes for those buildings will be funded from existing revenue sources. Mayor Nelson Called two more times for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to set the date for the Public Hearing to Consider Preliminary Budget Adoption on June 16, 2025. Council Member Menicucci Seconded the Motion. h City Manager Cardwell noted that he will not be in attendance at the June 16` meeting. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Discuss and Consider Buy- Sell Agreement for Purchase of 301 West Main Street, Belgrade, MT, 59714 in Support of Belgrade Commercial Center Urban District Plan ( 2017) Director of Community and Economic Development King explained that Belgrade has had a Tax Increment Financing ( TIF) district in place since 2017. She further explained that the property at 301 West Main St. in Belgrade has recently become available. Thus, the City proposes purchasing that property as part of the Urban Renewal Project. King noted this would be the first project in the TIF. The purpose of purchasing the property would be to pursue the goals outlined in the 2017 Urban Renewal Plan. Page 2 of 6  Meis asked if there were any significant changes made to how TIF districts function during this legislative session. King explained that there were no significant changes that affected Belgrade because the City has not utilized its TIF funds. Mayor Nelson called two times for public comment. Tammy Reichert asked about the purpose of purchasing the proposed property. King explained that the City will work towards redeveloping the site for a purpose that is focused on reintroducing and revitalizing Main Street for commercial use. She stated it will also, eventually, increase the taxable value and increase its contributions to the TIF and overall tax base. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to authorize the City Manager to execute purchase and sign all related documents associated with the purchase of 301 West Main Street, Belgrade, MT per the contingencies outlined in the buy- sell agreement and pursuant to the goals of the Belgrade Commercial Center Urban District Plan and utilizing the Tax Increment Financing District funds for the purchase. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Discuss and Consider a Resolution to Annex Contiguous Real Property Owned by the City of Belgrade, Proposed for Municipal Services Executive Consultant Karp explained that this resolution is meant to finalize the annexation of the City owned property at the corner of Bolinger and Frontage Rd. Karp noted the first reading on this, the Intent to Annex, was held on May 5, 2025, and notices were sent to the registered voters. This fulfilled the notice requirement. He further advised that, since there were no protests, the City' s recommendation is to adopt Resolution 2025- 16 to annex the property into the City and utilize it for municipal purposes. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Mattimoe moved to preliminarily adopt Resolution No. 2025- 16 approving the Resolution of Intent to annex contiguous real property owned by the City of Belgrade, pursuant to MCA Title 7, Chapter 2, Part 43, be approved and that the notification process required has been completed pursuant MCA Section 7- 2- 4312. Council Member Guffey seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Page 3 of 6 Discuss and Consider First Reading of a Zoning Text Amendment for City of Belgrade Sign Requirements to Allow for an Increase in the Amount of Area Allowed for Freestanding Signs Within 500 Feet of Interstate 90 The City Council discussed the purpose of revisiting this Ordinance for additional consideration, after it was already previously addressed. Council agreed that the purpose was to give this matter a fair hearing in a public forum. Mayor Nelson called for public comment. Mike Hass, Display Marketing Manager for Town Pump, noted that he is responsible for securing the signage for Town Pump. He asked the Council to please consider this amendment. Mayor Nelson called two more times for public comment. There was none. City Manager Cardwell proposed a motion for the Council on this item. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to preliminarily adopt the ordinance amending Section 10. 5. 10, Tables 10. 5. 10.A and 10. 5. 10. B of the City Codes of the City of Belgrade to allow for an increase in the amount of area allowed for freestanding signs within 500 feet of Interstate 90 and set the public hearing for July 7, 2025. Council Member Meis seconded the Motion. Council Member Meis asked if the Planning Department would consider any additional changes, including amending the Ordinance overall, as requested in a letter submitted to the Council prior the meeting. Mayor Nelson suggested that the Council discuss reviewing the entire Ordinance at a future date, but to focus on just this portion of it for now. Council Member Guffey asked if a staff recommendation would be offered at the Public Hearing. Cardwell answered that a staff report will be presented at the meeting which would highlight the pros and cons of the decision before the Council. He would also present a staff recommendation based on the Planning Board' s recommendations. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. Motion carried 3- 2 Council Members voting " aye": Meis, Bell, Mattimoe. Council Members voting " no": Guffey, Menicucci. Council Members Absent: Simon. REPORTS Mayor Nelson asked the Council to set a date for a tour of the new HRDC campus. Page 4 of 6  City Attorney Murray reported that there is an individual in Belgrade wearing a sandwich board, spreading false information about her to the community. She stated that she had never spoken to this individual nor declined a case of theirs. It is her understanding that they are involved in a possible federal or felony case. As the Belgrade City Attorney, the only criminal cases she would have jurisdiction over are local misdemeanors, not felonies or federal charges. However, she also noted that her job is focused on civil matters and the Assistant City Attorney is largely responsible for criminal matters. City Manager Cardwell mentioned that Swagit will have installed a video system in the Library Community room by the second week of July. He noted this is to accommodate holding Council and various board meetings in that room. Since the land swap legal paperwork has been finalized between the City and School District, the School District will need to start using the courtroom for their meetings, as per state law. He then noted that the first Council meeting in the library will be held on June 30, 2025, at 6: 00 p. m. for the first joint Bozeman/ Belgrade workshop. Cardwell also pointed out that new street signs at the corner of Broadway and Central are now in place and feature the City seal, which will be the standard for all city street signs in the future. Finally, Cardwell explained that the new pump for the splash pad had arrived in Belgrade last Thursday. However, no one knew where it was when it arrived and that caused some delay. Fortunately, as of this meeting, the pump was located and will be installed. FOR YOUR INFORMATION Council Member Mattimoe reported that the Parks Board will meet on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 6: 30 p. m., where they will discuss the capital improvement projects for the parks in 50th Belgrade. She also mentioned that she was able to attend the anniversary of HRDC. Council Member Bell had nothing to report. Council Member Menicucci mentioned that her family had been involved with HRDC from the beginning and she holds the HRDC in the highest regard. Council Member Meis advised that the Urban Transportation District is currently setting up its fiscal agent, which will be HRDC, for the next three( 3) years. Meis then pointed out that there has been a steady decline in Streamline passenger numbers. As a result, the UTD will conduct surveys on topics such as bus stop times or whether the amenities in Belgrade are growing sufficiently to reduce the need for travel to Bozeman. Council Member Guffy had nothing to report. Page 5 of 6 ADJOURN Council Member Mattimoe moved to adjourn. Council Member Menicucci seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8: 19 p. m. eee diex_ Russell C. Nelson, Mayor Attest: CImilie- Grego ty rk r, 9 5 4 } I; L : Page 6 of 6