Belgrade City Council

CITY OF BELGRADE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES COUNCIL CHAMBERS June 16th, 2025 7: 00 pm This meeting was open to the public and attended in person. Deputy Mayor Mike Meis called the meeting to order. Council Members in attendance were Jason Guffey, 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 Finance Director Charity VanKirk, Chief of Police Dustin Lensing, Municipal Court Judge Chris Gregory, Executive Consultant Jason Karp, Chief Building Official Lucas Sobeck, Library Director Alina Prunean, and Information Technology Manager Justin Clevidence. Others in attendance were Keley Parker and Drew Shafer. ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to excuse Mayor Nelson. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC FORUM Deputy Mayor Meis called three times for public comment. There being none, the Public Forum was closed. CONSENT AGENDA Consider Approval of a Five- Year Contract with Best Rate Towing for Police and Code Enforcement Services Consider Approval Resolution 2025- 18 to Set Annual Municipal Court Salaries Consider Approval of Council Minute Drafts: 5. 12. 25 & 5. 19. 25 ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to accept the Consent Agenda as submitted. Council Member Simon seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Page 1 of 4 PUBLIC HEARING Discuss and Consider Approval of the Fiscal Year 2026 Preliminary Operating Budget Executive Director of Financial Services VanKirk gave a brief presentation on the Fiscal Year 2026 Operational Budget. She noted that this budget is sufficient to continue operating until the City receives the certified taxable values from the Department of Revenue, which is necessary to finalize the budget later in the year. VanKirk noted that the Operational Budget does not include anything new, except for the newly created Public Works Superintendent position and a vehicle for that role. The Operational Budget also includes a 5% salary increase for staff. However, VanKirk noted that department heads will not get that 5% raise in the proposed budget. Instead, department heads will receive a flat 5, 000 raise. VanKirk also noted there is one finalized union contract and another pending. The City will review those as part of the final budget process. She also noted that, because the City will not have the taxable values until later in the year, the revenue and mill levies listed in the current budget are only estimates. ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to open the Public Hearing. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Deputy Mayor Meis 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 Simon moved to accept the Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2026. Council Member Menicucci seconded the Motion. Council Member Simon asked if VanKirk anticipates any changes in the budget numbers before their group budget meetings. Assistant City Manager Tryon answered that City Manager Cardwell is currently prioritizing where any additional funds will be allocated, should they become available. Deputy Mayor Meis called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. DISCUSSION AGENDA Discuss the Fiscal Year 2024 Audit Executive Director of Financial Services VanKirk announced that the 2024 Audit is complete. She stated that there were some findings in the Audit, but they were not unexpected. VanKirk also noted that, despite those findings, the City still received an " Unqualified Opinion" Page 2 of 4 from the Audit. She explained that" Unqualified Opinion" is the highest and best result a city can get from an audit, and that the City is now considered up to date. Further, VanKirk advised that many of the findings from the Audit have been or are in the process of being resolved. Council Member Guffey asked if the City had found a new auditor to perform the next audit. VanKirk answered that the City is preparing an RFP to find a new one. Council Member Menicucci stated she appreciated the honesty and transparency throughout this process. Deputy Mayor Meis called three times for public comment. There was none. Discuss and Consider Canceling the July 14th Council Workshop Assistant City Manager Tryon mentioned that, due to staff absences, it is recommended that the July 14th Council Workshop be canceled. Deputy Mayor Meis called three times for public comment. There was none. 14th ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to cancel the July Workshop. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. Deputy Mayor Meis called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. REPORTS Deputy Mayor Meis had nothing to report on behalf of the Mayor. City Attorney Murray had nothing to report. Assistant City Manager Tryon announced July 10th, 2025, Belgrade will have a that starting Farmers Market hosted by the Gallatin Valley Farmers Market. These markets will be held on Thursday evenings from 4 p. m. to 7 p. m. in Lewis and Clark Park near the splash pad. He advised these markets should run for 12 consecutive Thursdays and he expects them to be on the small side this year, for several reasons. Tryon also mentioned that the Wooden Bat Tournament will start on Friday, June 20w, 2025. The Parks Department is working hard to get the baseball fields and fencing up for this event, despite all of the roadwork going on. Tryon also noted that Belgrade Summer Nights will begin on Wednesday, June 25th Page 3 of 4  Lastly, Tryon mentioned that the water shut- off valve timer for the Lion' s Park baseball fields had been turned off, and no one is sure how or why that happened. However, it was turned back on, and the fields are greening back up again. FOR YOUR INFORMATION Council Member Guffey had nothing to report Council Member Simon advised he had attended the Fire Board Meeting, which was sparse. However, they did discuss closing Station Two, noting it receives approximately 10 calls per month on average. He further advised the Board was concerned about the mini- roundabout project and whether the ladder truck could maneuver it. Tryon advised that the Public Works Director has confirmed the ladder truck can maneuver that roundabout, but alternate routes should be considered. Council Member Menicucci reported that the Water Quality Board has rescheduled their next meeting for June 28th Council Member Bell reported that the Senior Center Board did not meet due to a lack of items. Council Member Mattimoe reported that the Parks Board moved their next meeting to July 10th 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: 44 p. m. 00" 9w,./ r /„ Mike Meis, Deputy Mayor Attest: Oainille Gregory, City erk Page 4 of 4 ey . ......