Belgrade City Council

CITY OF BELGRADE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MINUTES COUNCIL CHAMBERS August 11th, 2025 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, Erin Bell, and Renae Mattimoe. City staff in attendance were City Manager Neil Cardwell, Assistant City Manager Greg Tryon, City Clerk Camille Gregory, Executive Assistant Dana Jambor, Executive Finance Director Charity VanKirk, Chief of Police Dustin Lensing, Executive Consultant Jason Karp, Chief Building Official Lucas Sobeck, Director of Human Resources Becky Wilbert, Director of Community and Economic Development Katharine King, Public Works Director Camaree Uljua, City Engineer Joe Hauck, and Library Director Alina Prunean. Others in attendance were Donna Kikkert. Mayor Nelson requested that the Public Forum be moved to the beginning of the meeting. Council Member Mies moved to have the Public Forum moved to the beginning of the meeting. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Nelson called for public comment. Donna Kikkert spoke, advising that she had previously written a letter to the Council about the effects of fireworks on older adults and those with disabilities. She wanted to reiterate those concerns. There being no one else in the audience, the Public Forum was closed. DISCUSSION AGENDA Discuss Code/ Parking Enforcement Chief of Police Lensing noted that he has decided to bring Belgrade Code Enforcement under his direct supervision, with peripheral supervision by support staff. Chief Lensing also advised that the Belgrade Police Department( PD) has taken measures to educate citizens (via fliers, door hangers, etc.) about the rules of parking enforcement and the processes used by Code Enforcement and the City regarding these issues. Page 1 of 4  Lensing then reminded the Council that there is an appeal process for parking tickets that citizens can utilize. Cardwell added that Code Enforcement consists of only two people. This means that when Code Enforcement receives a call, one of those two officers is assigned to the call and they stay attached to it until the matter is finished. He asked that we all remember that a department so small can only be reactive. Discuss SB542 / HB231 Effects on Voted Mill Levies City Manager Cardwell gave a brief PowerPoint presentation on the effects of Senate Bill SB) 542 and House Bill (HB) 231, specifically how they impact the voted mill levies. Cardwell explained that HB 231 gives the Council two ( 2) options for applying mills in the future. 1. Option 1: Convert the mills to dollar amounts using the Fiscal Year 2025 ( FY25 herein) dollars; 2. Option 2: In FY26, calculate the number of mills that raised the FY25 dollars, then freeze the FY26 mill count forever. Cardwell further explained that SB 117 only applies if the Council chooses to go with Option 1, which would set the CPI ( 1/ 2 the rate of inflation) cap to the full three- year average, with a maximum of 4%. Discuss Potential Updates to City Code City Manager Cardwell noted that his goal with these workshops is to provide Council with a time and place to discuss changes or adjustments to the City' s procedures, rules, or the Code prior to bringing the matter to a public hearing. The three proposed changes Cardwell wishes to address in this meeting are: 1. Clarifying organizational structure 2. Clarifying civil actions authority 3. Repeal/ adjust fire structure All of these proposed changes aim to update Belgrade City Code, which has not been updated since 1983. In fact, the Code has not been changed since the City adopted the Council- Manager form of government. Cardwell explained that his first proposed change is to amend the City' s definition of Organizational Structure" to add § 2- 0- 20, Interpretation of Administrative Authority. This Page 2 of 4 clarifies that the City Manager retains supervisory control over each delegated duty and may designate a qualified person to carry out that duty. Second, Cardwell proposes an amendment to the section on Civil Actions Authority, to add § 2- 0- 21, Civil Litigation and Settlement Authority. Cardwell explained that this new language clarifies the City Manager' s authority in the following ways... A. Authority to Litigate: the City Manager may consult with the City Attorney, initiate, defend, or intervene in any civil or administrative proceeding they deem necessary to protect the City of Belgrade. B. Settlement Authority: the City Manager may approve and execute settlement agreements, compromises, or releases of claims for an amount not exceeding eighty thousand dollars ($ 80, 000) per matter. C. Personnel Matters: Settlements arising from personnel actions or grievances are governed by the budgetary authority already delegated to the City Manager and are not subject to the monetary limit in Subsection B. D. Reporting: the City Manager shall report the status and disposition of all litigation and settlements to the City Council in Executive Session, unless prohibited by law, at least quarterly. E. Council Approval Required: Settlements exceeding the limit set in Subsection B, or that obligate the City in non- monetary terms of a substantial or policy nature, must be approved by the City Council. The final change proposed by Cardwell is the repeal/ adjustment of Title 6 of the Belgrade City Code. Cardwell noted this title was written in 1983, before the adoption of the City Manager form of government and before the annexation of Belgrade into the Central Valley Fire District. The proposed changes/ adjustments are as follows... Title 6, Chapter 1: Repeal the old" Fire Department" chapter and replace it with, Belgrade is within the Central Valley Fire District." The CVFD provides fire suppression and EMS. CVFD is independent and has no authority over City codes or permits. Title 6, Chapter 2: Eliminate the Fire Prevention Committee and designate the City Manager as Fire Code Official. Allow the City Manager to assign a Fire Marshal and fire inspectors as City staff. Keep modification decisions in writing. Set appeals as administrative. Keep all fees as City fees by Council resolution. Title 3, § 3- 2- 4( C) Refuse: Remove the line that allows CVFD to grant burning permissions. Create a section in Title 6 for the City of Belgrade to govern burning ( or point to Gallatin County). Page 3 of 4  Title 10, § 10-3- 10(A)(2) Townhouses: Replace" adopted Central Valley Fire Code" with International Fire Code as adopted by the City." Council Member Simon asked, were the City to take over the issuance of burn permits, would residents be able to apply for such a permit online through the City? Cardwell confirmed that an online application would be available, and the City would notify the County of the issued permit. ADJOURN Belgrade 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: 34 p.m. 67/I:( 474- Russell C. Nelson, Mayor Attest: CamilleQregory, C r. t. O. Page 4 of 4