Belgrade City Council

CITY OF BELGRADE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES COUNCIL CHAMBERS September 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 Finance Director Charity VanKirk, Chief of Police Dustin Lensing, Municipal Court Judge Chris Gregory, Executive Consultant Jason Karp, Chief Building Official Lucas Sobeck, Director of Human Resources Becky Wilbert, City Engineer Joe Hauck, Public Works Director Camaree Uljua, Library Director Alina Prunean, and Fire ChiefJay Wittwer. Others in attendance were Regina Brown, Anthony Triplett, Renae Grantier, Karen Anderson, and an illegible Signature. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Nelson called for public comment. Regina Brown, residing at 720 Northern Pacific Avenue, spoke in opposition to any new tax increases for citizens. Specifically, she expressed opposition to budgeting for employee salaries and benefits while also raising concerns about feeling insecure around the police. Mayor Nelson called a second time for public comment. Anthony Tripplet, residing at 720 Northern Pacific Avenue, stated he is a general manager at awhen business in Belgrade. He spoke on behalf of his employees, who feel intimidated by the police leaving work at night. Mayor Nelson called one last time for public comment. There being none, the Public Forum was closed. CONSENT AGENDA Consider approval first reading ofOrdinance No. 2025- 9 to zone the Ridgeview School property in River Rock Subdivision EI-Educational and Institutional District Consider approval first reading of Ordinance No. 2025- 10 to zone the Belgrade School District Bus Barn Property I- Industrial District Page 1 of 7  ACTION: Council Member Meis 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 Amending the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Executive Director of Financial Services VanKirk presented the amended FY25 Budget. Council Member Menicucci asked about the lighting districts being in the red. VanKirk answered that the districts are all at the same percentage as last year. However, the Finance Department is working on reconciling those assessments and getting them straightened out. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to open the Public Hearing. Council Member Mattimoe 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 Menicucci moved to approve Resolution 2025- 32 to amend the final budget for Fiscal Year 2024- 2025. Council Member Bell seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a roll call vote. Motion carried 6- 0. Council Members Voting " Aye": Guffey, Meis, Simon, Menicucci, Bell, Mattimoe. Council Members Voting " No": None. Council Members Absent: None. Discuss and Consider Final Adoption of Resolution No. 2025- 22. a Resolution to Levy and Assess the Cost of Maintaining City Street Trees and Forestry Services City Attorney Murray explained that this resolution is a result of the updated tree ordinance adopted by the Council on April 1, 2025. That ordinance called for the creation of a city forester position, a city tree manual, and forestry services. The Resolution outlines the Council' s intent to assess an annual fee of$ 32. 89 to support the maintenance/ removal/ replacement of all city trees in the Right- of-Way across all city parcels. The Clerk' s office did not receive any public comment on this matter. Council Member Simon asked about the status of the street maintenance study. Murray answered that Assistant City Manager Tryon will have an update for the Council tomorrow, as he will be meeting with the consultants. Page 2 of 7  Council Member Menicucci asked who would be responsible for the overhanging limbs that come from a tree on private property but hang over the sidewalk or right- of-way. Cardwell answered that the City would be liable for those branches and would take care of the obstructive limbs to maintain public safety. 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 finalize adoption of Ordinance 2025- 22, a Resolution to levy and assess the cost of maintaining city street trees and forestry services in the City of Belgrade. Council Member Menicucci seconded the Motion. Council Member Simon commented that he would like this to wait until their street maintenance study comes out. Mayor Nelson called for a roll call vote. Motion carried 4- 3. Council Members Voting " Aye": Meis, Menicucci, Bell, Mayor Nelson ( to break tie). Council Members Voting " No": Guffey, Simon, Mattimoe. Council Members Absent: None. Discuss and Consider Approval of the FY26 Final Budget Executive Director of Financial Services VanKirk explained that the Council was previously advised on this budget during individual workshops. After VanKirk spoke, the Council and staff held a brief discussion on how the library funds were affected by the changes made in this last legislative session. The Council then inquired why this issue is not reflected in the FY26 Final Budget. In response to the Council' s question, City Manager Cardwell gave a brief explanation of how the mill levies will work after the conversion. For a more in- depth explanation of this topic, he advised the public to refer to the August 11, 2025, Council Workshop recording available on the City' s website. ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to open the Public Hearing. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. Page 3 of 7  ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to close the Public Hearing. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to approve Resolution 2025- 33 to approve and adopt the Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2025- 2026 and set the mill levy pursuant to compliance with Montana Code Annotated § 7- 6- 4030. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a roll call vote. Motion carried 6- 0. Council Members Voting " Aye": Guffey, Meis, Simon, Menicucci, Bell, Mattimoe. Council Members Voting " No": None. Council Members Absent: None. Discuss and Consider Approval of Resolution 2025- 30 to Establish and Affix the Number of Mills to be Levied and Budget Additional Property Tax Revenue for FY2026 Executive Director of Financial Services VanKirk explained that this resolution adopts the establishment of the mill levies already discussed. ACTION: Council Member Mattimoe moved to open the Public Hearing. Council Member Menicucci seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Nelson called three 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. ACTION: Council Member Mattimoe moved to approve Resolution 2025- 30 to establish and affix the number of mills to be levied and budget additional property tax revenue for Fiscal Year 2025- 2026. Council Member Menicucci seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a roll call vote. Motion carried 6- 0. Council Members Voting " Aye": Guffey, Meis, Simon, Menicucci, Bell, Mattimoe. Council Members Voting " No": None. Council Members Absent: None. Page 4 of 7  Dis cussYear Fiscal and 2026 Consider Approval of Resolution 2025-31 to Set the Permissive Medical Levy for Executivein the levy discussed Director Final ofFinancial Servicesitem.VanKirk explained that this resolution sets the mill Budget' s adoption ACTION: Council Member Simon moved to open the Public Hearing. Council Member Mattimoe 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 Simon moved to approve Resolution 2025-31 to adopt Fiscal Year Member 2026 additional Mattimoe seconded mills levied for employer group health insurance. Council the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a roll call vote. Motion carried 6- 0. Council Members Voting " Aye": Council Members Voting " No": Guffey, Meis, Simon, Menicucci, Bell, Mattimoe. None. Council Members Absent: None. DISCUSSION AGENDA Discuss and Consider Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract for Audit Services for FY2025- FY2027 Executive Director ofFinancial Services, VanKirk, explained that the Nexus CPA Group recently acquired the firm that the City had been using for audit services. Nexus has since built a contract for providing is now being presented itsto audit servicesforto review. the Council the City of Belgrade from 2025 to 2027, and that contract VanKirk noted that the cost of the contract is at the maximum because this is the initial establishment period. However, there is a possibility that the cost will decrease over time. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Menicucci moved to authorize the City Manager to enter into a three- year contract with Nexus CPA Group. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. Page 5 of 7  Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. Discuss and Consider Ordinance No. 2025-8, Amending the Belgrade City Code to Clarify the City Manager' s Delegation of City Positions, Authority, and Civil Litigation Authority City Manager Cardwell explained that this is a continuation ofconversations had in past workshops and past council meetings. This ordinance updates the Administrative Code, further clarifying language that does not comply with Belgrade' s Council- Manager form ofgovernment. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. ACTION: Council Member Mattimoe moved to approve Ordinance No. 2025-8 Amending Title 1 Chapters 1 and 5 ofthe Belgrade City Code to clarify delegation of administrative authority and to establish civil ligation and settlement authority for the City Manager and to set a public hearing for October 6, 2025. Council Member Simon seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. REPORTS Mayor Nelson reminded everyone ofthe workshop on the 8th and that he would be absent from the Sept. 15th meeting. The Mayor asked Deputy Mayor Meis to sit in his place. City Attorney Murray had nothing to report. City Manager Cardwell commented on the Council completing their first meeting in the new library. He then reported that the move project involved in the City/School District Land Swap will move forward this year. He clarified that Heck will now be referred to as the Belgrade Justice Center and Quaw will be referred to as City Hall. Cardwell announced that the City has allocated $ 2.5 million for select renovations to the buildings, to make them suitable for business. He noted that some RFQs and RFPs would soon be posted to for variadoption the budget ous aspects ofthose renovations. Lastly, he noted that some changes will be coming process. Cardwell of the public then turned comments heardthe in rest of his time the Public over to the Belgrade Police Chief to address some Forum. Chief Lensing expressed that he was disappointed to hear that some Belgrade citizens feel uneasy towards the Police Department. He said he encourages citizens to request a sit-down with him so he can hear their concerns and properly address them before any situation escalates. Page 6 of 7  FOR YOUR INFORMATION Council Member Guffey had nothing to report. Council Member Meis recommended that other members ofthe Council request a ride along with the police. He noted that he had previously done a ride along and found it to be a very eye- opening experience. Meis then reported that he would be absent from the upcoming Urban Transportation District Operations Subcommittee Meeting, which Council Member Menicucci had volunteered to attend in his absence. He noted that the meeting had been rescheduled for the following Wednesday. Meis also noted he would be absent for the P.C. C. and asked for a volunteer to fill in for him. Mayor Nelson volunteered. Council Member Simon had nothing to report. Council Member Menicucci reported that some retired Belgrade teachers met for brunch at Kathy Hollensteiner Park on the first day of school. She expressed that it was nice to hear everyone commenting on how well all the parks have been maintained. Council Member Bell reported that the Senior Center will be assisting seniors with their tax rebates through the end of September. Council Member Mattimoe reported that, since school is back in session, many children are walking around and crossing busy streets. She encouraged citizens to keep an eye out for them. new room. Mayor Nelson asked the City Clerk to bring a gavel and suggested getting a clock for the ADJOURN Motion. Council Member Simon moved to adjourn. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8: 40 p.m. Russell Nelson, Mayor Attest: 1' Camille Gregory, City lerk Page 7 of 7 4