Belgrade City Council

CITY OF BELGRADE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES COUNCIL CHAMBERS October 20, 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 Consultant Jason Karp, Director of Human Resources Becky Wilbert, City Engineer Joe Hauck, Manager of Information Technology, Library Director Alina Prunean, Senior Planner Brad Stein, and Fire Chief Jay Wittwer. Others in attendance were Neal Ganser, Ben Ganser, Stephen McAdams, Susan Swimley, and Vivian Crouse. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Nelson opened the Public Forum and called for public comment. Jay Wittwer, residing at 1303 Powers Boulevard, expressed his gratitude for being a resident of Belgrade and for having the pleasure of getting to know many of the City' s employees. He added that he had recently become a member of the Kiwanis Club and had had some discussions with them about the issues the City faces, including vandalism. Wittwer then informed the Council that the Kiwanis Club unanimously agreed to donate to the repairs to the splash park. Wittwer presented the Mayor with a$ 1, 000 check from the Kiwanis Club. Mayor Nelson thanked the Kiwanis Club for their generosity. Mayor Nelson called two more times for public comment. There being none, the Public Forum was closed. PROCLAMATION Discuss Mayoral Proclamation Retarding Extra Mile Day Mayor Nelson stated that this marks the 13th year that the Mayor of Belgrade has declared November Pt as" Extra Mile Day." Extra Mile Day is a day to recognize people and organizations Page 1of4 who are creating positive change in our local communities through their extra- mile efforts in volunteerism and service. Mayor Nelson proclaimed November 1, 2025, to be" Extra Mile Day." Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. CONSENT AGENDA Consider Approval Resolution 2025- 38, an amendment of City of Belgrade Resolution 373 ( 1971) Consider Authorizing City Manager to Execute Asbestos Abatement Contract for Belgrade Justice Center Consider Approval of Council Minute Draft( S): 8. 4. 25, 8. 11. 25, & 8. 18. 25 ACTION: Council Member Meis moved to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted. Council Member Mattimoe seconded the Motion. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. DISCUSSION AGENDA Discuss and Consider Public Participation Plan for the City of Belgrade Land Use Plan Senior Planner Stein explained that, per legislation, Belgrade is one of the cities required to be included in the Montana Land Use Act. Stein further explained that the City of Belgrade has historically prioritized and values public participation, and the Public Participation Plan ( PPP) draft would ensure consistent public participation in the Belgrade Land Use Plan. Council Member Simon asked who was on the Planning Commission and how the appointment process would work. Cardwell answered that there are three( 3) members on the Commission: Deputy Mayor Mike Meis; Chair Ali Vasarella; and Vice Chair Sandy Lee Cardwell also noted that the appointment process would be the same as the rest of the boards under the City. Citizens can apply to be members. The Mayor will then review the applications and choose who to appoint to that board. Cardwell recommended leaving the board at three( 3) members for now, with the prospect of adding additional members to be addressed in the future. Cardwell also mentioned that the City had informed the County of its intention to withdraw from the City/ County Planning Board. Under the MLUPA law, once fully adopted, the Belgrade Planning Commission will take jurisdiction over the city limits of Belgrade, replacing the City/County Planning Board. Mayor Nelson called three times for public comment. There was none. Page 2 of 4  ACTION: Council Member Mattimoe moved to approve the Public Participation Plan as required for the Montana Land Use Planning Act, pursuant to Montana Code Annotated 76- 25- 106. Council Member Menicucci seconded the Motion. Mayor Nelson called for a vote. All voted aye, Motion carried unanimously. REPORTS Mayor Nelson had nothing to report. City Attorney Murray had nothing to report. City Manager Cardwell started by thanking Chief Wittwer and the Kiwanis Club for their donation. Cardwell then advised there has been positive movement on the City' s purchase of the historic grain elevator. He believes that purchase will be finalized by the end of the year. Cardwell also informed Council that he and many of the City' s staff had recently attended the League of Cities and Towns Conference in Billings. He stated there were many informative panels at the Conference and thanked HR Director Wilbert for representing Belgrade on one of the panels. Cardwell then announced that Whitney Burmes will start as the City' s Communications Manager on November 10, 2025. Cardwell also let the Council know that, since they approved allowing the City Manager to execute the contract for the asbestos abatement for the Justice Center, that work will start tomorrow and is estimated to be finished by the end of the year. He added that the City had received seven ( 7) submissions to the Design Build Services RFP/ Q on the City Hall and Justice Center buildings, which are currently being reviewed by a committee. The Committee will select a final four( 4) submissions for interviews on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Lastly, Cardwell announced that Jason Karp' s retirement party will be held in the Community Room on Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 4: 00 - 7: 00 p. m. FOR YOUR INFORMATION Council Member Mattimoe stated she is looking forward to all the upcoming Halloween festivities. Council Member Bell had nothing to report. Page 3 of 4  Council Member Menicucci advised that she attended the Urban Transportation District UTD) Board' s last meeting and found it pleasantly overwhelming. She also reported that the Water Quality Board will move from monthly to quarterly meetings. Council Member Simon had nothing to report. Council Member Meis commended Mayor Nelson for his years of service with the League of Cities and Towns. Meis expressed that he was honored to be sworn in by Mayor Nelson as the third Vice President. Meis also mentioned that he would be absent from the Planning Board' s meeting on Monday, October 27, 2025. He asked that someone cover for him, and Menicucci volunteered. Lastly, Meis reported that one of the poles on Jackrabbit Lane, which the Montana Department of Transportation donated many years ago, was struck earlier in the afternoon. He mentioned that he got a call from Rocky Mountain Contractors, which originally coordinated and installed the polls, stating that they would be willing to help in any way they could. Council Member Guffey had nothing to report. The mayor stated that he was grateful to the City Manager for talking him into stepping into the role as President of the League of Cities and Towns. 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: 29 pm. a Russell Nelson, Mayor Aftegt:- Camille Gregory, Cit Cle Page 4 of 4