City Council

City Council Work Session 5:30 PM Council Chambers April 15, 2019 ATTENDANCE: Mayor/Council (please check) x Cole, x Cromley, x Yakawich, x Neese, x Ewalt, x Joy, x Friedel, x Gibbs, x Ronning, x Clark, x Brown CM excused: ADJOURN TIME: 9:23 pm Agenda TOPIC #1 Legislative Update PRESENTER Greg Dorrington & Aimee Grmoljez NOTES/OUTCOME  Overview of status on various bills. Report available on City website under City Administrator weekly report.  Public Comment:  None TOPIC #2 Quarterly Updates PRESENTER NOTES/OUTCOME  BIRD: Tim Goodridge – invite Council to attend lunch on May 16 at 11:30 at 1st Interstate Bank.  Ewalt: lighting project status? flat work still needs completed, coming along well.  Mayor: BID in BIRD area? Brand new stage, security patrol costs being investigated. Looking into coordination with North Park for security.  Downtown Billings Alliance (DBA): Katie Easton - in 2nd interviews Development Director position. Hoping to fill by May 1st. Highlights: development agreement with Art House Cinema, Stillwater Building-been working on for over 1 year. Yellowstone Valley Brewing reopened, Bar MT in old Depot space. Moved offices to Meadowlark Gallery. St. Patrick’s Day plans, downtown summer concert featuring Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.  Ronning: deadline for Stillwater Building agreement? No deadline but have been working on with Mr. Kukulski and Mr. Brooks.  Brown: loan from BSEDA for Yesteryears building? Original agreement balloon payment within 3 years, intention was to sell but could research retaining ownership. June 2019 deadline. 1   Friedel: why delay on Stillwater Building? Developer unresponsive. 20-year stipulation in perpetuity State statute, sticking point is how many years to either sell to taxpayer entity or retain.  South Billings Urban Renewal Association (SBURA): Steve Zeier – highlights, Yellowstone Boys and Girls Club, CIP, Police Evidence Center.  Budget: Andy Zoeller, Finance Director – overview. Mayor: 6% gap concerning? Zoeller: tax revenue estimates from DOR. Estimate a gap. Budget using reserves.  Health Fund: Kevin Iffland, Assistant City Administrator - revenues slightly higher than expenditures. High participation in Health IS program. RFP for services currently out.  Initiatives/Work Plan: Chris Kukulski, City Administrator - overview. Cromley: status on City Hall RFP? Kukulski: will be discussing next week during CIP.  City Wide Park District 1 Projects: Mike Whitaker, Parks Director – overview of projects.  Code Enforcement Update: Nicole Cromwell, Code Enforcement Supervisor – overview of complaints and issues. Snow Buddies program, increase in calls but less volunteers. Dirty Dozen review.  Police Annual Report: Rich St. John, Police Chief – overview. Project Safe Neighborhood results. Warrant, traffic stop, and arrest numbers. 30% decrease in Parks issues due to new Parks officer.  Fire Annual Report: Bill Rash, Fire Chief – overview of mission and review numbers for the last quarter.  Public Comment:  Connie Wardell, P.O. Box 21432, Billings, MT: numbers look good for clear sidewalks. Question budget numbers.  Kevin Nelson, 4235 Bruce Avenue, Billings, MT: traffic deaths are increasing. Police need to take care of street racing issues. Recess at 7:57 pm. Reconvene at 8:05 pm. TOPIC #3 Water and Wastewater Rate Study Results and Recommendations PRESENTER Jennifer Duray / Dave Mumford NOTES/OUTCOME  Jennifer Duray, Assistant Public Works Public Director: Overview, wastewater and water rate analysis and recommendations. Comprehensive rate study. Wastewater SDF’s went up but water barely changed. Rate increases discussed in public several ways. Will send letters to all customers. Neese: increase charges for more usage? Duray: one time connection charge according to size of meter. Joy: rationing system? Dave Mumford, Public Works Director: have a 2  plan, but have not needed to since 1980’s. Mayor: consider moving up date of new reservoir and plant? Mumford: feel confident with schedule.  Public Comment:  None TOPIC #4 Council Discussion PRESENTER NOTES/OUTCOME  Mayor: ABT had last performance before remodel.  Yakawich: USS Billings getting a lot of support. Model ship will be on display.  Public Comment:  None TOPIC #5 Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda PRESENTER NOTES/OUTCOME  Connie Wardell, P.O. Box 21432, Billings, MT: Visa program tied to specific areas. Could be an opportunity for City and small businesses.  Kevin Nelson, 4235 Bruce Avenue, Billings, MT: Ace Hardware issue. Sanderson Stewart report needs to be reviewed. Projects state completed but aren’t. Recess to Closed Executive Session. 3