City Council

City of Sidney, MT City Council Regular Meeting 1-5-2026 January 05, 2026 6:30 PM 115 2nd Street SE |Sidney, MT 59270 The City Council meetings are open to the public attending in person. If the public does not wish to participate in person, they are also invited to participate via a Zoom meeting or via phone: Meeting ID: 713 080 5898 Passcode: 4332809 Call: 1-346-248-7799 1. Call to Order Mayor Norby called the regular meeting of the Sidney City Council to order at 6:30pm. 2. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was stated by all present. 3. Aldermen Present Christensen, Buxbaum, Larson, Kauffman, Rasmussen and DiFonzo 4. Correction or Approval of Minutes a. December 15th, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes Motion was made to approve. Motion made by Alderwoman Buxbaum, Seconded by Alderwoman Larson. Voting Yea: Alderman Kauffman, Alderwoman Rasmussen, Alderman DiFonzo, Alderwoman Buxbaum, Alderwoman Christensen, Alderwoman Larson b. December 29th, 2025 Budget and Finance Committee Meeting Minutes Motion was made to approve. Motion made by Alderwoman Christensen, Seconded by Alderwoman Larson. Voting Yea: Alderman Kauffman, Alderwoman Rasmussen, Alderman DiFonzo, Alderwoman Buxbaum, Alderwoman Christensen, Alderwoman Larson 5. Visitors Kelcey Hart came before the City Council stating she is planning to start Downtown Committee, as a continuation of the Downtown Master Plan. She stated it is her hope that this plan is made into City Council Regular Meeting 1-5-2026 January 05, 2026 Page 1 of 5  something and is carried on and their first meeting date will be January 27th, 2026 from 4-5pm at Interstate Engineering. Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin stated she would like to attend this meeting to represent the City. Ms. Hart stated she will be advertising for the meeting on the Chamber Calendar, social media and possibly the newspaper and Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin stated she could also share the meeting information to the City's social media. Alderman Kauffman asked if Planner Sanderson should be included and Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin stated if anything comes from the meeting that would need him, she will let him know. Others Present: Jody Wells (Roundup), Bella Strasheim, Evelyn Gonzales, Monica Steinbeisser, Zachary Olson, Wacey Hovde, Cami Skinner, Mareunah Wleh, Ivy Cross, and Ave Norby. 6. Public Hearing a. Announcing: January 20th, 2026 Growth Policy Public Hearing Mayor Norby announced the Public Hearing for the Growth Policy at the next City Council meeting, January 20th, 2026. 7. Mayor Norby a. Update Mayor Norby reminded everyone that the due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the next Council Meeting will be on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026. 8. Committee Meeting Work a. Budget and Finance Committee Meeting: Growth Policy Updates Alderwoman Christensen stated the Budget and Finance Committee met and made recommended changes to the Growth Policy for the Planning Board, she stated a resolution will be presented on the 20th after the public hearing. 9. Alderman Requests and Committee Reports Budget and Finance – Chairman ______ – ______, ______, Member of Public. Public Safety– Chairman ______ – ______, ______, Member of Public Public Works – Chairman ______ – ______, ______, Member of Public Alderman DiFonzo stated he was contacted by a resident on 5th Street regarding a resident burning and asked if they require a burn permit as they were having a bonfire with their sofa. PWD Hintz stated any burning would require a burn permit and Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin stated they are administered by the State. Alderman DiFonzo stated he will get with the Chief and look into it further. 10. Unfinished Business Nothing. City Council Regular Meeting 1-5-2026 January 05, 2026 Page 2 of 5 11. New Business a. City Council Committee Assignments Alderwoman Christensen presented the 2026 Council Committee assignments for approval. Motion was made to approve. Alderwoman Rasmussen pointed out that it is Buxbaum, not Godfrey. Motion made by Alderwoman Christensen, Seconded by Alderwoman Rasmussen. Voting Yea: Alderman Kauffman, Alderwoman Rasmussen, Alderman DiFonzo, Alderwoman Buxbaum, Alderwoman Christensen, Alderwoman Larson b. Committee Meeting Dates and Times 2026 Budget and Finance Committee will meet the second Tuesday of the month at 6:10pm for the January meeting and 5:30pm moving forward. Public Works will schedule later. Public Safety will meet the fourth Tuesday of the month at 4:30pm. c. Mayor's Appointments to the City Council Committees: Budget and Finance: Camila Skinner Public Works: Lee Harris Public Safety: Stasia Creek Mayor Norby recommended the appointments of Camila Skinner to the Budget and Finance Committee, Lee Harris to the Public Works Committee and Stasia Creek to the Public Safety Committee. Motion was made to approve. Motion made by Alderwoman Buxbaum, Seconded by Alderwoman Larson. Voting Yea: Alderman Kauffman, Alderwoman Rasmussen, Alderman DiFonzo, Alderwoman Buxbaum, Alderwoman Christensen, Alderwoman Larson d. Appoint Alderman Kauffman to Nuisance Committee Mayor Norby stated Alderman Koffler was the Council representative on the Nuisance Committee and Alderman Kauffman has graciously agreed to take this appointment. Motion was made to approve. City Council Regular Meeting 1-5-2026 January 05, 2026 Page 3 of 5  Motion made by Alderwoman Christensen, Seconded by Alderwoman Rasmussen. Voting Yea: Alderman Kauffman, Alderwoman Rasmussen, Alderman DiFonzo, Alderwoman Buxbaum, Alderwoman Christensen, Alderwoman Larson e. Reappoint Tony Barone-Richland County Conservation District Board: 3-year term Motion was made to not approve this appointment. Motion made by Alderwoman Christensen, Seconded by Alderman DiFonzo. Voting Yea: Alderman Kauffman, Alderwoman Rasmussen, Alderman DiFonzo, Alderwoman Buxbaum, Alderwoman Christensen, Alderwoman Larson 12. City Planner Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin announced the Planning Board meeting Tuesday January 6th, 2025 at 7:00pm with a public hearing on the Growth Policy. 13. City Attorney a. Update City Attorney Kalil stated he has been busy in the new year with prosecution. 14. Chief of Police a. Update Nothing. 15. Public Works Director a. Update PWD Hintz stated he is hopeful the weather will hold to clear some of the ice on the streets. He stated they have been working on the shop remodel as part of the SLIPA project. He stated they have added a second mechanic at the shop to help with the workload and it is working out well. b. Consideration of declaring a 1993 Cat 434 roller as surplus property and approving its sale Lower Yellowstone Irrigation (Bureau of Reclamation) for $6,000 PWD Hintz stated LYI borrowed this piece of equipment this spring and has not brought it back, and with that has made an offer to buy. He stated it is equipment we do not use. Motion made by Alderwoman Rasmussen, Seconded by Alderman Kauffman. In discussion Mayor Norby asked if we need to go to bid/auction and PWD Hintz stated no, because we are selling to another governmental agency. Voting Yea: Alderman Kauffman, Alderwoman Rasmussen, Alderman DiFonzo, Alderwoman Buxbaum, Alderwoman Christensen, Alderwoman Larson City Council Regular Meeting 1-5-2026 January 05, 2026 Page 4 of 5 16. Fire Marshal/Building Inspector Nothing. 17. City Clerk/Treasurer a. Update Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin stated the Local Government Review Board will be meeting this Thursday at 5:30pm. She further stated she is happy to report that the timecard module with Black Mountain had an easier implementation than what she was expecting, so they will be starting to use it with some employees in January and hopefully all employees in February. 18. Consent Agenda Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin stated these claims included the SRF and WRF bond payments. Motion was made to approve the claims and building permits. Motion made by Alderman Kauffman, Seconded by Alderwoman Buxbaum. Voting Yea: Alderman Kauffman, Alderwoman Rasmussen, Alderman DiFonzo, Alderwoman Buxbaum, Alderwoman Christensen, Alderwoman Larson a. Claims to be approved: $831,119.75 Intermediary Claims: MDU $14,615.01 b. Building Permits to be approved : 2026-24, RC2026-8 and RC2026-19 19. Adjournment at 6:50pm. City Council Regular Meeting 1-5-2026 January 05, 2026 Page 5 of 5