Local Government Review Board

City of Sidney Montana’s Sunrise City 115 2nd Street S.E., Sidney, Montana - 406-433-2809 Local Government Review Board Minutes January 08, 2026 at 5:30 PM 1. Call to Order Mrs. Sergent called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. Board Present: Sergent, Mayer, Whiteman Others Present: Mayor Norby, Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin, Amanda Seigfreid, Gary Schoepp, Karen Schoepp, Dennis Moore, Jamie Larson, Ivy Cross, Morgan Kindopp 2. New Business a. Approval of Minutes: October 9th, 2025 Motion was made to approve. Motion made by Whiteman, Seconded by Mayer. Voting Yea: Sergent, Whiteman, Mayer b. Meeting Bi-Monthly (January, March, May, July, September, November - Plus April Training) still First Thursday of Month Mrs. Sergent stated they are looking to moving their meetings to bi-monthly to ensure they have time to cover all the topics available. Motion was made to approve moving the LGRB meetings to bi-monthly instead of quarterly. Motion made by Mayer, Seconded by Whiteman. Voting Yea: Sergent, Whiteman, Mayer c. Survey Approval: questions and run through March 5th meeting Mrs. Sergent stated Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin has provided survey questions she would like approval to run in the public until March 1st, with the results ready for the March The City of Sidney is an equal opportunity provider.  meeting. She stated members of the public did assist with these survey questions and thanked them for this. Motion was made to approve. Motion made by Whiteman, Seconded by Mayer. Voting Yea: Sergent, Whiteman, Mayer d. Public Outreach-Kiwanis Club 2-5-26 and Lions Club 2-9-26 Mrs. Sergent stated Ivy Cross will be presenting to the Kiwanis Club and the Lions Club and one LGRB member will need to be present to listen to public feedback on topics. Wade will attend the Kiwanis meeting and Jordan will attend the Lions meeting. Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin will also be present to assist. e. Review Recommendation Topics that Require Voter Approval: Council Composition: Council size / membership — how many council members there are Representation structure — how those members are elected (by ward, at-large, or hybrid) Ward apportionment — how many members represent each ward or district Electoral system — e.g., ward-based, at-large, or mixed at-large/ward Elected at Large — e.g., ward-based representation, at-large voting Election System Parameters: Term Length — how long each elected term lasts (e.g., four years) Term Limits — whether members are limited in how many terms they may serve Staggered Terms — whether only some seats are up for election at a time Partisan vs. Nonpartisan Elections Partisan: candidates run with party labels Nonpartisan: party labels do not appear on the ballot Elect instead of Appoint Officials Adopt Self-Government Powers The City of Sidney is an equal opportunity provider.  Adopt a Charter Mrs. Sergent stated they are now looking for public input on the topics to investigate and discuss with several items that require voter approval being listed on this agenda item. She stated the responses here, from the survey and the public outreach will form the upcoming agenda discussion and public hearing topics. She asked if any of these items would like to be discussed by the members of the public present or if they have any questions on them. Items discussed included: Ward size and number and if more wards would be beneficial. Representation in the wards and if a hybrid system of some council being elected in the wards and some being at large could be reviewed and to use historical election data. Term limits being decided by election but term lengths being reviewed as 4 years may not be the most beneficial. Possibly 3, 4, or 6 year terms would be best, but the rotation for election would need to reviewed also. All present agreed that the City should stay nonpartisan and that city officials should stay appointed to keep the department heads hired based on qualifications instead of elected. All present also agreed that the City should stay with general governing powers. f. Review Recommendation Topics that DON'T Require Voter Approval: Administrative & Organizational Structure: Hire a City Manager or Administrator Create or Amend Administrative Ordinances Formalize Interlocal Agreements Conduct Efficiency or Operational Studies Governance Policies & Operating Procedures: Update Council Procedures and Rules Adopt or Update Personnel Policies Planning, Transparency & Public Engagement: Implement Financial Transparency Measures Create Long-Term Strategic Plan Establish Advisory Committees or Citizen Panels Strengthen Citizen Communication Tools The City of Sidney is an equal opportunity provider. Mrs. Sergent stated these are listed items that would not require voter approval for recommendation to the City Council but could be discussed and investigated by the review board and asked if any of these items intrigue the members of the public present or if they have any questions on them. Items discussed included: With the recommendation of the Council hiring a manager/administrator, the Mayor can also hire an assistant but any of the items here are only recommendations and do not have to be done. If the manager/administrator position is hired without the change of form of government they would be hired and under the supervision of the Mayor, with the Mayor remaining the head of the executive branch. The job description, duties of the manager/administrator would be set by code by the City Council and Mayor. If needed, they could be removed from their position the same way as the current department heads, by both Mayor and Council. If the form of government changed to the City Manager-Council form of government, the manager would be hired and be under the direction of the City Council. If there is a Mayor can be decided and if there was what their figure head duties would be would be set by city code by the Council. If needed, the manager would be removed from duty by the Council. In this form the Council would be both legislative and executive branches of the government, versus the current form where the Mayor is the executive. It was discussed with the long range planning, having a manager/administrator might be beneficial to execute the plans the City has recently funded. The manager/administrator could take on some of the duties of the department heads or new duties such as HR or succession planning, but ultimately that would be decided through the job description. The budget implications of adding this position was also discussed, with possible efficiencies being found to help offset in either scenarios, but likely an increase in budget would happen. Transparency measures was discussed and current technologies used and the availableness of the elected officials are appreciated although there is always room for improvement, but a review and recommendation is not necessary. Recommending the creation of new or bringing back advisory boards, such as the Park and Recreation Board was also discussed, with all present agreeing there is ample opportunity for involvement and volunteering without the obligation of being an elected official. When asked, there is no current specific interlocal agreements needing review, it was just a listed item provided by the Local Government Services for all in this process. The City of Sidney is an equal opportunity provider. 3. Old Business a. Call for Public Hearing to Hear Public Comment on the Change of Form of Government: Mayor/Council vs City Manager/Council-March 5th, 2026 at 5:30pm Mrs. Sergent stated they will be holding an official public hearing at their March 5th meeting, calling for public input on the change of form of government and if it should remain the same, Mayor-Council, or be changed to City Manager-Council. She stated once official public testimony is given the Local Government Review Board will discuss and make their final recommendation on the topic. Mr. Mayer asked if the plan is to have a recommendation at that meeting, and Mrs. Sergent stated the decision to recommend or not to change the form of government will be at the March meeting. Ms. Seigfreid asked if it will go to the voters either way and Mrs. Sergent stated no. Mr. Moore stated the change of form of government would go to vote and Mrs. Sergent stated the Council would decide on the hiring. Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin stated it would go on the ballot if they recommend to make the change, if they do not recommend to make the change it will not go on the ballot. 4. Questions/ Comments from Public Nothing. 5. Questions/ Comments from Board Nothing. 6. Adjournment Next Meeting: Tentatively March 5th, 2026 at 5:30pm at 6:25pm The City of Sidney is an equal opportunity provider.