Belgrade City Council Meeting – August 18, 2025

The Belgrade City Council met on August 18, 2025, to consider a conditional use permit for a dog spa, approve budgets and mill levies, cancel the uncontested election, and discuss water system bonds. Key outcomes included denial of the dog spa permit (4-1), unanimous approval of a lighting maintenance district, adoption of the fiscal year 2026 budgets, and authorization of $20 million in water revenue bonds.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Leonard Cardin (608 Meadow Circle) – Opposed the dog spa, citing a gnome figure that was offensive to children, concerns about traffic on the narrow dead-end street, and the precedent of allowing a business in a residential zone.
• Sarah Orchard (607 Meadow Circle) – Opposed, stating she has lived in the area for 42 years and bought the home for low-density residential living. She argued that the business would increase traffic, that the applicants had already violated covenants (e.g., a six-foot fence where five feet is permitted, parking RVs in front), and that an exception would set a precedent for other residential areas near schools and parks. She noted that 6 of 8 Meadow Circle residents signed a petition opposing the permit.
• Tony Carden (608 Meadow Circle) – Opposed, emphasizing that the dead-end street leads to a future bike park and that the area is zoned residential.
• Brian Ward (601 Meadow Circle) – Supported the permit, saying he has not noticed an appreciable increase in traffic and that the neighborhood is already changing due to new development. He encouraged less hurtful discourse.
• Mary Valenzuela (601 Meadow Circle) – Supported, stating that she has seen no increase in traffic or noise from the property and that dog grooming clients typically drop off and leave quickly.
• Chris Ortmeyer (840 Quail Run Road, Bozeman) – Supported, describing Renee as the best groomer in the valley and a safe provider for her golden doodle. She noted she has been a client for seven and a half years and would follow Renee wherever she goes.
• No public comments were offered on the lighting district, planning board appointment, election cancellation, budget hearings, mill levies, or water bonds.

Discussion Items

• Conditional Use Permit for Renee’s Dog Spa (Major Home-Based Business) – Staff (Mr. Carp) presented the request for a dog grooming business at 603 Meadow Circle. The business would operate from the garage and qualifies as a major home business because of customer traffic. The Belgrade City County Planning Board voted 0-4 to recommend denial on July 28, 2025, primarily due to neighborhood impacts. The applicant, Renee Varner, stated she has been a groomer for 27 years and previously operated mobile; she said she and her boyfriend are selling the house and no longer want the permit. A councilmember noted that 13 written comments supported and 7 opposed, but that most supporters were customers outside the area. The street is narrow and residential. Motion to approve failed 4-1.
• Resolution 2025-23: Lighting Maintenance District for West Post Phases 3 & 4 – This creates a city-maintained lighting district. First-year cost estimated at $20,000 (66 cents per linear foot). Approx. 350 parcels affected, mostly residential. Unanimously approved.
• Appointment to Planning Board – Matthew Anderson – Mayor recommended Anderson for a term expiring May 20, 2026. No other applicants. Unanimously approved.
• Resolution 2025-24: Cancel Uncontested November 2025 Election – Only one candidate ran for each open seat (wards 1, 2 full term, ward 2 unexpired, ward 3, and mayor). Cancelling the election saves about $7,000. Staff noted a press release will inform the public and that a process to fill the ward 1 vacancy (due to councilmember moving to mayor) will begin before January 1. Unanimously approved.
• Public Hearing for FY25 Budget Amendment and FY26 Final Budget – Council set the public hearing for September 2, 2025. Unanimously approved.
• FY26 Budget – Belgrade Regional Parks, Trails, and Recreation District – Presenting a 9% increase in revenue; includes $65,000 for a new truck, $674,000 transferred to the CIP fund (balance $629,000, anticipated spend $569,000). Planned projects: airport trails, pergola for Prescott Ranch Park, splash park study, Mayfair Meadows Park improvements (starting with a pump track using a $100,000 county grant), and MPO regional trail loop. A councilmember noted the parks board’s desire to purchase land for a large regional park (80 acres of DNRC land appraised at ~$6 million). Staff is assessing debt capacity and potential bond issuance. Budget approved unanimously via roll call.
• Resolution 2025-27: Public Safety Mill Levy – Convert to Dollar-Based Levy – After prior workshop discussion, council adopted option to convert the voter-approved permanent mill levy to a fixed dollar amount using FY25-26 figures. Unanimously approved.
• Resolution 2025-28: Library Operations Mill Levy – Convert to Dollar-Based Levy – Same approach as public safety mill levy. Unanimously approved.
• Resolution 2025-29: Water System Revenue Bonds – Issue $20 Million – Authorizes the issuance and private negotiated sale of $20 million in water system revenue bonds for water storage and supply improvements. The original plan was $30 million, reduced due to debt capacity; additional funding may be pursued in 2029 after a rate study. Project will not be delayed: $5.2 million will reimburse land purchase, remainder used for design and initial work. Wells 8 and 9 (adding 2,200 gallons per minute) are coming online; a PER due end of September will inform next steps (drilling wells 10/11 or building 3–5 million gallon storage). Unanimously approved.
• City Manager’s Report – Vandalism of Splash Pad – Staff discovered intentional damage to the splash pad (plastic drain troughs broken, damaging pumps). Likely closed for the remainder of the season due to repair time and cost. The city also reported a lift station outage in Ryan Glen. Police are increasing patrols; public asked to report vandalism via non-emergency line.

Key Outcomes

• Conditional Use Permit for Renee’s Dog Spa – Denied (4-1 vote against).
• Lighting Maintenance District (West Post Phases 3 & 4) – Resolution 2025-23 approved unanimously.
• Planning Board Appointment – Matthew Anderson approved unanimously.
• Cancel Uncontested November Election – Resolution 2025-24 approved unanimously.
• Set Budget Public Hearing – September 2, 2025, approved unanimously.
• Parks District FY26 Budget – Approved unanimously on roll call.
• Public Safety Mill Levy Conversion – Resolution 2025-27 adopted unanimously.
• Library Mill Levy Conversion – Resolution 2025-28 adopted unanimously.
• Water Revenue Bonds ($20M) – Resolution 2025-29 authorized unanimously.
• Splash Pad – Likely closed for the season due to vandalism; focus on repairs for next year.