Belgrade City Council Meeting - September 2, 2025

The Belgrade City Council met on September 2, 2025, to conduct a series of public hearings and discussions, primarily focused on fiscal year 2025 and 2026 budgets, a new street tree and forestry service fee, and an ordinance clarifying city manager authority. The meeting also featured significant public testimony regarding police conduct and tax increases. Key actions included adopting the FY2026 budget, approving a contentious tree fee on a 4-3 vote with the mayor breaking a tie, and provisionally adopting an ordinance to clarify city manager delegation and civil litigation authority.

Consent Calendar

• Approved first reading of Ordinance 2025-9 to zone Ridgeway School property as Educational and Institutional District.
• Approved first reading of Ordinance 2025-10 to zone Belgrade School District bus barn property as Industrial District. Both passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Virginia Brown (720 Northern Pacific Avenue) opposed any tax increases, arguing 70% of the budget goes to salaries and benefits and expressing dissatisfaction with city services. She detailed several complaints about police conduct, including alleged harassment, failure to enforce traffic laws, and intimidating behavior. She stated she no longer feels safe and will oppose tax increases until changes occur.
• Anthony Triplett (General Manager, Belgrade business; address 720 Northern Pacific Avenue) spoke on behalf of employees who feel unsafe after night shifts, alleging they are followed, pulled over without reason, and harassed by police. He reported that over $5,000 in revenue was lost in the last week due to customers intimidated by officers parking outside. He asked the council to address why workers serving the community are made to feel unsafe.
• Police Chief Dustin Lensing responded during the city manager's report, stating he takes complaints seriously, reviews video, and investigates misconduct. He noted he had reached out to the complainant but received no response, and reiterated his willingness to meet with citizens. City Manager Neil Cardwell expressed full support for the chief and stressed the importance of feedback for improvement.
• No public comments were offered during the public hearings on the FY2025 budget amendment, street tree fee, FY2026 budget, mill levy, or permissive medical levy.

Discussion Items

Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Amendment

• Finance Director Charity presented a routine mid-year budget revision to align with year-end projections. Councilmember Menicucci asked about lighting district deficits; the finance director explained reconciliations were in progress. Councilmember Bell asked about 'other financing uses' (transfers out). The public hearing was opened, received no comment, and closed. The council unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-32 to amend the FY2025 budget (roll call: 6-0).

Street Tree and Forestry Service Fee (Resolution 2025-22)

• City Attorney Kyle presented a proposal to levy an annual $39.82 fee per parcel (5,022 parcels) to raise $200,000 for a city forester position, tree manual, and maintenance of public right-of-way trees. Council discussion included questions about equity (flat fee vs. frontage), timing relative to an ongoing street maintenance fee study, and the scope of tree responsibility. Councilmember Bell expressed concern that the fee is an increase without knowing the street fee study results. Councilmember Simon also voiced concerns. After the public hearing (no comments), the council voted: Councilmember Guffey (no), Mees (yes), Simon (no), Menicucci (yes), Bell (yes), Manimo (no) — a 3-3 tie. Mayor Mahon broke the tie by voting yes, passing the resolution 4-3.

Fiscal Year 2026 Final Budget (Resolution 2025-33)

• Finance Director Charity detailed legislative changes affecting mill levies, including conversion of voted mills to dollar amounts (per HB 231), a reduction in the mill value due to property tax changes, and a loss of $475,000 for public safety and $54,000 for the library. The budget includes an $8.12 per $100,000 valuation increase for property owners, largely due to library debt service. The city will add six new positions (net increase of one FTE from prior year). Public hearing opened and closed without comment. The council unanimously adopted the final budget (roll call: 6-0). City Manager noted this budget begins to address deferred needs and that a five-year capital plan will follow.

Mill Levy Resolution (Resolution 2025-30)

• This resolution authorizes the mill levies necessary to fund the adopted budget, including an additional $733,000 primarily for library debt service. Councilmember Mees clarified a temporary negative fund balance issue due to payment timing. The public hearing received no comment, and the resolution passed unanimously (roll call: 6-0).

Permissive Medical Levy (Resolution 2025-31)

• The finance director presented the permissive medical levy of 18.36 mills, raising $602,000 to offset health insurance costs for governmental employees. Council questioned the employer/employee contribution split: employee contributions increased slightly, but the city's contribution still covers individual plans fully. City Manager noted the levy was nearly eliminated by the state legislature and that losing it would harm competitiveness. Public hearing opened and closed; levy passed unanimously (roll call: 6-0).

Audit Services Contract

• City Manager requested authorization to enter a three-year contract with Nexus CPA Group for audit services (FY2025-FY2027) at a maximum of $150,000 (2025), $154,500 (2026), and $160,000 (2027). He noted audit costs have risen sharply statewide. No public comments; council unanimously authorized the contract.

Ordinance on City Manager Delegation (Ordinance 2025-8)

• City Manager Neil Cardwell presented an ordinance to codify the city manager's authority to hire/fire city employees and settle civil litigation up to $80,000 without council approval (higher amounts require council approval). This clarifies the council-manager form of government and removes outdated code references. The ordinance preserves the mayor's appointment of boards and commissions. No public comments. The council provisionally adopted Ordinance 2025-8 on a unanimous vote and set a public hearing for October 6, 2025.

Key Outcomes

• Approved (unanimous): Consent agenda items (zoning ordinances), FY2025 budget amendment, FY2026 final budget, mill levy resolution, permissive medical levy, audit services contract, and provisional adoption of city manager authority ordinance.
• Passed (4-3, mayor breaking tie): Street tree and forestry service fee (Resolution 2025-22).
• Set public hearing: October 6, 2025, for final adoption of Ordinance 2025-8.
• Upcoming: Workshop on September 8, 2025, at 6 p.m.; next regular meeting September 15, 2025.