OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Belgrade City Council Meeting - October 6, 2025

City Council & Boards — Monday, October 6, 2025
BodyBelgrade, Montana
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateMonday, October 6, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:06

I'd like to call this meeting to order and welcome you here this evening and uh if you'd follow me in the Pledge of Allegiance please Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:31

Roll call.

0:33

Jason Cuppy.

0:34

Here.

0:35

Michael Meese.

0:36

Here.

0:36

Jim Simon.

0:37

Here.

0:37

Russell Nelson.

0:38

Here.

0:39

Christine Manucci.

0:40

Here.

0:40

Aaron Bell.

0:41

Here.

0:42

Renee Mademoiselle.

0:43

Here.

0:46

Next on our agenda is the public forum.

0:50

So on all our council uh agendas.

0:53

Before starting your comments, please state your name, address in an audible tone of voice for the record.

0:58

This is the time for individuals to comment on matters falling within the purview of the Belgrade City Council that are not already on the agenda.

1:06

There will be an opportunity in conjunction with each item of the discussion part uh for comments pertaining to that item.

1:14

Please note that the council may not engage in discussion or respond to questions during this time.

1:20

However, at the mayor's discretion, the city manager may uh be asked to provide clarification on existing policy.

1:28

Please limit your comments to three minutes.

1:30

So first call for public forum for anybody here.

1:35

Second call for public forum.

1:40

Third and final call for public forum.

1:43

With no interest in public forum, we'll close public forum.

1:46

We'll move on to our consent agenda.

1:48

There's one item, uh consider approval of council minutes drafts.

1:55

I'll make a motion to approve all consent items as submitted.

1:59

I'll second.

2:01

Moved by council member meese, seconded by council member.

2:07

Yeah, thank you.

2:07

I missed that.

2:08

Okay.

2:09

Add one of those 66 year old uh memory things.

2:12

Thank you.

2:13

Uh all those in favor of the mo is there any discussion.

2:17

Is there any discussion?

2:19

Is there any discussion?

2:21

There being none.

2:22

Uh those in favor of the uh motion, please indicate by saying aye.

2:28

Aye.

2:29

Those opposed, same sign.

2:30

Motion carries unanimously.

2:34

Uh next uh is under public hearings.

2:38

Discuss and consider final adoption of resolution number uh 2025-8, amending the Belgrade City Code to clarifying delegation of administrative authority of the city manager who wishes to speak on this.

2:56

Oh, he is you pointed to me.

2:58

I was doing one and she was doing the other, and I screwed that up.

3:01

You know.

3:02

So uh thank you, uh Mayor.

3:04

So this one tonight we've discussed this item now uh two times.

3:08

We began at our workshop and then about a month ago we hosted the discussion item on on this item.

3:15

And so tonight is the uh public hearing for public comment and feedback on uh the resolution to adopt ordinance 2025-8, with the main purpose being to clarify in the city code that the city manager is the chief administrative officer, and to um make sure that it's clear in the charter uh because there's several things as we know we're going through.

3:40

In fact, we have another item here tonight uh on it.

3:43

There's a lot that's still left in there from pre-1986 when the charter was adopted, and so we needing to clean some of that up finally.

3:52

So if there's any questions that the council has, I'd be happy to answer them.

4:01

Any questions by council members?

4:05

There being none, I need a motion to approve a uh public hearing, please.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████████31%
Public Safety██████████████████████22%
Parks and Recreation████████████████16%
Special Event Permits█████████9%
Transportation Safety████████8%
Water And Wastewater Management████████8%
Pending Litigation██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Belgrade City Council Meeting - October 6, 2025

The Belgrade City Council met on October 6, 2025, to adopt an ordinance clarifying the city manager's administrative authority, introduce a fire code update, and receive reports on infrastructure projects, EMS planning, and city operations. The meeting included a consent agenda, a public hearing, and council member updates.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved council minutes drafts unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made during the public forum or the public hearing for Ordinance 2025-8.

Discussion Items

  • Final Adoption of Ordinance 2025-8: The council adopted a resolution amending the Belgrade City Code to clarify that the city manager is the chief administrative officer and to establish civil litigation and settlement authority. City Manager Neil Cardwell noted this updates pre-1986 charter language. The motion passed unanimously.
  • First Reading of Ordinance 2025-11: The council considered an ordinance adopting the International Fire Code, designating the city manager as the fire official, and creating a fire marshal position to be held by Lucas Saltchak. The manager emphasized that no changes were made to the existing fireworks amendment. The council unanimously approved the first reading, scheduling a public hearing for November 3, 2025.
  • Infrastructure Updates (from Reports): Public Works Director reported on two roundabouts: the Dry Creek and Cruiser roundabout is in right-of-way acquisition (60% plans, construction hoped for 2026); the Broadway and Maine roundabout is also at 60% plans, on track for 2027 construction. The Jackrabbit and Maine underpass will start no earlier than 2028.
  • EMS Board Update: Cardwell reported an initial kickoff meeting for a proposed Gallatin Valley EMS delivery board, with representation from cities and fire districts. Belgrade’s position is that any district formation and potential assessment must go to voters. The board meets monthly, with next steps to draft an interlocal agreement and bylaws.
  • Parks, Trails, and Recreation Director: Cardwell announced the hiring of Jordan Green (current Deer Lodge city administrator) as the new director, starting around December 1. Green was selected from over 100 applicants.
  • Water Bonds: The city secured an investment-grade bond rating for a $20 million water storage tank and wells project. Pricing day is November 13, with council consideration on November 17.
  • Master Park Parcel: A rough design for an 80-acre community master park with wetlands was submitted to DNRC. The city hopes to use wastewater funds for the wetland portion, reducing Park Division funding needs. Feedback expected by early 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance 2025-8 adopted unanimously after a public hearing with no public comment.
  • Ordinance 2025-11 approved on first reading (unanimous), public hearing set for November 3, 2025.
  • Council received reports and no further action was taken.
  • Councilmember Meese was unanimously recommended for the League of Cities and Towns executive board as third vice president.
  • The Christmas Convoy (truck village) permit approved for December 6 weekend; the Hooplaw (by Belgrade Community Coalition) scheduled for the following weekend.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call this meeting to order and welcome you here this evening and uh if you'd follow me in the Pledge of Allegiance please Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Roll call. Jason Cuppy. Here. Michael Meese. Here. Jim Simon. Here. Russell Nelson. Here. Christine Manucci. Here. Aaron Bell. Here. Renee Mademoiselle. Here. Next on our agenda is the public forum. So on all our council uh agendas. Before starting your comments, please state your name, address in an audible tone of voice for the record. This is the time for individuals to comment on matters falling within the purview of the Belgrade City Council that are not already on the agenda. There will be an opportunity in conjunction with each item of the discussion part uh for comments pertaining to that item. Please note that the council may not engage in discussion or respond to questions during this time. However, at the mayor's discretion, the city manager may uh be asked to provide clarification on existing policy. Please limit your comments to three minutes. So first call for public forum for anybody here. Second call for public forum. Third and final call for public forum. With no interest in public forum, we'll close public forum. We'll move on to our consent agenda. There's one item, uh consider approval of council minutes drafts. I'll make a motion to approve all consent items as submitted. I'll second. Moved by council member meese, seconded by council member. Yeah, thank you. I missed that. Okay. Add one of those 66 year old uh memory things. Thank you. Uh all those in favor of the mo is there any discussion. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? There being none. Uh those in favor of the uh motion, please indicate by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed, same sign. Motion carries unanimously. Uh next uh is under public hearings. Discuss and consider final adoption of resolution number uh 2025-8, amending the Belgrade City Code to clarifying delegation of administrative authority of the city manager who wishes to speak on this. Oh, he is you pointed to me. I was doing one and she was doing the other, and I screwed that up.

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