Belgrade City Council Workshop: MSU Justice Center Designs and Library Operations - November 10, 2025

The November 10, 2025 workshop of the Belgrade City Council featured two major presentations: a showcase of three conceptual designs for a future justice center by MSU Community Design Center students, and a detailed report on the Belgrade Library and Community Center's operational challenges, including staffing shortages and funding constraints. No formal votes were taken; the session served as a discussion and information-gathering exercise ahead of upcoming budget decisions.

MSU Community Design Center Presentation on Justice Center

• Three student groups presented design schemes for converting the former elementary school into a justice center housing police, courts, and community spaces. Key themes across all designs included improving natural daylighting, creating a civic presence, integrating community amenities (parks, gardens, cafes), and addressing security and parking needs.
• First group (Henry, Ali, Lily) – Denali: Proposed closing North Broadway to create a public park and walking trails; added a sally port and covered police parking; used polycarbonate, Cor-Ten steel, and Ponderosa pine materials. The courtroom received a raised roof and diffused light. Community spaces included a rentable flex room and a café that could later become additional court space.
• Second group (Ben, Grayson, Lily): Removed the gym but kept a police workout room; added a lobby with skylights, a community multi-purpose room with foldable walls, and covered police parking. Clarity of entrance and wayfinding was emphasized, with public parking on the north side and a drop-off zone.
• Third group (Darby, Grayson, Lily): Placed the courtroom in the existing gym; added a community kitchen and food pantry with a direct connection to outdoor gardens. Retained the playground and used a brick and perforated brick facade. Included rain gardens for snow storage and a double-height lobby for natural light.
• Council members asked about parking capacity, restroom adequacy (existing bathrooms repurposed), ADA access, budget estimates (not yet developed), and the feasibility of closing Broadway. Students noted that designs aimed to reuse existing walls and utilities to control costs.

Library Operations and Funding Challenges Presentation

• Alina (Library Director) and Charity presented the library's current status: staffed with 9 employees (down from 10), open 36 hours per week (below Montana State Library standards of 40-60 hours for the population size). Despite this, library visits more than doubled from 2024 to 2025: 13,241 visits in April–October 2025 versus 6,354 in the same period of 2024. Program attendance remained stagnant, however.
• The library's annual budget is approximately $1.289 million, with revenues of $624,000 (county contributions, state aid, fines, donations, etc.) and expenses of $830,000 for personnel, supplies, and services, plus $450,000 for facility costs and administrative support. The current funding model is insufficient to meet demand.
• To restore services (increase hours to 44-47 per week and add programs), the library requests approval for an operational levy estimated to cost the average taxpayer $26.79 per $100,000 of assessed property value – less than the price of a new hardcover book. Alternatively, the city could reallocate general fund dollars from other departments, but that would strain existing services.
• Alina and City Manager Greg outlined three options: pass a library levy, reallocate general fund dollars (likely reducing other city services), or maintain current funding (leading to further service cuts and risk of losing state aid). The library foundation, represented by David Kang and Mark Browning, reported raising about $400,000 in private funds (including a $290,000 endowment) but stressed that private dollars cannot cover ongoing operational costs.
• Council members expressed concern about taxpayer fatigue given recent failed school levies and property tax relief legislation. Mayor Nelson noted that the community strongly supported the library bond in 2021, suggesting a levy might have a chance if well communicated. City Manager Greg indicated that future budget workshops will explore capital improvement plans, street maintenance fees, and police department needs.

Public Comments

• David Kang (Library Foundation): Praised the library's historic program excellence (winning Best Small Library in America in 2015) and noted that program attendance has stagnated due to understaffing. He urged finding a way to fund adequate programming.n- Mark Browning (Library Foundation Treasurer): Described the Foundation's role in raising private funds for programs and capital campaign completion, but noted that private dollars cannot substitute for public operational funding. He confirmed the Foundation is contributing $3,000 to the endowment fund.

Key Outcomes

• No formal decisions were made. The council and staff will continue budget discussions in upcoming workshops, including a future session on police and public safety needs.n- The MSU design presentations provided a vision for the justice center and will inform the city's upcoming contract with an architect and contractor, who were present.n- The library's funding challenge remains unresolved; the council will consider whether to pursue a levy or explore other options like reallocating funds or forming a library district (noted as risky by the city attorney).n- City Manager Greg emphasized that previous long-term capital and operational planning gaps (e.g., street maintenance, water tower age) require the council to set priorities for the next budget cycle.