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Record of Proceedings

Belgrade City Council Meeting - February 17, 2026: WRRF Contract and Foundry Subdivision Approval

City Council & Boards — Tuesday, February 17, 2026
BodyBelgrade, Montana
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateTuesday, February 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:32:37

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:06

I'd like to thank everybody for coming to our city council meeting tonight to call the meeting to order and please stand and follow me in the pledge.

0:18

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:26

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:36

Roll call, please.

0:37

Jason Guffey.

0:39

Here.

0:40

Matthew McGee.

0:42

Here.

0:43

Jim Simon.

0:44

Here.

0:45

Mike Meese.

0:46

Here.

0:46

Chris Minacucci.

0:47

Here.

0:48

Aaron Bell.

0:49

Here.

0:49

Renee Madame Bell.

0:51

Here.

1:05

All right.

1:06

Next on the agenda is our public forum.

1:08

So before starting your comments, please state your name and address an audible tone of voice for the record.

1:14

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

1:22

There will be an opportunity in conjunction with each agenda item for comments pertaining to that item.

1:28

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

1:33

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

1:40

And please limit your comments to three minutes.

1:44

So first call for public comment.

1:51

Apologize.

2:09

Thank you.

2:10

Thank you, Vivian.

2:14

Second call for public comment.

2:19

Do I have to wait for the item to leave us down to the comment of the point?

2:22

Yep, if there's already an item on the agenda, please hold your comments till that time.

2:29

Third and final call for public comment.

2:33

All right.

2:34

Seeing no additional public comment, we'll close the public forum and move on to the consent agenda.

2:41

So first up on the consent agenda is considered amended resolution number 2025-37, adding the city ward one to the resolution for the Belgrade School.

2:52

Oh, that is the consent agenda.

2:55

So we yeah, excuse me, we got three item or two items on the consent agenda, and they're both uh related to the school district annexation.

3:09

So looking for uh motion on the consent agenda.

3:14

I move to accept the consent agenda.

3:17

Consent agenda as presented.

3:24

Sorry.

3:25

I'll second.

3:27

All right.

3:28

Move by council member Minicucci, second by Deputy Mayor Matamo.

3:33

Is there any discussion?

3:36

Is there any discussion?

3:39

Is there any discussion?

3:41

All those in favor say aye.

3:43

Aye.

3:44

Aye.

3:44

Aye.

3:45

All those opposed, same sign.

3:48

Passes unanimously.

3:52

All right.

3:53

Next up is our discussion agenda.

3:56

So uh first up here is discuss and consider approval of a professional services contract with AE2S for the work order 25-03, the Belgrade.

4:10

Water reclamation.

4:12

Water resource recovery facility.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Planning█████████████████████████████████████████████51%
Procedural█████████████15%
Water And Wastewater Management████████9%
Technology and Innovation██████7%
Parks and Recreation██████7%
Affordable Housing████5%
Community Engagement███3%
Public Works██2%
Engineering And Infrastructure█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Belgrade City Council Meeting - February 17, 2026

The Belgrade City Council met on February 17, 2026, to discuss and approve a professional services contract for the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) phase 1.5 project and to hold a public hearing on the Foundry Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat. Both items were approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

  • The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included two items related to the school district annexation: an amended resolution (2025-37) adding city ward one to the resolution for the Belgrade School. No public comment was received.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Tracy Gilbertson (385 West Cameron Bridge Road) spoke during the public hearing on the Foundry subdivision. She expressed frustration that a boundary fence requirement from the original 2022 plat was removed after rezoning. She stated she has spent over $60,000 on a driveway and fencing, leaving the back of her property unprotected. She urged the council to consider the lifestyle of neighboring properties on 1.78-to-2-acre lots and asked for a buffer or fence to separate her property from the new development.

Discussion Items

  • Professional Services Contract with AE2S for WRRF Phase 1.5: City Engineer Joe Houck presented the contract for work order 25-03, which focuses on increasing the wastewater facility's capacity by roughly two million gallons per day. The project includes adding solids handling, liquid treatment (advanced aeration), groundwater monitoring, discharge permit expansion, and upgrading the SCADA system. The current SCADA system is proprietary, about 20 years old, and lacks local support. The upgrade will use an open-source platform with local technicians. Council member Simon asked about odor control; Houck noted the project aims to eliminate lagoons, a major odor source. Public comment was none. The council unanimously authorized the city manager to execute the contract.
  • Foundry Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat: Senior Planner Brad Stein presented the request for a 105-acre subdivision (formerly Jack Rabbit Crossings) with 556 residential lots, 138 apartments, and 17.5 acres of commercial development. The density is reduced from the previously approved 1,100+ units. The applicant, Venture West Development, and their consultants presented the design, emphasizing diverse housing types (single-family, cottages, duets, townhomes), a linear park system, and architectural standards. Public comment raised concerns about the loss of a required boundary fence and buffer on the south edge. Council members discussed these concerns; the developer offered to add a 10-foot no-build area in covenants for the 10 lots adjacent to Cameron Ridge Road and to consider a matching fence if neighbors desire. The council unanimously approved the preliminary plat subject to staff recommendations.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (all ayes).
  • Professional Services Contract with AE2S: Motion to authorize the city manager to execute the contract for work order 25-03 passed unanimously.
  • Foundry Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat: Motion to approve subject to staff recommendations passed unanimously. The developer will work with adjacent property owners on potential fencing and add a covenant for a 10-foot no-build area on lots bordering Cameron Ridge Road.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to thank everybody for coming to our city council meeting tonight to call the meeting to order and please stand and follow me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please. Jason Guffey. Here. Matthew McGee. Here. Jim Simon. Here. Mike Meese. Here. Chris Minacucci. Here. Aaron Bell. Here. Renee Madame Bell. Here. All right. Next on the agenda is our public forum. So before starting your comments, please state your name and address an audible tone of voice for the record. This is a 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 agenda item 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 be asked to provide clarification on existing policy. And please limit your comments to three minutes. So first call for public comment. Apologize. Thank you. Thank you, Vivian. Second call for public comment. Do I have to wait for the item to leave us down to the comment of the point? Yep, if there's already an item on the agenda, please hold your comments till that time. Third and final call for public comment. All right. Seeing no additional public comment, we'll close the public forum and move on to the consent agenda. So first up on the consent agenda is considered amended resolution number 2025-37, adding the city ward one to the resolution for the Belgrade School. Oh, that is the consent agenda. So we yeah, excuse me, we got three item or two items on the consent agenda, and they're both uh related to the school district annexation. So looking for uh motion on the consent agenda. I move to accept the consent agenda. Consent agenda as presented. Sorry. I'll second. All right. Move by council member Minicucci, second by Deputy Mayor Matamo. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? All those in favor say aye.

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