OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Billings City Council Meeting - July 28, 2025

City Council — Monday, July 28, 2025
BodyBillings, Montana
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, July 28, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

For the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilmember Gullick has our uh invocation tonight.

0:21

Good evening.

0:23

As we gather here in service to the people of Billings, let us pause for a moment of reflection.

0:29

We are grateful for the opportunity to live and work in this place of stunning beauty defined by the braided wild Yellowstone River, the glowing rimrocks, and our sunny blue skies.

0:42

We are a hard working, generous, and down-to-earth people capable of wondrous things.

0:47

Great places do not just happen by themselves.

0:51

They require the attention, intentions, and love of place and its people to happen.

0:57

May we be ever mindful of our shared responsibility to uphold the values of fairness, integrity, and stewardship so that we might become a city that is every bit as great as its natural beauty.

1:10

As we deliberate tonight, may we listen with open minds, speak with compassion, and make decisions that serve the common good.

1:18

May wisdom guide our words and may cooperation prevail so that collectively that we collectively figure out the best decisions.

1:27

Let our efforts honor the trust placed in us by the citizens of Billings and contribute to a future marked by hope, opportunity, and unity.

1:36

Thank you.

1:39

Thank you.

1:40

Councilmember Gullick.

1:45

Councilmember Shaw.

1:47

Excuse.

1:48

Councilmember Gullick.

1:50

Neice.

1:51

Present.

1:51

Owen.

1:52

Here.

1:52

Rogers.

1:53

Here.

1:53

Kennedy.

1:54

Here.

1:55

Aspen Lighter.

1:56

Tidswell.

1:57

Boyette.

1:59

Repsis.

2:00

Mayor Cole.

2:01

Here.

2:02

Uh Council, our minutes for this evening are from July 14th.

2:05

Is there either a uh motion or commentary on that?

2:09

Councilmember Gullich.

2:11

I move we adopt the minutes of July 14th, 2025.

2:16

Second by Councilmember Poiat.

2:18

Any discussion.

2:21

Seeing none.

2:22

Uh in favor of the motion for approval of the minutes from July 14.

2:26

Uh please say aye.

2:28

Aye.

2:29

Uh opposed say nay.

2:30

Motion passes unanimously.

2:32

So we have a uh privilege to have a couple of awards that uh uh Chief St.

2:37

John is bringing to us.

2:39

Uh Chief, we'll turn it over to you.

2:41

Thank you, Mayor.

2:42

Council, good evening.

2:43

It was my distinct pleasure to recognize and honor everyday heroes whose actions have had an extraordinary impact on our community.

2:51

More important to spotlight the powerful reminder of what it means to be part of a compassionate and engaged community.

2:59

I'd like to invite Zach Simonson to the podium, please.

3:06

Mayor, on March 28th, Zach, who's a clerk at a local Circle K noticed an elderly woman standing at a Bitcoin ATM speaking to someone on her phone, and he could hear the caller on the other end had a foreign accent.

3:21

Sensing that she was being exploited, Zach called law enforcement and officers arrived just in time to prevent the woman from being scammed out of $35,000, money that she believed was using to pay county bills.

3:37

Not city, by the way, but county.

3:40

The investigating detective was so impressed with Zach's attentiveness and swift action that he submitted him for this award, deciding that one of our community's most vulnerable members was spared serious financial damage.

3:58

As such, Zach is awarded this department's Citizens Heroes Award.

4:03

And the citation reads this.

4:26

You are a community hero, and that's presented by the police department.

4:30

Mayor.

4:43

Thank you for this award.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████28%
Public Safety████████████████████████24%
Tax Increment Financing███████████████15%
Urban Renewal██████6%
Mental Health Awareness██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Affordable Housing████4%
Economic Development███3%
Water And Wastewater Management███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Billings City Council Meeting - July 28, 2025

On July 28, 2025, the Billings City Council met for a regular session. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Councilmember Gullick. The council approved the minutes of July 14, recognized three community heroes, discussed the downtown Business Improvement District (BID) resolution, approved a Tax Increment Financing (TIFF) request for Montana Tire, and received reports on council initiatives.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: The minutes of July 14, 2025, were adopted unanimously.
  • Agenda Item 1B: Removed from the agenda for future rescheduling at staff's request.
  • Item 1D (Final Plot for Cook Subdivision): Approved unanimously after recusal of Councilmember Rupsis.
  • Unseparated Items: Approved unanimously.

Awards and Recognitions

  • Police Chief St. John presented Citizen Hero awards to Zach Simonson, a Circle K clerk who prevented an elderly woman from being scammed out of $35,000 at a Bitcoin ATM. Zach estimated he has helped save seniors over $100,000 in recent years. Theresa Butcher also received an award for locating a missing 77-year-old Alzheimer's patient on May 26, 2025, using her ATV and knowledge of the land; officers believed the victim would not have survived the night without her help.
  • SROs Jeremy Beckle and Jeff Richter recognized Mayor Bill Cole and Chief St. John for supporting Camp Blue, a leadership camp for 25 youth funded entirely by private donations. Plans to expand to two weeks and 50 participants next year were announced.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dan Brooks (Billings Chamber) expressed support for consent item 1E (BID resolution) and the TIFF application. He highlighted the public safety benefits of the BID, including flower baskets as a crime deterrent, and praised the infill project for the TIFF property.

Discussion Items

  • Item 1E – Resolution of Intent to Reauthorize Downtown Business Improvement District: Councilmember Kennedy questioned the value received by properties south of the railroad tracks, noting that no dedicated police officers are currently available. Katie Schreiner (Downtown Billings BID) responded that the safety program has been revamped: private security patrols (SK Security), a homeless outreach team, and a clean team now operate. Flower baskets are part of the higher-taxed clean zone. She agreed to provide a detailed spending breakdown by zone. Councilmember Kennedy voted to advance the resolution but asked for more information before final approval. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Item 2 – TIFF Assistance for Montana Tire (eBird): Heather Doty (eBird staff) presented a request for up to $634,185 from the East Billings Urban Renewal District for a new automotive tire shop on First Avenue North. The project will construct a full-block facility with landscaping, curbs, gutters, lighting, and fire suppression; total cost exceeds $6 million. The business will move from its current location, adding 10–12 new jobs (from 8 existing). Councilmember Aspenlighter expressed caution about the TIFF district's limited cash flow (projected low of $570,000 in FY2029) and stated he would be hesitant to approve further large requests for the same block. Councilmember Nice noted the 23-year repayment period including prior investments ($66,000 for demolition in 2019). The motion to conditionally approve the full amount passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Minutes of July 14.
  • Approved: Consent agenda (excluding separated items).
  • Approved: Item 1D – Cook Subdivision final plot.
  • Approved: Item 1E – Resolution of intent to reauthorize the downtown BID (advances to final reading).
  • Approved: Item 2 – TIFF assistance for Montana Tire, up to $634,185.
  • Directives: City Administrator Chris Kukulski will explore a request to businesses (such as Circle K) regarding Bitcoin machines to curb scams. Councilmember Kennedy will bring a proposal to the Conservation District for landscaping the south side underpass drainage pond. Councilmember Aspenlighter will work with staff on BNSF-related redevelopment obstacles and consider a joint city-county letter to the governor and DPHHS requesting details on the planned mental health facility. Councilmember Rupsis announced a housing program committee (seeking one council member to participate) and raised council rules efficiency. The city administrator noted upcoming employee appreciation night (July 31 at Mustangs game) and a community process for naming the west-side reservoirs.

Meeting Transcript

For the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilmember Gullick has our uh invocation tonight. Good evening. As we gather here in service to the people of Billings, let us pause for a moment of reflection. We are grateful for the opportunity to live and work in this place of stunning beauty defined by the braided wild Yellowstone River, the glowing rimrocks, and our sunny blue skies. We are a hard working, generous, and down-to-earth people capable of wondrous things. Great places do not just happen by themselves. They require the attention, intentions, and love of place and its people to happen. May we be ever mindful of our shared responsibility to uphold the values of fairness, integrity, and stewardship so that we might become a city that is every bit as great as its natural beauty. As we deliberate tonight, may we listen with open minds, speak with compassion, and make decisions that serve the common good. May wisdom guide our words and may cooperation prevail so that collectively that we collectively figure out the best decisions. Let our efforts honor the trust placed in us by the citizens of Billings and contribute to a future marked by hope, opportunity, and unity. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Gullick. Councilmember Shaw. Excuse. Councilmember Gullick. Neice. Present. Owen. Here. Rogers. Here. Kennedy. Here. Aspen Lighter. Tidswell. Boyette. Repsis. Mayor Cole. Here. Uh Council, our minutes for this evening are from July 14th. Is there either a uh motion or commentary on that? Councilmember Gullich. I move we adopt the minutes of July 14th, 2025. Second by Councilmember Poiat. Any discussion. Seeing none. Uh in favor of the motion for approval of the minutes from July 14. Uh please say aye. Aye. Uh opposed say nay. Motion passes unanimously. So we have a uh privilege to have a couple of awards that uh uh Chief St. John is bringing to us. Uh Chief, we'll turn it over to you. Thank you, Mayor. Council, good evening. It was my distinct pleasure to recognize and honor everyday heroes whose actions have had an extraordinary impact on our community. More important to spotlight the powerful reminder of what it means to be part of a compassionate and engaged community.

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