Billings City Council Meeting Summary - December 9, 2025

The City Council convened on December 9, 2025, to address technical difficulties at the start of the meeting, followed by the Mayor's final invocation as a board member, public comments on trails and development, and the approval of the Consent Agenda, a tax increment financing project, and the Fiscal Year 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Consent Calendar

• Approvals with Exceptions: The consent agenda was approved with specific items separated for individual discussion and vote: appointments to the Citizens Police Advisory Board (Items 1A-21 through 27), a Memorandum of Agreement with Beartooth RC&D (Item 1E), a payable item for N and We (Item 1-101), and November bills (Item 1-102).
• Specific Actions:
  • Citizens Police Advisory Board: A motion was made and passed (7-4) to delay the reappointment of individuals to the Citizens Police Advisory Board until the January work session to discuss the composition of the board, despite staff noting these are reappointments of members from a previously established term.
  • Beartooth RC&D MOU: The motion to approve the $13,000 MOU passed (9-2), with Councilmember Kennedy voting against it due to budget concerns.
  • Payables and Bills: Item 1-101 (N and We payable) and Item 1-102 (November bills) were approved unanimously (Item 1-102 passed with Councilmember Rupsis recusing himself).
  • Discussion on Axion Agreement: Councilmember Nees expressed concern regarding a $3 million+ agreement with Axion Enterprises where future funding is not secured. Captain Woolley clarified that the contract allows for scaling back the scope (removing in-car equipment while retaining body cams) without penalty if funds are unavailable, which satisfied the council's concern.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Myrna Les Tusky (Beartooth RC&D): Stated that the organization secured over $846,000 in funding for Billings projects in 2025, supported 37 businesses, and created or retained nearly 100 jobs.
• Mark Severe: Expressed full support for retaining the Yellow Jacket Trail and Stagecoach Trail in the CIP, citing personal safety concerns with the current dangerous trail conditions and the need for developed walking paths.
• Jim Nichols: Expressed support for keeping staff-recommended trails in the CIP, arguing that removing them would eliminate potential grant funding and that the city must compete for a qualified workforce by providing quality of life amenities.
• Steve Shondra: Expressed appreciation for the council's previous vote to retain the Yellow Jacket Trail in the CIP, acknowledging it as unfunded but desirable, and highlighted broad community support and private funding for a feasibility study.
• Christy Drake: Expressed strong support for the CIP process, stating that keeping the Yellow Jacket Trail in the CIP keeps the "door open" for future funding and that the project addresses a demonstrated need for safe pedestrian routes used by 151 people daily according to a 2025 study. She argued that removing the project would limit the city's future.
• Brandon Schmidt: Reported on the Patriot Run, which raised funds for veteran cemetery maintenance, noting 120 participants and thanked various sponsors.
• Paul Clark: Expressed support for building a road connection for a non-motorized trolley system and trails (including Yellow Jacket and Stagecoach trails) to connect the airport to South Park, noting the need for infrastructure to support future amenities like the proposed swimming pool.

Discussion Items

• Item 2: Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Frontier Law Firm:

  • Staff requested up to $14,194.64 for facade improvements at 2923 Montana Avenue.
  • Councilmember Rupsis suggested future facade projects under $25,000 should be moved to the consent agenda, noting this is a $15,000 project.
  • Councilmember Shaw moved to conditionally approve the project, which passed unanimously.

• Item 3: Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) FY2027-2031:

  • Public Works Rate Increases: Councilmember Kennedy made a motion to instruct staff to scale back the Public Works section of the draft CIP (Water, Wastewater, Storm, Solid Waste, Street Maintenance) to reflect a 50% reduction in anticipated rate increases. The motion failed (5 in favor: Kennedy, Nies, Owen, Rogers, Boyette; 6 opposed: Aspler, Cole, Gullick, Shaw, Rupsis, and the Mayor). The Mayor ruled that the council cannot set rates tonight but acknowledged the draft's assumption of rate increases.
  • Trails and Safe Routes to School Amendment: Councilmember Aspler moved to move the 25th Street Bridge, Alkalida Creek Trail connection, Downtown Heights trail connection, King Avenue West trail, and Yellow Jacket Trail to the "out years" list (post-2031) and remove potential grant funding sources (TA, C-Mac) from the 5-year plan. Councilmember Kennedy seconded.
    • Positions: Councilmembers Aspler, Owen, Nies, Rogers, Kennedy, Tidswell, and Boyette expressed support for the amendment to prioritize Safe Routes to School projects and avoid locking in funding for large trail projects without secured grants. Councilmembers Shaw, Gullick, Cole, and Rupsis expressed opposition, arguing that maintenance is critical, that Safe Routes to School already has dedicated funding ($700k+/year), and that removing trails does not actually free up funds for other safety projects or prevent future construction if grants are secured.
    • Outcome: The amendment passed (7-4).
  • Evidence Center Lot Funding: Councilmember Owen moved to shift all funding for the Evidence Center lot expansion to Fiscal Year 2028 and reduce the estimated cost from $1.3 million to $500,000. This passed unanimously.
  • Future Projects List Language: A motion was made and passed unanimously to change the language in the Future Projects list description from "are not priorities" to "are not the highest priorities" and to remove the phrase "are not being focused on by city staff."
  • Final CIP Approval: The underlying motion to approve the amended CIP passed unanimously (1 vote opposed by Councilmember Nies regarding overall funding strategy and project distribution).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved with delays on Police Advisory Board appointments and approval of specific financial agreements.
• CIP Approved: The FY2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan was adopted with significant modifications:
  • Public Works Section: Remained in draft form pending staff review to align with potential rate reductions for the next budget cycle.
  • Trails Moved: Five specific trail projects (Yellow Jacket, King Avenue West, Alkalida Creek, Downtown Heights, 25th Street Bridge) were moved to the "Future Projects" (out years) list and removed from the 5-year funding schedule.
  • Evidence Center Funding: Reduced from $1.3 million to $500,000 and delayed to Fiscal Year 2028.
• TIF Approved: $14,194.64 TIF funding approved for Frontier Law Firm facade improvements.
• Future Action: Staff to present revised draft CIP Public Works section and rate impacts at the next budget cycle or work session.