Billings City Council Regular Meeting - March 9, 2026

The Billings City Council held a regular meeting on March 9, 2026, at City Hall. The meeting included approval of minutes, proclamations, consent agenda, public hearings on weed and nuisance abatements, annual reports from the Fire and Police Departments, and public comment on non-agenda items. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: Approved unanimously the minutes of the February 23, 2026 meeting.
• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously, including a donation from the Morris Mason Moore Foundation for a thermal pole camera for the police department, a $495,000 donation from Homeland Security for a Rook armored vehicle, $226,000 from National Drug Control Policy for various purposes, and a $75,000 grant application for AmeriCorps Vista.

Proclamations & Courtesies

• Council Courtesies: Councilmember Aspenligher recognized MSUB women's basketball team winning the GNAC tournament and the baseball team's series sweep.
• AmeriCorps Vista Week: Mayor Nelson proclaimed March 8-14, 2026 as AmeriCorps Week, highlighting the Billings Metro Vista Project's 290 members who generated over $5.6 million in funding and $12.9 million in total value.
• Child and Adult Care Food Program Week: Proclaimed March 15-21, 2026 as National Child and Adult Care Food Program Week.
• Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: Proclaimed March 2026 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; noted that 2,539 Montanans were diagnosed from 2017-2021.

Public Hearings

• Weed Abatement Resolution: Approved unanimously. Seven properties, total of just under $1,500 assessed for weed cutting. Staff noted such resolutions occur twice a year.
• Nuisance Property Abatement Resolution: Approved unanimously with a correction to the city code citation (Section 18-305 subsection 7). Two properties remained unpaid. Staff clarified that complaints can be filed via the city website or phone.

Annual Reports

Fire Department (Chief Hoppel)

• Call Volume: 17,914 calls in 2025 (corrected from 19,342 in 2024 due to data system change). EMS accounted for 10,517 calls; fires 352; rescues frequent on rims/river.
• Response Times: 90th percentile is the key metric; average travel times improved, but 90th percentile times remain a focus. ISO rating of 2 maintained within 5 road miles of stations.
• Special Programs: Crisis response unit handled 131 calls for one high-utilizer; SWAT medics; partnership with National Guard for helicopter medevac; drone program used for river rescues and hazmat incidents.
• Facilities: Station 5 remodel with $280,000 from Lowe's; Station 1 replacement ($1 million needed) on capital improvement plan.
• 911 Dispatch: Handled 239,000 total calls (656/day); 20% emergency, 76% non-emergency; $2 million Vesta 911 system upgrade funded by grants.

Police Department (Assistant Chief Mayo)

• Crime Trends: Property crimes down 21%, violent crimes down 3%, homicides down 60% (5 in 2025 vs 15 in 2024). Overall incidence reports down 7%.
• Enforcement: 81,180 calls for service; 17 new officers hired (net gain 8). 499 arrests by street crimes unit; drug unit seized ~77,000 fentanyl pills and 166 firearms. 60 federal indictments.
• Accountability: 130 total complaints; 71 citizen-generated (15% sustained), 59 internal (85% sustained). Class 1 complaints (criminal nature) mostly from department.
• Community Engagement: 29 business presentations, 14 active shooter trainings; volunteers generated 3,666 hours and $30,000 revenue. 8,500 calls handled by community service officers (31% increase).
• Budget: $36.5 million (70% personnel); $3 million in grants obtained.

Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items

• Lane Dorsey (Billings Alliance for Immigrant Rights): Opposed any 287(g) agreement with ICE, citing concerns about reproductive rights violations and sexual assault in detention facilities.
• Just Humphrey (Apex Property Management): Submitted an offer of $555,000 for Colonial Apartments to preserve 20-30 units of affordable housing on South Side; committed to full rehabilitation.
• Ken Ard (South Side): Criticized the refuge island installed on State Avenue/4th Avenue as part of safe routes to school project, saying it closed a driving route without adequate public input; noted it has already been hit multiple times.
• Paul Clark (South Side): Recalled two friends killed at a railroad crossing in the 1970s; thanked city for improving street lighting on South Side.
• Ann Clancy (Billings Alliance for Immigrant Rights): Urged city not to enter 287(g) agreement, arguing ICE represents a domination model incompatible with Billings' partnership approach.
• Jeff Kettles (Ward 5): Praised Home Front (housing authority) for a spotless audit; criticized the Downtown Billings Improvement District for failing to file required audits for 2023 and 2024, and for using city funds to hire a lobbyist.
• Mindy Nielsen (Heights): Announced a May Day (May 1) protest for no ICE, no war, workers over billionaires; called for a boycott of Target and Home Depot.
• Kevin Elson (Bruce Avenue): Raised concerns that council work sessions are becoming business meetings; alleged that the SABURA (urban renewal district) changed from a 501(c)(6) to a 501(c)(4) and hired a lobbyist using city-allocated funds, potentially violating policy.

Council Initiatives

• Councilmember O'Donnell stated no initiatives; meeting adjourned.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes of Feb 23, 2026 approved unanimously.
• Consent agenda approved unanimously.
• Weed abatement resolution approved unanimously.
• Nuisance property abatement resolution approved unanimously with a citation correction.
• Annual reports received; no formal votes taken but council expressed appreciation.
• No council initiatives or further business.