Billings City Council Meeting – March 23, 2026

The Billings City Council convened on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. (with a 10‑minute recess around 7:30 p.m. and another short break before item 8) to consider a consent calendar, several public hearings, a budget‑direction resolution, and to hear public comments on non‑agenda items. The meeting was presided over by Mayor Mike Nelson and attended by all council members except where recusals were noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously the minutes of March 9, 2026.
• Approved items 1C and 1H after separations. Item 1C (a contract from which Councilmember Aspenlighter recused himself) passed unanimously. Item 1H (a resolution establishing a technology commission) was amended to change the sunset from 24 months to “24 months or sooner if all objectives are met” and to require members have 10 years of corporate IT or post‑secondary education; the amended motion passed unanimously.

Proclamation & Council Reports

• Mayor Nelson read a proclamation designating April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Councilmember Kennedy spoke about the accompanying “Pinwheels for Prevention” events, including a proclamation ceremony on April 10 at 11 a.m. and “Blue Monday” activities.
• Council reports included:
  • Kennedy reported on the Legislative Committee meeting with two state legislators and the lobbyist to coordinate council priorities for the next session.
  • City Administrator Chris Kukulski noted that enough valid signatures had been received for a protest petition on item 5B (zone change 1077), requiring a two‑thirds majority (7 votes) for approval. He also announced a special work session on the 2045 growth plan for Friday, March 27 (noon–2 p.m.), and the launch of the new development software “City View” on Wednesday, March 25 at 9 a.m. Kukulski reminded council that the following Monday (March 30) is a “bye week” (no meeting) and urged completion of the strategic planning survey by Friday.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 2 (Daycare special review): No public comment offered.
• Item 3 (Seven Brew Coffee special review): No public comment offered.
• Item 4 (Zone change 1076 – Almond Park): Two speakers addressed the council:
  • Kevin Nelson (4235 Bruce Avenue) opposed the change, arguing that serving alcohol in youth‑sports areas sends the wrong message and that the request should be limited to the ice rink.
  • Jeff Canning (3230 Country Club Circle) spoke in favor, describing the public‑private partnership and the restaurant proposed by the Murray family (Andes) in the hockey facility, and urged passing the zone change for the entire park to enable future development.
• Item 5 (Annexation 2601 & Zone Change 1077 – Yellowstone Country Club): Large public turnout. Key speakers:
  • Bill Cole (3733 Tommy Armour Circle) urged approval conditional on preserving the traditional trail access in Area 2 (middle of Ben Hogan Lane) for public access to the rims.
  • Cody Hefley (Yellowstone Club Estates) opposed, stating the open space is the cornerstone of the neighborhood’s value and that the original 1950s development brochure promised a golf‑course/open‑space community.
  • Caitlin Hefley (homeowner and trail user) argued the zone change fails multiple growth‑policy criteria, especially regarding health, transportation, character, and property values.
  • Matt Drange (5622 Belly Casper Drive) supported the change, noting the lots are infill and the main trail access from 54th Street would remain.
  • Several other residents (e.g., Seth Hedge, David Iron, Jeff Canning, Dylan Petrick, Justin Moser, Josh Hedge) spoke in favor, emphasizing that the country club is a good neighbor, the trail system would remain accessible, and the sale of these lots would fund necessary club renovations.
  • Some speakers (e.g., Emily Adam, John Forte) requested written guarantees for trail access and that the lots be subject to the HOA’s covenants.
• Item 7 (Noise ordinance): Two speakers supported the ordinance: Kevin Nelson noted the return of “modified exhaust” as a probable‑cause tool; Jeff Kettleson (489 S 44th St W) reported excessive noise on Shiloh Road and supported a 24‑month window for repeat offenses.
• Item 8 (Property tax resolution): No public comment.
• Final public comment (non‑agenda):
  • Jeff Kettleson criticized a proposed “Battle of the Plans” TIF‑district proposal as a “million‑dollar giveaway” and urged citizens to attend the next TIF meeting on March 27 at 7:30 a.m.
  • Andreas Story, Lane Dorsey, and Amanda Norwood (Billings Alliance for Immigrant Rights) presented stories of deaths in ICE custody and called for the city to limit local police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, following Helena’s example.
  • Several speakers (Amanda Kelly, Alex Freeze, and others) opposed the potential sale of the skate‑park parking lot, citing safety, accessibility, and the progress made with lighting and programming.
  • Paul Clark raised concerns about Western Sugar Company’s pollution history and urged the city to enforce stricter regulations.

Discussion Items

2. Special Review 1003 – Daycare at 2291 Bench Boulevard

• Staff presented the request. Council discussed requiring a sidewalk along Caroline Street to improve drop‑off safety. The applicants (Jeanette Myers and Jessica Robinson) stated a sidewalk would be a budgetary burden. Councilmember Pittman moved to approve with a condition to complete the sidewalk, allowing the applicant to use the city’s SID program (pay over five years). The motion passed unanimously.

3. Special Review 1004 – Seven Brew Coffee Drive‑Through at 533 S 24th St W

• Staff described the proposal and conditions recommended by the Zoning Commission. Councilmember Nees raised concerns about noise from vehicles and the late hours (5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekends). The applicant, Brian Evans, explained the face‑to‑face ordering system and peak traffic times. No public opposition. The motion to approve passed unanimously.

4. Zone Change 1076 – Almond Park (P1 to P2)

• Staff and Parks representative Gavin explained the request was city‑initiated to allow a restaurant with craft‑alcohol service in the new hockey facility and to provide flexibility for future pad sites. Council debated limiting the change to just the ice‑rink pad site (substitute motion by Nees, seconded by Boyette) vs. approving the entire park. After a substitute motion failed (3–7), the original motion (Shaw/Lindley) to approve the zone change for the entire park passed 8–3 (O’Donnell, Boyette, Nees opposed).

5A. Annexation 2601 – Yellowstone Country Club (Tommy Armour Circle area)

• Staff and the applicant (Taylor Kasperick, Performance Engineering) presented the 6‑acre parcel, which is currently zoned P1 and proposed for N3 residential. Staff recommended approval with conditions (including waiver of SID protest and park‑maintenance district). Council heard extensive public testimony. A substitute motion by O’Donnell to condition annexation on a written trail‑access agreement failed for lack of a second. The original motion (Nees/Boyette) to approve the annexation as recommended passed unanimously.

5B. Zone Change 1077 – Same Property (P1 to N3)

• Following the annexation vote, a motion to approve the zone change (Shaw/Boyette) passed unanimously.

6. First Reading – Ward Four Boundary Expansion

• Ordinance to expand Ward 4 to include the newly annexed property. Councilmember Aspenlighter recused. The ordinance was approved unanimously on first reading.

7. First Reading – Noise Regulation of Motor Vehicles (Amending BMC 24‑354, 355, 358)

• Police Chief introduced the ordinance. Legal Counsel Gina Dahl proposed language adding a mandatory fine of $300 for a first offense and $500 for a subsequent offense within a 12‑month period. Councilmember Aspenlighter moved to extend the look‑back window to 24 months (to better cover repeat teenage offenders). The motion was amended accordingly and passed unanimously.

8. Resolution – Direction to Staff on Property Taxes and FY 27 Budget

• Finance Director Andy Zoeller and City Administrator Kukulski presented options under recent state legislation (HB 231/1564). The recommendation (Option 4A) would transition to the “floating mill” (1510‑420) and allow up to a 2.95% increase in tax‑revenue authority (~$1.6 million). Option 4B would have reduced revenue by ~2% (~$1.1 million). After debate, the council approved the resolution (10‑1, Nees opposed) to proceed with Option 4A, with the understanding that final decisions on the mill levy will be made in August/September.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved (items 1A–1H, with amendments to 1H and recusal on 1C).
• Special review for daycare (Item 2) approved with a sidewalk condition; applicant may use SID financing.
• Special review for Seven Brew Coffee (Item 3) approved unanimously.
• Zone change 1076 (Almond Park, Item 4) approved 8–3 for the entire park, allowing craft‑alcohol service and future flexibility.
• Annexation 2601 (Item 5A) approved unanimously.
• Zone change 1077 (Item 5B) approved unanimously.
• Ward Four boundary expansion (Item 6) approved on first reading.
• Noise ordinance (Item 7) approved on first reading with mandatory fines ($300 first, $500 subsequent within 24 months).
• Budget‑direction resolution (Item 8) approved 10–1, directing staff to build the FY 27 budget under Option 4A (floating mill).
• Public comments recorded, but no immediate council action taken on TIF districts, immigration, skate‑park parking, or Western Sugar concerns.