OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Billings City Council Meeting - April 13, 2026

City Council — Monday, April 13, 2026
BodyBillings, Montana
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, April 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:24:49

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Business meeting of the Billings City Council.

0:02

So I will call this meeting to order and welcome each and every one of you.

0:08

Please join me in rising for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:21

And to the Republic for which it's one nation.

0:29

Justice.

0:37

Grant us clarity in our decisions, patience in our discussions, and fairness in our judgment.

0:42

Help us listen well to one another and to the people we represent.

0:47

May we remember that our choices impact many lives, and may we act with respect, humility, and a commitment to the common good.

0:54

Amen.

0:55

Thank you.

0:56

Please be seated.

1:02

Will our clerk please call the roll?

1:06

Councilmember Shaw.

1:08

She's excused.

1:09

Nicholson.

1:10

Here.

1:11

Mies.

1:12

President.

1:13

Pittman.

1:14

Here.

1:14

Aguirre.

1:15

Here.

1:17

Aspenlighter.

1:20

Kennedy.

1:21

He's excused.

1:23

Lindley?

1:24

Here.

1:24

Boyett.

1:25

O'Donnell.

1:26

Here.

1:27

Mayor Nelson.

1:28

Here.

1:29

Thank you.

1:31

Now let's see.

1:32

Minutes for March 23rd, 2026 are still pending.

1:35

So there'll be nothing to approve for that.

1:38

And that brings us to uh count to council courtesies.

1:44

The agenda notes that the USS Billings crew will be here, but uh they were unexpectedly detained and not able to make it tonight.

1:53

However, in their stead, we have PSC Commissioner Molnar here, I believe.

2:01

Which please come forward, sir.

2:10

Thank you, Mr.

2:11

Mayor.

2:12

Uh for the record, my name is Brad Molnar, Public Service Commissioner District 2.

2:17

You're in my district.

2:19

Welcome.

2:20

The uh address for me is one mile south of Laurel, so I'm a Yellowstone County resident.

2:26

Mr.

2:26

Mayor, members of the uh council.

2:30

I want to thank you for this opportunity to address this body.

2:33

I would like to thank Councilman O'Donnell for his assistance and helping me navigate your roles and process and getting me to be able to speak tonight at this time.

2:43

We share constituents in their concerns.

2:46

Two of those concerns are in my presentation: property taxes and utility rates.

2:52

For several years, you've probably been reading in the press that Puget Sound and Energy was going to transfer their coal strip generation capacity to Northwestern Energy.

3:01

Due to the lack of capital expenditures to build a plant, this would have been the lowest cost of electricity in the United States.

3:09

To build that plant today would be approximately $800 million.

3:12

That capital expense would be put on top of the bills.

3:16

Integrating this into our rate-based portfolio was going along as planned.

3:21

And then Northwestern Energy filed with FERC, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that they wanted to change it to market-based instead of rate-based.

3:29

The PSE did not learn of this until long after the intervention deadline had passed.

3:35

Northwestern Energy kept it closely held secret and apologize for doing so.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████33%
Affordable Housing█████████████████████21%
Procedural███████████11%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Volunteerism And Community Service██████6%
Economic Development████4%
Arts And Culture████4%
Community Engagement███3%
Youth Programs██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Billings City Council Meeting - April 13, 2026

The Billings City Council met on April 13, 2026, to discuss land use planning, affordable housing funding, the disposition of the Babcock Theater, and public comments on utility rates. Key actions included a vote to exclude duplexes from all residential zones under the 2045 plan, approval of the Babcock Theater resolution, and hearing public testimony on the annual action plan and development concerns.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved consent agenda items (1C, 1E, 1H) including the NX annex agreement with Yellowstone Country Club (Councilmember Aspenlighter recused) and a $9,000 donation from Billings Blizzard Fast Pitch for ballfield maintenance. Unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 4 (Billings 2045): Jeff Esman (former planner) urged commercial zoning at transportation nodes to boost tax base. Pam Millis (Heights Task Force) expressed disappointment in the map, desiring more single-family and commercial zoning in the Heights. John Halmerson and Jack Hansen supported allowing duplexes in all residential zones, citing property rights and housing needs.
  • Item 2 (CDBG/HOME): Jeff Kettleson opposed Sage Tower funding due to vermin issues; Pam Millis opposed Homefront funding due to ongoing LB Lofts problems.
  • General public comment: Jeff Kettleson urged the council to reconsider proposed 28% water and 9% garbage fee increases, suggesting alternatives such as increasing out-of-state and commercial rates.

Discussion Items

  • Council Courtesies: Commissioner Brad Molnar (PSC) requested a letter of support to FERC to keep Colstrip power rate-based for Montana residents, criticizing Northwestern Energy's shift to market-based rates. Councilmember O'Donnell supported the effort.
  • Proclamations: April declared Great American Cleanup Month; Billings recognized as a JustServe city. Speakers from Keep America Beautiful and JustServe highlighted volunteerism.
  • Annual Action Plan (CDBG/HOME): Brenda Beckett presented funding allocations, including $750,000 for Sage Tower rehab, first-time homebuyer program changes, and $50,000 for CPTED park enhancements. Discussion focused on LB Lofts project delays, code enforcement, and potential reallocation of funds if no progress by fall. Councilmember Aspenlighter questioned an $87,000 administrative cost for Sage Tower.
  • Babcock Theater Disposition: Staff presented a resolution to declare intent to dispose of the property. Council approved unanimously after a public hearing with no comments.
  • Billings 2045 Land Use Plan: Anna Vickers and staff reported a need for 16,200 new housing units by 2045, with a current deficit of 510 units per year. Extensive debate on item A (duplexes in all residential zones). Council voted 5-4 to not include item A, meaning duplexes will not be permitted in N3 and other single-family zones. Council then discussed creating a new single-family-only land use category for N3/N4 areas, with city attorney advising caution on legal challenges. Council also agreed to consider a joint meeting with the Planning Commission.

Key Outcomes

  • Voted (5-4) to exclude item A from the 2045 plan; staff to explore a new land use category for single-family areas.
  • Unanimously approved resolution to dispose of Babcock Theater.
  • Unanimously approved consent agenda.
  • Set next steps for annual action plan (public hearing closed, action scheduled for April 27).
  • LB Lofts: Code enforcement complaint filed; staff will monitor and may reallocate funds if no progress by fall.
  • Council directed staff to arrange a joint meeting with Planning Commission.
  • No action on utility fee increases (public comment only).

Meeting Transcript

Business meeting of the Billings City Council. So I will call this meeting to order and welcome each and every one of you. Please join me in rising for the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it's one nation. Justice. Grant us clarity in our decisions, patience in our discussions, and fairness in our judgment. Help us listen well to one another and to the people we represent. May we remember that our choices impact many lives, and may we act with respect, humility, and a commitment to the common good. Amen. Thank you. Please be seated. Will our clerk please call the roll? Councilmember Shaw. She's excused. Nicholson. Here. Mies. President. Pittman. Here. Aguirre. Here. Aspenlighter. Kennedy. He's excused. Lindley? Here. Boyett. O'Donnell. Here. Mayor Nelson. Here. Thank you. Now let's see. Minutes for March 23rd, 2026 are still pending. So there'll be nothing to approve for that. And that brings us to uh count to council courtesies. The agenda notes that the USS Billings crew will be here, but uh they were unexpectedly detained and not able to make it tonight. However, in their stead, we have PSC Commissioner Molnar here, I believe. Which please come forward, sir. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh for the record, my name is Brad Molnar, Public Service Commissioner District 2. You're in my district. Welcome. The uh address for me is one mile south of Laurel, so I'm a Yellowstone County resident. Mr. Mayor, members of the uh council. I want to thank you for this opportunity to address this body. I would like to thank Councilman O'Donnell for his assistance and helping me navigate your roles and process and getting me to be able to speak tonight at this time.

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