Billings City Council Regular Business Meeting - July 13, 2026

The July 13, 2026 regular business meeting of the Billings, Montana City Council was called to order at 5:30 p.m. The meeting included apologies and clarifications regarding remarks made at the previous meeting, updates from community organizations, a presentation on the upcoming air show, a work session on amendments to the Billings 2045 plan, and public comments on various topics.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes for the June 22, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.
• Items D (Thornrun Partners federal lobbying contract), N (Met Transit feasibility study), and T were separated from the consent agenda. The remainder of the consent agenda was approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jeffrey Kettleson (Ward 5 resident) spoke in favor of impact fees, arguing that growth should be paid for by developers, not citizens. He referenced page 30 of the Met Government Feasibility Study and stated that the water treatment plant, new garbage cell, and Billings Heights water department costs are burdensome to residents.
• Chris Glenn (Chair of Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council) expressed support for the LB Lofts project, noting that housing is a top issue among over 200 residents surveyed. He asked the council not to add more hurdles to the project, which will provide 102 dwelling units.
• Paul Clark (Ward 1 resident) spoke about the South Park Pool and urged consideration of sponsorship as an alternative to mill levies. He also questioned the removal of mature trees in South Park.
• Jeffrey Kettleson (returning) criticized Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts, asserting that millions in tax dollars have been spent with poor return on investment, and noted that a high school baseball program is underfunded due to a lack of public funds.
• Laye Kwai Black (Native Hawaiian, Ward 5 resident) criticized Councilmember O'Donnell for remarks made on July 6, 2026, stating they were racist and harmful. She called on O'Donnell to own his words and do better.
• A resident spoke about a federal lawsuit against the City of Billings and an SRO, alleging false statements in a police report.

Discussion Items

• Councilmember O'Donnell Apology: Councilmember O'Donnell apologized for remarks made during the July 6th meeting, clarifying that he had read contractual language from the October 13, 2025 packet and mistakenly interpreted "target population" as race-based. He stated his opposition to racism and apologized for the word "ghettoization." Mayor Nelson apologized for not preserving decorum and announced that O'Donnell will meet with the Human Relations Commission.
• Bear Tooth RC&D Presentation: Myrna Les Tusky, Project Manager, updated the council on economic development initiatives, including the launch of the Guru site selector tool, support for the city's opportunity zone application, food and agriculture events, and development of a five-year comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS). She requested guidance on featuring key city properties.
• Air Show Presentation: Matthew McDonnell and Jake Penwell (Co-chairs, Yellowstone National Air Show) presented the plan for a 2026 air show (the 250th anniversary of the U.S.) and requested the city partner on overtime costs (estimated at $146,000 last show). They highlighted a $15 million economic impact, 30,000 attendees, and 100% volunteer coordination. Councilmembers expressed support but noted the city's tax structure limits direct subsidies; recommended seeking support from the Chamber of Commerce, Tavern Association, and other business groups before using taxpayer funds. Councilmember Shaw suggested adding a fee to tickets for first responder funding.
• Billings 2045 Plan Amendments (Work Session): Planning staff presented proposed amendments to the city's growth plan. New elements include: an infill policy, neighborhood planning for more areas, alignment of water/sewer master plans with the land use map, green infrastructure incentives, transportation corridor studies, wayfinding signage, affordable housing through TIF funding and a housing trust fund, equity-based capital investment scoring, gateway beautification standards, dark sky lighting ordinance (with discussion on costs), and neighborhood branding. Councilmembers raised concerns about lighting costs, the infill policy, and complete streets. The matter will return for action on July 27, 2026.
• Council Initiative - TIF Advisory Committee Consolidation: Deputy Mayor Boyette proposed consolidating three statutory TIF advisory boards into one. The motion passed 10–1 (Councilmember Aguirre opposed) and will come back for finalization.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously with items D, N, and T separated.
• Item D (Thornrun Partners lobbying): Approved unanimously.
• Item N (Met Transit governance study): Approved unanimously with a condition that any action or staff time on findings must first be reviewed by a council committee.
• Item T: Approved with Councilmember Aspenlighter recused.
• Council Initiative (TIF consolidation): Passed 10–1; to be brought forward for final adoption.
• Next Steps: The Billings 2045 plan amendments will be presented for a vote on July 27, 2026. The air show co-chairs will work with the city administrator to explore funding options and partnerships.