Billings City Council Regular Business Meeting - October 12, 2026

On October 12, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., the Billings City Council met in regular session. No agenda or minutes were included with the source transcript, so this summary is based on the meeting transcript. The council approved prior minutes, honored a young man who dreamed of being a police officer, proclaimed Make a Difference Day, received council committee reports, acted on the consent agenda, held public hearings, and approved a purchase and sale agreement for Lampman Park.

Consent Calendar

• The council unanimously approved the September 28, 2026 meeting minutes.
• Consent item questions included the Shiloh Flats subdivision plat and Summer Lane access (1J), the Monad Road/36th Street roundabout (1B), the airport advertising, marketing and consulting contract amendment (1G), and the 2027 highway safety grant for the adult misdemeanor treatment court (1I).
• The consent agenda was approved by voice vote with Councilmember O'Donnell opposed, excluding items 1.M.2 and 1.L.
• Item 1.M.2, payables, was separated due to Councilmember Aspenlighter's recusal and passed 10-0 with one recusal.
• Item 1.L, repealing the Animal Control Advisory Board, passed 9-2. Councilmember Aguirre spoke against the repeal, describing herself as the 'patron saint of lost causes' and objecting to further disengaging citizens. Dr. Nicholson joined Aguirre in opposition.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No one spoke at the early public hearing related to items one and 5A.
• During the annexation 2606 hearing, Colton Canader of IMEG, consultant for JMS Holdings, supported the request, noting nearby water and sewer infrastructure.
• On Lampman Park, residents Casey O'Malley, Stan Bailey, Mary Pankrats, and Ryan Ikepini opposed the sale. They said public parks should remain public, raised traffic safety concerns, asked for the neighborhood to be consulted about funding a park, and requested single-family zoning if the sale proceeds.
• The president of CR Builders, an affordable housing development company, questioned the bidding process, saying a first, full-price offer was not selected, and asked for more scrutiny of future city land dispositions.
• Brittany Hunter, the listing agent with Coldwell Banker, defended the process, saying all bidders were notified that offers were in hand and had the opportunity to resubmit.
• In non-agenda public comment, Aaron Gallagher, a parent of a Boulder Elementary student, requested a formal safety audit of Boulder Elementary and Billings Public Schools, updated crossing guard criteria, and more collaboration with the Billings Police Department.

Reports, Proclamations, and Council Updates

• The police chief posthumously appointed Chase Lance as an honorary Billings Police Officer. The family received a shadow box; the chief said Chase's dream was to become an officer and his legacy would live on through organ donation.
• Mayor Nelson proclaimed Saturday, October 24, 2026, as Make a Difference Day in Billings. Parks and Recreation volunteer coordinator Jake Milliron said a volunteer fair would be held at Amend Recreation Campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in partnership with United Way.
• Councilmember Kennedy reported a legislative breakfast at the Northern Hotel scheduled for the next morning at 7:15 with more than 17 legislators invited, followed by an urban renewal tour Wednesday and a city-county-schools meeting.
• Councilmember Lindley reported that the Will James school zone project on Grand Avenue had been moved up and would be before the state transportation commission on December 10; the aggressive driving and school zone policy committee is also reviewing city policy.
• Staff reported that one ex parte communication about Lampman Park was received after 3 p.m. before the meeting.

Discussion Items

• Human Relations Commission ordinance (item 2): Carlos Stanton, commission liaison, explained that the amendment removes the fixed meeting date/time in favor of a posted date/time on the commission's webpage and removes redundant membership language. No public comment was offered. First reading passed unanimously.
• Accessible parking ordinance (item 3): Parking Manager Tracy Scott said the ordinance updates terminology from 'handicap' to 'accessible', aligns fines with state law (recommending a flat $250 fine), covers fine amounts on signs, clarifies that accessible aisles are for mobility devices, and raises the boot fee from $50 to $200. Councilmember O'Donnell asked about the three-business-day grace period. Councilmember Neese voted no because he opposed setting dollar amounts in ordinance rather than resolution. First reading passed with Neese opposed.
• Ward Five and annexation 2606 (items 4, 5, 5A, 6):
  • Item 4, first reading to expand Ward Five to include property from annexation 2109, passed unanimously.
  • Item 5, annexation 2606, is an approximately 52-acre property south of Hesper Road and east of South 48th Street West. Staff recommended conditional approval, including zoning designations for neighborhood mixed-use and residential use. Dr. Nicholson voiced concerns about unfunded fire and police services for new development. Councilmember O'Donnell asked about Hesper Road capacity and was told the development agreement includes half-street improvements and right-of-way for a possible future roundabout. The annexation resolution passed 9-2.
  • Item 5A, the annexation agreement with JMS Holding LLC, passed unanimously.
  • Item 6, first reading to expand Ward Five to include annexation 2606, passed unanimously.
• Property dispositions (items 7-9):
  • Staff presented step-one resolutions of intent to dispose of Beartooth parcel (0.7 acres), Career Center Park (2.44 acres), and Wilson Park (approximately 15 acres). All were legally advertised and are not needed for city business. The Beartooth parcel was described as part of a school field; Councilmember Pittman said he hoped it could be traded with the school district. All three resolutions passed unanimously.
  • Staff also announced more properties would return in November and that Rush Park would be removed from consideration because it is in a PMD.
• Lampman Park sale (item 10):
  • Staff recommended approving a purchase and sale agreement with Cal Kunkel for $834,800, above the $825,000 listing price; two other offers at $825,000 were received. Six contingencies relate to zoning and mapping, including the urban residential / urban residential limited future land-use categories. The parks department asked that proceeds be kept in Parks, Recreation and Public Lands for one-time costs and possible matching grant work at Centennial Park.
  • Councilmember Kennedy offered a substitute motion to pause the sale for 30 days and let all three bidders resubmit. Councilmember Aspenlighter opposed the delay as not acting in good faith. City Attorney Gina Dahl said the city code gives council discretion to select or reject offers, so either path would be permissible. The substitute failed 2-9, with only Kennedy and O'Donnell in favor.
  • Councilmember Boyette's original motion to approve the sale with an amendment mapping the area as urban residential limited passed 8-2, with Kennedy and Aguirre opposed; O'Donnell did not vote. Councilmember Shaw noted the neighborhood had previously declined special improvement district funding for a park and the city has $250 million in master-planned parks without funding; she supported keeping proceeds in nearby parks. Councilmember Aguirre said a resident's detailed email about wildlife in the park influenced her opposition.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Sept. 28, 2026 minutes; consent agenda as amended; payables (10-0); Animal Control Advisory Board repeal (9-2); Human Relations Commission and both Ward Five boundary ordinance first readings (unanimous); accessible parking first reading (with Neese opposed); annexation 2606 (9-2) and annexation agreement; three property disposition resolutions; Lampman Park PSA (8-2, one not voting).
• Failed: Substitute motion to delay Lampman Park sale for 30 days and allow resubmission (2-9).
• Next steps:
  • Legislative breakfast will be held Oct. 13 at 7:15 a.m.; urban renewal tour and city-county-schools meeting follow on Wednesday.
  • Will James school zone project is scheduled before the state transportation commission Dec. 10.
  • Staff will return in November with more property disposition step-one items and will remove Rush Park from consideration.
  • Councilmember Aspenlighter's initiative on council meeting timing will be scheduled for a work session the following Monday.
• Note: The transcript refers to the Lampman Park buyer as both Cal Kunkel and Kyle Kunkel.