**ATTENTION**
The City Council meeting will be held in a hybrid format that may include both in-person AND virtual attendance via Zoom. Unless they have cause to appear virtually, Councilmembers will attend the meeting in person in Council Chambers, second floor of City Hall, 220 N. 27th Street. In order to honor the Right of Participation and the Right to Know in Article II, Sections 8 and 9, of the Montana Constitution, the City of Billings and City Council are making every effort to meet the requirements of the open meeting laws.Citizens are invited to:
- Review the Agenda Packet on the City’s website at: www.billingsmt.gov and click on “Your Government,” “City Council,” and “Agendas & Minutes”.
- View the meeting:
- On Community 7 TV - Channel 7 or Channel 507 – Spectrum Cable. (On evenings when there is a conflict with School District No. 2 Board meetings, the City Council meeting will be broadcast on Channel 8 - Spectrum Cable.)
- Online at www.comm7tv.com and click on the “Watch Live” icon. Community 7 also has links to their Facebook page and YouTube channel.
- On the City's website at www.billingsmt.gov and click on "Watch Meetings Online" on the homepage.
- In-Person.
- Virtually via Zoom (see the link below).
Citizens may submit public comment via the following methods:
- Mail: City Clerk, P.O. Box 1178, Billings, MT 59103
- Email: Council@billingsmt.gov.
- Emails received after 3:00 PM on the day of the meeting, may be posted on the Council's webpage the following day for public viewing.
- Attend the meeting in person.
- Attend the meeting virtually through Zoom by entering the Webinar ID and Passcode indicated below. Click on Zoom Meeting Instructions and Zoom Hybrid Meeting Details below for more information. The link will allow you to attend, view and participate in the meeting on your computer, laptop or smart phone. (You must have the Zoom App on your device Click Here to Download Zoom App) To provide public comment at the appropriate time, click on the “raise hand” icon located at the bottom of the screen and the moderator will unmute your device.
o Don't have a smart phone, computer or laptop? That's okay -- you can attend a Zoom meeting using your landline phone. Call the Zoom phone number, 1.253.215.8782 to join the meeting and follow the operator’s instructions. Want to give public comment? Simply “raise your hand” by pressing *9 and the moderator will give you permission to speak when it is your turn. *Note this is a long distance toll number and charges may apply depending on your plan.
- Click Here for City Council Zoom Hybrid Meeting Details and Schedule
- Click Here for Zoom Meeting Instructions for Attendees (as guests)
Webinar ID: 893 5871 8049
Passcode: 027008
Or join by phone: US: +1-253-215-8782
Please contact Denise Bohlman, City Clerk, at bohlmand@billingsmt.gov, or at 406.657.8205, with any questions.
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| WORK SESSION AGENDA |
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| COUNCIL CHAMBERS | APRIL 18, 2022 | 5:30 P.M. |
- Present:
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- Councilmember Kendra Shaw
- Councilmember Ed Gulick
- Councilmember Roy Neese
- Councilmember Jennifer Owen
- Councilmember Denise Joy
- Councilmember Danny Chorki
- Councilmember Pam Purinton
- Councilmember Mike Boyett
- Councilmember Daniel Tidswell
- Councilmember Tom Rupsis
- Mayor William Cole
- Staff Present:
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- Chris Kukulski, City Administrator
- Kevin Iffland, Assistant City Administrator
- Gina Dahl, City Attorney
- Michael Whitaker, Parks and Recreation Director
- Wyeth Friday, Planning Director
- Monica Plecker, Planning Division Manager
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Cole
1.
Montana Zoning Atlas Report.
(Presented by: Kendall Cotton, President and CEO of Frontier Institute and Mark Egge, Patti Webster, HomeFront)
Mr. Cotton gave an overview of the housing crisis, exclusionary zoning, single family versus multi-family homes and ways the City could make affordable housing more accessible. He reviewed permitting, parking, setbacks as considerations.
Council discussed affordable housing, multi-family housing, additional dwelling units (ADU’s), zoning and development.
- Public Comment
Patti Webster, discussed infill development, housing quality standards and local housing voucher issues.
(Presented by: Kendall Cotton, President and CEO of Frontier Institute and Mark Egge, Patti Webster, HomeFront)
Mr. Cotton gave an overview of the housing crisis, exclusionary zoning, single family versus multi-family homes and ways the City could make affordable housing more accessible. He reviewed permitting, parking, setbacks as considerations.
Council discussed affordable housing, multi-family housing, additional dwelling units (ADU’s), zoning and development.
- Public Comment
- John Halverson, 239 Avenue F, Billings, MT, via Zoom, discussed levels of subsidy and the need for young people to have financial stability in MT. He encouraged the City to loosen the restrictions.
Patti Webster, discussed infill development, housing quality standards and local housing voucher issues.
2.
W.O. 22-12: Optimist Park Site Improvements.
(Presented by: Mike Whitaker, Parks and Recreation Director)
Mike Whitaker gave an overview of Optimist proposed improvements options, parking and costs.
Council discussed the design improvements, parking, costs of paving, homeowners communications and right of way.
Public Comment:
Councilmember Neese indicated an opposition to back in parking. Staff discussed the safety benefits of back in parking. Council discussed parking issues.
(Presented by: Mike Whitaker, Parks and Recreation Director)
Mike Whitaker gave an overview of Optimist proposed improvements options, parking and costs.
Council discussed the design improvements, parking, costs of paving, homeowners communications and right of way.
Public Comment:
- Patti Webster, 4432 Vaughn Lane, Billings, MT, asked about angled parking and indicated it would be a better design. Mr. Whitaker indicated Public Works had not offered angled parking as an option during the planning phase. Mr. Kukulski indicated there were large boulders in the area Ms. Webster was referring to, in order to deter camper, boat and vehicle parking. He indicated it could be costly to build a public access if more parking were needed.
Councilmember Neese indicated an opposition to back in parking. Staff discussed the safety benefits of back in parking. Council discussed parking issues.
3.
Land Use and Development Process.
(Presented by: Wyeth Friday, Planning Director and Monica Plecker, Planning Division Manager)
Monica Plecker, Planning Division Manager, gave an overview of Land Use purposes, the entire process including: Limits of Annexation Map, Annexation Agreements, Zone Change, criteria pre-concept development meetings and the various steps involved.
Recess at 7:01 pm. Reconvene at 7:10 pm.
Council discussed Limits of Annexation, criteria for annexation, Growth Policy, protest policy, conditions of zone changes, and resident support from the City.
Council suggested: data driven staff memos with more information, better orientation of locations, links to studies and polices in the staff memos, encouraging developers to supply visuals of development plans, ways to make pre-application meetings beneficial to both developers and constituents, and including lists of possible uses in the pre-planning phases.
-Public Comment
None
(Presented by: Wyeth Friday, Planning Director and Monica Plecker, Planning Division Manager)
Monica Plecker, Planning Division Manager, gave an overview of Land Use purposes, the entire process including: Limits of Annexation Map, Annexation Agreements, Zone Change, criteria pre-concept development meetings and the various steps involved.
Recess at 7:01 pm. Reconvene at 7:10 pm.
Council discussed Limits of Annexation, criteria for annexation, Growth Policy, protest policy, conditions of zone changes, and resident support from the City.
Council suggested: data driven staff memos with more information, better orientation of locations, links to studies and polices in the staff memos, encouraging developers to supply visuals of development plans, ways to make pre-application meetings beneficial to both developers and constituents, and including lists of possible uses in the pre-planning phases.
-Public Comment
None
4.
Council Priorities and Quad Discussion.
(Presented by: Chris Kukulski, City Administrator)
Council discussed the list of priorities, legislative changes and updates, next years process, 21st Street underpass, Inner Belt Loop timeline, and legislative priorities.
Councilmember Neese indicated he did not agree with the list and had wanted more discussion.
Councilmember Owen asked for clarification on the Environment through Quality Design -update subdivision regulations. Wyeth Friday, Planning Director, stated staff was working on legislative changes and would bring back a draft. She discussed the ordinance review process and suggested it be moved to 2023.
Councilmember Joy indicated concern with the language regarding “limiting number of parolees”.
Mayor Cole indicated the list would be a good starting point for the next Council retreat.
Council indicated it accurately captured the past discussions.
-Public Comment
None
(Presented by: Chris Kukulski, City Administrator)
Council discussed the list of priorities, legislative changes and updates, next years process, 21st Street underpass, Inner Belt Loop timeline, and legislative priorities.
Councilmember Neese indicated he did not agree with the list and had wanted more discussion.
Councilmember Owen asked for clarification on the Environment through Quality Design -update subdivision regulations. Wyeth Friday, Planning Director, stated staff was working on legislative changes and would bring back a draft. She discussed the ordinance review process and suggested it be moved to 2023.
Councilmember Joy indicated concern with the language regarding “limiting number of parolees”.
Mayor Cole indicated the list would be a good starting point for the next Council retreat.
Council indicated it accurately captured the past discussions.
-Public Comment
None
5.
Highlight Upcoming Agenda Items of Council Interest.
(Presented by: Chris Kukulski, City Administrator)
-Public Comment
(Presented by: Chris Kukulski, City Administrator)
-Public Comment
COUNCIL DISCUSSION:
Councilmember Boyett discussed the possibility of a motion to reconsider the sale/exchange of the Terrace Estates park land. Council discussed the merits of reconsideration and the process.
Councilmember Boyett discussed the possibility of a motion to reconsider the sale/exchange of the Terrace Estates park land. Council discussed the merits of reconsideration and the process.
PUBLIC COMMENT on “NON-AGENDA ITEMS”. Speaker Sign-in required. (Restricted to ONLY items not on this printed agenda. Comments are limited to 3 minutes or as set by the Mayor. Please sign the roster at the cart located at the back of the Council chambers or at the podium.)
None
None
ADJOURN: 9:39 PM
Note:
- This meeting is an “informal” meeting of the City Council. The content of the Agenda is subject to change at the meeting.
- In the event there is a Closed Executive Session at the end of a Work Session, the sole purpose is to discuss litigation strategy. The other parties to the case(s) discussed are not public bodies or associations as described in Section 2-3-203(1) and (2), MCA. The meeting is closed, as allowed by Section 2-3-203(4)(a), MCA, “to discuss a strategy to be followed with respect to litigation when an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the litigating position” of the City of Billings.