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Minutes for City Council Work Session

  SPECIAL WORK SESSION AGENDA       
 
 
COUNCIL CHAMBERS MAY 3, 2022           5:30 P.M.
Present:
  • Councilmember Kendra Shaw
  • Councilmember Ed Gulick
  • Councilmember Jennifer Owen - Arrived at 7:18 pm
  • Councilmember Denise Joy
  • Councilmember Danny Chorki
  • Councilmember Pam Purinton
  • Councilmember Mike Boyett
  • Councilmember Daniel Tidswell
  • Councilmember Tom Rupsis
  • Mayor William Cole
Absent:
  • Councilmember Roy Neese
Staff Present:
  • Chris Kukulski, City Administrator
  • Kevin Iffland, Assistant City Administrator
  • Andy Zoeller, Finance Director
  • Pepper Valdez, Fire Chief
  • Rich St. John, Police Chief
  • Mike Whitaker, Parks and Recreation Director
  • Michael Pigg, Parks Superintendent
  • Kory Thomson, Recreation Superintendent
 
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Cole
 
1.
FY2023 Departmental Budget Presentations.
  • Fire
  • Police
  • Municipal Court
  • Parks and Recreation
Pepper Valdez, Fire Chief, gave an overview of the Fire departments personnel, operating budget, CPSM recommendations, facility projects, and funding. Council discussed service numbers, vacancy issues and hiring options.

There was no public comment on the Fire presentation.

Rich St. John, Police Chief, gave an overview of the Police departments budget, Public Safety comparison, and objectives measurements, funding, personnel, and quarterly reports. Council discussed public safety, jail issues, hiring and training, and grant writing options.

There was no public comment on the Police presentation.

Sheila Kolar, Municipal Court Judge, gave an overview of the various courts, funding, fiscal year recap, challenges, jail overcrowding, trends and workload. Council discussed various concerns within the community, red light running, legislation, workload, and overcrowding issues.   
 
Recess at 7:23 pm. Reconvene at 7:30 pm. 

Mike Whitaker, Parks Director, gave an overview of the Parks and Recreation Department mission, trails, programs, and various divisions. He reviewed accomplishments, projects underway, budget numbers and Park District 1 (PD1) Capital projects reduction. 

Kory Thomson, Recreation Superintendent, gave an overview of recreation programs, and attendance numbers. 

Michael Pigg, Parks Superintendent, gave an overview of employees and seasonal positions. 

Councilmember Rupsis indicated he was unhappy with the recent cuts in projects and had concerns with unrealistic cost recovery in funding for the recreation center. Council discussed irrigation, PMD’s, donations for the recreational center, survey responses, and general concerns with funding. 

There was no public comment on the Parks presentation.
 
COUNCIL DISCUSSION:

Council discussed various ways to make amendments to the budget.
 
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.)

There was no public testimony.
 
ADJOURN: 9:05 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.