2026-09-21 - City Council Work Session
Summary
Built from official work session summary.
- Work session September 21, 5:30 to 8:58 PM. Ten council members present (O'Donnell absent/excused), Mayor Nelson presiding.
- Proclamation for Adult Education and Family Literacy Week (September 13-19).
- Billings Mustangs congratulated for winning Pioneer League championship (first since 2014).
- Mountain America Credit Union presented grant contribution for South Park pool project amenities; Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines contributed matching funds.
Crisis Response Unit
- Assistant Chief McCamley reviewed unit's work over approximately 18 months since Rimrock Foundation ceased providing clinician. Fire Department continues operating with EMT staff while seeking mental health partner. RiverStone Health recently received four-year federal SAMHSA grant of approximately $750,000 annually for mobile crisis services. Coalition includes Rimrock Foundation, hospitals, and Community Crisis Center; City not receiving grant funds directly but partnership expected to provide clinicians, case management, training, improved dispatch protocols.
- Unit responds in SUV, can spend more time connecting people with services, transports without tying up fire engine, ambulance or police officer. Example: calls involving frequent service user declined from 121 to 34 after unit involvement. 43 percent of people contacted by unit in 2026 connected with appropriate services. Crisis dispatch protocols and proposed nurse navigator program expected to reduce some traditional emergency responses.
- Council questions: sustainability after grant expires, reduction in emergency-department visits, clinician/dispatcher/responder coordination. Council requested future information from hospitals and partners showing effect on patients and community resources.
- Public comment: Jeff Ketelsen supported unit but noted grant does not directly pay City Fire Department or dispatch costs; encouraged considering other funding sources including impact fees.
Billings MPO 2027-2031 Transportation Improvement Program
- Transportation Planner Mattox presented five-year Transportation Improvement Program for metropolitan planning area. Updates align state's five MPO schedules, list transportation capital projects and transit funding. Stagecoach Trail funding figure in published draft based on outdated state estimate; correction will align with project agreement (no new funding). Document will include corrected transit allocations.
- Transit Manager Logan reported Montana changing distribution of federal Section 5339 capital funds among five urbanized areas. Billings' annual amount projected to fall from approximately $780,000 to $193,000, affecting future capital and equipment replacement plans. State not expected to open Section 5310 application round this year. MET Transit's recent federal grant placed paratransit fleet in sound position for near term. Staff to pursue competitive funding as available.
- Council discussion: request for Stagecoach Trail cost update before federal funds spent if project cannot proceed within budget. Interim City Administrator Iffland noted project at approximately 30 percent design, staff reviewing cost-reduction ways, update will return to Council. Questions about grant-writing capacity and purpose of transit funding programs.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
- Multi-Modal Transportation Planner Hayes introduced Stephanie Donovan, committee co-chair, for annual report. Committee reviewed public concerns, crash data, bicycle and trail counts, possible safety improvements. Available data show crash concentrations downtown and along higher-volume corridors. Gaps noted in Police Department data (incomplete pedestrian information in current dashboard); committee working to improve data sources.
- Committee examining e-bike and scooter use (speed, trail etiquette, definitions, education, policy/enforcement recommendations). Distributed trail-etiquette flyer, reviewed site-specific complaints, worked with other boards and Safe Routes to School representatives, supported safety improvements on Rimrock Road.
- Council questions: how crashes classified, whether reports distinguish scooters and e-bikes, information about county roads and crashes involving children near schools.
- Council discussion: need for sidewalks and safer routes near Midland Road, Riverside Road and other corridors; whether faster Class 3 devices belong on bicycle trails. Planning staff and committee to continue examining data and potential recommendations.
Animal Sheltering Services
- Interim Police Chief Mayo reviewed request for proposals following Council's July 6 direction. Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter submitted three options: reduced services within City budget, full requested services at higher cost, or combined animal control and shelter operation. K9 Hope Brokers offered full services at monthly fee approximately $1,500 above budget; comparable Yellowstone Valley full-service option approximately $6,400 above budget.
- City-operated sheltering examined: limited operation estimated approximately $212,000 annually (would serve only small number of animals, depend on transfers, likely increase euthanasia); complete operation would require substantially more staff and expense. Assistant City Attorney Pavuk explained City ordinances create duties concerning animals at large, impoundment, quarantine; limited model would require code changes. Mayo indicated local shelters recently reluctant to accept Animal Control transfers.
- Council discussion: negotiate submitted proposals, continue current City operation, expand City services, use fee-for-service with shelters, pursue City-County partnership, improve licensing and reunification, revise ordinances. Members expressed concern about cost, capacity if animal intake rises, likely euthanasia rate under limited option, whether current practice satisfies City code. Several emphasized vaccination, spay/neuter programs, existing shelters' work. Staff clarified current animal control budget and shelter contract appropriation must be considered together.
- Public comment: Corbett Skinner spoke about Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter's veterinary care, reunification, adoption work, fundraising for new facility, urged City to recognize shelter's role and funding needs. Tina Gaspar, K9 Hope Brokers, described high cost of spay/neuter services and staffing/funding needed. Garth Howley supported prevention and keeping animals out of shelters but cautioned limited City model and volunteer reliance insufficient. Kaitlin Laddinsaw asked Council to account for small animals, including abandoned pets in apartments.
- Consensus: form committee led by Interim City Administrator to develop options and return with recommendation, target about 30 days. Councilmembers Pitman, Lindley, Neese, and Shaw, plus Mayor, volunteered. Two proposals remained under consideration; no provider selected or contract approved.
Email Access Policy
- City Attorney Dahl reviewed City's policy for posting emails to Mayor and Council on website. Current process can publish private information about third parties or potentially defamatory allegations before adequate City review. Emails remain public records subject to disclosure on request, but distinction made from voluntarily posting every message online. Clerk's Office currently handles posting, lacks legal training to evaluate all exceptions/allegations.
- Council discussion: preserve public access while protecting private information and reducing City exposure. Questions about clearer notices, review by trained staff, automated acknowledgment to senders, technology to flag sensitive content, effect of shifting to public records requests. Dahl noted automated tools might flag certain content but cannot reliably determine whether allegation about third party is false. Other Montana cities use differing practices (reviewed public-comment inboxes).
- Consensus: Technology Department to explore review and notice options, return in approximately 30 days. Staff to improve website notices, ensure existing required review occurs while options evaluated. No policy change approved.
Council Discussion
- Councilmember Aspenlieder raised length of work sessions, suggested two-hour limit with unfinished business continued to another time. Mayor challenged Council to complete next meeting in two hours.
- Councilmember Kennedy announced Legislative Committee meeting for September 23, 3:00 to 4:30 PM.
- Councilmember Boyett reminded members of City Hall meet-and-greet the following day.
- Councilmember Aguirre noted posted Legislative Committee schedule should reflect rescheduled meeting.
- Councilmember Nicholson raised public concern about person openly carrying firearms near Broadwater School, asked whether City could consider ways to address situation.