REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Tuesday February 2, 2021

 

          ALL PRESENT:  Commissioner Jones, Chair, Commissioners Ostlund and Pitman; Board Clerk Teri Reitz; Clerk and Recorder Jeff Martin.

          PLEDGE.

          MINUTES – January 12, 2021, January 19, 2021, January 26, 2021.  Commissioner Ostlund made a MOTION to approve the Minutes, Commissioner Pitman seconded.  Passed Unanimous. 

          9:30 a.m. PRESENTATION – A.)  Downtown Billings Traffic Study: Alternative Prioritization and Public Preference Plan – Presentation and Recommendation.  Ms. Lisa Olmstead, Dowl HKM stated the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization requested proposals from qualified firms to develop a Downtown Billings Traffic Study: Alternative Prioritization and Public Preference Plan. The Metropolitan Planning Organization through a competitive process hired Dowl HKM to develop a Downtown Billings Traffic Study.  The goal of this project was to take the identified transportation network alternatives completed in the Downtown Traffic Study, completed by the City of Billings Engineering Division, and execute a robust and creative public outreach process to develop an implementation and project prioritization strategy.  Commissioner Ostlund stated I appreciate the traffic study and all the work that went into it.  I have had a unique opportunity to set as the Montana Association of Counties Transportation Chairman and I have been in that position for a long time and been with the county for 49 years.  Traffic movement in any city or county is the most important thing if you want the city or county to be successful and you need to move goods or services.  So with that said I am going to make a recommendation that we move the study forward with a recommendation not to reduce any traffic lanes to accommodate bike lanes, because restricting vehicle traffic movements to accommodate bike lanes makes absolutely no sense, it is counterproductive it increases gas use instead of decreasing it.  It increases time at stop lights, it increases wait times for everyone and reduces services provided.  Commissioner Jones stated we have a motion on the floor is there any further discussion?  Commissioner Pitman stated if it is not affecting the flow of traffic that’s fine.  Commissioner Ostlund stated they can put anything in that doesn’t make Montana Avenue go from three lanes to two with a bike lane, that would not be my recommendation.  My recommendation would be to continue to have all the traffic lanes that we have existing or more.  Commissioner Pitman seconded.  Passed Unanimous.  B.)  2018 Transportation Plan Amendment #2.  Mr. Scott Walker, Transportation Planner stated that the City of Billings was awarded a Better utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant.  The first step in the process is amending our 2018 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) to reflect our acceptance of this grant.  This grant will provide monies to help complete the Inner Belt Look and Skyline Trail.  To complete this approval at the State level, the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization must amend its LRTP to ensure this project is properly identified in the Plan.  Commissioner Ostlund made a MOTION to approve the 2018 Transportation Plan Amendment #2, Commissioner Pitman seconded.  Passed Unanimous.  C.)  2020-2024 Transportation Improvement Program Amendment #1.  Mr. Scott Walker, Transportation Planner stated that Federal Regulations require that Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO’s) review and update their Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) periodically.  Given timing and Funding adjustments with several transportation projects, the current Billings 2020-24 TIP must be amended to maintain compliance with State and Federal requirements.  The TIP is a short-range program of highway and transit projects in the Billings MPO area and is prepared by City-County Planning Division staff in cooperation with state and local agencies.  2020-2024 TIP Amendment #1 highlights BUILD Grant, Inner Belt Loop/Skyline Trail – New Project Montana Avenue Overpass: study and rehab – New Project Grand Avenue (24th to Zimmerman – Pavement Preservation) – New Project MET Transit Funds added to the Program (Aware).  Commissioner Ostlund made a MOTION to approve the 2020-2024 Transportation Improvement Program Amendment #1, Commissioner Pitman seconded.  Passed Unanimous.   

          PUBLIC COMMENTS ON REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS – Hearing no comments Commissioner Jones continued the meeting. 

          FINANCE – A.)  Resolution 21-06 of Intent to Eliminate the Cap on RSID 657M and to Set the Public Hearing for Tuesday March 16, 2021 @ 9:30 a.m. in Room 3108.  Commissioner Pitman made a MOTION to approve Resolution 21-06, Commissioner Ostlund seconded.  Passed Unanimous.  B.)  FY21 Mid-Year Budget Review Schedule.  No action, this is for information only.

          PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS – Hearing no comment Commissioner Jones continued the meeting. 

          CLAIMS – Batches 21-142, 21-143, 21-144 & 21-145.  Commissioner Pitman made a MOTION to approve the Claims, Commissioner Ostlund seconded.  Passed Unanimous. 

          CONSENT AGENDA – 1.  COMMISSIONERS – Board Openings – Area II Agency on Aging; Board of Adjustment; City/County Planning Districts 3, 4 & 6; Blue Creek Fire Service Area; Fuego Fire Service Area; Huntley Project Fire Service Area; Laurel Fire District #7; Laurel Urban Fire Service Area Advisory Board; Lockwood Pedestrian Safety District Advisory; Park Board.  2.  FINANCE – Change Order #1 with Shumaker Trucking and Excavating Contractors, Inc. for the MetraPark Grandstand Demolition.  3.  METRAPARK – MetraPark – CMS/Starplex Contract Addendum.  4.  PUBLIC WORKS – A.)  Recommendation of Award for Public Works Asphalt Overlay Project II 2020-2021.  B.)  Invitation for Bid Public Works Asphalt Overlay Project III 2020-201.  5.  SHERIFF – Annual Resolution 21-08 to Set Daily Credit Rate for Inmates at the Detention Facility.  6.  HUMAN RESOURCES – PERSONNEL ACTION REPORTS – Motor Vehicle – 1 Termination; Sheriff’s Office – 1 Salary & Other; MetraPark - 1 Salary & Other – Returned Tabled Item; County Attorney – 2 Appointments, 1 Salary & Other; Youth Services Center – 1 Termination; Commissioners – 1 Termination; Detention Facility – 1 Termination.

          FILE ITEMS – 1.  AUDITOR – A.)  Quarterly Revenue and Expenditure Filing as required by MCA.  B.)  Payroll Audit – January 1 to January 15, 2021.  2.  COMMISSIONERS – A.)  HRDC General Relief Assistance Program for the Quarter Ending December 31, 2020.  B.)  Letter from the United States Department of Interior Regarding BLM’s Oil and Gas Lease Sale.  C.)  Letter from Montana Department of Transportation Regarding Bridge and Road Safety and Accountability Program/HB 473 Fuel Tax Allocation.  D.)  Letter from Montana Department of Transportation Regarding Roundabout King & 56th.  3.  FACILITIES – Application to Use Courthouse Lawn – Awareness Walk.  4.  HUMAN RESOURCES – Response to January 1 through 15 Payroll Audit.  Commissioner Ostlund made a MOTION to approve the Consent Agenda and place the File Items to file, Commissioner Pitman seconded.  Passed Unanimous. 

          PUBLIC COMMENTS ON COUNTY BUSINESS – Hearing no comments Commissioner Jones adjourned the meeting at 10:00 a.m.

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