CITY TO ACT ON PLAN TO BAN PUBLIC USE OF MARIJUANA

Council also to consider budget, other business

Belgrade city officials will hold a public hearing Tuesday a proposal
to ban public use of medical marijuana in the city limits, according
to city officials.

The ordinance came at the request of Belgrade Chief of Police E.J.
Clark. It unanimously passed a first reading in August.

The ordinance was patterned after an open container law already on the
books, Clark and others have said.

The ordinance derives its authority from the federal Controlled
Substance Act. City officials said it is needed, "because the
inadvertent direct and indirect exposure to marijuana has the
potential to significantly affect the health, legal and financial
interests of the citizens of Belgrade."

The ordinance would ban pot smoking in public parks and buildings,
streets, sidewalks, alleys and other public rights of way. It also
would ban smokers of the drug from consuming marijuana on private
property if they can be seen - or smelled - from a public right of
way.

". The city council intends the phrase 'open or visible manner' to
include but not be limited to visual or sensory observations either
during the act or within a reasonable time thereafter," according to
the ordinance.

Also Tuesday, the council plans to finalize the fiscal-year 2011 city
budget and set the mill levy, according to the agenda. The budget
rings in at $12.7 million. The value of a city mill increased $370 to
$10,303.

Changes for this year's budget include a 2.6 percent raise for city's
44 employees, adding about $26,000 to the budget, City Manager Joe
Menicucci has said. The pay increase was funded through personnel cuts
and additional water and sewer revenues.

Both public works and the planning department lost a part-time worker
and water fund revenues were bumped up to reflect a rate increase the
council approved this summer, according to city records.

The city court budget also increased for travel, training expenses and
office supplies, according to city records.

The general fund, which is where the city's daily operation costs are
found, is expected to saddle $2.04 million in expenditures. The fund
has a $549,447 cash carryover from last year and city officials expect
to take in $1.87 million in revenue. At year's end, June 30, 2011, the
city expects to have $411,982 in reserve.

One of the biggest expenses the city faces is a $500,135 contract for
services with the Central Valley Fire District, Menicucci has said.
The city pays $372,000 for services and $100,000 for operation and
maintenance costs shared with the fire district. The rest is wages and
benefits.

Menicucci turned down a Central Valley request for $1 million for a
ladder truck and $500,000 for a pumper to replace a 1993 engine. He
also denied a request to fund a $75,000 fire inspector position.

Also Tuesday, the council will hear an update on the Gallatin County
Solid Waste District; consider an appointment of Kathy Gallagher to
the Gallatin Local Water Quality District; and hear a presentation
about the county library tax.

The meeting gets underway 7 p.m., at City Hall, 91 E. Central Ave.