Sidney meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Sidney City Council approves $392,371 water tower payment, adopts impact fee changes

Sidney City Council approved a $392,371 payment toward the North Park Water Tower Replacement and adopted Resolution No. 3989 amending the city's water, sewer, park and street impact fees at its Oct. 5 meeting. Both actions were unanimous, according to the meeting minutes.

Water tower payment and impact fees

The $392,371 payment covers Draw No. 7 on the North Park Water Tower Replacement project. The council also adopted Resolution No. 3989, which amends impact fees in four categories: water, sewer, park and street. Impact fees are charges on new development. The meeting record did not include the dollar amounts of the revised fees.

Earlier the same day, the council held a special meeting for a tour of the North Park Water Tower project. No quorum was present, so no official business was conducted and no actions were taken at that session.

Mineral rights, signage and variances

The council declined a proposal to sell the city's mineral rights, voting unanimously to retain them. It also approved the following items unanimously:

• Pedestrian warning signage at 7th St SE and Central Ave
• An Administrative Policy for Mailbox Placement in Public Right-of-Way
• A Johnson variance request for a garage addition
• A Jensen height variance for a new garage
• SDI Architects Service Order No. 1 for grant assistance

Budget and Finance Committee

On Oct. 13 the committee approved the Sept. 9, 2026 meeting minutes and the Treasurer's Report, both unanimous. Members discussed a proposed Public Works work order policy and received updates on downtown improvement grants and the potential acquisition of a vacant lot for a public plaza. No decisions on those three items were recorded in the summary.

Zoning/Board of Adjustments

On Oct. 14 the board voted 3-0 to recommend that the City Council approve a conditional use permit for LED signage at Skin Satin MD. It also voted 3-0 to recommend approval of zoning code amendments covering accessory structure heights, flagpole exemptions and updated setback requirements. Both are recommendations to the council; the record provided does not show council action on them.

Coming up

The City Council meets Oct. 19. Agenda items include:

• Ordinance 610, first reading, adopting the 2024 International Building Codes
• A final reimbursement request of $192,196.26 for the Meadows Stormwater Project
• A Morrison Maierle agreement for Sidney Storm Water Utility Development for $97,500
• The conditional use request for Skin Satin LED signs
• Approval of claims totaling $115,771.91
• A Budget and Finance Committee report and a request for a temporary road closure for Halloween

The Oct. 19 City Council meeting is the only meeting listed in the next 14 days.

Sidney City Council adopts impact fee changes, approves $392,371 water tower payment, declines mineral rights sale

The Sidney City Council adopted Resolution No. 3989 to amend water, sewer, park and street impact fees, approved a $392,371 payment tied to the North Park Water Tower Replacement, and voted to retain the city's mineral rights at its Oct. 5 meeting. Every recorded vote was unanimous, according to official minutes.

Impact fees

The council adopted Resolution No. 3989 to amend impact fees. The action followed a Sept. 30 meeting of the Impact Fee Committee, which unanimously recommended that the council approve an amended impact fee report and an updated resolution and fee schedule. The committee's proposed structure shifts to a meter-size multiplier system for water and sewer fees and recommends discontinuing street equipment and park impact fees. The committee's Sept. 30 action was a recommendation; the council's Oct. 5 adoption of Resolution No. 3989 is the decision.

Water tower

The council approved a $392,371 payment for North Park Water Tower Replacement Draw No. 7. The council also approved SDI Architects Service Order No. 1 for grant assistance.

Separately, the council held a special meeting on Oct. 5 for a tour of the North Park Water Tower project. Because no quorum was in attendance, no official business was conducted and no actions were taken at that meeting.

Mineral rights

The council declined a proposal to sell the City's mineral rights. The vote was unanimous. The minutes summary provided does not include further detail on the proposal or the reasons discussed.

Other council actions

All of the following were approved unanimously, according to the minutes:

• Pedestrian warning signage at 7th St SE and Central Ave
• An Administrative Policy for Mailbox Placement in Public Right-of-Way
• The Johnson variance request for a garage addition
• The Jensen height variance for a new garage

Coming up

Budget and Finance Committee — Tuesday, Oct. 13. The committee is scheduled to discuss administrative policies and receive financial reports. Agenda items include a review of the Public Works Work Order Policy and Procedure, an update on a Montana Tourism Development Grant, and the Treasurer's Report.

Zoning/Board of Adjustments — Wednesday, Oct. 14. The board is scheduled to consider a conditional use request for Skin Satin LED signs, listed as the only new business item on the agenda. The meeting is open to the public in person or by Zoom or phone.

Both meetings are open to residents. Agendas and any supporting documents are available from the City of Sidney; the official records are the authoritative source for what was decided and what is scheduled.