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Council approves marketing-fund amendment, finance engagement, contract extensions and event permits
Summary
At its Jan. 20 meeting the West Yellowstone council approved a $50,000 marketing/promotions budget amendment (Resolution 8-30), authorized an arbitrage-rebate services engagement for bond compliance, approved a police-station change-order time extension, directed staff to apply for an emergency-vehicle grant, and approved multiple event permits and associated open-container/resort-tax waivers.
The Town of West Yellowstone council approved a package of routine and fiscal items on Jan. 20, including a budget amendment in the marketing and promotions fund, an outside engagement to manage arbitrage rebate calculations for the town's bond issue, a time extension for the police station remodel, authorization to apply for a state emergency-vehicle grant, and several event permits.
Budget amendment (Resolution 8-30): Council opened and closed a public hearing on a requested $50,000 increase to the marketing and promotions fund and then read and approved Resolution 8-30 to amend the FY2025/26 budget. Staff clarified the fund is financed by a business portion of resort tax and that none of the requests on file had been committed at the time of the hearing.
Arbitrage rebate engagement: Finance staff recommended hiring a specialist (Cosi Public Finance LLC) to compute arbitrage rebate exposure on the town's tax-exempt bond issuance (roughly $15 million). Council approved a five-year engagement letter so the town can identify any IRS liability and set aside funds if required.
Police station change order: The council approved Change Order #1 to extend substantial completion for the police station addition (Bridger Veil LLC) to March 27, 2026. Staff said the extension was time-only (no price increase) and resulted from design and contractor-sourcing delays.
Emergency vehicle grant: Staff requested and received council direction to apply for the Montana Emergency Tourism Assistance grant (second cycle) that can fund emergency vehicles for tourist areas; staff will pursue a full-coverage application (grant cap discussed in session ~ $70,000).
Events and permits: Council approved Music in the Park 2026 permits (outside amplification, an open-container resolution, and a resort-tax bond waiver) and approved Octane Addictions Expo and Vintage Rodeo encroachment/partial street closures and open-container requests for early March. Staff confirmed coordination for insurance, street closures and park logistics.
Votes were taken on each item during the council session; staff will follow up on contract administration, grant submission, and pre-event logistics and insurances as appropriate.
