HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial City Council Packet 08.12.2023
AGENDA
CITY OF LAUREL
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2023
5:00 PM
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
NEXT RES. NO.
R23-51
NEXT ORD. NO.
O23-03
WELCOME . . . By your presence in the City Council Chambers, you are participating in the process of representative
government. To encourage that participation, the City Council has specified times for citizen comments on its agenda -- once
following the Consent Agenda, at which time citizens may address the Council concerning any brief community announcement
not to exceed one minute in duration for any speaker; and again following Items Removed from the Consent Agenda, at which
time citizens may address the Council on any matter of City business that is not on tonight’s agenda. Each speaker will be
limited to three minutes, unless the time limit is extended by the Mayor with the consent of the Council. Citizens may also
comment on any item removed from the consent agenda prior to council action, with each speaker limited to three minutes,
unless the time limit is extended by the Mayor with the consent of the Council. If a citizen would like to comment on an age nda
item, we ask that you wait until the agenda item is presented to the Council by the Mayor and the public is asked to comment
by the Mayor. Once again, each speaker is limited to three minutes.
Any person who has any question concerning any agenda item may call the City Clerk -Treasurer's office to make an inquiry
concerning the nature of the item described on the agenda. Your City government welcomes your interest and hopes you will
attend the Laurel City Council meetings often .
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call of the Council
Approval of Minutes
Correspondence
Council Disclosure of Ex Parte Communications
Public Hearing
Consent Items
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
The Consent Calendar adopting the printed Recommended Council Action will be enacted with one vote. The Mayor will
first ask the Council members if any Council member wishes to remove any item from the Consent Calendar for
discussion and consideration. The matters removed from the Consent Calendar will be considered individually at the end of
this Agenda under "Items Removed from the Consent Calendar." (See Section 12.) The entire Consent Calendar, with the
exception of items removed to be discussed under "Items Removed from the Consent Calendar," is then voted upon by roll
call under one motion.
Ceremonial Calendar
Reports of Boards and Commissions
Audience Participation (Three-Minute Limit)
Citizens may address the Council regarding any item of City business that is not on tonight’s agenda. Comments regarding
tonight’s agenda items will be accepted under Scheduled Matters. The duration for an individual speaking under Audience
Participation is limited to three minutes. While all comments are welcome, the Council will not take action on any item not
on the agenda.
Scheduled Matters
1. Resolution No. R23-50: A Resolution Of The City Council To Amend The Ballot Language
Previously Approved By Resolution No. R23-22 And Submit The Question To The Electorate
Authorizing The City To Impose A New Mill Levy For The City Of Laurel Emergency
Response Services Of A New 50.06 Mills To Fund Ems Services, Including Staffing, Volunteer
Compensation, Training, And Ancillary Operations
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Items Removed From the Consent Agenda
Community Announcements (One-Minute Limit)
This portion of the meeting is to provide an opportunity for citizens to address the Council regarding community
announcements. The duration for an individual speaking under Community Announcements is limited to one minute. While
all comments are welcome, the Council will not take action on any item not on the agenda.
Council Discussion
Council members may give the City Council a brief report regarding committees or groups in which they are involved.
Mayor Updates
Unscheduled Matters
Adjournment
The City makes reasonable accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with a person’s ability to
participate in this meeting. Persons needing accommodation must notify the City Clerk’s Office to make needed
arrangements. To make your request known, please call 406-628-7431, Ext. 2, or write to City Clerk, PO Box 10, Laurel,
MT 59044, or present your request at City Hall, 115 West First Street, Laurel, Montana.
DATES TO REMEMBER
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File Attachments for Item:
1. RESOLUTION NO. R23-50: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO AMEND
THE BALLOT LANGUAGE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY RESOLUTION NO. R23-22
AND SUBMIT THE QUESTION TO THE ELECTORATE AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO
IMPOSE A NEW MILL LEVY FOR THE CITY OF LAUREL EMERGENCY RESPONSE
SERVICES OF A NEW 50.06 MILLS TO FUND EMS SERVICES, INCLUDING STAFFING,
VOLUNTEER COMPENSATION, TRAINING, AND ANCILLARY OPERATIONS
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R23-____ Amend Ballot Language for EMS Mill Approving an Election on Supplemental Funding for EMS
Services
RESOLUTION NO. R23-50
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO AMEND THE BALLOT
LANGUAGE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY RESOLUTION NO. R23-22 AND
SUBMIT THE QUESTION TO THE ELECTORATE AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO
IMPOSE A NEW MILL LEVY FOR THE CITY OF LAUREL EMERGENCY
RESPONSE SERVICES OF A NEW 50.06 MILLS TO FUND EMS SERVICES,
INCLUDING STAFFING, VOLUNTEER COMPENSATION, TRAINING, AND
ANCILLARY OPERATIONS
WHEREAS, the City may impose a property tax levy for any public or governmental
purpose not specifically prohibited by law;
WHEREAS, the City is a public body and is authorized pursuant to Mont. Code Ann. §
15-10-425, as amended, to impose a new mill levy or exceed the mill levy limit provided for in
Mont. Code Ann. § 15-10-420, by conducting an election authorizing such new mill levy for
purposes determined by the City and the electors of the City approving any new levy;
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined additional EMS Services, including
specifically related to staffing, volunteer compensation, training, and ancillary operational costs
are needed for the residents of the City;
WHEREAS, the City has decided to pass a Resolution pursuant to, in part, Mont. Code
Ann. § 15-10-425 to submit the question of a new mill levy to the qualified electors of the City
of Laurel;
WHEREAS, the City has determined that there is a need for a permanent levy increase
of 50.06 mills (hereinafter “the EMS Supplemental Levy”) to increase funding for EMS
Services, to be adjusted annually subject to the limits established in Mont. Code Ann. § 15-10-
420(1)(a), for inflationary and new growth allowed in subsequent years; and
WHEREAS, Mont. Code Ann. §§ 15-10-420 and -425 authorize the City to request of
the voters in the City limits, as amended, an increase in mill levies over and above current
limitations;
WHEREAS, the new and separate mill levy will be for a total of 50.06 mills, which has
a current approximate value of Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($450,000),
and the duration shall be perpetual;
WHEREAS, the annual supplemental EMS levy will be used to pay the ongoing and
permanent costs associated with delivering additional EMS services (currently anticipated to
be used for the hiring of approximately three (3) to four (4) additional EMS providers, the
increase of wages for EMS providers, additional, fair, and equitable compensation for EMS
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R23-____ Amend Ballot Language for EMS Mill Approving an Election on Supplemental Funding for EMS
Services
Volunteer Personnel, and helping to fund a portion of the costs of training and operational needs
of the EMS Department; and
WHEREAS, the new mill levy level being requested will have an anticipated impact
upon property taxes for homes valued as follows: 1) for a home valued for property tax
purposes at One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the additional property taxes that will
be imposed are Five Dollars and Sixty Three Cents ($5.63) per month, adjusted as permissible
by law; 2) for a home valued for property tax purposes at Two Hundred Thousand Dollars
($200,000), the additional property taxes that will be imposed are Eleven Dollars and Twenty-
Six Cents ($11.26) per month, adjusted as permissible by law; 3) for a home valued for property
tax purposes at Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000), the additional property taxes that
will be imposed are Sixteen Dollars and Eighty-Nine Cents ($16.89) per month, adjusted as
permissible by law; and 4) for a home valued for property tax purposes at Six Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($600,000), the additional property taxes that will be imposed are Thirty-
Three Dollars and Seventy-Eight Cents ($33.78) per month, adjusted as permissible by law;
WHEREAS, the foregoing was approved by the City of Laurel City Council on April
11, 2023, pursuant to Resolution No. 23-22;
WHEREAS, since approval of the proposed Mill Levy Ballot Language, the Montana
Legislature passed House Bill 543, which requires additional disclosure statements in the Ballot
specifically related to rental costs; and
WHEREAS, the City of Laurel City Council now wishes to amend its original Ballot
language to meet all statutory requirements of House Bill 543.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Laurel,
Montana, as follows:
1. Calling of the Election. The City Council hereby calls and directs a mill levy
election for the EMS Supplemental Levy to be held on November 7, 2023 for the purpose of
voting on the following question: “Shall the City of Laurel, Montana, be authorized to
permanently raise approximately 50.06 mills or approximately $450,000 annually for the
purpose of funding additional EMS services, increasing compensation for EMS Personnel,
including Volunteer EMS Personnel, as well as to fund training and operational expenses for
the City of Laurel EMS Department? The permanent 50.06 mills will be adjusted annually,
subject to the provisions of Mont. Code Ann. § 15-10-420(1)(a), after the first year, allowing
for inflationary growth and newly taxable growth. The impact of the EMS Supplemental Levy
on a residential home will be as follows: 1) for a home valued for property tax purposes at One
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the additional property taxes that will be imposed are
Five Dollars and Sixty Three Cents ($5.63) per month, adjusted as permissible by law; 2) for a
home valued for property tax purposes at Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000), the
additional property taxes that will be imposed are Eleven Dollars and Twenty-Six Cents
($11.26) per month, adjusted as permissible by law; 3) for a home valued for property tax
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R23-____ Amend Ballot Language for EMS Mill Approving an Election on Supplemental Funding for EMS
Services
purposes at Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000), the additional property taxes that
will be imposed are Sixteen Dollars and Eighty-Nine Cents ($16.89) per month, adjusted as
permissible by law; and 4) for a home valued for property tax purposes at Six Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($600,000), the additional property taxes that will be imposed are Thirty-
Three Dollars and Seventy-Eight Cents ($33.78) per month, adjusted as permissible by law.”
2. Authorization of Election and Ballot. The City Council hereby requests the
Election Administrator to place the issue of whether the City shall be authorized to impose a
new mill levy to cover the costs incurred in providing EMS Services as set forth above during
the election held on November 7, 2023, to the electors of the City of Laurel.
3. Form of Ballot. The Election Administrator is hereby authorized to prepare the
ballot to be submitted to the electors in substantially the following form:
OFFICIAL BALLOT
CITY OF LAUREL EMERGENCY SERVICES MILL LEVY ELECTION
Shall the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana be authorized to impose
a new mill levy of 50.06 mills (or approximately $450,000 annually) to fund
emergency services, including hiring an anticipated 2-3 additional EMS
providers, increasing wages for existing EMS providers, paying EMS
Volunteers additional compensation for their hours of service, and funding
training and ancillary operational costs. The foregoing mill levy is permanent
and in addition to any other mill levy authorized by Charter or law.
The impact of the Levy on a residential home will be as follows: 1) for a home
valued for property tax purposes at One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000),
the additional property taxes that will be imposed are Five Dollars and Sixty
Three Cents ($5.63) per month, adjusted as permissible by law; 2) for a home
valued for property tax purposes at Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000),
the additional property taxes that will be imposed are Eleven Dollars and
Twenty-Six Cents ($11.26) per month, adjusted as permissible by law; 3) for a
home valued for property tax purposes at Three Hundred Thousand Dollars
($300,000), the additional property taxes that will be imposed are Sixteen
Dollars and Eighty-Nine Cents ($16.89) per month, adjusted as permissible by
law; and 4) for a home valued for property tax purposes at Six Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($600,000), the additional property taxes that will be imposed
are Thirty-Three Dollars and Seventy-Eight Cents ($33.78) per month, adjusted
as permissible by law. An increase in property taxes may lead to an increase in
rental costs.
___________ YES -- FOR AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF LAUREL TO
EXCEED THE STATUTORY MILL LEVY PROVIDED FOR IN MONT.
CODE ANN. § 15-10-420 BY PERMANENTLY AND ANNUALLY
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R23-____ Amend Ballot Language for EMS Mill Approving an Election on Supplemental Funding for EMS
Services
LEVYING UP TO 50.06 MILLS (APPROXIMATE CURRENT VALUE OF
$450,000 FOR CITY OF LAUREL EMERGENCY SERVICES) FOR THE
PURPOSES OF IMPROVING EMS SERVICES
___________ NO – AGAINST AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF LAUREL TO
EXCEED THE STATUTORY MILL LEVY PROVIDED FOR IN MONT.
CODE ANN. § 15-10-420 BY PERMANENTLY AND ANNUALLY
LEVYING UP TO 50.06 MILLS (APPROXIMATE CURRENT VALUE OF
$450,000 FOR CITY OF LAUREL EMERGENCY SERVICES) FOR THE
PURPOSES OF IMPROVING EMS SERVICES
Introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council on the _____ day of August, 2023,
by Council Member ________________.
PASSED and APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Laurel the _____ day of
August, 2023.
APPROVED by the Mayor the _____ day of August, 2023.
CITY OF LAUREL
___________________________
Dave Waggoner, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Kelly Strecker, Clerk-Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
Michele L. Braukmann, Civil City Attorney
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