HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Services Committee Minutes 08.28.2023The Emergency Services Committee meeting was called to order at 6:00pm on Monday, August 28,
2023, by Chair- Heidi Sparks
Members Present: Heidi Sparks- Chair, Iry Wilke- Vice -Chair, Jodi Mackay, Bruce McGee,
Others Present: Police Chief Stan Langve, Ambulance Director Lyndy Gurchiek, Fire Chief JW
Hopper, Troy Charbonneau- Ambulance, Evan Bartran- Fire
Public Input: None
General Items
1. Approval of Emergency Services Committee minutes of July 24, 2023. Bruce McGee moved to
approve the minutes; Iry Wilke seconded- Motion carried 4-0
New Business
2. Update from Emergency Departments
a. Fire Chief JW Hopper- Report attached
i. Items to note:
1. 36 Members currently- Fully staffed is 45
2. New truck expected mid-September- Flying out Sept 18`x'
3. DNRC Grant- Forest service behind, so still waiting to hear on this grant
4. Front Line Pumper currently in service is 32 years old, mayor has asked
the department to look at replacing this
a. Bruce asked about the used pumper- Chief Hopper stated this
would be sold
b. Police Chief Stan Langve- Report attached
i. Items to note:
1. 13% decrease in calls Month over Month from July, 16% increase over
the 3 -year average
2. Down 2 officers and have interviews scheduled this week
a. Looking at filling reserve positions as well
3. Montana Department of Transportation did provide and update on the
traffic study of Main- did state that Main and 5`t' could be a 4 -way stop
c. Ambulance Director Lyndy Gurchiek- Report attached
i. Items to note:
1. MDT ambulance grant was applied for and we will hear by October- the
10% match is in the budget
2. EMS Data Systems Fund grant- this is for patient charting, so specific to
EMS- this grant is a reimbursement, desktops have been purchased
Old Business:
3. Mill Levy update- City Attorney Braukmann provided a Memo regarding the Mill Levy
a. Jodi stated that the Small Business Alliance meets every other week and would like to
have this presented tentatively at the Sept 151h meeting
Other Items:
4. Chief Langve- provided information from Public Works meeting around increase traffic and
speeding through the Southside during turnaround (April 14 — May 13)
a. 12 speeding citations
b. 8 warnings on speeding
c. This is out of 60 contacts during this timeframe
d. This was one of the better turnarounds due to the parking lot being introduced this year
Cat Ordinance Discussion- Iry provided the background on the contract presented at Council for
Savage Cat Rescue which was voted down
a. Iry wanted to bring this to the committee to determine if the committee wanted to move
forward with exploring a cat ordinance
b. Bruce stated from past experience that at the time the animal ordinances were written
cats were a very difficult item to address and the then -Police Chief was not in favor of
moving forward with a cat ordinance
c. Jodi stated that she agrees a cat ordinance would be a very difficult ordinance to enforce.
She also stated she has seen an increase in complaints regarding cats on social media
pages related to the community. Jodi also stated that she offered to do a fundraiser for
Savage Cat Rescue to assist and was turned down
d. Chief Langve stated Billings Municipal Code has an ordinance which addresses cats.
With that said, there is a difference between cats that belong to someone roaming versus
feral cats.
i. Billings also has more positions to enforce this including a separate code
enforcement division, and animal control division. Currently, Laurel has all of
this handled by 1 position.
ii. If we want to move forward with an ordinance like this, the fielding and structure
of the department would need to be addressed in tandem to passing that
ordinance
Announcements
6. Next Meeting will be Monday, September 25, 2023, at 6:OOpm in Council Chambers
Meeting adjourned at 7:05pm
H
CITYALL
City
Laurel
115 XV Ist St.
of
PUB WORKS: 628-4796
P.O. Box 10
P%'%D FAX: 625-2241
WATER OFFICE: 628-7431
Laurel,
Montmia 59044
%','TR FAX: 628-2289
MAYOR: 625-8456
Memorandum Re EMS Mill Levy Update
TO: Emergency Services Committee
CC: City of Laurel Mayor/Clerk-Treasurer
FROM: Michele Braukiiiann, Laurel Civil City Attorney
DATE: 2023.8.27
RE: Update on EMS Mill Levy Status
DEPARTMENT
This Memorandum serves as an update on the status of the EMS Mill Levy, preparations for
the upcoming November election, and various plans in relationship the Mill. At the present time, the
following has been accomplished in relationship to preparation for presentation of the Mill Levy to
the Laurel constituent population:
1. Valuation of the EMS Mill, as it relates to homes at the value of $100,000, $200,000,
$300,000, and $600,000.
2023.
2. Presentation of the Mill Levy Resolution to the Laurel City Council. Approved April
3. Presentation of revised Mill Levy Resolution language to the Laurel City Council.
Approved August 2023.
4. Preparation of the Ballot for the Election.
5. Presentation of the Ballot for the Election to the Yellowstone County Elections
Administrator.
6. Approval of the Ballot by the Yellowstone County Elections Administrator.
7. Preparation of Flyers to be utilized at various locations throughout Laurel, including
local businesses, City Locations, and distribution throughout the community.
S. Preparation of a PowerPoint Presentation regarding the Mill Levy to be used at various
community events and meetings, posted on the City website, and distributed for the public (as
needed).
Moving forward, the following is the "plan" with regard to "next steps" for the Mill Levy:
1. Posting of the Mill Levy presentation on the City website.
2. Meetings with various community groups to discuss the mill levy and show the
presentation.
3. Answering questions from various community groups.
4. Distribution of marketing materials.
5. Twice weekly posting on the City's Facebook page and various postings on the EMS
Facebook page.
6. Distribution of marketing materials at various local businesses.
7. At least twice -weekly meetings with various constituents.
8. Yard signs and posting throughout the community.
9. Weekly committee meetings to discuss status.
10. Weekly updates to City Council Members.
11. Last "two week" push of marketing on social media, website, and in the community.
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OFFICE OF THE, CIVIL CITY ATTORNEY
At
Michele L. Braukmann, J.D.
CITY OF LAUREL
Civil City Attorney
civilattorn.ev�;"iUlaurel.mtZ2L
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