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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity/County Planning Board Minutes 09.21.1989 °. '46 LAUREL-YELLOWSTONE • CITY-COUNTY PLANNING BOARD LAUREL, MONTANA 59044 September 21, 1989 The Laurel City-County Planning Board meeting was held at 6:00 p.m., September 21, 1989, with the following members present: Joe Bradley, City Rep. & Acting Chairman- Chuck Dickerson, City Rep. Russell Bray, County Rep. Grace Edwards, County Rep. Don Gudgell, County Rep. Clarence Foos, County Rep. Gerald Shay, County Rep. Donna Kilpatrick, City Rep. Members Absent: John Smith, City Rep. Roy Johnson, County Rep. Others Present: Cal Cumin, Cumin Associates, Billings Diana & Duane Swecker, 1035 9th Ave. Sandy Roberts, 1029 9th Ave. Joyce Krueger, 1108 9th Ave. Joanne Taylor, 1107 9th Ave. Chuck Hagen, 1114 9th Ave. Kay Paurus, 1118 10th Ave. Tricia Bies, 1017 11th Ave. Linda Boyer, 1024 10th Ave. Terry Goss, 1113 9th Ave. Richard Kerstein, 1211.Grand Ave., Billings Larry Burns, 1211 Grand Ave. Krayton Kerns, 1631 Downy Rd. Cheryll Lund, Secretary The Board members listened-to the tape from the September 14, 1989 meeting from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The meeting was brought to order at 7:03 p.m. by acting Chairman , Joe Bradley. Kerns #89--05 Special Review application for limited kennell: Cal spoke concerning the application. It meets all the require- ments, there is no opposition by neighbors, and it is in the correct zone to have a limited kennel. Cal recommends approval. Motion by Grace Edwards, seconded by Chuck Dickerson, to recommend approval of the Kern's application to the Council. Motion carried 8-0. a,? Swecker- File #89-06 S ecial Review Application for Group Home: Larry Burns of SRS spoke-about the difference between a group • home and a foster home. Generally a foster home is the starting point of youth care, and that generally moves into a group home, from the group home it goes into a facility like Yellowstone Boys' Ranch. The Sweckers are planning on having the same amount of children, 6-7. With them being classified-as a group home they will have stricter standards that they have to adhere to, more than in foster home care. Every incident, such as fights, problems, etc., will have to be reported to SRS. They will also have to write up menus, have fire escapes posted, and document slot more than what they do for foster parent care. The Group Home will have a staff ratio of 1 parent per 4 kids. A Group Home usually has 7-12 children. But, the state licenses each individual home according to the applicant. Once they are licensed for a certain number of children they cannot go over that amount without going through more paperwork with the state. They have to adhere to state requirements before having the Group Home. The list of requirements is quite lengthy. Once a youth is placed in the home the youth is questioned period- ically about how they are treated in the home. Do they have a place to be by themselves, are they allowed to attend a church of their choice, are they treated. well? So, there is a check and balance in effect. Question is raised on qualifications of a foster parent. Foster parents are required to have a basic training class of 4 hours. All that gives them is a basic understanding of the program. Mr. Burns feels that the after 13 years of foster parent- ing the Swecker's have a good understanding of every aspect of it. Question on anyone left to watch the foster children while the Sweckers are gone. Mr. Burns states that anyone watching the kids should also have that basic training class. The home is checked once a year to make sure they adhere to the. basic guidelines that the state sets. Grace Edwards asks how it is determined how many children can be placed in one home. Mrs. Burns explains that it goes by square footage per child. '• Each individual home is licensed for a certain amount of children and the foster parents cannot go beyond that amount. Page 2 Planning Board meeting of September 21, 1989 The Sweckers have asked to be licensed for 6-7. They can come back to the State and ask for more later, but they don't plan on having more than 7. Cal inquires whether or not the State looks at the neighborhood where these kids will be placed? Mr. Burns states that they look only at the home and foster parents. The placement of each individual child is up to the placement agency. Cal wonders whether or not they have come across this problem before, where the neighborhood kids are so much younger than the kids at the foster home. Mr.,.Burns states that it is a consideration. The Sweckers seem to be good with the kids they have had and can deal with these kids with a minimal amount of difficulty. So, they feel they are placed in the correct place. It's a tough decision to make to place kids. If a child does not work well in a community or neighborhood than that child is placed elsewhere. Cal inquires how they handle the neighbor's who are concerned about these foster-thildren being placed next door to them. Mr. Kerstein states that the foster home parents need to be home at all times, and that is required. So, they don't feel that this is a problem, if the kids are being watched carefully. The SRS does get calls from neighbor's at times, complaining about certain homes. And when they get these calls they go to the foster homes and find out what the problem is. And then they evaluate whether or not the kids were being watched. Joe inquires as to whether there is a Public Hearing involved before the State licenses these people? Mr. Kerstein states that there is not. Cal inquires as to what kinds of.kids that they place in these group homes? Mrs. Kerstein states that in a general sense they are looking at kids who need general foster home care because they cannot live in their own home, but need parental guidance. Then, you have teenagers that need a safe environment, with some supervision. These kids are the best to place in group homes. As far as why they are there, some of them have been in treatment, others are kids that the youth courts place. They come from various places. • The kids who are placed in these group homes are kids that are in control of themselves because a group home is not considered a secure environment which would be what a more aggressive kid would need. An aggressive child would be in a "secure" facility. .f Ahi. They do let the group home parents decide whether or not a new child would fit into their home. If they do not feel the child would fit in then they don't place that child in that home. The State of Montana is liable for damage that these kids do. Cal asks Mrs. Swecker who is in charge of her foster kids when they are at this meeting? Mrs. Swecker states that her daughter, who is also a foster parent, is at her house watching the kids. The Sweckers have an 18 year old child who is at their home fie has requested to stay there until he finishes school which is approximately 2 more years. Joe inquires as to whether the State lets them take in voluntary children to their home? Mr. Kerstein states that No they do not. Each person that is living at the foster, or group, home is evaluated to etermine whether that person is a "safe" person to have in that home. There is a question raised on the square footage requirement for each child. It is 50 square feet per child. The Swecker's have over that amount. Joe asks the Sweckers whether or not they are willing to make "7 child limit" a part of their application. The Sweckers state yes. It will take 2-4 weeks for the state to issue a license for the group home. Joe inquires as to the amount of traffic coming to the home. Do these children have many visitor's? Visitor's are encouraged, but in some situations is it unlikely there will be visitor's. Mr. Kerstein states that it would be unlikely that 7 sets of parents would arrive at once. Cal inquires about having 6-7 teenage boys together. Does it create more problems? Mrs. Swecker says that each child has his own set of friends. These boys are-only together at home. They do not run around • together. Page 3 Planning Board meeting of September 21, 1989 0 Gerald Shay inquires as to how these kids interact with the neighborhood kids? Mrs. Swecker states that they have friends in the neighborhood that they do things with. They are occasionally invited over to one of the neighbors homes to watch movies. They are normal kids and they like to attend movies, go skating, go to games, etc. The Swecker's encourage them to get back into society. Joe asks the Swecker's whether or not they take each new kid around the neighborhood to introduce them to the neighbors? Mrs. Swecker states that she wouldn't of done that to her own kids, and doesn't do that to the foster kids. She also states that none of the neighbor's moving in have ever done that. Joe feels that if the Swecker's did that it could possibly help the neighbor's to get to know the kids and be less afraid of them. Mrs. Swecker states that when you know the neighbor's are talking about you, and in disagreement of what you are doing, this would be pretty tough to do. These people do not want to meet'a kid who they would rather not see in their neighborhood. Motion by Don Gudgell, seconded by Russ Bray, that the application by the Sweckers be denied because they have not yet completed the state application requirements and the application to the City is premature. Motion defeated 2-6. Cal recommends that this go to the Council, that the number of children be limited to 7, that the Council hold a Public Hearing, and that all proof of State licensing be presented to the City before the 7th child is placed in the home. Motion by Gerald Shay, seconded by Grace Edwards, that the application by the Sweckers be approved subject to the number of children being limited to 7, that the Council hold a Public Hearing, and that all proof of State licensing be presented to the City before the 7th child 'is placed in the home. More discussion. Russ Bray disqualified himself from voting for personal reasons. Joe Bradley received a letter from Mike Michunovich, High School Principal, praising the Swecker's for their fine work. Question is called for. Motion carried 5-2. • The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Cheryll Lund, Secretary Cit y of Laurel LAUREL, MONTANA 59044 P.O. BOX 10 October 6, 1989 PLANNING PHONE: 628 -8791 DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATION TO LAUREL CITY COUNCIL WHEREAS, an application for Special Review was filed with the City of Laurel by Dr. Drayton Kerns on the 8th day of August, 1989, being designated file no. 89 -05. WHEREAS, due and legal notice of the application was given pursuant to law, and a Public Hearing was held by the Laurel - Yellowstone City- County Planning Board at its regular meeting of September 14, 1989, and the Planning Board has recommended to the City Council that the application be granted. OFFICIAL NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN' that the Laurel City Council will consider final action upon the application for Special Review at it's regular meeting of November 7, 1989 at 7:00 o'clock p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, or as soon thereafter as the meeting agenda permits. All interested persons may attend the said meeting. Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk Pub. 10 /11 & 10/18/89 City of Laurel is an EEO Employer • LAUREL- YELLOWSTONE CITY - COUNTY PLANNING BOARD LAUREL, MONTANA 59044 September 25, 1989 Mayor Bob Gauthier City of Laurel Laurel, Mt. 59044 Dear Mayor Gauthier: This letter will advise you that at the special City- County Planning Board meeting of September 21, 1989, upon motion by Commissioner Grace Edwards, seconded by Chuck Dickerson, the Board voted 8 -0, in favor of recommending to the City Council that the application for Special Review by Dr. Krayton Kerns to allow his proposed dog boarding facility be approved. This recommendation would of course be subject to Dr. Kerns obtaining of all required permits and inspections under City codes prior to construction and occupancy. Very Truly Yours, C\ - G C Joseph M. Bradley Acting Chairman JMB /cl Cit y of Laurel LAUREL, MONTANA 59044 P.O. BOX 10 October 6, 1989 PLANNING PHONE: 628 -8791 DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WHEREAS, an application for Special Review was filed with the City of Laurel by Duane and Diana Swecker on the 15th day of August, 1989, being designated file no. 89 -06. WHEREAS, due and legal notice of the application was given pursuant to law, and a Public Hearing on the same was held by the Laurel- Yellowstone City - County Planning Board at its regular meeting of September 14, 1989, and the Planning Board has recommended to the City Council that the application be, granted subject to the following conditions: that the application by the Sweckers be approved subject to the number of children being limited to 7; that the City Council hold a Public Hearing, and that all proof of State licensing be presented to the City of Laurel before the 7th child is placed in the Swecker's home. OFFICIAL NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Laurel city 'Council or City Clerk will receive protests or objections, if any, in writing or in person, at any time up to or during the City Council mee to beheld on November 7, 1989, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council chambers at City Hall, 115 W. First Street, Laurel, Montana. Donald L.,Hackmann, City Clerk Pub. 10/11/89 & 10/18/89. City of Laurel is an EEO Employer LAUREL- YELLOWSTONE CITY- COUNTY PLANNING BOARD LAUREL, MONTANA 59044 September 25, 1989 Mayor Bob Gauthier City of Laurel Laurel, Mt. 59044 Dear Mayor Gauthier: This letter will advise you that at the special City- County Planning Board meeting of September 21, 1989, upon motion by Gerald Shay, seconded by Commissioner Grace Edwards, the Board voted 5 -2 with 1 abstention , in favor of recommending to the City Council that the application for Special Review by Clyde and Diana Swecker to be allowed to operate a youth group home at 1035 9th Avenue be approved, subject to the following conditions: 1. that pursuant to the Sweckers application they board no more than 7 youth at any time; 2. that the Sweckers comply with all State laws and administrative rules and file proof of such compliance with the City, in the form of certificates and licenses, prior to accepting the 7th youth. The Planning Board further recommends that the Council conduct its own Public Hearing on the question prior to making a final decision. Ve Truly Yours, / �. Jos • M ' Bradley • Ac .g Chairman JMB /cl LAUREL - YELLOWSTONE CITY- COUNTY PLANNING BOARD LAUREL. MONTANA 19044 • September 19, 1989 AGENDA A meeting of the Laurel - Yellowstone City- County Planning Board has been scheduled for Thursday, September 21, 1989 at6:00 P.M. at the Laurel City Hall, 115 W. First Street in the Council Chambers. This meeting has been set up to review two special review requests. The Public Hearing was Sept. 14th, but we were unable to make a decision because there was not a quorum. Please come at 6:00 so we can review the tape of the September 14th Public Hearing. The tape will take at least 55 minutes to go through. Those of you that I have contacted and have said you will be attending the meeting, please make it a point to be there, because we need 6 to have a quorum. Cheryl1 NOTE: If you are unable to attend the Planning Board meeting, please call 628 -8791 by noon the day of the meeting. Thank you.