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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Minutes 09.03.1996' CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SEPTEMBER 3, 1996 6:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman- Chuck Rodgers Ron Marshall Norman Orr Dirk Kroll Gay Easton Donna Kilpatrick Miles Walton Bud Johnson OTHERS PRESENT: V. Joe Leckie D.L. McGillen Mike Atkinson Jim Flisrand Vicki Metzger Dave Michael Don Hackmann Discussion regarding the underpass repair. Jim reported that the state has a meeting on September 4th to discuss the contractor's bid. The project will possibly start in mid-September. Ron mentioned that it would be nice to wait until after the Herbsfest, due to the heavy traffic at that time. Dirk said that he received a call about a bush at Woodland and East Railroad Street blocking the view of traffic. Jim said that he will take care of it. Dirk also mentioned that there is a sign at Durland and East Railroad Street regarding a Billings business. He talked with Cal about this and he will write a letter to the people at 108 Durland. More discussion regarding the closing of the underpass. Donna wanted to know if any thought has been given to the traffic pattern at the 5th Avenue crossing. Jim said that the state has looked at alternate routes. Donna noted that in the past this has not worked well. Gay wanted to know if the railroad has been notified. Possibly a sign should be placed at each end of town stating the underpass is closed. Jim will check with the state on all of these ideas and suggestions. Donna mentioned that the Park Committee has a request from the Booster Club for a goose drop bingo as a fundraiser. This would be held on September 20th at the little league field closest to the high school. More about this at the council meeting. Dave mentioned that there is a resolution on the council agenda tonight for a sewer rate increase. The Budget/Finance Committee has one recommendation and the Utilities Committee has a different one. 40 Dave said that they will try to get the trees cleaned away from the intake pier this week. to Jim presented and reviewed the DPW Update of 9-3-96. Darrell McGillen reported that tomorrow they will start to level out the Williams' property the City purchased and it will be seeded to grass. Ben Deines has volunteered to do the work. Darrell mentioned that September 20th is homecoming and the Booster Club is planning a fireworks display at half-time. Miles Walton will request permission at the council meeting tonight. Mike thanked Dirk for coming to the Police Department over the week-end. He rode twice with officers and found it to be informative. Mike invited anyone else who would like to ride to come and see him. Bud Johnson had a question regarding the zoning rules that are in process. If the situation west of town were to come up after we passed these rules, what is the disposition? Cal said that was a zone violation when it happened and it remains a zone violation. The new code has nothing to do with it at all. This is a complex and unfortunate issue. It is a zoning violation and it has never changed. They have threatened to challenge us in court and we have never mentioned it beyond that. It was mentioned that we need to expand the building jurisdiction. Then this situation would never happen. Bud wanted some clarification on what part of it does it violate. Cal said that before we amended our ordinance, which is in the process now, we did a lot of our housing on the basis of the Uniform Building Code. Mobile homes do not meet the UBC. So it was very easy for the City of Laurel and 99% of other communities in Montana to say, if your house does not meet the UBC it cannot go in A, B or C zones. The federal government has passed a law that says local communities cannot regulate housing based on the UBC. They can regulate on the basis of a comprehensive plan, aesthetics, need, valuation, etc., but you cannot use the Uniform Building Code. That is one of the reasons why we removed the UBC reference in the ordinance. This is a mobile home that has moved into an area that does not allow mobile homes. Mobile home is defined as a house that meets HUD standards manufactured after a certain period of time. It is listed under manufactured housing in the ordinance. That's why all the definitions of manufactured housing was included in the new zoning ordinance. The Planning Board after much consideration and a public hearing decided not to allow mobile homes throughout the community, only in designated mobile home areas. Joe mentioned that the new ordinances would be more provable and legally enforceable than the old code. Cal went on to say that we have a comprehensive plan that we have adopted and followed for the past 20 years. It designates areas for mobile homes /manufactured housing. We also provide ample space for mobile homes in the City of Laurel, which is a key point. The big problem when Cal wrote a letter to the owners on West Maryland regarding the zoning violation, he referred to the UBC, which is illegal. Cal feels that it is an enforceable issue both under the old and new code. But it is a touchy issue. It is up to the council if they want to pursue it. Covenants were mentioned, but it appears that other violations in the area have not been addressed by the residents who live there. Cal is meeting with 2 experts on downtown re-development and planning. They plan on being here on Wednesday, September 18th at Noon at the Locomotive. This will be in conjunction with a Laurel Chamber of Commerce meeting. Don reported that the second reading of an ordinance regarding the salary of the City Judge was inadvertently left off the council agenda tonight and will be placed on the September 17th agenda. The meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Don Hackmann City Clerk C7 a? FROM: Jim Flisrand, Director of Public Works TO: Mayor and City Council DATE: September 3, 1996 SUBJECT: Public Works-- UPDATE STREET & ALLEY 1. Pothole patching. 2. Sign replacement as needed. 3. Street repair throughout area. 4. Sweeping program in progress with sweeping district being swept Tuesdays and Thursdays. 5. Working on permanent street repair in preparation of chip seal next year. Project area includes 1st Ave. to Betty's Ave. and 7th Street to 14th Street. PARKS & CEMETERY 1. Equipment, building and ground maintenance continuing throughout the parks, cemetery maintenance, as needed. 0 WATER & SEWER 1. Plants continuing with normal treatment and maintenance activities. 2. Water Improvements Project continuing with final design. 3. Trees to be removed this week from pier area following by the cleaning of the pier in preparation for winter months. SOLID WASTE 1. Proceeding with collection and container site operation as required. The new container site is open. Three new signs have been installed, to inform the public of operation, state regulations and fees. ADMINISTRATION 1. Construction planning and building activity is typical of this time of the year. 2. Jim Martin's demolition on East First Street and Montana is going very slow. 11