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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 04.18.1989Minutes of the City Council of Laurel April 18, 1989 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Bob Gauthier at 7:00 p.m., on April 18, 1989. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Ron Marshall Donna Kilpatrick Chuck Rodgers L.D. Collins Chuck Dickerson Bob Graham Bruce Teeters Norman Orr COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None INVOCATION: Invocation was given by Reverend Reiser. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Dickerson to approve regular meeting of April 4, 1989, as presented, Collins. Motion carried 8--0. the minutes of the seconded by Alderman CORRESPONDENCE: Received the 1988 Laurel Volunteer Fire Department Fire Incident Statistical Summary. Received the February 14, 1989 minutes and activity report from the Air Pollution Control Board. Received the Hazardous Material Response and Evacuation plan from Yellowstone County Disaster and Emergency Services. CITY CLERK & CITY TREASURER'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: The City Clerk and City Treasurer's financial statements for the month of March were presented. Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatrick that the City Clerk and City Treasurer's financial statements for the month of March, 1989, be approved, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 8--0. CENTENNIAL POSSE: The following members of the Centennial Posse were present and court was held: Honest Mean Gene Sioux City Sue Gypsy Rose Kid Russell Scottie Black Bart Single Shot Roy Hipshot Ail male council members and other facial hair were either assessed a to shave." city officials who did not have fine or they purchased a "license LAUREL JAYCEES - STREET DANCE: George Worden and LaNaya Gonzales, representatives of the Laurel Jaycees, gave a report on the activities planned for the street dance. The dance is scheduled for Monday, July 3rd and the tentative plan is to hold it in the parking lot (new Jan's IGA building) at 5th and Main Street. George stated there is a possibility the store could be leased out by July and if this happens the Jaycees need to have an alternate location planned and they are looking at different locations now. George stated the Jaycees have checked with an insurance company and they will purchase liability insurance in the amount of $ 500,000.00 to cover the event. The security will be increased this year dhe to problems last year. The Sheriff's Reserve and the Police Reserve have been contacted and both will help with the dance. Ail individuals will be carded to get into the dance and if they do not have a valid ID or are under 21, they will not be allowed in. The Jaycee members Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 2 Council Meeting of April 18, 1989 that are helping with this function will not be allowed to drink before or during the dance. An admission will be charged with $ ].00 going to the centennial fireworks display. All individuals entering the dance will have their hand stamped and it was suggested that a special stamp be made just for this dance. The stamp would allow the people to leave and re-enter the dance and also if the bartenders have a question when serving that night, they can ask to see the stamp which would verify age. Darrell McGillen pointed out that the Air Force rock band will be performing in Thomson Park at the same time the street dance is taking place and hopefully, this will keep the minors occupied and away from the street dance. Joe Bradley suggested that representatives from the Police and Sheriff Reserves attend the May 2nd Council meeting so all details can be worked out concerning them. Plans can then be finalized at the June 6th council meeting at which time the Jaycees will verify the insurance coverage, give a specific location and state the number of reserves officers who will be covering the event. At this time permission will be granted by the City Council. The dance is scheduled for Monday, July 3rd with the band playing from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and the serving of drinks ending at 1:30 a.m. LUCKY SEIBERT - HIGHWAY WARNING SIGNS AND ACCIDENT RATE: Lucky Seibert stated he comes before the Council with a problem that is not new and it concerns the highway south of the Yellowstone River bridge. He has gone directly to the State Highway Division in Billings and was told by Chad Lutey that he needs the support of a local governing body to try to pressure for any construction, reconstruction, changes or design in the highway. Lucky said he found out that the highway was suppose to be changed a year ago and Mr. Lutey himself, pulled the turn lanes and safety system out of appropriations so they could move forward with the bridge design and not have any conflicts. Mr. Lutey then found out that the bridge project has been postponed for four to five years and it will now be another full year before they get appropriations to get any turn lanes or safety systems set up down there. Lucky stated everyone is well aware of how many accidents occur in that area but what about all the near misses? He stated people come off the river bridge and the first thing they get is a 55 mile per hour go ahead right in front of three businesses. He said the amount of traffic has increased, as evidenced by his own business where seven to eight employee cars come and go twice a day. Lucky is asking for the Council's support in discussion with the traffic department and the Highway Division to ask if they have emergency appropriations available to put up warning signs and also reduction in speed signs and/or move the 55 mile per hour jurisdiction about a quarter of a mile south on the road, past the businesses. Joe Bradley asked and Lucky stated he does not have the statistics on that road and neither does the Highway Department. The figures would need to be supplied by the Highway Patrol. Lucky did go around the area and found 100% support and he presented a petition with 27 names on it. It was questioned why the 55 miles per hour speed limit was moved closer to the bridge when a few years ago it was 45 miles per hour right by the railroad crossing. Jim Ftisrand responded by saying the State Highway Department did a traffic study on that highway ~about three years ago and it was determined, at that time, to move the 55 mile per hour limit up to the bridge and at the same time, move the 35 mile per hour limit closer to the city. Jim stated that if we press them they will go back and check their file and probably come out and do another study, but they are pretty hard pressed to stay with their studies~ whatever they find. Page 3 Council Meeting of April 18, 1989 Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Joe Bradley will draft a letter to the Highway Department for the Council to approve at the next meeting. He will include Lucky's concerns for having warning signs posted, the speed limit reduced, turning lanes put in, and more patrol on that stretch of road. BOB GRAHAM - "DARE" PROGRAM: Bob Graham along with Terry Jesse, Deputy Sheriff, gave a presentation on the DARE program. DARE is a new curriculum put out by the Crime Prevention Board and it stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. Bob stated he is asking the Council to make a motion to go out in favor of the DARE program. In order to get this program in the school system, they have to have two entities favor this and the entities are the City Council and the School Board. The program would be financed by a grant from the state for the first three years and it would cost the taxpayers nothing. After three years, if the program is to continue, it would need to be financed in some other way. Bob stated it is the job of the individuals involved to go out during the three years the grant is operating and derive a three way partnership between industry, the State Crime Prevention Board and the school district to fund it. In places where it is operating past the grant period, there has been tremendous support from private industry and the school districts have not had to contribute anything. Bob stated that statistically speaking, crime related drugs and school suspension/expulsion have decreased 93% in Tulsa's school system where he observed the program and they relate it to the DARE program. The unique thing about the program is that it is taught by officers and it helps the children build a rapport with officers of the law and they come to admire them. Terry Jesse stated the DARE program was created in 1983 by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District. They wanted to develop a proactive program that would deal with the problem or eliminate it before it happens unlike a police department which is reactive and goes in after the problem has happened and cleans up. Los Angeles wanted to get to the kids at a time when they are about to make decisions whether they will use drugs, alcohol or tobacco and studies show this needs to be done before the children reach the age of 13 so, the program is primarily taught to kids in grades 5 through 7. The program is teaching the kids how to say no and still retain their dignity, their self esteem and their friends and those who offer the drugs and alcohol are accepting the refusals. The program consists of approximately 45 minutes. a week. 17 different lessons with each one taking The officer would go to each classroom once It was stated that if Laurel wants an officer to be trained and go to our schools, then Laurel needs to write a separate grant from the one the county is writing. Alan Crowe, Police Chief~ st'ated he is totally in favor of the program if there is the manpower to handle it and as Alan understands it, that is the purpose of the grant. Bob Graham stated it is very important to get the grant process started so we can compete for the funds available. RESOLUTION NO. 2388 APPROVING DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION (DARE) PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF LAUREL Motion by Alderman Dickerson that Resolution No. 2388 be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Marshall. Motion carried 8--0. TELEPHONE IN THOMSON PARK: Jim Flisrand reviewed the two options for putting a telephone in Thomson Park. The first option is to put an emergency phone in the Page 4 Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Council Meeting of April 18, 1989 center of the park and it would be tied directly to the dispatchers in the police department. The second option and the one the phone company favors is to install a drive up pay phone on First Avenue by the park. Alan Crowe stated that in October of this year all pay phones will be toll free for the 911 emergency service. More discussion followed concerning the commission the phone company pays on a pay phone. If the phone was an emergency phone only, the city would receive no commission and it would also have to pay a monthly line fee plus installation. If the phone is a pay phone and it is placed on First Avenue like the phone company wants, they would waive the installation fee, the city would receive a commission and there would be no monthly fee. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to take the phone company's recommendation to place a drive up pay phone on First Avenue with the City of Laurel taking the standard commission and the placement being left up to Jim Flisrand, seconded by Alderman Graham. Motion carried 7--1 with Alderman Marshall voting, "NO." 1988 - 1989 AUDIT PROPOSAL: The Mayor recommended to accept Mel Tiensvold's proposal in the amount of $ 8,600.00, which is the same as the past four years. Motion by Alderman Marshall to accept Mel Tiensvold's audit proposal in the amount of $ 8,500.00, seconded by Graham. Motion carried 8--0. 1988-89 Alderman ADOPT & POST RULES & REGULATIONS GOVERNING USE OF CITY PARKS: ORDINANCE NO. 949 {second reading) AUTHORIZING THE PARK COMMITTEE TO ADOPT AND POST RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING USE OF CITY PARKS AND PROVIDING PUNISHMENT FOR A VIOLATION OF SAID RULES Public Hearing: no one present for comment. Motion by Alderman Dickerson that Ordinance No. 949 (second reading) be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Collins. A roll call vote was taken and all aldermen voted, "YES." Motion carried 8--0. COMMITTEE REPORTS: --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of April 4, 1989 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatrick Committee minutes of April 4, 1989, Alderman Orr. Motion carried 8--0. to enter the Budget/Finance into the record, seconded by --City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of April 4, 1989 were presented. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to enter the City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of April 4,1989, into the record, seconded by Alderman Collins. Motion carried 8--0. --Fire Committee minutes of April 10, 1989 were presented and reviewed.' (This was discussion of Fire District # 8) Motion by Alderman Rodgers to April 10, 1989, into to record, Motion carried 8--0. enter the seconded Fire Committee minutes of by Alderman Dickerson. --Fire Committee minutes of April 10, 1989 were presented and reviewed. (This was discussion of Fire District # 7) Page 5 Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Council Meeting of April 18, 1989 Motion by Alderman Rodgers to enter the Fire Committee minutes of April 10, 1989, into the record, seconded by Alderman Marshall. Motion carried 8--0. --Police/Building Committee minutes of April 6, 1989 were presented and reviewed. Chuck Rodgers presented the plans for remodeling the police area of the FAP Complex. The proposed changes would be as follows: 1. The entrance to the building would be changed slightly in order to enlarge the dispatch area. 2. What is now the squad room could be broken into two different offices. 3. There would be restroom facilities next to the dispatchers. 4. The bay area could be secured with an overhead door and a security door. 6. The Chief's office could be made into an interrogation or interview room with security doors so it would not disturb the dispatchers. Chuck stated the plan has been broken down into phases to be completed as the budget will allow. Phase 2 would expand and secure the dispatch area, install new work area counters, install air conditioning, allow a smaller interview office, change the entrance and install a new wall in squad room. Phase 3 would secure the bay area and open up the Chief's office. Phase 4 would be the completion of the plan by installing restroom facilities by the dispatch area and making the Chief's room into an interrogation room. Chuck Rodgers stated there are areas that need to it is a public building used by the handicapped need to contact an architect concerning these. be addressed because and they feel they Motion by Alderman Graham to support the concept of drawing #4 and to contact an architect, seconded by Alderman Marshall. Motion carried 8--0. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to enter Police/Building minutes of April 6, 1989, into the record, seconded by Marshall. Motion carried 8--0. Committee Alderman Ron Marshall commented that the phase breakdown is a good idea and we need to start it and get the dispatch area secured and then as money allows work on the other areas. --Park Committee minutes of April 13, 1989 were presented and reviewed. Discussion followed regarding the swim tickets. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to withdraw the Park Committee's recommendation concerning ticket sales and to go with 25 tickets for $ 10.00 all season, seconded by Alderman Graham. Motion carried 8--0. This price is the same as last year and the leftover yellow ticket books will be used again this year. Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatrick to request the Centennial Committee' to present the Council with a final list of scheduled events in the park and a list of materials they plan to move into the park, seconded by Alderman Collins. Motion carried 8--0. Motion by Alderman Rodgers to enter the Park Committee minutes of April 13, 1989, into the record, seconded by Alderwoman Kilpatrick. Motion carried 8--0. Peg Kamerzel, City Treasurer, stated that she is already getting calls from vendors who would like to sell concessions in the park during the celebration and she asked who is in charge of this. Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 6 Council Meeting of April 18~ 1989 Chuck Dickerson stated the Steering Committee charge of this since they know what is taking like to limit it to people from Laurel. would like to be in place and they would Chuck suggested that all interested people be referred to the Steering Committee and they can make a recommendation to the Park Committee. The Park Committee will then bring their recommendations to the Council in their minutes. Darrell McGillen, as a member of the Steering Committee, stated the committee is following city policy concerning vendors in the park. If you are a commercial business in business for profit, you would not be allowed to set up a booth in the park. The committee has contacted the School Board and they are in charge of the north school lot and commercial businesses will be allowed to set up in that lot, but they must contact the school for permission. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to refer any requests to sell concessions in the park to the Steering Committee who would then take it to the Park Committee and finally back to the Council for approval, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 8--0. Chuck Dickerson inquired whether anything has been done concerning the sign Museum, Inc. wants to put up in Firemen~s Park. Jim Flisrand stated the post they want to use for the sign falls slightly short of the height requirement and they asked Jim to contact the state to see if they would be opposed to a slight decrease in that distance. At this time Jim has not received an answer from the state. Bob Graham stated there is a copy of the DARE program in the City Clerk's office for anyone who is interested in looking at it. Jim Flisrand reported that the state still has not contacted him concerning the construction at Thomson Park. He said that if this gets pushed back much further he would strongly recommend not starting construction until after the July 4th celebration. MAYOR'S COMMENTS: The Mayor read the Proclamation proclaiming May 7th through May 13th as Score Small Business Week. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to accept the Mayor's Proclamation, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 8--0. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at/~p.m. Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk Approved by The Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City Laurel, Montana, this 2nd day of May, 1989. Bob Gauthier, Mayor of ATTEST: Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk