HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Head Meetings Minutes 08.18.2009MINUTES
DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2009 3:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PRESENT: Mayor Ken Olson James Caniglia Mark Guy
Bill Sheridan Kurt Markegard Jan Faught
Sam Painter Nancy Schmidt
Council Agenda - August 18, 2009
Scheduled Matters:
• Confirmation of Appointments.
• Ordinance No. 009-09: Ordinance to amend the official zoning map of the City of Laurel,
Montana, to change the zoning designation of a parcel of property located in Yellowstone
County from Residential Manufactured Home to Light Industrial Zoning. Second reading.
Bill stated that this zone change request is for the Cenex property.
• Resolution No. R09-89: A resolution of the City Council accepting a Hiring Recovery Program
Grant award from the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented
Policing Services (COPS).
Mark Guy stated that the grant would allow the city to hire another (13`h) officer. The hiring process
will start after the grant monies are received.
• Resolution No. R09-90: A resolution of the City Council authorizing the disposal of City
records.
Bill stated that the resolution is needed to dispose of city records.
• Resolution No. R09-91: A resolution approving the attached Task Order No. 2 of the Owner-
Engineer Agreement with Morrison-Maierle, Inc., to perform the tasks and duties related to the
Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade final engineering and bidding services.
Kurt stated that the final design, bidding process, and construction would begin after the task order is
approved by the council.
• Resolution No. R09-92: A resolution transferring cash between various funds of the City of
Laurel, Montana, for the purposes of year-end closing.
The resolution is on tonight's council agenda.
Draft Council Worksho Agenda - August 25, 2009
LSC Transit Consulting Services Presentation
James asked if copies of the final draft of the report or a CD of the report should be distributed to the
council. At tonight's meeting, Mayor Olson will ask the council which one they would prefer to
receive.
James stated that the TAC meeting is scheduled at 9:30 a.m. on August 25 h, a public meeting at the
Senior Center at 12:15 p.m., and the presentation to the council at 6:30 p.m. The report includes the
different available options and other alternatives. The next step is for the council to vote on which
option to approve.
Department Head Meeting Minutes of August 18, 2009
Mayor Olson stated that the issue would be placed on the September 8'h council workshop for further
discussion prior to a decision on September 15''.
Clerk/Treasurer:
• Resolution - Amendment of TSEP Contract for the City of Laurel Wastewater Project
There was no discussion.
Planning:
• Ordinance - Zone change for CHS
James explained that this second zone change request from Cenex is for two small parcels that are
located next to the 12-acre parcel.
Mayor Olson asked when Cenex's request to extend services would come to the council. The Building
Department does not review building permits outside of the city limits.
Kurt stated that Cenex needs to request an extension of water services to any additional property it
acquires. A letter will be written to Cenex to specify that requests for further extensions of services
must be submitted to the Public Works Department and approved by the council. Kurt, Sam, James and
Bill will draft the letter, and Mayor Olson stated that Bill should sign the letter.
Chief Administrative Officer:
There were no items at this time.
Executive Review:
• Scott Wilm -- Request for variance for a fence at 602 West Maryland Lane
Mayor Olson stated that staff should be prepared to report on the procedure for this issue. Kurt stated
variances are addressed in the zoning ordinance, but the code enforcementibuilding official issues the
permits. James stated that there are restricted regulations for corner lots. A variance request needs to go
before the Planning Board, which would then make a recommendation to the council.
• Tree issues in Riverside Park
Mayor Olson stated that he should have instructed the employee to discuss the situation with his
supervisor.
• Board Training - October 28'x' or 29'x'
Mayor Olson stated that the council and committee/board/commission chairmen will be notified
regarding the educational opportunity.
Other items
Kurt asked if Matt Wheeler should be introduced to the council at the workshop on August 25 h. Mayor
Olson added this under the CAO.
Department Reports:
Ambulance Service
Jan stated that the Ambulance Service has been busy, as multiple calls have been received recently. Jan
schedules one crew, but other crew members have been available to respond to other calls.
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of August 18, 2009
Clerk/Treasurer
• Budget
Bill stated that Mary is working on the budget.
Fire Department
• Preparations for new fire station
• Status of Fire Department grants
Bill stated that Derek has worked on the new fire station and the grant application has been submitted.
The city should be notified about the grant in September.
Library
• Status of City of Laurel's website
Nancy stated that the library has been busy, but has slowed down a little. She continues to work on the
city's website.
Police D artment
• Status of Chief s recovery
Mark stated that Rick got his cast off today, but there is still some swelling. Rick might return to work
on Friday. Mark stated that the cops and dispatchers continue to demonstrate professionalism.
City Planner
• Various grants for "Laurel Dump Cleanup"
James stated that work at the dump has been delayed for a few weeks.
James recently received an e-mail from Commissioner Ostlund. A property owner on 12'h Street wants
to annex into the city, but the costs of water, sewer, curb, gutter, sidewalk, and street improvements
make it prohibitive to do so. There was discussion regarding TenderNest's plan to build and expand its
utility lines, the possibility of an SID, the County's responsibility to repair 12th Street, and the
possibility that Rural Development would help fund the improvements.
Public Works D artment
• Construction of a storage building
Kurt stated that the bid process will begin soon.
• Status of street project with Hardrives Construction
Kurt has been meeting with Hardrives three times a day. Work has been done on East First Street, West
Avenue, and Railroad Street, and patching on the east/west streets will begin on Wednesday. Citywide
pothole repair will be done, and some streets will be leveled again. Kurt stated that 500 tons, or 50
truck loads, of hot mix are still available for this street project.
• Status of water distribution upgrade
Kurt stated that the final paperwork is being done this week, and water line replacement will begin on
Monday. Two crews will be working, and East 8th Street, from Wyoming to Pennsylvania, will be
done first. The curb, gutter, and sidewalk project on South 1 st Street is almost done and the street will
be paved in October. East 8t' Street will be closed for the school's first football game, but it should be
open for the next game three weeks later. Public notification of the street closure will be published in
the Laurel Outlook.
Department Head Meeting Minutes of August 18, 2009
• Alder Avenue
Kurt stated that Alder Avenue is being used as the detour for the State's project on East Main Street.
Kurt is working with the County regarding the improvement project on Alder Avenue next spring. Kurt
plans to make Alder Avenue drivable for the winter. A pad was built in Ponderosa Park for the millings
that will be stockpiled from the State project.
• Status of Main Street from 0 to 8"' Avenues
Kurt stated that a couple new easements are needed.
1st Avenue South and SE 4t' Street
Kurt stated that the curb and gutter project on South 1st Avenue is almost complete. A leveling course is
planned for Southeast 40' Street next spring. Tractor Supply Company is scheduled to close on the
property by the end of August.
• Report on progress with South Laurel Business SID
Several of the South I" Avenue property owners have returned the agreements. The business owners
have fourteen days after the project is completed to submit the payment.
• Status of Wastewater Plant upgrade
Kurt stated that the task order is on tonight's council agenda. The bidding and construction process will
be discussed in a meeting with Scott Murphy at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
• Solid waste truck purchase
Kurt stated that the new Shop Maintenance Superintendent will prepare the final specs for the truck.
• Ditch mitigation ARRA grant project - 7`h Street
Kurt stated that Great West is working on this project. The cost estimate is $116,000 and ARRA grant
funding is available.
Kurt stated that there have been issues with the Laurel 2002 NE Turn Lane Project, as the contractor has
hit some of the underground utilities. Kurt told the contractor that the State should have done field
verification, and now the State should determine the best course of action. The contractor hit a sewer
line at Laurel Ridge Hotel on Monday.
City Attorney
Sam asked Mayor Olson and Kurt if the engineer the city hired could do a site visit at the water intake
on August 276' at 10:00 am.
Kurt stated that Fish & Game requested information about the intake structure in the river and how the
river has changed. There was discussion regarding a gravel boat ramp.
Mayor Olson
• Park Maintenance Districts
Mayor Olson is getting input regarding park maintenance districts.
• Approval forms
Mayor Olson stated the need for an approval form to provide a process for department heads to accept
equipment according to specifications.
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of August 18, 2009
• Surplus auction
There was discussion regarding the surplus items and auction. After the surplus list is compiled, it will
be decided if an auction will be scheduled. Surplus items can be transferred to other departments.
Chief Administrative Officer
• Schedule of Fees and Charges
Bill asked department heads to submit fee changes to him.
• Moratorium on water resale rates and other water rates
Bill and Kurt met with Great West Engineering today. Great West suggested that the attorney should
work on the resale water rates. There was discussion regarding use of a boiler plate contract for
resellers. Kurt stated that the City of Billings charges water resellers a $10,000 license fee and an
additional annual fee, and there is a set of rules which they must follow.
Bill stated that work will continue on the raw water charges. Cenex is the city's only raw water
customer at this time.
• Impact Fees
Bill is reviewing impact fees for parks and the fire, police and ambulance departments.
• City's lease of railroad property on Main. Street for various uses
Bill stated that work is being done regarding long-term leases of the railroad property on the south side
of Main Street. James has provided a map suggesting various operations for this property. James
mentioned that the Streetscape Plan shows some improvements for the south side of Main Street.
• Water service to MRL property on the south side of Main Street
Bill stated that Great West estimates a cost of $60,000 to $70,000 for the installation of two water lines
and one sewer line across Main Street.
• Bus Transit System
There was no further discussion.
Other
There was no discussion.
The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
1fir-.y-t? ?01-1-
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary
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