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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 07.07.1987Minutes of the City Council of Laurel July 7, 1987 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 7:02 p.m., on July 7, 1987. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Donna Kilpatrick Chuck Rogers L. D. Collins Chuck Dickerson Donald Meyers Rob Harris (late) COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Ervin Wood Norman Orr INVOCATION: Invocation given by Reverend Cunningham. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Dickerson to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 16, 1987, as presented, seconded by Alderman Collins. Carried. CORRESPONDENCE: Received a letter from the Montana Department of Highways regarding an inventory of the City's streets and alleys which will begin on July 21st and take approximately 3 days to complete. Received a report from the Laurel Police Reserve and auxiliary regarding the hours worked the past quarter and past fiscal year. Received a letter of resignation dated June 29, 1987, from Sharon Fullmer ambulance attendant. Motion by Alderman Meyers to accept Sharon Fulimer's resignation,- seconded by Alderman Dickerson. Motion carried 5--0. CLAIMS: Claims for the month of June, 1987, were reviewed by the Budget/Finance Committee and recommended that they be paid. Motion by Alderman Kilpatrick to pay the claims for June, 1987, seconded by Alderman Collins. Motion carried 5--0. Bid Opening - Street Roller: This being the time and place advertised, all bids received were opened and read aloud. Tri-State Equipmentt Inc. Billings, MT. Bid Bond Attached Used RayGo Model 304 - A Vibrating Asphalt Roller Single Drum $37,500.00 Western Plains Machinery Co. Billings, MT. Bid Bond Attached New Case Model 602A, 1 Drum Z Wheels $43,800.00 Used Bomag Model BW 140 AD, Tandem Vibratory Roller $27,350.00 Used Bomag Model BW 160 A, Tandem Vibratory Roller $32,985.00 The bids were referred to the Street and Alley Committee for a recommendation at the next regular council meeting. New Library Site: Gene Williams, representing the Library Board commented on the results of the Library Survey which was recently taken. A total of 251 votes were cast with 110 votes in favor of the 8th Avenue site and 141 votes for the Thompson Park location. Evelyn Crow reported on the Thompson Park site. She stated the people felt this location was more centrally located in reference to the three schools and the Post Office with the people's main concern being for the schools. As a former school librarian, Evelyn does not feel the goal of the public library is to support the schools. She feels the schools need to secure their own materials. Evelyn also stated that the land for the library site ~ non-productive ground. No grass grows there and it is quite often muddy due to the rain and irrigation, so use by the library would not take away valuable park land. Rob Harris arrived at this time (7:20). page2 Minutes of the City Council of Laurel at the July 7, 1987, council meeting. Adele Zink reported on the 8th Avenue and 3rd Street site. This site was officially approved in the major grant to the Library and she feels action needs to be taken soon on a site or the Library Board will lose the grant of $124,000. She said the difference in distance between the two locations and the downtown area is not that great. The 8th Avenue site is only 7½ blocks as opposed to 5½ blocks for the park site. The 8th Avenue site is located by three schools and also two senior citizen centers. Adele spoke to many senior residents and they prefer the 8th Avenue location. She feels this site will lend much grace and beauty to the new building and provide a place of serenity and quietness which is important for a library. Adele feels that if the library is crowded in the park it will be competing with park activities and also be located in an area high in vandalism. Residents commented on the survey sheets that there is already enough congestion by the park when school lets out. Adele also stressed that the point of the public library is to serve the people, not the schools. The library Board's choice for building a new library is the 8th Avenue and 3rd Street site. RESOLUTION NO. 2286 ESTABLISHING CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY AS THE SITE OF THE NEW LIBRARY BUILDING? MOTION BY ALDERMAN MEYERS THAT Resolution No. 2286 be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Collins. Discussion followed concerning the pros and cons of both sites. Cal Cumin stressed the Council needs to do what is best for the cit itself because the library is a major part of the City's design. Alan Crowe stated that there is a tremendous traffic problem on 8th Avenue and this is compounded by the lack of sidewalks which forces the children and pedestrians to walk in the street. Sue Carter also spoke her concerns over saving every piece of park land that we currently have. The cost of establishing new parks is tremendous and the city has designed only one new park over the last decade. The site in Thompson Park has also been maintained all these years out of the park department's budget. A vote was then taken on the original motion. Upon taking a roll call vote, Aldermen Meyers, Collins and Rodgers voted, "Yes." Aldermen Dickerson, Harris and Alderwoman Kilpatrick voted, "No." The vote was tied 3--3. The Mayor broke the tie with a "Yes" vote. Motion carried 4--3. Cal Cumin stated the Library Board is a government body which is relatively exempt from city ordinances and before the Council turns it over to them 100%, they need to get an agreement from the Library Board that they will abide by the city ordinances. 1987 1988 UNION CONTRACT: Motion by Alderman Dickerson to ratify the 1987- 1988 union contract, seconded by Alderman Harris. Motion carried 6--0. PRIMARY ELECTION: RESOLUTION NO. 2287 DECLARING IT UNNECESSARY TO HOLD A PRIMARY ELECTION FOR THE OFFICE OF (4) ALDERMEN IN THE CITY OF LAUREL ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1987. Motion by Alderman Dickerson that Resolution No. 2287 be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Collins. Motion carried 6--0. FLOOD PLAIN ADMINISTRATOR: RESOLUTION NO. 2288 APPOINTING JAMES FLISRAND, CITY ENGINEER, AS FLOOD PLAIN ADMINISTRATOR page3 Minutes of the City Council of Laurel at the July 7, 1987, council meeting. Motion by Alderman Dickerson that Resolution No. 2288 be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Rodgers. Motion carried 6--0. SUPERCOLLIDER: Don Meyers received a phone call from the group which is heading up the Supercollider, asking for a letter of Support from the City Council of Laurel. Motion by' Alderman Meyers to send a letter in support of the Supercollider installation, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. Motion carried 6--0. The Mayor will write this letter for the Council. OPEN CONTAINER ORDINANCE: Chuck Dickerson felt that by requiring a permit for drinking in the parks, it would cut down on vandalism and also result in a cleaner park, due to the fact that their names are on file with the city. Joe Bradley stated that Ordinance No. 919 is to simply extend the open container ordinance to include city parks. Ordinance No. 920 is to add a new section which would legitimize some outdoor gatherings that the Council is already approving, such as the street dance. At this time, activities such as this are being done in violation of our ordinance. ORDINANCE NO. 919 iFirst Reading~ AMENDING SECTION 5.36.115, OF THE LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE, OPEN CONTAINER ORDINANCE Motion by Alderman Dickerson that Resolution No. 919 (first reading) be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderwoman Kilpatrick. Upon taking a roll call vote Alderwoman Kilpatrick and Alderman Dickerson voted, "Yes." Aldermen Harris, Rodgers, Collins and Meyers all voted, "No." Motion was defeated 4--2. ORDINANCE NO. 920 (First ReadingS) ADDING SECTION 5.36.116, TO THE LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE, TO ADLOW SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS TO OPEN CONTAINER ORDINANCE BY PERMIT Motion by Alderman Dickerson that Ordinance No. 920 (first reading) be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Meyers. Joe stated he wrote this ordinance so the people would have to go to the Police Chief for a permit and Alan could then issue it if he's satisfied or he could deny it and send the people to the Council for further action. Alan Crowe, Police Chief, said he doesn't have this authority and he doesn't feel comfortable with issuing these permits. He would rather see the Council do it. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to amend Ordinance No. 920 to read that an applicant will apply to the City Council for a permit rather than to the Police Chief, seconded by Alderwoman Kilpatrick. Motion carried 6--0. A roll call vote was then taken on the original motion as amended on Ordinance No. 920. All aldermen present voted, "Yes." Motion carried 6--0. HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL & LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONES: ORDINANCE NO.917 (Second Readin_~q~) AMENDING SECTION 17.32.010, OF THE LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE, TO ADD AND ALTER CERTAIN PERMITTED USES IN HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL ZONES AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONES Public hearing - no comments. Motion by Alderman Meyers to close the public hearing, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. Motion carried 6--0. page 4 Minutes of the City Council of Laurel at the July 7, 1987, council meeting. Motion by Alderman Meyers that Ordinance No. 917 (second reading) be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman, Dickerson. Upon taking a roll call vote all aldermen present voted, "Yes." Motion carried 6--0. OFF -STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS: ORDINANCE NO. 918 (Second Readinq) AMENDING SECTION 17.76.010 OF THE LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE, OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED DIMENSIONS OF OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES Public hearing - no comments. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to close the public hearing, seconded by Alderman Meyers. Motion carried 6--0. Motion by Alderman Dickerson that Ordinance No. 918 (second reading) be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Rodgers. Upon taking a roll call ~ote all aldermen present voted, "Yes." Motion carried 6--0. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Airport Authority Committee minutes of June 13, presented. 1987, were Motion by Alderman Dickerson to enter the Airport Authority Committee minutes of June 13, 1987, into the record, seconded by Alderman Collins. Motion carried 6--0. Budget/Finance Committee minutes of July 7, 1987, were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Harris to enter the Budget/Finance Committee minutes of July 7, 1987, into the record, seconded by Alderman Rodgers. Motion carried 6--0. City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of June 16, 1987, were presented. Motion by Alderman Meyers to enter the City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of June 16, 1987, into the record, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. Motion carried 6--0. Street and Alley Committee minutes of June!lB, 1987,.~werei: presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Collin~ to enter the Street and Alley Committee minutes of June 18, 1987, into the record, seconded by Alderman Harris. Motion carried 6--0. Chuck Dickerson requested permission to leave the state August 1st to August 21st. Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatrick to grant Chuck Dickerson per- mission to leave the state, seconded by Alderman Collins. Motion carried 6--0. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Elsie Johnston thanked the Council for the pruning shears that were given her several years ago. She also stated she enjoyed working with the Beta alternative boys. Joe stated he has received several complaints of children being on the tennis courts. He said we could pass an ordinance stating that anyone not playing tennis should stay off the courts. He said enforcing it could be a problem but at least a sign could be posted and this may deter many and we could go from there. Joe will draft an ordinance which will be presented at the next meeting. Chuck Rogers stated he would like to see this Council honor Elsie Johnson in some way for all her work and dedication to the beautifying of Laurel. pages MinuteS of the City Council of Laurel at the July 7, 1987, council meeting. Joe stated that many people could be honored by naming a park after them and as it stands, the parks are being named after the developer. He said this could be changed anytime and the City could then name their own parks. There was also discussion about the possibility of naming the new library after her. Don Hackmann asked those who work with purchase orders to start turning them in on a weekly basis to avoid the last minute rush each month. Ernie Davis said he needs to do more repairs to the streets and less chip and seal work, So we don't lose anymore streets. He will be concentrating his work on 5th Avenue and west on Maryland Lane. Mayor Gauthier asked for confirmation of the hiring of Dee McLelland. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to confirm the hiring of Dee McLelland to the position of Clerk/Typist, seconded by Alderwoman Kilpatrick. Motion carried 6--0. CARNIVAL: ~ Mayor Gauthier would like to reques~ the Council's approval for a carnival to be held July 22, to July 25th. Motion by Alderman Meyers to grant permission for a carnival to be held on July 22 to July 25th, pending a city license, seconded by Alderwoman Kilpatrick. Motion carried 6--0. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 8:4.~~~~~ Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 21st day of July, 1987. ATTEST: Donald L. Hackmann City Clerk