HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 09.29.2009MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 6:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
A Council Workshop was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Ken Olson at
6:30 p.m. on September 29, 2009.
CO CIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
x Emelie Eaton
_x Kate Hart
_x_ Chuck Rodgers
Alex Wilkins
_x Doug Poehls
Mark Mace
_x Chuck Dickerson
_x Norm Stamper
OTHERS PRESENT:
Sam Painter
Mary Embleton
Bill Sheridan
Kurt Markegard
Rick Musson
Derek Yeager
Public Input three-minute limit :
Citizens may address the Council regarding any item of City business not on the agenda. The duration for an individual
speaking under Public Input is limited to three minutes. While all comments are welcome, the Council will not take action
on any item not on the agenda.
Tim O'Connell, 519 Montana Avenue, spoke regarding the crime scene van offered to the City of
Laurel by the City of Billings. Tim has lived in Laurel since 1980 and has worked with the Billings
Police Vepartment for twenty-six years and is the Deputy Chief of Police. The City of Billings
recently acquired a new crime scene van, which cost about $300,000, of which $200,000 was
appropriations and over $100,000 was drug forfeiture money. The Billings PD has had the van since
1982 of 1983 and Tim has spent many hours in it. They received the van through a Coal Tax Grant.
When a decision was needed regarding the old van, he thought about what nearby community could
use it and he thought of the City of Laurel. The van, which cannot be sold, is in fairly good shape, has
9,000 original miles on the engine, has a good generator, and has a lot of extra lighting to light up a
crime scene area. He stated that it would be a great addition for Laurel and he hopes the council
accepts it.
Genera items:
• Recognition for civic service - New Life Foursquare Church
Kurt Markegard stated that New Life Foursquare Church contacted him about a year ago to express
interest in doing some community service for the City of Laurel. Kurt immediately asked what they
though about installing playground equipment, and Pastor Steve Schreiner said they would do it. The
equipment was donated with Project HELP funds after the completion of Kids' Kingdom. The
playground equipment was at Nutting Park, but due to the workload of employees, the city was not
able to install the equipment. Kurt stated that it was a time-consuming project. Kurt introduced Greg
Burke and Carl Wallila, who represented New Life Foursquare Church.
Council (Workshop Minutes of September 29, 2009
Mayor i Olson thanked Greg and Carl and presented a framed certificate of recognition to them in
appreciation for the work the church did on the playground project.
Greg Burke spoke regarding the project, the participants, and the donated resources. Greg mentioned
that CMG Construction and Fisher Sand and Gravel donated many man-hours and resources to
complote the project. Some girls from the Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch participated and were
given a unique opportunity to work in a controlled setting. Greg stated that it was a rewarding
projects and the church hopes to participate in more projects in the future.
• Fire Department Appointments: Mark Cloud, Dave Jones and Mike Hernandez
• Ambulance Service Appointments: Joe Kuhl and Bill Lorenz.
Mayor (Olson stated that the appointments will be on the October 6"' council agenda. Derek Yeager
stated that the appointees will attend the council meeting.
Public Works Department:
• Resolution - Storm water agreement with MDT for the 80h Avenue Project
Kurt Markegard explained that the resolution is for a storm water agreement with the Montana
Department of Transportation for the 8th Avenue project. The agreement is to capture and treat some
of the storm water that comes from 8`h Avenue and Cherry Hills Subdivision. Cherry Hills will drain
into a storm water drainage pond, or retention pond, for up to 24 hours and then discharge into the
ditch that runs along West 7 Street and over to 8'h Avenue. With the agreement, the city will meet
certain conditions regarding flow and expansion of the system. The City of Laurel will be responsible
for $279,514.57 for this agreement and the funding will be from the Street Maintenance Fund.
Emelie asked if this would completely take care of the drainage issue in Cherry Hills.
Kurt explained that this will address design features in Stn Avenue that will allow Cherry Hills storm
water to go down to 8`h Avenue storm pipes. Right now, the ditch on West 76h Street is overgrown
with cattails. Cherry Hills runs all the way down through there and at certain points could flood
prop:be t With these improvements, instead of exacerbating the storm water further down 8th Avenue
and e flooding out at 7`h or 8`h Streets, the water will be detained for 24 hours. The water will
then dissipate over a 24-hour period. The State Right-of-Way Agency purchased lands from the
church that were given to the City of Laurel for the construction of the project. Hopefully, this will
take care of the issues. It will not take care of groundwater, but storm water from that area will have
an adequate spot to drain and will not flood downtown. The water will all drain into the Italian Ditch
or the Laurel Drain by Laurel Ford.
Chuck Dickerson asked if the city is liable if the lowest acceptable bid exceeds the estimate by more
than 10 percent. Kurt stated that this is the engineer's estimate and the money allocated is their best
estimate of the design features and construction and materials until the bids come in. If the bids go
over 10 percent, the city has the right to tell MDT they cannot award the project because the city
cannot offord it. The project will be let on October 8`h.
• Resolution - Award bid for Phase 2A1 of wastewater project
Kurt stated that the bids for Phase 2A1 of the wastewater project closed at 10:00 a.m. today and then
were opened. Bid tabs were distributed to the council with the draft resolution. The engineer's
estimato was $1,496,500. The lowest bid of $1,191,214 was from Engineered Structures, Inc., out of
Boise, ;daho. Dick Anderson Construction submitted the second lowest bid of $1,316,498. Johnson-
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Council (Workshop Minutes of September 29, 2009
Wilson Constructors submitted a bid of $1,358,000 and COP Construction bid $1,454,600. Kurt
stated that all of the calculations have not been done to make sure the bid tabs are accurate. The
engineer's recommendation to award the project should be received by Thursday.
• Resolution - Permanent waterline easement with CHS Inc.
Kurt stated the resolution would allow the mayor to accept a permanent waterline easement from CHS
Inc. for the recently bid sewer project. The city and CHS want to put the waterline in a different
location closer to the road and away from the CHS sedimentation basins. This would make it easier
for the city to turn valves on and off and to provide adequate fire flow to the sewer plant. Cenex
requested that the city move the lines closer to the road and actually came up with an acceptable
route. The engineering firm did the design, and part of the design was the need for the easement to do
the sites title opinion so the project can be awarded. Legal counsel will work on site title opinion if the
council approves.
Fire / Ambulance:
• Resolution - Expand the membership of the fire department
Derek Yeager stated that the resolution would amend Laurel Municipal Code 2.64.010, which
provides the authority for the council to set the maximum membership for the volunteer fire
department. Right now, the standard indicates that Laurel should have a number of 52 roster
firefighters available. Laurel currently has 35, as the resolution reflects now. He is asking to expand
the nuniber to 100 so that as Laurel grows, changes shape, and changes ideas about how to staff the
fire services in the future, it is not necessary to continually amend resolutions. The membership
would .not go from 35 today to 100 tomorrow, but it would be as time, budget, and need dictate.
• Resolution - Declaring a thermal imager as surplus for sale to the Molt Fire Department
Derek stated that the resolution would declare a thermal imager, which is a device used to detect heat
in hidden spaces behind walls, in attics, and floors, as surplus. This camera, which is the second and
the oldost of the department's cameras, would be declared surplus and available for sale to the Molt
Fire Department. The Molt Fire Department has indicated that they desire this kind of tool and would
like to (work with the Laurel Fire Department. Since the department does not use the camera very
often, the department could forego it to help them out.
Cemetey Commission:
• ?Zesolution - Task order to Great West Engineering in the amount of $2,000 for preliminary
engineering for the gathering area in the veterans' section of the Laurel Cemetery
Norm Stamper stated that, when the city sold the land to the County for the Veterans' Cemetery, the
Cemeteryy Commission agreed to use the money from the sale for improvements to the veterans'
section iof the city's cemetery. The Cemetery Commission has worked to design a small gathering
area in the veterans' section. The Commission met there recently and toured the area and decided it
would be best to get an engineer involved and get a task order from Great West Engineering for
$2,000 to do that. A letter was received from Pat Murtagh today and stated that "since the cemetery
project ' rather small, at this time I'd like to propose we work "pro-bono" on it, for at least the time
being. rf it turns out to be significant work, then at that time we'd like to then submit a task order."
Norm stated that Pat proposed to do the project at no charge to the city. Norm stated that is a good
reflection on the city's engineer, and it is a great offer on his part. Because of that, the resolution will
be pulled at this time. If the project gets too big, Great West might look at it in the future. Norm
expressed his personal thanks to Pat Murtagh and his firm and appreciates what he is doing for the
city.
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Council) Workshop Minutes of September 29, 2009
Mayor) Olson stated that it does reflect on the city's association with Great West and hopefully it is for
many more years.
Police Poartment:
• Resolution - Accept crime scene van from the City of Billings
Rick Musson stated that the council already heard Deputy Chief O'Connell talk about the crime scene
van. It was exciting when he called to offer it to the City of Laurel, as the department has looked at
doing something with a crime scene van for years but could not come up with the funds. He asked the
council to vote on it next week so the city can take possession of it and get to work.
Clerk reasurer:
• Resolution - Reimbursement resolution for the water project
Mary )Embleton stated that resolution is for the current Phase 2 water project. The project has not
come together step-by-step as normal projects would but has gone at a high velocity, which drove the
need for this resolution. Bond counsel, Dorsey & Whitney, recommended that the city pass this
resolution because a resolution will come forward soon for the city to issue the revenue bonds to
borrowt $820,000 from the State Revolving Fund for this project. This resolution allows the city to
incur costs while the bond resolution is prepared and is needed to be in compliance with Federal
regulations for issuing tax exempt bonds. This housekeeping item is an additional step that is
required due to the nature of the timing of this project and simply says that the city can incur the costs
and will be reimbursed from the proceeds of the bond sales when they are available. Mary
recommended passage of this resolution.
• Tax resolutions
Mary presented the tax resolutions at tonight's workshop because there will not be another workshop
before the final budget is adopted. The Preliminary Budget, which sets the stage and gets the clock
ticking) for adoption of the Final Budget, will be presented later on this agenda. Once the Preliminary
Budget is presented, publication of the public hearing notice must occur twice in the Laurel Outlook,
which Will be on September 30'' and October 7 h. The public hearing will be held at a special council
meeting on Tuesday, October 13`h, at 6:00 p.m. After the public hearing, Mayor Olson chose to
schedule a special council meeting on Thursday, October 15`h, at 5:30 p.m. for council action on the
Final Budget. October 15`h is the 451h day allowed by statute for the city to adopt the Final Budget.
The tai resolutions will be on the October 15`h council agenda. Mary reviewed the resolutions to
adopt the Final Budget, levy taxes to set the mill levies for the City of Laurel, levy and assess taxes
for SITS Light No. 2, SID Light, No. 3, SID No. 110, SID No. 111, Street Maintenance District No. 1,
and Street Sweeping District No. 1, and assess delinquent water, sewer and garbage charges.
Mary stated that the mill levies are set at the maximum level, and the budget is designed around
setting them at the maximum level. The city has a total of 196.13 mills this year. The Street
Maintenance District, which has been assessed at 2 cents per square foot since 2005, will generate
$574,3Q6.06. The Sweeping District is assessed at 25 cents per front foot for residential and 75 cents
per front foot for commercial.
City Pl er:
• Resolution - Accept Transit Coordination Plan
Bill Sheridan stated that the resolution is to accept the Transit Coordination Plan developed by LSC
Transportation Consultants. The transit program would allow the City of Laurel to purchase transit
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Council )Workshop Minutes of September 29, 2009
equipment, including buses and vans, and to provide personnel to run the program and maintain the
vehicles. The program will provide movement of residents throughout the city and eventually to other
cities.
Emel* Eaton stated that she had previously requested information regarding the impact of this
program to the budget. At that time, she was told that discussion was ongoing and a report would be
given in the future. Also, at that meeting, the Public Works Department was not represented and she
wanted to know if they were cognizant that this plan would require them to be in charge of the
manpower. She asked if anyone was willing to comment on those issues.
Bill stated that the city certainly will have to rely upon the mechanic to keep up with maintenance of
the vehicles. He hopes that by the end of next week there will be information which would indicate
the impact and additional costs that might affect the operation of the city. Bill will work with the
planned and the Public Works Department and anyone else involved to get some dollar figures.
Chief Administrative Officer:
• Resolution - Deed for property by container site for future water tank
Bill st ted that the city continues to communicate with the property owner that allowed Riverside
Sand I Gravel to mine the property just above the Veterans' Cemetery and the City of Laurel's
Cemetery. The individual asked Bill to prepare a deed and to provide some kind of assurance that,
once ft mining is completed on his property, he can take advantage of the site as a development and
would need the use of potable water. He would like assistance from the city attorney to prepare a
deed and an agreement allowing him to purchase water from the city once the sand and gravel is
removed from the property and he begins development of the subdivision. When the documents are
prepared in the near future, Bill will bring them to the owner's attention.
Doug stated that he is not opposed to this, but he thinks the city needs to state that, because the
property is that far out of the city's service area, it could not provide him with water unless the city
had already build a water tank at that location.
Executive Review:
• Discussion of policy for extension of utility services
Mayor Olson brought this forward to identify the city's policy for extension of utility services for the
council As stated in the policy for extension of services, an extension request must be written and
submitted to the council for its consideration. During staff discussion recently, it was apparent that
the city has extensions of utility services throughout the community. This includes small districts of
five orI six customers within outlying areas and customers outside the city that consume a vast
majority of the water. Whenever services are extended, it has been the policy that extension of these
servic" must be brought before the council.
Doug stated that the last request he remembers for extension of services was for Solid Foundations.
He does not know of anyone else that petitioned other than Cenex.
Mayor Olson stated that Elena Subdivision also requested utility services, but he could not think of
another] request outside the city limits.
Doug sated that there may not be a formal acknowledgement of it, but basically the city works on the
premise that a petitioner must annex if they want services.
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Council) Workshop Minutes of September 29, 2009
Mayor) Olson stated that the annexation policy states that annexation is a requirement for extension of
servic outside the city to a new service. SID's recently requested extension of services and annexed
into th city. The city cannot annex without the applicant first making the application or unless the
properly is fully surrounded by the city. The city has the right to refuse extension of services if the
applicant does not agree to annexation. Extension of services is not limited to new services. If it
involves services outside the city with a property that has existing services, it should be accompanied
by a request to the entity, and refusal is at the council's discretion.
Mayor) Olson stated that this begs the question as to the extent of stags involvement in outlying
district0. Information is being compiled and will be presented to the council.
• Appointments: (Letters of interest due September 25, 2009)
Mayor lOlson thanked the Laurel Outlook for the article regarding the vacancies on the city's boards,
commissions and committees. Several citizens are willing to step forward and be part of the process.
MayorlOlson will make the following appointments at the October 6 h council meeting: Clete Knaub
to the Emergency Services Committee; Marv Carter to the Public Works Committee; Don Brown to
the City-County Planning Board; David Schreder to the City-County Planning Board; Bruce McGee
to the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency; and LuAnne Engh to the Park Board. A couple other people
that are interested in appointment to the Park Board have not yet been confirmed. If a response is
received by Thursday, their names will go forward for appointment.
Preliminary Budget Presentation
Mary tmbleton stated that this year's budget has been challenging. The council has the right,
authority and duty to make changes, if necessary, prior to adoption of the Final Budget. Mary stated
that the format has remained the same but is thicker as additional funds and some pertinent
information was added to the budget. The $21 million budget is down a little from last year because
of projects shifting around. Page 1 is a history of the appropriations the last five years. Page 3 is the
certified mill values. The total taxable valuation carne out to a mill worth $6,794, but then the city
has to take out what the TIF District brings in. So a mill is worth $6,367, which is up about $30 a mill
from la$t year. The TIF District increased from a value of $221 a mill to $427. The next page shows
the City-County Planning. That valuation went up in market value and taxable value, but the net
value went down because of the TIFD again. A mill there is worth $26,009. Page 5 is the history of
the mills, their value, how many the city levied, and the values over the past several years. The net
increase is about 10 mills. Mary will prepare and distribute figures showing the impact on the
taxpayers for $100,000 and $200,000 houses prior to the public hearing. She predicts that there will
not be a big impact on taxpayers as the legislative session promised to mitigate any impact of this
reappralisal cycle on residential and commercial property owners. The budget presented levies the
maximum authority allowed by law, but the overall impact on the homeowner should be minimal.
Mary reviewed the Budget Message on page 7. This is a narrative of the budget and includes some of
the infllencing factors. The most influential factor for increasing costs is the employees. People
comprise the bulk of the overall budget and personnel costs are typically 30 to 40 percent of the
budget costs. In this budget, when the city spends millions of dollars on capital improvements, the
personnel costs are still fairly substantial and influential. The union contracts already set the raises
and only a 4 percent increase is proposed for non-union employees, but that is the council's decision.
There as a zero percent increase in the medical insurance premiums and unemployment factors were
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Council Workshop Minutes of September 29, 2009
down. I Workers' comp and liability insurance remained the same, but since both of those are based on
wages,) the overall net increase is higher. Property insurance was about the same.
General Fund revenues are proposed at about $3.3 million. Appropriations are proposed at $3.5
million, so there is a $255,000 deficit proposed to be made up in reserves. A similar budget was
adopted last year. Last year's budget ended up about $10,000 to the good as revenues came in higher
and appropriations came in lower. Next month's Year-End Budget Review will illustrate that.
Special Revenue Funds are done for comp insurance, health insurance and PERS. The employer's
contrition to PERS went up this year. The Permissive Medical Levy has been a financially good
thing for the city. The 2001 Legislature passed a law that allowed local governments to levy
additional mills for the purpose of dealing with double-digit inflationary costs for health insurance
premiums without voter approval. The City of Laurel has taken full advantage of that provision in the
law to (fund the health insurance benefits. This year, the city can levy an additional 4.71 mills, which
is about $220,000 of taxpayer money. This legislative session clarified some of the laws for this
provision. Some cities used this additional mill levy authority to help fund insurance even for
employees in the Enterprise Funds. Mary did not interpret it that way, as levying mills should only
deal with General Fund employees, so the clarification will not hurt the City of Laurel. Next spring
the city will enter into union negotiations because the need in the city has been driven mainly by the
union contracts. There has already been discussion at the administrative level that this issue will be
addressed in future negotiations.
The Planning Department has requested additional help from the County as the County's area draws
most of the work for the Planning Department. The city has asked for additional assistance, but the
County has not been very receptive. The city has to live within its means and is able to do so with
this budget and still have a full-time employee for another year. In the future, alternatives may need
to be considered.
The Tax Increment Finance District, which was short about $40,000 that will probably never be
recovered because of the Department of Revenue's mistake, with the reappraisal cycle and the figures
released, looks good. Mary will know the revenues when all entities have set their final mills. The
city planned conservatively for this fund because it already has debt service of $155,000 for the storm
water project and an additional $70,000 that the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency approved in their
minutes for water and sewer work on Main Street.
Mary stated that a budget is a plan that can be amended through the proper procedure during the
budget 'year in order to deal with any necessary changes.
The Building Department is a difficult fund to predict because it is user-fee based. When it is busy,
money is received and employees are busy. When it is not busy, the city does not get as much money.
Something had to be done this year with the allocation of man-hours for this fund in order to keep it
solvents Upon the advice of the Mayor, CAO, and Public Works Director, the employees have been
allocated into appropriate departments.
The Li hting Districts remain the same and the Street Maintenance District has money for projects.
The Gr t Funds require matching funds and it was challenging to find the appropriate funding for the
matches. Grants are a mixed blessing and the city must remember that most grants require a match.
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Council) Workshop Minutes of September 29, 2009
In the Capital Projects Fund, the city adopted a comprehensive five-year plan that was followed fairly
closely last year. Some items were re-appropriated into this year's budget. An example would be for
the new restrooms at Riverside Park. Examples for this year's capital projects are a police car with a
radio, 20,000 for a sprinkling system for one of the parks, $20,000 for a sprinkling system for the
cemetery, a simulator for the police department, and a new roof for the library. Mary stated that a
budgetary commitment has been made to sustain and maintain capital replacement and improvement
for the I city.
Mary expressed concern regarding the Water Fund as the city is using a lot of reserves, but it was
planned to do so. There has not been a water rate increase for quite some time, and that will come
forward soon. A lot of work is being done on water, sewer, and solid waste and spending money on
capital'limprovcments to this level is a good thing for the citizens of Laurel.
Mary stated that the Solid Waste Fund is doing so well that two trucks could be purchased this year,
but that is up to the Public Works Department.
Page 9 provides a summary of appropriations. With the $21 million budget, $3 million is for
personnel costs, which is one-seventh of the budget. Over half of the budget is proposed for capital
outlay, Iwhich is a tremendous amount of work for this fiscal year.
The Reference Sheet for Wage and Benefit Factors on page 10 outlines insurance costs, retirement
costs, eptc. The proposed pay raise for non-union employees and the pay scales from the union
contracts are included in the Preliminary Budget document.
Pages 17 through 24 include the Budget Summary Sheets and are grouped by type of fund. This
included the Tax Levy Requirement Schedule, the Special Assessment Schedule, the Non-Levied
Funds,' Capital Project Funds, Enterprise Funds, and Trust and Agency Funds. Mary stated that a
budget is balanced when the total requirements match the total resources. The proposed Preliminary
Budget is a balanced budget with the use of reserves.
The Sweeping District has levied about $17,000 a year for the last ten years and the assessment has
never been increased. The cost to operate the Sweeping District is more than what is assessed. In
order to cure the fund this year, it is proposed that the $20,000 cash that was transferred from
Sweepi? g to the CIP Fund a couple years ago for a new sweeper should be transferred back to the
Sweeping Fund in order to fully fund it another year. Options are being discussed for the following
year. A different type of sweeper is budgeted in the Street Maintenance Fund this year, as per the
CIP.
The Memorial Endowment for the pool should be at $118,000 by the end of this year. One factor that
has influenced revenue is that interest rates are so low and not improving.
The Cash Available Worksheet on pages 25 through 28 uses the end of one fiscal year to start the next
budget process.
The Ge eral Fund summary sheet on page 30 provides a brief overview of the cash balance on July 1,
2009, iicoming cash, outgoing appropriations, and the balance. A 20.33 percent reserve rate is a
good rate. Law allows up to 50 percent in cash reserves, but 20 percent is most acceptable and
practical. The deficit of $255,048 will be used out of reserves for this budget. The next page is a pie
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Council (Workshop Minutes of September 29, 2009
chart showing General Fund revenue sources. For General Fund revenues, property taxes provide 25
percent, intergovernmental revenues provide 21 percent, charges for services provide 27 percent, and
transfers from Insurance Funds provide 13 percent. Some examples of General Fund appropriations
include the police department appropriations of 27 percent, dispatch appropriations of 9 percent, and
fire/an ?bulance appropriations of 15 percent. The 2 percent appropriation for city hall is for the
build' , as is the 3 percent appropriation for the FAP building. Two percent of appropriations, about
$90,00, will be transferred to the CIP and Grants and dedicated to planning for the future in the form
of grants and capital improvements for the General Fund entities.
Mary stated that the public hearing for the Preliminary Budget is scheduled on October 13`h at 6:00
p.m. and final adoption is schedule on October 15'h at 5:30 p.m.
Mayor (Olson recessed the meeting at 7:54 p.m. The meeting was called to order again at 7:59
Bill Sheridan stated that Mary does an excellent job. He reminded the council that the city is making
major improvements for water, the water plant, and distribution. The city has major problems with
the streets, and has tackled the situation and is moving forward. New things are dealt with every day,
and there is always concern about staying within limits, the costs, and finding the best way to go
forward. Mary had mentioned that the utilities are moving in a positive direction. Bill stated the
possibility of increasing water rates. He stated that positions have been filled and staff continues to
work hard and will continue to pursue things that are needed and appropriate. With the council's
direction and the staffs efforts, everyone can make a great community even better. Staff will bring
things, such as the bus transit system, that might create some expense to the council's attention from
time to time. In each of these situations, there is always concern about the expense and he is sure that
Mary Worries more than everyone but has always been helpful. He stated the need for some
equipment improvements for the fire department and the public works department. The capital
improvement program will help address the needs. Bill stated that the city will not go beyond and
outside) of the needs and will be diligent of where improvements can be made to make the city better
and provide the best services possible at the least possible cost.
Mayor Olson stated that the budget was a culmination of a lot of work under less than ideal conditions
and he appreciated the presentation.
• setter from A Haus of Realty
Mayor (Olson stated that the letter indicated an opportunity for the City of Laurel. The available
property, which is located to the west of the safety complex, includes the area where two houses sit
plus the vacant land to the west and is half of a block. He reported on today's meeting with the
realtor, I Carole Mayes, and the property owners, Jake and Terrie Lambrecht. The conversation
included their proposal to sell the four legal descriptions at a quoted price of $405,000. The
opportunity to purchase one lot and then secure funding for the three remaining lots was also
present. Mayor Olson thanked them for corning to the City of Laurel as their first opportunity,
stated that the city has many different needs, and informed them that some needs are being addressed
through the emergency services as a fire department mill levy proposal. He also informed them that
the fire) chiefs proposal includes a site that is railroad property and that the City of Laurel is in
cony ation with MRL and BNSF regarding the commitment necessary for that prospect. Mayor
Olsonalso informed them of the prior mill levy attempt to purchase the Ricci's lot. He told them he
apprect ted their proposal, but such a purchase is not possible at this time, but the property would be
considered with all other properties if the city goes forward to the public for consideration of a
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Council Workshop Minutes of September 29, 2009
complex. He also suggested that the property owners go to the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency or
contact the BSEDA individual for further options. He assured them that the property would go in the
folder with the rest of the documentation for facility opportunities.
Other # ems
Mary stated that Johnson Controls had requested to present an Annual Report at the council meeting
on October 6th. The presentation is listed on the council agenda, and Mary will confirm this with
Johnson Controls.
Doug 4sked that the following items be placed on the October 13th council workshop agenda: weed
issues at Helena Chemical and an update regarding Asphalt Supply. Doug stated that the Airport
Authority has questions regarding car insurance issues and he asked if that would be under the city's
umbre4a or if the airport needs its own insurance. Mayor Olson stated that an official response would
be provided soon.
Chuck (Dickerson suggested sending letters of thanks to Pat Murtagh and Great West Engineering for
the prof Bono work for the Laurel cemetery and to the Billings Police Department for the donation of
the cri#ne scene van.
for October 6th
th
• Public Hearings:
o Ordinance No. 009-10: 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.
(First reading - 09/01/2009; PH -10/06/2009)
o 2009-2010 Preliminary Budget (PH -Special Council Meeting on 10/13/2009)
o Additional Mills Levied for Permissive Medical Levy Fund Budget for Fiscal Year
2009-2010 (PH - Special Council Meeting on 10/13/2009)
Mayor (Olson stated that the public hearings are scheduled at a special meeting on October 13th at 6:00
p.m., just prior to the scheduled council workshop.
Mayor (Olson stated that the special council meeting on Thursday, October 15th, is for the adoption of
the Final Budget.
Attend ce at council meetings
• October 6, 2009 council meeting
Chuck Dickerson and Kate Hart will not attend this meeting.
• (October 13, 2009 special council meeting
• October 15, 2009 special council meeting
All council members present will attend.
Announcements:
Emeliel Eaton attended the Main Street USA Conference in Helena on Monday and Tuesday and has
information available if requested.
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Council (Workshop Minutes of September 29, 2009
The council workshop adjourned at 8:20 p.m
Respecttfully submitted,
i,C '?
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary
NOTEk This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion of
the Council, for the listed workshop agenda items.
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