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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 10.13.2009MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP OCTOBER 13, 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 October 13, 2009. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: x Emelie Eaton _x Kate Hart -x Chuck Rodgers x Alex Wilkins _x Doug Poehls _x Mark Mace Chuck Dickerson Norm Stamper OTH RS PRESENT: Sam Painter Mary Embleton Bill Sheridan Kurt Markegard James Caniglia Rick Musson Derek Yeager Publi In ut t to limit : Citizet 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. Gener 1 items Mayon Olson stated that a presentation would be made under other items. City Plann • Resolution - Accept Transit Coordination Plan James Caniglia explained that the council needs to formally accept the Transit Coordination Plan prepared by LSC Consultants before MDT will provide funding for the transit program. The State wants to ensure that all options were reviewed and considered. Emelie asked James to clarify that accepting the plan does not mean the council is in agreement with the plan, but it just completes the paperwork for MDT. James stated that the city is not bound to the plan, but acceptance allows the city to move to the next step. The resolution will be on the October 20?' council agenda. • Variance request - Scott Wilm, 602 West Maryland Lane - Relief of fence height on a corner lot - LMC 17.48.050(A) James distributed pictures of the property for the council's review. The Planning Board recently had discus ion regarding the city's fence codes and how the codes pertain to corner lots. The Planning Board voted 6-1 to approve the variance request to install a six-foot vinyl fence in the same location as the current chain link fence. The Planning Board had concerns that the six-foot fence would block the vision while backing out of the neighbor's driveway. Since the intersection is a controlled intersej lion, the neighbor to the east also has a privacy fence, and the fence is not in the clear vision Council Workshop Minutes of October 13, 2009 triangle, the request was approved by the Planning Board. James stated that the Planning Board requ ted further review of the fence codes. There was council discussion regarding site distance and the need to review the codes. The resolution will be on the October 20th council agenda. Publi Works D artment: • Resolution - Agreement with St. Vincent Healthcare Occupational Health Services Kurt Markegard stated that the agreement provides drug screening, DOT physicals, and other services for the City of Laurel, and it is an annual agreement. The resolution will be on the October 20th council agenda. Chief Administrative Officer: • Resolution - Lease Agreement at Riverside Park with Laurel Jaycees Bill Sheridan stated that the Laurel Jaycees already signed a lease agreement. However, the following statement regarding the provision of water needs to be added to the agreement: "Lessee acknowledges the City is unable to provide running water during the winter unless weather permits." Bill w?ll ask the Jaycees to sign the revised agreement prior to next week's council meeting. A lease agreement with the Rifle Club was previously approved, and lease agreements with the other entities at Riverside Park are in process. The resolution will be on the October 20'hcouncil agenda. • Bids for 8'h Avenue -- Main to 9h- Laurel Project Bill reviewed the bids for the 8h Avenue, Main to 9h, Laurel Project. Knife River submitted the lowO bid at $3,316,850.24. The reconstruction of Wh Avenue is scheduled for the summer of 2010. Executive Review: • Council Issues: o Weed issues at Helena Chemical (Doug Poehls) Doug (stated that the issues at Helena Chemical began when the Planning Board approved a coffee kiosk 'din the parking lot and landscaping requirements were never completed. Kurt explained that Chris ? osenberg sent several letters regarding the weeds. There was a lengthy discussion regarding the need for a timely process to address weeds in the city and the legal obligation to enforce the ordinance. Sam stated that an ordinance could be prepared to allow options for the code enforcement offlcerCs. o Asphalt Supply update (Doug Poehls) Kurt explained that Joe Gentri informed the city that a contractor has signed an agreement to demo the Asphalt Supply site, excluding the scales which will stay. Work will begin in two to four weeks. A she will be brought in to cut everything up, and then it will be loaded on trucks and removed. When completed, the site should be flat, cleaned up, and ready to lease out again. Gary Colley has been dealing with this issue since 2003 and will be glad when the project is completed. Other tems Maya Olson asked Kurt to speak regarding the work being done at the underpass and the mitigation of the top lights. Kurt stated that the contractor has been milled it out. Part of the underpass project was to redo the siphon, but the ditch companies would not allow that mitigation until after October 151' when the irrigation water is shut off. Unfortunately, the street was milled a month in advance and some wire mesh was coming up. Last week, the State had the wire mesh cut out with a chop saw as it was 2 Counc# Workshop Minutes of October 13, 2009 treat" g some hazards. The State realized that the corner where the semis get hung up is a danger and needO to be addressed. The State acquired permission from MRL to cut and redo the comer. Some of the wall will be removed and the light will be relocated back. The specials for the State project called for the work to be done within 24 hours, with no interruption to the light for more than 24 hours. However, in order to pour the concrete base for the light, they have to remove the old light to get in there and drill and dig. Riverside Sand & Gravel informed the State that it would not be accomplished in 24 hours. In order for the light to be removed, they cannot just shut one light off as all the lights are interlinked. When power is killed to one light, it is killed to the other three, which essentially makes it a four-way stop. Kurt requested putting bags over the lights to avoid confusion for drivers. The contractor installed the four-way stop and started digging and hit a line today at 3:00. They do not know what it is, but Kurt thinks it is a drain pipe for the retaining wall to keep the storm water and the drain water from putting hydraulic pressure on that wall. The contractor will take the light own, put a new light up, cut the concrete wall, adjust the radius of the curve, and widen the aspha . This should be done within a few days. The contractor will start paving when it is conducive. When they mill the street, they have 24 hours to pave, as the requirements state that they mill itl one day and pave it the next day. Work on the siphon or ditch will begin after October 15th. Kurt will keep the police, fire, mayor, CAO and others informed regarding intermittent closures during the project. Mayor Olson stated that Fred Bicha was scheduled to give a presentation regarding being a Tree City and grant applications. Since Mr. Bicha did not attend the meeting, the presentation will be scheduled at a later date. There was some discussion regarding the presentation information, which Emelie Eaton (stated is a complicated issue. Review of draft council agenda for October 20, 2009 • Ordinance No. 009-10: An 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. (I" reading - 09/01/2009; PH -10/06/2009; 2nd reading -10/20/2009) The second reading of the ordinance will be on the October 206' council agenda. Attendance at the.October 20, 2009 council meeting All pr sent will attend the special meeting on October 15`h and the regular meeting on October 20`x'. Anno"cements Mark (Mace and Chuck Dickerson reported on the League Convention in Great Falls last week. Several Laurel people enjoyed rides in a Chinook or Black Hawk helicopter. New land use regulations were presented and discussed at the convention. Fifty-three of the 128 Montana cities and towns were represented at the meeting. Next year's League meeting will be held in Butte. Emeli Eaton stated that Mary Embleton continues to serve on various committees and exited one post. She has spent countless hours but does not speak of it much. Ernelie stated that Mary has a world of knowledge, and she acknowledged Mary's efforts and thanked her for all her work. Mayo Olson acknowledged Mary's four years of service as President of the Clerks Association and thanked her for her service. 3 CouncO Workshop Minutes of October 13, 2009 Chuck Dickerson stated that the City of Laurel's basket brought the most money at the silent auction at the eague meeting, Mayor Olson asked Mary to report on the Institute. Mary stated that it was a very successful convention and the clerks meeting on Wednesday was very well attended. The association resolved some important issues, including the association's website. Mary ave her final address to the conference attendees to report on the Institute, which was very well attended and hugely successful. The Education Committee and the Local Government Center in Bozeman came up with fantastic subjects for the curriculum, and it is reviving interest in clerks throughout the state. The silent auction was a success, and a quilt was donated by a former clerk for a raffle and raised over $630 for the late Mike Eve's son's education fund. The helicopter was great, and Oe suggested that they come to Aviation and Technology Week in Laurel. The next conference will be in Butte. Mary will continue to serve as the Secretary for the League of Cities and Towns. Mayor Olson stated that he is scheduled for back surgery on November 17`x', will be out of the office for sixj weeks, and should return about the first of the year. Doug Poehls will be in charge during that time. The council workshop adjourned at 7:26 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Cindy ' lien Counc I Secretary NOT) : This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion of the C?uncil for the listed workshop agenda items. 4