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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 12.08.2009MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP DECEMBER 8, 2009 6:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS A Council Workshop was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by President Doug Poehls at 6:30 p.m on December 8, 2009. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: x Emelie Eaton _x Kate Hart Chuck Rodgers _x Alex Wilkins _x Doug Poehls _x Mark Mace Chuck Dickerson Norm Stamper OTHERS PRESENT: Sam Painter Mary Embleton Bill Sheridan Kurt Markegard Rick Musson Derek Yeager Christina Kracher 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. There was no public input. General items There were no general items. Fire / Ambulance: • Resolution - Agreement with AMR for Advanced Life Support Services Derek Yeager stated that the resolution is for a services agreement for advanced life support services with American Medical Response of Billings. The agreement establishes procedures for the transfer and services rendered as part of an advanced life support or paramedic intercept. It also sets forth the financial procedures for reimbursement and for medical billing. This agreement has the flexibility to allow for a critical care patient to be physically transferred from one ambulance to the other, dependent upon the stability as determined by the paramedic. In those instances, Laurel's service would receive $130 plus costs for consumable supplies from AMR, as opposed to the past when the city paid AMR for services rendered. The agreement will be continuous until the terms of the agreement need to be amended or there are changes in the advanced life support service. Public Works Department: • Discussion - Amending the Rules & Regulations for Utility Services - Bulk Water Resale Kurt Markegard distributed information regarding bulk water resale and use of water service for parties that want to purchase and resell city water. The moratorium did not allow anyone to ask the city council until rates and structures and rules and regulations were in place. Work has been done on Council Workshop Minutes of December 8, 2009 water rates and a public hearing is scheduled on December 22nd. Work is also being done on amendments to the rules and regulations to allow the city council, if it decides to do so, to allow the resale of water. The critical issue is bulk water resale by people that want to put in a fill station and start reselling city water. The draft document distributed deleted some verbiage and implemented new wording and spelled out the water service agreements. The Public Works Director needs guidelines from the city council regarding agreements. Kurt spoke regarding requirements for bulk water resale: allowable zoning regulations (commercial zoning); water system capabilities; truck route proximity; pay appropriate water service connection fees; pay bulk water rates as approved by the city council; conform to DEQ regulations Title 17, Chapter 38, Subsection 5 (water haulers rules); obtain city business license; insurance and bonding; site plans and specifications must meet all applicable standards and codes. The Public Works Committee discussed these issues last night. Kurt stated that the city has no vested interest in those that are currently reselling water, but the city would like to ensure they are treating the water and keeping it clean for their users. Kurt asked for council discussion and questions. Chuck Dickerson asked if the DEQ regulations specify which type of vehicle or tank system can be used to transport water. Kurt stated that the rules specify that it has to be for potable water and cannot have a compartment for sewage treatment. One concern is sterilization of the tanks. A resident that uses the fill station might not know how to keep and treat the water until it gets to the house. Under this rule, a commercial hauler must maintain the chlorine content from the time the water is picked up at a public supply until it is delivered to the residential home. Essentially, the water hauler cannot let water sit in a tank for two weeks before delivering it to someone's house. There are rules that water haulers have to follow. Right now, if the city allowed people to haul water commercially through Laurel, and that is happening, people may not know whether the water hauler is conforming to the rules. The city would be protected through the insurance and bonding requirements, as water haulers would be required to hold the city harmless from claims arising from their water hauling. Kurt and Sam will continue to work on this issue, and a final product will be presented in the near future. • Resolution - Great West Engineering, Amendment No. 1 to Task Order No. 10 - 2009 Street Maintenance Kurt stated that the resolution is for Amendment 1 to previously adopted Task Order No. 10 approving an increase in the construction administration portion of the 2009 street maintenance project. Great West is requesting payment for additional engineering work required when the City of Laurel added the additional scope of work to the project and increased the project by $150,000 for more chip sealing and patch repair. Clerk/Treasurer: • Resolution -Budget amendments Mary Embleton stated that the budget amendment resolution fills the gaps that were not included in the budget. The budget amendments include: a request by the police chief to spend donation monies of $3,310.00; the Johnson Controls professional services contract and the principal and interest, which reduces reserves by $30,000; adding the administrative charges in the building code fund; State Gas Tax Funds of $186.00 to cover the CTEP Fund for the additional costs for the curb, gutter, and sidewalk project on the west side of South First Avenue; and the estimated $10,000 fees the city 2 Council Workshop Minutes of December 8, 2009 collects for the Yellowstone County Veterans' Cemetery. It is a trust and agency fund where the city collects the fees that Yellowstone County assesses and sends them to the county. A public hearing is not needed for these changes because the funds will be taken out of reserves for items that were already promised. Chief Administrative Officer: • Resolution - Contract for roof replacement at the Laurel Library Bill Sheridan stated that the library roof needs to be replaced. Some bids have been received, but the city has decided to prepare specifications and go out for formal bid. Bill stated that it is in the city's best interest to insure that the roof replacement is done in the best possible way so that eventually the library will have a roof that does not leak or blow off. Executive Review: • Appointments: o Police Officer: Anthony Contreraz Chief Musson introduced Tony Contreraz. After the long hiring and interviewing process, Tony was the unanimous choice of the three commissioners, sergeant, detective and police chief. Tony was appointed as a Police Reserve this year and has been an asset to the city. The swearing in ceremony is scheduled after the appointment on next Tuesday's council agenda. • Laurel Urban Renewal Agency o Bruce McGee to a 4-year term ending 12/31/2013 The Mayor's reappointment will be on the December 15th council agenda. • Police Commission o Mike Michunovich to a 3-year term ending 12/31/2012 The Mayor's reappointment will be on the December 15'h council agenda. Board of Health - 3-year term ending 12/31/2012 No letters of interest have been received. • Park Board -term ending 12/31/2010 No letters of interest have been received. • Council Issues: o Status of East Wh Street and street repairs (Emelie Eaton) Emelie asked for a recap of this summer's street repairs and next summer's projects. Kurt stated that a waterline was replaced in the area of East 8 h Street and a waterline break on Pennsylvania flooded the trench and destroyed what was left of the street. After the city council gave approval to repair the street, it was excavated and determined that additional fabric was needed underneath the gravel. The contractor did the work as part of the waterline project. The street was paved and is serving the school buses and people that travel there. Millings from the Main Street project were put on the other right-of-way for the street in order to keep the dust down on what was a gravel road. It is now essentially an entire street width, but it does not have curb and gutter on the north side. Although there is some opposition to putting in the other half of the street and paving it, Kurt thinks the objections can be overcome. Millings were laid down on Alder so people can drive on the street this winter. Kurt and Mary will review the city's finances to determine the funding 3 Council Workshop Minutes of December 8, 2009 available for street repairs next year. Since the waterline replacement project is complete and the sewer lines are in good shape, the street issues can now be addressed. During the winter months, planning and preparation will be done for additional road repairs. Next spring, the pavement rating system will be updated with the chip seal and crack seal projects done in 2009. Ernelie asked regarding a recent letter to the editor regarding West Maryland and an extension to it. She asked if there is any truth to the statements made in the letter. Kurt stated that, as far as public works, he is not aware of anything about a bridge to nowhere. He has read the letter and some people thought he should respond to it. Kurt stated that he is not going to respond to letters to the editor. If people want to address the council or come into the office, he will explain things, but he is not going to respond to the papers unless someone tells him to do so. Kurt has not been contacted by that individual about a bridge or whether the city plans to do this. o Update on "good neighbor fence" in Elena Subdivision (Chuck Dickerson) Sam Painter stated that his last communication was that the developer is retaining counsel that will contact Sam Hopefully, when the attorney contacts Sam, they can work something out rather than just litigating. Sam will keep the council posted. Other items A special council meeting is scheduled on December 22nd at 6:30 p.m for the public hearing regarding the city's intention to increase the water rates and charges. Another special council meeting is scheduled on December 29t' at 6:00 p.m to consider the resolution approving the increased water rates and charges. The regular council workshop is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. on December 290. The Emergency Services Committee will meet on Monday, December 21", at 5:30 p.m. Review of draft council agenda for December 15, 2009 • Ordinance No. 009-11: Ordinance amending Section 2.68. 100 of the Laurel Municipal Code, amending theyocedure to modify the City Judge's salary. (I" reading - 11/17/2009; PH - 12/01/2009; 2 reading - 12/15/2009) Attendance at the December 15, 2009 council meetmng All council members present will attend. Announcements Chuck Dickerson spoke regarding the recent issue at the Laurel Airport. He publicly commended the fire chief and fire department for the way the incident was handled. The council workshop adjourned at 6:58 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Cindy Allen Council Secretary NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion of the Council for the listed workshop agenda items. 4