HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Head Meetings Minutes 06.08.2010 MINUTES
DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING
JUNE 8, 2010 3:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PRESENT: Mayor Ken Olson Norm Klein Rick Musson
Bill Sheridan Kurt Markegard Derek Yeager
Sam Painter Nancy Schmidt
Council Agenda — June 8, 2010
Scheduled Matters:
• Confirmation of Appointments:
o Laurel Urban Renewal Agency — Aletta Zimmerman as an Advisory Member for a term
ending December 31, 2013
• Ordinance No. 010 -02: An ordinance amending Section 5.08.040 of the Laurel Municipal Code
titled "Contractor's License and Bond Requirements" located at Chapter 5 of the Laurel
Municipal Code. Second reading.
• Resolution No. R10 -61: A resolution of the City Council authorizing the Mayor to execute a
Reconveyance and Release of a Utility Easement to RK Development LLC.
• Resolution No. R10 -62: A resolution of the City Council accepting a Sewer Pipeline Easement
from RK Development LLC for the purpose of constructing, operating, maintaining, replacing
and repairing sewer lines across said easement.
• Resolution No. R10 -63: A resolution approving Amendment No. 1 to the previously adopted
Task Order No. 12, approving an increase in the engineering fee for the Seventh Street Ditch
Improvements Project.
• Resolution No. R10 -64: Resolution relating to Special Improvement District No. 112; Declaring
it to be the intention of the City Council to create the District for the purpose of undertaking
certain local improvements and financing the costs thereof and incidental thereto through the
issuance of Special Improvement District bonds secured by the City's Special Improvement
District Revolving Fund.
The resolution of intent is for the SID for the West Main Street project. Dorsey & Whitney is finalizing
the resolution for tonight's meeting.
• Resolution No. R10 -65: A resolution to authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with Laurel
Public Schools, District 7 and 7 -70, continuing the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program for
the Laurel Middle School.
• Resolution No. R10 -66: A resolution to authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with Laurel
Public Schools, District 7 and 7 -70, continuing the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program for
the Laurel High School.
• Resolution No. R10 -67: A resolution authorizing Sundance Solar Systems to install a Solar
Photovoltaic (PV) System on the City's Water Treatment Facility for the purpose of reducing the
City's electric costs for operating the plant.
• Resolution No. R10 -68: A resolution approving Change Order No. 3 with Engineered
Structures, Inc. as part of Phase 2A1 of the Laurel Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements
Project and authorizing the Mayor to execute the attached Change Order No. 3 on the City's
behalf.
Department Head Meeting Minutes of June 8, 2010
Council Workshop Agenda — June 8, 2010
General items:
• Appointments:
o Board of Appeals: Robert Western, Miles Walton, and Marvin Carter to terms ending
June 30, 2012
o Cemetery Commission: Chuck Rodgers, Wallace Hall and LuAnne Engh to terms
ending June 30, 2012
o Library Board: Bruce McCullough to term ending June 30, 2015; Lisa Russell to fill
term ending June 30, 2013
o Tree Board: Pat Hart and Chuck Rodgers to terms ending June 30, 2013
o Planning Board: Greg Nelson, David Schreder, Dan Koch to terms ending June 30, 2012
The appointments will be on the June 15 council agenda.
Public Works Department:
• MDT — Update on the 8 Avenue project
Ted Thronson, the project manager, will give an update on the 8 Avenue project.
• Resolution — Jack Roma's request for a right -of -way easement across city property
The resolution, map and recommendations from Bill and James will be distributed to the council again
tonight. Kurt stated that Montana Public Works Standards need to be followed and engineered for the
road even if the council allows millings. Kurt will explain this tonight.
• Resolution — Utilities Helping Utilities Agreement — WARN
Since the legal issues have not been addressed, the resolution will be removed from the council
workshop agenda.
• Resolution — Change Order No. 1 for the 7 Street Drainage Improvements Project
The change order is for a seven -day weather extension. The project went beyond the seven -day
extension, so the city could be eligible for liquidated damages for Great West's additional time.
• Resolution — Amendment No. 2 to Task Order No. 10 with Great West for 2010 Street
Maintenance Project
The resolution is for this summer's street maintenance project.
• Resolution — Change Order for HVAC modification at the Water Treatment Plant
COP Construction has not submitted documents, so the resolution will be removed from the council
workshop agenda until further notice.
• Resolution — Landfill agreement with the City of Billings
The charges increased from $13.75 to $16.80 per ton. The increased charges were not allocated and the
budget and available reserves need to be reviewed.
Planning:
• Preliminary budget for the Bus Transit Service
• Resolution — Approving the Operating Contract with MDT for transportation service
• Resolution — Approving the Transit Coordination Plan between the City of Laurel and the
Council on Aging
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of June 8, 2010
There was discussion regarding the bus transit system, the preliminary budget, the local match, the
funds allocated to the planner, drivers, mechanic for services, the funding from the Council on Aging,
the local share, the need for further discussion with James, and the possibility of scheduling a special
meeting on June 22 for approval of the contracts.
Fire Department:
• Resolution — Airport Authority fire service agreement
• Resolution — Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch fire service agreement
Derek stated that the contract amounts are the same as last year.
Police Department:
• Speed limits /signage on East/West Railroad Streets
Rick and Kurt decided the locations for additional signage on East Railroad Street. The council would
need to direct the city to have a traffic study done to determine if the speed limit should be changed.
Rick recommends that the speed limit remain at 25 mph. No further information has been received
from Del Henman.
Executive Review:
• Resolution — Contract with Elk River Law Office for legal services
The resolution and contract will be removed from tonight's council workshop agenda.
• Resolution — Contract with Chief Administrative Officer
The resolution and contract will be removed from tonight's council workshop agenda.
• Proposal from Yellowstone Bank
There was discussion regarding Yellowstone Bank's offer to sell the land to the City of Laurel, the
liability exposure if the bank fenced the property and the garbage trucks could not drive through, the
current easements for the storm water pond and the fire access road, the lack of easements for water,
sewer, and storm, and the possibility of selling part of the property as a commercial lot.
• Council Issues:
o Elena Subdivision — development of a park area and construction of wall (Chuck
Dickerson)
There was discussion regarding the Subdivision Improvements Agreement, the creation of a park
maintenance district in Elena and/or citywide to improve the parks, and the issues with construction of a
wall and recovering the costs from Dave Bequette.
Other items
Bill stated that help is needed to move the caboose to its final location.
Derek Yeager will be leaving his position with the City of Laurel on Wednesday.
Mayor Olson will present resolutions and job descriptions for two new positions at tonight's council
workshop. The positions are Chief - Emergency Medical Services and Environmental Health and Safety
Officer.
Kurt will inform the council about the recent waterline breaks tonight.
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of June 8, 2010
Department Reports:
Clerk/Treasurer
Mayor Olson stated that Norm Klein will assist the city during the transition, and a former
clerk/treasurer might be hired for the interim. The clerk/treasurer position has been advertised again.
Work is being done to indicate what areas each department needs to address for the budget.
MSU- Billings is offering a two -day safety class during June.
Mayor Olson stated that expenditures would be scrutinized during the budget process.
Rick will be at a conference from June 21s to 25 and requested that his budget review be scheduled
next week.
Norm Klein explained that governmental accounting revenue streams remain static and the State
controls the growth of taxes. He spoke regarding HB124, which provides state entitlement share
payments through 2011. The legislature could change that during the upcoming session. The city
controls the revenues that are generated locally and the council is the legislative body that determines
those revenues. Because his firm does the city's audit, Norm will not make any decisions regarding the
budget. The preliminary budget should be ready in July or early August and must be adopted within 45
days after the certified taxable value is received. Norm stated that revenues generated by a specific
department do not necessarily belong to that department, unless it is an enterprise fund.
Fire /Ambulance
Derek has been meeting with Brent Peters, who will be the interim fire chief.
Library
• Roof replacement
The roofers are waiting for five consecutive days without rain to start the project.
• Status of City of Laurel's website
The website is progressing.
Police Department
The 4 of July Committee will meet on Thursday, June 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the Chamber.
City Planner
• Various grants
• Historic Register
• Bus Transit System / Council on Aging
• Medical marijuana issue
Sam requested comments regarding the draft ordinance distributed last week. The options need to be
presented to the council.
Public Works Department
• Construction of a storage building
The RFP needs to be prepared.
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of June 8, 2010
• Status of Water Treatment Plant improvements
If COP Construction does not submit a price soon, the project will be closed and the city will go to bid
for the HVAC modification.
• Status of Main Street from 1 to 8 Avenues (Dorsey & Whitney)
o CTEP / billing property owners
Dorsey & Whitney will e-mail the final resolution today.
• SE 4 Street — Set up meeting with property owners
o Storm water
o Leveling course
o Center turn lane / parking
o Street lights
o Flat work
o SID
A meeting will be scheduled with the property owners next week.
• Status of Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade
The water line is done and the Village Lift Station is online and pumping. Work is being done on the
Elm Street Lift Station. An auto - dialer will be programmed to contact the police department in the case
of an emergency.
• Water fill station
Copies of Great West's cost analysis for a potential bulk water fill station have been distributed to the
council, mayor, and CAO. Since Fox Water did not close its fill station, Kurt does not recommend that
the city go forward with the fill station. The city is receiving the $6.80/1,000 gallons that was part of
the rate increase. Kurt stated the more pressing need is to replace four blocks of water line in order to
serve the citizens of Laurel rather than install a water fill station for residents outside the city. The rules
and regulations for water fill stations need to be fmalized in order to enforce issues relating to
pesticides, etc.
• Water line across the bridge
ESI did not submit a cost estimate yet.
• Cemetery update
A flag pole will be reinstalled at the cemetery, and sod or grass seed are needed.
• Neptune water meters
Northwest Pipe Fittings agreed to have a plumber replace defective meters. The timeframe for the
warranty period needs to be determined, and the dates of contact and discussions with Neptune need to
be documented.
Kurt explained recent stream bank erosion issues at Riverside Park. NorthWestern Energy installed a
new power pole and transformer and power should be restored soon. The Army Corps of Engineers was
contacted regarding funding to address the erosion issues, Jim Kraft was contacted regarding sand bags,
and the appropriate utility companies were contacted to help with the issues.
Kurt spoke regarding the recent waterline break and the need to replace two blocks of waterline.
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of June 8, 2010
The swimming pool will open next Monday. Rain passes will not be given this year. The steps in the
pool have been painted, but the coating on the bottom is gone. About $10,000 needs to be budgeted to
repaint the pool next year.
Summer help has been hired and Riverside Park is open.
The new garbage truck will be here for the council to see tonight.
City Attorney
There was no discussion.
Mayor Olson
• City's lease of railroad property on Main Street for various uses
Mayor Olson will contact Joe Gentri.
Chief Administrative Officer
• Discussion — SID process for streets where new water lines were installed
Chad Hanson prepared a letter that will be sent to the property owners in the district. If 51 percent of
the property owners protest, other ways to address the streets will have to be reviewed.
Other
Bill stated that the city's health insurance will change to Blue Cross Blue Shield on July 1St
Department heads should inform Bill or Cathy regarding dates and times for Dave Allen to answer
questions.
Mayor Olson gave an update regarding his back and the need for an epidural and additional surgery.
The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary
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