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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 12.14.2010 MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP DECEMBER 14, 2010 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 December 14, 2010. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: _x Emelie Eaton _x Doug Poehls _x_ Kate Hart _x_ Mark Mace _x Chuck Rodgers _x_ Chuck Dickerson _x Tom Nelson _ Norm Stamper OTHERS PRESENT: Sam Painter James Caniglia Kurt Markegard Rick Musson 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: • Appointments: o Laurel Ambulance Service: • Heather Crockett and Wendy Wong o Park Board: • Kate Hart, Amy Pollock, LuAnne Engh and Hazel Storck to 4 -year terms ending December 31, 2014 o Laurel Urban Renewal Agency • Shirley McDermott to a 4 -year term ending December 31, 2014 • Janice Lehman as an Advisory Member for a 4 -year term ending December 31, 2014 The appointments will be on the December 21 council agenda. Mayor Olson stated that there is one vacancy on the Police Commission and one council- appointed vacancy on the City - County Planning Board. Public Works Department: • Resolution — Change Order No. 1 with Williams Civil Division Kurt Markegard stated that the resolution for the change order with Williams Civil Division would allow four additional days for the completion of the contract. Two days were because the city could not shut down water valves in order to complete the tie -ins to the main lines. There were two holidays when the city employees were not working, which delayed the contractor from doing some tie -in work. The project is in a winter shutdown, unless warmer weather allows for completion of the Council Workshop Minutes of December 14, 2010 project. The contractor has one contract day left, so four additional days would allow five days for paving in the spring if the council approves the change order. There is no money involved in the change order. There was discussion regarding consideration for legal holidays in future contracts in order to prevent issues. Kurt explained that a lot of contractors can work on a holiday, but city employees were needed to turn the valves for this particular project. The resolution will be on the December 21S council agenda. City Planner: • Resolution — Intent to vacate alley in 300 block of First Avenue South James Caniglia explained the intent to vacate an alley in the 300 block off First Avenue, which is a platted piece of alley that goes into Town Pump. The city became aware of this issue when the Department of Revenue informed the building official that there were gas pumps over the alley. James did some research and found that the County showed the alley going all the way to railroad property. The back half of that alley was abandoned in 1979, and James had the County GIS fix that on the map. The other half of the alley was never properly abandoned, even though minutes and applications indicate that was the intention. The legal description was only for the west half of the alley. Kurt Markegard presented this issue to the Public Works Committee yesterday, and the committee agreed that the city does not need this alley. The alley is essentially an approach into a store, the end of the alley is the gas pumps, and it is not an access for the city in any way. Town Pump, which owns both sides of the alley through different business names, is eager to help resolve this. Town Pump submitted a formal application and paid the fee to have the alley abandoned. The intent to vacate the alley would need to be advertised twice in the newspaper and would then be presented to the council for final approval. There was discussion regarding who assumes the liability and responsibility of property vacated by the city. James explained that the property owner on each side of the alley would get half of the alley. In this case, Town Pump owns both sides of the alley and it would become part of that lot. The legal description will change and the city will receive tax revenue on the property. The alley abandonment document will be filed in the Clerk and Recorder's Office and James will make sure that the County GIS Office updates the maps. The resolution will be on the December 21S council agenda. Executive Review: • Resolution — Contract with Technical Edge Consulting Mayor Olson spoke regarding the contract with Technical Edge Consulting. The contract will reflect a change from the current charge of $120 per hour for services provided at a minimum of two hours per week to $131.13 per hour for services provided. In discussions with the department heads and the Budget/Finance Committee, there are no reasons not to extend the contract with Technical Edge. Mayor Olson stated that technical, legal, and architectural services can be extended and do not need to go out for RFP. The recommendation is to continue the contract with Technical Edge Consulting for the city's IT services. 2 Council Workshop Minutes of December 14, 2010 There was discussion regarding the city's website and whether Technical Edge is involved with it. Mayor Olson explained that the city's library director has been updating the city's website, and Technical Edge is not involved with the website. • Ordinance — Parking at the FAP building Chief Musson stated that parking around the FAP building is at a premium with all of the emergency services people. The concern was for the ambulance people to find a place to park legally. It was recommended through meetings to provide some parking spaces for the ambulance attendants. The proposal is for two parking spaces at the corner of Third Avenue and Second Street on the FAP side and two spots on the corner of Second Street. The parking spaces would be signed and designated for ambulance personnel. The first reading of the ordinance will be on the December 21 council agenda. • DMV Agreement Mayor Olson stated that the DMV agreement was presented at last week's joint meeting with the County Commissioners, and the Commissioners did not have a problem with it. After the County Commissioners return the signed agreement, it will be presented for council action. The cost estimate for any future construction measures would need to be submitted to the County Commissioners for approval. The agreement is for use of the area that is currently used by the DMV office. Other items Mayor Olson stated that there is an issue regarding the water line across the bridge. Staff is currently looking at different proposals and will bring information and the appropriate recommendation forward for the council's consideration. Review of draft council agenda for December 21, 2010 • Arbor Day Proclamation The Arbor Day Proclamation will be on the December 21 council agenda. There were no changes to the draft council agenda. Attendance at the December 21, 2010 council meeting All council members present will attend. Announcements Mark Mace stated that the Public Works Committee had a lengthy meeting last night. The request for angle parking for the two new businesses on Pennsylvania Avenue was discussed. The Public Works Director found some information regarding angle parking that needs to be resolved. Mark and Kurt will attend the next LURA meeting on December 20 to discuss some issues. Tom Nelson asked if the council receives LURA's agendas and minutes. The LURA chairman e- mails the agendas and minutes to the council, and Tom will be added to the list. Tom stated that the Public Works Committee members would like to receive LURA's agendas and minutes, since the committee's discussion often ties into what LURA does and the two groups could possibly work together in the future to resolve some issues. A request will be given to the LURA chairman to send the information to the Public Works Committee. 3 Council Workshop Minutes of December 14, 2010 Emelie Eaton asked the council to note that a new member of the Public Works Committee, who is not only active but has also been paying attention to the process and how things move from the committee to the council, attended tonight's council workshop. She thanked Dan Koch for being such a diligent member. Mayor Olson thanked Emelie. He stated that Dan will be a good addition to the Public Works Committee. Mayor Olson mentioned that seven Laurel employees and council members will attend the training scheduled in Big Timber tomorrow. City vehicles will leave city hall about 7:00 a.m. Mayor Olson stated that the council retreat has been scheduled on Saturday, February l2` The facilitators for the retreat are from the Montana State University Local Government Center. Proposed agenda discussion items should be submitted for the retreat. The council workshop adjourned at 6:57 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