HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Head Meetings Minutes 03.01.2011 MINUTES
DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING
MARCH 1, 2011 3:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PRESENT: Mayor Ken Olson Chris Rosenberg Rick Musson
Brooke Baracker- Taylor Kurt Markegard Brent Peters
Shirley Ewan Nancy Schmidt Jan Faught
Heidi Jensen
Council Agenda — March 1, 2011
Scheduled Matters:
• Confirmation of Appointments.
• Resolution No. R11 -17: A resolution awarding a three -year contract with Olness and Associates
for auditing services through fiscal year ending 2013 and authorizing the Mayor to sign said
contract for the City of Laurel.
• Resolution No. R11 -18: A resolution of the City Council authorizing the City to participate in a
Surplus Purchase Program with the State of Montana Property and Supply Bureau.
• Resolution No. R11 -19: A resolution awarding the bid and authorizing the Mayor to sign an
agreement with Titan Machinery for the purchase of a street sweeper for the City of Laurel's
Public Works Department.
• Resolution No. R11 -20: A resolution of the City Council authorizing the Laurel Urban Renewal
Agency to procure and retain an architect /engineering firm to assist with the Facade and Technical
Assistance Programs.
• Ordinance No. 011 -03: An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana,
adopting a technical amendment to Ordinance No. 011 -01 to resolve a typographical error in the
previously adopted ordinance. First reading.
Draft Council Workshop Agenda — March 8, 2011
General items:
• Appointments:
o City Planner — Heidi Jensen
Heidi will attend next Tuesday's council workshop.
Public Works Department:
• Frozen culvert issues at Graff and West Schools
Girl Scout Troop 2226 will meet with Mayor Olson at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8 and then attend
the council workshop at 6:30 p.m. A letter of response was sent to the Girl Scout Troop. Kurt will speak
about the issues near the schools and explain the process required to address them. Mayor Olson stated
that this will be an opportunity for the Girl Scouts to see how government works.
• Resolution — Agreement with St. Vincent Healthcare Occupational Health Services
Kurt will present the annual agreement with St. V's for drug testing at the council workshop. Rick
suggested that only random drug testing be done, not alcohol testing. Kurt will request including only
random drug screens in the agreement.
• Resolution — Private Access Easement
Kurt recently responded to Sam regarding the draft private access easement agreement, but Sam has not
yet responded. Kurt stated the need for verbiage for the city to sever the agreement if the $600 annual
payment is not received, as the draft agreement does not stipulate the city's process for no payment. Kurt
Department Head Meeting Minutes of March 1, 2011
also stated that Jack Roma has not submitted approved road plans yet, which was required in the
resolution.
Clerk/Treasurer:
• Resolution — Budget amendment
Shirley stated that there are two budget amendment resolutions, as Sam did not want the FAP building
included with the budget amendment for the library and the fire department. There was discussion. The
ambulance will need a budget amendment for contracted services at the end of the fiscal year.
Emergency Services Committee:
• Fireworks ordinance
Rick explained that the committee recommended the council change the ordinance to allow legal
fireworks on July 2 3 4` and December 31 and to substantially increase the fines for offenders.
• Animal control ordinance
Rick stated that the committee recommended changing the boarding requirements for animals from five
days to three days, which coincides with Billings and Yellowstone County.
Executive Review:
• Ordinance — Change composition of the Tree Board
The Tree Board requested increasing its membership to five instead of four members.
• CAO position process
Mayor Olson stated that advertisements for the CAO position will be published in March, applications
will close on April 8 interviews will be completed by mid -May, and the new CAO should start on July
1 l . An interview committee will be formed soon. The interview questions will be submitted to the
attorney's office prior to the interviews.
Other items
There were none.
Review of draft council agenda for March 15, 2011
• Public Hearing:
o Ordinance No. 011 -03: An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana,
adopting a technical amendment to Ordinance No. 011 -01 to resolve a typographical error
in the previously adopted ordinance. (1 reading — 03/01/2011; PH — 03/15/2011)
Department Reports:
Clerk/Treasurer
Shirley mentioned that MDU wants to change out a meter at 119 First Street West.
Shirley stated that department heads can review the questions and answers received from the audit
findings.
There was a lengthy discussion regarding the draft of the medical marijuana business license. Shirley has
received numerous calls from people wanting to know how to apply. As per Brooke, people should be
informed that the application process is being finalized and will be ready by March 15 when the
ordinance is effective. Department heads need to submit any comments regarding the draft business
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of March 1, 2011
license to Sam. There was further discussion regarding locations for growing and dispensary operations,
fire inspections, and the review process for the applications and compliance. Signature lines for the
review process are needed on the medical marijuana business license application. There will be further
discussion on the March 8 department head agenda.
Fire
Brent mentioned an ISO rating system training opportunity on April 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Brent stated that the East/West Shrine game is scheduled in Laurel on July 16 He suggested that the
city needs to take care of the Shriners so they continue to come to Laurel. Mayor Olson stated that Herb
Townsend told him that the Shriners take care of things on their own, but it should be promoted. The
Shrine parade should be a boost to Laurel's economy. Brent will talk to the fire department about
providing salutes and a show at the end of the game. According to Herb, the game will be in Laurel and
all other activities will be in Billings.
Brent asked regarding the renewal dates for the fire district contracts. There was discussion about the
need to increase the contracts to cover the Fire Relief Association. Shirley is still waiting for the actuarial
from Butch Ripley. Corey, Brent, Shirley, and Mayor Olson will meet soon for further discussion.
Ambulance
There was no discussion.
Library
Mayor Olson stated that some website changes were suggested at the council retreat on Saturday. He will
meet with Nancy soon to explain the options.
Police Department
Rick attended a recent 4 of July Committee meeting. Rock the Block is scheduled on July 1 s `, the Palace
has scheduled an event on July 2 the Jaycees Dance is on July 3 and many events are scheduled on
July 4 Rick spoke regarding providing police reserves and officers for all of the events. He told the
Jaycees they would be charged for the officers.
The next Aviation & Technology Week meeting is scheduled on March 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the old middle
school library. Rick suggested that someone from the public works, fire and ambulance should attend.
There was discussion about changes to LMC regarding transient vendors. There was also discussion
regarding the past and best locations for the 4 of July vendors. Brent suggested that the fire trucks
should be located on East 8 Street and the vendors should be on East 6 Street. Joanne Flynn will be
asked to meet during the ESG meeting tomorrow.
City Planner
Heidi's e-mail address is hjensen @laurel.mt.gov.
Safety
• Safety Program update
Chris distributed new safety information on proper lifting and back health and some signs to the
department heads.
Chris will attend a playground safety conference in Las Vegas soon.
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of March 1, 2011
Shirley distributed a safety budget, and there was a lengthy discussion regarding the safety budget and the
need to split the budget according to salaries in each city department. Kurt stated that playground safety
is specific to parks and should be taken out of the park budget. There was further discussion.
The Safety Advisory Committee (Chris, Kurt and Rick) needs to meet. Chris downloaded a program to
print MSDS sheets.
Public Works Department
Kurt will attend the Aviation & Technology Week meeting on March 17 and the ISO training meeting
on April 23`
• Neptune water meters
Neptune will submit some information regarding the water meters for the Voice.
The city took delivery of the snowplow and sanding unit recently, and it should be in use soon.
City Attorney
There was no discussion.
Mayor Olson
• Personnel Implementation & Instruction Guide
Mayor Olson is still working on it. The council discussed the Personnel Committee at the retreat last
Saturday, and it is the council's intent to remove that committee. An ordinance will be presented to
remove that standing committee.
Suggested changes for the Personnel Implementation & Instruction Guide should be submitted to the
attorney's office soon. The Personnel Policy Manual and the Personnel Implementation & Instruction
Guide will be presented for council approval at the same time.
• Laurel City Voice
Several articles are still needed.
Other
At the Montana Rural Water conference last week, there was discussion about the need for cities to have a
disaster plan. Mayor Olson stated that Chris, Heidi and Gary will address a disaster plan for the City of
Laurel. Brent will give Heidi some information he received at a LEPC meeting last month.
The meeting adjourned at 4:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary
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