HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 01.16.1999 LAUREL CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
Saturday, January 16, 1999
Individual Concerns
Council Members:
Ken Olson - growth in and around the city, the influence of the City of Billings, whether the city
of Laurel should change from a City of the third class to a city of the second class, self governing
powers and extension of city services.
Gay Easton - development of the new committee structure.
Norm Orr - concerned that council procedures weren't as smooth last year as they should have
been.
Bud Johnson - a need to learn how to deal with change, how can the council fulfill its role and
help city departments.
Dirk Kroll - the roles and responsibilities of the departments, modernizing city ordinances which
were last recodified in 1991.
Mayor:
Chuck Rodgers - the city has new department heads who need to coordinate goals.
Department Heads:
Joe Leckie, City Attorney - city is changing from a small town to a bigger city, land use planning,
time to review the city codes, unfunded mandates, particularly in the criminal/judicial system.
Jim Stevens, Fire Chief - understanding roles and responsibilities under the new structure.
Larry McCann, Public Works Director - concerned about city organization, chain of command
and capital needs.
Don Hackmann, City Clerk/Treasurer - some ordinances are out of date, mill levies are doing
okay, concerned about the impact of CI -75, are setting aside funds for the capital improvement
program.
Rick Mussen, Police Chief - concerned about lands and buildings, need a vision as to where to go,
need longer range goals, a long range facility plan, working on communication/team building.
Department head meetings are held twice a month where they are working on team building.
Need a community wide vision of where they will be in 10 years.
WHAT'S RIGHT WITH LAUREL CITY GOVERNMENT
1. Fire protection
2. Water project planning process
3. Public Works Department
4. Finance Department
5. Fire Department has upgraded its equipment
6. Management team of department heads and city council
7. Department head teamwork
• 8. Committment of city council
9. Mayor /council relations
10. Budget process
11. Police Department has strong staffing
12. Sense of consistency
13. Sense of independence
14. Ambulance service
15. Public works department employees
16. Community support for the Fire Department
17. Employee relations
18. Police Reserves
19. Office /staff relationships
20. Vision for utility planning
21. Community policing
22. City /school cooperation
WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED WITH LAUREL CITY GOVERNMENT
1. Space for Police Department
2. Communication (system)
3. City Planner
4. Water process - plant
5. Street/sidewalk repairs
6. Capital Improvement Program/Public Works
7. Attitudes of departments/employees
8. Victims Assistance Program
9. Parks, pool, facilities and programs
10. Police Department equipment
11. Crisis management, long range planning
12. Drug/alcohol problem
13. Public involvement
14. Public perception: who is the boss, expectations, sensational press
15. City relationship with business, leadership continuing
PRIORITIZATION OF WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED
# VOTES
Crisis management, long range planning 7
Communication (system) 7
Space for Police Department 3
Public perception: who is the boss, expectations, sensational press 3
City Planner 1
Street/sidewalk repairs 1
Water process - plant
Capital Improvement Program/Public Works
Attitudes of departments/employees
Victims Assistance Program
Parks, pool, facilities and programs
Police Department equipment
Drug/alcohol problem
Public involvement
City relationship with business, leadership continuing