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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 05.17.2011 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL May 17, 2011 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Ken Olson at 6:30 p.m. on May 17, 2011. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Doug Poehls Kate Hart Mark Mace Tom Nelson Chuck Dickerson COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Emelie Eaton Norm Stamper Chuck Rodgers OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Brooke Baracker - Taylor Mayor Olson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mayor Olson asked the council to observe a moment of silence. MINUTES: Motion by Council Member Dickerson to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 3, 2011, as presented, seconded by Council Member Mace. There was no public comment or _ council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All five council members present voted aye. Motion carried 5 -0. CORRESPONDENCE: Shane Tracy: Letter regarding posting speed limit signs. Rick H. Olson, Bypass Truck Repair & Welding: Letter of April 26, 2011 regarding Davis /Danford Ditch. Christensen, Fulton & Filz, PLLC: Letter of May 11, 2011 regarding Danford Ditch Company, Rick H. Olson Correspondence. PUBLIC HEARING: • Zone change variance from Residential Limited Multi - Family to Community Commercial at 215 South 4 Street, Laurel, Montana. Mayor Olson stated that the public hearing was for a zone change within the City of Laurel for Lots 1 -8, Block 24, and Lots 15 -20 of Block 25 of East Yellowstone Subdivision together with that part of vacated alley and South Third Street adjoining, from residential limited multi - family to community commercial. Mayor Olson opened the public hearing and read the rules governing the public hearing. Mayor Olson asked four times if there were any proponents. There were none. Mayor Olson asked four times if there were any opponents. There were none. Mayor Olson closed the public hearing. CONSENT ITEMS: • Clerk/Treasurer Financial Statements for the month of April 2011. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 05/01/2011 totaling $158,869.96. • Approval of Payroll Register for Police Union Retroactive pay 05 2/2011 totaling $7,111.40. Council Minutes of May 17, 2011 • Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. -- Budget/Finance Committee minutes of May 3, 2011 were presented. -- City- County Planning Board minutes of May 5, 2011 were presented. -- Public Works Committee minutes of May 9, 2011 were presented. -- Council Workshop minutes of May 10, 2011 were presented. - -Tree Board minutes of April 21, 2011 were presented. -- Health Insurance Committee minutes of May 2, 2011 were presented. The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Motion by Council Member Hart to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Council Member Nelson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All five council members present voted aye. Motion carried 5 -0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: Poppy Day Proclamation Mayor Olson read the Poppy Day Proclamation designating Monday, May 30` as Poppy Day in the City of Laurel. He stated that the American Legion will have Memorial Day services at the Laurel Cemetery at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, May 30` Memorial Day services will be held in Billings at 10:00 a.m. and at the Yellowstone County Veterans' Cemetery at noon. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE- MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: • Confirmation of Appointments. Laurel Ambulance Service: Mayor Olson appointed Alycia Roberts to the Laurel Ambulance Service. Motion by Council Member Dickerson to approve the Mayor's appointment of Alycia Roberts to the Laurel Ambulance Service, seconded by Council Member Poehls. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All five council members present voted aye. Motion carried 5 -0. Laurel Airport Authority: Mayor Olson appointed Alfred Koelzer to the Laurel Airport Authority to fill a term ending June 30, 2015. Motion by Council Member Mace to approve the Mayor's appointment of Alfred Koelzer to the Laurel Airport Authority to fill a term ending June 30, 2015, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All five council members present voted aye. Motion carried 5 -0. • Ordinance No. 011 -06: An ordinance amending Chapter 8.16 titled "Fireworks" located at Title 8 of the Laurel Municipal Code. Second reading. Motion by Council Member Poehls to adopt Ordinance No. 011-06, seconded by Council Member Hart. There was no public comment. 6 2-- 2 Council Minutes of May 17, 2011 Council Member Poehls contacted his agent regarding possible insurance rate issues with allowing _ fireworks in the City of Laurel. The agent responded that other things would be considered before fireworks, especially in the City of Laurel, as the fireworks issue probably will not change much. Council Member Nelson also called his agent, who said it is not an issue for them. Mayor Olson thanked Council Members Poehls and Nelson for checking on the issue. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. All five council members present voted aye. Motion carried 5 -0. • Resolution No. R11 -39: A resolution approving a zone change within the City of Laurel for Lots 1 -8, Block 24, and Lots 15 -20 of Block 25 of East Yellowstone Subdivision together with that part of vacated alley and South Third Street adjoining, from residential limited multi - family to community commercial. Motion by Council Member Nelson to approve Resolution No. R11 -39, seconded by Council Member Hart. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All five council members present voted aye. Motion carried 5 -0. • Resolution No. R11 -40: A resolution of the City Council approving the recommendation by the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency to utilize a portion of the City's Tax Increment Finance District funds for the Laurel Downtown Sidewalk Improvement Project. Motion by Council Member Hart to approve Resolution No. R11 -40, seconded by Council Member Nelson. There was no public comment. Council Member Mace wanted everyone to realize that this is probably the wisest use for the funds right now. If sidewalks look bad, it does not matter how nice the business or storefront looks, and bad sidewalks reflect on the city. Council Member Mace stated his appreciation for the work done by Heidi Jensen and everyone else involved. Council Member Dickerson stated the importance of addressing the liability factors with the sidewalks. A vote was taken on the motion. All five council members present voted aye. Motion carried 5 -0. • Resolution No. R11 -41: A resolution of the City Council authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement with High Plains Architects to assist the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency with various projects and Facade Grant application assistance for downtown Laurel property owners. Motion by Council Member Hart to approve Resolution No. R11 -41, seconded by Council Member Poehls. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All five council members present voted aye. Motion carried 5 -0. • Resolution No. R11 -42: A resolution approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Laurel and AFSCME Local #316 to modify Section 5 of Addendum "B" to the Parties' current contract to temporarily resolve a salary issue with transferred or promoted employees. Motion by Council Member Nelson to approve Resolution No. R11 -42, seconded by Council Member Hart. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All five council members present voted aye. Motion carried 5 -0. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE- MINUTE LIMIT): None. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Council Member Mace stated that East Railroad Street is paved. 3 Council Minutes of May 17, 2011 Mayor Olson stated that East Railroad Street needs to be chip sealed. After the road is chip sealed, he intends to contact the County Commissioners regarding annexation of the road in order to resolve the conflicting speed limit issues. There will be further discussion at the next council workshop. Council Members Mace and Dickerson, Heidi Jensen and Kurt Markegard attended the joint meeting last week. The joint meeting included a tour of the Metra and discussion regarding school district and county relations, as well as the City of Laurel's issues with the speed limit on Buffalo Trail. Council Member Dickerson stated that the County's traffic study on Buffalo Trail determined the need to adjust the speed limits. Although the Commissioners signed a recommendation to do so, nothing has been done, so Commissioner Kennedy will follow up on the issue. Mayor Olson stated that he had looked forward to attending the joint meeting but attended the Laurel Aviation and Technology Week VIP dinner, as that was equally important to Laurel. Council Member Nelson thanked the city for allowing him to attend the Elected Officials Workshop last week. The format was changed this year and fewer topics were covered in greater depth. Council Member Nelson will copy and distribute some information to the council members. Mayor Olson mentioned that the funding for the Local Government Center was not approved by the legislature, so it will be interesting to see how the League goes forward with the meetings in the fall. There was discussion regarding scheduling a budget workshop on Tuesday, May 24 for the department heads to present budgets to the council. A budget session was scheduled on May 24 at 5:30 p.m. A budget session is also scheduled on Tuesday, May 31 at 5:30 p.m., prior to the regular council workshop. Mayor Olson stated that Governor Schweitzer would be in Billings this Friday to address the needs of the communities regarding flooding issues. The City of Laurel's water plant is in the floodplain and the public works director has been working to control that in conjunction with the County DES. Sandbags are being prepared and riprap is being put down along the berm on the east side of the water plant to prepare for the eventuality of high water. The city is also trying to anticipate what will be needed in Riverside Park to prepare for the eventual high runoff. Mayor Olson stated that two trees were planted by the gathering place in the veterans' section of the Laurel cemetery during the recent Arbor Day event. Council Members Rodgers and Dickerson and Mayor Olson attended the event. American Legion Post 123 had a flag raising ceremony, Lois Markegard attended in honor of the Tree Board, and DNRC representative Fred Bicha gave a presentation. Mayor Olson thanked the Tree Board and those involved with the Arbor Day ceremony. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member Hart to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Council Member Poehls. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All five council members present voted aye. Motion carried 5 -0. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m. Cindy All Council Secretary tary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Co ncil of the City o Laurel, Montana, this 7 day of June, 2011. lift enneth E. Olson, J , ayor _ Atte : • fi (A_(i Shirley Ewan, Clerk/Treasurer 4