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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 11.04.1997Minutes of the City Council of Laurel November 4, 1997 A regular meeting of the City Council held in the Council Chambers and called to p.m., on November 4, 1997. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Dirk Kroll Bud Johnson Norman Orr Gay Easton COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Miles Walton of the City of Laurel, Montana, was order by Mayor Chuck Rodgets at 7:03 Gary Temple Donna Kilpatrick William Staudinger INVOCATION: Invocation was given by Alderman Johnson. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Kroll to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 21, 1997, as presented, seconded by Alderman Temple. Motion carried CORRESPONDENCE: Received a letter from Nancy D. Hollingshead regarding the transient problem at the overpass between Burger King and Cenex Refinery. Received a letter from the Yellowstone City-County Health Department requesting an appointment to the new Board of Health. Received a letter from American Medical Response regarding their rate increase. Received a letter from U S West regarding a new service center in Helena. Received a notice from the Department of Revenue regarding a transfer of a beer/wine license. CLAIMS: Claims for the month of October were reviewed by the Budget/Finance Committee and recommended that they be paid. Motion by Alderwoman KilDatrick to approve the claims in the amount of $575,906.33 for the month of October, seconded by Alderman Staudinger. Motion carried 7--0. CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER: Jean Carroll Thompson asked the council's permission to have the Christmas to Remember activities on December 7, 1997. She invited Mayor Rodgets to speak to the crowd and welcome them. The group would like permission to have non-profit organizations and individuals set up tables and sell items. Secondly, they would like permission to have fireworks. Thirdly, the walking parade will start at the Credit Union at 5:00 p.m. and continue down 1st Avenue to Firemen's Park. A float with the nativity scene will lead the parade to signal businesses to turn on their Christmas lights. This year they would like to add a Santa's Holiday Parade after the fireworks. They have already talked with Santa regarding this. The floats will line up at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Main and continue east on Main Street about three blocks. There has been interest from a group in California to have a marching unit with lights and from a group in North Dakota to participate in the Holiday Parade. Motion by Alderman Johnson to approve the request for the Christmas to Remember activities on December 7, 1997, seconded by Alderman Orr. Discussion regarding contacting the police department to block the necessary streets and to have the police reserves assist that night. A vote was taken on the motion. Motion carried 7--0. FINANCE NEW RECORDING EQUIPMENT - FAr COMPLEX: RESOLUTION NO. R97-53 AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT WITH YELLOWSTONE BANK TO FINANCE NEW RECORDING EQUIPMENT FOR THE Page2 Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Council Meeting of November 4, 1997 Motion by Alderman Orr that Resolution No. R97-53 be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Kroll. Motion carried 7--0. POLICE DOG - TRIAL PERIOD: Motion by Alderman Staudinger to remove from the table the request for a trial period of a police dog, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 7--0. Mike Zuhoski presented a projected yearly budget for a dog program in the Laurel Police Department. The income is determined by the DEA or the Montana Narcotics Investigation Bureau as to the department's cut from drug forfeitures. Expenses for dog food, licensing, vet bills, and misc. would be $350.00. Officer Pitts' training of $500.00 and training items for the dog of $150.00 would total $650.00. The $500.00 for wages was budgeted for call outs. A call out would probably be a minimum of two hours with overtime running approximately $48.00 per call. Travis would be scheduled to work the cover shifts. The total budget would be $1,500.00. Bruno was present at the meeting and was introduced to the council members. Bruno is a tracking dog which will track both drugs and people. He can be used in finding missing people or in a suspect apprehension. The dog has the capability of tracking a person by using a scent, therefore, someone who is hiding or has taken off, out of site of an officer, can more easily be found. Mike stated the city would be looking at $5,000.00 to $8,000.00 for the training of a new dog and handler. The nearest canine training facilities are in Utah, California, or Ohio. The dog and the handler would be sent to one of these areas for six to twelve weeks of training. Montana does not have canine training. Mike said the city has an average of four calls a month involving dangerous drugs. There are other cases of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia where they do not come across the drugs. This is where the dog would help them out. The calls in the system only reflect the cases on adults because juveniles cannot be entered into the system. Mike stated the department can apply department has been contacted by the the program. for grants for the dog program. He said the Laurel Jaycoos who are willing to help with Mike addressed the subject of a vehicle for the dog program. He said Trayis could use one of the police vehicles by building a platform in half of the back seat for the dog. The other half can still be used to transport prisoners. The vehicle will still be available for other officers to use. Travis Pitts spoke on the possibility of using grants for the program. He referred to the projected budget of $1,500.00 and said if there are other sources willing to help fund the program, there will be less costs to the city. Bruno has turned six. Mike feels they will have at least four more years of using Bruno according to his activity level. This will be four years time they have to apply for grants and with donations they can lookat getting a pup. Mike said every police dog in the United States is a personal pet. The dog only knows one person, their handler. The handler is with the dog twenty-four hours a day. Bruno would be a benefit because he has had the training already, both with Carbon County Sheriff's Office and with Travis. Paul Smith, who is a trainer, said the dog has all the qualities for being a good tracking and drug sniffing dog. Paul would like to work with Travis in becoming a good handler. Dave Evans from the Yellowstone Sheriff's Office talked on the dog program in Billings. They have gotten grants and donations from businesses which reduced the cost of getting a dog and for the training. He explained the department's cut from drug forfeitures is determined on how many agencies are involved in an investigation. The forfeitures help maintain the budget. Dave addressed the concern of training the dog. The cost to train a dog and handler is approximately $4,000.00 each. Bruno has had a good amount of training on narcotics, so he may only need a refresher course. Trayis would need the training as a handler, for example in knowing the signs of a tracking dog. He said a non-certified dog will hold up in court from the stand point that the dog is building a track record. Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 3 Council Meeting of November 4, 1997 drug activity. There are many benefits even if a drug case is lost in court, because the department has still gained something. Dave said most cases are not lost because during the time the dog is building a track record, drugs are being taken off the street. Dave was asked if there will be forfeitures when drugs are confiscated? Dave replied there has to be a conviction to get forfeitures, because forfeitures are civil. The good news is that the drugs are off the street. Dave was asked if the officer has ownership of Dave replied that Yellowstone County owns the officer who is the handler. the dog in Yellowstone County? dog but the dog belongs to the Mike said Billings will probably start charging the city each time we call for use of their dog. This will be an additional cost to everyone as tax payers. After a few trips, the $1,500.00 that is budgeted for the dog program will be spent. Dave also replied there would be no problem of availability, if Laurel had a dog of their own. He said their department's handler is dedicated to the program and would provide assistance to help train Trayis. Laurel would be an added agency in having a resource to put out on the street. This will mean more agencies working together. Motion by Alderman Orr to requested that Bruno have a six month trial period, with a review in four months, effective January 1, 1998, seconded by Alderman Staudinger. Motion by Alderman Kroll to amend the motion to read having a financial and drug case report presented to the Committee of the Whole meeting twice a month during the trial period and to use the dog only in the jurisdiction of the Laurel Police Department during this period, seconded by Alderman Temple. Motion carried 7--0. A vote was taken on the original motion as amended. Alderman Kroll asked for a roll call vote. Aldermen Temple, Orr, Johnson, Staudinger, Easton, and Alderwoman Kilpatrick voted "Yes" with Alderman Kroll voting "No". Motion carried 6--1. ADOPT POLICE RESERVE POLICY MANUAL: Motion by Alderman Temple to refer the Police Reserve policy manual back to the Police Committee for review and recommendation, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Motion carried 7--0. COMMITTEE MINUTES: --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of October 21, 1997 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatrick to enter minutes of October 21, 1997, into the record, Motion carried 7--0. the Budget/Finance seconded by Alderman Committee Johnson. --City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of October 21, 1997 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman minutes of October 21, Motion carried 7--0. Orr to enter the City Council Committee of the Whole 1997, into the record, seconded by Alderman Johnson. --Park Committee minutes of October 23, 1997 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman October 23, 1997, into carried 7--0. Kilpatrick to enter the Park Committee minutes of the record, seconded by Alderman Staudinger. Motion --Riverside Park Building Tour minutes of October 27, reviewed. 1997 were presented and Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatrick to enter the Riverside Park Building Tour minutes of October 27, 1997, into the record, seconded by Alderman Staudinger. Motion carried 7--0. Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatrick to charge $1.00 for a five year lease for each building in Riverside Park, seconded by Alderman Easton. Motion carried Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 4 Council Meeting of November 4, 1997 --Police Committee minutes of October 29, 1997 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Kroll to enter the Police Committee minutes of October 29, 1997 into the record, seconded by Alderman Orr. The minutes were corrected to read that Alan had discussed the transient problem along the interchange with the Montana Department of Transportation, Joe Leckie and Mayor Rodgets. Alderman Kroll referred to the copy of the Laurel Municipal code attached to the minutes that allows the city to control the transient problem within a one mile radius of the city limits. A vote was taken on the motion. Motion carried 7--0. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Alderman Johnson commented on having a meeting regarding a document recording system for public works at sometime in the near future. Alderman Johnson announced the Ward IV meeting at Graff School on November 1997 at 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Alderman Kroll wished the Police Department good luck with the dog program though he still has some doubts. He asked them to prove him wrong. Alderman Easton announced the workshop this Alderwoman Kilpatrick requested permission 1997 to December 2, 1997. Motion by Alderman Johnson to leave the city from November 5, 1997 Staudinger. Motion carried 7--0. APPOINTMENTS: Mayor Rodgets stated he will to appoint a member to the Health Department. MAYOR ' S COMMENTS: Mayor Rodgets announced that Larry McCann, surgery. Mayor Rodgets stated that Andy, Dave, and himself have discussed some that are being done. The position of Director of Public Works will be soon. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. even Saturday, November 8, 1997 at 8:00 to leave the city from November grant Alderwoman Kilpatrick permission to to December 2, 1997, seconded by Alderman get together with Alderman Kroll and Dave Michael Board of Health for the Yellowstone City-County Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Montana, this 18th day of November, 1997. City Fire Inspector, has had heart projects addressed the Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk Council of the City of Laurel, Atte st: Donald, L. Hackmann, City Clerk Charles Rodge~ayor