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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 12.20.2011 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL December 20, 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 6:33 p.m. on December 20, 2011. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Bruce McGee (6:39) Mark Mace Chuck Rodgers Chuck Dickerson Tom Nelson COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Doug Poehls Norm Stamper OTHER STAFF PRESENT: None 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 December 6, 2011, as presented, seconded by Council Member Eaton. 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: U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Letter of December 3, 2011, regarding Log Cabin at Riverside Park. Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Minutes of November 10, 2011; Agenda of December 8, 2011. PUBLIC HEARING: • Haidle variance — 306 West 12 Street Mayor Olson stated that the public hearing is for the Haidle's request for a variance to set a manufactured home at 306 West 12 Street. He asked the applicant to introduce himself and respond to questions from the council. Tom Haidle currently resides at 718 Miles Avenue in Billings and hopes to live at 306 West 12 Street soon. There were no questions for the applicant. Mayor Olson opened the public hearing and read the rules governing the public hearing. Mayor Olson asked if there were any proponents. Jean Kerr, 1128 9 Avenue, owns property on Valley Drive across the ditch from the Haidle's property for which they have requested a variance. She was concerned when she read that the Haidles wanted to put a manufactured home there because the homes in the area are stick built. However, she looked at the plans and liked them. As long as everything goes as planned, with the exception of needed modifications to the size of the garage, she hopes the council would approve the variance. With annexation of the Haidle's property, she hopes that the city looks at the issue of annexation of the other properties, which Heidi addressed last week at the workshop. Jean will soon start her fifteenth year as judge and knows that annexation has been discussed for many years. She thinks that everybody has known that annexation is the plan. Once this property and the park across the street are developed, she proposed that the other properties should be annexed within three years, not when people's septic systems fail, as Heidi suggested last week. She stated that 12 Street is a Council Minutes of December 20, 2011 bad road and has some water problems. People have concerns for their foundations and the city needs to be responsible and accountable to the citizens and look at the whole road. The city just did the Southeast 4 Street project and had the business owners get tied into the system. She thinks it is an opportune time to give proper notice to property owners that annexation will take place by a certain date and then the city will fix up the road and do some things to benefit the area. Mayor Olson asked three times if there were other proponents. There were none. Mayor Olson asked if there were any proponents. Mayor Olson read a letter of opposition received from Fran Garnett and James Snyder. Mayor Olson asked three times if there were any proponents. There were none. Mayor Olson closed the public hearing. Mayor Olson stated that the council would consider the variance under Scheduled Matters on tonight's agenda. Council Member McGee arrived at 6:39 p.m. CONSENT ITEMS: • Clerk/Treasurer Financial Statements for the month of November 2011. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 12/11/2011 totaling $158,557.12. • Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. - - Budget/Finance Committee minutes of December 6, 2011 were presented. - - City- County Planning Board minutes of December 1, 2011 were presented. -- Public Works Committee minutes of December 12, 2011 were presented. -- Cemetery Commission minutes of December 12, 2011 were presented. -- Council Workshop minutes of December 13, 2011 were presented. -- Laurel Urban Renewal Agency minutes of November 7, 2011 were presented. The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Motion by Council Member Mace to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6 -0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: • 2012 Arbor Day Proclamation Mayor read the 2012 Arbor Day Proclamation and proclaimed Tuesday, May 1, 2012, as Arbor Day in the City of Laurel. Mayor Olson stated that plans for the Arbor Day might include planting a tree in the new park in Elena Subdivision or at another city location. More information will be distributed as it becomes available. Mayor Olson encouraged the council to support the Tree Board and the event. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: 2 Council Minutes of December 20, 2011 • Confirmation of Appointments. Police Commission: Mayor Olson reappointed Wallace Hall to the Police Commission for a three -year term ending December 31, 2014. Motion by Council Member Mace to approve the Mayor's reappointment of Wallace Hall to the Police Commission for a three -year term ending December 31, 2014, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6 -0. Laurel Urban Renewal Agency: Mayor Olson reappointed Dirk Frickel to the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency for a four -year term ending December 31, 2015. Motion by Council Member Dickerson to approve the Mayor's reappointment of Dirk Frickel to the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency for a four -year term ending December 31, 2015, seconded by Council Member Rodgers. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6 -0. • Resolution No. R11 -125: Resolution of the City Council granting a variance from the City's zoning regulations to allow the owner to place a manufactured home at 306 West 12 Street, a lot zoned R -7500 under the Laurel Municipal Code. Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve Resolution No. R11 -125, seconded by Council Member Nelson. There was no public comment. Council Member Dickerson recommended that Ms. Kerr's comments be brought to the attention of the department heads. Mayor Olson stated that staff recommendations regarding the comments would be presented to the council in the future. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6 -0. • Resolution No. R11 -126: A resolution of the City Council authorizing the Mayor to sign a Mutual Aid Agreement for firefighting agencies throughout Yellowstone County. Motion by Council Member McGee to approve Resolution No. R11 -126, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment. Council Member McGee stated that this agreement is an excellent move for the City of Laurel and is an absolute necessity. The City of Laurel will benefit to be engaged in this agreement. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6 -0. —' • Resolution No. R11 -127: A resolution approving a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Laurel and the Laurel Airport Authority. Motion by Council Member Rodgers to approve Resolution No. R11 -127, seconded by Council Member Nelson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6 -0. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE- MINUTE LIMIT): Jean Kerr, 1128 9 Avenue, invited the council to attend a cake reception in honor of Court Clerk Chris Shay on December 29 at 10:00 a.m. in the court room. Chris has worked for the City of Laurel for eighteen years and her last day will be on December 30 COUNCIL DISCUSSION: C 3 -, Council Minutes of December 20, 2011 Council Member Mace commented on the efficiency of the city's new smaller vehicles that were used for sanding and plowing during the last snow event. Council Member Dickerson wished everyone a happy and safe holiday on Sunday. Council Member Nelson also wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a great year. Council Member Rodgers asked for discussion regarding the speed limits on East Railroad Street on the next council workshop agenda, as he has received several comments in the last two weeks. He wished everyone a Merry Christmas and stated that it has been an enjoyable three years on the council. Council Member McGee also wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Council Member Eaton extended seasonal wishes to everyone. She thanked Councilman Rodgers for his service on the council and the impact that he has made in a few areas and stated that it has certainly been interesting to watch and good to participate in. Mayor Olson stated that the committee completed the interviews for the city planner position and he received a recommendation. The position was offered to Monica Plecker today and she accepted the position. Monica, who is from Virginia, received a planning degree from James Madison and a Farrier's certificate from Montana State University in Bozeman. Monica will take over the position and the responsibilities for the planning department in February, and she will be invited to meet the council soon after. Mayor Olson contacted Dan Clark from the Montana Local Government Center in Bozeman regarding a council retreat on Saturday, January 14 The retreat would address roles and responsibilities for the council in the morning and a risk analysis for the city from Alan Hulse of MMIA in the afternoon. Mayor Olson asked the council members to review their calendars to determine if the date will work. Also, the newly- elected council member will notify Mayor Olson if the date will work for him. If not, the council retreat could be scheduled in March. Mayor Olson wished everyone a safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member Nelson to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6 -0. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m. L'4 O Cindy Allen, '%uncil Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 3 day of January, 2012. Kenneth E. Olson, Jr. M or Attest: Shirley Ewan, elerk/Treasurer 4 ,,,,„in.._.;.,, ,,,, ,, ,i, i DEC 1220;] CITY OF LAUREL December 4, 2011 To: Laurel City - County Planning Board 115 West First Street Laurel, Montana 59044 406 - 628 -4796 From: Fran Garnett and James Snyder 1115 4th Ave. Laurel, Montana 59044 406 - 628 -4780 Subject: Zoning Variance Dear Sirs, My wife and I are opposed to any zoning variance from the Laurel Municipal Code to allow for a mobile home in the Laurmac Subdivision. Sincerely, James Snyder e-a„,4471 Fran Garnett