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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 12.27.2011 MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP DECEMBER 27, 2011 6:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS A Council Workshop was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Ken Olson at 6:30 p.m. on December 27, 2011. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton _x_ Doug Poehls _x_ Bruce McGee _x_ Mark Mace _x Chuck Rodgers _x_ Chuck Dickerson _x Tom Nelson Norm Stamper OTHERS PRESENT: Heidi Jensen Rick Musson Public Input (three - minute limit): Citizens may address the Council regarding any item of City business not on the agenda. The duration for an individual speaking under Public Input is limited to three minutes. While all comments are welcome, the Council will not take action on any item not on the agenda. There was no public input. General items There were none. Executive Review: • Resolution — Amendment to Substance Abuse Policy for safety - sensitive Laurel Bus Transit employees Heidi Jensen stated that the State is requiring the city to comply with new Federal rules to designate the city's employee representative. Kurt Markegard will be the representative, as the bus drivers will be in the same random drug screening pool as all Public Works employees and Kurt is already in charge of that. He has the information in a locked box so no one can access the records and it is easier to have him be designated employee for drug screening. Nothing is changing for the City of Laurel, but the changes let the State and the Feds know that the city has a policy. The employees in this random drug screening include the three bus drivers, the dispatcher and the mechanic, who was already in the drug pool as a Public Works employee. • Resolution — $2.00 annual service fee for all water users Mayor Olson explained that the pass through charge is done annually for all water users to meet a requirement imposed by the State of Montana. • Resolution — Accept DNRC Urban Forestry Development Grant Heidi stated that the City of Laurel was awarded a $7,500 DNRC Urban Forestry Development Grant. The city will match the grant with $11,000 of Tree City USA money and the budget for planting new Council Workshop Minutes of December 27, 2011 trees, trimming trees in the boulevard and updating the website with Google maps and overlay and the ability to track all the trees in the city will be done through this grant, which has to be done by the end of the summer. The city asked for more grant money but the DNRC thought that the city should be doing the maintenance and tree trimming in the boulevards. The city is required to budget $2.00 per capita for a total of $12,780.00 for trees. Mayor Olson commented regarding the work Heidi did to receive this Urban Forestry Development Grant. He stated that Fred Bicha sees this as an opportunity for the City of Laurel to foster the idea of educating the citizenry on how best to treat trees and the City of Laurel will schedule educational forums for the citizens. • Council issues: o Speed limits on East Railroad Street (Chuck Rodgers) Chuck Rodgers spoke regarding the speed limit on East Railroad Street. People who work and live in the area are concerned about the way the speed limit goes from 25 mph to 35 mph or 35 mph down to 25 mph with only one sign. People feel that a 35 mph speed limit would be adequate for that area as there are few approaches. Chief Musson stated that has been on ongoing issue, especially since Walmart went in. The police work that stretch pretty heavily and have had written complaints about enforcing the speed limit, but they enforce the law. Signage is an issue that Kurt Markegard and Chief Musson have been working on for a long time. The County Commissioners recently conducted a traffic study, and a response from Yellowstone County's Traffic Control Tech stated that "the results of the speed study on East Railroad showed that the combined 85% of the traffic was traveling at 38.2 mph." Chief Musson stated that 35 mph would be a reasonable speed, and the traffic study showed that 35 mph would be a reasonable speed. By ordinance, the council can direct the chief of police to put signs up, change the speed limit, etc. The city attorney will determine how to do that because cities in Montana have speed limits of 25 mph unless it is posted otherwise. There was further discussion regarding installation of speed limit signs, the proposed 35 mph speed limit, and the probability that people will want the speed limit increased to 45 mph. Rick recommended that the speed limit remain at 25 mph from South First Avenue to the railroad tracks by Fox Lumber and then be 35 mph to the County. Chief Musson will determine the locations for installation of the speed limit signs. There was discussion regarding the process of the City of Laurel annexing East Railroad Street from Yellowstone County. The speed limit and signage could be changed prior to annexation of the road. The County has installed speed limit signs, including a warning sign for the 25 mph speed zone, on West Railroad by South Pond. There was discussion regarding the gravel walkway on the south side of East Railroad Street. The police department will continue to work on East Railroad Street. Mayor Olson stated that, with the council's permission, this item would be submitted to the city attorney for recommendation of the best process to go forward. The item will be on the next council workshop agenda. 2 Council Workshop Minutes of December 27, 2011 • Special item: o Recognition of Chuck Rodgers' service to the City of Laurel Mayor Olson spoke regarding Chuck Rodgers' service to the City of Laurel. Chuck started his time with civic duty to the council in 1969 as a Ward 4 representative for ten years. He served under Mayors Olson, Yovetich and Herman. He also served as a Ward 3 alderman after he moved out of Ward 4. He served under Mayor Gauthier from 1986 to 1991. When Mayor Gauthier resigned, Chuck was the council president and was asked by the council to take over the remaining term as mayor and began the first of his ten years as mayor for the City of Laurel. Mayor Olson stated that he was extremely fortunate to be brought in under Mayor Rodger's tutelage in 1998. The thing that he remembers most was Chuck's ability to listen, to be able to ferret out the pertinent information, and to engage the council in the proper direction for the issue. He enabled the council to come to their own conclusions. Chuck has the ability and the desire to serve his community. Mayor Olson thanked Chuck for his service and presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation for his service to the City of Laurel. There were further comments regarding Chuck's service to the City of Laurel and appreciation was expressed for his accomplishments as mayor and council member. Chuck commented about the irrigation system at the cemetery and the need to complete the project. He commented on the mandated project at the sewer plant and the need to address the sed basins and the water reservoir, which is needed for storage, fire protection and proper maintenance on the old reservoir. The question is how to pay for the water reservoir and Chuck suggested that the city should get back into selling water with a standpipe. He stated that the sooner the city does so, the better. He stated that the city would catch heat over it, but should remember it is for the future of Laurel. Chuck wished everyone well. Mayor Olson thanked Chuck again. Other items There were none. Review of draft council agenda for January 3, 2012 • Swearing -in ceremony for elected officials Mayor asked Scot Stokes, the newly - elected council member, to introduce his wife, Kat Stokes. Scot will be unable to attend the council meeting on January 3 and will be sworn in at the council workshop on January 10 . Attendance at the January 3, 2012 council meeting All present will attend. Announcements Council Members Mace and Dickerson wished everyone a Happy New Year. Council Member Nelson stated that he learned a lot while sitting next to Council Member Rodgers for the last fourteen months as he interjected insight, history and humor into the discussions. 3 Council Workshop Minutes of December 27, 2011 Council Member Rodgers congratulated Scot Stokes and stated that it would be a great experience and education for him. He stated appreciation for all the friendships and will be back in once in awhile. Council Member McGee thanked Council Member Rodgers for his years of service. He is looking forward to 2012. Mayor Olson stated that the council retreat is scheduled on Saturday, January 14 in the council chambers. Coffee and breakfast will be served from 8:00 to 8:30 and the session will start at 9:00 a.m. Dan Clark will review the roles and responsibilities of the mayor and council. Alan Hulse, the CEO of MMIA, will present risk analysis information. Agenda items should be submitted to Mayor Olson soon. Council members should bring the Montana Local Government Board Handbooks to the council retreat. Mayor Olson asked Heidi Jensen to give an update on the river, ExxonMobil and Williston Basin. Heidi has talked to Williston Basin but not to ExxonMobil. Exxon plans to be done in Riverside Park soon and out of the park by January 18 The city requested a written document from ExxonMobil stating that they would be out of the park before the March 1 deadline. After that, the city needs to enter into an agreement with Williston Basin. Since Williston Basin is under Exxon's agreement for park closure and security, the city needs to make sure the park is still closed and secure while Williston Basin continues their boring. In the next couple weeks, information will be presented to the council on how to keep the park secure because people cannot be in the park as long as they have a hole in the ground. Discussion is needed regarding how to secure the bank because it is too steep and the rebar and the concrete from the boat ramp are sticking out. The city cannot allow the clubs to go back in there in that state. Some kind of temporary fence might be needed to keep people out. Heidi stated that discussion is needed with MMIA at the council retreat regarding the liabilities of opening the park to the American Legion, the Jaycees and the Rifle Club. The Rod & Gun is uninhabitable with the mold inside. Heidi is still working to get the Montana Historical Society to recognize that the buildings should not need to go back to the historical state and to release the city's FEMA funds for the cabin. Kurt spent two days last week at the Outlook looking through papers in the 1930's to find something that says the cabin had been modified before. Once the city can prove they are not in the original state, it can hopefully get those FEMA funds. Tom asked if Williston Basin is the last of the utilities that will cross the river. Heidi stated that Conoco goes across the river. Conoco went into the Riverside Park side, stayed within their easement, and did not even notify the city that they were in the park. They capped their line and pulled it out, and then went over to the north side of the river and tried to use city land. The city stopped that and informed Conoco that an agreement was needed to use city land. Conoco built a pretty steep ramp in their right -of -way and pulled their pipe out of the river. Heidi stated that Conoco was not as easy to deal with as ExxonMobil and Williston Basin have been. Mayor stated that there was some infrastructure underneath where Conoco wanted to bring some heavy equipment. Heidi explained that Conoco wanted to drive equipment on some concrete asbestos pipe that the city has had problems with in the past. It would have been a nightmare to make sure that nothing was 4 Council Workshop Minutes of December 27, 2011 damaged and Conoco was unwilling to tell the city what they wanted to drive on there, how many days they were going to be there, and how many trips they were going to make in and out. Heidi stated that the Corps of Engineers recently requested an additional form, which she sent to Jeremiah Theys, the engineer from Great West that is working on the permitting. Fish, Wildlife and Parks had no problem with any of the proposed plans. Mayor Olson stated that the council will be apprised of any information pertaining to the permitting. Mayor wished everyone a safe and happy 2012. The council workshop adjourned at 7:26 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Cindy Allen Council Secretary NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion of the Council for the listed workshop agenda items. 5