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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 06.04.1996Minutes of the City Council of Laurel June 4, 1996 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Council President, Gay Easton at 7:00 p.m., on June 4, 1996. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Gay Easton Dirk Kroll Ron Marshall Donna Kilpatrick Chuck Dickerson Miles Walton COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: John Minch Bud Johnson INVOCATION: Invocation was given by Alderwoman Kilpatrick. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Marshall to approve the minutes of the regular of May 21, 1996, as presented, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. Motion meeting carried CORRESPONDENCE: Received a proposed parade route from the Laurel Chamber of Commerce for the 4th of July Parade at 11:00 a.m. Received a memo regarding a CTEP workshop on June 3, 1996 in Billings and June 4, 1996 in Columbus. Received a letter from the State Fire Marshall regarding pyrotechnic operators. Received a letter from the Bureau of Land Management regarding a land exchange. CLAIMS: Claims for the month of May were reviewed by the Budget/Finance Committee and recommended that they be paid. Motion by Alderwoman $394,538.59 for the month Kilpatrick to approve the claims in the amount of of May, seconded by Alderman Kroll. Motion carried RICHARD LARSEN - WAGE CLASSIFICATION STUDY: Richard Larsen presented a proposal for a position and wage classification study done for the employees of the City of Laurel. He submitted an analysis recommendation for wage parity. Wage parity is defined as comparable work or equal pay for equal work, a wage policy that requires equal pay for male and female, Caucasian and minority dominated job classifications. These are valued equally in terms of four factors that include skill levels, effort, responsibility, and environment. A job evaluation is applied to all job classifications within the same jurisdiction. Jobs rated as being of equal value are paid equivalent wages. Not all individuals holding the same job within the same classification would necessarily be paid the same wages. There are factors that affect it such as seniority, quantity, quality of work or certification requirements. A range of pay is developed for each classification. Wages should not be evaluated strictly on the value of the job in the jurisdiction but on what the market may reveal or what is comparable to jobs in another markets. Richard's analysis takes both factors into consideration, the parity between jobs within the city as well as the relationship with the market. Where job descriptions are uniform, wage and position classifications can be developed that are fair and equitable to all employees. Where job descriptions are not uniform, wage classification will continue to be distorted and no uniform value system can be established. Within job descriptions, there are central job functions that are very clear minimum expectations that a person must have. These specific qualifications, certifications, or abilities are required for job functions such as operating heavy equipment or needing computer skills. Job descriptions that were constructed two years ago were used and were updated through the department heads. Four positions were reassessed. All positions should be reassessed periodically and reviewed. Secondly, each position was ranked. By ranking the positions, it gives a good look at job parity, in how each job compares with one another. This is only a comparison with the job requirements, without regard to wages or salary. Thirdly, the ranks are separated into job grades. The fourth step involves the review of the m~rk~f. A Page 2 Council Meeting of June 4, 1996 Minutes of the City Council of Laurel classifications, the salary survey, and the current City of Laurel wage and salary schedule. According to the average market, a wage classification was developed to suggest pay raise and pay ranges showing hourly, monthly, and annual compensation data. A pay range was developed broad enough to allow the ability to negotiate increases for employees over a number of years. The pay raise needs to allow for vertical pay separation between grades to allow for promotion opportunities. Richard handed out a list of recommendations. Attached were classified market analysis, classified employees current and proposed salaries, classification by grades and wage classification by grades for annual, and hourly salaries. He recommended that the City of Laurel adopt the and wage classification. employees position monthly, position Richard recommended to the city that they consider establishing the position of senior dispatcher, who is TAC certified and has the responsibility to train dispatchers. He also suggested a position of senior patrol officer to take command responsibility in the absence of the command officer. These positions will allow for added responsibilities and opportunities for promotion. Gay Easton stated that a lot of work was done in preparing the wage classification. The Budget/Finance and Negotiation Committees put a lot of time into it. Two resolutions will be presented at the next council meeting for approval. One will be for job descriptions, and one for position and wage classification. PASTOR DAVE SMITH - REQUEST TO CLOSE 4TH STREET: Pastor Smith was not present but he previously requested approval to close West 4th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues for street hockey during Vacation Bible School. Alderman Dickerson suggested that Pastor Smith be contacted and that he take his request to the Street and Alley Committee meeting and they will make a recommendation to the council. Motion by Alderman Dickersen to Street and Alley Committee meeting, carried 6--0. contact Pastor Smith and invite him to the seconded by Alderman Marshall. Motion LAUREL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - 4TH OF JULY PARADE: Mary Ann Catchpole, representing the Laurel Chamber of Commerce, requested permission for the 4th of July parade. The council has received a copy of the parade route. The route and time of the parade remains the same as last year. Motion by Alderman Marshall to grant permission to the Laurel Chamber of Commerce to have a 4th of July parade using the route as presented, seconded by Alderman Walton. Motion carried 6--0. AGREEMENT - ROCKY FORK FREE TRAPPERS ASSOCIATION: Resolution was postponed until the City Council meeting of July 18, 1996. An agreement was sent to the association for a signature. DARRELL MCGILLEN - 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS DISPLAY: Darrell McGillen, Fire Chief, requested permission to display fireworks on July 4th in Thompson Park at approximately 10:15 p.m. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to grant permission for the fireworks display on July 4th in Thompson Park, seconded by Alderman Walton. Motion carried 6--0. JIM FLISRAND - ZONING CODES: Jim Flisrand stated that owners of portable food and drink trailers have requested permission to set up trailers and sell espresso coffee. Cal Cumin stated that this is on the agenda for the next City County Planning Board meeting. He will give a proposal to the city on how to handle the food and drink trailers. These trailers will have to meet city building codes and will have to be located on a paved parking lot. The city doesn't have any ordinance to address this type of situation. Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 3 Council Meeting of June 4, 1996 CONMITTEE REPORTS: --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of May 21, 1996, May 22, 1996, and May 29, 1996 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatric~ to enter the Budget/Finance Committee minutes of May 21, 1996, May 22, 1996, and May 29, 1996, into the record, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. Motion carried 6--0. --City Council CommiLtee of the Whole minutes of May 21, 1996 were presented. Motion by Alderman Whole minutes of May 21, Motion carried 6--0. Dickerson to enter the City Council Committee of the 1996, into the record, seconded by Alderman Marshall. --Park Committee minutes of May 23, 1996 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatrick to enter the Park Committee minutes of May 23, 1996, into the record, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. Motion carried 6--0. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Five Day Parking Violation Ruben Schreiner, 706 2nd Avenue, addressed the council regarding a warning ticket he received for parking his motor home on the street over five days. He also received a piece of paper from the city in his mail box and was upset and stated that this action was a federal offense. He has a current license on his motor home and has used it four times since early May. He stated that he went up and down streets and made a list of vehicles and motor homes that had outdated license tabs. He saw them on East 5th, Washington, Idaho, 3rd Street and 5th, 6th and 7th Avenues. Alderman Easton stated that this will need to be looked into. Ruben feels the ordinance was established before campers. Working people will leave such vehicles move them. most people had motor homes or set all week and are unable to Alderman Marshall stated there will be a Police Committee meeting on Thursday, June 6, 1996 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be in the Council Chambers. Mike Atkinson stated that the Police Department has in the past responded to complaints as they were received. He noted that a person received a ticket on their vehicle and then walked around making a list of vehicles that sat for five days. This list was presented to a councilman and the police took action. Mr. Schreiner's motor home evidently was on the list. Alderman Marshall stated that the ordinance will be reviewed during the Police Committee meeting on Thursday. Mr. Schreiner questioned why the paper regarding the City of Laurel ordinance was put in his mailbox? Connie Lind stated she did put one or two in the mailboxes, not realizing it was a federal offense. She stated she would not do this again. Rick Leuthold - SID 110 Rick Leuthold, Engineer, presented an update for Murray Heights SID 110. Construction bids received in August 1995 were over the amount that was allowed for the SID. They have worked on reducing the overall cost of the project while still maintaining the integrity of it. The current plan will eliminate the storm drain pipe in lieu of a surface drain. This will modify the grades on Twelfth Street and install a double gutter to allow for surface draining. There was a neighborhood meeting of the property owners. Twenty out of twenty-four owners of homes in that area were represented that evening. Various options and findings that they have had over the past several months were discussed. The decision was to have a ballot mailed out to each home owner and vote for a re-bid or abolish the SID. At this time, bid prices have come down. Construction is slow and prices are reflecting this which is advantageous for putting the project out for re-bid. Twenty-two out of twenty-four ballots were returned. Fifteen were in favor of re-bidding the project and seven were in favor of abolishing it. Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 4 Council Meeting of June 41 1996 has been done with the issue regarding the Twelfth Street access for the McNabb residence. Rick is requesting authorization from the council for construction bids for SID 110. Joe Leckie will prepare a resolution for the June 18, 1996 meeting. Alderman Dickerson announced a City License Committee meeting on June 24, at 5:30 p.m. to review 1996-97 business license renewals. 1996 APPOINTMENTS: None HAYOR'S COHHENTS: Gay announced that the Grant Committee will meet on Thursday, June 6, 1996 at 12:00 noon in the Council Chambers. Applications for housing rehabilitation will be reviewed and voted on which requires a quorum. Alderman Dickerson mentioned that he will not be at the meeting. A public hearing will be held regarding the underpass drain line on Tuesday, June ll, 1996 at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. The Budget/Finance Committee is scheduled to meet with the auditors at the same time as the public hearing. Don Hackmann will contact the auditors and reschedule the meeting. Gay commented that Laurel is receiving a face lift. Weeds are being cut on the median strip by the refinery, which looks great. A good job is being done on re-stripping the streets. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m. Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 18th day of June, 1996. Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk