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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 08.06.2013 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL August 6, 2013 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 August 6, 2013. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Doug Poehls Bruce McGee Scot Stokes Chuck Dickerson Tom Nelson Bill Mountsier COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Mark Mace OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Monica Plecker Mayor Olson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mayor Olson asked the council to observe a moment of silence. Mayor Olson asked City Planner Monica Plecker to introduce the newly -hired code enforcement officer. _ Monica introduced Keith Kolstad, who worked for the State of Montana for twenty -three years as a fire and life safety inspector. MINUTES: Motion by Council Member Dickerson to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of July 16, 2013, as presented, seconded by Council Member Poehls. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7 -0. CORRESPONDENCE: Montana Department of Transportation: Letter of July 11, 2013 regarding 203 -2017 Final Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. PUBLIC HEARING: • Variance request from United Steel Workers to reconstruct a nonconforming use at 1009 East Sixth Street Mayor Olson asked City Planner Monica Plecker to introduce the item to the council. Monica stated that United Steel Workers' union hall is located at 1009 East Sixth Street. They requested a variance from the Laurel Municipal Code 17.56.030 to reconstruct a nonconforming use. The current facility is an assembly hall that is located in a residential area and the building is older than the city's zoning. The code states that nonconforming uses like the assembly hall in the residential area cannot be rebuilt or extended, but the union wants to construct a new building there. The Planning Board met on the item. At the first meeting, the Board delayed action because the union members were working during turnaround at the refinery and could not attend the meeting. At the next meeting, the Planning Board heard testimony from members of the union. One thing that came to light was that the facility has also been used as a community facility. After an insurance inspection, the union had to stop offering activities because of safety concerns and hazards with the condition of the building. The current building is not ADA compliant. The bathrooms are in the basement and there is no handicap accessibility. If the variance were granted for an assembly hall, it would be required to offer accessibility. The applicant has not submitted specific building plans, as they needed to know whether or not it was a feasible option to rebuild. The Planning Board voted to recommend approval of the variance because of the hardship with the safety hazards. The Board also felt that using the building as a community facility is within the spirit and intent of residential use. Council Minutes of August 6, 2013 Council Member Nelson asked if the Public Works Department had any concerns regarding storm water issues. Monica stated that the Public Works Department reviewed the application and did not submit any comments or concerns. The Public Works Standards will be enforced during redevelopment of the lot. The area does not currently have sidewalks, so that would be addressed during redevelopment of the lot. Any issues would come to light during the building permitting phase. Council Member Poehls mentioned that the last page of the staff report states that all storm water must be kept on site. Mayor Olson asked the applicant to speak to the council. Alyssa Vandersloot, 411 West Avenue, is the recording secretary for the United Steel Workers Local 11 -443. She stated that the union applied for a variance to rebuild the union hall. The building was built in the early 1920's to 1930's and the United Steel Workers Local 11 -44 took over the hall in the early 1950's. The union would like to build something that is nicer and more accessible for people and make it a positive point for the community to have events. The union owns the land. 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 and stated that the item would be considered under Scheduled Matters 10.b. CONSENT ITEMS: • Claims for the month of July 2013 in the amount of $546,028.75 A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk - Treasurer's Office. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 07/21/2013 totaling $189,882.45. • Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. - - Budget/Finance Committee minutes of July 16, 2013 were presented. - -Park Board minutes of July 11, 2013 were presented. - - Council Workshop minutes of July 30, 2013 were presented. - -Tree Board minutes of May 16, 2013 were presented. -- Laurel Urban Renewal Agency minutes of July 15, 2013 were presented. The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Council Member McGee. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7 -0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE- MINUTE LIMIT): Wade Schwindt, 10 Bonanza Drive in Billings, introduced himself as the president of the Laurel Jaycees. He wanted to let the council know that the organization is dedicated to making positive -XL7 Council Minutes of August 6, 2013 change within the community and asked the council to contact him if the Laurel Jaycees could assist in any area. SCHEDULED MATTERS: • Confirmation of Appointments. • Resolution No. R13 -50: A resolution of the City Council granting a variance from the City's nonconforming use regulation. Motion by Council Member Poehls to approve Resolution No. R13 -50, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7 -0. • Resolution No. R13 -51: A resolution of the City Council accepting the bid and authorizing the Mayor to sign a contract with Billings Asphalt for street paving in the City of Laurel. Motion by Council Member Stokes to approve Resolution No. R13 -51, seconded by Council Member Poehls. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7 -0. • Ordinance No. 013 -01: An ordinance amending Chapter 16.6 of the Laurel Municipal Code titled "Subdivision for rent or lease" and to adopt a new Chapter 18 titled "Buildings for lease or rent review process," and to renumber and re- codify Chapter 18 as Chapter 20, all located in the Laurel Municipal Code. First reading. Motion by Council Member Nelson to adopt Ordinance No. 013 -01, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. All seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7 -0. The public hearing and second reading of Ordinance No. 013 -01 will be on August 20, 2013. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE- MINUTE LIMIT): None. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: • Review of Monthly Reports: Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Code Enforcement: None. Council Member Poehls stated kudos to the Police Department regarding the situation last Friday. He also called the Police Department one night last week and they responded promptly and handled the situation very professionally. Council Member Dickerson asked for an update about the left turn signal on Main Street and First Avenue. Mayor Olson stated that the time of the left turn signal was extended about a month ago. Council Member Mountsier stated that it was good to be back from vacation. Council Member Nelson stated that the Lease Task Force would meet on Monday, August 19 to review the lease agreement for the Laurel Rifle Club. Council Member Stokes asked what is needed to get street lights in the city. Mayor Olson will email some information regarding street light districts to the council. Mayor Olson thanked Council Vice - President Mace for leading the last two meetings. He stated that Council Member Mace attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the $9.1 million Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. Mayor Olson recalled that the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) was presented in 2001 when he served on the city council. Now in 2013, it is finally getting to the point of construction. 3 ) SIC Council Minutes of August 6, 2013 Mayor Olson recently received a phone call from Senator Tester to inform him that the City of Laurel received $1.3 million for the south bank restoration project. Senator Tester had been working very diligently on that. Mayor Olson told Senator Tester that it is nice that the city can do the south bank restoration, but the city is still working diligently on the long -term solution. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member Mountsier 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 seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7 -0. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m. Cindy Allen, (Council Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 20 day of August, 2013. /,� • fenneth E. Olson, Jr., ayor Attest: L t- Lc_ ; LL ! 6 Shirley Ewan, C erk/Treasurer 4