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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 02.04.2014 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL February 4, 2014 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 Mark Mace at 6:30 p.m. on February 4, 2014. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Doug Poehls Bruce McGee Scot Stokes Chuck Dickerson Tom Nelson COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Bill Mountsier OTHER STAFF PRESENT: None Mayor Mace led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mayor Mace asked the council to observe a moment of silence. MINUTES: Motion by Council Member Poehls to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January _ 21, 2014, 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. CORRESPONDENCE: Montana Department of Revenue: Application for Transfer of Location for Pizza Hut. PUBLIC HEARING. CONSENT ITEMS: • Claims for the month of January 2014 in the amount of $272,271.16. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk- Treasurer's Office. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 01/19/2014 totaling $168,724.01. • Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. -- Budget/Finance Committee minutes of January 21, 2014 were presented. -- Cemetery Commission minutes of January 16, 2014 were presented. -- Council Workshop minutes of January 28, 2014 were presented. The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Motion by Council Member Poehls to approve the consent items as presented, 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. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE- MINUTE LIMIT): Council Minutes of February 4, 2014 Iry Wilke, 1017 7 Avenue, stated that the Laurel Rifle Club received a request from the Big Sky State Games to again sponsor the small bore prone event that the club has been doing for many years. This is a preliminary request, as he promised the council last year that the request would be submitted earlier. Iry needs to get more information to bring back to the council. The event will use the 100 -yard covered area, but probably will not shoot at the 100 yards. He mentioned that some folks that compete in this event use Laurel as a destination. They do not go into Billings since their event is strictly here, so that will help the businesses in the community. Iry requested that the Park Board take care of the grounds a couple weeks before the event. There was discussion regarding the date of the event (July 19 the two separate events in the morning and afternoon (small bore with different positions and the prone position), and Council Member Dickerson's invitation for Iry to speak to the Park Board at the meeting on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Since Iry is unable to attend the Park Board meeting, a copy of the information will be given to Council Member Dickerson. Iry stated that there is still a problem with dog doodoo in Riverside Park. Recently he saw a vehicle from Wyoming pull into the park and let a dog out for that purpose. He said that it is very disheartening to see the park used as a dog doodoo place. Iry also informed the council that there is shooting going on down at Riverside Park. He has cleaned up the area three or four times already, and he would have done it again Saturday when Hunter's Education class finished, but he did not have room to take the junk out. The junk is located on the northeast corner of the berm and it is a nasty mess. Iry mentioned that a Fish, Wildlife and Parks field course was completed on Saturday. Sixty -two regular class students went through the course, 28 people took the online course, and all of the students passed the field course. They are trying to push Fish, Wildlife and Parks to make this a standard statewide. Iry will return to the council after he receives more information regarding the request from Big Sky State Games. SCHEDULED MATTERS: • Ward 2 Council Vacancy. Mayor Mace asked for nominations for the Ward 2 council vacancy. Motion by Council Member Poehls to nominate Richard Herr to fill the Ward 2 council seat until December 31, 2015, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. Motion carried 6 -0. Mayor Mace asked if there were any other nominations. There were none. Mayor Mace closed the nominations. Motion by Council Member Dickerson to appoint Richard Herr to fill the Ward 2 council seat for the term ending December 31, 2015, seconded by Council Member McGee. 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. Mayor Mace administered the Oath of Office for Richard Herr. Mayor Mace asked Richard Herr to take his seat as the Ward 2 Council Member. • Confirmation of Appointments. Yellowstone County Historic Preservation Board Mayor Mace appointed Judy Goldsby to the Yellowstone County Historic Preservation Board for a term ending December 31, 2016. Motion by Council Member McGee to approve the Mayor's appointment of Judy Goldsby to the Yellowstone County Historic Preservation Board for a term ending December 31, 2016, 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. Laurel Urban Renewal Agency 2 • Council Minutes of February 4, 2014 Mayor Mace appointed Steve Arveschoug as an Advisory Member on LURA for a term ending —" December 31, 2016, and Mardie Spalinger as an Advisory Member on LURA for a term ending December 31, 2017. Motion by Council Member Dickerson to approve the Mayor's appointments of Steve Arveschoug as an Advisory Member on LURA for a term ending December 31, 2016, and Mardie Spalinger as an Advisory Member on LURA for a term ending December 31, 2017, seconded by Council Member Nelson. 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. Budget /Finance Committee Mayor Mace stated the council's appointment of Chuck Dickerson to the Budget/Finance Committee. Motion by Council Member McGee to approve the appointment of Chuck Dickerson to the Budget/Finance Committee, 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. Public Works Committee Mayor Mace stated the council's appointments of Bill Mountsier and Richard Herr to the Public Works Committee. Motion by Council Member Poehls to approve the appointments of Bill Mountsier and Richard Herr to the Public Works Committee, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. 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. Park Board Mayor Mace appointed Scot Stokes to the Park Board to fill a term ending December 31, 2016. Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve the Mayor's appointment of Scot Stokes to the Park Board to fill a term ending December 31, 2016, seconded by Council Member Nelson. 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. R14 -03: A resolution of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, calling for an election on the question of conducting a Local Government Review and establishing a Study Commission to do so. Motion by Council Member Nelson to approve Resolution No. R14 -03, seconded by Council Member Poehls. Kathy Herr, 501 7 Avenue, asked what it would cost the city to do this. Mayor Mace stated that the city has budgeted $5,000 for the review. Kathy asked how often the review of the city is conducted. Mayor Mace explained that it happens every ten years. Council Member Poehls explained that there are two steps to the process. The first step is to put the issue on the June ballot to see if the constituents in the City of Laurel want a government review. If the constituents want a government review, the city has to do it and three people from the city need to step forward to do it. If the constituents do not want a government review, the matter is over. It is up to the citizens of Laurel whether or not to go through with the government review. Council Member Eaton mentioned that it is mandated by the State of Montana. 3 Council Minutes of February 4, 2014 There was discussion regarding the government review and the possible expenditure if the public votes in favor of the government review. Kathy asked if the issue will be explained to the people of Laurel so the people can vote as an informed electorate. Mayor Mace stated that the County Election Officer will send out information on that for the mail -in ballot on June 3 Kathy asked if there will be something in the newspaper explaining what they are voting on. Mayor Mace stated that there should be information in the paper explaining the issue and why it is done every ten years. There was no further discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7 -0. • Resolution No. R14 -04: Resolution amending Resolution No. R04 -106 increasing the credit card limit and revising the Credit Card Use Policy of the City of Laurel. Motion by Council Member McGee to approve Resolution No. R14 -04, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. 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. R14 -05: A resolution awarding a three -year contract with Olness & Associates for auditing services through fiscal year ending 2016 and authorizing the Mayor to sign said contract for the City of Laurel. Motion by Council Member Dickerson to approve Resolution No. R14 -05, seconded by Council Member Nelson. 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. R14 -06: A resolution of the City Council approving the new City of Laurel logo. Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve Resolution No. R14 -06, seconded by Council Member Nelson. There was no public comment. Council Member Stokes asked if anyone looked into having the students of Laurel try to design a logo through scholarship form instead of going outside the City of Laurel to have the company in Bozeman do it. Mayor Mace stated that the company worked with the LURA Board and had additional meetings and discussion to come up with the logo. He does not believe that students were given a chance to design a logo. Council Member Stokes stated that it would give the community and opportunity to be involved. Mayor Mace stated that he would inform the CAO of his comments. A vote was taken on the motion. Council Members Poehls, Herr, Nelson, Dickerson, McGee and Eaton voted aye. Council Member Stokes voted nay. Motion carried 6 -1. • Resolution No. R14 -07: A resolution of intent by the City Council to annex a portion of East Main Street located between Alder Avenue and Locust Avenue, adjacent and contiguous to the City of Laurel, and currently owned by the State of Montana. Motion by Council Member McGee to approve Resolution No. R14 -07, 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. 4 P1441/ Council Minutes of February 4, 2014 ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE - MINUTE LIMIT): Kathy Herr, 501 7 Avenue, is a member of the school board. She stated that it is very interesting that both entities deal with major things affecting the City of Laurel, but yet there is no crossover. She knows that the superintendent attends some committee meetings. The room is not packed with concerned citizens, just like school board meetings are not packed with concerned citizens. She stated that is an interesting observation and questioned why people are not interested in the government, what goes on in Laurel, and the spending of taxpayers' money. She does not know the answer, but suggested that representatives of the two boards could attend the other meetings in order to work together in deciding where the money should go for the good of the community. There was discussion regarding the apathy of the public to be involved, the need for the two entities to coordinate mill levies, and the possibility of having a representative from each entity attend the other entity's meeting. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: • Review of Monthly Reports: Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Code Enforcement: None. Council Member Nelson mentioned the training session that the MSU Local Government Center and MMIA are presenting in Laurel on Thursday, February 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Community Room at the FAP. Council Member McGee asked that the issue of cleaning and abuse of parks, especially Riverside Park, be discussed at the next council workshop and at the Park Board meeting on Thursday. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member Poehls 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 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 7:08 p.m. &:1 Cindy Alle , Council Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 18 day of February, 2014. Mark A. Mace, Mayor Attest: / / J n Shirley Ewan, Clerk/Treasurer 5 'nA v 4Mt