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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 08.21.2001 MINIJTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL August 21, 2001 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 Chuck Rodgers at 7:02 p.m. on August 21, 2001. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Lauren Van Roekel Ken Olson Gay Easton Bill Staudinger None Gary Temple Mark Mace Daniel Dart Bud Johnson Mayor Rodgers asked the council to observe a moment of silence in behalf of the family of Miranda Fenner. Mayor Rodgers led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Staudinger to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of August 7, 2001, as presented, seconded by Alderman Olson. Motion carried 8-0. Yellowstone County Air Pollution Control Board: Activity Report - July 2001; Agenda - August 14, 2001. b. Montana/Wyoming Association of Rail Passengers information. c. Fiduciary Administration and Accounting Services, Ltd.: Letter of August 8, 2001, to the beneficiaries of the Billie L. Riddle Trust. d. Mayor Rodgers: Letter of August 9, 2001, to Ms. Betty Vogel regarding acknowledgement of Final Distribution from the Billie L. Riddle Trust. e. Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Letter of August 13, 2001, regarding "Capitol for a Day" in Laurel. PUBLIC HEARINGS: a. 2001-2002 Preliminary Budget and Tax Resolutions. Mayor Rodgers opened the public hearing. Mayor Rodgers asked three times if there were any proponents. There were none. Mayor Rodgers asked three times if there were any opponents. There were none. Motion by Alderman Easton to close the public hearing, seconded by Alderman Mace. Motion carried 8-0. b. Additional mills levied by HB 409. Mayor Rodgers opened the public hearing. Mayor Rodgers asked three times if there were anY proponents. There were none. Mayor Rodgers asked three times if there were any opponents. There were none. Motion by Alderman Olson to close the public hearing, seconded by Alderman Mace. Motion carried 8-0. CORRESPONDENCE: a, Council Minutes of August 21,2001 CONSENT ITEMS: a. Clerk/Treasurer Financial Statements for the month of July 2001. b. Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of July 16, 2001 were presented. --City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of August 7, 2001 were presented. --City-County Planning Board minutes of August 2, 2001 were presented. --Public Works Committee minutes of August 13,2001 were presented. --Emergency Services Committee minutes of July 23, 2001 were presented. c. Resolution No. R01-51: Authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement with Montana Engineering and Administration (ME&A) for a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). RESOLUTION NO. R01-51 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH MONTANA ENGINEERING AND ADMINISTRATION (ME&A) FOR A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CIP). The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Motion by Alderman Johnson to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Alderman Staudinger. Motion carried 8-0. SCHEDULED MATTERS: a. Confirmation of Appointments. None. b. Resolution No. R01-52: Being a resolution levying taxes for general and specific purposes for the City of Laurel, Montana, for the fiscal year beginning July 1,2001. RESOLUTION NO. R01-52 BEING A RESOLUTION LEVYING TAXES FOR GENERAL AND SPECIFIC PURPOSES FOR THE CITY OF LAUREL, MONTANA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2001. Motion by Alderman Johnson to approve Resolution No. R01-52 to accept the budget with the request that the Enterprise Funds be resubmitted by October 16, 2001, and that the funds reflect the rates that were in place on July 1, 2001, seconded by Alderman Olson. Motion carried 8-0. c. Resolution No. R01-53: Being a resolution levying and assessing all of the property embraced within the City of Laurel, Montana, for street maintenance for the fiscal year 2001-2002. RESOLUTION NO. R01-53 BEING A RESOLUTION LEVYING AND ASSESSING ALL OF THE PROPERTY EMBRACED WITHIN THE CITY OF LAUREL, MONTANA, FOR STREET MAINTENANCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2001-2002. Motion by Alderman Johnson to approve Resolution No. R01-53, seconded by Alderman Mace. Motion carried 8-0. Council Minutes of August 21,2001 d. Resolution No. R01-54: Being a resolution levying and assessing all of the property embraced within Street Sweeping District No. 1, of the City of Laurel, Montana, for the purpose of the sweePing of streets in the downtown or business district for the fiscal year 2001-2002. RESOLUTION NO. R01-54 BEING A RESOLUTION LEVYING AND ASSESSING ALL OF THE PROPERTY EMBRACED WITHIN STREET SWEEPING DISTRICT NO. 1, OF THE CITY OF LAUREL, MONTANA, FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE SWEEPING OF STREETS IN THE DOWNTOWN OR BUSINESS DISTRICT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2001-2002. Motion by Alderman Ols0n to approve Resolution No. R01-54, seconded by Alderman Dart. Motion carried 8-0. Resolution No. R01-55: A resolution levying and assessing all of the property embraced within Special Improvement District No. 110 of the City of Laurel, Montana, with the cost of street paving, curb and gutter, and storm drain facilities in Murray Heights Subdivision. RESOLUTION NO. R01-55 A RESOLUTION LEVYING AND ASSESSING ALL OF THE PROPERTY EMBRACED WITHIN SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 110 OF THE CITY OF LAUREL, MONTANA, WITH THE COST'OF STREET PAVING, CURB AND GUTTER, AND STORM DRAIN FACILITIES IN MURRAY HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION. Motion by Alderman Easton to approve Resolution No. R01-55, seconded by Alderman Mace. Motion carried 8-0. f. Resolution No. R01-56: Being a resolution levying and assessing a special tax against certain property in the City of Laurel for any unpaid sewer charges. RESOLUTION NO. R01-56 BEING A RESOLUTION LEVYING AND ASSESSING A SPECIAL TAX AGAINST CERTAIN PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF LAUREL FOR ANY UNPAID SEWER CHARGES. Motion by Alderman Mace to approve Resolution No. R01-56, seconded by Alderman Olson. Motion carried 8-0. Resolution No. R01-57: Being a resolution levying and assessing a special tax against certain property designated as garbage districts in the City of Laurel, Montana, for the removal of garbage and refuse. RESOLUTION NO. R01~57 BEING A RESOLUTION LEVYING AND ASSESSING A SPECIAL TAX AGAINST CERTAIN PROPERTY DESIGNATED AS GARBAGE DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF LAUREL, MONTANA, . FOR THE REMOVAL OF GARBAGE AND REFUSE. Motion by Alderman Easton to approve Resolution No. R01-57, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Motion carried 8-0. Resolution No. R01-58: A resolution of the City Council of the City of Laurel approving the ballot issue requesting voter approval to levy additional mills. RESOLUTION NO. R01-58 ~ 3 Council Minutes of August 21,2001 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAUREL APPROVING THE BALLOT ISSUE REQUESTING VOTER APPROVAL TO LEVY ADDITIONAL MILLS, Motion by Alderman Easton to approve Resolution No. R01-58, seconded by Alderman Staudinger. Motion carried 8-0. David Metzger - Land Use Variance on the vacant land on unimproved l0th Avenue and West 6th Street to build a pole building before a residence is built. Planning Board recommends denial, and furthermore recommends that the City Council hold a public hearing on the application. Laurel Richards/Collins Special Review for a preschool at 815 5th Avenue. Planning Board recommends approval and furthermore recommends that the City Council hold a public hearing. Motion by Alderman Johnson to schedule public hearings for the Land Use Variance for David Metzger and the Special Review for Laurel Richards/Collins on September 4, 2001, seconded by Alderman Staudinger. Motion carried 8-0. Annexation of Ward Subdivision, Block 1, Lot 1. Planning Board recommends approval and recommends no second public hearing. Motion needed to approve application and proceed with process. Motion by Alderman Johnson to approve the annexation of Block 1, Lot 1 of Ward Subdivision, seconded by Alderman Staudinger. Alderman Olson asked for the specific location of the property, which is located on the corner of 1a Avenue and 12th Street. Mary Embleton stated that this is to approve the application and proceed with the process, which requires a resolution of annexation. Approval of the application is needed in order to proceed with approval of the annexation. Alderman Temple questioned whether the special review in item 7.1. should be deferred until the next council meeting. Alderman Johnson stated that a special review normally has to have approval before it can take place, and the annexation request was received because the property is less than a city block. A vote was taken on the motion. Motion carried 8-0. Ward Subdivision, Block 1, Lot 1 - Special Review for a personal care home in a residential zone. Planning Board recommends approval, subject to the landowner working with the City Public Works Department on landscaping on the First Avenue side of the property. Due to lack of protest, the Planning Board recommends no second public hearing be held by the City Council. Motion by Alderman Johnson to approve the Special Review application for a personal care home in a residential zone, seconded by Alderman Staudinger. Motion carried 8-0. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: Alderman Olson stated that expansion of the lighting districts is a positive step and the focus on the project needs to be maintained. Alderman Temple stated that the notice of lighting district expansion was confusing. Some residents felt that the citywide expansion and the monthly/yearly fees issues were not clearly stated in the notice. He stated that the public is still confused regarding the number of power poles required to meet the standards. Alderman Temple agreed that the expanded lighting is definitely needed throughout the City of Laurel. Mary distributed information regarding the explanation of costs and improvements for expansion of the lighting districts prior to the council meeting, and Mayor Rodgers thanked her for the information. Council Minutes of August 21,2001 Alderman Johnson questioned whether or not an additional proposal had been received for the lighting district, depending on the substance of the contracts for the present lighting district. Matt Erekson stated that he has reviewed the present contracts. Montana Power owns the current lights and poles and the contract requires them to complete any requests for expansion from the city. Additional proposals would be required to buy out Montana Power and the current lights, making it cost prohibitive to challenge the present contract. Governor Judy Martz is scheduled to be in Laurel for "Capitol for a Day" on Wednesday; August 22na. Mary Embleton stated that several letters of protest have been received regarding expansion of the lighting districts. Copies will be distributed to the council before the September 4th public hearing. Comments of concern address rising electricity costs and the need to use the money for street maintenance or the water, sewer, and garbage systems. Randy Swenson, the owner of Lot 1, Block 1 of Ward Subdivision, questioned whether or not the special review had been granted. Mayor Rodgers stated that the special review had been granted. Mr. Swenson clarified that he could now begin working with the Building Department to get a building permit. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:23 p.m. Cindy Allen, ~gecretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 4th day of September, 2001. Charles G. Rodgers, Mayor( Attest: Mary K.~mblet-on, Clerk-Treasurer