Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 08.07.2001 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL August 7, 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 7:00 p.m on August 7, 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 July 17, 2001, as presented, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Motion carried 8-0. CORRESPONDENCE: a. City of Billings: Letter of July 12, 2001 regarding Landfill Users Summit. b. Montana Taxpayer - July 2001. c. Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks: Press Release regarding $1.4 million for trails in Montana. d. Dickinson State University: Letter of July 23, 2001 regarding symposiums on finding new strategies to save, sustain, and revitalize rural Great Plains communities. CONSENT ITEMS: a. Claims for the mOnth of July 2001 in the amount of $651,308.99. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer's Office. b. Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of July 2, 2001 were presented. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of July 10, 2001 were presented. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of July 12, 2001 were presented. --City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of July 17, 2001 were presented. --Insurance Committee minutes of July 19, 2001 were presented. --Laurel Airport Authority minutes of March 27 2001 were presented. --Laurel Airport Authority minutes of May 22, 2001 were presented. --Laurel Airport Authority minutes of June 26, 2001 were presented. c. Resolutions. Council Minutes of August 7, 2001 1) Resolution No. R01-48: A resolution terminating Yellowstone Community Health Plan and approving Blue Cross Blue Shield Select Plan, a managed health care plan. RESOLUTION NO. R01-48 A RESOLUTION TERMINATING YELLOWSTONE COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN AND APPROVING BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD SELECT PLAN, A MANAGED HEALTH CARE PLAN. 2) Resolution No. R01-51: Authorizing the Mayor to accept the Capital Improvement Plan (C1P) proposal from Montana Engineering and Administration and to enter into a contract with Montana Engineering and Administration to complete a CIP for the City of Laurel. RESOLUTION NO. R01-51 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CIP) PROPOSAL FROM MONTANA ENGINEERING AND ADMINISTRATION AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH MONTANA ENGINEERING AND ADMINISTRATION TO COMPLETE A CIP FOR THE CITY OF LAUREL. The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. Mayor Rodgers withdrew 5.c.2), Resolution No. R01-51. The resolution will be properly reworded and presented at the next council meeting. Motion bv Alderman Johnson to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Alderman Dart. Motion carded 8-0. SCHEDULED MATTERS: a. Confirmation of ApPointments. None. b. Mike Reichman, Montana Power Company: Lighting Districts. Mr. Reichman explained to the council that he had been working with the city to improve street lighting, and presented the current lighting tariff as approved by the Public Service Commission, and a spreadsheet showing current costs to the existing districts. He explained there are three parts to lighting district costs: energy costs, operation and maintenance costs, and ownership costs. The energy charges is based on an average of 350 hours per month, using 41 Kwh ~ 4.6¢ for a total of $1.91 per unit per month. The operation and maintenance charge is $1.07 per unit per month and is charged because Montana Power owns, installs, and maintains the lights in the districts. Ownership costs are based on the type of pole. Wood poles cost about $1,000 to install, so the monthly cost to the city is $10.41 per unit, while fiberglass poles cost about $1,800 to install, so the monthly cost to the city is $20.86 per unit. Mike emphasized that the number of units is an estimate, and that existing distribution poles can be used, so the actual costs may come in below the estimate. He used the Illuminating Engineers Society Standards to determine the number of poles needed to provide the desired lighting result. He further explained that the fiberglass pole is less expensive than the steel pole for underground wiring that is needed in the newer subdivisions. When questioned about pole placement and who would be responsible to relocate a pole if necessary, Mike stated that the poles will be placed in the city right-of-way, and if in conflict with a street widening project, Montana Power will move the pole. He also pointed out that the light fixtures would be "cut-off' fixtures that reduce light pollution and illuminate the area downward from the pole. Pat Murtaugh explained that the present income for Lighting District No. 2 is $19,348 per year, but MPC estimates the cost of the existing system is over $21,000 per year. Lighting District No. 3 receives a current income of $10,598.09 per year, while the cost of the system is over $13,000 per year. The net cost per user in Lighting District No. 2 is now assessed at $1.50 per year per 1000 square feet of lot area. The new rate is calculated to be $6.96 per year per 1000 square feet of lot area. The Council Minutes of August 7, 2001 net payments to MPC for the expanded District No. 2 would be $151,319 per year. An additional 5 per cent for an escrow to cover delinquent accounts and an additional 7.5 per cent for administration costs would make the total cost be $170,234 per year. Lighting District No. 3, the downtown district, expanded down South First, but did not add much new lighting. The current assessed rate is $6.20 per year per 1000 square feet of lot area. The net cost per year, per 1000 square feet of lot area, is $7.17. Escrow and administration costs are included in this total. Resolution No. R01-49: Resolution Of intent to expand Special Improvement Lighting District No. 2. RESOLUTION NO. R01-49 RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO EXPAND SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT LIGHTING DISTRICT NO. 2. Motion by Alderman Temple to approve Resolution No. R01-49, seconded by Alderman Olson. Alderman Temple stated that the improved lighting districts would help lower the crime rate within the city. A vote was taken on the motion to approve Resolution No. R01-49. Motion carded 8-0. Resolution No. R01-50: Resolution of intent to expand Special Improvement Lighting District No. 3. RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO EXPAND SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT LIGHTING DISTRICT NO. 3. Motion by Alderman Temple to approve Resolution No. R01-50, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Motion carried 8-0. Mayor Rodgers stated that expansion of the lighting districts has been needed in this community for a long time. Alderman Johnson commented that the first committee for this project was formed three years ago. He mentioned that the recent needs survey showed that residents felt a need for improved lighting within the city. Alderman Johnson stated that the wheels 0fprogress turn slowly, but they do turn. Mary Embleton explained that this is the first step in completion of the project. Public notification needs to be made in order to give opportunity for public comment at a public hearing. Final passage of the resolutions will follow in the near future. e. Presentation of Preliminary Budget FY 2002. Mayor Rodgers thanked the Budget/Finance Committee and the staff for all the time and effort in preparing the budget. Mary Embleton stated that the Preliminary Budget was presented on schedule at this first council meeting in August. The notices for the public hearing will be published in August 8th edition of the Laurel Outlook. The public hearing is scheduled for August 21st. After the public hearing is held, the council has the option of adopting the Final Budget at that time or continuing the heating and scheduling a special council meeting no later than Friday, August 24th, which is the last date deadline to adopt the Final Budget according to the new local government law that was recently passed. Alderman Mace stated that the budget process needed to be streamlined and suggested that a CIP would help the process. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. Council Minutes of August 7, 2001 There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:46 p.m. Cindy Allen, S6~retary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel~ Montana, this 21~t day of August, 2001. C~harle~ G. Rodgers, Mayort/ ~ Attest: Mary K//tEinbleton, Clerk-Treasurer