HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 05.01.2001MINI,TTF. S 0F THE CITY COI.TNCIL OF LAURI:tL
May 1, 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 President Gay Easton at 7:00 p.m. on May 1, 2001.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Lauren Van Roekel
Ken Olson
Gay Easton
Bill Staudinger
Gary Temple
Mark Mace
Daniel Dart
Bud Johnson
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
President Easton asked the council to observe a moment of silence in behalf of the family of
Miranda Fenner.
MINUTES:
Motion by Alderman Staudinger to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 17,
2001, as presented, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Motion carried 8-0.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Notice of April 24, 2001, regarding West End Plan session on Wednesday, May 2ha,
at 7:00 p.m. in the Lincoln Center Board Room~
b. Montana/Wyoming Association of Railroad Passengers information.
CONSENT ITEMS:
a. Claims for the month of April 2001 in the amount of $110,032.27.
A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer's
Office.
b. Receiving the Committee RePOrts into the Record.
--Budget/Finance Committee minutes of April 2, 2001 were presented.
--Budget/Finance Committee minutes of April 11,2001 were presented.
--City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of April 17, 2001 were presented.
c. Resolutions.
t)
Resolution No. R01-15: Authorizing the Mayor to sign an amendment to the
existing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Technical Assistance
Grant.
RESOLUTION NO. R01-1$
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AN AMENDMENT TO THE
EXISTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT.
2)
Resolution No. R01-16: Authorizing the Mayor to sign a contract for lawn
maintenance at the Laurel Library.
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A CONTRACT FOR
LAWN MAINTENANCE AT THE LAUREL LIBRARY.
Council Minutes of May 1, 2001
3) Resolution No. R01-IT Authorizing the Mayor to sign a contract between the
City of Laurel and the Laurel YMCA for management of the swimming pool
at Thomson Park.
RESOLUTION NO. R01-17
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE
CITY OF LAUREL AND THE LAUREL YMCA FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE
SWIMMING POOL AT THOMSON PARK.
4) Resolution No. R01-18: Authorizing the Mayor to sign a contract with COP
Construction for channel work in the Yellowstone River.
RESOLUTION NO. R01-18
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A CONTRACT WITH
COP CONSTRUCTION FOR CHANNEL WORK IN THE
YELLOWSTONE RIVER.
5) Resolution No. R01-19: Resolution o£annexation o£Lot 4, Block 4 o£Mathis
Subdivision, 2"a Filing, Yellowstone County.
RESOLUTION NO. R01-19
RESOLUTION OF ANNEXATION OF LOT 4, BLOCK 4 OF
MATHIS SUBDIVISION, 2sD FILING, YELLOWSTONE COUNTY.
6) Resolution No. R01-20: Resolution of annexation of Certificate of Su~ey
#49 (less the north 410 £eet), Yellowstone County.
RESOLUTION NO. R01-20
RESOLUTION OF ANNEXATION OF CERTIFICATE OF SURVEY #49
(LESS THE NORTH 410 FEET), YELLOWSTONE COUNTY.
7) Resolution No. R01-21: Resolution of annexation of Lot A, Block 15 of
Laurmac Subdivision, Yellowstone County.
RESOLUTION NO. R01-21
RESOLUTION OF ANNEXATION OF LOT A, BLOCK 15 OF
LAURMAC SUBDMSION, YELLOWSTONE COUNTY.
8) Resolution No. R01-22: Authorizing the Mayor to announce and let bids
regarding a water intake engineering study.
RESOLUTION NO. R01-22
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ANNOUNCE AND LET BIDS
REGARDING A WATER INTAKE ENGINEERING STUDY.
President Easton asked if there was any separation of consent items.
Alderman Olson separated item 5.c.3) out of the consent items. This item became item e. under
Scheduled Matters.
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.
Ambulance Reserve Attendant:
Cotmcil Minutes of MaY 1, 2001
President Easton appointed Duane Rehling as an Ambulance Reserve Attendant.
AssiStant Public Works Director:
President Easton appointed Steve Klotz to a two-year term, May 1, 2001 to May 1, 2003, as
Assistant Public Works Director
Motion by Alderman Johnson to approve the appointments of Duane Rehling as an
Ambulance Reserve Attendant and Steve Klotz as Assistant Public Works Director, seconded by
Alderman Temple. Motion carried 8-0.
b. Laurel Herbstfest.
Lynette Smith, President of the Laurel Herbstfest, read the following letter:
Dear Mayor Rodgers and Council,
We, the board, of the Laurel Herbstfest have decided it is time to disperse of our
inventory. We regret to report that once again, we have been unable to find a facility
to hold the event. As everyone here knows, there has to be a balance between income
and expenses. Without any income, it is impossible to continue.
For the last year and a half the inventory has been stored in a shop and a 5th wheel
cargo trailer on Sage Circle. The Herbstfest has not been paying rent for the storage.
Free storage is no longer an option.
Having been involved in Laurel's community for the past 27 years, we feel it is only
fair that we try and give the inventory back to the people. Over the years we have
been asked to lend and/or rent parts of our inventory to various individuals and/or
organizations. It seems only fair that we try and give the inventory to the community
for their benefit. It is disheartening to disperse of the items one by one. Because we
believe there is a need in the community for them, we are looking for someone to take
the inventory, store it, lend it, and/or rent it as they see fit. Would the City be willing
to take on the responsibility? If not, can you think of a group that could or would
take it not just for their benefit, but for the community as a whole?
Sincerely,
Lynette Smith, President
The Herbstfest would like to disperse the items by June 1st. Lynette estimated that a minimuml0x20
foot area would be necessary to store the items. President Easton stated that he would look at the
items and work with Larry McCann regarding the situation. Aldermen Olson and Johnson agreed to
assist in the endeavor. Lynette suggested that the Laurel Revitalization League might also be
interested in the items.
c. Special review of wireless communication application.
Motion by Alderman Johnson to deny the special review of wireless communication
application from Mesa Communications, seconded by Alderman Temple. Motion carried 8-0.
d. Interim zoning for wireless communication services.
Motion by Alderman Dart to deny the interim zoning for wireless communication services.
President asked if there was a second to the motion. There was none. The motion died for lack of a
second.
Alderman Dart asked if this item was to look at the rezoning of the property to allow the cell tower
site. It was not, so he asked for further clarification. Matt Erekson explained that this item was
regarding placing a moratorium for a period of time on any new applications for cell towers or
communication towers in order to review current city ordinances to match the ordinances of the City
of Billings and Yellowstone County.
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Council Minutes of May 1, 2001
Alderman Dart withdrew his motion, which had already died for lack of a second.
Motion by Alderman Dart to approve the interim zoning for wireless communication
services, seconded by Alderman Johnson.
Cai Cumin explained that the six-month moratorium would allow the City of Laurel to review the
wireless communication tower ordinance that the City of Billings is currently updating. Cai does not
anticipate that it would take six months to review and revise the ordinance. As soon as the review
process is finished and the ordinance is approved, the moratorium would end.
Alderman Temple asked if it is illegal to build a new tower within one mile of an existing tower.
Cal stated that this could be refined so that the towers within one mile have similar capabilities.
Alderman Johnson stated that updating the present ordinance makes a lot of sense since the industry
is changing so rapidly. He emphasized that this would not be the end of the process, but it would be
an interim step in a positive direction.
Cai again stated that he had no intention of taking the full six months for review of this ordinance.
Alderman Mace has reviewed similar cell tower ordinances on the Internet. He found that cell
towers are usually allowed within a radius of 350 to 400 yards of each other, which is quite different
from the one-mile radius required by our ordinance. Cai did not think that the one-mile radius was
excessive, considering the capabilities of digital communications systems. Cai stated that he refuses
to have the city designed by cell towers built by the competitive wireless communications industry.
There was further discussion by the council regarding site acquisition by a cell tower company.
Proposed changes in the ordinance would require future applications for a cell tower to submit
information regarding site acquisition to the City-County Planning Board.
Motion by Alderman Temple to amend the original motion to state that we are not intending
to go the full six months but we are trying to do this review in an expeditious manner, seconded by
Alderman Johnson. Motion to amend carried 8-0.
A vote was taken on the original motion as amended. Motion carried 8-0.
Resolution No. R01-17: Authorizing the Mayor tO sign a contract between the City
of Laurel and the Laurel YMCA for management of the swimming pool at Thomson
Park.
RESOLUTION NO. R01-17
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE
CITY OF LAUREL AND THE LAUREL YMCA
FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE SWIMMING POOL AT THOMSON PARK.
Alderman Olson had separated this item out of the consent agenda.
Alderman Olson suggested that a yearly review should be included in the contract with the Laurel
YMCA.
Motion by Alderman Olson to amend the contract to require a yearly review of the agreement
betWeen the City of Laurel and the Laurel YMCA, seconded by Alderman Temple.
Matt Erekson stated that an annual review requirement could be added as Section 10 of the
agreement.
A vote was taken on the motion to amend the contract. Motion carried 8-0.
Motion by Alderman Olson to approve Resolution No. R01-17, seconded by Alderman
Temple. Motion carried 8-0.
UNSCHEDULED MATTERS:
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Council Minutes of May 1, 2001
Larry McCann stated that the swimming pool floor has been poured, and the project will be
completed during the next three weeks.
Strong winds blew garbage cans around town on Monday evening.
The berm in the river washed out on Sunday, but there is plenty of water at this time. The situation
will be monitored, but Larry does. not expect it to be an issue until fall when the water is low.
Alderman Easton commented that the pool work looks professional.
Alderman Olson stated that the resolution to let bids regarding a water intake engineering study is a
step forward to address the issue. Larry McCann explained that past activity regarding the intake
was based on the Morrison-Maiede study that was done five years ago and the Corp of Engineers
Section 22 Grant report. Alderman Easton stated that this study needed to be done to qualify for any
possible grants.
There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at
7:29 p.m.
Cindy Allen, ~ecretary
Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 15th day
of May, 2001.
Charles G. Rodgl~s,-Mayor~
Attest:
Mary Kfmbleton~ Clerk, Treasurer ~
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