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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03.18.2014 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL March 18, 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 March 18, 2014. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Doug Poehls Scot Stokes Richard Herr Chuck Dickerson Bill Mountsier COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Bruce McGee Tom Nelson 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 Herr to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 4, 2014, as presented, seconded by Council Member Poehls. 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: Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Minutes of February 20, 2014; Agenda for March 13, 2014. PUBLIC HEARING. CONSENT ITEMS: • Clerk/Treasurer Financial Statements for the month of February 2014. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 03/02/2014 totaling $180,382.17. • Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. - - Budget /Finance Committee minutes of March 4, 2014 were presented. - -Park Board minutes of March 3, 2014 were presented. - -Park Board minutes of March 6, 2014 were presented. -- City- County Planning Board minutes of March 6, 2014 were presented. - - Council Workshop minutes of March 11, 2014 were presented. -- Council Workshop minutes of March 11, 2014 were presented. - - Laurel Urban Renewal Agency minutes of February 18, 2014 were presented. The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There were none. Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Council Member Poehls. 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. Council Minutes of March 18, 2014 CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE- MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: • Confirmation of Appointments. Laurel Volunteer Ambulance Sery ice: Mayor Mace appointed Evan Bunkers to the Laurel Volunteer Ambulance Service. Motion by Council Member Stokes to approve the Mayor's appointment of Evan Bunkers to the Laurel Volunteer Ambulance Service, seconded by Council Member Poehls. 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. • Laurel Rifle Club's request to host the Big Sky State Games small bore shooting events at Riverside Park on July 19, 2014. Motion by Council Member Dickerson to approve the Laurel Rifle Club's request to host the Big Sky State Games small bore shooting events at Riverside Park on July 19, 2014, in accordance with the language in the lease agreement, seconded by Council Member Mountsier. 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. • Laurel Rod & Gun Club's request to reschedule a turkey shoot on March 29, 2014. Motion by Council Member Mountsier to approve the Laurel Rod & Gun Club's request to reschedule a turkey shoot on March 29, 2014, in accordance with the language in the lease agreement, 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. • Reconsideration of Resolution No. R13 -87 (A resolution of the City Council granting a variance from the City ordinance that restricts fence height for properties zoned R- 7500). Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve Resolution No. R13 -87, seconded by Council Member Mountsier. There was no public comment. Council Member Poehls stated his thoughts on the resolution for the public record. He is not opposed to the variance for this fence, but he is opposed to the method the couple used to bring it forward. Basically, they ignored the law, chose to build the fence and then had to ask for a variance after the fact. Council Member Poehls stated that this did expose the fact that the council needed to review some injustices in the city's fence ordinances to make the community better. He was not opposed to the variance, but was only opposed to how the people came about doing it. He stated that it should be public knowledge that the council has every right to deny the variance and make them remove the fence because it is out of compliance. He will vote for this variance, but if it happens in the future, people should not bet on keeping what they built outside the bounds of the ordinances, as the council could demand that it be removed. Council Member Poehls recommended approval for the variance. There was no further council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6 -0. • Resolution No. R14 -12: Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement to provide health services with St. Vincent Healthcare of Billings, Montana. 2 Council Minutes of March 18, 2014 Motion by Council Member Poehls to approve Resolution No. R14 -12, 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. • Resolution No. R14 -13: A resolution of the City Council authorizing the Mayor to sign a contract with the Billings 1`amily YMCA for the operation and management of the City of Laurel Municipal Pool. Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve Resolution No. R14 -13, seconded by Council Member Poehls. 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. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE - MINUTE LIMIT): None. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Council Member Poehls stated that the Emergency Services Committee will meet on Monday, March 24 at 5:30 p.m. Council Member Dickerson asked if ex parte communication would be added to the council agendas, as discussed at the last council meeting. Mayor Mace stated that the city attorney is reviewing this item. The CAO and Mayor will meet with the city attorney on Monday for further discussion. Council Member Dickerson asked if it is considered to be ex parte communication when two council members discuss something, or if ii is just when a council member is talking with a member of the public. Mayor Mace will get an explanation and legal definition of ex parte communication from the city attorney. Council Member Eaton stated appreciation for the educational information that has been presented in the recent workshops. She looks forward to learning at the workshops, as well as providing information for the council people. Mayor Mace mentioned that Bud Arnold is retiring after 21 years of employment with the City of Laurel. Mayor Mace encouraged the council members to congratulate and thank Bud for his service to the City of Laurel. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member Herr 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 six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6 -0. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 6:49 p.m. Cindy _, Council Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 1S day of April, 2014. Mark A. Mace, Mayor Attest: 1` Shirley Ewan, CYerk/Treasurer 3