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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 06.17.2014 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL June 17, 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 6:33 p.m. on June 17, 2014. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Doug Poehls Bruce McGee Richard Herr Scot Stokes Tom Nelson Bill Mountsier COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Chuck Dickerson OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Jan Faught, Ambulance Director Kurt Markegard, Public Works Director Jean Kerr, City Judge 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 Mountsier to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 3, 2014, as presented, 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. CORRESPONDENCE: Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Minutes of May 22, 2014; Agenda for June 12, 2014. Montana League of Cities & Towns: Letter of June 3, 2014. COUNCIL DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS. PUBLIC HEARING: • Intent to increase solid waste rates Mayor Mace stated that this is the time and place set for the public hearing on the City of Laurel's intent to increase solid waste rates. Mayor Mace opened the public hearing and asked staff to present the item. Kurt Markegard stated that the last rate increase for residential services was in 2000 and for non- - residential services was in 2005. As fuel costs and fees at the Billings Landfill increase, staff felt the need to ask the council to consider increasing the rates to cover the costs. The increase will be $1.00 the first year, $.25 each year for the four years, and $.20 for the last year. It is not a huge increase over the period of six years. Mayor Mace asked Kurt to explain the increased fees charged by the City of Billings. Kurt explained that the landfill fees were $11.50 /ton in 2005 and it is currently $18.50 /ton, which is an 80 percent increase in the disposal rates. The city adds about $30,000 to $40,000 every year in the budget for the increase in landfill fees. The council recently approved a five -year contract with the City of Billings to use the landfill. Kurt stated the need to stay ahead of the curve in order to keep up with costs for fuel, maintenance, labor, and landfill fees. Mayor Mace opened the floor for public comment and stated that rules governing the public hearing were posted in the council chambers. �vlA� Council Minutes of June 17, 2014 Mayor Mace asked three times if there were any proponents, supporting the item. There were none. Mayor Mace asked three times if there were any opponents, not supporting the item. There were none. Mayor Mace stated that, for the record, two letters were received from the public. One from Ann Harkins, 1022 7 Avenue, and one from the Reesers, 314 Montana Avenue. Copies were distributed to the city council and are attached to these council minutes. There was no public comment. Mayor Mace closed the public hearing. CONSENT ITEMS: • Clerk/Treasurer Financial Statements for the month of May 2014. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 06/08/2014 totaling $208,377.91. • Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. -- Budget/Finance Committee minutes of June 3, 2014 were presented. - - Emergency Services Committee minutes of June 2, 2014 were presented. - - City - County Planning Board minutes of June 4, 2014 were presented. - -Park Board minutes of June 5, 2014 were presented. -- Council Workshop minutes of June 10, 2014 were presented. - - Laurel Urban Renewal Agency minutes of May 19, 2014 were presented. -- Laurel Urban Renewal Agency minutes of June 2, 2014 were presented. - - Cemetery Commission minutes of May 29, 2014 were presented. The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was 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 seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7 -0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE- MINUTE LIMIT): Jean Kerr, 1128 Ninth Avenue, attended a meeting at the jail last week and Sgt. Valdez, of the Yellowstone County Sheriffs Department, asked her if the city would participate in the jail's labor force to do projects within the city limits. The inmates pay $25 to do one eight -hour day of work that counts for two days of their jail time. The jail provides them with a sack lunch and bottles of water, and they have to wear the vest. They need partners that would be willing to have a project and make sure that they worked. These people are screened, are not violent offenders, are not felons, are misdemeanor crimes and they have had very few problems. Sgt. Valdez offered to make a presentation to the council or the city staff about how the program could be set up in Laurel. Jean thinks this is a win -win situation, as about $100,000 has been save in the county's budget with this work program. /1/ 2 Council Minutes of June 17, 2014 Mayor Mace asked that Jean and Sgt. Valdez put something together for a meeting with the necessary people. He asked who would need to be involved in a meeting to see if it is something ___. that the city wants to do. Jean stated that Chief Musson should be part of the discussion. Sgt. Valdez has a packet of paperwork that would be very useful for everyone to read. Partnerships would need to be defined, such as if the Lions Club had a project to be done. After discussion, the item will be on the council workshop of June 24 or July 8 Jean Kerr explained the circumstances regarding an incident in the courtroom yesterday and expressed concerns that Laurel Municipal Code does not specifically address handguns in the city hall building. She asked which committee would consider this issue. Mayor Mace stated that the Emergency Services Committee would address that issue. Council President Poehls stated that he would put the issue on the Emergency Services Committee agenda on July 21S SCHEDULED MATTERS: • Confirmation of Appointments. Board of Appeals: Mayor Mace reappointed Miles Walton to the Board of Appeals for a two -year term ending June 30, — 2016. Motion by Council Member Herr to approve the Mayor's reappointment of Miles Walton to the Board of Appeals for a two -year term ending June 30, 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. Cemetery Commission: Mayor Mace reappointed Scot Stokes, Wallace Hall and Chuck Rodgers to the Cemetery Commission for two -year terms ending June 30, 2016. Motion by Council Member Poehls to approve the Mayor's reappointments of Scot Stokes, Wallace Hall and Chuck Rodgers to the Cemetery Commission for two -year terms ending June 30, 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. Tree Board: Mayor Mace reappointed LuAnne Engh to the Tree Board for a three -year term ending June 30, 2017. — Motion by Council Member Stokes to approve the Mayor's reappointment of LuAnne Engh to the Tree Board for a three -year term ending June 30, 2017, seconded by Council Member Mountsier. 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. City- County Planning Board: Mayor Mace reappointed to the City - County Planning Board: Greg Nelson to a two -year tern ending June 30, 2016 as the Member at Large; Shirley McDermott to a two -year term ending June 30, 2016 as the Mayor's appointment; and Dan Koch to a two -year term ending June 30, 2016 as the Council's appointment. Motion by Council Member McGee to approve the Mayor's reappointments to the City - County Planning Board: Greg Nelson to a two -year term ending June 30, 2016 as the Member at Large; Shirley McDermott to a two -year term ending June 30, 2016 as the Mayor's appointment; and Dan Koch to a two -year term ending June 30, 2016 as the Council's appointment, seconded by 3 Council Minutes of June 17, 2014 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. Laurel Ambulance Service: Mayor Mace appointed Riley Hutchens to the Laurel Ambulance Service. Motion by Council Member Nelson to approve the Mayor's appointment of Riley Hutchens to the Laurel Ambulance Service, seconded by Council Member Poehls. Jan Faught introduced Riley Hutchens to the council. She mentioned that Riley has wanted to be an EMT or Paramedic since he was in kindergarten, and even interviewed her for a career day paper when he was in the 8 grade. Riley took the EMT class so he could take the National Registry right when he turned 18. He got his National Registry, carries the Montana license, and has had plenty of training in the EMT classes. Jan stated that it is exciting to finally get him as an official member on the crew. There was no council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7 -0. • Resolution No. R14 -34: A resolution of the Laurel City Council approving the proposed increase in the rates and charges for the users of the municipal solid waste facilities and equipment to be effective on July 1, 2014. Motion by Council Member Mountsier to approve Resolution No. R14 -34, seconded by Council Member Poehls. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on -" the motion. Council Members Poehls, Herr, Stokes, Mountsier, Nelson and McGee voted aye. Council Member Eaton voted nay. Motion carried 6 -1. • Resolution No. R14 -35: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign Change Order No. 2 with Williams Brothers Construction for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project in the amount of $17,264.42. Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve Resolution No. R14 -35, 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 -36: A resolution approving an agreement between the City of Laurel and Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, said agreement relating to fire protection. Motion by Council Member Herr to approve Resolution No. R14 -36, 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. • Resolution No. R14 -37: A resolution approving an agreement between the City of Laurel and the Laurel Airport Authority, relating to fire protection. Motion by Council Member Poehls to approve Resolution No. R14 -37, seconded by Council Member Mountsier. 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 -38: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a one -year contract for City Attorney Prosecution Services between the City of Laurel and Elk River Law Office P.L.L.P. Motion by Council Member Stokes to approve Resolution No. R14 -38, 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 -39: A resolution adopting and approving a wage increase for the City Judge for the City of Laurel. 4 Vtf trkv Council Minutes of June 17, 2014 Motion by Council Member Eaton to postpone the matter until the council meeting on July 1, 2014, 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. Council Member Poehls asked for discussion pertaining to the resolution and any applicable ordinance on the council workshop agenda of June 24, 2014. • Resolution No. R14 -40: A resolution of the City Council adopting a Management Budget to assist the City's department heads with projecting and managing their respective budgets for the fiscal year. Motion by Council Member Nelson to approve Resolution No. R14 -40, 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. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE- MINUTE LIMIT): None. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: None. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: Council Member Eaton stated that the Public Works Committee would discuss recycling and the impact it would have on the budget for the Public Works Department at the next meeting on July 7 ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member Mountsier 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 7:05 p.m. Cindy Alle , Council Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 1' day of July, 2014. Vadjeii V Mark A. Mace, Mayor Attest: › iii c_.0_,,1 7 ,_ co „_,7 Shirley Ewan, Clerk/Treasurer 5 , --- - -:-_-_.,---- .= -,--,,,--,4,,,,4i' i ' ' - : e) t.:d TG c Q. �'?' �°, 5 t G i „� .� e a • a ed °tee � emu,: , , , , , ,... - _ j . .. 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