Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 08.05.2014 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL August 5, 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 August 5, 2014. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Bruce McGee Richard Herr Scot Stokes Chuck Dickerson Tom Nelson Bill Mountsier COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Doug Poehls OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Monica Plecker Shirley Ewan 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 July 15, 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: Montana Department of Environmental Quality: Letter of July 11, 2014, requesting public comment on Reissuance of a Hazardous Waste Permit and Remedy Selection for the CHS Laurel Refinery. Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Minutes of July 10, 2014; Agenda for July 24, 2014. COUNCIL DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS. PUBLIC HEARING: • Ordinance No. 014 -03: An ordinance amending Section 17.20.010 of the Laurel Municipal Code to update the City's Zoning Ordinance regulating commercial - industrial use within the City of Laurel. Mayor Mace stated that this is the time and place set for the public hearing on the City of Laurel's Ordinance No. 014 -03. Mayor Mace opened the public hearing and asked Staff to present the item prior to hearing the public comments. Planning Director Monica Plecker explained that Ordinance No. 014 -03 amends a portion of the zoning code related to uses allowed in commercial and industrial areas of the City of Laurel. There are two separate items. The first item is storage units and also storage warehouse yards. The Planning Board initiated this change to the Laurel Municipal Code for storage or compartmentalized storage for commercial rent, which would be the typical storage units. The storage units would only be allowable in Light or Heavy Industrial by Special Review. The storage units are currently allowed in Community Commercial and Highway Commercial, and were previously allowed by Special Review in Neighborhood Commercial. By definition alone, storage units do not really meet the definition of what these zoning districts intend to achieve. Warehouse yards are currently allowed in the Central Business District, but the Planning Board feels strongly that is not an appropriate place since the Central Business District is comprised of the Council Minutes of August 5, 2014 downtown core of the City of Laurel. Ordinance No. 014 -03 would make warehouse yards allowable by Special Review in Light Industrial and allowable in Heavy Industrial. Based on the definition of these districts, the City - County Planning Board recommended these changes. The second component of the ordinance is the table that addresses dwellings in the Central Business District, which currently requires them to revert to Residential Limited Multi - Family. As the city has come to recognize the need for housing, there is an interest in higher density housing. City staff and the Planning Board are proposing a slight change in the language that would require 1 and 2- single family dwellings in commercial zonings to abide by the Residential Limited Multi - Family. Anything greater than that would abide by the setbacks and requirements for the Central Business District. For instance, in the Central Business District, property owners can build 100 percent of the lot. The current requirement makes it unachievable for people looking to build any sort of housing complex. Mayor Mace opened the floor for public comment and stated that copies of the rules governing the public hearing were posted in the council chambers. Mayor Mace asked three times if there were any proponents. There were none. Mayor Mace asked three times if there were any opponents. There were none. Mayor Mace closed the public hearing. CONSENT ITEMS: • Claims for the month of July 2014 in the amount of $483,920.19. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk- Treasurer's Office. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 07/20/2014 totaling $172,258.30. • Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. -- Budget/Finance Committee minutes of July 15, 2014 were presented. - -Park Board minutes of July 9, 2014 were presented. -- Laurel Urban Renewal Agency minutes of July 21, 2014 were presented. -- Emergency Services Committee minutes of July 21, 2014 were presented. - - Council Workshop minutes of July 29, 2014 were presented. - -Tree Board minutes of June 19, 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 Dickerson. 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: Council Member Dickerson stated that some issues were brought forward at the Park Board meeting in June regarding selling or leasing out the West Park property, which is city property on county land. The Park Board also discussed some issues on the dog signs, which will be on the workshop agenda for August 12 In the Park Board minutes of July 31S there had been some previous discussion about the sale of Riverside Park and the State possibly being interested, but the State is not interested in purchasing Riverside Park. The Laurel Rifle Club and the Laurel Rod and Gun Club are possibly interested and are going forward to talk to some different agencies. The Park Board set a special meeting with the clubs at the first Park Board meeting in 2015 for further discussion as to what came about regarding those agencies. 4 2 Council Minutes of August 5, 2014 Per the June 5th minutes, the Park Board recommended that the West Park lease fee should be paid by the person using it for livestock. Council Member Dickerson asked that the West Park lease be discussed at the August 12 council workshop. The Park Board also discussed the possibility of resurfacing the tennis courts. The minutes include information regarding the splash park and the funds that were donated by Billie Riddle. He encouraged everyone to read the Park Board minutes regarding some of the issues and to voice any questions or concerns to the Park Board. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE- MINUTE LIMIT): Iry Wilke, 1017 7 Avenue, attended the Park Board meeting last Thursday night. He went there with some apprehension, but after the discussion started and some criticisms were shared back and forth, it was a very productive meeting. Everybody treated each other with respect. One of his criticisms was that the city mowed in Riverside Park but did not trim where the Laurel Rod and Gun Club has its benches and shotgun racks. Since that meeting, the Public Works Department must have trimmed the area, as it was done when Iry was in Riverside Park on Sunday afternoon. Iry stated that, while listening to the Billings City Council meeting last night, he learned about a new tree beetle and wanted to make sure the city is aware of it. The tree beetle is in Boulder, Colorado, now and is headed this way. Everyone needs to be very concerned about it because it will kill any trees that the bug gets into. Mayor Mace stated that today's paper had an article with a lot of facts. John Thompson is the park director that talked about it. Riley Hutchens, with the Laurel Ambulance Service, introduced Sherry Sauskojus and Keenan -- Makin, the two attendants on the agenda for appointment tonight. Sherry has previous EMS experience in Powell, Wyoming. She took some time off and is now getting back into it on the volunteer platform. Keenan is currently a firefighter with Lockwood Fire Rescue and would like to get some patient care experience with the Laurel Ambulance Service. SCHEDULED MATTERS: • Confirmation of Appointments. Laurel Ambulance Service: Mayor Mace appointed Sherry Sauskojus and Keenan Makin to the Laurel Ambulance Service. Motion by Council Member McGee to approve the Mayor's appointments of Sherry Sauskojus and Keenan Makin to the Laurel Ambulance Service, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. 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 Library Board: Mayor Mace appointed Clair Killebrew to the Laurel Library Board to fill a term ending June 30, 2019. Motion by Council Member Dickerson to approve the Mayor's appointment of Clair Killebrew to the Laurel Library Board to fill a term ending June 30, 2019, 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. Laurel Airport Authority: Mayor Mace appointed Rob Engh to the Laurel Airport Authority to fill a term ending June 30, 2019. Motion by Council Member Nelson to approve the Mayor's appointment of Rob Engh to the Laurel Airport Authority to fill a term ending June 30, 2019, seconded by Council Member McGee. 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. 3 Council Minutes of August 5, 2014 • Laurel Rod and Gun Club's request: Trap shooting event for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in Riverside Park on Tuesday, August 19, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Motion by Council Member Mountsier to approve the request from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) and the Laurel Rod and Gun Club to use the trap shooting range at Riverside Park on Tuesday, August 19, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. Council Members Herr, Stokes, Mountsier, Nelson, Dickerson and McGee voted aye. Council Member Eaton voted nay. Motion carried 6 -1. • Ordinance No. 014 -03: An ordinance amending Section 17.20.010 of the Laurel Municipal Code to update the City's Zoning Ordinance regulating commercial - industrial use within the City of Laurel. Second reading. Motion by Council Member Stokes to adopt Ordinance No. 014 -03, seconded by Council Member Mountsier. There was no public comment or council discussion. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. All seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7 -0. • Resolution No. R14 -44: A resolution of the City Council amending Resolution No. R13- 95 removing conditions 6, 7 and 8 from the previously approved variance. Motion by Council Member Herr to approve Resolution No. R14 -44, 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. - • Resolution No. R14 -45: A resolution approving the attached Task Order No. 32 authorizing Great West Engineering to prepare plans and specifications and perform services for the 2014 Street Maintenance Project. Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve Resolution No. R14 -45, seconded by Council Member McGee. 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 -46: A resolution approving Amendment No. 1 to the previously adopted Task Order No. 26, authorizing Great West Engineering to provide additional services relating to a new Water Treatment Plant Intake Project for the City of Laurel. Motion by Council Member McGee to approve Resolution No. R14 -46, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. 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 -47: A resolution adopting and approving a salary increase for the City Judge for the City of Laurel. Motion by Council Member Dickerson to approve Resolution No. R14 -47, seconded by Council Member McGee. 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 -48: Resolution relating to Special Improvement District No. 114; Preliminary levy of special assessments for maintenance costs on property within the District for the purpose of paying the costs of maintaining certain local improvements. Motion by Council Member Nelson to approve Resolution No. R14 -48, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. 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): Jean Kerr, 1128 9 Avenue, stated that the posters for Shakespeare in the Parks will be up soon. The event is scheduled on Monday, September 1S at the Laurel practice football field. This year's play 4�. Council Minutes of August 5, 2014 is Romeo and Juliet and will start at 6:00 p.m. In case of inclement weather, it will be held in the auditorium. Jean still needs to raise $945 for the event. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Council Member Dickerson invited Judge Kerr to attend the council workshop on August 12 for the discussion regarding the dog ordinance and fines. Council Member Eaton stated that the Public Works Committee would not meet on Monday, August 11 She and Public Works Director Markegard are gathering information on recycling plastic and glass and will have information available for the next meeting on Monday, September 8th Council Member Herr asked regarding the signage for fines "up to $500" that were put up at the parks. Council Member Dickerson stated that the signs were put up to let people know that there is a dog ordinance. Council Member Stokes stated that the Judge asked the Park Board for guidance on the fines, such as $150 for the first time, $250 for the second offense, and $350 for the third offense. There is a fine now and the Judge can fine any amount she wants, up to $500. Council Member Herr stated that the sign says the fine is "up to $500." Mayor Mace stated that is what the ordinance says. - Council Member Nelson stated that the dog ordinance will be discussed at the Emergency Services Committee meeting at the end of August. Council Member Dickerson read Ordinance No. 013 -03, Section 6.04.040 Animal waste: "The owner or custodian of every animal shall immediately retrieve and remove all excreta deposited by his or her animal on public streets, boulevards, walkways, recreation areas, city parks or the private property of another." He stated that the Judge needs direction regarding the fines. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: Mayor Mace asked the council to complete and return the registration form for the Montana League of Cities and Towns Conference on October 8 -10, 2014, in West Yellowstone if they plan to attend. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member Mountsier to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. 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 7:08 p.m. —' Cindy AllerilCouncil Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 19 day of August, 2014. , Wdz, , (-9/ Mark A. Mace, Mayor Attest: Shirley Ewan, Clerk/Treasurer 5