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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 08.12.2014 MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP AUGUST 12, 2014 6:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS A Council Workshop was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Mark Mace at 6:30 p.m. on August 12, 2014. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Doug Poehls Bruce McGee _x_ Richard Herr x Chuck Dickerson _x_ Scot Stokes x Tom Nelson x Bill Mountsier OTHERS PRESENT: Heidi Jensen, CAO Iry Wilke Public Input (three - minute limit): There was no public input. General items: • Appointment: o Laurel Volunteer Ambulance: Dan Hungerford The appointment will be on the August 19 council agenda. Executive Review: • Resolution relating to Special Improvement District No. 114; Levy of special assessments for maintenance costs on property within the District for the purpose of paying the costs of maintaining certain local improvements. (Public hearing on August 19, 2014) Heidi stated that the resolution is a levy of special assessments for maintenance costs within the district, which is the Elena Subdivision, for the purpose of paying the costs of maintaining certain local improvements. The resolution of intent for the $6,500 was approved on August 5 and the actual resolution has to be adopted by the first Monday in September, per state statute. The property owners were mailed a notification of the assessment. • Resolution — Assisted Business Contract Heidi explained that the council recently voted to approve the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency to spend $80,000 on a Gateway Plan that is currently in the works. With that $80,000, LURA applied for a $25,000 State Endowment Grant. In order to get the State Endowment Grant, the city must go through an approved agency that can funnel the money to the city and Beartooth RC &D is the approved agency in Yellowstone County. The $25,000 grant will go to Beartooth and then Beartooth will give the $25,000 to the city, and this agreement solidifies the flow of funds from Beartooth to the city. • Resolutions — SRO Contracts Council Workshop Minutes of August 12, 2014 Heidi met with the Superintendent last week to discuss the new SRO contracts. He was aware that the 303 Union received a 2 percent increase in wages, which was reflected in the SRO contracts. The School Board approved and signed the contracts on August 1 lt so they need the council's approval. The same officers will be in the schools this year. • Resolution — MDT Street Cleaning Agreement Heidi stated that the standard contract and resolution are done bi- annually for $5,000 for the city to do the street sweeping for MDT. There was a question regarding whether the city closes the underpass during the street sweeping. Street sweeping is done between 3:00 and 7:00 a.m. when there is little traffic, so the underpass is not closed. Mayor Mace talked to the State Director recently. MDT plans to do the construction with the new underpass surface and a new pump towards the end of September and it will probably take about 30 days. There was discussion regarding the extent of the concrete that will be used for the new surface, the new pump, closure of the underpass for 30 days, and the new overpass scheduled for Airport Road next year. Mayor Mace will try to get a copy of the design for the underpass project. • Council Issues: o Park Board recommendations — West Park lease; Dog signs; Fines for dog waste offenses (Chuck Dickerson) Chuck explained that the Park Board recently discussed West Park and the possibility of the city selling it or collecting fees to lease it for livestock to graze there and the amount of the fees. He stated that the Park Board would like to know what the city plans on doing with West Park. Heidi will talk to the city attorney to find out his recommendation. The land the city currently leases for grazing of livestock around the water tank has a cap for the number of head allowed. Scot stated that a lease is needed for the West Park property. Heidi asked if there was more interest in leasing or selling. Chuck stated that the Park Board wants to know what direction the city wants to take. With the recent survey, the Park Board knows that people do not want to gain any more parks or have parks that cannot be developed. If parks are undevelopable, then the Park Board suggested selling the parks and using the income to improve the current parks. Chuck spoke regarding the dog signs and fines for dog waste offenses. At a recent council meeting, he mentioned that the Park Board had discussed a $100 fine for the first offense, $250 for the second offense and $500 for the third offense. The signs have been posted in the parks. The Park Board would like the council's direction regarding fines for dog waste and people neglecting to honor the signs and ordinance on public land. He stated that it is not fair to the kids that are playing in the parks, to the residents, to people walking their dogs, or to property owners. The Park Board wants to 2 Council Workshop Minutes of August 12, 2014 know how the city and council feel about this and either rewriting the ordinance or adding an addition to the ordinance as far as fees that the judge can levy on complaints. Heidi asked if the suggested fine amounts were $100, $250 and $500, and Chuck agreed that they were. Richard stated that he has been approached by someone that felt $500 was too high. He stated that he agrees with the high fines. He told these people that it is to keep this from happening, but they still felt that $500 was a little high. Chuck agreed if that was the first fine, but when someone has been told twice, hopefully it will not happen again. The $500 is not a first offense fine. Bill asked if the code is written so the judge has the discretion to fine up to that amount or if that is the amount. Heidi explained that LMC states that the fines are up to $500, but the judge asked the council for some guidance for the fines. There was discussion regarding setting exact fines so the judge does not have to set discretionary fines. Tom stated that the ordinance for animal waste does not reference the Park Board in LMC, and he wondered if the Emergency Services Committee should be discussing the fines. Mayor Mace stated that Ordinance No. 013 -03 has not yet been codified into the Laurel Municipal Code. Heidi stated that staff has found it to be confusing that the Emergency Services Committee participated in writing the dog ordinance and the Park Board is taking part in creating the fines for the dog ordinance. She suggested that it might be easier to refer issues to staff, instead of different committees, in order to address issues at one time. Tom stated that he was questioning whether or not it was being done properly. Chuck stated that Ordinance No. 013 -03 is an ordinance amending Title 6 of the Laurel Municipal Code entitled "Animals ". He thinks that the issues can be addressed by whichever committee or board does it. If an ordinance is signed, posted and referenced, it does not matter who wrote it. If the signage regarding animal waste is posted and reference to Ordinance No. 013 -03, it is covered whether it was done by the Park Board or by the Emergency Services Committee. Heidi explained that it just gets confusing when different committees are involved. One committee wrote it and now another committee is doing enforcement, and staff is trying to figure out how to meld the two together. It would be good to lessen the confusion in the future. Chuck continued by stating that there is an ordinance that can be addressed by two entities. If one entity rewrites a portion of the ordinance, the portion that may affect the other entity is still in the original existing ordinance. Whether the Park Board agrees with what the Emergency Services 3 Council Workshop Minutes of August 12, 2014 Committee did on their portion of it or whether the Emergency Services Committee agrees with the Park Board, it is still covered under the ordinance entitled "Animals." o Lease Task Force update There was nothing to report. o Update on 2011 Yellowstone River flooding event Heidi reported on today's scheduled FEMA phone call. The Environmental Assessment (EA) is out for the required number of days for public comment. The abbreviated version of the EA is currently posted on the city's website, with a link to some pdf documents. A large 1,000 page bound copy is available for review in the Public Works Department. The public comment period lasts for a month, with three weeks remaining. No public comments have been received to date. As soon as the EA is fmished, the city can start applying for permits and start working on the CLOMR and LOMR. Other items There were none. Review of draft council agenda for August 19, 2014 • Public Hearing: o 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. Attendance at the August 19, 2014 council meeting Tom will not attend and Chuck might be late for the meeting. Announcements Council members need to turn their keys in, as they have been replaced by a fob. Recognition of Employees • Matt Wheeler — Maintenance Superintendent 5 years of service on August 12 • Keith Kolstad — Code Enforcement Officer 1 year of service on August 5 Mayor Mace mentioned that Matt Wheeler has served for five years and Keith Kolstad has completed one year of service. Heidi mentioned that Keith passed the fire, playground safety and building exams, is working on the plumbing test, and has been a wonderful addition to the code enforcement department. The council workshop adjourned at 6:59 p.m. Respectfully submitted, 4 Cindy Al Council Secretary NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion of the Council for the listed workshop agenda items. 4