HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 05.13.2003 MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
MAY 13, 2003 6:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
A Council Workshop was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Bud
Johnson at 6:35 p.m. on May 13, 2003.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
_x_ Lauren Van Roekel
Ken Olson
_x_ Gay Easton
_x_ Dan Mears
x Doug Poehls
x Mark Mace
Daniel Dart
x John Oakes
OTHERS PRESENT:
John Smith, Laurel Airport Authority
Cai Cunfin
Public Input (three-minute limit)
Citizens may address the Council regarding any item of Cily business not on the agenda. The duration for an
individual speaking under Public Input is limited to three minutes. While all comments are welcome, the Council
will not take action on any item not on the agenda.
Dr. John Smith - Laurel Airport Authority
o Distributed copies of an article regarding the award presented to the Laurel Airport
recently.
o New assessments for fire protection reflect a 160 pement increase over last year's
assessments.
o John stated that the district is too small to support the increase.
o Increase is equivalent to 60 mills
o Increase for District No. 7 was only 18 mills.
o Airport had only one fire call last year.
o Buildings were constructed according to fire code
o John will not sign the contract until he receives further input.
Addendum to existing contract between Cumin Associates and Laurel-Yellowstone City-CounW
Planning Board
Original contract was signed on May 1, 1976.
· Cal's contract has remained the same amount for the past five years.
· $15,000 in 2002-2003 budget for the Growth Management Plan
Economic Development
· TCSP Oversight Committee r~commended including an Economic Development Coordinator
position in 2003-2004 budget ($20,000)
o Possibility of joint venture with the City of Laurel, the Chamber of Commerce, and
businesses.
o Laurel needs someone to represent the City and to promote its interests.
Council Workshop Minutes of May 13, 2003
Big Sky Economic Development, Beartooth RC&D, and the Department of Commerce also
provide expertise.
,, Grants are available for economic development and related projects.
City of Hardin recently hired an individual for this purpose ($27,000).
Oversight Committee decided to draft a job description and advertise for an Economic
Development Coordinator to see who is available.
· Discussion regarding need for annexations to expand the current tax base.
o Annexation is not a solution to the problem.
o Real valuation is determined from the downtown businesses and industry.
o Annexations and economic development both need to be addressed.
Would cost $76,000 per year for the Yellowstone County/Billings planning department to provide
services.
Streetscape Update
· Streetscape proposal is a recommendation from the Transportation Oversight Committee.
· Cai distributed copies of the Laurel Urban Design Recommendations for the City of Laurel to the
council and gave a Power Point presentation of the information.
· Information is on an interactive website hosted by Sandy Fischer - at mylaurel.com.
· Urban design recommendations have been developed for the Main Street and First Avenue South
corridors in downtown Laurel.
· Recommendations are organized around four themes:
o Gateways
o Parks, Trails, and Green Spaces
o Heritage Greenway (development proposals for Main Street and downtown railroad land)
o South 1s~ Avenue Corridor
· Ultimate purpose is to bring people to Laurel's downtown business district.
· Resolution needed to adopt streetscape plan.
· Growth Management Plan
o Plan is posted on the city website.
o Cal did not intend it to be elaborate, but it will satisfy the law and planning needs.
o City of Billings completed a very extensive Growth Management Plan.
Request from Patrick Mullaney for approval to proceed with annexation process for less than the
required amount of land.
· Request for annexation of Tract B- 1 of Certificate of Survey No. 2039.
Mr. Mullaney also owns Tract A-1.
· Discussion regarding annexation of the entire property at one time.
· If the council denies the request to proceed with the annexation process for less than the required
amount of land, the whole property would have to be annexed at one time.
Resolutions
· Laurel Fire District No. 8 Fire Agreements
· Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Fire Agreement
· Fire District No. 5 Fire Agreements
· Discussion of Rob Harris' explanation regarding the Airport Authority fire protection services
increase at the Emergency Services Committee meeting on April 28~.
o Increase would bring Airport Authority fire agreement to the level it should have been in
the past.
o Mayor referred to the Emergency Services Committee minutes.
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Council Workshop Minutes of May 13, 2003
* Change Order No. 5 for the water intake
o Diversion dike removal in Yellowstone River on March 29 to April 2, 2003.
o Rerouting of air lines at pump station from primarily interior to exterior placement.
o Increase of $4,337.80
· CIP resolution
o Will be a resolution to adopt the Capital Improvements Plan for grant purposes.
· Mary has compiled the CIP information.
o Department heads will work on CIP on Wednesday.
· Discussion regarding Doug Poehls' suggestion to take pictures and publicize the adoption of
various documents such as the streetscape plan and the CIP.
o Pictures and articles to be included in the next Laurel City Voice publication.
· Resolution regarding CDBG application
o Pat Murtaugh is writing the application.
Committee Function
· Council to submit list of interests and options regarding committee function.
Executive Review
· Associated Employers of Montana (AEM)
o AEM working on personnel files two days a week
c> Personality traits and team building skill addressed at recent Saturday seminar.
· Department head meeting - May 6th
o Mayor informed department heads regarding result of letter written by attorney.
o County attorney statement reviewed.
o Two needs identified:
· Critically important to work through personality issues to develop a team.
· Develop the team in order to get the effort to get things to work.
* Labor/Management Cooperation Committee
o Met on April 14t" and May 13th; next meeting scheduled for June 10~h.
o Insurance Committee is number one issue.
o Meeting notes should be done soon.
o Union contract needs to be completed.
· Discussion regarding employee input with department heads
o Mayor received feedback following the Saturday seminar.
o Future supervisory training should put elements in place to provide communication
growth.
· Discussion regarding Cenex issue.
o City will be on permanent water supply in July.
o Information will be gathered then and addressed in arrears.
o Discussion regarding bond counsel.
· Discussion regarding scheduled meetings:
o Budget Review - Wednesday, May 14~, at 7:00 p.m.
o Budget/Finance Committee - Monday, May 19t~, at 6:45 p.m.
o Budget Review - Monday, May 19t~, at 7:00 p.m.
o Council - Tuesday, May 20t~, at 6:30 p.m.
o Budget Review - Wednesday, May 21 st, at 7:00 p.m.
o Council Workshop - Tuesday, May 27th, at 6:30 p.m.
o Budget Review - Wednesday, May 28th, at 7:00 p.m.
· Water service line repair program
Council Workshop Minutes of May 13, 2003
o Question whether the city could recover funds from the program when the crew does the
repairs.
o Issue needs to be clearly delineated.
o Mayor will have Larry address the issue.
o Comments by Mark Mace
· Program is an insurance program for the benefit of the property owners.
· No matter who does the work, the money can be paid out.
House Bill No. 94
o Legislative act that revises and clarifies the public participation and notice requirements
for open meetings.
o Memo from mayor to explain the legislation and suggest agenda items sent to department
heads, council, committee and board chairman.
Council attendance at meetings
o Mark cannot attend the council workshop on May 27.
o Gay cannot attend the meeting on May 19.
o Dan Meats cannot attend the meetings on May 19, 20, and 21.
Elected Officials' Workshop report
o Dan Mears stated that the mayor did a good job with his speech on the water intake and
positive comments were heard.
Agenda discussion
· Ordinance amending Chapter 15.04.10 - Board of Appeals
o Code currently says the terms are "at the mayor's pleasure."
o Ordinance will change to two-year terms.
Announcements
Code book updates arrived.
o Bring code books to Cindy for the updates.
Other items
· Council mini-retreat (April 29, 2003)
o List of interests and options was distributed prior to meeting.
o Council to review and provide input.
o Real challenge is to try to make what we are doing worthwhile and productive.
The council workshop adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
Cindy Allen(/Council Secretary
NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion by the
Council.
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