HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 07.08.2003 MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
JULY 8, 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 6:30 p.m. on July 8, 2003.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
x Lauren Van Roekel _x_ Doug Poehls
x Ken Olson x Mark Mace
Gay Easton _x_ Daniel Dart
x Dan Meats x John Oakes
OTHERS PRESENT:
Mary Embleton
Steve Klotz
Larry McCann
Public Input (three-minute limit)
· No public input
Intake update - Larry
· Tree hit the old intake
· Cost $7,000 to rebuild the pump
· On target with timing of the project
· Roof was being put on the building today.
· Scheduled to begin pumping through the new intake by the end of July
· After acceptance of the pump building, the one-year warranty goes into effect.
· COP Construction has been upfront regarding ways to save money in the project
· Weekly meetings have been changed from Thursday to Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
· Recent meeting involved individuals from the DEQ and the Corps of Engineers.
o Les Riddle gave them a tour of the plant.
o Individuals left on a positive note.
o Speaks highly of the contractor (COP).
o Suggestion to include an article about the visit in the next Laurel City Voice.
o Gary Wiens said the generator issue is correct.
· Change order will be submitted for paving between the building and the highway.
o Location of building was moved six feet.
· Two diesel pumps are on site at the water plant for emergency use.
· Explanation of the rock that went into the old intake
o Mayor requested that a picture and explanation be put into the next Laurel
City Voice.
o Need to explain that the new intake was not involved.
Council Workshop Minutes of July 8, 2003
· Explanation of the generator situation
o Work directive has been issued to find the price on a generator.
o COP has thirty (30) days to submit the price.
o Change order will be submitted after the City of Laurel accepts the bid price.
· Will set temporary power on the west side of the water plant
· An open house will be scheduled for the public to view the project.
Cable franchise fee
· Mayor said an explanation is needed regarding why the franchise fee applies to cable TV
but not to other utilities.
· Mary stated that local governments have a duty and an obligation to maintain the public
right of way.
· Commercial use of public property for private profit requires equitable, fair, and
reasonable compensation for its use.
· Cities are allowed to charge a franchise fee to cable TV based on a maximum of five (5)
pement of the cable company's revenues.
· State and federal regulations help make it easier to do so.
· City of Billings tried to apply the fee to gas, electric, and telephone companies.
o It was lobbied against by those utilities.
o Ballot issue was defeated.
o District Court denied the appeal, and the case is currently at the Supreme Court.
· Franchise fee could include Interact services.
· Cable TV franchise fees would be general fund revenues.
· Discussion regarding essential and non-essential services
o Cable TV is a choice; other utilities are a necessity.
· Franchise fees levied on cable companies are federally enabled.
· Estimated amount of revenue would be $30,000 or more.
· Discussion regarding $128,000 deficit in general fund budget.
· Suggestion to get figures from the cable company in order to determine the amount of
revenue.
o Mayor stated that the cable company should be made awareofthe council
consideration of the franchise fee.
· Discussion regarding including cable and Intemet service in the franchise fee.
· Joe Leckie started to review the franchise fee ordinance a couple years ago after
discussion at the attomey's workshop at the Elected Officials meeting.
· Discussion regarding council's participation in the 2003-2004 budget process.
o Budget is balanced using reserves; revenues and appropriations are not balanced.
o Ken stated that something drastic needs to be done to balance revenues and
appropriations.
o Adopting a cable franchise fee is an opportunity to increase revenues in the
general fund.
Park maintenance district
· Mary explained some typical figures for park maintenance district costs.
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Council Workshop Minutes of July 8, 2003
o An assessment of % cent per square foot would increase the taxes on a typical
8,400 square foot lot by about $63.00 per year and would generate about
$240,000 per year for the district.
o An assessment of one cent per square foot would increase the taxes on a typical
8,400 square foot lot by about $84.00 per year.
o Average increases would be about $5.25 to $6.00 per month per property owner
to pay for parks.
· The cap of the 40,000 square foot assessment for larger lots would be maintained.
o Maximizes the benefit for the property owner (schools, etc.)
· City property would also be subject to the assessment.
o No properties would be exempt.
· Discussion regarding the park maintenance district.
o Current parks/pool budget is $190,000.
o A parks plan is included in the CIP
o Would be a downfall to implement a district at the current budget level and then
need to raise assessment next year.
o Need to set the district at a level that would include park maintenance, a park
plan, and needed improvements.
o Assessment would be a line item on tax statements.
o Public input and opinion need to be examined
o General fund deficit in the preliminary budget could be addressed by creating a
park maintenance district in order to give relief to the general fund.
· Discussion regarding the street maintenance district.
o Current assessment is ½ cent per square foot.
o Steve stated that the street maintenance assessment should be increased if the
public wants the streets fixed.
o Steve's recommended increase is nothing less than one cent per square foot.
· Explanation of timeline for creation of a park maintenance district
o Resolution of intent to create the district presented on July 15th
o Have until the first Monday in September to complete creation of the district
o Public notice must be published twice.
o Notices must be mailed to all property owners within the city limits.
o Written protests received for a 15-day time period with a deadline of July 31 st.
o Public hearing scheduled for August 5th.
· Protests from 51 percent or more of the property owners would be
necessary to kill creation of the district.
o Resolution for approval of the district would be on August 19th in order to meet
the September 1st deadline.
· Discussion regarding public relations.
o Public input will be received regarding the parks plan.
o Need to look at the needs and wants of the whole community.
· Mayor played devil's advocate.
o Budget process gave the council a reasonable understanding of the budget
predicament; the public does not have the same understanding.
o Public's concern is that the city is developing new things without addressing
needed issues.
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Council Workshop Minutes of July $, 2003
o Council understands the situation but it may take time to educate the public.
o Increases in the street maintenance fund could easily be addressed.
o Suggestion to spend reserves this year and develop a park maintenance district for
next year.
· Mayor is in favor of a park maintenance district.
· Discussion regarding parks.
o John said that people could care less about parks.
· Juveniles want park things.
· Town needs improvements.
· If the city starts assessing for a park maintenance district, people will want
undeveloped parks to be developed.
· John is not fond of parks and would not support the district.
o Steve said that parks are part of building a good community.
· Public Works plans to consider selling some of the parks that are not used
in order to alleviate the maintenance requirement.
o Mark mentioned that the use of parks coincides with different age groups.
· As taxpayers get older, they do not always want to fund schools either.
· Prediction that eighteen people would attend the public hearing and
complain about the condition of the streets.
· Street maintenance cannot be put off any longer.
· Discussion regarding street maintenance.
o Mary stated that street maintenance does not solely fund new streets.
o Sewer and water lines need to be addressed before streets can be rebuilt.
o Would cost about $10 million to rebuild the streets.
o A citywide SID would be needed for the project.
o Should be coordinated in conjunction with sewer and water line replacement.
· Mayor's article in the next Laurel City Voice addresses the condition of Laurel's streets
and includes timelines for funding.
· Discussion regarding resolutions and ordinance.
o Discussion regarding a resolution of intent.
· Doug suggested that a resolution of intent to create a park maintenance
district and a resolution to increase the street maintenance district
assessment be placed on the council agenda.
o Cable TV franchise fee ordinance needs further research.
Air Quali .ty Control Board
· Discussion regarding the interlocal agreement was held at the recent city-county meeting.
· John Oakes has offered to fill the vacancy on the board.
o Mayor will appoint John at the next council meeting.
Resolutions · Resolution approving Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Select Plan, a Managed Health Care
Plan.
· Insurance Funds transfer resolution
· Budget transfer resolution
· Budget amendment resolutions
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Council Workshop Minutes of July 8, 2003
· Resolution approving a Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy for the City of Laurel.
· Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an Agreement to Provide Health Services with
St. Vincent Healthcare of Billings, Montana.
· Resolution to approve agreements between the City of Laurel and Laurel Fire District No.
7, said agreements relating to fire protection.
o The resolutions were reviewed briefly.
· An additional resolution regarding legal services with Moulton, Bellingham, Longo &
Mather was also reviewed.
Executive review · Mayor reviewed the situation with the former city a~torney, Matt Erekson.
· A letter of demand was received and a response was made.
· No formal suit has been filed.
· An agreement with Moulton, Bellingham, Longo & Mather would allow mayor to use a
legal resource.
· If and when the claim is filed, MMIA would become involved.
Agenda item format · Two examples were distributed for the council's review.
· Verbal reports were presented tonight.
· Proposed format would provide written content for the council.
Communication with other entities
· Will send workshop agendas to Billings and the county.
Council attendance and out-of-state travel
· Council members must get council approval to leave the state for more than ten days.
· Councilmen need to inform the mayor or secretary if unable to attend a workshop or
council meeting.
Attendance at the July 15th council meetin~ · Dan Mears will not be able to attend.
Announcements · YMCA needs a place to relocate their office by Monday.
· Doug is selling raffle tickets for a bronze moose that will be raffled off at Laurel Ford on
July 27th as a fundraiser for the YMCA.
· Mark stated that the letter Steve wrote regarding solid waste was well done.
Other items
· Request to increase proposed general fund building budget from $10,000 to $17,000 for
the 2003-2004 fiscal year.
o Additional $7,000 would be allocated to building maintenance.
~ Employee safety issues regarding the presence of molds in thc City Court/Council
Chambers portion of City Hall have been raised at the State level.
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Council Workshop Minutes of July 8, 2003
o Testing was performed but conclusive results were not found.
o BudgeffFinance Committee approved a purchase requisition for $8,900 to
replaster a portion of City Hall.
o Process will reseal the cracks in the existing finish and prevent moisture from
permeating to the interior structure.
o Budget/Finance Committee will consider a purchased requisition on July 15th to
repair rotted wood on the exterior of the building, reseal cracks in the existing
wood portions of the exterior building, reseal the windows, and paint.
o This work should be performed in conjunction with the replastering process to
yield an effective seal and to take advantage of the non-duplication of contracted
work.
o The combined costs for the contracted work is $10,955.
o Process will help the city participate in the quality community image city zoning
codes require and the city enforces.
o If the budget allocation in the proposed general fund building budget is increased,
$10,955 will fund the City Court refinishing project and $6,045 will be available
for routine building maintenance in the next fiscal year.
· Discussion regarding need for the council to have a direction and to set goals.
o John said that the council's goals, objectives, timetables, and revenues need to be
considered.
· 4th of July Jaycees Street Dance
o Lauren questioned if the council had granted permission for the street dance.
o Lauren questioned if the location was in violation since it was close to a church.
o May need to plan better for next year.
The council workshop adjourned at $:56 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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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