HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 07.29.2003 MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
JULY 29, 2003 6:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
A Council Workshop was held in ~he Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Bud Johnson at
6:30 p.m. on July 29, 2003.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
_x_ Lanren Van Roekel Doug Poehls
x Ken Olson x Mark Mace
_x_ Gay Easton x Daniel Dart
x Dan Mears x John Oakes
OTHERS PRESENT:
Larry McCann Steve Klotz
Mary Embleton Cai Cumin
Rocky Smith, Cynroc & BSEDA Jackie Caldwell, Cynroc & BSEDA
Public Input (three-minute limit)
Citizens may address the Council regarding any item of City 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.
· None
Intake update - Larry. McCann
· Water intake
o The old and new pipes are unavailable to pull water out of the intake at the present time.
o City has been pumping water out of the irrigation ditch to feed the water plant since the
beginning of June.
o The pump is pumping, and an identical standby pump is available on location.
o Raw water test was run on July 28th.
o Operator training was done on July 29t~.
o City will begin using the new intake on July 31s~.
o The City has not accepted the project; to finish the project, we now have to move on to
the new intake to get the rest of the electrical and wiring completed. We are a month to a
month and half out of substantial completion of the project.
Generator for water plant
o Cenex should receive notification that the EPA signed thc release during the week of
August 4z, and Ccnex will then release the money.
o COP has completed a work directive for thc work on the generator. · Costs will be less than $300,000.
* Cencx is still committing to half of the cost.
o Anna Miller (SRF) and Gary Weims (DEQ) approve of using contingency funds for the
generator.
o Resolution on August 5t~ council agenda for Amendment No. 2 for the Professional
Services Agreement with HKM Engineering for the design on thc generator.
o Gcnarator will bc available about twelve weeks after the change order is issued.
· During those twelve weeks, we will go into substantial completion on the water
plant project.
· Triggers the warranty date for the water plant project.
Council Workshop Minutes of July 29, 2003
· Fire pump tests done at Cenex Refinery
o Fire pumps were tested during the last two weeks.
o Operational problems were identified.
o Cenex is installing ring down to the plant.
o Complaints received included four leaks in the lines, two dirty water complaints, and ten
Iow-pressure complaints.
· Water Facilities Plan
o Morrison-Maierle is working on the plan.
o Result will include a hydraulic model (design) of the City of Laurel.
o Facilities plan has been slowed down by the plant project.
· Vulnerability of the water system
o Addresses impacts of terrorism and vandalism on the water system
o Requirement to be added to the Water Facilities Plan
o VA due to the EPA in June 2004
o Emergency Response Plan is due six months later.
· Visiting regulators concerns included:
o Sed basins
o Lunch room/kitchen in bathroom
o Chief operator office is on the filter floor.
o No meeting area
o HVAC and computer problems
[Jpdate on the Economic Development Coordinator- Cai Cumin
· Distributed booklets - Laurel Economic Development: Long-term Solutions to Long-term Issues
· Explanation of what we want from economic development
o Growth of local tax base instead of raising taxes on a shrinking tax base
o Retain local businesses
o Recruit outside industry
o Fill vacant office spaces and create more small office space
o Downtown revitalization
o More people downtown
o Downtown beautification (Streetscape Project)
o Appreciation of local culture
o Industrial park development
o Industrial expansion at airport
o Capitalization on Billings market
o Conduit to county, state, and federal programs that are available
o Administration of current programs and funds
· Explanation of what we are doing now
o Oversight Committee
o Laurel Revitalization League
o Downtown Urban Streetscape project
o Downtown Park (LRL)
o HOME Grant (old and new)
· Explanation of untapped opportunities
o Cai reviewed a list of untapped opportunities (included in the booklet).
· Explanation of comparable programs
o Rocky Smith (Business Expansion and Retention Program) explained comparable
programs.
· Big Sky EDA (Billings)
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Council Workshop Minutes of July 29, 2003
· Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation
· Gallatin Development Corporation
· Explanation of allotment of funds
o An economic development coordinator would provide:
· A point of contact
· Conduit to external resources
· Central office for grant administration
· Initial implementation of the Laurel Development Corporation
· "Outside the box" creativity center
o Responsibilities of an economic development coordinator include:
· Management of relocation and recruitment databases
· Swimming pool/water recreation park analysis
· HOME Grant administration
· RCAC Grant
· Pursuit of additional grants
* Explanation of measurement of success
o Increased grant dollars
o Development of downtown businesses
o Downtown activities and appearances
o Specific efforts of retention and expansion and recruitment.
o Evolution of Oversight Committee into Laurel Development Corporation
* Explanation of long-term goals
o Completion of projects:
· Swimming pool/water recreation park
· Downtown streetscape
· Train terminal
· Railroad Museum
· Pathways and greenways
· Industrial park development
· Infill development
· Laurel Development Corporation
· Assist housing programs
· Business recruitment program
· Business expansion and retention program
· Self-sustaining, not tax based
· Discussion
o Cal has requested $20,000 in the budget for an economic development coordinator.
o Local businesses support having an economic development coordinator.
o Economic development is competitive.
o City's building department has requirements; no one is available to help prospective
business owners through the process of meeting requirements.
NorthWestern settlement offer - budget impact (correspondence from Montana League of Cities
and Towns)
· Additional information will be distributed as it becomes available.
Keg ordinance · Dan Dart stated that a quorum was present at the May, June, or July Emergency Services
Committee meetings.
· Only two local establishments currently deal with kegs.
Council Workshop Minutes of July 29, 2003
o Establishments do not actively solicit business, and kegs are sold on a very limited basis.
o It would be expensive to track kegs.
o Businesses would probably quit selling kegs if they had to be tracked.
· Staff sees no merit in pursuing a keg ordinance for the City of Laurel at this time.
Draft junk and multiple vehicle ordinance
· Drafts were presented at council workshop on June 24®.
o Steve requested comments and input from council at that time.
o No additional input has been received.
· Any additional input should be given to Steve soon.
· Public Works Committee and police department will review the issue.
· Draft ordinance will be presented at a council workshop.
Joint meeting with school district
· A joint meeting will be scheduled.
Park Maintenance District - public hearing on August 5th
· Mary distributed a list of questions and comments compiled from the letters of protest for the
park maintenance district.
· Resolution of intent to create a park maintenance district was approved on July 15z.
o Fifteen-day protest period ends Thursday, July 314, at 5:00 p.m.
· Letters received from 245 parcel owners, which is 9% of the possible 2,657 parcel owners in the
city.
o One letter was from an individual that owns 173 lots in Alder Ridge.
· Mary presented pie chart overviews of the budget and the general fund budget.
o Other Funds, which is 19% of the expenditure budget, includes 36 funds.
o Water Fund expenditures are 36% of the budget.
· Percentage will not be that high on an ongoing basis.
· Bulk of the percentage is due to construction costs of the water intake.
o Park maintenance district is being considered to give relief to the general fund.
· Difference of $179,000 in appropriations and revenues in the proposed budget.
· Detailed information of parks and pool
o Parks/pool are now maintained through the general fund.
o $146,000 spentin 1999-2000
o $158,000 spent in 2002-2003
o $191,000 budgeted in 2003-2004
· Development of new parks plus other funding for park development
o Laurel Lions Family Park was a cooperative effort with the city, Lions Club, and grants.
o Soccer field was a cooperative effort with the city, grants, and the school district.
· Mary distributed copies of Mayor Johnson's article regarding streets, which is included in the
Laurel City Voice.
o The most frequently asked question in the letters of protest is why the streets are not
being addressed.
· Discussion
o Mary will prepare answers for questions at the public hearing on August 5~h.
o Larry Tanglen is writing an article on the proposed park maintenance district and the
proposed street maintenance assessment for this week's Laurel Outlook.
o Lauren asked that use of funds be precisely described - projects, not people.
· Mayor stated that some salaries are included in the park budget.
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Council Workshop Minutes of July 29, 2003
o Increased revenues from the park maintenance district assessment would be used to fund
a parks plan.
o Need to discuss the swimming pool issue.
· Pool committee has been active.
o John stated that maintenance of the seventeen parks in the City of Laurel would be a
burden on taxpayers.
o Mark stated that the city cannot put everything on hold in order to finish one project.
o Mayor stated that a fair amount of unsafe playground equipment has been removed from
the parks.
o Dan Dart works with senior citizens who are on fixed incomes.
· Stated that the pretense of creating a park maintenance district is to bail the city
out of its budget woes.
· Will take time to develop a parks plan.
· City could be tapping reserves.
· Dan stated his personal struggle as to what is right.
o Gay agreed with Dan Dart.
· The park maintenance district is a stopgap type of thing.
· Dollars are needed for park maintenance.
· Could leave O&M in the general fund, providing a definite amount of money to
be used for parks.
o Mayor stated that a park maintenance district must include all or nothing.
o John commented that the department head presentations were given and then thrown out
the window.
· Budget could be balanced with reserves.
o Ken stated that the deficit is coming out of reserves.
o Dan Mears stated that the city cannot continue spending reserves.
· Not much of a choice not to raise taxes
o Bud stated that the purpose of the workshop is to make sure questions are answered and
information is provided.
· Asked for questions that need to be answered at the public hearing.
* Mark asked for a breakdown of costs for park maintenance.
o Steve stated that a breakdown is included in the line item of the
parks budget.
o Increase in dollars is for improvements
· Dan Meats asked regarding replacement of trees and playground
equipment.
· Steve stated that a parks plan would contain a community assessment of the
needs for the parks.
· Discussion regarding cost of a parks plan
o Could cost $50,000 to $70,000
· Discussion regarding staff development ora parks plan
o Legalities need to be considered.
Sign code - public hearing on August 5* (continued from February. 18, 2003)
· Questions regarding implications if thc sign code is not adopted.
o Entryway Zoning District ordinance references the Sign Code.
o City would operate in the same way as is currently being done.
· Discussion
o Dan Mears stated that he would feel like he dropped the ball.
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Council Workshop Minutes of July 29, 2003
o John said that the sign code needs more preparation than what the park maintenance
district required.
o City must adopt a sign code that is enforceable and will benefit the community.
o Lauren mentioned that the council was going to provide opportunity for more public
work prior to this public hearing, but that was not done.
o Proposed sign code is not as strong as sign codes approved by other cities.
· Sign code will be considered and reviewed at the August 12th and subsequent council workshops.
o Mayor suggested that council members should visit with business owners regarding the
sign code.
· Copies of the sign code will be distributed to the council.
Request for approval to proceed with annexation process for less than required amount of land -
403 Laurmac Lane- Monty and Terri Cherry..
·Request on August 5* council agenda.
Resolutions:
· Resolution No. R03-__: Authorizing the Mayor to sign a resolution form for the State and
Federal Surplus Programs.
· Resolution No. R03-__: A resolution approving agreements between the City of Laurel and
Laurel Urban Fire Service Area (LUFSA), said agreements relating to fire protection.
Executive review
· Mayor received comments regarding Steve and Larry living outside of the community.
o Forty-four percent of city employees live outside the city limits.
o Brief discussion followed.
· Cenex bill adjustment
o Bond counsel is reviewing it.
o The bond counsel will prepare a resolution.
· Mayor is working on the qualifications for the city attorney proposal
· Status of attorney lawsuit
o Mayor stated that there is no lawsuit at the present time.
o Brief discussion regarding use of grievance process and litigation.
Attendance at the August 5th council meetinR · All council will attend.
Announcements
· None.
Other items
· Resolution for an agreement with ICELAND for a repeater site for the police department will be
included on the August 5th council agenda.
The council workshop adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Ci~Council Secretary
NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion by the Council.
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