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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 07.01.2003 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF I. AUREL July 1, 2003 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 Bud Johnson at 6:30 p.m. on July 1, 2003. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Lauren Van Roekel Doug Poehls Ken Olson Mark Mace Dan Mears Daniel Dart John Oakes COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Gay Easton Mayor Johnson asked the council to observe a moment of silence. Mayor Johnson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Mears to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 17, 2003, as presented, seconded by Alderman Mace. Motion carried 7-0. CORRESPONDENCE: Cable Montana: Service Reports for May 2003. Laurel Chamber of Commerce: June 2003 Newsletter. Montana Department of Transportation Rail, Transit & Planning Division: June 2003 Newsline. PUBLIC HEARING: · Public hearing on the 2003-2004 Preliminary Budget (continued from June 17, 2003). Mayor Johnson opened the public hearing. Mayor Johnson asked if there was any input from proponents or opponents. There was none. Motion by Alderman Van Roekel to continue the public hearing on the 2003-2004 Preliminary Budget to July 15, 2003, seconded by Alderman Poehls. Motion carried 7-0. CONSENT ITEMS: · Claims for the mouth of June 2003 in the amount of $785,576.92. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer's Office. · Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 06/22/03 totaling $117,673.05. · Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of June 3, 2003 were presented. --Insurance Committee minutes of June 18, 2003 were presented. --Council Workshop minutes of June 24, 2003 were presented. --Oversight Committee minutes of January 9, 2003 were presented. --Oversight Committee minutes of February 13, 2003 were presented. --Oversight Committee minutes of April 10, 2003 were presented. --Oversight Committee minutes of May 8, 2003 were presented. Council Minutes of July 1, 2003 · Resolutions. Resolution No. R03-62: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign a task order with Morrison-Maierle, Inc., to complete the ranking criteria for the CDBG Program. Resolution No. R03-63: A resolution updating the Rules and Regulations Governing Utility Services and Streets in the City of Laurel. Resolution No. R03-64: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement with the Montana Department of Transportation for street cleaning on the primary road system in Laurel. Resolution No. R03-65: A resolution approving Alderman Easton's absence from the City of Laurel. The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Motion by Alderman Olson to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Alderman Mace. Motion carried 7-0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: Beartooth RC&D - Marvin Carter Marvin Carter was not at the meeting and no report was given. Mayor Johnson stated that individuals who are appointed to serve on the various boards and commissions would be asked to give a report to the council during this portion of the agenda. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: · Confirmation of Appointments: None. · YMCA Summer Recreation Program Report - Donna Hirt Donna Hirt, the Director of the YMCA Summer Recreation Program, stated that the City of Laurel has given $3,000 to the YMCA in the past to run some summer programs. She distributed copies of the flyers that go out to every elementary school in Laurel, Columbus, Joliet, Absarokee, and Bridger to promote participation in these activities. She pointed out the items labeled as Basketball Clinic/YMCA & City of Laurel and Co-ed Summer Volleyball League/YMCA & City of Laurel. These items are specifically targeted for the use of the $3,000 that the city had given in the past. To help the council understand how the money is spent, Donna distributed a short synopsis of the cost of the programs. The Games in the Park activity consists of an hour of arts and crafts and an hour of games at Thomson Park. Children attend four days a week and play games such as running games, three- legged races, and board games. The children also make a craft in an hour every day to take home. The dally cost of $1.00 is extremely reasonable. The program does not make money, but it is important to have the program in the parks and to provide the two-hour activity for children. The YMCA has tried to keep the cost of the clinics very reasonable. For the first time this year, the YMCA will have to pay for gym rental and a coach or instructor. Two teams were interested in the spring volleyball league, but the YMCA decided it would not be very exciting for the two teams to play each other two nights a week. They are gearing up for an outdoor fall volleyball league in Thomson Park, and Donna has talked with the public works director about it. Alderman Olson asked Donna how many children participate in the program, if any day excursions are held, and who chaperones the activities. Donna said an average of ten children attend the activities right now, and twenty-five or thirty children should participate by the middle of July. The all-day excursions are a different program that is done in conjunction with the school district. The school district's buses are boarded every Council Minutes of July 1, 2003 Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. for an all-day adventure. They went to the museum in Cody last week, and they are going to Big Splash this week. YMCA members pay $20 and non-members pay $25. Donna stated that they have three counselors, including one bus driver, and they encourage parents to participate. Alderman Olson commented that this type of program was instituted about four or five years ago. The City of Laurel tried a program before the YMCA got involved, but it was not very successful. Alderman Olson is glad to see that Laurel children are afforded the opportunity to participate in the YMCA's activities through Donna's efforts. Donna stated that forty-five children were taken to the museum last week, and she anticipated quite a few more participants at Big Splash. Sixty kids went to the Lewis and Clark Caverns last year, and each activity is a great opportunity. Alderman Olson mentioned that the YMCA manages the swimming pool. Donna stated that this is the second year that she has managed the pool. She does the hiring, the training, the staffing, and the maintenance at the pool. Although it was a struggle to find eight lifeguards for the first season, there has been an abundance of lifeguards this year because it has been a great place to work. Decisions need to be made regarding the pool in the next three years. The State gave the City of Laurel five years to keep our pool open without the proper surface skimming capabilities in the pool. Two years have passed, so a decision will need to be made within the next three years regarding building a new pool or putting more money into the present pool. Donna stated that it would take more money to put into it than it would be worth. She mentioned that the new filters work well, the chemicals are staying great, and the pool does not leak anymore. Alderman Olson gave some history on the pool. When the city managed the pool three years ago, the pool closed three weeks early because no lifeguards were available. That brought the opportunity for the YMCA to manage the pool. He stated that the participation of the lifeguards and the continuation of the YMCA's involvement is a real asset. Donna Hirt stated that the YMCA opened the pool on June 4t~, which is the earliest the pool has ever opened. It is anticipated that the pool will remain open through the end of August. Even though attendance drops, as it gets closer to a new school year, it is important for children to have something to do. The pool is open eight hours a day from Monday through Sunday. Mayor Johnson thanked Donna for her presentation. · Ordinance No. 003-04: Ordinance amending Chapter 17.62 of the Laurel Municipal Code relating to Conditional Use Permit. First reading. Motion by Alderman Oakes to adopt Ordinance No. 003-04, seconded by Alderman Olson. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. All seven aldermen present voted aye. Motion carried 7-0. The public hearing of Ordinance No. 003-04 will be on the council agenda on July 15, 2003. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Mayor Johnson stated that a letter was received from the Montana League of Cities and Towns regarding the NorthWestern Energy marketing contract. NorthWestern Energy Marketing has advised the League of Cities and Towns of its intent to breach the power supply contract that was negotiated last year between the company and municipal governments and school districts across the state. The settlement is not known at the moment. During a brief discussion at the department head meeting today, the input was that this would have an unknown impact on the budget. It would affect the expenditure side of the budget, which gives the revenue situation even more of a challenge. Mayor Johnson and two council members attended the city-county meeting last Thursday evening at the airport. He suggested that staff members should be encouraged to attend future meetings, as some of the items of discussion would have benefited them. The amount of financial resource that is Council Minutes of July 1,2003 available through homeland security and the local emergency preparedness concept needs council consideration. A situation concerning an interlocai agreement with the Air Pollution Control Board was discussed at the city-county meeting. The issue and information will be presented at the council workshop on July 8th. Alderman Oakes stated his desire to serve on the Air Pollution Control Board. Mayor Johnson said that he might want to review a faxed letter received today before making a decision. Alderman Mace attended the city-county meeting. He mentioned that Jim Kraft gave a good presentation regarding weapons of mass destruction, and grants and funding that will be available through the Local Emergency Planning Committee. The list of entities and agencies that have received money was reviewed, but the City of Laurel has received no funds. Alderman Mace stated that he wanted to be sure that the city complete the grant applications when they are available. A lot more money will be available, and there are a lot of things the council needs to consider. Communications was a big item of discussion at the meeting last Thursday. Alderman Mace said that annexations were also discussed at the city-county meeting. He sees that the City of Billings and Yellowstone County have experienced problems when annexations are driven by the use of utilities or the use of city services. The Billings City Council has had a record amount of annexations in the last year. It is important that city services are not used as a reason to annex subdivisions. Annexations need to be reviewed as to how it would serve the people and the city. There are questions regarding whether the City of Billings or the county is responsible for the maintenance of Zimmerman Trail since it was annexed. Getting city services to a new subdivision may be the easy part of an annexation, while maintenance and other issues are ongoing. · Review of Committee Minutes A complete set of the Oversight Committee minutes is available for review in the clerk's office. At the recent city-county meeting, Mayor Johnson got the impression that the three entities, Yellowstone County, the City of Billings, and the City of Laurel, would through e-mail start sharing some agendas regarding work sessions to allow for input. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: Alderman Olson stated that he wanted to discuss the creation ora park maintenance district. Mayor Johnson stated that the park maintenance district and the cable franchise fee would be on the next workshop agenda. Some questions have been posed and answers are being researched. A process is coming forward, and the mayor anticipates that direction would be determined at that meeting. Alderman Olson stated that the council should study the issues and have questions ready for discussion at the workshop. Mayor Johnson acknowledged Commissioner Bill Kennedy's presence at the meeting. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. ~ 1 - Cind l, Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 15th day of July, 2003. Attest: Mary K~Emb~eton, Clerk-Treasurer 4