HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 08.12.2003 MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
AUGUST 12, 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 August 12, 2003.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
_x_ Lauren Van Roekel x Doug Poehls
Ken Olson x Mark Mace
_x_ Gay Easton x Daniel Dart
Dan Mears x John Oakes
OTHERS PRESENT:
Mary Embleton
Steve Klotz
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.
· Deanna Riesinger, 201 West Avenue, stated her concern regarding Schessler's Ready
Mix.
· Deanna presented a picture at the council meeting on August 5th and asked if the situation
had been investigated.
· Mayor will investigate the situation.
Irrigation leakage in the ditch
· Steve explained the situation regarding the leakage at the High Ditch in the area of
Willow Drive.
o Ditch has been lined and cleaned - possibility that it was scraped in the process.
o Leakage has occurred for years.
· Causes of concern:
o Damage to property - yards are soggy and basements leak
o Mosquitoes
o Stripping of the gravel road down to 14th Street
· Grant application was made in February 1999.
o File indicates that enough property owners did not agree to participate in order to
receive the grant.
· Discussion
o Ditch Company will not address the problem.
o A Floodplain Plan was developed since 1999.
o This particular ~rea is not in the floodplain.
Council Workshop Minutes of August 12, 2003
o Question posed regarding the possibility of requiring the ditch company to fix the
problem or lose their easement - probably would not happen.
o Concern of setting a precedent for all the ditches.
· Mayor stated that we are in the process of getting input, and no recommendation can be
determined at this time.
· Suggestion to follow up on the FEMA Grant.
· Discussion regarding City of Laurel/Ditch Company/property owner responsibilities.
Final Budget
· Mary Embleton distributed packet of information regarding budget changes.
· Changes in Appropriations:
o Increase appropriations for Public Works Director in Professional Services by
$7,000 for appraisal of ground at the end of South 4th - offset by grant revenue.
o Increase electrical costs that were under contract.
o Increase General Fund Building Maintenance by $7,000 for repairs to the City
Hall building.
o Add on-call pay.
o Adjust health insurance premiums.
o Change city attomey to ½ year employee and ½ year contract.
o Increased appropriations in any fund that had an excess of 50% in cash reserves.
· Changes in Proposed Revenues:
o Revised tax revenues based on the certified mill levy value of $5,615.
o Revised administrative charges from the enterprise funds to the General Fund,
based on last year's actual expenses.
· Mill levy history
o Mill levy has dropped steadily since 1999.
o Current decrease is due to:
· Centrally assessed property
· TouchAmerica
· NorthWestern Energy
· Reappraisals - taxable value decreased for the City of Laurel
· City will have to levy more mills to generate more dollars.
o Last year's general fund levy was $514,837.00.
o This year's general fund levy will increase $13,000 to $527,624.
o As of today, the general fund has $156,638 more in appropriations than in
revenue.
· Budget changes appear in the "Budget Change" column of the new Revenue/Expenditure
Summary reports.
o The overall changes, by fund, are included in the Budget Schedule sheets.
· No revenue changes are reflected at this time regarding the revenue proposals for Cable
TV Franchise Fee, Park Maintenance District, or Street Maintenance.
· Adoption of the Final Budget is scheduled for the August 19th council meeting.
· Mary briefly explained the tax resolutions.
Street Maintenance District
· The draft resolution reflected a total assessment of one cent per square foot.
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Council Workshop Minutes of August 12, 2003
o The current 1A-cent per square foot assessment provides $130,000.
o A l-cent per square foot assessment would provide $260,000.
o A 1 lA-cent per square foot assessment would provide $390,000.
· Discussion:
o Mayor's article in the recent Laurel City Voice.
· Budget scenarios indicate that dedicating $50,000 per year for twenty
years to remediation and construction of streets would not increase the
average PCI (Pavement Condition Index) fi.om 31.
· Dedicating $200,000 per year for twenty years would increase the average
PCI from 31 to 50.
· Dedicating $400,000 per year for twenty years would yield an average PCI
of 80.
o Chip seal project in Cherry Hills in 2002
· Cost approximately $225,000
· Software program provided an inventory of the condition of the streets.
· Need to consider water, sewer, curb, gutter, and storm water issues along with PCI.
· Need to continue to educate the public on the city's projected plan to address the streets.
· Mayor will direct staffto prepare the resolution with 1 lA cent per square foot assessment.
Park Maintenance District
· Mayor stated that the attorney researched the issue.
o Park maintenance district must be put on the ballot.
o Deadline for submitting a ballot issue is 75 days before the election.
· Options:
o City council has the ability to create a maintenance district.
o Would be consideration for a park maintenance district to be place on the ballot
for a specific Parks Plan.
· No revenue is budgeted to complete a Parks Plan.
· Parks Plan would address many issues, with input fi.om the public.
o Swimming pool
o Parks
o Leases to clubs
· Discussion
o Need to make sure the city is covered for liability with the park leases
o Could have a bond issue for a swimming pool
· Capital Improvement Plan
o Council gives final direction for the CIP monies
o Council needs to allocate the funds to a particular project/projects.
o Mayor asked the council to review the CIP that was distributed in June.
o CIP discussion will begin after the budget is approved.
o $296,000 in the CIP Fund.
· Mayor stated that there is still a fundamental imbalance between revenues and
appropriations in the budget.
· Discussion regarding the park maintenance district
o Motion to table would allow further consideration.
o Public hearing and the resolution of intent would stand.
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Council Workshop Minutes of August 12, 2003
· Mayor asked secretary to put the park maintenance district on the August 26th council
workshop agenda for further discussion.
Sign code review
· Mayor and cotmcil read and reviewed the first six pages of the sign code ordinance.
· Discussion regarding Signs Prohibited - #5 Portable signs and #8 Banner signs
o Need to define for temporary usage
o Remove from prohibited signs; change to regulated signs
· Discussion regarding Signs Prohibited - #9 Abandoned signs
o Needs to be defined
o City could charge an assessment for removal of an abandoned sign.
· Discussion regarding Signs Not Requiting Permits - #6 Political signs
o Political signs may be placed only on private property and only with the
permission of the property owner.
· Discussion regarding garage sale signs.
o Current LMC does not allow garage sale signs to be placed on telephone poles.
· Discussion regarding Lighting section.
o Need to remove statement: Monument signs located in the Entryway Zoning
District must be turned offby midnight.
o Requirement was removed from the EZD ordinance before adoption.
· Review of the sign code will continue at the August 26th council workshop.
Attorney RFQ · Draft Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Legal Services was distributed for the
council's review.
· Mayor explained the evaluation criteria.
· Scope indicates that final arrangements would be reviewed after the city finds an
acceptable firm/individual on a contract/employment basis.
· Department heads will submit their six priority requirements for legal services.
Bond counsel resolution
· Not ready for review.
Executive review · Cemetery land was purchased last week.
· The new water intake is now in operation.
Resolutions:
· Resolution No. R03-__: Resolution renewing a lease for a portion of the FAP to "The
Company" (Laurel Voltmteer Fireman Association).
· Tax Resolutions (up to 10 resolutions) - Set levies for General; Comp Ins; PERS; Health
Insurance; Airport; Light #2; Light #3; Street Maintenance; Sweeping District; SID #110;
unpaid water; unpaid sewer; unpaid garbage; Park Maintenance.
· Resolution No. R03-__: Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign Change Order No. 1,
COP Construction for the Temporary Water Intake.
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Council Workshop Minutes of August 12, 2003
· Resolution No. R03-__: A resolution approving an agreement between the City of Laurel
and Laurel Airport Authority, said agreement relating to fire protection.
Attendance at the August 19th council meetin~ · Dan Meats will not attend.
Announcements
· The City of Billings Public Works Department approached Mark Mace regarding an
additional water intake between Laurel and Billings.
o City of Billings needs another intake to serve the west end of Billings.
o A joint venture with Billings would allow the City of Laurel to advance the
transmission lines.
· Dan Dart stated concern regarding a property at 9th Avenue and West Maryland.
o Undergrowth could cause a fire hazard.
o Dan asked if Gary Colley could inspect the property.
Other items
· None.
The council workshop adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
Cindy AII~,st, Council Secretary
NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion by
the Council.
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