HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 09.30.2003 MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 6:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
A Council Workshop was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Bnd
Johnson at 6:30 p.m. on September 30, 2003.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
_x_ Lauren Van Roekel x Doug Poehls
x Ken Olson x Mark Mace
Gay Easton Daniel Dart
_x_ Dan Meats x John Oakes
OTHERS PRESENT:
Mary Embleton Frank Durant, MDU
Jan Faught Rick Reid, MDU
Cal Cumin Don Meyers, MDU
Paul Hutter, AEM Travis Lindskog, AEM
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
Montana-Dakota Utilities franchise ordinance
· Mayor introduced Frank Durant, the Region Manager for MDU.
· MDU requested that the city council renew their natural gas franchise.
· The 25-year franchise expires on November 21, 2003.
Discussion whether franchise should be approved by ordinance or resolution
o Frank will check with MDU's legal counsel.
State law and MDU's Articles of Incorporation require a franchise ordinance to allow
natural gas companies to occupy streets and alleys in cities.
· Discussion regarding future franchise fees.
o Future franchise fees could be approved by resolution.
· Current MDU office in Laurel is located at 417½ Date.
· MDU intends to stay in the community and needs the ability to respond to calls and
emergencies.
Safe ,ty presentation - AEM · Mayor introduced Tmvis Lindskog, the Director of Safety Services at AEM.
· Copies of the City of Laurel Safety Compliance Proposal were distributed.
· Travis reviewed twenty-five project components and descriptions that are proposed for
the City of Laurel.
· Discussion regarding need for a safety officer
Council Workshop Minutes of September 30, 2003
· Discussion regarding safety committees
o A safety committee is defined in the union contract; a second safety committee
may be necessary.
Budget changes - Mary. Embleton
· Mary distributed a list of recommended changes to the 2003-2004 Final Budget.
· The 2003-2004 Final Budget document was adopted by resolution on September 16th.
· The auditors recently conducted the audit of the 2002-2003 fiscal year and recommended
several corrections.
· The City recently received word that two grants were awarded.
o COPS Grant for a school resource officer
o CDBG Grant for sewer improvements
· The following changes to the budget were presented:
o Move appropriations of $40,301 from Comprehensive Insurance Fund (#2190) to
General Fund (#1000) for Workers' Compensation costs, as per auditor
recommendation. The mills will need to be adjusted in both funds.
o Increase Fire Department budget by $25,000 to restore the department's reserve
for equipment purchase. This appropriation was transferred to the Shop budget
for debt service on the loan (purchase of old MDT site) prior to Final budget
adoption.
o Increase Senior Helping Hands appropriation from $700 to $1,000.
o Add COPS SRO Grant to General Fund budget - revenues and appropriations.
· Add a new Special Revenue Fund (#2916) for the COPS Grant, where
revenue is received, then transferred to the General Fund to offset the
increase appropriations for the additional officer.
o Increase Water Plant appropriations by $2,600 due to increase in audit fees caused
by the Single Audit needed for the Water Intake Project.
o Add CDBG Grant of $500,000 to Sewer revenues, and make sure the three
projects covered by the grant are in appropriations totaling $500,000. Increase
appropriations by an additional $268,000 for the city match of the grant, taken
from reserves.
o Re-appropriate the new garbage truck, as per auditor's instructions, offset by
available cash.
o Consider a Judgment mill levy.
· This would be an additional 2.39 mills to cover costs incurred due to the
settlement of recent employment-related issues.
· A new fund (#3300) would be created to record the revenues ($13,410),
and transfer them to the General Fund.
o Combine Group Health Insurance and Police Health Insurance Funds. The State
has created a new fund number (#2372) for the Permissive Medical Levy from
HB-409.
o Funds for the 12th Street realignment project need to be added to the list. The
joint project with Yellowstone County is possibly scheduled for the spring of
2004.
· Overall effect of budget changes would be an increase in the deficit from $156,638 to
$169,792.
2
Council Workshop Minutes of September 30, 2003
· Discussion regarding the judgment mill levy.
o Mill levy could be assessed within three years of incurred costs due to
settlements.
o Council is not inclined to do it at this time.
· Discussion regarding need for a public hearing on the budget changes.
o Council directed that a public hearing be scheduled and advertised.
Planning Board issues:
· Planning Board recommends to the City Council that it advertise and hold a public
hearing regarding the request for annexation, zoning, and conditional use from Patrick
Mullaney for C.S. 2039, Tracts A-1 and B-1 at its October 7, 2003 council meeting.
Planning Board recommended approval of the annexation/zone change and approval of
the conditional use subject to the exterior of the house, landscaping, sidewalk and fence
to be completed within eighteen (18) months after C,i~ty Council approval.
o Public hearing is scheduled for the October 7 council meeting.
o Pat Mullaney recently indicated that the application might be withdrawn due to
his concern about a timeframe to annex adjoining property.
o Mr. Mullaney could continue the application within a year; if longer than a year,
the process would need to start again.
· Planning Board recommends to the City Council that the variance request from Brad
Dillon (Meadowood Apartments) for a larger than normal sign be allowed subject to the
top of the sign being lowered from eight feet to six feet. No further public hearing is
recommended.
o Cai explained that the sign would be lowered two feet.
· Planning Board recommends to the City Council that the preliminary plat of Laurel
Business Park Subdivision (Lot 4, Block 1, Entertainment Park Subdivision) be approved
subject to the conditions listed by the Director of Public Utilities and the Laurel Fire
Department.
o Discussion regarding developer's request to waive some of the requirements.
o Cai explained some of the requirements as determined by the City of Laurel and
the developers.
o John Oakes stated the reasons he is not in favor of this subdivision.
o A waiver of protest is binding in court, as it applies to the property and is filed
with the plat.
o A specific date for completion of certain requirements could be a condition of
approval by the council.
o Discussion regarding South 4th Street.
Ambulance Director - Jan Faught
· AMR
o Jan explained a recent billing of $30,240 from AMR.
o AMR claims they provided 189 assists from June 2002 to July 2003.
o A contract was sent to AMR while Joe Leckie was the city attorney.
· AMR did not return the signed contract.
· Verbal agreement was to pay $70 per intercept plus the cost of
medications to AMR.
3
Council Workshop Minutes of September 30, 2003
· City of Laurel would get paid first.
o Medicare pays only the transporting service.
o City of Laurel has set aside funds for the Medicare intercepts.
o Jan has contacted the AMR billing department and the AMR representative in
Billings.
· A meeting will be scheduled in October to discuss the issue.
· Rate changes
o Jan distributed copies and reviewed the proposed rate changes.
o New county rates were approved in 2002.
o Last city rate change was approved in 2000.
o Discussion regarding justification of the DOA rate
· Direction given to remove the DOA rate from the list
Direction given to place the Ambulance rate change resolution on the October 7th
agenda
Wage changes
o Last change in call out pay was approved in 1995.
o Proposal to increase a transport call from $10.00 to $15.00.
o Proposal to increase a non-transport call from $5.00 to $7.50.
o Proposal to increase the director's salary from $24,000 to $28,000.
· Jan said the reason for an increase is that the increased call volume has
increased her workload.
o The budget requirement for the increase in call out pay and the director's salary
would be $95,601.
o The budgeted amount already approved is $97,275.
o Mayor said that pay increases would go into effect with the first pay period going
forward from tonight.
· A decision would be made regarding the raises being retroactive to July 1,
2003.
Draft Nuisance Ordinance ,, Public Works Committee reviewed thc draft nuisance ordinance.
· Mark stated that enforcement was difficult because of thc wording.
· Jean, Rick, and Gary are comfortable with thc wording of thc draft ordinance.
· Suggestion to place thc ordinance on the agenda for the first reading.
Si~n code review · Public hearing is scheduled on October 74.
· Second reading of the sign code on October 21st.
Resolutions:
· Resolution No. R03-__: A resolution amending Resolution No. R02~42 extending thc
contract with Olness and Associates for auditing services through fiscal year ending Sunc
2004 and authorizing the Mayor to sign said contract for the City of Laurel.
· Resolution No. R03-__: A resolution accepting a Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant
from the U.S. Department of Justice and authorizing the Mayor to sign said grant.
4
Council Workshop Minutes of September 30, 2003
· Resolution No. R03-__: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign Change Order No. 8
for the new water intake project.
· Resolution No. R03-__: Resolution of the City of Laurel, Montana, approving certain
rate adjustments.
· Resolution No. R03-__: Budget amendment resolution reflecting changes in the budget
for fiscal year 2004.
· Resolution No. R03-__: A resolution approving Alderman Easton's continued absence
from the City of Laurel.
· Resolution No. R03-__: Resolution of the City of Laurel, Montana, approving certain
rate adjustments.
Announcements
· City-County Meeting on October 15th at 5:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Center Board Room -
Shiloh Overlay District; RSVP to Vicki at 256-2701 by October 1st
· Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new water intake is scheduled for Friday, October 3fa, at
2:30 p.m.
o Chamber of Commerce will attend the ceremony.
November 11tt council workshop - Veterans' Day · A council workshop will be scheduled.
Public Works Committee
· Public Works Committee is scheduled for Thursday, October 16th, instead of Monday,
October 13th (Columbus Day).
Attendance at the October 7th council meeting
· Dan Meats and Gay Easton will not attend.
Executive review
· None
The council workshop adjourned at 9:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary
NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion
of the Council for the listed workshop agenda items.
5