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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 09.16.2003 MINI.ITES OF THE CITY COIJNCIL OF lAUREL September 16, 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 September 16, 2003. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Lauren Van Roekel Doug Poehls Ken Olson Mark Mace Dan Mears Daniel Dart COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Gay Easton John Oakes 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 Van Roekel to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of September 2, 2003, as presented, seconded by Alderman Mace. Motion carried 6-0. CORRESPONDENCE: Montana Department of Commerce: Letter of August 28, 2003 regarding Grant Awards for the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2004 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Facilities Competition. Montana Engineering and Administration, P.C.: Letter dated July 5, 2002 regarding Laurel's CDBG grant that was approved for full funding. Yellowstone County Air Pollution Control: Letter of September 4, 2003 from Russell Boschee, Director, regarding the Fox Lumber fugitive sawdust case. Andy S. Mud: September 4, 2003 letter of resignation from the Board of Adjustments. Montana Committee for the Humanities: Letter of September 6, 2003 regarding the Conversations on Civic Life in Montana conference in Billings on September 25, 2003. Montana Department of Commerce: Letter of September 11, 2003 regarding: 1) Aunouncement of Grant Administration Workshop for FFY 2004 CDBG Awards/Public Facility Projects; 2) Authorization to Incur Costs for Environmentally-Exempt CDBG Project Activities; and 3) Procurement of Professional Services. CONSENT ITEMS: · Clerk/Treasurer Financial Statements for the month of August 2003. · Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 08/31/03 totaling $119,349.27. · Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of August 19, 2003 were presented. --City-County Planning Board minutes of September 4, 2003 were presented. --Council Workshop minutes of September 9, 2003 were presented. · Resolutions. Resolution No. R03-98: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign Change Order No. 9 for the temporary water intake. Resolution No. R03-99: A resolution approving and adopting the Final Budget for the City of Laurel for the fiscal year 2003-2004. Council Minutes of September 16, 2003 Resolution No. R03-100: A resolution accepting a COPS in Schools Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice and authorizing the Mayor to sign said grant. Resolution No. R03-101: A resolution to provide seed monies to the Laurel Development Corporation to fund economic development coordination for Laurel, to assist local businesses, and expand Laurel's tax base. Resolution No. R03-102: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign Change Order No. 7 for the new water intake project. 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 Dart. Motion carried 6-0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: Confirmation of Appointments. Current Board/Committee vacancies Board of Appeals: three positions -two-year terms to begin immediately Drug and Alcohol Task Force Chairman City-County Planning Board - one position to fill a term expiring 06/30/04 Board of Adjustments - two positions to fill terms expiring 06/30/04 and 06/30/05 City-County Planning Board appointment: Dick Fritzler to fill a vacant term expiring 06/30/04 Mayor Johnson appointed Dick Fritzler to fill a vacant term expiring June 30, 2004 on the City- County Planning Board. Motion by Alderman Poehls to approve the appointment of Dick Fritzler to fill a vacant term expiring June 30, 2004 on the City-County Planning Board, seconded by Aldem~an Mace. Motion carried 6-0. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Mayor Johnson stated that two council members are serving on the committee for the selection process of the city attorney. He asked them to review a draft of the request for qualifications for the city attorney and respond with their thoughts. The RFQ includes a proposed timeline for advertisement and the rest of the process. Mayor Johnson stated that the budget was passed by resolution under the consent agenda. The Budget/Finance Committee had an extensive meeting last night and some items will be brought forward through the budget amendment process. Mayor Johnson attended the Board of Health meeting at St. John's Lutheran Home last week. Careful consideration is being given to the proposed expansion of St. John's with the end result that the City-County Health Department would open a hospice house on the St. John's Lutheran Home campus. There are a lot of issues regarding financing and partnerships and all types of things; however, the Board of Health is considering making that resource available. Alderman Olson asked regarding a joint meeting with the school district. Mayor Johnson stated that a date needed to be picked. After discussion and suggestions, the council agreed to schedule a joint Council Minutes of September 16, 2003 meeting on a Monday or Thursday evening. Alderman Olson will arrange the meeting with the school district. Alderman Dart mentioned that a quorum had not been present at the Emergency Services Committee meetings since April. There are issues that the committee could be working on, and he is looking for some direction. He questioned if the committee should meet on an "as needed" basis. It is disheartening to show up for meetings and not have a quorum, and it is embarrassing to invite guests and then not have a meeting. Aldemaan Dart suggested that possible solutions needed to be considered. Mayor Johnson scheduled the.issue for the council workshop agenda on September 30th. Alderman Mace suggested that the City of Laurel and the City of Billings utilities department should schedule a joint meeting to discuss future possibilities regarding utilities. Mayor Johnson stated that it might be possible to attend a workshop. Alderman Poehls stated a concern regarding the Laurel Business Park. The concern, which came up after it was approved by the City-County Planning Board, is the turnaround on the south side. Steve Solberg, who owns Lot 5-A, does not want his lot cut in half, but he is willing to give everything from the pipeline easement to the comer away in order to straighten out South 4th. South 4th goes between Lot 6-A and 5-A. If it is built the way it is planned, there will be a really sharp corner in there. Alderman Poehls has talked to the engineer at Engineering, Inc., about dropping the hammerhead down a little bit. The engineer will explore it. The City-County Planning Board approved it, but there may be some changes to this plan. Mayor Johnson stated that the Laurel Business Park Subdivision is scl~eduled for the council workshop on September 30th. Since the Planning Board meets the first Thursday of each month, we are going to automatically schedule planning issues on the first workshop agenda in order to allow recommendations to be processed in a timely manner. Alderman Poehls stated that the possibility of expanding South 4th Street should be reviewed. Mayor Johnson suggested that the remarks should be made to Steve Klotz. Alderman Poehls has already discussed the issue with Steve. Alderman Mears stated that Matt Erekson called him about selling Riverside Park. Alderman Mears told Matt that the park is not for sale and he would not even entertain any way, shape, or form of that. · Review of Committee Minutes: The recommendations from the City-C0un!t~ Planning Board minutes of September 4th will be on the council workshop agenda on September 30 . The nuisance ordinance, which has already been reviewed by the Public Works Committee, will be on the September 30th council workshop agenda. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 6:46 p.m. ' Cindy Alleff, Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the city of Laurel, Montana, this 7th day of October, 2003. Attest: 3