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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 02.03.2004 MINUTF, S OF THF. CITY C()UN( IL OF LAURF. L February 3, 2004 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 Ken Olson at 6:30 p.m. on February 3, 2004. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Dick Fritzler Doug P0ehls Kate Stevenson Mark Mace Dan Mears Daniel Dart John Oakes COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Gay Easton Mayor Olson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mayor Ols0n asked the council to observe a moment of silence. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Mears to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 20, 2004, as presented, seconded by Alderman Poehls. Motion carried 7-0. CORRESPONDENCE: Montana Municipal Insurance Authority: Memorandum of January 10, 2004 regarding Coverage Endorsement - MMIA Memorandum of Liability Coverage. Montana Municipal Insurance Authority: memorandum of January 25, 2004 regarding MMIA Board Vacancy. Cable Montana: Service Reports for December 2003. CONSENT ITEMS: · Claims for the month of January 2004 in the amount of 184,629.42. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer's Office. · Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 01/18/04 totaling $118,929.34. · Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of January 5, 2004 were presented. --Council Workshol~ minutes of January 27, 2004 were presented. · ResolUtions. Resolution No. R04-07: Collection of annual service fee for all water users, pursuant to the Public Water Supply Program. Resolution No. R04-08: A resolution adopting the Laurel BikePed plan 2003. Resolution No. R04-09: Resolution authorizing the MaYor to sign Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Contract with Montana Engineering & Administration (ME&A) for grant writing services. Resolution No. R04-10: Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement with Environmental Development and Management, Inc., to perform an environmental assessment on the Montana Rail Link proper~ at the corner of 1st Avenue and Main Street (MRL/Dean Rankin lease). Council Minutes of February 3, 2004 Resolution No. R04-11: Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement with the Montana Department of Transportation to administer the installation of a new water line in Main Street to be installed during construction from 1st to 3ra Avenues. The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Motion by Alderman Mace to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Alderman Dart. Motion carried 7-0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board Annual Report. Dr. Don Woemer, the City of Laurel's representative to the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board, explained that the Board meets once a month in Billings and includes the City of Billings, the City of Laurel, the Crow Tribe, and Yellowstone County. The Board's mission is to encourage the preservation of historic and cultural objects, both pre-historic and historic. Dr. Woemer stated that he wished the round house could have been preserved. He was in a neat old barn recently, and similar buildings are starting to disappear. Laurel has a lot of neat homes and buildings in the business district, and there is a lot to appreciate and try to restore to keep for future generations. Dr. Woemer introduced several individuals: John Walsh, the Community Development Manager for the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board; Jolene Rieck, a landscape architect; Kevin Kooistra- Manning and Lanelle Christman, of the Western Heritage Center. Copies of the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board's Fiscal Year 2004 Work Plan were distributed to the cOuncil. Jolene Rieck mentioned the inter4oCal agreement betWeen the City of Billings, the City of Laurel, Yellowstone County and the Crow Tribe that was started in February of 1993. Most of the members of the board demonstrate an interest, competence, and knowledge in historic preservation regarding historic preservati°n of architecture in buildings, interest in landscapes, and cultural issues that affect communities. The Board members are appointed by Yellowstone County, the City of Laurel, and the City of Billings, and they meet the third Thursday of every month at 8:00 a.m. at the City Offices in Billings. The Board reviews the development of any historic districts or any development affecting historic districts. Jolene mentioned that LaUrel has been doing some streetscape work and similar improvements. If the city is looking at economic revitalization and people are lOoking for tax incentives to reinvest in some of the old buildings downtown, she suggested that they go to the Board, who could help provide the information needed to reinvest in these properties. The Board also serves in an advisory capacity regarding questions on historic and cultural preservation. The Board also reviews grants and reviews applications for the board members. They want to solicit input from organizations and community groups to get feedback on what is important. Alderman Fritzler asked Dr. Woerner about the barn he had mentioned. The ham has a high visibility and he asked regarding the possibility of restoration or preservation of that particular barn. Dr. Woerner stated that it would be a perfect spot for visibility, and repair work is needed on the roof. A lot of buildings are getting old at the same time, as they were built early in the century. Alderman Fritzler mentioned that the barn was built in 1909. Jolene stated that structures that are fifty years old and older generally qualify for certain historic preservation for the national register, and they would provide any needed assistance. Mayor Olson stated that he would entertain an Opportunity to meet with the group and that a project in Laurel would be an exciting venture if a suitable building or site is eligible. Kevin Kooistra-Manning and Lanelle Cbxistman, of the Western Heritage Center, work as consultants to the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board. Many of their projects come from the public and community members who own a specific property. The YHPB then acts as a funnel into the State Historic Preservation Office. Council Minutes of February 3, 2004 Kevin gave a Power Point presentation. He explained a Walking Tour booklet that focused on the historic buildings on Montana Avenue in Billings. He mentioned that there is potential for other walking tour booklets. The one on Montana Avenue in Billings has been growing by leaps and bounds and is already outdated, as some historic buildings near the Depot were not included in this booklet. The booklet needs to be reviewed and expanded, and he suggested that a similar historic pamphlet or brochure could be done for Laurel. As part of the booklets, they started doing historical surveys of the dova~towns, not only in Billings, but also in Laurel, Huntley, Worden, and places within Yellowstone County. In August 2002, they spent a day documenting the historic structures in doWntown Laurel. There are some beautiful homes in Laurel, and they would like to do a survey in order to have a record of them. A survey would allow historic research Of each building so that information would be available to property owners through the national register. The State Historic Preservation Office recently noticed that Laurel has no buildings in the national register, hut the Canyon Creek battle site is included. Kevin mentioned that it is interesting that there are so many historic buildings in an important railroad town like Laurel and yet they are not national register properties. The ACE Hardware building is one example. It is up to the property owner to pursue this, but there are a lot of buildings in Laurel that could be looked at. The Bricks and Boards project allowed children to participate by photographing interesting downtown buildings and explaining why they took each picture. The information collected will be exhibited for a month at the Western Heritage Center starting on March 2na. The Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board holds an annual Historic Preservation Roundtable. Kevin invited Laurel representatives to participate on Tuesday, March 16th, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Billings Railroad Depot. This is an opportunity for people in historic preservation, architects, and archeologists to present ideas. The Eugene Carroll Preservation Award is presented annually at the roundtable. The annual Historic Preservation Week is scheduled for May 3 through 8th. John Walsh asked the council to inform them of projects they would like to see planned in Laurel. They currently have an opportUnity to aPply for a grant:for funds left from the State of Montana, and they are trying to think of a project for that. The Board receives State fUnding for Operation of the Historic Preservation Board. They use funding available through the City of Billings and the CLG FUnding from the State to contract the Western Heritage Center to Undertake the activities included in the work plan. New fUnding that becomes available is used for projects such as surveys of historic parts of town. There is usually a matching requirement with the funding. Mayor Olson expressed his appreciation for the presentation. He is encouraged that organizations are available to bring awareness of historical surroUndings. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE'MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: · Confirraation of Appointments. Current Board/Committee vacancies Board of Appeals: three positions- two-year terms to begin immediately Board of Adjustments- two positions to fill terms expiring 06/30/04 and 06/30/05 Laurel Police Officer Mayor Olson appointed Shawn Wichman as a Laurel Police Officer. Motion by Alderman Oakes to approve the appointment of Shawn Wichman as a Laurel Police Officer, seconded by Alderman Mears. Motion carried 7-0. · Ordinance No. O04-01: Ordinance amending Chapter 17 of the Laurel Municipal Code. First reading. Motion bY Alderman Dart to adopt Ordinance No. O04-01, seconded by Alderman Oakes. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. All seven aldermen present voted aye. Motion carried 7-0. Council Minutes of February 3, 2004 The public hearing of Ordinance No. 004-01 will be on the council agenda on February 17, 2004. · Approval of the committee list. Motion by Alderman Poehls to approve the committee list, seconded by Alderwoman Stevenson. Alderman Dart stated that finalization is still needed for the Emergency Services Committee. He has one community member that would be a new addition to this list, but the rest of the members have shown little interest in the last six to eight months. The committee needs some fine tuning, and it needs to be determined how often the committee will meet. Mayor Olson hoped that issues would be addressed after this was brought up at the council workshop. He anticipated receiving calls regarding any problems, but then went ahead and finalized the list. He stated that it would be the council's prerogative to wait for two weeks for further review of the committee list, and he stressed that the work would need to be completed at that time. Alderman Poehls mentioned that the Emergency Services is an "as needed" committee. He suggested adding "as needed" to the list in place of the specific dates, and he stated that changes could be made to the committees at any time. Mayor Olson agreed that changes could be made to the list in the future. Motion by Alderman Poehls to amend the motion to list the Emergency Services Committee meetings on an "as needed" basis on the committee list, seconded by Alderman Dart. Alderman Oakes stated that the Oversight Committee was not listed on the committee list. Mayor Olson stated that the committee has been dissolved since their task is finished. Alderman Oakes asked if the funds are all gone, and Mayor Olson stated that that was correct. A vote was taken on the amendment to the motion. Motion carried 7-0. A vote was taken on the motion to'adopt the committee list, as amended. Motion carried 7-0. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Mayor Olson stated that the City of Billings would host the joint meeting on Thursday, February 19t~, at the Skyview Terrace at 5:30 p.m. Although he will not be able to attend the meeting, the mayor encouraged the council to do so, and all members present agreed to attend. Agenda items for the joint meeting need to be submitted soon. The City of Laurel will host a joint meeting in June. Alderman Dart stated that the Emergency Services Committee would have a strong team with Alderman Poehls as co-chairman and Aldermen Mears and Fritzler as members. The committee will need to address some agenda items in the near future. Alderman Fritzler mentioned that the barn he referred to earlier in the meeting is located outside of the Laurel city limits and could not be a city restoration project. · Review of Committee Minutes: None. · Review of Monthly Reports: Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Code Enforcement: None. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:07 p.m. 4 Council Minutes of February 3, 2004 Cin~Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 17th day of February, 2004. Attest: //~enneth E. Olson, Jr., J~/Iayor , Clerk-Treasurer