HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 03.09.2004 MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
MARCH 9, 2004 6:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
A Council Workshop was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Ken Olson
at 6:30 p.m. on March 9, 2004.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
_x_ Dick Fritzler x Doug Poehls
x Kate Stevenson x Mark Mace
Gay Easton x Daniel Dart
x Dan Mears John Oakes
OTHERS PRESENT:
Chuck Rodgers Steve Klotz
Druaun Kerns Larry McCann
Hump Kautz Cal Cumin
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 lnput is limited to three minutes. While all
comments are welcome, the Council will not take action on any item not on the agenda.
· City Planner Cal Cumin explained the status of the South 4th Street appraisal process.
o Appraisal bid was for $6,000
o Account has $9,000 in it
o Appraiser has to come up with two alternatives, rather than just one appraisal,
depending on how the road is bent.
· Appraiser will submit estimate to Cal, but it should not cost much more.
o Need to have Engineering, Inc., do a survey of the site.
· Removing the office and the big building on Equipment Finders, which
would be a major expense, would affect the appraisal considerably
· Need to know where those buildings are
· Would cost about $750
o Survey was not within the original estimate, but is still within the original budget.
o The process is moving forward and should be done within a week or two.
Public Works Department:
· Aviation & Technology Week
o Steve Klotz introduced Chuck Rodgers and Drnann Kerns to inform the council
rcg0_rding thc scope of the event and the benefits the community will see from the
event.
o Aviation & Technology Week is scheduled for May l0th through 13th.
· Monday and Tuesday impact the schools with special speakers.
· Aircraft will start arriving on Tuesday.
· Wednesday and Thursday will have thc most impact on thc City of Laurel.
Council Workshop Minutes of March 9, 2004
· 104 static displays in Thomson Park and at the high school
· Aircraft flyovers at the Laurel Airport from 11:30 to 2:00 p.m.
· Larger aircraft will be on the ground in Billings and open to students from
8:30 to 11:00 on Wednesday and Thursday.
o Free educational event for all schools
· 17,000 students attended the last event
o Already met with the fire department, police department, and ambulance service
o Discussion regarding road closures
· Laurel Airport Road
· Streets in 15ont of the high school and various blockades
· 6th Street around Graft School for helicopters to arrive and lift off
· 8th Street from 1st to Pennsylvania (will be accessible for emergency
vehicles)
o Information is available on the school's website (laurel.kl2.mt.us)
o Discussion regarding contacting the Local Emergency Planning Committee
(LEPC)
· Steve attends the monthly meetings and will contact Jim Kraft.
o The next Aviation & Technology Week meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, March
16th, at 1:00 p.m. in the superintendent's office at the Laurel Middle School.
o Steve stated that it is amazing that the youth in this community and across the
state can look at some of the displays, and the effort of what it does for Laurel is
intangible.
o Steve will present and outline of the street closures and the city's costs (toilets,
garbage, barricades, etc.) involved in the event in the form of a resolution at the
next council workshop.
o Mayor Olson applauded the efforts expended for this event.
Public Utilities Department:
· Resolution to authorize submission of TSEP and DNRC applications and commit
matching funds.
o Larry McCann explained the second step in the Wastewater Facilities Plan.
· Phase 2 of the WWFP will cost $1,033,000 and addresses the trunk lines
in the city.
· Submit applications for two grants
o TSEP Grant application for $500,000 must be submitted in April and then goes to
the State legislature for approval.
· Funds would be available in April 2005 and work would occur that
summer.
· Requires city match of $433,000
· City does not have enough reserve funds for the match.
· Will require at least a $2.00/month rate increase per user
o DNRC Grant is for $100,000 · RRGL Program is the Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program.
· We are showing the DNRC that we are controlling the infiltration of
ground water into the sewer system.
· DNRC looks at that as building a resource and not detracting from it.
2
Cotmcil Workshop Minutes of March 9, 2004
o Morrison-Maiefle recently reviewed the rates and the future projections regarding
getting ahead with sewer rate increases.
· Public has stated the need for small, consistent rate increases instead of
large increases.
· In April, the Public Utilities Department will present a rate increase
proposal to the council regarding reaching the target as stated in the
Wastewater Facilities Plan.
o Mayor's signature on the grant documents will commit the City of Laurel to
$433,000 for the project, which must be available by January 1, 2005.
AEM - Paul Hutter:
· Completed Employee Handbook for the council's review and approval
· Discussion of the Wage Compensation Project proposed November 11, 2003.
o Paul Hurter was unable to attend the council workshop, and the presentation will
be rescheduled for a future date.
Planning, Board issues:
· Request for variance from Htm/Leaming to allow building of single-family house on
5,400 sq. ft. instead of required 6,000 sq. ft.
o Planning Board recommended approval of the variance request.
· Lot is located on Durland Avenue, where other houses were built on lots
of similar size.
· The idea of building on infill lots is encouraged in the draft Growth
Management Plan.
· The Growth Management Plan encourages building of houses on small
lost because higher densities lowers the cost of city services to individual
homeowners.
o Cai stated that the property owner would have a hardship if the variance were
denied.
· Replacement of the City Council members on the Planning Board
o Todd Linder will replace Dick Fritzler on the board as a mayoral appointment.
o Bud Johnson will replace Kate Stevenson on the board as a mayoral appointment.
o The council needs to find a replacement for Doug Poehls' position.
Executive review:
· Resolution to extend Legal Services Contract with Elk River Law Office
o Original 90-day contract expires on March 23, 2004.
o Thirty-day contract would extend the contract to April 23, 2004.
o Negotiations for a contractual agreement between the City of Laurel and Elk
River Law Office are in process.
o Mayor's consultations with department heads have produced positive remarks.
o Sam Painter explained that the original contract allowed the attorneys and the city
to determine how to contract out the city attorney position that included civil
prosecution and the civil representation.
o Sam stated that he looks forward to continue working with the council.
· Job description for an Administrative Assistant - Capital Projects Coordinator
Council Workshop Minutes of March 9, 2004
· Mayor Olson reviewed some changes in the wording of the job
description.
o After workshops with Ken Weaver, it was clear that the city's priorities needed to
focus around infrastructure issues.
· Through discussions with department heads, it became apparent that the
city needed an individual who is recognized in the field of coordinating
large capital projects.
· Garnering information from different professionals can be a great asset to
our department heads.
· Individual would provide the overall guidance, leadership, and knowledge
in a large capital project.
o Job description will be posted for five days, applicants will be reviewed, and a
selection will be made.
o Position will be funded out of the professional services accounts of the various
departments (water, street, and finance).
o Discussion regarding the need for the position
· Larry stated that the city needed a person that knows how to make money
work for us.
· Having an individual in this position would save the city money in
the long mn.
· Steve stressed the importance of having an individual to coordinate the
efforts of the various projects.
· Mark Mace stated the importance of a city's bond rating.
· Resolution for Capital Projects Fund
o Resolution refers to creating a Capital Projects Fund for the Police Department.
o Ambulance has an existing CIP Fund.
· Repeater and ambulance equipment are included.
· Needed ambulance equipmem is a health and safety concern.
o Roller will provide the proper tools for the Public Works Department to do street
repair work.
o Mayor's CIP list includes:
· $5,000to $50,000
· Police Department Car A - $24,000 in 2004
· Police Department Car B - $16,000 in 2005
· Roller - $40,000 in 2004
· Fire Department Brush 1 - $15,000 in 2004
· Ambulance Repeater Tower - $12,000 in 2004
· Cemetery lawn tractor - $10,000 in 2004
· Ambulance equipment - $11,500 in 2004
· $50,000to $500,000
· New ambulance - $25,000 in 2004; $10,000 in 2005
· Fire Depamnent new truck - $25,000 in 2004
o A different funding source is needed for the comprehensive plan for the city
buildings.
· Authorization for the Mayor to sign contracts up to a certain dollar amount
4
Council Workshop Minutes of March 9, 2004
o Discussion regarding authorizing the mayor to sign contracts that involve a small
mount of money and need to be done quickly.
· Mayor would report back to the council.
o Example of contract for a cold storage unit for records storage
o Council will review and determine a dollar amount
· Would require a formal resolution process
· Motion sequences
o Discussion regarding motion sequences
· Doug stated that responsibility for the motion causes the individual to
research and be prepared.
· Ken stated that making the motion does not mean the individual must vote
for it.
· A motion is necessary in order to afford an opportunity for council
discussion.
· Council will continue the motion sequences.
· Roll call of the council
o Mayor will start roll call of the council at the March 16th council meeting.
· Adjournment process of council meetings
o Motion to adjourn the council meeting must come from the council.
· Roles of the committees
o Mayor stated that the committees needed to meet on a scheduled basis.
· Committee meetings provide an opportunity for public input.
· Committees submit recommendations to the council on issues.
· Mayor has some agenda items for the committees to consider.
Resolutions: · Resolution to authorize submission of TSEP and DNRC applications and commit
matching funds.
· Resolution for Capital Projects Fund
· Resolution to extend Legal Services Contract with Elk River Law Office
· Resolution for job description of Program Coordinator/Finance
Announcements
· Doug mentioned the YMCA fundraiser event on Saturday, March 27t~, at the Parish Hall.
o Event includes dinner and an auction.
· Mark recently talked with John Berg regarding the safety issue for the trucks crossing the
railroad tracks when pulling out of the re£mery.
o Issue will be addressed by the MDOT.
· Dan Dart mentioned that three members are interested in serving on the Emergency
Services Committee.
o Charlie Pratt, Pat Kimmet, and Carl Holden
· Dan Mcars mentioned that the repeater station is like an antenna that allows reception of
emergency services radios in valleys and similar locations.
Attendance at the March 16tb council meeting
· Six councilmen/woman present will attend the meeting.
Council Workshop Minutes of March 9, 2004
· Gay Easton is still unavailable.
Other items
· Moratorium in City-County Planning Board minutes
o Dan Dart questioned the recorded motion made regarding a moratorium at the
March 4t~ meeting.
o Cai stated that the planning board's proposal would probably deal with the zoning
classification, not High Point Subdivision.
o Puts a moratorium on any changes of livestock in the residential transitional zone.
· Renee Studiner recently asked Doug Poehls regarding scheduling a meeting with the
school district.
c~ Mayor will schedule a date.
· Doug asked how to submit a complaint regarding the asphalt plant, which is privately
owned and currently closed.
o Mayor will give the complaint to Steve.
· Local Government Review
o Resolution calling for an election on the question of conducting a Local
Government Review establishing a study commission.
o Opportunity to set up a board to review our form of government
o Established in 1974, the Local Government Review election is to be held by each
city and cotmty government every 10 years.
March 25t~ is the deadline for governing bodies to call for local government
review
o Primary election is on Jtme 8th.
c~ Candidates would file by August 19t~ for the November 2nd election.
· Discussion regarding new chairs for the council chambers
o Funding is available
o Council will evaluate some chairs in order to reach a decision.
The council workshop adjourned at 8:04 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.
6