HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 04.13.2004 MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
APRIL 13, 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 April 13, 2004.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
__ Dick Fritzler _x_ Doug Poehls
x Kate Stevenson x Mark Mace
_x_ Gay Easton Daniel Dart
(Vacant) John Oakes
OTHERS PRESENT:
Rick Musson
Larry McCann
Crystal Bennett, ME&A
Terry Ruff
John Redman
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
Police Department:
· SRO agreement with the school district
o Memorandum of Understanding is not ready yet.
o School indicated that it would like to schedule a joint meeting with the city.
· Agreement with Beartooth Harley-Davidson for police motorcycles
o Rick briefly reviewed the resolution, the Conditions of Agreement, the Security
Agreement and the Promissory Note.
o Agreement is for two motorcycles.
o Only costs are for installation and removal of equipment on the motorcycles.
o Motorcycles will be insured through MMIA.
· Joint meeting with the School Board
o Discussion regarding available dates
o Mayor will contact the school to scheduie joint meeting on Wednesday, April 21st,
or Thursday, April 22ha.
o Submit items for the agenda to Cindy soon.
· Doug suggested that the location of a new middle school should be
discussed.
· Mayor stated that it could be an opportunity for discussion regarding
aquatics.
Council Workshop Minutes of April 13, 2004
Public Utilities Department:
· Crystal Bennett, ME&A: TSEP Grant application
o Crystal wrote the CDBG Grant for the City of Laurel and is currently writing the
TSEP Grant.
o Uniform application requires the Mayor's signature.
o Grant applications are due May 7th and 15th.
· Resolution to sign contract with Dorsey & Whitney
· Resolution of intent to raise wastewater rates
o Resolutions will be presented in July or August after review of the wastewater
rates has been completed.
o Wastewater Facilities Plan outlined an $8 million project.
o Matching monies are due before the grant is received.
· Relocation of water main at 12th Street and 1st Avenue (resolution tabled 04/06/04)
o Larry distributed a map that showed the areas that have been annexed into the
city.
o Owner will sell the property for approximately $80,000.
o Owner wants the city to help convince the property owner next to him to sell the
property.
o Plans to expand the Tender Nest facility.
o Public Utilities Department does not recommend purchasing the property.
· The lines would have to be relocated in order for the city to sell the
property at a future date.
· The property is not a good location for a park.
o Discussion regarding locations of lines without easements
· 5th Avenue line in Laurmac Subdivision
· Main sewer line behind Jan's IGA
· Several other unspecified locations within the city
Clerk-Treasurer:
· Quarterly report
o Report was distributed for the council's review.
o Mary will present the quarterly report at the council meeting on April 20th.
Laurel Volunteer Ambulance Service:
· Appointment of Paul Stanford as an attendant
o Appointment will be on the April 20th council agenda.
Attorney:
· Street Maintenance District ordinance
o Amendments to the ordinance will bring the current city code up to date with the
Montana Code.
· Resolution to authorize the mayor to sign contracts up to specified dollar amount
o Each contract must not exceed $1,200 per year
o Each contract must be reviewed prior to execution by the City Attorney
o No contract's term may exceed twelve (12) months in duration
Council Workshop Minutes of April 13, 2004
o The Mayor shall report each contract executed on behalf of the City of Laurel to
the City Council at its next regularly scheduled meeting for ratification.
Franchise ordinance / MDU extension resolution
o Franchise ordinance is not ready yet.
o MDU has requested the opportunity to comment on the draft franchise ordinance.
o Fees were unknown on the previous draft.
o Ordinance should preserve the right to tax if the State of Montana allows it in the
future.
o Resolution to extend MDU's franchise agreement will be on the April 20th council
agenda.
· Ninety-day extension from May 21, 2004, to August 21, 2004.
Contract with Elk River Law Office
o Agreement is the same contract, except that the contract includes a flat fee instead
of an hourly fee.
o The first 90-day contract and the 30-day extension allowed for review of the
number of hours needed to provide legal services.
· Average worked out to $6,500/month
o Allows the city to budget for attorney's fees
o Montana Code requires a two-year appointment, which is included in the contract.
· Contract also includes a clause which allows either party to terminate the
contract with a thirty-day notice.
o Contract includes a provision to modify upon written agreement
o Discussion regarding number of hours needed for attorney services
· Sam stated that two-thirds of the hours are for criminal services and one-
third is for the civil services.
· Total hours for criminal services fluctuate monthly.
· Request from Doug Poehls for numbers comparing past and present
figures regarding the criminal docket.
Planning Board issues:
· Update on elevator
o Cai Cumin distributed draft of a letter to the railroad lease administrator.
o Dean Rankin will write a letter requesting release of the lease.
Draft letter states that the City of Laurel wishes to acquire the lease.
o City of Laurel would sublease it to the Laurel Development Corporation, which
would renovate the site.
o Mayor stated that the letter would be rewritten, and the item would be placed on
the council agenda for the council's consideration.
· Status of zoning moratorium
o Council had directed the Planning Board to place a moratorium on variance
requests for livestock in the zoning jurisdictions outside the city limits.
Planning Board did not hear from the community regarding the issue.
o Suggestion to make the necessary changes instead of the moratorium.
o Cai explained the proposed changes.
· Changes are intended to address the whole issue.
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Council Workshop Minutes of April 13, 2004
o Cai asked for direction from the council for the Planning Board to review the
changes, hold a public hearing, and then present the changes to the council.
o Council and Mayor Olson suggested that the process should begin.
Report on the status of the South 4th Street property appraisal
o Appraisal has been completed, and Cal stated that it was a good appraisal.
o Cal explained the appraisal.
o The southeast portion of Solberg's property was appraised at $11,950.
o The appraisal to purchase and relocate the office building at Equipment Finders
would be $83,300.
o Suggestion to hire a land negotiator
· DuBray Land Services charges $60 per hour.
o Cai has no suggestions for funding.
Executive review:
· Vacancy on the council
o Mayor stated that Dan Meats announced his resignation from the council at the
meeting on April 6th.
o Letter of resignation has not been received yet.
o Listing of the Ward 4 vacancy will be advertised in the local newspaper.
· Easement consideration
o Fire Chief Terry Ruff explained a petition to reopen Red and King Gulch and
establish it as a county road.
o A petition from the developers and neighboring landowners was accepted on June
24, 1997, to abandon Red and King Gulch and Indian Gulch.
o Petition left future residents of the 20-acre lots with no alternate route in or out of
their future homes.
· Explanation of the need to reopen the road and establish it as a county
road.
· Emergency vehicles need better and quicker access to the area.
· School buses need better access.
o There are major safety issues in regards to Clapper Flats Road.
· All roads into the development are unsafe.
o Laurel Fire Department supports the petition to reopen Red and King Gulch.
· Insurance Committee Ground Rules
o Draft of the Insurance Committee Ground Rules was distributed.
o Union contract specified that an Insurance Committee would be formed.
o Mayor wants to post the ground rules in order to provide an opportunity for
employees to participate on the committee.
o Vicki Knudsen, the Labor Relations Specialist, suggested scheduling the LMCC
on the first council workshop agenda of the month to present items of concern.
Resolutions:
· Resolution: Contract with Dorsey & Whitney
o Resolution delayed
· Resolution of intent to raise wastewater rates
o Resolution delayed
Council Workshop Minutes of April 13, 2004
· Resolution No. R04-30: Waterline at 1st Avenue and 12th Street (tabled 04/06/04)
o Resolution on April 20th council agenda.
Resolution: SRO agreement with school district
o Resolution is not ready.
· Resolution: Agreement with Beartooth Harley-Davidson for two police motorcycles
o Resolution on April 20th council agenda.
· Resolution: Allow mayor to s!t~n contracts up to specified dollar amount
o Resolution on April 20 council agenda.
· Resolution: Contract with Elk River Law Office
o Resolution on April 20th council agenda.
· Resolution: Authorize the Mayor to sign a letter regarding the railroad property presently
leased by Ranco, Inc., dba Coast to Coast.
o Resolution on April 20th council agenda.
· Resolution: Extend Ordinance No. 653 for ninety (90) days.
o Resolution on April 20th council agenda.
Ordinances:
· Franchise ordinance
o Ordinance is not ready yet.
Announcements:
· None
Attendance at the April 20th council meeting: · Gay Easton, Kate Stevenson, Doug Poehls, and Mark Mace will attend.
· Dick Fritzler, Dan Dart, and John Oakes did not attend this meeting.
Other items:
· None
The council workshop adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
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.
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