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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 11.09.2004 MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP NOVEMBER 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 November 9, 2004. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: _x_ Dick Fritzler _x_ Kate Stevenson _x_ Gay Easton _x_ Jennifer Johnson x Doug Poehls x Mark Mace x Daniel Dart x John Oakes OTHERS PRESENT: Steve Klotz Cai Cumin Gary Colley Keith Molyneaux 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 a# comments are welcome, the Council will not ta]~ action on any item not on the agenda. · None Public Works Department: · Memorandums of Understanding - add classification for new job descriptions and new union positions into bargaining agreement o Resolution to authorize the mayor to sign the MOU to add the court clerk positions into the bargaining agreement · Job descriptions and pay rote for the court clerk positions did not change. o Resolution to authorize the mayor to sign the MOU to add the utility worker positions into the bargaining agreement · Council approved the job descriptions on October 5, 2004. · Union contract needs to be modified in order to put the positions into classification · Pay rate for the utility worker positions did not change. o New union contract will probably include reclassification of positions. Solid waste - replace 300-gallon containers with 90-gallon containers o Solid waste study recommendation to replace 300-gallon containers with 90-gallon containers. · Replacement process would be done as needed. o Discussion regarding 300-gallon vs. 90-gallon containers · Truck has to make mom cycles with the arm, but less weight would mean less wear and tear on the vehicle. o Benefits include: · Fewer complaints received when residents have their own can Council Workshop Minutes of November 9, 2004 · Less opportunity for out-of-town garbage to be placed in containers · Encourages recycling and accountability · City currently has 200-300 extra containers, which are not paid for by garbage users, but are generally filled. o May be difficult for some residents to roll the container out to the pickup location. o Discussion regarding the conversion cost · Three 90-gallon containers to one 300-gallon container · Would be a little more expensive for the three 90-gallon containers · City owns the containers. o Discussion regarding: · Charging extra fees at the transfer site for garbage in excess of the 90-gallon can · Possibility of different rates for bi-weekly or monthly garbage pickup for residents who choose to do so Revision of solid waste ordinance o Structure of present ordinance allows residential rates to be amended by resolution. o Structure of present ordinance allows non-residential rates to be amended by resolution, but does not allow the table to be amended. · Need to change the current ordinance to amend the table and allow for future changes to non-residential rates to be approved by resolution · First reading of the ordinance will be on the November 16th council agenda. Agreement to provide health services with St. Vincent Healthcare o Annual contract to provide DOT drug testing and volunteer testing for the police department o Copies of the new contract will be in mailboxes this week. o Resolution to approve the agreement will be on the November 16th council agenda. John Oakes: Conditions in Village Subdivision · John presented information regarding Village Subdivision. · John distributed copies of his presentation, a list of landlords, a map of the Village Subdivision properties, a property tax appeal form filed in 1993, copies of two business licenses issued by the City of Laurel, and six pictures of residences in the subdivision. o A copy of the presentation is attached to these minutes. o A copy of the other information is attached to the original minutes in the clerk- treasurer's office. · After John's presentation, there was discussion regarding: o Car ports, which cannot be structurally tied to the building, are allowed if lot coverage and setback requirements are met. o Code enforcement is currently addressed on a complaint basis. · Additional manpower and time is needed in order to be aggressive with the issues. o SID for boulevards and sidewalks in Alder Ridge Subdivision · Fifty-one percent of the property owners would need to approve an SID, and Alder Ridge owns 51 percent of the lots. o Public Works Department addresses certain codes, such as junk vehicles, at certain times of the year. 2 Council Workshop Minutes of November 9, 2004 · Ads are placed in the newspaper, and the code enforcement inspector drives through the city to look for violations. o Availability of grant monies for code enforcement · Question if public safety mill could include code enforcement o Council retreat on January 15, 2005 · Goals will be addressed to give priority for direction. o Increased traffic on Maryland is becoming a safety issue for pedestrians. Planning Board issues: · Elena Subdivision o Public hearing on zone change on November 16th. o Bridge is required, as per the council discussion at a previous council workshop. o Planning Board required specific conditions for approval of the zone change. · Special review - day care center at 921 12th Avenue North o Special review to approve request by Kid Kountry Child Development Center to locate in the former Apostolic Church. o Cai stated that it is a nice operation, and the building and parking lot are more than adequate. o Planning Board recommended approval to the city council without holding a second public hearing. o Special review will be on the November 16th council agenda. Labor/Management Cooperation Committee · Dick Fritzler stated that Steve Klotz presented the issue regarding Memorandums of Understanding. Executive review: · Local Government Review o Mayor will appoint Todd Linder on November 16th. o One additional pemon needs to be appointed on November 16th. o Two-year commitment · Resolution to increase sewer rates o Mayor stated that any inequity amotmts could be adjusted later. o Resolution will be on the November 16th council agenda. · Cemetery Commission o Remove Dan Dart and Mark Mace from Cemetery Commission o Appoint Mayor Olson to the Cemetery Commission, as required by ordinance. · Board of Appeals o Appointments of Dick Clayton, Marvin Carter, and Bob Western to two-year terms ending June 30, 2006. o One more individual is needed for the Board of Appeals. · Negotiating team is being developed for the union contract. Resolutions: · R04-__: A resolution increasing City of Laurel wastewater rates and charges to all users. · R04-__: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to the Union Contract on behalf of the City of Laurel pertaining to the utility worker positions. 3 Council Workshop Minutes of November 9, 2004 · R04-__: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to the Union Contract on behalf of the City of Laurel pertaining to the city court clerk positions. · R04-__: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement to provide health services with St. Vincent Healthcare of Billings, Montana. Ordinance: · Ordinance No. 004-__: Ordinance umending certain sections of Chapter 8 for thc purpose of revising thc procedure thc City utilizes to establish the nourcsidcntial garbage fccs and rates in the Laurel Municipal Code. o First reading on November 16th. Announcements · Court remodel o City will remove a divider wall in court section. o No council action is needed. · Alder Avenue Project o Jenny Johnson asked regarding the ditches and stop signs on Alder Avenue. o Mayor Olson will find out the answers. · Public Works Committee o Committee discussed the park leases at the meeting on November 8th. o Public Works Committee asked to make a presentation at a council workshop in January 2005. · Park and Recreation Committee o Committee had a short meeting recently. o Playground equipment is being reviewed. Attendance at the November 16th council meetin~ · All will attend. Other items · Jenny commented that John gave a good presentation, and the council should keep the information for future reference. · Dan Dart stated that there should be teamwork within the city to address the code enforcement issues. The council workshop adjourned at 7:40 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. 4 November 9, 2004 Presentation to City Council # 1 Start with Land Lord story. While having a heated argument requesting that this Landlord demand that his tenet clean up his deplorer able mess, the Landlord stated "for gods sake this is just a trailer court". I think this is pretty much the attitude of most landlords. #2 Aider Ridge purchased their lots in Nov. 1993 for $2320.00 per lot. They immediately filed a Tax Appeal. They immediately stated operating as a Mobil Home Court. A large sign was installed at the entrance, but they had to take it down due to the property owner's objections. But the objections did not make any impression on the City Government! The City sold Alder Ridge a Business License in Mar. 1999 to operate a Mobil Home Court within the Subdivision which is ail residential. Where was our City Govemment ail this time? On Aug.2002 the City sold B L Properties a Mobil Home Court License. Still no City Government! #3 Approximately six weeks ago I took a map like this one to the State Dept. Of Revenue. I was told they reaiized there was a problem with the Property Type Code of the lots in the subdivision. The Property Code for B L Properties lots is Commercial-Urban. The Property Code for Alder Ridges lots is Vacant-Urban and Commercial-Urban. The Property Code for the rest is Residential-Urban. The Taxable Market Value for each ofB L Properties and Alder Ridges Vacant-Urban 174 lots is $7360.00 while the Residentiai-Urban lots are ail over the scaie. The owners or the Residentiai Lots are on an average are paying $95.00 more per lot than B L Properties and Alder Ridge. Which equals to $16,530.00 per year. I spoke to the Assessor at the Department of Revenue last week and was informed that they will be in Laurel this fall and all the lots will be changed back to Residential. #4 There are some owners and also some tenets who maintain their property in good fashion, but on the average most are pretty much eye sores. There is no reason for this subdivision to be an eye sore. Very few of the Landlords police their property or their tenets. Since there are so many landlords I think that the only way that this can be improved is through "Code Enforcement" and holding the Landlords responsible for their properties. Boulevard sidewaiks would solve a lot of problems and improve the appearance a great deai. #5 Discuss the photos. No drive ways or parking area for vehicles. Prohibit the using the boulevard for positioning of storage buildings and parking trailers, automobiles and what ever else. Parking trailers and vehicles in the yard, when the soil is wet mud gravel and debris is drug onto the street. Change code for Mobil Home Car Ports. 0 ,,h ~n 0 < -J Z ~- 03 ~ -- ~n,' Z~ = Z03 ~ Z LU W LU ~o,,,~ z~o o ~o~ ~ ~~ tu Z ,.~ zr", Z ~ ,-n z (.5 z~z 0 LU 0 0 'J ~ ~ D n- ~ ~ of -J O PRGPERTY TAX APPEAL i, ORM READ REVERSE SIDE OF THIS FORM BEFORE COMPLETIN~ File:this appeal wilh lhe county tax appeal board on or before Ihe first Men. day in June or wi!hin 15 days of the time you receive your Notice el Change in DATE FILED: Valuation of real property or your Assessment List of personal property from DOCKET .: the Department of Revenue. (For the purpose of a tax appeal, your notice of taxes due from your County Treasurer is nol considered a nolice of change or assessmenL) NAME OF TAXPAYER AS SHOWN ON TAX ROLLS: PACIFIC NORTHWEST INVESTORS, INC. FOR CTAB USE MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 1913 Billings, MT 59103 PHONENO.(WORK): 256-0781 (HOME): I hereby make application to the Yel lows tone County Tax Appeal Board for adjustment in the appraised value of lhe following described property: (The following Section mustbe completed in full to be ¢o~sldered.) LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: Lot(s) Block(s) City or town Laurel Street address or name of property No. of acres Section See Attached list of lots Addition/Subdivision Villaqe Alder 7~tdgp Mr]bile Hnm~ P~rk Township. Range DeR ID. LAND..&...I..mp..r .o BUILDINGS ....... PERSONAL PROPERTY ....... vements $5260/lot $2320/lot Appraised Value set by Appraised Value as Appraised Value set by Department of Revenue Determined by Taxpayer Count, REASONSFORAPPEAL: Income approach used by DeR uses "normal" vacancy - actual vacany on value date was over 70%. Tax paver purchased property for $2320 per lot in liqht of ~iqh vacancy rate. PRINTEDnameoftaxpayerPacific Northwest InvpRiNTEDnameofagent Kenneth ' el/,2 Signature of taxpayer P~'/~:/,/~ o, Date November 22, 1993 Iherebyauthodze Kenneth D. Toll/vet Signature of taxpayer ~"~- ._ Data D. Toll/vet ~gentnam~torepresentmelnthismatte~ November 22, 1993 THIS PORTION FOR COUNTY TAX APPEAL BOARD USE: The above application for reduction in appraised value is: ...... approved ~is-approved - adjusted X)~ for the followlng reasons: Th-~s _no,rd. be'~e,/es $550,000.00 is -~· ....... .... ..-~]- ...... -~.-.~'~ "'~"~.-.~ fs~ the A,~ ............................. L ...... )eL rurmec~ ~ne true vacanc factor (~) fLLLU~51UNL uounty ~ax Appeal Boar~E~7/?..~~ , Chai~6~Y~¢~ ........ HELEN H. PETERSON, CHAIRPERSON APPEAL TO TH E STATE TAX APPEAL BOARD STAB DOCKET NO.: 1209 8th Avenue Capitol Station Helena, Montana 59620-0138 Telephone Number: (406) 444-2720 Section 15-2-~1, MCA: "Any person ortho Depadmenl of Revenue on be. half of the state or any municipal corporation aggrieved by the action of the county tax appeal board may appeal to the state tax appeal board by filing a notice of appeal with the state board within 30 calendar days after the receipt of the decision of the county boa~, which notice shall specify the action complained of and the reasons assigned for such complaint." I hereby appeal the action of the County Tax Appeal Board, received on (date) for the following reasons: sign~iure: ,.... ~, Date: CITY OF LAUREL P.O. BOX 10 LAUREL, MONTANA 59044 6~.8-7/',31 ~XT. 2 *** BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION *** 1. Name of Business 2. Address of Business 6. Mailing Address 3 5. Describe Services to be Offered Zip Coded-9 ~ 6. owner's Name Oh~A~ ~-~ ~= 7..Owner"s Home Address /~$- ~ ~e 11. Date ~- r(- p.f *********************************************************************** jail. *** OFFICE USE ONLY *** Home Occupa=ion Re~uire~ (Y/N) DaCe of Fire Inspection __ A~prove~ (Y/N) , Date Approve~ (Y/N) Fire Inspector's Signature License ~ssued'by CITY OF LAUREL P.O. BOX 10 LAUREL, MT. 59044 628-4796 EX. 0 ****BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION**** N me of Business: 2. Address of Business: 4. M~ling Ad.ess: 5. Describe Se~ices to be Offered: 6. O~s Nme: ~qd~ 7. O~s Home A~ess: 8. M~e~ Nme: 9. M~ Home Address: 10. Si~e of Applier: 11. Date of A~li~on: License Zip Code: Home Occupation required? (Y/N) __ Date of Fire Inspection Fire Inspector's Signature License issued by / ***OFFICE USE ONLY*** Approved (Y/N) __ Date Approved (Y/N) Date Certification I hareby certify that I have filled out the application to the best of my lcuowled§e and understand the provisions of the City Ordinances regarding General Business Licenses (Chapter 5.04). I tin'diet understand that any person providing raismtbrmation upon this application shall.~e guilty of a misdemeanor punishable of up to $500 and six months in jail. Home Phone#: Home Phone #: