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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 11.03.2015 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL November 3, 2015 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 Mark Mace at 6:30 p.m. on November 3, 2015. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Doug Poehls Bruce McGee Richard Herr Chuck Dickerson Scot Stokes Tom Nelson Bill Mountsier COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Monica Plecker, Contracted City Planner Noel Eaton, City Planner Mayor Mace led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mayor Mace asked the council to observe a moment of silence. MINUTES: Motion by Council Member Poehls to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 20, 2015, as presented, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. CORRESPONDENCE. COUNCIL DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS. PUBLIC HEARING. • Ordinance No. 015-06: An ordinance amending Ordinance No. 015-01 regarding site design requirements in the City's Downtown Overlay District. (First reading— 10/20/2015) Mayor Mace stated that this is the time and place set for the public hearing on the City of Laurel's Ordinance No. 015-06. Mayor Mace opened the public hearing and asked staff to present the item prior to hearing the public comments. Monica Planner explained the ordinance change related to Laurel Municipal Code 17.25.070, which is a part of the Downtown Overlay District that was adopted earlier this year. This change comes as a recommendation from the Planning Board. The specific language to be changed is under item B: "When parking cannot be located in the rear, the Planning Board shall make a recommendation." The recommendation would then be presented to the council for a final decision. The Planning Board initiated this change after discussion that the site design requirements of the Overlay District could be a little restrictive for the number of uses allowed in the Central Business District, which is the zoning that is most heavily affected by the Overlay District. The new dentist's office is a perfect example. If parking were to be located in the rear, it could have required building changes, operation issues, having customers enter through the back, and orientation problems. The Overlay District wants to encourage buildings to be built out to the sidewalk, with the parking behind, but there are special situations and scenarios for which this change would allow for that flexibility. Monica closed her staff report. Mayor Mace opened the floor for public comment and stated that copies of the rules governing the public hearing were posted in the council chambers. Mayor Mace asked three times if there were any proponents. There were none. Mayor Mace asked three times if there were any opponents. There were none. Council Minutes of November 3,2015 Mayor Mace closed the public hearing. CONSENT ITEMS: • Claims for the month of October 2015 in the amount of$583,804.47. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer's Office. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 10/11/2015 totaling$168,485.67. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 10/25/2015 totaling$146,044.26. • Receiving the Committee/Board/Commission Reports into the Record. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of October 20, 2015 were presented. --Tree Board minutes of October 15, 2015 were presented. --Council Workshop minutes of October 27, 2015 were presented. --Insurance Committee minutes of October 26, 2015 were presented. The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): Monica Plecker introduced Noel Eaton, who started as the new City Planner last week. Noel Eaton grew up in Billings and attended Humboldt State University in Northern California to get her degree in environmental planning. She returned to Billings last December after graduation and worked at Energy Laboratories until coming to Laurel to start her planning career. She is excited and eager to get started. SCHEDULED MATTERS: • Confirmation of Appointments. • Ordinance No. 015-06: An ordinance amending Ordinance No. 015-01 regarding site design requirements in the City's Downtown Overlay District. Second reading. Motion by Council Member McGee to adopt Ordinance No. 015-06, seconded by Council Member Poehls. There was no public comment or council discussion. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. • Resolution No. R15-107: A resolution approving Change Order No. 2 with Wilson Brothers Construction for the final contract reconciliation for the 2015 Water and Street Rehab Project. Motion by Council Member Dickerson to approve Resolution No. R15-107, seconded by Council Member Nelson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. 2 Council Minutes of November 3,2015 COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Council Member Poehls stated that the council received a copy of a draft letter addressed to Governor Bullock, which he wrote after last week's meeting. He wanted the council to be aware of the letter, and has asked the council secretary to edit it. He wants to include another idea that deals with the fact that the taxpayers already paid for the intake once and now the State wants the city to pay for it again. Taxpayers paid taxes for the $300 million reserve once and now the State wants them to carry that burden a second time instead of using that $300 million reserve. Council Member Poehls asked the council to read the letter. The final draft will be emailed to the council for review. Council Member Poehls stated that the letter states his feelings about the situation with the city's water intake. He questioned if the fund would magically become available if the city actually had to shut off the water to the CHS Refinery. If the intake is uncovered again where people can actually go and walk around on the top of our intake, the city will be in a serious situation and will have to decide whether to accommodate 7,000 citizens or to accommodate Cenex. He understands the economic ramifications of shutting down Cenex. Council Member Dickerson stated his support of the letter to Governor Bullock and would like his signature on the letter. Council Member Herr requested discussion at the next workshop regarding putting a 4 million gallon water tank on the north side of town. Council Member Herr mentioned a recent rumor about Walmart constructing a distribution center west of town on the north side of the tracks. He would like someone to contact Walmart to find out their ideas and plans. He asked for discussion at a council workshop. Council Member Stokes stated that the Park Board meeting is scheduled on Thursday,November 5th, at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers. Council Member Stokes stated that he would like to sign the letter to Governor Bullock. Council Member Mountsier also stated that he would like to sign the letter. Council Member Nelson stated that he would like to be afforded the opportunity to sign the letter should he choose. Council Member Nelson stated that the Cemetery Commission will meet on Tuesday, November 10th, at 5:00 p.m. The agenda includes discussion regarding the possibility of consolidation of committees, commissions, and boards. He would also like discussion at a council workshop sometime during the winter, before the budgeting process and projects begin. Council Member Nelson stated that a council person brought up the water tower storage, which takes money, and he deferred the item to the chair of the Budget/Finance Committee, as he thinks that committee would be involved from the standpoint of funding. Council Member Nelson will be unable to attend the council meeting on November 17th Council Member Dickerson stated that the newly-elected officials will serve on committees for two, '—' three, or four-year periods, so it would be nice for the council to decide what to do with the committees, boards and commissions prior to those appointments. He asked for discussion at a council workshop. Council Member McGee stated his willingness to sign the letter to Governor Bullock, as he thinks a unified position from the council is best. He fears that it might not do a lot of good, but he would like to make that protest and put his name on it. Council Member McGee will be unable to attend the council meeting on November 17th Council Member Eaton mentioned that the Public Works Committee's agenda for November 9th includes further discussion from the last meeting regarding the positioning, placement and status of establishing a water tower on the north end of town. Council Minutes of November 3,2015 Mayor Mace announced that Commissioner Kennedy invited the council to attend a Purple Heart rededication ceremony on Wednesday,November 11th, at 2:00 p.m. on the Yellowstone Court House lawn. Names and positions will be listed in the brochure if the council members inform Mayor Mace that they plan to attend. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member Nelson to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 6:53 p.m. Cindy Alle , Council Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 17th day of November, 2015. Oka ad e Mark A. Mace, Mayor Attest: ,UY Shirley Ewan, Clerk/Treasurer 4 fey rh