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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 09.13.2005 MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 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 September 13, 2005. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: _x_ Dick Fritzler x Kate Stevenson _x_ Gay Easton _x_ Jennifer Johnson _x_ Doug Poehls x Mark Mace Daniel Dart x Norm Stamper OTHERS PRESENT: Terry Ruff Perry Asher Sam Painter 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 agend~ · None FDe Deoartment: · Resolution - Fire Contract with the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch o Chief Terry Ruff explained that the LVFD started offering fire district contracts in 1975-1976. o The Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch had its own fire service until 1988, when it sold its equipment and started contracting with the City of Laurel. o The YBGR and the Laurel Airport Authority have one-year contracts, and the other fire districts have three-year contracts. o The 2005-2006 YBGR contract is for $6,254.34. o It has been two years since the LVFD has been called out to the YBGR. o The contract should have been approved by the council prior to July 1st, but the city did not receive the signed contracts that the YBGR sent to the city. o The resolution for the fire contract with the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch will be on the council agenda on September 20th. Personnel Policy Manual · Perry Asher explained that Paul Hutter prepared the final draft of the Personnel Policy Manual to include some additions and changes required to comply with MMIA's requirements to keep the city's EPLI coverage. o The grievance policy was added to the Personnel Policy Manual. Council Workshop Minutes of September 13, 2005 Jenny Johnson expanded on the Personnel Policy Manual. o While attending a retreat, she learned that information on safety, verbal abuse, sexual harassment, etc., should be posted and reviewed with employees every six months in order to reinforce what the city will not tolerate. Planning Board issues · Ordinance- off-street parking requirements o Elimination of the off-street parking requirements in the central business district zone is proposed in order to encourage economic development and expansion of downtown business. o Cal stated that the downtown area is dying, due to the expansion of businesses on South 1 ~ Avenue. o The Planning Board's recemmendation comes fa'om the Growth Management Plan. o There was discussion regarding: · Revenues for the off-street parking requirement would be eliminated. · Revenues received fi:om the requirement. · Funds are scheduled to be spent to upgrade the public parking lot · Ordinance - amend zoning ordinance to repeal Chapter 17.64 providing for a Board of Adjustment. o Cai explained that State statute does not require a third-class city to have a Board of Adjustment. o The Board of Adjustment has not been a viable board for a couple years since the council took away their power. o The conditional use section of the code book addresses variances, and all requests would go through the planning board and then to the city council. o The ordinance will be on the September 20th council agenda. · Resolution- Eastlick variance o Cal explained Mr. Eastlick's variance request to exceed lot coverage for a garage on his property. o The maximum lot coverage is 30 percent in the R7500 zone. o The variance request is for an additional 254 square feet. o There was no opposition at the Planning Board's public hearings, and the Planning Board recommended approval. o Discussion regarding variances, conditional uses, and hardships. o The resolution will be on the council agenda on September 20t~. · Resolution- Mullaney annexation o Cai explained the history of Patrick Mullaney's zone change and annexation request. o The original zone change request was dropped, and Mr. Mullaney is now requesting annexation with R7500 zoning. o The property is adjacent to city property on the west and the south, with Metzger's property located on the east. o The resolution of annexation will be on the September 20th council agenda. Executive review: · Resolution - Alderwoman Stevenson's absence from the City of Laurel o Resolution will be on the September 20th council agenda. 2 Council Workshop Minutes of September 13, 2005 Committee List o Norm Stamper will be named as a member of the Public Works Committee and as co- chairman of the Cemetery Commission. Review of draft council agenda for September 20~ 2005 · Ordinance No. 005-6: Ordinance amending Chapter 10.20 of the Laurel Municipal Code relating to restricted speed zones. (1st reading - 08/16/2005; PH - 09/06/2005; 2~a reading - 09/20/2005) Announcements · Joint meetings o The joint meeting with the City of Billings, the Billings School District, the Yellowstone County Commissioners, and the Laurel City Council is scheduled for Thursday, October 13th, at 5:30 p.m. o The joint meeting with the Laurel City Council, the Yellowstone County Commissioners, and the Laurel Schools District is scheduled for Thursday, October 27~, at 5:30 p.m. · Update of the FAP Task Force o Task force took a tour of the FAP building last week to brainstorm for ideas to alleviate the ambulance department's need for space. o One possible solution suggested was for the fire department to vacate the cylinder storage area in the southeast comer for the ambulance and also let the ambulance use the bay area. o This solution would address the short-term needs, and long-term goals will continue to be reviewed. · Council and department heads retreat is scheduled for November 18th, 19t~, and 20th. o Perry explained the two goals for the retreat: · Council needs to prepare a set of goals for the departments. · Council needs to prepare a set ofbudgct preparation directives. o The CIP should be significantly updated prior to the retreat. o Perry's description of the retreat: · Friday evening would provide an opportunity for the council and staff to "dream big" and prioritize what Laurel could be like if money were no object. · On Saturday, the council would develop a workable plan with the available capital and human resources. · The council would develop the set of goals for the departments and the set of budget preparation directives on Sunday. o Discussion regarding: · Lmry will be on vacation and some department heads have commitments on Sunday. · Mark will arrange for the breakfast when Perry knows how many will attend the retreat. · The retreat is tentatively scheduled to be held at the h~orary. Jenny stated that the Wild Fire meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening at the Billings Clinic. 3 Council Workshop Minutes of September 13, 2005 Kate Stevenson and Mayor Olson participated in a national project, Rebuilding Together, last Saturday. o About 225,000 people volunteer time every year to do extensive work on needy properties throughout the country. o Five projects were chosen in Yellowstone County, one of which was located in Laurel. o About thirty volunteers worked to provide the recipients of the Laurel project with a new furnace, new electrical, a new mot; as well as painting and yard work. Attendance at the September 20tb council meetine · All present will attend. Other items · None The council workshop adjourned at 7:15 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