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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 10.11.2005 MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP OCTOBER 11, 2005 6:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS A Council Workshop was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by President Gay Easton at 6:30 p.m. on October 11, 2005. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: _x_ Dick Fritzler x Doug Poehls Kate Stevenson x Mark Mace _x_ Gay Easton x Daniel Dart _x_ Jennifer Johnson x Norm Stamper OTHERS PRESENT: Mary Embleton Perry Asher Sam Painter Cal Cumin Public Input (three-minute limit): Citizens ma~ 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 ~lcome, the Council will not take action on any item not on the agenda. · None Planning Board issues: · Resolution - Recommendation to approve conditional use to allow a manufactured home at 1303 Old Highway 10 West o The Laurel Zoning Commission recommended approval of the conditional use to allow a manufactured home on this property, which is zoned as residential tracts. o A single-wide trailer is already on the site at 1303 Old Hwy 10 West. o The actual property description is included in the resolution. o The Zoning Commission recommended approval as the removal of the dilapidated dwelling and its replacement with a new manufactured home is an improvement in the public health and safety and of the valuation of property in the area. o The resolution for the conditional use will be on the council agenda on October 8, 2005. · Ordinance - Recommendation to approve a change in Table 17.16.020 (setbacks) to allow rear yard setbacks at five (5) feet instead of twenty (20) feet on comer lots abutting side yards o Cai explained that, with a comer lot, currently the rear lot has to be 20 feet deep and the side facing the street has to be 20 feet deep. o With an average lot, this cuts up the lot so it is almost unusable and there is a very small house or a very large lot. o Some complaints have been received fi'om developers and developers' attomeys who were exploring this option. o Planning Board reviewed it and recommends that the 20-foot rear yard setback be changed to 5feet from the property line, which is the same as any other residential building next to another residential building. Council Workshop Minutes of October 11, 2005 o A public hearing was held and no negative feedback was received. o The first reading of the ordinance will be on the council agenda on October 18t~. Clerk/Treasurer: · Resolution- Budget amendments o Mary presented five proposed budget amendments to the council at a previous council meeting. o Upon further review of the General Fund and Capital Improvements Project Fund regarding the video arraignment, it was found that $24,000 had been appropriated for the video arraignment ~quipment in the budget. o On the original attachment to the resolution, the $13,000 from the General Fund and the last section for the CIP ~4000 Fund will be removed. o The $20,000 for Planning, $250 in PERS, and the $7,471 in CDBG - Parks Improvement will go forward as budget amendments. ~ Explanation of the city parks · The $7,471 is cash that remains fi~om the original $34,000 CDBG Rchab Program Income monies. · The council approved thc use of the monies for parks and the management plan was amended. · About $27,000 was used to purchase the new playground equipment at Thomson Park. · The remainder of $7,471 needs to be re-appropriated for use in the current fiscal year budget. · Resolution - Revised Interlocal Agreement; New Memorandum of Liability Coverage with IVlMIA o Mary presented a background of the MMIA. · The MMIA is a self-insured pool, made up of about 126 cities and towns. · MMIA was formed in 1986 and the City of Laurel joined in October 1986 for liability coverage. · Workers' comp coverage was added to the program in November 1987, and the city joined at that time. · In 1988, MMIA expanded the number of board members with another interloeal agreement, and there have been minor revisions since then. · The MMIA program has grown to include property and health insurance coverage. o The changes in the Interlocal Agreement are outlined in the cover letter, which was distributed to the council at the meeting. o MMIA has set a November 25th deadline for the city to approve the Revised and Restated Interlocal Agreement. o The resolution will be on the council agenda on October 18, 2005; however, the council could delay and approve the agreement on November 1~t or 15th and meet the deadline. o The Memorandum of Liability Coverage does not require any council action. · It was amended in the areas of air navigation facilities and additional covered parties. · 2004-2005 Year-End Report o Mary Embleton distn~0uted the 2004-2005 Year-End Report docments to the council at this meeting, and a copy is available for review in the clerk-treasurer's office. Council Workshop Minutes of October 11, 2005 · The report, which is an unaudited version, presents a fair picture of the financial status of the city as of June 30, 2005. Mary talked about the specific funds with the charts and graphs included in the report. · The General Fund stayed within budgeted revenues and expenditures and actually did a little better on actual revenues than on projection, and there was about a $120,000 increase in the city's overall cash position. · The General Fund Cash, Revenue & Expense line chart in the report illustrates how a tax-levied fund operates with the fluctuation in cash over a year, mostly due to the flow of revenues. · The chart shows the relation between the flow of revenues, the flow of expenditures, and how it affects the cash. · Mary explained the pie charts that showed that revenues are about one-fourth taxes, one-fourth inter-governmental, one-fourth charges for services, and one- fourth everything else. Changes in any one of those areas can affect the overall picture of the General Fund. · The actual expenses for the year were illustrated with pie charts that showed what functions are paid for by the city in the General Fund and how much of it is used by which department. Dan Dart asked where the monies received t~om the fire districts and the ambulance services are placed. · Mary explained that those are charges for services and FIB 124 money is inter- governmental. Jenny Johnson asked if pie charts are available for revenues and charges of services by departments, particularly the police and fire departments. · Mary explained that the monies brought in by the Fire Department are not necessarily for that department as any money that comes into the General Fund is for the General Fund. · Jenny said that it would be interesting to see a breakdown of how much money the fire department brings into the General Fund. · Mary explained that, since the General Fund is not an enterprise fund, it is not department driven as far as how each department's costs are directly related to the revenue source brought in by each department because there is no direct correlation. · There was a lengthy discussion regarding this issue. · Perry explained that all of the tax money is received by the clerk-treasurer's office, but that office does not keep all of the money. Mary stated that detailed information is available, and she is willing to show it to any interested council member. Mary explained that the cash balances in the Light Districts have declined and need to be watched closely. · The assessments were increased in this budget. Discussion regarding street lights · Jenny suggested that cutting down on the lighting would reduce the expense. · Mary explained that the City of Laurel leases the Light Districts fxom NorthWestern Energy, who owns and maintains the districts. · Jenny suggested that the city should own and maintain the districts. · Gay stated that the city could not afford the maintenance. Council Workshop Minutes ofO~tober 11, 2005 · Mark explained that the council considered expansion of the light districts in 2000, but the council did not approve it because of the cost. Gay thanked Mary for her efforts in preparing the report. Executive review: · Appointments o The appointments of Aaron Larson and Scott Bamhart as firemen of the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department will be on the October 18* council agenda. · Resolution - Change Order No. 1 for the East First Street project o The contractor installed approximately 84 feet of line and discovered that when the storm sewer was previously installed, a siphon was utilized to transport the sewer under the storm sewer line which does not comply with code. o In order to comply with code, the contractor lowered the line to completely eliminate the siphon, creating a change order for the increase cost. o The amount of the change order was not known at this meeting, but the dollar figure will be distributed to the council as soon as poss~le. o The resolution will be on the council agenda on October 18th. · Discussion regarding any other processes available to address change orders o Perry suggested that the most effective way would be for the council to set a specific dollar amount and delegate the mayor to approve change orders for a project up to that amount. o Mark mentioned that it is difficult for contractors to bid projects when there are so many unknowns. · If contractors see Laurel as a city that does not like change orders, the bid prices for a project will increase. Review of draft council agenda for October 18~ 2005 · Public Hearings: o Ordinance No. O05-11: An ordinance amending Chapter 17.40 of the Laurel Municipal Code to eliminate the off-street parking requirement in the central district zone of Laurel. (First reading - 09/20/2005) o Ordinance No. O05-12: An ordinance repealing Chapter 17.64 of the Laurel Municipal Code which provides for a Board of Adjnstment. (First reading - 09/20/2005) · Scheduled Matters: o Ordinance No. 005-07: Ordinance amending the official zoning map of the City of Laurel, Montana, to change the zoning of Lots 1-6, Block 3, Iron Horse Station Subdivision, an Addition to the City of Laurel, from Residential Limited Multi-Family to Community Commercial. (First reading - 09/06/2005; Public hearing - 10/04/2005; Second reading - 10/18/2005) o Ordinance No. 005-08: Ordinance amending the official zoning map of the City of Laurel, Montana, to change the zoning of Lots 1-17, Block 2, Iron Horse Station Subdivision, an Addition to the City of Laurel, from Residential 7500 to Residential Limited Multi-Family. (First reading - 09/06/2005; Public hearing - 10/04/2005; Second reading - 10/18/2005) o Ordinance No. 005-09: Ordinance amending the zoning ordinance of the City of Laurel, Momana, to allow additional dwelling units in residential zones by adding Section 17.08.035 to the Laurel Municipal Code and amending Table 17.16.010 of the 4 Council Workshop Minutes ofOetobex 11, 2005 Code to reflect same. (First reading - 09/06/2005; Public hearing - 10/04/2005; Second reading - 10/18/2005) Ordinance No. O05-10: Ordinance amending the zoning ordinance of the City of Laurel, Montana, to allow neighborhood convenience stores in residential zones by adding Section 17.08.305 to the Laurel Municipal Code and amending Table 17.16.010 of the Code to reflect same. (First reading - 09/06/2005; Public hearing - 10/04/2005; Second reading - 10/18/2005) Announcements · New American and Montana flags have been ordered for the council chambers. · Jenny mentioned that Perry informed her that the water reservoir is included in the CIP. Attendance at the October 18th council meeting, · Kate will not attend. Other items · Name tags will be available for the attendees at the joint meeting on Thursday, October 13th. · Discussion regarding the agenda items on the agenda for the joint meeting The council workshop adjourned at 7:28 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.