HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 05.30.2006 MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
MAY 30, 2006 6:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
A Council Workshop was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Ken Olson at
6:37 p.rp~ on May 30, 2006.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
_x_ Dick Fritzler
x Kate Hart
_x_ Gay Easton
_x_ Jennifer Johnson
_x_ Doug Poehis
x Mark Mace
Chuck Dickerson
_x_ Norm Stamper
OTHERS PRESENT:
Sam Painter
Steve Klotz
Rick Musson
Larry McCarm
Public Inout (three-minute limit):
Citizen~ 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. ;Fhile all comments are welcome, the Council will
not take action on any item not on the agendu~
Dave Bequette, developer of the Elena Subdivision, Box 1147, Laurel, MT addressed the council
with 2 requests:
· Drive aprons restricted to 20' width per city ordinance
o Asking to go to 24' plus 4'wings on each side for a total width of 32' in Elena
Subdivision
o Current restriction of 20' won't work for big houses with triple garages in this
subdivision
· Ran new curb and gutter but didn't make the driveway cuts at this time
o Would like to use a cutter once the issue of driveway widths is decided
o Cutter would avoid patching and disturbing the new asphalt
· Mayor advised that the requests will be referred to staff to research and make
recommendation back to council
o Process may take a couple of weeks
· Mr. Bequette would be willing to do a cutter demonstration i~r public works to consider
Police Department:
Police Officer mn~ointment - William Brew III
Chief Mnsson introduced Bill Brew
o Was second choice to hire when process was conducted and Officer Firehaugh was hired
several months ago
o Testing and back ~gr~ und checks have already been done
o If approved June 6 , Mr. Brew would start on June 7th with the 12 weeks of field training
o Currently, Mr. Brew is a reserve officer, and has already put himself through the Academy
Council Workshop Minutes of May 30, 2006
Plannin~ Board:
Resolution- Conditional Use Permit for St. John's Lutheran Ministries (PH 05/16/2006)
o Cai did not attend this meeting
o No questions from the council - request has been through the complete process
Fire Department:
Fire District Contracts
o Mary reported that only the Airport Authority contract has been received and presented
o Still waiting on two district contracts
Public Works Denartment:
Resolution - Management Agreement with the Laurel YMCA for the swimming pool
o Steve reported that the price is the same as last year
o One y,e~,_ contract, with minor language chan.~es done by the city attorney
o YMCA s goal is to open the pool on June 10'
o Pool is drained and maintenance work is being done
o Public Works' goal is to have the maintenance work done and pool filled by end of the week
Resolution - Landfill Use Agreement with the City of Billings
o Steve reported that agreement and fees are the same as last year
Resolution - Agreement with Cotter's Sewer & Portable Toilet Service, Inc.
o Steve reported that the agreement is for temporary restmom facilities at Kiwanis Park
o Proposed '06-07 Budget contains appropriations for permanent facility
o Jennifer Johnson asked about facilities at Russell Park
o Appropriations for Russell Park facility also in '06-07 budget
o May not build a new facility until fall
Resolution - Change Order No. 2 (additional tree removal and replacement work) for the East First
Street project
o Steve reported this work was not in original specs
o Discovered that tree mots were damaging sewer and other utflties
o Gay asked about salvaging a tree near the funeral home
o Steve will investigate
Jennifer asked if the property owners get to choose the tree variety for replacement
o Steve stated that the choices are made from the list approved by the Tree Board
o Question on which nursery is supplying the trees
o Mark asked about mot containment
o Trying to choose trees with compat~le mot systems
Parkin~ rcouirements in Community Commercial and Highway Commercial Zoneq
Cai not present, so Doug gave background
o Highway Commercial requires 1 parking space for 400 square feet of building area
o Coaat~anity Commercial requires I parking space for 100 square feet of building area
o Asked Cal to review the ordinance and start the process through Planning Board
Council Workshop Minutes of May 30, 2006
Public Utilities Department:
Resolution - Change Order No. 1 (curb box work)
o Larry explained that the change order is for 32 curb boxes
o Old water lines were to be replaced originally
o Decision was made later to replace all water lines from the main to the curb box
o City crew did actual changing of curb boxes, but contractor performed digging to
keep Pace with the project
o Curb boxes are all located in the public right of way
o Mayor explained there was a need to correct the wording on the resolutions
o Mary and Sam further explained that the council already altered the original contract
last fall by the passage of R05-107
o Language will be added to the draft resolutions making reference to R05-107
o Change order forms will need to be corrected by the engineering firm
Resolution- Amendment No. 1 for engineering for the Main Street Waterline Project
o Larry reported that the original angineering estimate to replace the water main on Main
Street from 3,0 Ave. to 8th Ave. was $500,000, and included replacing all the dirt at a cost of
$92,000 plus
o Considerable savings may be realized if city can re-use existing dirt
o Amendment is for additional engineering for core samples to see if some dirt can he re-used
Clerk/Treasurer:
Resolution - Memorandum of Understanding with Beartooth RC&D Economic Development
District
o Mary stated that Benrtooth submits this MOU every year, usually in December
o City cost is $1400 which is same as last few years
o Recommends approving the resolution
Information on bondinm assessments, and mills
o Mary distn'buted information she received f~om MaeNan Ellingson ofDorsey & Whitney at
the recent Clerk's Institute
o Municipalities have no debt authority just by simply being a munioipality
o Authority is allowed only by state statute
o Bonds are an issuance of debt
· GO Bonds, Revenue Bonds, Special Improvement/Assessment Bonds
· Explained each type of bond, as outlined in the distributed information
Mayor Olson stated that the council has been considering what to do with the parks and pool
o Need to educate ourselves for funding mechanisms
o Was favoring use ora Park Maintenance District at first, but now is considering the
merits of a mill levy
o May be more desirable with a "sunset" - more acceptable by the voters
o Asked council for direction
Mark - would like to pursue discussion with the public through meetings
o Opportunity to market park improvements now, in the aftermath of Project HELP's
SUCCESS
Doug concurs that process needs to continue, but public elects council to make the decision
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Council Workshop Minutes of May 30, 2006
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Kate suggested using a marketing company to help educate the public
Mayor proposed waiting a couple of years before proposing a GO bond for the pool
o Gives time to put more money in the pool fund, besides the estate money already
received
o Suggested to use the VOICE to educate the public
o Staff has told the mayor that the city can invest approx. $70,000 in the existing
facility and get a ~sv more years' use
o TIF (Tax Increment Financing) - Mayor was informed by Perry that the city had to
have "blight" first before this can be implemented
Executive review:
Yellowstone Conservation District - Letter of Support for the groundwater study
o The proposed letter was distributed, and will be on the June 6th agenda
Lin_.hting at Kids' Kingdom in Kiwanis Park
Chuck Dickerson was not present at this workshop, so Mayor Olson told the council that
they need to consider "light pollution", but also need to consider deterring "undesirable
activity"
Mayor asked the police department to do periodic walk through's to cheek on the new
playground equipment
o Question as to what types of activities - drug paraphernalia and clothing articles
have been found
Jennifer brought up the issue of park hours at Thomson Park
Kate stated that lighting should be used for security, and not for extended park use at~er dark
o Suggested that sprinkling be considered as a deterrent in the future
Currently, parks are closed fi'om midnight to 6 am.
YHPB - Preserve America Designation
Jennifer Johnson proposed that Laurel apply for a Preserve America Designation for grant
purposes
o Criteria must be met - resolution, board creation, etc.
o Billings has recently applied for their designation
o Goal is to submit application by September 1a, and Jennifer will do the work
o Distributed the resolution done by Billings City Council
o Kate supports preserving our historical heritage
o The resolution will be added to the June 6th agenda
Point of information - 08/08/08
o Mayor Olson informed the council that the City of Laurel was incorporated on August 8,
1908
o The 100' Birthday is coming up in 2 years
o Asked council to start thinking about planning a centennial celebration
o Mayor will consider forming a task force or committee in near future
Review of draft council agenda for June 6~ 2006
o Add the resolution for Preserve America Designation application
o Mayor will confirm with Perry ifa budget workshop will follow the regular meeting
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Council Workshop Minutes of May 30, 2006
Announcements
Jennifer reported that she was awarded a scholarship to go to a workshop in Deer Lodge in June
Scholarship is for registration fees
Dick reported that a meeting is scheduled for next Monday, June 5th with County Commissioner
Kennedy and Bill Enright on the proposed military cemetery
Stated that Representative Emclie Eaton mentioned the veterans cemetery at a Memorial Day event
Doug stated that the YMCA fund raising event resulted in approximately $16,500
Mayor Olson informed the council that a breakfast meeting is scheduled for June 15th with County
Con~nissioner Ostlund, Bob Moats, Perry and Steve to discuss issues such as annexation of
adjacent streets and water issues
Newspaper called to ask about the status of WalMart
o Still communicating with Public Works prior to submitting their building permit application
Attendance at the June 6th council meetino
All present will attend
Other items
None
The council workshop adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
City Clerk/Treasurer
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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