Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 01.02.2007MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL January 2, 2007 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 Ken Ols0n at 6:30 p.m. on January 2, 2007. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Kate Hart Gay Easton Doug Poehls Mark Mace Chuck Dickerson Norm Stamper COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Mary Embleton Sam Painter Mark Richards Jan Faught Lan'y McCann Mike Zuhoski Mayor Olson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mayor Olson asked the council to observe a moment of silence. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Dickerson to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 19, 2006, as presented, seconded by Alderman Stamper. There was no Public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six aldermen/women present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. Motion by Alderman Stamper to approve the minutes of the special meeting of December 26, 2006, as presented, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six aldermen/women present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. CORRESPONDENCE: Montana Historical Society: Letter of December 14, 2006 regarding Certified Local Government Evaluation. Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board: Letter of December 12, 2006 regarding nominations for the Eugene T. Carroll Historic Preservation Award. Morrison-Maierle, Inc.: Letter of December 15, 2006 regarding East First Street Improvements Project. Williston Basin: Letter of December 12, 2006 regarding pipeline safety. Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Letter of December 22, 2006 regarding Board of Directors. Montana Department of commerce: Letter of December 22, 2006 regarding TSEP grant report. Laurel Chamber of Commerce: BOard Meeting Minutes of December 14, 2006; Agenda for December 28, 2006. PUBLIC HEARING: · Intent to adopt an Official Schedule of Fees and Charges for the City of Laurel. (Resolution No. R06-130 approved December 19, 2006) City Planner Mark Richards stated that the council has had time to review the proposed City of Laurel Schedule of Fees and Charges and it has been available for public review. At this time, he introduced an addition and asked to extend the public comment period to be able to include the Council Minutes of Janu,a~ 2, 2007 additional fees. He explained that the adjustments came to his attention regarding corrections and improvements to plats, conditions, and support documentation. The fees were not included in the city's schedule of fees and charges because of his lack of knowledge in being new. The fees were brought to Mark's attention by a resolution recently submitted to the Board of County Commissioners, and they showed loopholes in what the city is doing. If an applicant came back and requested some adjustments or changes in a subdivision or zone change, the city has no provision to charge for that. This was brought to Mark's attention the Tuesday before last when he was in Billings, and he felt it very prudent to include the fees at this time while this thing is moving ahead. Because there has not been time for public review, he would like to delay the resolution in order to provide a public review period of time. He explained the major and minor particular adjustments, the zone change applications resubmitted within one year of withdrawal, the special review applications resubmitted within one year of withdrawal, and the variance applications resubmitted within one year of withdrawal. Currently, additional fees could not be charged. Although it is not in ordinance now, these things need to be addressed or the city would continue to do the work for free. However, the planning board would still have to go through the public notification process, the public hearing process, and those things incur costs and the fees would serve to defer them. Mark urged the council to support this. Mayor Olson thanked Mark for his presentation. Larry McCann stated that the City of Laurel signed the contract with Johnson Controls. Those water meters are much more expensive than what was previously used. The city will own every meter in town, both commercial and private. Instead of having a dollar amount listed in the fee schedule to replace a frozen or damaged meter, it will be cost plus 25 percent. Most of the problems are in residential homes, especially in the trailer park where the meters are not protected from freezing. The meters cost $211 each now. A 1½-inch meter, costing about $800~ froze at the school recently. Larry recommended listing replacement meter cost plus 25 percent on the Schedule of Fees and Charges. Alderman Dickerson suggested that notice regarding meter replacement because of damage or freezing be provided when residents sign up for water service and also to provide the information to all water users. Mayor Olson stated that staff will look into putting a notification on the water bills. Mayor Olson opened the public hearing. Mayor Olson asked three times if there were any proponents. There were none. Mayor Olson asked three times if there were any opponents. There were none. Motion by Alderman Stamper to continue the public hearing until January 16, 2007, to provide the public additional time to comment on the proposed fee schedule with the addition of the planning fees and the revised water meter replacement fee, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six aldermen/women present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. The public hearing will be on the council agenda on January t6, 2007. CONSENT ITEMS: ~ · Claims for the month of December 2006 in the amount of $569,164.25. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clark-Treasurer's Office. · Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 12/17/2006 totaling $135,128.96. · Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. --Budget/Finhnce Committee minutes of December 19, 2006 were presented. --Council Workshop minutes of December 26, 2006 were presented. The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items: There was none. Council Minutes of January 2, 2007 Motion by Alderman Mace to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Alderman Poehls. Them was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six aldermen/women present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: Arbor Day Proclamation Mayor Olson mad the Arbor Day Proclamation declaring Friday, April 27th as Arbor Day in the City Of Laurel. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: · Confirmation of Appointments: None. · Ordinance No. O06-13: Ordinance amending Section 10.44.10 of the Laurel Municipal Code, amending truck routes within the City of Laurel. Second reading. Motion by Alderman Poehls to adopt Ordinance No. O06-13, seconded by Alderwoman Hart. There was no public comment or council discussion. A roll Call vote was taken on the motion. All six aldermen/women present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. Ordinance No. O06-14: Ordinance amending the official zoning map of the City of Laurel, Montana, to change the zoning of SE¼ of Section 8, T2S, R24E, PMM, also known as Mace Subdivision, from Residential Tracts to Residential 6000. Second reading. Motion by Alderwoman Hart to adopt Ordinance No. O06-14, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. Alderwoman Hart, Aldermen Poehls, Dickarson, Stamper, and Easton voted aye. Alderman Mace abstained. Mo. tion carried 5-0. Resolution No. R07-01: Resolution of the City Council authorizing the Mayor to execute the State of Montana's resolution form to enable the City of Laurel to participate in State and Federal Surplus Programs. Motion by Alderman Easton to approve Resolution No. R07201, seconded by Alderwoman Hart. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six aldermen/women present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: · Review of Monthly Reports: Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Code Enforcement: None. Alderman Easton commended the fire department for the Christmas display this year. Mayor Olson also thanked the Chamber 0f Commerce and the fire department for their efforts in the Christmas display. Mayor Olson stated that the Veterans' Cemetery Committee met recently. Discussion regarding the Veterans' Cemetery will be added to the January 9t~ council workshop agenda. Some issues need to be addressed before going forward with this, and this would provide an opportunity for input. It is a very important step for the City of Laurel to become a part of a veterans' cemetery, and Mayor Olson eagerly looks forward to seeing that happen. 3 Council Minutes of January 2, 2007 Notices of the council vacancies in Ward 1 and Ward 4 will be in the newspaper on Wednesday. Mayor Olson asked the council to encourage residents to submit a letter of interest. The ad states that letters of interest should be submitted by January 19th. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Alderman Stamper to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six aldermen/women present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 6:53 p.m. Cindy~retary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 16th day of January, 2007. Attest: K. ~mbleton, Clerk-Treasurer Mary //,~unetl~ LC. Olso~,,~., Mayor