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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 05.01.2007MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL May 1, 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 Olson at 6:30 p.m. on May 1, 2007. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Kate Hart Gay Easton Vonda Hotchkiss COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHER STAFF PRESENT! Mary Embleton Mayor Olson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag: Mayor Olson asked the council to observe a moment of silence. MINUTES: Doug Poehls Mark Mace Chuck Dickerson Norm Stamper Sam Painter Motion by Council Member Hotchkiss to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 17, 2007, 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. CORRESPONDENCE: The Crossings: Letter of April 11, 2007 regarding SpringFest 2007 on April 25th and 27th. United States Depamnent of Commerce: Letter of April 12, 2007 regarding the 2010 Census meeting on May 8, 2007. Bright n' Beautiful: Letter of April 16, 2007 regarding donation of the Troy Bilt Chipper/Vac. Department of Natural Resources and Conservation: Letter of April 16, 2007 regarding Record of DeciSion for the DNRC Real Estate Management Programmatic Final Environmental Impact Statement. Yellowstone YMCA: Letter regarding Healthy Kids, Strong Kids Dinner Auction and Fundraiser on May 5th at DJ's Steak and Palace. Montana Rail Link: Letter of April 20, 2007 regarding blocked railroad crossings. Laurel Chamber o£Commerce: Minutes of April 12, 2007; Agenda of April 26, 2007. PUBLIC HEARING: Ordinance No. 007-04: An ordinance amending Title 14 to adopt the International Energy Conservation Code, 2003 Edition, and providing authority for the Mayor to adopt future additions of the Code through Administrative Order. (First reading - 04/03/2007) Mayor Olson introduced the matter to the council and explained that adoption of the International Energy Conservation Code is required by statute. Future changes will be approved through administrative order. 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. Council Minutes of May 1, 2007 Mayor Olson closed the public hearing. CONSENT ITEMS: Claims for the month of April 2007 in the amonnt of $173,631.13. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer's Office. · Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 04/22/2007 totaling $134,722.13. · Receiving the COmmittee Reports into the Reeoril. --City-County Planning Board minutes of April 12, 2007 were presented. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of April 17, 2007 were presented. --Tree Board minutes of April 9, 2007 were presented. --Council Workshop minutes of April 24, 2007 were presented. --Laurel Airport Authority minutes of February 27, 2007 were presented. --Laurel Airport Authority minutes of March 27, 2007 were presented. The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Motion by Council Member Mace to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Council Member Poehls. 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: Municipal Clerks' Week - April 29 through May 5~ 2007 Mayor Olson read a proclamation recognizing the week of April 29t~ through May 5th as Municipal Clerks~ Week and extended appreciation to Mary Embleton for her service as MuniciPal Clerk for the City of Laurel. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: · Confirmation of Appointments. Laurel Fire Department: Mayor Olson reappointed Brent Peters to the Laurel Fire Department. Motion by Council Member Poehis to approve the reappointment of Brant Peters to the Laurel Fire DePartment, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment. Mayor Olson stated that Brent Peters previously served on the Laurel Fire Department for several years until his job took him away from Laurel. He recently moved back to Laurel and wants to serve on the Laurel Fire Department again. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. · Resolution No. R07-27: Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute the requisite agreements with Beartooth Harley-Davidson/Buell for the use of three motorcycles by the City of Laurel Police Department. 2 Council Minutes of May 1, 2007 Motion by Council Member Stamper to approve Resolution No. R07-27, 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. Resolution No. R07-28: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with ABTeleom, Inc., to install and maintain a telephone system for the City of Laurel's city hall building in accordance with ABTeleom's attached proposal. Motion by Council Member Dickerson to approve Resolution No. R07-28, seconded by Council Member Stamper. There was no public comment. Mary Embleton met with ABTelcom representatives yesterday regarding details for setting up the new phone system, which is pending final council approval tonight. Installation of the phone system will be scheduled on May 17th. A phone will be installed in the council chambers and some other locations. Mary stated that it will be a good system and people will be pleased with it. Mayor Olson thanked Mary for taking this part of the CIP forward to a conclusion in a timely manner. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. Ordinance No. 007-02: Ordinance amending Sections 2.84.010 and 2.84.020 of the Laurel Municipal Code, changing composition of the Cemetery Commission and officer selection process. Second reading. Motion by Council Member Easton to adopt Ordinance No. O07-02, seconded by Council Member Hart. 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. · Ordinance No. 007-03: Ordinance to regulate street and sidewalk usage and permitting in the City of Laurel. Second reading. Motion by Council Member Hart to adopt Ordinance No. 007-03, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There Was no public comment or council discussion. A roll call vote was taken un the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. Ordinance No. 007-06: Ordinance to amend previously approved City Ordinance No. 006-04 to renumber Sections 12.28.070, 15.36.180 and 15.03.010 and revising Section 15.20.010 of the Laurel Municipal Code. First reading. Motion by Council Member Eaton to adopt Ordinance No. 007-06, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. 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. The public hearing of Ordinance No. 007-06 will be on the council agenda on May 15, 2007. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE-MINUTE LIMIT): Larry Tanglen, Laurel Outlook, announced that, just before coming to this meeting, he received a fax from JTL Group and was informed that a tentative agreement had been reached to the strike involving the work stoppage at the Wal-Mart site. The union employees are expected to vote on the proposed settlement this evening and could be back to work as early as 8:00 tomorrow morning. COUNCIL BISCUSSION: · Review of Monthly Reports: Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Code Enforcement: None. Council Member Dickerson asked that two items be placed on the May 8th council workshop agenda: the first item is that, with all the streets that dead-end on Twelfth Street, only three streets have Stop signs; the second item is the spraying of the parks, which are overloaded with dandelions now. Council Minutes of May 1, 2007 Mayor Olson stated that the items would be on the May 8th council workshop agenda. Council Member Stamper asked regarding the status of the Safe to School issue presented by the school district recently. Safe to School would make Sixth Street a through street. Mayor Olson stated that an update would be on the May 8th council workshop agenda. Council Member Hotchkiss mentioned that the Bright n' Beautiful event went well last weekend. The City of Laurel received a chipper from the Billings Bright n' Beautiful organization. The extra garbage cans will be available for a couple more weeks. Mayor Olson thanked Council Member Hotchkiss for her participation in the event. Kurt Markegard accepted the chipper from the Billings Bright n' Beautiful organization and he extended his thanks for the donation. Council Member Hotchkiss stated that a gentleman asked if the recent street work on East First Street would be filled in. Mayor Olson stated that the question would be answered by the public works director at the council workshop next week. Council Member Easton reported on the Arbor Day celebration on Thursday, April 26th. Several council members attended and Council Member Hart and her husband sang America the Beautiful during the event. About seventy people attended, along with the school children that gave a presentation. Council Member Easton stated that the event was very successful. The State Forester presented Laurel with a Tree City USA plaque. Requirements to become a Tree City include adoption of a tree ordinance, formation of a Tree Board, and spending $2.00 per capita for trees within the city. Council Member Easton stated that the plaque needs to be hung for the public to see, as well as the council pictures and other awards and plaques that the City of Laurel has received in the past. Council Member Easton attended the tree planting event in Emerald Hills yesterday. After the devastating fire in Emerald Hills last year, the Yellowstone Conservation District voted to take on the project of tree replacement with the DNRC in Helena. The DNRC put up a $50,000 grant to purchase replacement trees, and the Conservation District decided to purchase 1,200 Ponderosa pine trees. The Youth Conservation Corp was hired to plant the trees. Scott Bockness, with Yellowstone Weed Control, and Paul Dixon, with the County Extension Agency, were also involved. Council Member Easton mentioned the concern regarding fires in Laurel's fire districts, including the Clapper's Flats area. Council Member Easton mentioned that the city also received two reflector entry signs that signify Laurel as a Tree City. The signs will be Posted at the entrances to the city. A Tree City USA flag was also received. There were suggestions to display the flag during Arbor Day celebrations. Council Member Easton thanked everyone that participated in the Arbor Day celebration. Council Member Mace suggested contacting someone that would like to fly the flag during the 4t~ of July parade and possibly use the theme for a float. Alderman Dickerson suggested that the class that participated in the Arbor Day celebration be asked to display the flag during the 4th of July parade. Council Member Mace mentioned that Bozeman tried to go through a process of assessing for trees through Tree City USA and it would be good to contact them. There was further discussion regarding trees in the City of Laurel. A GIS program could be used to record the location and types of trees located within the city. Mayor Olson spoke regarding quality of life and the City of Laurel's designation as a Tree City. He thanked the Tree Board for its work on the Arbor Day Celebration. Council Member Hart mentioned that the representative from St. John's Lutheran Ministries spoke recently regarding the trail at the new facility. She had planned to invite Darlene Tussing to speak to the Park Board regarding the Heritage Trail System in Billings and how the trails could eventually merge together. Mayor Olson would like her to be invited to speak at a council workshop. Council Member Hart will contact her. Council Member Dickerson mentioned the nice job done on the bridge on Valley Drive. Even though it was a county project, he requested that the city send a letter to the construction Outfit complimenting them on the job. Council Minutes of May 1, 2007 Council Member Easton spoke with Commissioners Reno and Ostlund yesterday regarding the bridge project and the pedestrian walkways on both sides of the bridge. Mayor Olson stated that the Downtown Task Force meeting is scheduled on May l0th at 7:00 p.m. and the Planning Board meeting is scheduled for May 3fa. Mayor Olson thanked the council members that have been involved with Aviation and Technology Week. The event will bring many students to Laurel for a great oppommity. He expressed appreciation to all who volunteer time and effort for this event. The city staff is aware of the traffic concerns during the event next week. Mayor Olson mentioned the Cit~y~County Joint Meeting at the Billings Logan Inttehmational Gateway Restaurant on Thursday, May 24 , at 6:00 p.m. The last day to RSVP is May 18 and agenda items should be submitted to the council secretary. Representatives from the Laurel Development Corporation, Beartooth RC&D, Big Sky EDA, the railroad, and the City of Laurel will attend the Downtown Task Force meeting on May 10th. The future of downtown Laurel will be the focus of the meeting. Council Member Hotchkiss suggested that businesses should be notified about the meeting in order to attend the meeting or to give input regarding revitalization. Mayor Olson stated that the city has purchased the new patcher, and it was used to patch a portion Of Washington Avenue today. A demonstration of the patcher is planned for the council in the next couple weeks. Mayor Olson asked the council to submit ideas for space considerations for the City of Laurel as soon as possible. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member Mace to adjourn the council meeting, 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. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Cindy Allen~ecretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 15th day of May, 2007. : Attest: Mary K~mbleton, Clerk-Treasurer Kenneth E. Olson, Jr., Mayor 5