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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Minutes 10.20.1998 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE October20, 1998 6:30 P.M. Council Chambers MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Chuck Rodgers Dirk Kroll Gary Temple Ken Olson (late) Miles Walton Gay Easton Norman Orr Bill Staudinger Bud Johnson OTHERS PRESENT: V. Joe Leckie Don Hackmann Jim Stevens Billy Johnson Rick Musson Larry McCarm Cai Cumin Bill Staudinger said that things are shaping up around town. Gay Easton commented on the recent meeting with the downtown development people. The next meeting of the Downtown Task Force will be held on Tuesday, November 10th, at 5:30 p.m. at the Locomotive. Gay complimented Fire Chief Stevens and the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department for their response to the refinery disaster on Sunday, October 18th. Dirk, Bud, Ken and Chuck recently attended the Montana League of Cities and Towns meeting in West Yellowstone. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission presented a class about possible discriminations that could be brought against a city or town. The City of Laurel received an award for third-class cities for having the lowest modification factor in our general liability program. The plaque that was received is in the City Clerk-Treasurer's office. Another meeting addressed the initiatives that are coming up on the November 3~d ballot. There was an extensive discussion about CI-75. Dirk said that he would bring this matter up during Unscheduled Matters to discuss some of the reasons why we should consider voting against it. Bud Johnson thanked the city for the opportunity to attend the meeting in West Yellowstone. He said that the discussions were worthwhile and beneficial. Joe Leckie stated that the committees function as part of the council, solely from an advisory standpoint. For the sake of time and efficiency, committees are allowed to handle matters and then bring them back to the council with recommendations. Except for some limited matters of scope that are allowed for by the ordinance, committees do not have the authority to pass specific action. They can only pass matters that come forward to the council as recommendations. When minutes are presented from committee meetings, they are entered into the record but are not formally adopted. The matters that come forward out of the conunittee are not matters that become the action of the council, unless you specifically bring an item from that committee forward to the council and act on it as a council. As committee meetings are conducted, members need to be conscientious about matters that are acted on as a committee. If it needs council approval, it must be put on the council agenda so that the council can formally act on it. If the council never formally acts, it remains only as the original adoption by the committee. The appropriate motion in regard to the minutes is that they be entered into the record, not adopted or accepted. By entering them into the record, there is no formal action of the committee meetings that is binding. The committee reports will now be placed under the consent items on the agenda. Confirmation of appointments for the City Attorney, Clerk-Treasurer, Chief of Police, Director of Public Works and policemen should be placed under the scheduled matters. All other appointments could be made under the consent items. Resolutions can also be put in the consent agenda, unless it is requested to have them as a scheduled matter. Bud Johnson mentioned that the Restorative Justice Coalition met on Monday, October 19th, in the council chambers. Their next meeting is scheduled for November 16th at 7:00 p.m. in the council chambers. Donna Kilpatrick and Del Henman are the co-chairmen and Joyce Bratlund is the secretary. There was some very good discussion and they are gaining momentum. The Drug and Alcohol Task Force will be holding a meeting on Wednesday, October 28t~, at 7:00 p.m. in the council chambers. Seven presenters will give some background information about the current activity regarding the drug and alcohol problem in Laurel. Joe Leckie thanked the city for allowing him to attend the meeting in West Yellowstone. The city attorneys had a special seminar and conference during that time. The city attorneys were interested in two specific things about Laurel. One was the rejection of our response to an audit regarding our funding of the Firemen's Relief Association Retirement Fund. Several of the city attorneys were very concerned about the position that the Department of Commerce is taking regarding this and have indicated that they want Joe to correspond as we work through this. Several have indicated that they have ideas, and that they would be willing to support us if it requires some legislative action. The other issue that interested the city attorneys was the Citizen's Initiative to amend the zoning map as to the school property on First Avenue. This is the first time that any of the attorneys were aware of a citizen's initiative to affirmatively change the zoning of property. In the past, there have been cases where citizens have overridden what the council has done to change a zoning provision. Gary Temple asked if any comments had been made regarding the modular home problem. The city attorneys did discuss it. Public officials in the cities and towns need to be aware of what the manufactured home building association is going to try to do. Bud Johnson mentioned that the Legislature passed some legislation regarding building codes and building departments within cities. The severity of the situation is illustrated by the fact that Kalispell has dissolved their building department and turned that responsibility back to the State of Montana. This was in response to some of the legislation that was passed. The seeming mistrust of local government in Helena is being seen in this regard. Mayor Rodgers thanked those that went to the meeting in West Yellowstone. Cai Cumin said that the bids for the Log Cabin Restoration were not qualified and will have to be rebid. None of the contractors met the disadvantaged business certification. It will have to be rebid around the first of the year. The South Pond master plan has been completed. Senator Miller has some dredging lined up. Cal has told everyone that the project has to be coordinated with Larry and Cal. He has wxitten a draft for a grant from the Highway Department under the new funding program for $85,000 in planning monies. Cai commented that the Central Business meeting was poorly attended. Larry McCann thanked Billy Johnson for his work. They recently fixed a water line leak at Yellowstone Avenue and Fifth. The water plant intake pier is not done but it is clean. He is investigating the possibility of using some chemicals that would get the dirt out of the water faster. Rick Musson introduced Jay Hatton as the newly-hired police officer. The meeting was adjourned at 7:01 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Cindy Allen Secretary