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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03.21.2017 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL March 21, 2017 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Council President Doug Poehls at 6:30 p.m. on March 21, 2017. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Doug Poehls _ Bruce McGee Richard Herr Chuck Dickerson Scot Stokes Bill Mountsier COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Tom Nelson OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Brent Peters, Fire Chief Bethany Keeler, Clerk/Treasurer Council President Poehls led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Council President Poehls asked the council to observe a moment of silence. MINUTES: Motion by Council Member Herr to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 7, 2017, as presented, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. CORRESPONDENCE. Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Minutes of February 9, 2017; Agenda for March 9, 2017. COUNCIL DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS. PUBLIC HEARING. CONSENT ITEMS: • Clerk/Treasurer Financial Statements for the month of February 2017. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 03/13/2017totaling$171,998.01. • Receiving the Committee/Board/Commission Reports into the Record. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of March 7, 2017 were presented. --City-County Planning Board minutes of March 2, 2017 were presented. --Park Board minutes of March 2, 2017 were presented. --Tree Board minutes of March 9, 2017 were presented. --Council Workshop minutes of March 14, 2017 were presented. --Insurance Committee minutes of February 27, 2017 were presented. --Laurel Airport Authority minutes of November 22, 2016 were presented. --Laurel Library Board minutes of January 10, 2017 were presented. V'4 Council Minutes of March 21,2017 --Laurel Library Board minutes of February 14, 2017 were presented. The council president asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: • Confirmation of Appointments. Laurel Ambulance Service: Council President Poehls appointed Jacob Haan and Sharla Steele to the Laurel Ambulance Service. Motion by Council Member McGee to approve the appointments of Jacob Haan and Sharla Steele to the Laurel Ambulance Service, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. Park Board: Council President Poehls appointed Phyllis Bromgard to the Park Board to fill a term ending December 31, 2020. Motion by Council Member Stokes to approve the appointment of Phyllis Bromgard to the Park Board to fill a term ending December 31, 2020, seconded by Council Member Mountsier. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. • Motion to authorize the Mayor to send Yellowstone County a letter of interest regarding the proposed countywide ambulance service on the City's behalf. Motion by Council Member McGee to authorize the Mayor to send Yellowstone County a letter of interest regarding the proposed countywide ambulance service on the City's behalf, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. • Resolution No. R17-07: Resolution authorizing the use of Tax Increment Finance District funds to pay off the balance owed on Special Improvement District No. 111 City of Laurel. Motion by Council Member Dickerson to approve Resolution No. R17-07, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. • Resolution No. R17-08: A resolution of the City Council authorizing the Mayor to sign • a contract with the Billings Family YMCA for the operation and management of the City of Laurel Municipal Pool. Motion by Council Member Mountsier to approve Resolution No. R17-08, seconded by Council Member McGee. There was no public comment or council discussion. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. 2 Council Minutes of March 21,2017 COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Council Member Stokes mentioned that the Park Board still has one vacancy for a council member. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member Eaton to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Council Member McGee. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members 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 6:39 p.m. Cindy Allen,t ouncil Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 4th day of April, 2017. V‘W-4,1 Mark A. Mace, Mayor Attest: k Bethany K: , Clerk/Treasurer 3 CITY HALL - 115 W. IST ST. Cit of Laurel ADMINISTRATION:628-8456 y A�J PUB.WORKS:628-4796 WATER OFC.:628-7431 P.O.Box 10 FAX 628-2241 Laurel,Montana 59044 _ Office of the Mayor March 21, 2017 Yellowstone County Emergency&General Services Attn: Brad Shoemaker P.O. Box 35004 Billings, MT 59107-5004 Re: Letter of Interest: Ambulance Consolidation for Yellowstone County Dear Brad: I write in response to your presentations to the City Council regarding the possibility of creating a consolidated rural ambulance service for Yellowstone County. The discussions held on February 28 and March 14, 2017 were helpful and provided the Council and me with enough background information to formulate a general understanding of the roles the County and City of Laurel would undertake if the proposal were to move forward. As with any potential change of service in a community, there are a number of concerns being expressed by members of the public as well as current serving volunteers regarding the effectiveness and performance of a consolidated district. The City of Laurel has relied upon the commitment and dedication of its volunteers to provide its current ambulance service for a number of years. Any modification or change in the City's existing service will require substantial discussion, study, and public input into the entire process. Therefore, I would request the City be an active participant if and when the proposal moves forward. I am willing to direct city staff to work on this proposal if it moves forward from this point. Please be advised the City's Emergency Services Committee met after the February 28, 2017 Council Workshop, and there were a number of concerns regarding the operation of the proposed consolidated service including,but not limited to,numbers of ambulances, location of ambulance stations, and staffing, especially on the western side of Yellowstone County where Laurel is located. It is crucial that the services currently offered must improve and not decline if the proposal comes to fruition. Please be advised that these concerns, and likely others, will have to be addressed as your efforts continue in order to maintain the City of Laurel's support. The City is interested in being a strong partner for the County as you continue to consider this proposal. At this point, please consider this letter as the City of Laurel's support for the proposed consolidated ambulance service for Yellowstone County. Please contact myself at 406-628-8456 or our Chief Administrative Officer, Heidi Jensen at 406-628-8456 for any matter related to this on-going effort. 44cerely, i‘j‘4°17 Mark A. Mace Mayor