Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03.04.2008MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL March 4, 2008 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, was held in the Council Chambers and called to Order by President Gay Easton at 6:30 p.m. on March 4, 2008. Mayor Olson was unable to attend the council meeting. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Kate Hart Gay Easton Alex Wilkins Doug Poehls Mark Mace Chuck Dickerson Norm Stamper COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Mary Embleton Brooke Baracker James Caniglia Jan Faught President Easton led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. President Easton asked the council to observe a moment of silence. MINUTES: Motion by Council Member Stamper to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 19, 2008, as presented, seconded by Council Member Mace. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. Ail eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. CORRESPONDENCE: Brad Molnar, Public Service Commissioner: Letter regarding "Conservation Challenge" in Laurel on March 27, 2008. Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Minutes of February 14, 2008; Agenda of February 28, 2008. PUBLIC HEARING: Ordinance No. O08-03: An ordinance amending the zoning map of the City of Laurel, Montana, extending the boundaries of the Central Business District. (First reading - 02/19/2008) President Easton opened the public hearing. City Planner James Caniglia presented the issue and stated that the extension of the Central Business District would include the area between Main and First Streets and would extend l~om Pennsylvania to Alder Avenue. None of the current businesses would be affected. This would allow for more lot coverage and taller buildings in the hopes of encouraging infill development with apartments. President Easton asked three times if there were any proponents. There were none. President Easton asked three times if there were any opponents. There were none. President Easton closed the public hearing. CONSENT ITEMS: · Claims for the month of February 2008 in the amount of $297,122.79. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer'S Office. · Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 02/24/2008 totaling $115,994.85. Council Minutes of March 4, 2008 · Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of February 19, 2008 were presented. --Council Workshop minutes of February 26, 2008 were presented. President Easton 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: Arbor Day Proclamation On behalf of Mayor Olson, President Easton read the Arbor Day Proclamation, which proclaimed Friday, April 25, 2008, as Arbor Day in the City of Laurel. President Easton stated that the Arbor Day program on April 25th would include planting shrubbery and trees in Russell Park. The city received a $1,000 grant from DNRC for this event. South School children will participate in the program. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: · Confirmation of Appointments. Bright 'n Beautiful: On behalf of Mayor Olson, President Easton appointed Chuck Dickerson to the Bright 'n Beautiful Committee. Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve the Mayor's appointment of Chuck Dickerson to the Bright 'n Beautiful Committee, seconded by Council Member Hart. 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. City of Laurel Volunteer Ambulance Crew Member: On behalf of Mayor Olson, President Easton appointed Eric Rhea as a City of Laurel Volunteer Ambulance Crew Member. Motion by Council Member Poehls to approve the Mayor's appointment of Eric Rhea as a City of Laurel Volunteer Ambulance Crew Member, seconded by Council Member Stamper. There was no public comment or council discussion. Ambulance Director Faught introduced Eric Rhea to the council and stated that it is good to have him on the crew. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. · Ordinance No. O08-02: Ordinance adopting annexation regulations for the City of Laurel for incorporation in Chapter 16 of the Laurel Municipal Code. Second reading. Motion by Council Member Hart to adopt Ordinance No. O08-02, 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. 2 Council Minutes of March 4, 2008 · Resolution No. R08-21: A resolntion to adopt an official Schedule of Fees and Charges for the City of Laurel, repealing all previous resolutions that set fees or charges that conflict with the schedule attached hereto upon its effective date. Motion by Council Member Wilkins to approve Resolution No. R08-21, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment. Council Member Poehls stated that there were a couple issues on the fees and charges. The council previously discussed whether or not to table this to the next voting session ox' to change the wording in one section. Council Member Hart stated that the Park Board will meet on Thursday, but the council should vote on this item tonight. She asked Council Member Mace to explain a proposed change. Council Member Mace suggested changing the wording from "Other Special Events" to "All Other Parks Special Events". There was a brief discussion. Mary Embleton stated that the council discussed this issue at last week's council workshop. She stated that the proper protocol would be, if the council chose to change the wording, to make a motion to amend the language in the document, vote on the amendment, and then vote on the motion to adopt the resolution. If the Park Board wants to address the issues and revise the fees later, the process to amend the schedule of fees and charges can be done at a later date. Motion by Council Member Mace to amend the motion to change the verbiage on the Schedule of Fees and Charges, seconded by Council Member Dickerson There was a brief discussion regarding the verbiage change. The wording will say "All Other Special Events ~n Parks . A vote was taken on the amended motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. A vote was taken on the motion to approve Resolution No. R08-21, as amended. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. · Resolution No. R08-22: A resolution to adopt the City of Laurel Annexation Policy. Motion by Council Member Hart to approve Resolution No. R08-22, seconded by Council Member Mace. 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. 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. Council Member Dickerson stated that the Centennial Committee Will meet on Thursday, March 6th, at 7:00 p.m. at city hall. Anyone is welcome to attend the meeting. Council Member Hart stated that the Park Board will meet on Thursday, March 6th, at 4:00 p.m. with Jolene Rieck regarding the master plan. Council Member Eaton stated that she appreciated Cindy's work and thanked all support staff for their work and for providing such a good support system for the council. Council Member Eaton mentioned two items for the "Dates to Remember" on the council agenda. On March 18th at 8:00 a.m., the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board will meet in the Billings Parmly Library. The Tree Board will meet on Thursday, March 27th, at 1:30 p.m. 3 Council Minutes of March 4, 2008 President Easton thanked Council Member Eaton for her work on the Historic Board and on the upcoming centennial celebration. He stated that information is being gathered about the historic homes and sites in Laurel and Council Member Eaton has done a lot of the work. Council Member Dickerson mentioned that there was an article in the Billings Gazette on Sunday regarding the history in Laurel. There was also a picture of Main Street in 1908. President Easton mentioned that the photography class at the high school is documenting all of the old houses in the city. A walking brochure will be published and will include photographs of the business district from a hundred years ago to the present. The students and the teacher, Cathy Conaway, are excited about the project and will continue to work on it during the summer. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjottmed at 6:59 p.m. Cind~ecretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 4th day of March, 2008. t/t(enneth E. Olson, Jr.~fayor Attest: Mary K. ~Inbleton, Clerk-Treasurer 4