HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Head Meetings Minutes 04.15.2008 MINUTES
DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING
APRIL 15, 2008 3:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PRESENT:
Bill Sheridan
Sam Painter
Rick Musson
Gay Easton
Nancy Schmidt
Mary Embleton
Jan Faught
Scott Wilm
James Caniglia
Kurt Markegard (3:47 p.ro.)
Gay Eaaton led the meeting.
Council Aeenda - April 15~ 2008
Scheduled Matters:
* Continuation of Appointments: None.
· Resolution No. R08-27: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement with the
Montana Depa~huent of Transportation to provide for street cleaning on the primary road system
in the City of Laurel.
The MDT street sweeping agreement for 2007-2008 was received and dism~outed last week. The
resolution is on tonight's council agend~
· Resolution No. R08-32: 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 Depa~'tment.
Rick stated that the resolution is on tonight's council agenda.
· Resolution No. R08-33: A resolution approving a Maintenance Agreement between the City of
Laurel and Yellowstone County providing for the maintenance of the Yellowstone County
Veteran's Cemetery.
Bill stated that the maintenance agreement was prepared during the last three months and is on tonight's
council agenda.
· Resolution No. R08-34: Resolution of the City Council declaring its intention to support the
City of Laurel's Centennial Celebration and the efforts of the newly-formed Centennial
· Resolution No. R08-35: A resolution of the City Council authorizing the Mayor to sign a one-
time project specific agreement between the Owner (City of Laurel, Montana) and the Engineer
(Morrison and Maierle, Inc.) for design, bidding, construction, and post-censtruction of the
Phase 2 Wnsteweter Treatment Plant upgrade, outlined in the 2006 Laurel Wasteweter Facilities
Plan Update.
The agreement with Mon'ison-Maierle is on tonight's council agenda.
· Resolution No. R08-36: Resolution of the City Council to create the seasonal positions of life
guardAustructor and to adopt a job deso-iption for such positions.
Bill stated that the hiring process will begin atier the lifeguard/instructor job description has been
approved.
Departmeat ~ Mee~ng Minutes of April 15, 2008
Draft Council Worl~hon A~enda - April 29, 2008
Police Denas h~-nt:
· Resolution - Standard Agreement State Highway Traffic Safety Bureau
Rick stated that this agreement is for a radar unit for the department.
Public Works Department:
· Resolution - Utility Agreement with MDT for the 2002 - Turn Lane - Laurel project
Mary explained that the utility agreement is for the MDT turn lane project on South First Avenue and
continuing on East Main Street to Milwaukee Street.
Executive review:
· Resolution- Job description for the Chief Administrative Office
There was no discussion.
· Resolution - Contract for revision of the Persor~el Implementation and Instruction Guide
Mary stated that the Personnel Implementation and Instruction Guide needs to be revised to coincide
with the Personnel Policy Manual, which was completed several years ago. Paul Hutter, AEM, will
submit a proposal for the revision.
· Appointment:
o Veteran's Cemetery Ex Officio Member: Norm Stamper
The appointment will be on the April 29* council workshop agendm
· Review of draf[ letter to MDT regarding the fight hand turn lane and the 25 mph speed limit
signs on South First Avenue
Bill will prepare the draf~ letter for the council's consideration.
· Council Issues:
o Ordinance - Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board
Gay recently saw information that the YI-IPB wants to include farmlands and homesteads in the
ordinance.
Denartment Reports:
Ambulance Service
· Update on remodel
Jan stated that Bill is working on the remodel. The ambulance responded to the shooting call last
weekend. Jan stated that the equipment needed to be cleaned al[er the call, but the crew did not have a
place to do it. She stated the urgency to get the remodel completed in the ambulance are~
City Council President
Gay recently received a call from the Yellowstone Conservation District, on which he serves as a board
member. The District has the authority for releasing water rights out of the Yellowstone River. There
is a poss~ility of getting water rights for the cemetery out of the High Ditch instead of the Cove Ditch
so that irrigation is not cut offduring the summer months. Bill Sheridan will work with Bill Enright
(Interstate Engineering) on thi.q issue.
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Depamneflt Head Meeting Minutes of April 15, 200~
Clerk/Treasurer
Mary received a letter fi'om the Montana Department of Revenue regarding the TIF District. The
Department determined that the city's documents comply with formulating the TIFD and the order to
begin the process was issued. Mary stated that meetings need to be scheduled to determine the needed
projects. She suggested that Steve Zeier, BSEDA, and Bruce McCandless, City of Billings, and the city
staffshould be involved. She stated that the propeaty owners in the TIFD need to be kept informed.
Mary stated that Miral Gamredt presented the Water CIP last Thursday. Miral will be here on Thursday
at 10:00 a.m. to finish the enterprise funds and begin addressing the other funds. Miral would like to
meet with department heads on Thursday and Friday to go over CIP requests. Mary asked department
heads to e-mail regarding appointments with Miral. Mary stated tliat Miral's program includes the
city's whole financial picture.
Mary mentioned that Pat Murtagh would like to receive the letters of support for the Water TSEP Grant
as soon as poss~le.
Mary stated that MMIA will allow employees to choose from all available health programs this year.
Helen will explain the plans to all fitly-nine city employees at five scheduled meetings next week.
There was discussion regarding mandatory attendance at a meeting, which will be Mayor Olson's final
decision. Bill, Gay, and Rick agreed that attendance should be mandatory. Rick suggested scheduling
the evening meeting at 7:00 p.m. The L~rary is available for the meetings. The Insurance Coainiittee
will meet this week to restructure, appoint a new ehairnmn, and preview the information. Rick stated
that Mark Guy already distributed the information to the police union employees.
Fire Deva~tment
· Update on interface pumper
Scott stated that the pumper has been repainted and is being worked on.
· Cencx mutual aid contract
Scott has not heard anything regarding the Cenex contract.
Library
· Update on roof repair
Nancy stated that the roof has been repaired, and Leonard will give an estimate to replace the roof.
· Update on parking lot
Bill will schedule a meeting with the engineers (Engineering, Inc.) next week to review the parking lot
project. Nancy stated that Monday and Tuesday would not work for her schedule.
Nancy mentioned that the h'brary might not change to summer hours. She will discuss this with the
L~lxary Board at the next meeting.
Nancy attended a conference about intellectual fxeedom and security issues last week.
Police Denartrnent
· Bus parking zones
Rick will meet with Sam to finalize the information needed to prepare the ordinance for the bus parking
zones.
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of April 15, 2008
· SRO contracts
Rick stated that the SRO contracts will come forward soon.
Gay asked if there have been complaints regarding parking at the Laurel Middle School Rick stated
that there have not been complaints recently.
City Planner
· Update on alley vacations (March 2008)
James requested that discussion about Russell Park be placed on the April 29a' council workshop agenda
in order to get direction from the council. The city cmmot sell the street but could sell the lots.
James has been working on the Gas Tax map and has found pieces of alley and street that should have
been annexed when property was annexed. The County will need to quit claim deed the property to the
city and the city will need to go through the correct process. The city needs to annex all adjacent right-
of-way in annexation resolutions.
James explained that the wording in LMC is unclear regarding whether to allow a home that had a
conditional use to be rebuilt at~er it was destroyed by fire. He has proposed wording for LMC
17.56.030 and asked that this be added to the April 29th council workshop agenda.
· Annexation of Riverside Park
James stated that the title company has found that 25 acres of Riverside Park were properly deeded.
James will stop at the title company's office on Wednesday. According to the County GIS, there should
be 36½ acres in Riverside Park.
Public Works Devartment:
Bill stated that the Public Works Department has received ongoing complaints about traffic around
Ricci's Express, particularly the large fuel trucks. Bill contacted the owner, the complainants, and the
company that delivers the services.
Bill is trying to find local contractors to do the remodel work in the ambulance office. Bill is also trying
to address the heating and cooling issues in the two-story city hall building.
Bill stated that Peaks to Prairies installed and paid for an asphalt path in Riverside Park in preparation
for their upcoming event. Bill stated that the asphalt path could be used es a base for a p~mament mad.
There was discussion regarding special events coverage for the Peaks to Prairies event. Bill will contact
them regarding their liability insurance and ask them to name the City of Laurel as an additional insured
on their policy.
City Attorney:.
· Historic Preservation Board ordinance
Sam was not sure if the issues are resolved and will review the checklist with Kurt.
· Cable franchise
Sam will schedule a meeting with the owner within the next two weeks.
Sam, Mary and James will work on the interlocal agreement.
Sam and James will meet to discuss the issue with the sound barrier wall in Elena Subdivision.
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Head Mee'dng Minutes of April 15, 2008
Mayor Olson
· Expectations
There was no discussior~
· Council tour of WTP and WWTP facilities - April 22~a at 6:00 p.m.
Kurt stated that the chief operators will be at the WTP and WWTP for the tour. The PWD blazers will
be available to transport the council members to the facilities.
Other:.
Bill stated that the city's annual alley cleanup week is scheduled for April 28* through May 2~d. The
centennial cleanup is scheduled for May 3ra and 4th.
The meeting adjourned at 3:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary
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Public Worl~ Staff Meeting
April 14, 2OO8
Bill Sheridan
Kurt Markegard
Gary Colley
James Caniglia
Cheryll Lurid
Chris Rosenberg
Bill stated that both he and James were approached by a land owner (George Fox)
wanting to build 70- 1 bedroom units on his property that is directly east of Village
Subdivision (Alder Ridge).
Discussion on the poss~ility of providing water and sewer services was discussed as well
as the issues with the Nutting Drain. This piece of property has major flooding during
rain storms and is considered a "swamp".
Bill will inform the developer of several major issues that will need to be addressed.
Planning
James stated that he has been a.p~r~ached by a business that is interested in purchasing
the church located between E. 5 and E. 6th on Alder Avenue for offices. The property is
zoned R-6000 which does not allow commercial businesses. James is unsure if it could
be rezonec~ due to it's location within residential property.
James bas a meeting with the Yellowstone County Commissioners and County Roads
regarding Saddle Ridge subdivision. The current subdivision regulations state that the
roads need to be paved but the developer wants to go by the old regulations that require
gravel
Parks
All park bathrooms should be on soon, weather pramitting.
The new bathrooms in KJwunig and Russell are still in need of eleotricity and concrete.
Bids for electrical service have been received and Kurt will review them and make a
recommendation to Budget/Finance for approval. The bathrooms in Kiwanis were
vandalized over the weekend.
Arbor Day will be celebrated on April 25th at 1:00 pm in Russell Park. Lilac bushes will
be purchased and the crew will dig the holes for planting.
Millings need to be hauled to Ponderosa Park for parking area improvements.
Si~.~ w~re put up in Lions Park (South Pond) r~garding dog poop. Ku~ has looked into
placement of dog clean-up stations that would consist of providing bags and gloves for
dog owners to eliminate the dog poop. Kurt does not recommend this, due to theft and
vandalism, but will pass the information on to the Park Committee.
Donated playground equipment needs to be accepted by the City Council prior to
inatallation. This will be placed on the Workshop agenda in the near future along with
Kurt's recommendation of the placement ofchuln link foncing around all equipment for
the salty of the children using the equipment.
Kurt will draw up plans for Lions Park and Nutting Park where it is planned to place the
playground equipment.
SoHdWaate
The annual Bright and Be~_~iful clean up is scheduled for Laurel on April 26th and 27t~;
City wide alley clean up is scheduled for April 28~ through May 2nd; and Centennial
Celebration clean-up zs schedule for May 3 and 4t~. Vi Hills needs a list of items that
will not be taken during the clean-up. These are items that are not allowed to he taken to
the Billings landfill
The garbage truck fire last Tuesday, April 8th was extinguished after the trash was ejected
into the City Shop lot by driver Dave Saylor. Dave's quick thinking of driving to the
City Shop resulted in saving the garbage track and it was suggested that he get a letter of
accommodation that is also placed in his personnel file.
The rear-loader is ready to roll for the clean up days.
Specifications for the new garbage truck are still being worked on.
Streets
The crew is beginning to patch streets.
Kurt is inventorying streets that need to be rebuilt. Right now he is only considering
streets that have either new or no waterlines in them due to budget constraints.
Cemetery
The Fire Department burned the empty field located north of the cemetery and there are
plans to drag and then over seed the property in preparation for the new Vet's Cemetery.
The pump that pumps water out of the ditch to water the cemetery needs to be looked at
prior to use.
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Kurt suggested that cemetery money set aside for tree trimming be used to purchase
additional hrigation pipe that would be used specifically for water the trees.
Water/Sewer Systems
The crew is repairing curb boxes.
An offer of employment was sent and accepted for the open Utility Worker II position~
Prior to hiring this person will have to pass some physical tests as well as drug screening.
His date of hire will be April 28, 2008.
The yearly jet-rodding maintenance will begin soon.
Pool
Job descriptions are complete for pool employees and the hiring process will begin.
Seasonal maintenance positions will he advertised as soon as poss~le.
Riverside Park
The park opens on May 23rd and a caretaker will be hired to start on May 12z to get the
park cleaned and ready.
Kurt said that there are some doors within various parks that will need to be either
replaced or re-painted.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants
There will be a tour of both plants on April 22~ at 6:00 pm any one that is interested.
Publie Works
Coupons for washing of city vehicles will be purchased at Town Pump for Public Works
and Platming personnel.
The maps from Great West Engineering need to he finished. Guy Rolison is working
with them to get all information up to date.
Building and Code Enforcement
Gary will be on vacation May 5th -9~h.
Chris passed his building code test that he took in Boise, Idaho. The week after he
returned from Boise he attended a Building Code conference in Bozeman. He reported
that the classes gave out a lot ofinformation~
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The meeting was ove~ at 10:15.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryll Lund
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