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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 05.06.2008MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL May 6, 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 Mayor Ken Olson at 6:30 p.m. on May 6, 2008. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Gay Easton COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Kate Hart Alex Wilkins OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Bill Sheridan Brooke Baracker Mayor Olson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mayor Olson asked the council to observe a moment of silence. MINUTES: Daug Poehls Mark Mace Chuck Dickerson Norm Stamper Scott Wilrn James Caniglia Motion b Council Member Eaton to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 15, 2008, 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. Motion b Council Member Easton to approve the minutes of the special meeting of April 29, 2008, as presented, seconded by Council Member Stamper. There was no public cornrnent or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. CORRESPONDENCE: Montana Department of Revenue: Letter of April 10, 2008, regarding Laurel Urban Renewal Tax Increment Financing District Document Submission Montana Association of Railroad Passengers: Apri12008 Newsletter. Billings YMCA: Letter of April 12, 2008 regarding proposal for operation of the swimming pool. Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Minutes of March 27, 2008; Agenda of April 24, 2008. Yellowstone Valley: Electric Cooperative: Letter of April 24, 2008 regarding the Highwood Generating Station (HGS). PUBLIC HEARING: None. CONSENT ITEMS: • Claims for the month of Apri12008 in the amount of $143,447.67. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer's Office. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 04/20/2008 totaling $137,804.30. • Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of April 15, 2008 were presented. --Insurance Committee minutes of April 17, 2008 were presented. Council Minutes of May 6, 2008 --Tree Board minutes of April 17, 2008 were presented. --Emergency Services.Committee minutes of Apri121, 2008 were presented. --Council Workshot~ minutes of Apri129, 2008 were presented. --Laurel Ai ort Authorit minutes of March 25, 2008 were presented. --Tree Board Arbor Day Celebration minutes of Apri125, 2008 were presented The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Motion b Council Member Mace 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 eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: • Recognition of Vi bills for the Centennial Cleanup event Public Works Director Bill Sheridan stated that he is glad to be a city employee in the public works department. Bill asked Vi Hills to join him at the podium. Bill stated that he met Vi about two months ago when she presented a great idea to him and Mayor Olson. She talked about cleaning up the City of Laurel. Bill stated that Vi was enthusiastic, hard-working, and determined. She worked hard to get everyone organized to improve the looks -of the City of Laurel. She contacted businesses, individuals, and organizations. She found a grant to pay for food for lunches. Vi wrote work orders and asked people if they would allow garbage to be picked up. Bill stated that Vi did a tremendous .job, and, as a result, a substantial amount of garbage was removed from the city. She got some military people to pick up garbage in a huge truck, found a recycler to stage a place for disposal of tires, and found an individual to pick up car bodies. Bill stated that last weekend's event was a tremendous success, and Vi has already spoken with him regarding next year's event. Bill thanked Vi for her efforts to help make Laurel the cleanest it has been in a Lang time. Vi stated that nothing that happened would have succeeded had it not been for a lot of good folks behind the event. She stated that the Public Works Department did a phenomenal job. She hopes there was an impact within the community. Considering the tonnage of garbage reported, and the 500 tires and 175 gallons of oil that were collected, Vi stated that the event was successful but was just a start. Mayor Olson mentioned that he worked with Vi on the Olympic Torch event several years ago. He thanked her for her efforts with the cleanup event and presented her with a certificate of recognition for her service to the City of Laurel as the coordinator for the 2008 Centennial Cleanup Event. Council Member Dickerson participated in the cleanup event and stated that it was very organized. He stated that a great lunch was provided. It was his pleasure to Help and he looks forward to the next opportunity. Mayor Olson stated his appreciation and thanked Vi for her efforts. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: • Discussion on motion of support for Fire Hall Task Force findings -Chairman Doug Poehls Chairman Doug Poehls mentioned that, at last week's council workshop, Bill Sheridan informed the council that the Fire Ha11 Task Force has looked at locations for a future fire hall. Two locations are being considered. The fire department originally presented the first location, which is the north side of the Ricci's lot. A second possibility is on Eighth Avenue across from the library. Council Member Poehls stated that the city's CIP program is being worked on at this time. The firemen want to continue to work on this project, but they need to know whether the council is committed to continue the process for a new fire hall and how to fund it through G.O. bonds or something like that. Council Member Poehls asked for a vote of confidence to continue researching general obligation bonds, which may be for both the fire hall and the CIP. He stated that the council needs to be educated about general obligation bonds and the requirements and needs to determine if it wants the process to continue. Council Member Dickerson asked regarding the two possible sites for the new fire hall z Council Minutes of May 6, 2008 Council Member Poehls stated that prices have been received for both sites, but the funding process for construction of the $4 to $5 million project needs to be determined. The council needs the education on haw general obligation bonds work, how they are secured, and everything that is required. Council Member Dickerson asked if the purchase of the property, the general obligation bonds, and the CIP are involved together. Council Member Poehls stated. that it is all involved together. The city is in the process of starting the CIP program with Miral Gamradt, and a conference call is scheduled soon. Council Member Poehls needs to be able to tell the firemen that the council is still interested in pursuing this so they stay interested in working an the details of it. Council Member Mace stated that interest is not an issue for him because he is interested in making the fawn a better situation for the firemen. He stated that, one of these days, the city will have to consider. afull-time fire department. He stated that the council needs to do a lot of education to the public on this issue. The firemen provide a great deal of service to the community, so people know where the firemen are, but the community does .Hat realize the conditions that the city will have to consider in a few years and the future need for satellite fire stations. Cauncil Member Mace would support a new fire hall, but he would also like to see movement toward a satellite station an the south side or to the north where the city is growing. People need to see this being done rather than just moving the fire department out of a fire hall that the public thinks is totally adequate. The public does not know about the space issues far the departments in the FAP building, and getting all that built into the CIP is very critical with the rest of the budgetary issues in the city. Council Member Mace stated that, if there is going to be a line item for a new fire hall, there has to be time to get that done. Furcliasing property next week is impossible. He stated that he supports the firemen 100 percent and would help to educate the public. Council Member Eaton stated that, not only would she want. to give Councilman Faehls and the Task Force the approval and support they are looking far, but she thanked Councilman Poehls for stating that the council needs education on general obligation bonds, the CIP, and the whole process. As Councilman Mace stated, the council will need to educate the public and could not do a very good jab if they are not educated first. She thanked him for asking for the motion of support and for giving the council a prelude as to what is going to happen and the fact that the council will have another education curve. Council Member Dickerson agreed with everything that was said. He strongly supports the department and the Task Force and cannot emphasize enough how important it is to provide the education for the Cauncil. and the public. He stated that this was seen in the last election when the voters approved the chief administrative officer's position for the city and this was done solely because of the information and the literature that was available to the voters. He is in full support of this and thanked the Task Farce for its work. Council Member Stamper stated his support for the fire department and the council to continue whatever is needed to keep the process going. Council Member Poehls thanked .the Cauncil for their support. Mayor Olson stated that .the information regarding general obligation bonds would be distributed to the council tomorrow to start the education process. There will be discussion on the May 13tH council workshop agenda: The Task Force will present information to the council as it becomes available. Mayor Olson stated that the fire department could. also present information at council workshops. He believes the council has stated support and the process can move forward. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: • Confirmation of Appointments. Yellowstone Count Veterans' Cemeter Board: 3 Council Minutes of May 6, 2008 Mayor Olson appointed Norm Stamper as an ex officio member on the Yellowstone County Veterans' Cemetery Board. Motion b Council Member Dickerson to approve the appointment of Norm Stamper as an ex officio member on the Yellowstone County Veterans' Cemetery Board, seconded by Council Member Mace. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken an the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. Mayor Olson thanked Norm Stamper for accepting the position on the board. The road is in at the cemetery, a well has been put in, and there is an effort to get more water for irrigation in the city's cemetery and the Veterans' Cemetery.. Mayor Olson thanked Dick Fritzler and Norm Stamper far their work on the Cemetery Board: • Resolution No. R08-37: Resolution to adopt amendments to the 2007 Water System .Facility Plan in accordance with the recommendations presented by Great West Engineering. Motion b Council Member Poehls to approve Resolution No. RO$-37, 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. RO$-38: Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign a contract with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) fora Laurel Police Department equipment grant. Motion b Council Member Dickerson to approve Resolution No. R08-38, seconded by Council Member Stamper. 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. R08-39: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign a Utility Work Agreement with the Montana Department of Transportation for the adjustment of city water and sanitary sewer manhole facilities. Motion b Council Member Stam er to approve, Resolution No. R08-39, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment ar council discussion. A vote was taken an the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. • Resolution No. R08-40: Resolution approving a Small Service Contract with Winkler Excavating Inc. for paving a bike trail at Riverside Park. Motion b Council Member Eaton to approve Resolution No. R08-40, seconded by Council Member Poehls. There was no public comment. Council Member Dickerson stated concern regarding a letter from Mr. Sheridan about the $5,500 payment promised by Peaks to Prairies. He asked regarding the path. Bill Sheridan stated that the path is in place and it starts at the entry to the park, takes the left hand Y, hugs the right side of the Y, and goes all the way to the boat ramp. It is an excellent surface for bike riders and can be used for a variety of vehicles. Bill stated that, Pram. the beginning, the folks that used the space and the bike path .indicated that they would pay for the paving. He is sure that will happen, but he has had .trouble connecting with them. Council Member Dickerson asked that the issue be on next week's council workshop agenda to find out the status of this issue. Bill stated that he will continue to communicate with them, but for whatever reason, they have not responded. He stated that the city did its best to make that particular race and the finish of the race the best that it could possibly be, and we had a clear understanding that they would be paying for that pavement. Mayor Olson stated that he attended the finale of the race at Coulson Park. At that time, they were supposed to present the city with an enlarged check for that project but told him that they did not 4 Council Minutes of May 6, 2008 have it. They did say that the funding was available. Fle concurs with Public Works Director Bill Sheridan that the obligation will be met once contact is made. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. • Resolution No. R08-41: A resolution accepting playground equipment donated by Project HELP for Nutting and Lions Parks within the City of Laurel. Motion by Council Member Poehls to approve Resolution No. R08-41, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. As a member of the Park Board, Council Member Mace thanked the Public Works Department fox its efforts to find the locations for the playground equipment and getting it ready for use this summer. He also thanked Amy Pollock for all her individual efforts with this project. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. • Resolution No. R08-42: A resolution transferring Parks General Funds to the Parks Capital Projects Funds of the City of Laurel, Montana. Motion b Council Member Easton to approve Resolution No. R08-42, seconded by Council Member Poehls. 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. R08-43: Budget amendment resolution to appropriate funding from the Capital Projects Fund- for additional park improvements. Motion b Council Member Mace to approve Resolution No. R08-43, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken an the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. • Resolution No. R08-44: Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign a contract with Associated Employers ("AE") for the revision of the City's Personnel Implementation and Instruction Guide. Motion b Council Member Dickerson to approve Resolution No. R08-44, seconded by Council Member Stamper. 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. • Ordinance No. 008-04: Ordinance amending Sections 17.66.070 of the Laurel Municipal Code, adding a provision for providing notice to the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board upon application for a demolition permit prior to demolition of the building(s) providing for athree-business-day period for purposes of photographing historic buildings. First reading. Motion by Council Member Easton to adopt Ordinance No. 008-04, seconded by Council Member Stamper. There was no public comment or council discussion. A roll call vote was taken an the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. Mayor Olson explained that the heading of Ordinance No. 008-04 was changed after the council agenda was distributed. The change, which was discussed at the council workshop on April 29th, was regarding which city department would photograph a building prior to demolition. The ordinance states that the Public Works Department will take the photographs. The public hearing of Ordinance No. 008-04 will be on the June aid council agenda. • Ordinance No. 008-OS: Ordinance amending Section 17.56.030 of the Laurel Municipal Code to clarify when a damaged non-conforming use residential structure can be rebuilt. First reading. Motion b Council Member Stam er to adopt Ordinance No. 008-OS, 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. Council Minutes of May 6, 2008 The public hearing of Ordinance No. 008-OS will be on the June 3`d council agenda. • Letter to Montana Department of Transportation regarding the right hand turn lane and the 25 mph speed limit signs on South First Avenue Motion by Council Member Mace to approve the letter to the Montana Department of Transportation regarding the right hand turn land and the 25 mph speed limit signs on South First Avenue, 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. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: Nane. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. COUNCIIL DISCUSSION: • Review of Monthly Reports: Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Code Enforcement: None. Council Member Poehls stated that the Emergency Services Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 2$`", to discuss the fire district contract with Cenex and the mutual aid contract with Cenex. Cenex is supposed to have a reply to the city soon. Council Member .Dickerson expressed concern regarding the intersection of Airport Road and Buffalo Trail. The signs to increase the speed limits on that highway were placed about 25 to 30 yards south of the intersection. He asked that this item be on the May 13`" council workshop agenda. He requested that someone check into the possibility of contacting whatever entity is responsible to see about placing the speed limit signs about 25 to 50 yards north of the intersection so the speed increases after the intersection. Council Member Stamper thanked the mayor and council for the appointment to the Veterans' Cemetery Board. He was unable to make the first meeting last week and has requested a copy of the minutes of the meeting. He will bring regular updates forward to the council. The Baard will set the rules and regulations for the cemetery, and some questions have already been asked. Council Member Eaton added some events to the Dates to Remember. The Yellowstone Historic Preservation Roundtable is scheduled on Tuesday, May 20`", from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the old Masonic Temple on Broadway in Billings. This is an opportunity for atwo-minute introduction to the entities involved with history. On Tuesday, May 20`", at 7:00 p.m. at The Crossings, the Western Heritage Center will sponsor a presentation on haw communities retain their characteristics in light of urban sprawl. Mayor Olson stated that Memarial Day services will be held at the Laurel Cemetery at 9:00 a.m. An afternoon service is scheduled at the Veterans' Cemetery. Council Member Stamper stated that the groundbreaking ceremony at the Veterans' Cemetery is scheduled at 3:00 p.m. an Memorial Day. Council Member Dickerson mentioned that there was an article about the Veterans' Cemetery and the groundbreaking ceremony in last Tuesday's newspaper. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion b Council Member Eaton to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Council Member Poehls. There was no public comment or cauncil 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 7:17 p.m. 6 Council Minutes of May 6, 2008 //-- ~~ti Cindy Allen, cretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 20`'' day of May, 2008. nneth E. Olson, Jr., yor Attest: Mary K: bletan, Clerk-Treasurer I 1