HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Head Meetings Minutes 09.16.2008MINUTES
DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 3:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PRESENT: Bill Sheridan
Kurt Mazkegard
Sam Painter
Mary Embleton
Jan Fought
Gay Easton
Rick Musson
Nancy Schmidt
Scott Wilm
Outlook Calendar Traiiniin -Bart Haskell
Bart Haskell presented a Microsoft Outlook Calendar training session for use by individuals and as a
citywide ca.lendaz. He explained how to plan, organize and shaze information through Outlook,
including a-mail, a contact list, and a calendaz. The city needs to decide which features will be used and
who will be responsible to maintain the public information.
Council A ends - Se tember 1G 2008
Correspondence:
Bill mentioned that a Water Forum is scheduled at MSU in Billings on September 25~' and 26~'. Gay
and Bill will attend the forum
Public Hearin
• 2008-2009 Preliminary Budget
Mary will introduce the issue at the public heazing. The CTEP Fund information will be added to the
Preliminary Budget. Approval of the budget resolutions is on tonight's council agenda. If necessary,
the budget can be amended through budget amendments later.
• Additional Mills Levied for Permissive Medical Levy Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2008-2009
Mary stated that the levy provides help with the cost of health insurance premiums for General Fund
employees. Voter approval is not required.
Scheduled Matters:
• Confirmation of Appointments:
o Laurel Volunteer Ambulance: Hope Mager and Tammy Cozzens
Jan stated that Hope and Tammy aze unable to attend the council meeting.
• Waive rule and consider adoption of the 2008-2009 Final Budget resolutions
• Ordinance No. 008-08: An ordinance approving the recodification of ordinances adopted by the
City Council that have been compiled as the "Laurel Municipal Code" in accordance with MCA
§ 7-5-107. Second reading.
• Ordinance No. 008-09: Ordinance creating the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency pursuant to
MCA § 7-15-4232 and to codify the ordinance as Title l 8 of the Laurel Municipal Code. First
reading.
• Resolution No. R08-103: A resolution approving and adopting the Final Budget for the City of
Laurel for the fiscal year 2008-2009.
• Resolution No. R08-104: A resolution levying taxes for general and specific purposes for the
City of Laurel, Montana, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008.
Department Head Meeting Minutes of September 16, 2008
• Resolution No. RO$-105: A resolution levying and assessing all of the property embraced
within Special Improvement Lighting District No. 2 of the City of Laurel, Montana, for the
entire cost of maintenance and electrical current for the fiscal year 2008-2009.
• Resolution No. R08-106: A resolution levying and assessing all of the property embraced
within Special lmprovement Lighting District No. 3 of the City of Laurel, Montana, for the
entire cost of maintenance and electrical current for the fiscal year 2008-2009.
• Resolution No. R08-107: A resolution levying and assessing the cost of street maintenance
and/or improvements for Street Maintenance District No. 1 that constitutes all streets and alleys
embraced within the City of Laurel, Montana, far fiscal year 2008-2009.
• Resolution No. R08-108: Being a resolution levying and assessing all of the praperty embraced
within Street Sweeping District No. 1, of the City of Laurel, Montana, for the purpose of the
sweeping of streets in the downtown or business district far the fiscal year 2008-2009.
• Resolution No. R08-109: A resolution levying and assessing the cast of street paving, curb and
gutter, and storm drain facilities for Special Improvement District No. 110 within, the City of
Lawel, Montana, for fiscal yeaz 2008-2009.
• Resolution No. R08-110: A resolution levying and assessing the cost of sidewalk improvements
for Special Improvement District No. 111 within the City of Laurel, Montana, for fiscal year
2008-2009.
• Resolution No. R08-111: A resolution levying and assessing a special tax against certain
property in the City of Laurel for delinquent water charges.
• Resolution No. R08-112: A resolution levying and assessing a special tax against certain
property in the City o f Laurel for delinquent sewer charges.
• Resolution No. R08-113: A resolution levying and assessing a special tax against certain
property designated as garbage districts in the City of Laurel, Montana, for the removal of
gazbage and refuse.
• Resolution No. R08-114: A resolution adopting wage increases for non-union employees of the
City of Laurel.
The resolution will be removed from tonight's council agenda for further review.
• Resolution No. R08-115: A resolution of the City Council approving athree-year agreement
between the City of Laurel and the Local Union known as Local 303, American Federation of
State, County and Municipal Employees, AFSCME.
Bill stated that this is a four-yeaz agreement with atwo-year consideration of wages and health
insurance benefits. The resolution will be corrected and the council will be notified of the change.
Draft Council Worksho A enda - Se tember 30 2008
Fire D artment:
• Update on proposed fire hall
The requested documents have been received from Vince Ricci. Sam will draw up a contract.
Ambulance:
• Resolution -step raises/on-call rates
Jan stated that this is a modification to the previously approved compensation resolution.
Chief Administrative Officer:
• Resolution -Adopting revised job description for Maintenance Shop Superintendent position
• Resolution -Adopting new job description for Utility Plants Superintendent position
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of September 16, 2008
The two job descriptions are for supervisory positions
• Resolution -Maintenance Agreement for the Yellowstone County Veterans' Cemetery
A meeting is scheduled on Thursday, September 1$~', to discuss the proposed maintenance agreement.
The City of Laurel approved an agreement several months ago, but the County did not approve it and
has proposed a slightly different agreement. Sam is reviewing the draft agreement.
Executive Review:
• Discussion of street maintenance assessment for 2057 East Maryland Lane
Sarn contacted the County Attorney's Office recently. There was discussion regarding the RSID, the
chip seal done on East Maryland Lane from Alder Avenue to Yard Office Road, and the maintenance
provided by the city at this intersection by this address. Sam stated that the city could write a letter
regarding its position on the issue.
• Discussion of Planning Interlocal Agreement
Sam stated that the by-laws were not distributed with the agreement last week. Copies will be
distributed to the council and department heads.
Mary stated that the resolution for non-union employee pay raises should be added to the September
30~' council workshop agenda. If the police union contract is approved tonight, the retroactive pay
raises will not be done until Mary returns from vacation.
D~artment Reports:
Ambulance Service
Jan stated that the ambulance has been busy with some stressful calls.
Installation of the shower facilities should be completed soon.
City Council President
Gay spoke regarding a complaint received from a city resident about a tree that is on private property.
There was a lengthy discussion regarding the current code, the complaint process, the inspection
process, and how to declare that a tree is diseased.
Clerk/Treasurer
• Budget process update
Mary stated that the final budget is over $24 million.
Mary received a letter from MMIA regarding Employee Practices Liability Insurance renewal.
MMIA's request for copies of certain documents reminded her that Paul Hutter received little feedback
regarding the Personnel Implementation and Instruction Guide revisions. She will contact Paul about
attending the department head meeting on September 30~'.
Mary asked the department heads to review the travel policy, which states that city vehicles will be used
for travel when possible. She requested that a copy of the event schedule be attached to each travel
request. Mary and Bill encouraged department heads to be mindful of the travel budgets.
Mary mentioned that the city's website was not working for awhile. The site is hosted by Zee Creative,
which had changed the IP address. The issue has been resolved and the website is working again.
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Depargnent Head Meeting Minutes of September 16, 2008
Fire Department
• Report on new brush truck
Scott stated that the brush truck should be done soon and the Engine Company is two months out.
• Preparations for new fire station
Scott stated that work is progressing on the fire station proposal.
Li~brar
Nancy stated that the library has been busy and circulation of materials, particularly audio and video
materials, has increased. About 17 percent of the users aze county patrons. More activities are being
scheduled at the library.
Nancy will attend a training session in Livingston on Thursday
Nancy stated that the library roof has not been leaking. She has noticed that water drains offthe parking
lot and floods the intersection of Second Street and Seventh Avenue. There was discussion.
Kurt mentioned that the Laurel Roadrunners contacted him regazding signage at the library. There was
discussion regarding the signs, painting the curbs, and which department would pay for the signs.
Nancy will tell the Roadrunners not to install the signs.
There was discussion regarding if the Public Works Department is responsible to clear the library
pazking lot in the winter. The library's landscape company has done it in the past, and Nancy will
contact them about it. Mary stated that it is the city's responsibility to do it or to contract the work.
Police Department
Rick stated that the city and state should review the need to provide pedestrian access with crosswalks
and/or a foot bridge on South First Avenue. There was discussion.
• Vehicle replacement
Rick stated that the vehicle has been ordered and the item could be removed from the agenda.
Rick will attend a COPS West Conference in Ontazio, California, on October 6-10.
Mary asked if the crosswaks should be considered during the construction project on South First
Avenue. Rick stated that a flashing red light would be needed in order to warn drivers about the
crosswalks. Kurt mentioned that there aze no crosswalks going west on Main Street. Kurt stated that a
citywide study should be done on pedestrian crosswalks on stateright-of--way.
Cit_X._Planner
• Annexation of Riverside Pazk
There was no discussion.
Public Works D artment
• Streets
Kurt will submit a purchase requisition to the Budget/Finance Committee tonight for a computer for the
paver program
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Department Hesd Meeting Minutes of September 16, 2008
• Cemetery Agreement /irrigation water
A meeting is scheduled with the County Commissioners on Thursday to discuss the maintenance
agreement for the Yellowstone County Veterans' Cemetery.
• Report on progress with South Laurel Business SID
Kurt stated that the project is going forwazd and he explained the schedule. Weekly meetings will be
held with the engineers on Wednesdays and the fire, ambulance, and police departments will be
informed about access issues. Bill asked Kurt to contact Larry Tanglen with information about the
project.
• Potential 6t~' Street SID project
Kurt stated that the project is being reviewed.
City Attorney
• Purchase and Procurement Policy
The committee will meet on September 30`x.
Ma or Olson
There was no discussion.
Chief Administrative Officer
• League of Cities and Towns Conference
Bill stated that it would be useful for department heads to attend the conference.
Other
Kurt mentioned that additional fire hydrants aze needed on South First Avenue. There was further
discussion.
The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary
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