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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 04.03.2018APRIL 3, 2018 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 Tom Nelson at 6:30 p.m. on April 3, 2018. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Heidi Sparks Bruce McGee Richard Herr Scot Stokes Iry Wilke Richard Klose Bill Mountsier None Tim Reiter, Utility Plan Supervisor Mayor Nelson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mayor Nelson asked the council to observe a moment of silence. MINUTES: Motion by Council Member McGee to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 20, 2018, as presented, seconded by Council Member Mountsier. 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. CORRESPONDENCE: None. COUNCIL DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS: None. PUBLIC HEARING: None. CONSENT ITEMS: + Claims for the month of March 2018 in the amount of $ $31,699.01. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk/Treasurer's Office. + Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 3/25/2018 totaling $142,011.20. + Receiving the Committee/Board/Commission Reports into the Record. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of March 20, 2018, was presented. --Council Workshop minutes of March 27, 2018, was presented. --Tree Board minutes of March 15, 2018, was presented. --Laurel Urban Renewal Agency minutes of January 25, 2018, was presented. --Laurel Airport Authority minutes of February 27, 2018, was presented. --Laurel Urban Renewal Agency minutes of March 19, 2018, was presented. --Tree Board minutes of March 29, 2018, was presented. The mayor 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 McGee. 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. -0) Council Minutes of April 3, 2018 CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: • Confirmation of Appointments: None. • Resolution No. R18-13: 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 Sparks to approve Resolution No. R18-13, seconded by Council Member Eaton. 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. • Resolution No. R18-14: A resolution approving a Task Order authorizing Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson, Inc. for services relating to the City's East 61" Street reconstruction project. Motion by Council Member Klose to approve Resolution No. R18-14, seconded by Council Member Eaton. 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. • Motion to approve consideration by Staff, an application to annex property constituting less than one half of a City Block: Lots 1-6, Block 7, Nutting Brothers Subdivision. Motion by Council Member Herr to approve consideration by Staff, an application to annex property constituting less than one half of a City Block: Lots 1-6, Block 7, Nutting Brothers Subdivision, seconded by Council Member Mountsier. There was no public comment. �. Mayor Nelson clarified that voting for this motion would allow the applicant the ability to proceed to City/County Planning Board and continue the annexation process. Likewise, voting against this motion would deny the applicant the ability to proceed to City/County Planning Board. The annexation policy states the minimum land size to be considered for annexation is one city block or 2.06 acres. In this case, the owner owns more than one city block, but the developer only wants to annex half of one city block. Council Member Herr requested a roll call vote to be taken. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. Council Members Sparks, Herr, Wilke, Mountsier, Klose, Stokes, McGee, and Eaton voted nay. Motion failed 0-8. • Motion to approve Council Member Mountsier to be absent from the City of Laurel for more than ten days (LMC 2.12.060) Motion by Council Member Wilke to approve Council Member Mountsier to be absent from the City of Laurel for more than ten days (LMC 2.12.060), seconded by Council Member Stokes. 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: Council Member Mountsier asked for two updates to be placed on next week's Workshop agenda. He would like an update on the sign by the High School and an update on the leveling of manholes on Is' Avenue by the Post Office. Council Minutes of April 3, 2018 Council Member Stokes stated Park Board would meeting Thursday, April 5th at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. Council Member McGee asked for a discussion item to be placed on next week's Workshop agenda. Emergency Services has asked to bring forward discussion regarding a survey of our community in regards to Emergency Services in Laurel. Council Member Eaton stated that Public Works Committee will meet April 16th at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. She also clarified that there was confusion regarding the start time of Budget/Finance Committee, they will continue to meet at 5:00 p.m. until otherwise stated. The next meeting is scheduled for April 17th at 5:00 p.m. in Council Chamber Conference Room. MAYOR UPDATES: Mayor Nelson gave an update on the Executive Workshop in Polson last week. It is difficult to find a City similar to Laurel. Most cities our size are also their County seats. Belgrade is the closest City to be approximately the same size and not be a County seat. He talked with Belgrade's Mayor regarding how they work their Ambulance Service. They do have an Ambulance district, but they are also located closer to Bozeman. He spoke with Glendive regarding how they run their Ambulance Service. They support their entire County and are making money from this service. In both cases, their volunteers are close and able to provide prompt service. Neither has a safety levy in place but focused on billing. He will continue to follow up with both these communities to see if any of their solutions will work for Laurel, once all questions have been asked those responses will be forwarded to the Emergency Services Committee for review. There have been some small changes in the Ambulance; they are recent, so there is no data if those changes have made an impact. Mayor Nelson requested an update on intake after the update given at last week's Workshop was not favorable. Tim Reiter, Utility Plant Superintendent, gave an update on what they have done with the intake over this past week. When both lines were opened, it was discovered that sediment had covered the screens. The Chief Operator asked if he could blow the lines to try to remove the sediment by pushing water out of the intake. Each time this process was done they were able to achieve more flow in the line. This process was done dozens of times. Currently, both lines are open, providing more water than the City needs. The actuator valve will control the flow, and allow for the operator to adjust from the control panel. The actuator valve is included in the SED Basin project. The screens on the intake are not clear of sediment. However, we have more water than the City needs at this time. The City will be able to inspect once the water levels drop later this year. Council Member Eaton asked for clarification on if one line or two is working. Mr. Reiter stated that both lines coming to the plant are open. Council Member Eaton asked for clarification why having one line open did not create a problem, but the second line open created sediment on the screens. Mr. Reiter stated that sediment has been building all winter. Council Member Eaton stated that there was adequate water with one line. Mr. Reiter clarified that all winter both the new and 2003 intakes were online. We had adequate water using both. Council Member Eaton questioned if they found the issue when they tried to run off just the new intake. Mr. Reiter clarified that when those lines were charged, it was discovered that there was not adequate water coming into the new intake. One line has been shut to maintain the pumps. Council Member Eaton questioned if the line that was open was feeding the slush melting heaters. Mr. Reiter clarified that the line open was feeding into the plant. The second line was used to keep the well pump full during the winter to supply water to the heater. Council Minutes of April 3, 2018 Mayor Nelson stated once the weather is nicer there will be a tour of the Water Plant to show Council what they are talking about in regards to the intake. Mr. Reiter clarified that the process of blowing out the screens had cleared some of the debris away. The intake was buried in significant sediment last fall. The water is not clear enough to visually see the intake at this time. The deck wash flows are still plugged as the operators are unable to blow them out. Council Member Wilke questioned if they have consulted with our Engineering firm to find a solution and would there be problems next year? Mr. Reiter stated that they need to wait till low flow and there is no way to know what will happen in the future. Right now they are waiting to see what spring runoff will take care of. Mayor Nelson stated that this is not unusual to have maintenance on the intakes as they are located in the river. This is the first year running the new intake. The City is working with Great West to find possible solutions. He reminded Council that FEMA and DEQ directed where the intake could be placed. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member Mountsier to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Council Member Eaton. 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. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:12 p.m. Brittney Mo rma , Administrative Assistant Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 17th day of April 2018. Thomas Ne son, Mayor A ++oma+.