HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 06.26.2018MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
JUNE 26, 2018 6:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
A Council Workshop was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Tom Nelson at
6:30 p.m. on June 26, 2018.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
_x Emelie Eaton _ Heidi Sparks
x Bruce McGee x Richard Herr
x Scot Stokes _ Iry Wilke
Richard Klose x Bill Mountsier
OTHERS PRESENT:
Matthew Lurker, CAO
Kurt Markegard, Public Works Director
Public Input
Jason Summers, 304 Cedar Avenue, spoke regarding the continued missed calls by the Ambulance
Service.
General Items
• Appoint Melissa Brennan to the Laurel Police Reserves
The Mayor will request the Police Chief is present at next week's meeting to answer any questions on
this appointment.
Council Member McGee clarified that Melissa had been a Reserve Officer prior.
• Vacancy List
Mayor Nelson listed each vacancy the City currently has. These vacancies have been sent to the
Outlook to be published.
Executive Review
• Resolution — A resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a contract for prosecution
services between the City of Laurel and Elk River Law Office P.L.L.P.
This is a two-year renewal to the current contract.
It was questioned if the letter the Council had received this past fall of an individual who was
interested in working with the City had been considered.
Mayor Nelson stated that his focus had been on other more pressing tasks this spring. The Council
could revisit the desire to make a change in the future. He did speak with Elk River Law Office about
the City potentially exploring other options at the term of this contract.
It was questioned if the City were interested in exploring other options if those who interact with the
prosecutor would have any say in the discussion. Such as the Police Department and Court.
Council Workshop Minutes of June 26, 2018
Mayor Nelson stated that he would want those departments who interact with the prosecutor to have
an opportunity to express their opinion.
• Resolution — A resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a contract with Wharton
Asphalt LLC for the City's street repair project located at the intersection of 7`h Avenue
and West 2nd Street within the City of Laurel.
This contract is to repair the section of asphalt on the 700 block of W. 2nd Street that blew out this
spring. The contractor will remove some of the temporary material and pave the road with 3 inches of
asphalt. There were two quotes presented to Council. There was a significant difference in the cost of
these quotes. The Public Works Director did double check that both companies had bid under the
same parameters. Council was presented with the lesser of the two bids.
• Resolution — A resolution approving a task order authorizing Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson,
Inc. for services relating to the City of Laurel's 2018 pavement maintenance project.
This task order is for Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson (KLJ) to start work on identifying the City's highest
need streets and give a recommendation to Council. The task order does not list any specific projects
as they have not been graded by KLJ. Street maintenance typically occurs in the spring, however,
with a new engineering firm and other large projects brought forward recently, there have been delays
in getting this project to Council. Some streets will need crack sealing. Others will need chip sealing.
And others may need potholes filled. KLJ will recommend what streets need maintenance this year.
West Railroad Street will be considered in the recommendation on streets that need maintenance. This
would be a temporary fix, while the City works on the process to use urban funds to redo West
Railroad.
Mayor Nelson explained that the Street Maintenance funds come from the General Fund and not an
Enterprise Fund which in turn makes it more difficult to accomplish larger tasks. When an Enterprise
Fund needs to complete a large project they have the ability to raise their rates, this is not an option
for Street Maintenance. The City's focus will be on streets grades "D" or "F."
• Resolution — A resolution authorizing and requesting the Mayor to prepare and issue a
letter of thanks on the City's behalf to the Grace Bible Church for their community service
project.
Mayor Nelson pulled this resolution. He discussed with the City Attorney if a resolution was
necessary. In the past, the Council has not used a resolution to send a thank you letter. Mayor Nelson
will draft a letter and send the Grace Bible Church expressing the City's thanks. A copy of that letter
will be in Council Packets for next week's meeting.
• Council Issues:
o Update on 2011 Yellowstone River flooding event
On July 91h and 10`" Great West Engineering will be on-site evaluating what they can do to address the
new intake being clogged with sediment.
o Update on 2018 flooding event
Mayor Nelson stated in the next week he will evaluate if he is ready to rescind the state of emergency.
He will notify Council when this has occurred.
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Council Workshop Minutes of June 26, 2018
o Update on West Railroad
Mayor Nelson has requested the Interim Planner to send a letter to Yellowstone County Public Works
to request an on-site meeting to discuss West Railroad and a joint resolution between the Council and
the County Commissioners. The letter has gone to the Yellowstone County Public Works Department
identifying West Railroad between S. 1 st Avenue and S. 8t" Avenue as an urban route project and
requesting a site visit.
o Discuss Street Projects
It was requested if an article could be placed in the Outlook explaining what it costs the City to redo a
street and what options the City has to fund those projects.
Mayor Nelson agreed that this would be beneficial. He took a moment to explain some of the
constraints the City has in funding street projects.
o Discuss expectations of Budget/Finance Committee
Mayor Nelson stated that Sam was unable to attend tonight's meeting. He is still working on putting
together information for Council. Therefore, this agenda item has been moved to the July 10"'
meeting. He apologized for the delay.
Other Items
Mayor Nelson stated that there had been a miscommunication in having Sgt. Valdez attend tonight's
meeting. He asked Sgt. Valdez to speak regarding the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office — Sheriff
Labor Detail program.
Sargent Valdez spoke distributed a handout, which is attached to these minutes. The Sheriff's Labor
Detail is a community service opportunity. This program is inmate funded; they have to pay for the
days they participate in the program. Last time this program was presented there were concerns
regarding transportation. It is required that the community partner pick up participants from
Yellowstone County Jail at 7:30 a.m. The participants are provided with lunch, water, gloves, and
workmen's comp. These are at no cost to the City. Participants are non-violent offenders.
The Emergency Services Committee have discussed this opportunity. They would like to pursue and
implement this program as soon as practical.
There was a concern if this could cause issues with the union.
Sargent Valdez stated they work with the City of Billings frequently and are aware of union issues.
Participants in this program do things such as pulling weeds.
Review of Draft Council Agenda for July 2, 2018
The resolution for the thank you letter for Grace Bible Church has been removed.
Attendance at the July 2, 2018, Council Meeting
All in attendance will attend next week's meeting.
Announcements
It was questioned what the City's ordinance states regarding the discharge of fireworks within the
City limits.
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Council Workshop Minutes of June 26, 2018
It was clarified that the ordinance allows the discharge of fireworks on July 2"d, July 3rd, July 4`h, and
until 1:30 a.m. July 5`". Council was reminded that there are pockets of the City that are not within the
City limits. There are times when things which are against City ordinance but not a County ordinance.
Mayor Nelson is aware the Fire Association does do testing prior to the 4`h of July. However, he will
follow up with the Fire Chief to discuss in the future having them come before Council to notify when
the City could expect testing.
Council Member Mountsier typed up a memo of the meeting with Mr. Koch regarding the handicap
parking near the High School Stadium.
Mayor Nelson stated that the new CAO has spent this past week meeting staff, and touring the
facilities. He gave Mr. Lurker an opportunity to address Council.
Matthew stated his first focus would be to focus on emergency services and critical infrastructure.
It was questioned where the City is on the monies the City applied for to do projects in Riverside
Park.
The Governor has signed off on the plan, and the process is in motion for the City to use those funds
as applied for.
The council workshop adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brittney oorman
Administrative Assistant
NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion of the Council for the
listed workshop agenda items.
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