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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 04.28.2020APRIL 28, 2020 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, was held via Zoom and called to order by Mayor Tom Nelson at 6:34 p.m. on April 28, 2020. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Emelie Eaton (at 6:37 p.m.) Heidi Sparks Bruce McGee (at 6:39 p.m.) Richard Herr Scot Stokes Iry Wilke Richard Klose Don Nelson None Nick Altonaga, Planning Director 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 Sparks to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 14, 2020, as presented, seconded by Council Member Wilke. 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. CORRESPONDENCE: None. COUNCIL DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS: None. PUBLIC HEARING: ® Public Hearing — MEPA Exclusions Mayor Nelson stated this is the time and place set for the public hearing on the City of Laurel's Public Hearing — MEPA Exclusions. Mayor Nelson opened the public hearing. Mayor Nelson opened the floor for public comment and asked that Staff present the item. Nick Altonaga, Planning Director, stated this exclusion for MEPA has to deal with environmental assessment or environmental impact statement for the proposed project in Riverside Park to rehabilitate the historic structures down there. At last week's meeting, he presented the ARM that dealt with the exclusion of that. Since we are not changing the footprints of the buildings in this proposed project, it fits nicely within that, and there is a lot of work to do; it does not hit any criteria that would require an in-depth study and in-depth analysis of impacts. Furthermore, it does not meet any of the criteria having public controversy or significant effect on quality of the human environment and it does not threaten or endanger species or critical habitats. This is the second round and the affirmation of the grants the City submitted on the 28"' of February. This is a follow up to dot all the "I's" and cross all the "T's." As of today, he had not received any public comments either via mail or email. Mayor Nelson stated that copies of the rules governing the public hearing were posted in the council chambers. Mayor Nelson asked three times if there were any proponents. There were none. Mayor Nelson asked three times if there were any opponents. There were none. Mayor Nelson asked Staff to respond to any relevant questions. There were none. Council Minutes of April 28, 2020 Mayor Nelson closed the public hearing. CONSENT ITEMS: ® Approval of Workshop Minutes of April 7, 2020. 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 Wilke. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7-0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: ® Appointment of Joshua McFarland to the Laurel Police Department. Motion by Council Member Stokes to approve Joshua McFarland to the Laurel Police Department, 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. ® Resolution No. R20-21: 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. R20-21, seconded by Council Member Stokes. There was no public comment. Council noted that there had been lots of comments at the Workshop regarding the $1500 for cameras. In subsequent emails, it appears that is still the issue. All the details are still not worked out. Council made note that they were saddened that Staff did not feel they could negotiate a contract. This is not a waste of Staffs time. Council questioned if they should even open the pool due to the social distancing requirements. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. Council Members Herr and McGee voted aye. Council Members Sparks, Wilke, Klose, Nelson, Stokes, and Eaton voted nay. Motion failed 6-2. ® Resolution No. R20-22: A Resolution Of The City Council Authorizing The Mayor To Sign A Contract Between The City Of Laurel, State Of Montana, And Montana Rail Link Inc. For Construction Work On A Railroad Crossing Located Within The City Of Laurel. Motion by Council Member Herr to approve Resolution No. R20-22, seconded by Council Member Wilke. There was no public comment or council discussion. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. Council Members Sparks, Herr, Wilke, Klose, Nelson, Stokes, McGee, and Eaton voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. Resolution No. R20-23: A Resolution Of The City Council Authorizing The Mayor To Sign A Contract With Messy Jessie's Cleaning Service For Cleaning Services For City Hall. Motion by Council Member Wilke to approve Resolution No. R20-23, seconded by Council Member McGee. There was no public comment or council discussion. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. Council Members Sparks, Herr, Wilke, Klose, Nelson, Stokes, and McGee voted aye. Council Member Eaton voted nay. Motion carried 7-1. Council Minutes of April 28, 2020 ® Resolution No. R20-24: A Resolution Of The City Council Determining The City's Proposed Riverside Park Project Submitted To Montana's Department Of Commerce Is Appropriately Qualified As A Categorical Exclusion For The Montana Environmental Policy Act. Motion by Council Member Klose to approve Resolution No. R20-24, seconded by Council Member Wilke. There was no public comment or council discussion. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. Council Members Sparks, Herr, Wilke, Klose, Nelson, Stokes, McGee, and Eaton voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE -MINUTE LIMIT): None. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: There were none. MAYOR UPDATE: UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member McGee to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Council Member Wilke. There was no public comment or council discussion. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. Council Members Sparks, Herr, Wilke, Klose, Nelson, Stokes, McGee, and Eaton voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m. Brittney Moop,nan, dministrative Assistant Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 12t" day of May 2020. Th mas C. Nelson, Mayor Attest: Bethany t ngve e reasurer .1�