APPROVED MINUTES
The City Council held meeting # 1537 on Monday, March 2, 2020, in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Brent Teske.
Present were Mrs. Williams, Mr. Beach, Ms. Smith, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Dufficy, City Administrator Jim Hammons, City Attorney Dean Chisholm, and Deputy Clerk Charlotte Luedecke.
Absent were City Clerk/Treasurer Audray McCollum.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mayor Teske read an email from Brian Baxter regarding any Irish celebrations that are going on in the area during March.
Mrs. Williams mentioned the Irish Fair on Friday, March 13, 2020, at the Memorial Center.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
City Administrators Report: Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant are both running well. Street crews are working on getting Wayfinding signs up. We are hoping to have the concrete poured this week for the big Welcome signs.
Discussion followed.
Cemetery/Parks: None. We will be scheduling a meeting soon to address the cemetery ordinance and updating playground equipment at Fireman’s Park.
Mayor Teske added that there is a need to get the Tree Board to advise on the pruning of “ratty trees” at the cemetery as we have the personal to do it, they just need the guidance before it is too late to do the pruning.
Fire: Mr. Zimmerman reported 13 calls for February, 4 City, 9 Rural, and 0 outside.
Police: Chief Kessel reported there were 311 calls for February, 15 arrests, 37 citations.
Resolution/Ordinances: Nothing currently. Will be scheduling a meeting soon.
Lights/Streets/Sidewalks: None. Meeting in the next week or so, will be discussing handicapped parking on Mineral Ave., and possible traffic speed solution there.
Building: None
Water/Sewer: None
KRDC: None.
Finance: None
City-County Board of Health: None.
Park District Manager of Projects: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON- AGENDA ITEMS:
Mayor Teske stated that everyone should have a packet of information that talks about the Montana Golf Cart Operation Law and operation laws from around the country. There is a gentleman who is here to introduce a request to the ordinance committee.
Oliver Orak, 3377 Bobtail Road, Libby – Read an excerpt from the MCA 61-8-391 regarding golf cart requirements for use on public roadways. He explained that for him, the golf cart will be a means of transportation and compared it to the electric scooters that we see around town. He asks the City Council to make an exception and not look at it as a golf cart but an electric car.
Comments of support were also made by Ken Crandell, 3377 Bobtail Road, Libby
Billy Day, 319 Minnesota Ave., Libby
Dave Kemmerer, PO Box 442, Libby
Discussion followed.
Mayor Teske stated his appreciation for bringing this to council this evening and explained that this would go to the ordinance committee as they will have a meeting soon, and we’ll get back to you.” It is looking clear as far as regulation; it is just meeting all those requirements. I just want to make sure he can get a driver’s license as that would be key to it.”
Janice Bailey, 1004 Washington Ave, Libby – Wanted to express concern about the denial of her business license for 406 Ceramics and the letter she received.
Discussion followed.
Mayor Teske: “If you would like to resubmit a business license application, we’ll take another look at it and maybe delve a little deeper into exactly what you’ve got going on. All the information we had to go off was what was on the application.”
More discussion.
Comment of support were made by Lee Shaw, 1504 Dakota Ave., Libby
NEW BUSINESS
Approve to wave the Ponderosa Room fee for the Kootenai Pets for Life for their yearly fundraiser rummage sale.
Eileen Carney, 2233 Farm to Market Road, Libby – President Kootenai Pets for Life, asked the council to waive the fees for the Ponderosa Room.
Mrs. Williams MADE A MOTION to approve waving the fee for the Ponderosa Room for the Kootenai Pets for Life yearly fundraiser rummage sale.
Mr. Dufficy SECOND.
Mrs. Williams, Ms. Smith, Mr. Beach, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Dufficy voted FOR.
MOTION PASSED.
Reappoint Roberta McCanse (appointed by City Council) Virginia Kocieda (resident freeholder) and Mark Andreasen (resident freeholder) to the Planning Board and Zoning Commission.
Mr. Zimmerman MADE A MOTION to Reappoint Roberta McCanse (appointed by City Council) Virginia Kocieda (resident freeholder) and Mark Andreasen (resident freeholder) to the Planning Board and Zoning Commission.
Ms. Smith, SECOND.
Mrs. Williams, Ms. Smith, Mr. Beach, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Dufficy voted FOR.
MOTION PASSED.
Approve Ordinance 1955 – A Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Libby Montana amending Chapter 14.02 of the Libby Municipal Code entitled “Building Codes” to comply with statutory requirements. Second reading.
Mr. Zimmerman MADE A MOTION to Approve Ordinance 1955 – A Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Libby Montana amending Chapter 14.02 of the Libby Municipal Code entitled “Building Codes” to comply with statutory requirements. Second reading.
Mr. Beach SECOND.
Mrs. Williams, Ms. Smith, Mr. Beach, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Dufficy voted FOR.
MOTION PASSED.
APPROVAL OF NEW BUSINESS LICENSES RECEIVED TO DATE:
JC Contracting – 152 Woodland Heights Road -Construction, Concrete, Remodel, Steel excretion, welding, excavation, and snow removal.
Nelli O’s Salon – 120 West 6th Street #3 – Hair services and tanning.
Wendy’s Cleaning Service – 305 W. 4th Street – Housecleaning
Mayor Teske: Ms. Smith pointed out that these applications were incomplete in one way or another. Some were not checked by the Fire Marshall; County Health Inspector did not check one. So currently, NONE of these applications are complete. We will contact these people and get them to complete their applications.
Discussion followed.
These were tabled until they are completed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
City of Libby Wildlife Management Plan – Meeting scheduled for March 11, 2020, at 6:30 pm at City Hall. Mr. Taylor met with Rep. Steve Gunderson; there may be possible funding from Senator Daines’s office, so he is checking into that.
IP Negotiations – Nothing from IP, we are at their mercy until we hear something. Mayor gave a brief history of what IP Negotiations are.
Zoning for the proposed Downtown Business District and Highway Commercial District – Public Hearing for Monday, March 16, 2020. At 6:00pm.
GENERAL COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL:
Mayor noted that he had put some information on the Coronavirus on the table and feel free to take it.
Ms. Smith commented on cars and golf carts and the amazing technology we have now.
Mayor Teske responded that he was unaware of the statute involving golf carts until it was recently brought to him, he knew of the snow cat statute from the winter of 1996 but was not aware that there was an exception for local governments to adopt that so this is interesting.
Mr. Chisholm pointed out that the MCA code is 61-8-391 for the golf carts.
ADJOURNMENT
Mrs. Williams MADE A MOTION to adjourn.
Mr. Dufficy SECOND.
Mrs. Williams, Ms. Smith, Mr. Beach, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Dufficy voted FOR.
MOTION PASSED
Meeting adjourned 7:50 pm
____________________ _________________________________
Brent Teske, Mayor Charlotte P. Luedecke, Deputy City Clerk