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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-10-2007 COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA September 10, 2007 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session in Room 101, City Hall, 500 Quartermaster Court, Jeffersonville, Indiana, at 7:30 P.M. on Monday September 10, 2007. Mayor Rob Waiz, with Deputy Clerk Treasurer Barbara Hollis at the desk, called the meeting to order. Also present was City Attorney Les Merkley. Mayor Waiz welcomed all in attendance, asking all those present to stand as Street Commissioner Ron Ellis gave the invocation. Mayor Waiz then asked all those present to join him in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. The roll was called and those present were; Councilpersons John Perkins, Ed Zastawny, Keith Fetz, Connie Sellers, Barbara Wilson, Nathan Samuel, and Ron Grooms. Absent: None. Following discussion, Councilperson Perkins made the motion to approve the agenda with the removal of agenda items #15, #17, and #20 second by Council President Fetz, passing on a vote of7-0. Mayor Waiz presented the minutes for consideration by the Council. Councilperson Wilson made the motion to approve the minutes of August 20,2007 (7:30 P.M.) as presented, second by Councilperson Sellers, passing on a vote of 7-0. Deputy Clerk Treasurer Hollis presented the claim list for consideration by the Council. Council President Fetz called attention to the claim for Repair Affair noting the good work they do. Councilperson Sellers voiced concern regarding the building authority utility appropriation. Councilperson Grooms called attention to the continuing high cost of cell phones. Purchase Order Clerk Patty Smith explained the processing of the claims. Following all discussion Councilperson Perkins made the motion to approve the claims as presented, second by Councilperson Grooms, passing on a vote of7-0. Purchase Order Clerk Smith presented a request for purchase of tote containers, calling attention to the quotes received. Following discussion and input from Street Commissioner Ron Ellis, Councilperson Perkins made the motion to approve the September 10, 2007 2 purchase from Best Equipment, second by Councilperson Sellers, passing on a vote of 7- O. PUBLIC COMMENT: Mr. Charlie Milburn called attention to a newspaper article regarding increases in property taxes. He also voiced concern for the loss of local jobs. He believes "we are headed for a crash". COUNCIL COMMENTS: There were no Council comments. DEP ARTMENT HEAD REPORTS: There were no Department Head reports. AGENDA ITEMS: Council President Fetz made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2007-0R-45, An Ordinance Requiring All Jeffersonville City Owned Vehicles To Display Vehicle Identification Stickers, on the second and third readings, second by Councilperson Perkins, passing on a vote of 7-0 Councilperson Wilson made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2007-0R-46, An Ordinance Assigning Newly Annexed Territory To Council District Five, on the second and third readings, second by Councilperson Perkins, passing on a vote of7-0. Councilperson Perkins made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2007-0R-48, An Ordinance Fixing Basic Salaries Of Appointed Officers And City Employees For 2008, on the first reading, second by Councilperson Sellers. Councilperson Zastawny noted that no additional changes have been made. The motion to pass Ordinance No. 2007-0R- 48 on the first reading passed with a vote of7-0. Councilperson Perkins made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2007-0R-49, An Ordinance Establishing Jeffersonville River Stage Authority, on the first reading, second by Councilperson Zastawny. Councilperson Samuel noted there was a great deal of discussion during the 5:30 meeting. Modifications will be made prior to the next meting. Councilperson Grooms called attention to the same discussion. The motion to pass Ordinance No. 2007-0R-49 on the first reading passed on a vote of7-0. Planning and Zoning Director Chester Hicks explained the need for passage of Ordinance No. 2007-0R-51, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 2006-0R-44, An September 10, 2007 3 Ordinance To Annex Territory From The Town Of Clarksville Into The City Of Jeffersonville. Councilperson Perkins asked for the fiscal plan for this annexation. Director Hicks said he did not prepare a fiscal plan. Councilperson Perkins made the motion to table Ordinance No. 2007-0R-51. Plan Commission Attorney Jack Vissing said this annexation was passed previously, this was to make clarifications. Councilperson Perkins asked if a Resolution adopting the fiscal plan has been passed. Attorney Vissing replied no. City Attorney Les Merkley confirmed the need to have a fiscal plan. Council President Fetz seconded the motion to table Ordinance No. 2007- OR-51, passing on a vote of7-0. Councilperson Wilson made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2007-0R-50, An Ordinance To Regulate The Use Of Legal Fireworks Within The City Of Jeffersonville, on the first reading, second by Council person Perkins. Councilperson Wilson noted changes would be made prior to the final passage. The motion to pass Ordinance No. 2007-0R-50 on the first reading passed on a vote of7-0. Councilperson Perkins made the motion to pass Resolution No. 2007-R-25, A Resolution To Advertise For An Additional Appropriation (EDIT Fund - Floodwall Art), second by Councilperson Sellers, passing on a vote of7-0. Councilperson Perkins made the motion to pass Resolution No. 2007-R-26, A Resolution To Advertise For An Additional Appropriation (Gaming Revenue Fund - Phone Systems Stations #2, #4, Street/Maint. Complex), second by Council person Sellers, passing on a vote of 7-0. CLERK TREASURER COMMENTS: There were no Clerk Treasurer Comments. COMMITTEE REPORTS, COUNCIL AND MAYOR COMMENTS: Council President Fetz read a letter addressed to the Department of Local Government Finance requesting denial of the proposed bond issue requested by the Clark County Government Building Authority in the amount of 13 million dollars. Council President Fetz made the motion to approve sending the letter, second by Councilperson Perkins. Councilperson Zastawny has concerns regarding the 2% circuit breaker. Councilperson Sellers does not feel this would be overstepping bounds. Council President Fetz noted all residents of Clark County would pay for the bonds. Following all September 10,2007 4 discussion, the motion to approve the letter passed ona vote of 5-2. Councilpersons Grooms and Samuel voted no. Councilperson Perkins made the motion to appoint Tom Kempf to the Building Authority Board, noting the importance of having a board member knowledgeable in HV AC, second by Councilperson Sellers, passing on a vote of 7 -0. Councilperson Samuel noted the signage on 10th Street and the Industrial Park are about to be put up. Council person Samuel informed the Council Clark Memorial Hospital has purchased the property on the West side of Spring Street. The River Falls Condos are looking fantastic. Council person Samuel noted Police Chief Monihon would be on the next Council agenda to talk about software. Councilperson Samuel voiced concern for confusion regarding the date for fire and police protection in the annexation area. Councilperson Grooms said there would be a claim on the next list for Race Equality Day. The Solid Waste Board has accepted a bid for curbside recycling. The City will be asked for approval of an interlocal agreement. This is a good bid. A National Parks Convention will be held September 26, 27, and 28, 2007 in Indianapolis. He can get free passes if any are interested. Councilperson Grooms announced the arrival of a new grandson this past Saturday. Councilperson Grooms thanks Jeff High Student Sperzel and Officer Grimes for their attendance. Councilperson Wilson reported on today's Park Board meeting. There are only three Concerts in the Park remaining. Councilperson Wilson encouraged attendance at the City Pride fundraiser on Thursday at 7:00 P.M. Council President Fetz announced budget public hearings would be held Wednesday, September 19,2007 at 7:30 P.M. and Saturday, September 29,2007 at 10:00 A.M. Council President Fetz presented Ordinance No. 2007-0R-47, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 2007-0R-26, explaining the football league is outgrowing the facility and other problems. The amendment lowers the appropriation from $175,000 to $50,000. Council President Fetz made the motion tosuspend the rules for Ordinance No. 2007-0R-47, second by Councilperson Perkins, passing on a vote of 7-0. Council President Fetz then made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2007-0R-47 on all three readings, second by Councilperson Perkins. Councilperson Grooms questioned the September 10, 2007 5 purchase of the bleachers. The bleachers are movable. The motion to pass Ordinance No. 2007-0R-47 on all three readings passed on a vote of7-0. Councilperson Zastawny would like to see a list of all cell phones. Councilperson Perkins announced the start of the installation of the camera and equipment for the Council Chambers would start this week. Councilperson Grooms asked Mayor Waiz to call a meeting of the Revolving Loan Committee. As there was no further business to come adjourned 8:15 P.M. e a good night. LDER, CLERK AND TREASURER Jeffersonville City Council Jeffersonville City Hall Quartermaster Depot Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130 From Keith Fetz, President September 10, 2007 Department of Local Government Finance N1058 Indiana Government Center North 100 North Senate Avenue Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 Ladies and Gentlemen: I am writing on behalf of the undersigned members of the Jeffersonville City Council. Pursuant to action taken at the Jeffersonville City Council's regular business meeting on this date, and by a majority vote, the Jeffersonville City Council respectfully requests that the Department of Local Government Finance deny the proposed bond issue as requested by the Clark County Government Building Authority and the Clark County Board of Commissioners for the renovation and expansion of the Clark County Government Building. The proposed bond issue is approximately $13 Million Dollars. In consideration of the County's most recent and on-going budget difficulties, the City Council is concerned that the proposed bond issue will increase the tax rate for all citizens of Clark County, inclusive of the citizens which we represent. Any such tax rate increase will pose an additional burden for our taxpayers, especially in light of the recent increase in property assessment values due to the mandatory reassessment. As the DLGF is aware, the residents of Clark County, as of the date of the execution of this document, have not received their property tax bills. Therefore, at this time, it is irnpossible to determine what the effect of this project will have on the citizen's property tax obligations. We, the undersigned members, believe that it would be unfair to the taxpayers to saddle them with this burden without the ability to fully ascertain the true consequence of this decision. Finally, the Jeffersonville City Council requests that it be informed of the date and time of the DLGF hearing in Indianapolis on the proposed bond issue in order to allow those members to be present to express their individual and collective concerns. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Keith Fetz .~. si en! Jeffersonville City Council ~- ~ ---.- Read and Approved by: ~~ Connie Sellers, Member Ron Grooms, Member f,b/ /I( ~ Ed Zastawn~, Me~. . er . /L~ erkins, Member an Samuel" Member tJdu-J Robert L. Waiz, Jr. Mayor of Jeffersonville Peggy Wilder Clerk-Treasurer