Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 5, 2014COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA May 5, 2014 The Common Council of the City ofJeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session in Room 101, 500 Quartermaster Court, Jeffersonville, Indiana at 1:OOpm, on Monday, May 5, 2014. Council President Julius, with Vicki Conlin, City Clerk, called the meeting to order at 12:59 PM. President Julius asked those in attendance to stand as Bobby Campbell gave the Invocation. President Julius then led all those present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The roll call and those present were: Councilperson Smith, Councilperson Zastawny, Councilperson Payne, Councilperson Sellers, Councilperson Gill, Councilperson Glover, Councilperson Samuel, President Julius, and Councilperson Owen. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: President Julius stated that Mr. Merkley doesn't have the Interlocal Agreement with Clark County Animal Shelter at this time so he has requested A.1 and B.1 be TABLED at this time. Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE the agenda with changes, with Councilperson Gill seconding, PASSING on a vote of 9-0. MINUTES TO BE APPROVED: Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE the minutes from the regular Council meeting on April 21, 2014, with Councilperson Glover seconding, PASSING on a vote of 9-0. CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED: General Claims: Controller Amy Deering presented the General Claims list with the addition of a hand - carried claim presented by Councilperson Gill for Joan Little in City Court Probation for $454.86 bringing the total claims to be approved to $837,728.04. Councilperson Owen made the motion to APPROVE the General Claims as amended with Councilperson Gill seconding, PASSING on a vote of 9-0. Councilperson Samuel stated that they were notified of the hand -carried claim well in advance so, therefore, he will support it. REPORT OF THE CLERK: Ms. Conlin stated that today's agenda has a typo under Unfinished Business #3 stating 2014 -OR -20 passed on a 1st and 2nd reading and instead should read passed on 1st reading. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORT: None at this time. A. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Morgana Landrum — 2014 -OR -19 An Ordinance Amending 2014 -OR -12 Fixing the Salaries of Appointed Officers and Employees for all the Departments of the City of Jeffersonville for the year 2014 (passed on 1st and 2"d reading): Ms. Landrum presented 2014 -OR -19 for the 3rd and final reading stating that no changes have been made since it was passed on the first and second reading. Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE 2014 -OR -19 on the third and final reading, with Councilperson Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote of 9-0. 1 2. Amy Deering: Ms. Deering presented 2014-0R-20 for adoption at today's meeting. • PUBLIC HEARING — 2014 -OR -20: Council President Julius opened the public hearing at 1:08pm and without further comment closed the public hearing at 1:09pm • 2014 -OR -20 An Ordinance of Additional Appropriation (passed on 15treading): Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE 2014 -OR -20 on the 2"d and 3rd reading, with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote of 9-0. B. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Rob Waiz — 2014-R-7 Resolution Approving Statement of Benefits for Proposed Real Property and Personal Property Tax Abatement (Mill Steel): Mr. Waiz explained to the Council that Mill Steel is looking into expanding their business in Jeffersonville in the Port of Indiana. Mr. Matt Hall with One Southern Indiana explained to the Council that Mill Steel wants to purchase the Nova Tube Building, which is currently vacant, and create a service center which will produce about 43 new jobs and invest 16.1 million dollars into the facility expanding the footprint by 230 square feet. Mr. Hall introduced Mill Steel partners, Eric Lambert and Rob Vella. Mr. Lambert explained that they are a Michigan-based steel -cutting company mostly servicing the automobile industry. Councilperson Zastawny asked how they came to decide on Jeffersonville as the location for this investment and Mr. Lambert stated that they have several customers who are in this geography and footprint. Mr. Vella stated that they also liked the opportunity of the river and one of their projects will be to expand the current rail into the site enabling them to bring in by barge, rail and truck. Councilperson Smith made a motion to APPROVE 2014-R-7, with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote of 9-0. 2. Rob Waiz — 2014-R-8 Resolution Approving Statement of Benefits for Proposed Real Property and Personal Property Tax Abatement (Brinly-Hardy): Mr. Waiz introduced Ms. Kathleen Crawley with One Southern Indiana and Mr. J.C. Wilkinson, CFO of Brinly-Hardy. Ms. Crawley stated that Brinly- Hardy is a 175 year-old company currently located in the Industrial Park and explained that the project being presented today will expand its operations by 30 percent. Ms. Crawley explained that 94 positions will be retained and will be adding 44 new positions. Mr. Wilkinson stated that Brinly- Hardy has benefited tremendously by the amount of dollars in training they have put into their people and their processes. Ms. Crawley stated that she and Mr. Wilkinson respectfully request consideration for tax abatement today. Councilperson Smith made the motion to APPROVE 2014-R- 8, with Councilperson Payne seconding, PASSING on a vote of 9-0. Councilperson Owen thanked Brinly-Hardy for their investment. Councilperson Zastawny asked what the company manufactures here in Indiana and what are they expanding into. Mr. Wilkinson stated that he is bound by a non- disclosure agreement, but they currently make lawn tractor outdoor power equipment both for consumer and commercial. 3. Les Merkley — 2014 -OR -21 An Ordinance Changing the Zoning Map Designation of a Certain Tract of Property Located at 225 E. Riverside Drive from M1 to R3: Mr. Merkley stated that this change comes before the Council with a favorable recommendation from Planning and Zoning. Mr. Merkley introduced the petitioner, Ms. Patricia Lewis, who explained that the property was originally designated mufti -family and in order to build the types of homes they want, the zoning needs to be changed to two individual lots. • PUBLIC HEARING — 2014 -OR -21: Council President Julius opened the public hearing at 1:21pm and without further comment closed the public hearing at 1:22pm. • 2014 -OR -21 — Councilperson Samuel made the motion to APPROVE 2014 -OR -21, with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote of 9-0. 2 4. Kelly Phillips — 2014-R-9 Les Merkley — 2014 -OR -21 Resolution of the Common Council of Jeffersonville, IN Renewing and Extending the Term of the Jeffersonville UEZ: Ms. Phillips stated that UEZ is set to expire December 31, 2014, and she is coming before the Council to request a five- year extension through December 31, 2019. Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE 2014-R-9, with Councilperson Samuel seconding. Councilperson Zastawny asked what would happen if Council doesn't pass this resolution, and Ms. Phillips stated that the Department of UEZ would expire and tax benefits for those companies within the zone would no longer be available to them. Councilperson Zastawny asked where the property taxes within the UEZ are paid and Ms. Phillips explained that the tax benefits allow businesses to make improvements and they can realize 100% savings of the increased assessed value of their property. The business keeps 50% of that savings and they pay 49% to the Urban Enterprise Association and pay 1% to the State. The Urban Enterprise Association then reinvests that money to benefit the UEZ. Ms. Phillips explained that the UEZ has four different benefits that reduce taxes and increase assessed property values for anyone within the zone. Councilperson Zastawny questioned at what point is it to the benefit of the taxpayers in Jeffersonville to go ahead and let UEZ expire and have that base come back to the general tax levy. Ms. Phillips stated that the state is "sun setting" all enterprise zones in 2025. Councilperson Smith stated that UEZ does a lot of work that isn't visible to most such as they give money to Jeff Main Street for the facade grants, the new park at 19th Street and Spring Street, and $4,000 to neighborhood associations within the zone to purchase items such as neighborhood banners. Councilperson Gill asked Ms. Phillips if UEZ maintains any property downtown and she stated that they do maintain two parking lots. Councilperson Samuel asked how much revenue flows through UEZ and Ms. Phillips explained that it varies from year-to- year, but they should take in $350,000 in revenue this year, which is the same amount they received the last couple of years. Following discussion, 2014-R-9 PASSED on a vote of 9-0. 5. Kelly Phillips — Letter to Clark County Assessor Requesting Override of Time Requirements for JDC Veneers: Ms. Phillips explained that in 2006, Council approved a tax abatement for personal property for JDC Veneers located in America Place. Last year, they had a change of personnel at the same time that the tax abatement application was due and didn't complete the application. The County advised Ms. Phillips that they would have to go back and get approval from the City Council to be allowed to file for last year to continue their tax abatement. Ms. Phillips stated that if the Council does not approve allowing them to file last year's paperwork late, then their taxes will be raised for last year and this year. The County made a mistake last year and gave them the abatement, so they will be reassessed for last year as well as this year and would have to pay both. Ms. Phillips stated that she is requesting that Council approve to override the timeline for 2012 pay 2013 taxes and allow them to file that paperwork this year along with their 2013 pay 2014 tax abatement. Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE the letter requesting an override of time requirements for JDC Veneer, with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote of 9-0. 6. Amy Deering — 2014 -OR -22 An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds within the Same Department: Ms. Deering stated that all the items are in the ordinance, they just need to be shifted around to different series. Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE 2014 -OR -22 on the 1st reading, with Councilperson Gill seconding, PASSING on a vote of 9-0. CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY REPORT: None at this time. PUBLIC COMMENT: None at this time. 3 COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilperson Smith: stated that Councilperson Zastawny brought up a lot of good questions concerning the UEZ. Explained that there are a lot of projects that UEZ is involved in such as the new City signage, trees, benches in parks, facade program, helps new businesses get a start, paving of parking areas etc., and unless you know it's UEZ, you don't know it. Councilperson Smith stated that for the amount of money that they receive, it goes far and they are very frugal with the money. Councilperson Zastawny: explained that TIF's and the UEZ are great financial tools that benefit our community, but at some point the real benefit is when these areas come back to our tax rolls and eventually benefit the City as a whole. We need to use the tools wisely and grow the tax base, and feels like they are doing that. Councilperson Payne: None at this time. Councilperson Sellers: None at this time. Vice President Gill: reminded Council that JHS Theater is performing "Smokey Joe's Cafe" at Derby Dinner tonight. Doors open at 5:30pm, dinner is a 6:OOpm and the show starts at 7:15pm and the tickets are at the door under "City Council". She has noticed more businesses popping up on 10`h Street and asked Mr. Merkley if a meeting could be set up to discuss business licensing. Councilperson Glover: None at this time. Councilperson Owen: stated that he wants to publically thank Wendy Chesser, Kathleen Crawley and Matt Hall from One Southern Indiana because they put a lot of effort into the businesses that come before us to make sure those investments happen in Jeffersonville and they deserve a lot of credit for what we have going on. Stated that he likes the afternoon Council meetings and suggested possibly doing every other Council meeting in the afternoon. Councilperson Sellers stated that the public has to work and can't get here during the daytime hours. Councilperson Owen stated that's why they should keep one meeting a month in the evening. Councilperson Zastawny stated that they used to do Council meetings at the schools, such as River Valley and Jeff High and the government class teachers and students might be interested in doing this again. Councilperson Owen stated that Kelly Phillips commented to him that it is actually more convenient for businesses to come in to the Council meetings if they are held during the day and just felt that this is something for Council to think about. Councilperson Samuel: reminded Council about the Homeless Task Force being placed on the agenda for the next Council meeting. There will be a Jeff Public Art Commission meeting tomorrow at 4:30 in Planning & Zoning even though City Hall is closed for Election Day. At this meeting, they will be selecting benches and bike racks for downtown which is going to be funded almost entirely by UEZ and whatever they don't cover, Redevelopment is supposed to cover so it's a great thing. President Julius: stated that he knows the City settled their lawsuit with Palmer, but hasn't seen anything on that yet. Mr. Merkley stated that he will double check on it. Asked Mr. Lewis if he spoke to the Fire Merit Board about hiring off the current list. Mr. Lewis stated that he has emailed Council's recommendation to them. Recommends bringing in someone to discuss with Council the long-term repercussions of the tax abatements and who might be able to recommend offering 4 something else to businesses besides tax abatements. President Julius requests Council give him permission to search for someone to accomplish this. Councilperson Smith stated that this individual could share with them information as to what other communities are doing besides tax abatements. President Julius stated that he keeps hearing from a few departments that their training budgets have been cut and he wants to make it clear that they never have been cut. The Finance Committee is not trying to micromanage anyone's training and stated that he wants the Fire and Police trained as well as possible, Council just asks that they live within their budgets. ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Smith made a motion to ADJOURN at 1:48pm, with Councilperson Payne seconding, PASSING on a vote of 9-0. Vicki Conlin, City Clerk APPROVED BY: Dennis Juliuident 5