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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 3, 2025 Council Minutes COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA February 3, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met for the Regular Meeting on February 3, 2025. Council President Stoner along with City Clerk Gill called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.The meeting was open to the public in person as well as live streamed via the City Website using Zoom. INVOCATION: Council Vice President Burns led the invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: ROLL CALL: The roll call was conducted by City Clerk Lisa Gill and present in Council Chambers were Councilperson White, Council Vice President Burns, Councilperson Semones, Councilperson Anderson, Council President Stoner, Councilperson Reed, Councilperson Webb, Councilperson Hawkins, and Councilperson Snelling. All 9 Council Members were present in Council Chambers. Heaven Williams, Council Youth Advisor was present for the proceedings. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Council Vice President Burns made a motion to approve the Minutes for Council Workshop on January 15,2025, seconded by Councilperson Semones; motion passed, 9-0. Councilperson Semones made a motion to approve the Minutes for Council Workshop on January 21, 2025, seconded by Council Vice President Burns; motion passed,9-0. Councilperson Anderson made a motion to approve the Minutes for Regular Proceedings on January 21,2025, seconded by Councilperson Reed; motion passed, 9-0. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Council Vice President Burns made a motion approve the agenda, seconded by Councilperson Semones; motion passed, 9-0. CLAIMS TO APPROVE: Civil City$ 1,213,123.77 Mrs. Metcalf advised there were no changes. Council Vice President Burns made a motion approve the Civil City Claims, seconded by Councilperson Semones; motion passed, 9-0. Parks$ 33,377.19 Mrs. Metcalf advised there were no changes. Councilperson Semones made a motion approve the Parks Claims, seconded by Council Vice President Burns; motion passed,9-0. REPORT OF THE CLERK: Please remember the joint meeting with Utica Township Fire Protection District will be February 6th at 4:00 pm and the second meeting in February will be February 18th which is a Tuesday because February 17th is President's Day. REPORT OF THE YOUTH ADVISOR: Miss Williams gave an update of the survey that Jeff High students took; she has met with Lisa Carter and Evan Stoner and is getting assistance with Amber Powell on organizing events for High School students at the Depot on the weekends. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Heather Metcalf 2025-OR-1 (PUBLIC HEARING)Ordinance of Additional Appropriation Mrs. Metcalf advised there were no changes. Council President Stoner opened the public hearing at 6:04 pm and as no members of the community came forward to speak for or against the matter the public hearing was closed at 6:05 pm. Councilperson Semones made a motion to approve 2025-OR-1 on the third and final reading seconded by Councilperson Reed; motion passed, 9-0. 2. Heather Metcalf 2025-OR-2 (PUBLIC HEARING)Ordinance of Additional Appropriation Mrs. Metcalf advised there were no changes. Council President Stoner opened the public hearing at 6:05 pm and as no members of the community came forward to speak for or against the matter the public hearing was closed. Council Vice President Burns made a motion to approve 2025-OR-2 on the third and final reading seconded by Councilperson White; motion passed, 9-0. 3. Heather Metcalf 2025-OR-3 Ordinance of Transfer of Funds Within the Same Department Mrs. Metcalf advised there were no changes. Council Vice President Burns made a motion to approve 2025-OR-3 on the third and final reading seconded by Councilperson Anderson; motion passed, 9-0. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Public Comment: No comments 2. Chad Reischl 2025-OR-4(PUBLIC HEARING) Ordinance of Rezone Request for Property Located at 5102 Charlestown Pike from Al (Agriculture)to R3 (Single Family Residential-Small Lot)—Mr. Reischl advised this is a one acre parcel and the plan is to build 4-5 single family homes on the site and this comes with a favorable recommendation from the Plan Commission. These homes will be around $275,000. Council President Stoner opened the public hearing at 6:09 pm and as no members of the community came forward to speak for or against the matter the public hearing was closed. Councilperson Semones made a motion to approve 2025-OR-4 on the third and final reading seconded by Council Vice President Burns; motion passed, 9-0. 3. Chad Reischl 2025-OR-5 Ordinance of Text Amendment to the UDO(Unified Development Ordinance)with Proposed Amendment for Articles 3 and 12 and also the Use Matrix as it Pertains to Alcohol and Smoking Retail Stores— Mr. Reischl advised the State of Kentucky placed restrictions on the sales and since then he has seen an increase in the number of inquiries about these types of businesses. Upon review they realized the ordinance was overly permissive. Under this amendment the ordinance goes from these types of businesses being a permitted use to a special exception use. There was also a restriction added that they cannot be within 1/3 of a mile of a school. This comes with a favorable recommendation from the Plan Commission. Councilperson Reed said she very much supports but would like to see the distance changed to mirror whatever the walking distance is for the school district. These were grouped in retail and now will be specialty retail. Mr. Merkley advised his recommendation is to pass this as presented and come back with amendments if needed. Council President Stoner opened the public hearing at 6:18 pm and as no members of the community came forward to speak for or against the matter the public hearing was closed. Councilperson Reed made a motion to approve 2025-OR-5 on the third and final reading seconded by Councilperson Snelling; motion passed, 9-0. 4. Les Merkley 2025-R-2 Resolution Approving and Ratifying Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for the Joint Use and Operation of the Jeffersonville-Clark County Animal Shelter— Mr. Merkley provide history of the interlocal agreement. The first interlocal agreement was in 1996 and the formula has been based on population for each community that participates and the operating costs of the shelter. All letters went out this year on April 16, 2024 explaining the first increase since 2014. In April what was sent out to the participating communities was a significant increase due to the current operating costs of the shelter and the population updates. In September a revised agreement was sent out to phase in the increase for the entities over a three year period. Year one is much smaller,year two is smaller and finally at year three the full increase goes into effect. Currently the City of Jeffersonville pays a little over$300,000 towards the animal shelter. The City of Jeffersonville has never been listed specifically in the agreement for a dollar amount because it says the City of Jeffersonville will make up any differences for the operation of the animal shelter. Additionally the Redevelopment Commission spent$2.4 million dollars renovating the animal shelter and never requested any assistance when doing so. Mr. Merkley advised it was his understanding that all entities have approved the agreement except Charlestown and the Mayor of Charlestown has indicated she is going to recommend her Council approve it. Mr. Merkley advised this will need to come back before Council to be amended because the payments for Sellersburg were miscalculated and are lower than what they should be. It has already been corrected and resubmitted to Sellersburg and once it is approved he will bring it back before Council to be amended. Council Vice President Burns made a motion to approve 2025-R-2 seconded by Councilperson Webb; motion passed,9-0. 5. Public Arts Commission Appointment Discussion—Councilperson Semones said she would like to nominate Jackie Hawkins to be appointed to the Public Arts Commission however she is still waiting on her information to share with the council. Council Vice President Burns made a motion to table seconded by Councilperson Webb; motion passed, 9-0. COMMITTEE REPORTS: None ATTORNEY COMMENTS: Larry Wilder— Mr.Wilder thanked the Council for the opportunity to serve in the position of Council Attorney. Les Merkley—Mr. Merkley advised it was up to the Council if they want to do an executive session. Currently there are executive sessions advertised for Wednesday at 5 and Thursday at 3. Mr. Wilder asked if there was litigation he would like permission from the Council to attend and participate. Council President Stoner replied granting permission. Councilperson Semones asked if it falls under the scope of their current contract and Mr.Wilder confirmed it was. Councilperson Semones asked Mr. Wilder if he was representing a certain position on behalf of the Council and Mr. Wilder advised the position he would represent would be the rule of law as the ability of another governmental entity to attempt to keep them from fulfilling their legal obligation, statutory obligation, and constitutional obligation to engage in legislative conduct. After further discussion Councilperson White would like to discuss the matter further in an executive session. The executive session is scheduled for tomorrow February 4, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. DEPARTMENT HEADS: COUNCIL COMMENTS: • Councilperson White—No comment • Council Vice President Burns—Council Vice President Burns advised he provided the Council with the information about homes less than $135,500, he got that from the Assessor's Office. • Councilperson Semones—No comment • Councilperson Anderson—No comment • Councilperson Reed—Councilperson Reed congratulated District 5 Parkview School for their robotics team,their cheer team,and their feeder basketball team this weekend and to Jeff Cheer Club. Also her condolences to the Mallory family who lost their firefighter son this weekend. Their hearts and prayers are with them. • Councilperson Webb—No comment • Councilperson Hawkins—No comment • Councilperson Snelling—Councilperson Snelling confirmed that the executive session for the Council is tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. and the first Joint Public Hearing would be Thursday February 6, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. • Council President Stoner—Council President Stoner advised the executive session for the Council is tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. and the first Joint Public Hearing would be Thursday February 6, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. The President's Day meeting will be moved to February 18, 2025. Council President Stoner recognized County Councilman Chris Fox and thanked him for being at the meeting this evening. He has sent out and email regarding City Council apparel and he appreciates the people who got back to him on that. Also the Sewer Board would like to have a joint executive session to discuss pending litigation. The proposed dated was Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Snelling made the motion to ADJOURN the meeting at 6:40 p.m. DISCLAIMER: These minutes are a summary of actions taken at the Jeffersonville City Council meetings. The full video archive of the meeting is available for viewing at www.cityofjeff.net for as long as this media is supported. APP OVED Y• Evan Stoner,Council President ATTEST: Li a Gill,Clerk