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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 4, 2021 COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA JUNE 4, 2012 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session in Room 101, 500 Quartermaster Court, Jeffersonville, Indiana at 7:00 P.M., on Monday June 4, 2012. Council President Edward Zastawny, with Vicki Conlin, City Clerk at the desk, called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Council President Zastawny welcomed all in attendance, asking those present to stand as Bobby Campbell gave the invocation, Council President Zastawny then led all those present in Y p g Y p the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. The roll call and those present were Councilperson Zach Payne, Councilperson Mike Smith, Councilperson Lisa Gill, Councilperson Bryan Glover, Councilperson Dennis Julius, Councilperson Nathan Samuel, Council Vice - President Connie Sellers, and Council President Edward Zastawny with Councilperson Matt Owen absent. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Corporate Counsel Lowe stated that Number 4 and Number 5 should state Monica Harmon to present the claims. Councilperson Samuel made the motion to APPROVE the Agenda with the items amended on the Agenda, seconded by Councilperson Glover, passing on a vote of 8 -0. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Minutes from the May 21, 2012 Council Regular Session. Councilperson Samuel made the motion to APPROVE the minutes as presented, seconded by Councilperson Gill, passing on a vote of 7- 0 -1with Council Vice - President Sellers ABSTAIN. CLAIMS: Controller Harmon presented the claims for the Parks Department of $62,267.48. Councilperson Samuel made the motion to APPROVE the claims, seconded by Councilperson Julius, passing on a vote of 7 -0 -1, with Councilperson Payne ABSTAIN. Controller Harmon presented the claims for the General Claim List with an addition of $250,000.00 payment from LOIT for the Property on 10 Street, Police Headquarters, making the total of the claims list $$678,135.93. Councilperson Samuel made the motion to APPROVE, seconded by Councilperson Gill, passing on a vote of 8 -0. T.I.F. of $246,039.00- Council Vice - President Sellers made the motion to APPROVE, seconded by Councilperson Gill, passing on a vote of 8 -0. Mayor Comment: - None at this time Report of the Clerk: None at this time. F Department Head Report: Eric Hedrick, Fire Chief stated he has several items he wished to speak to the council regarding. 1) Crusade for Children, Fire Department raised approximately $36,000.00 and Chief Hedrick thanked several people for making this a success. 2) Update on overtime days used for each month due to the first four hires, January 60, February 51, March 54, April 56, and May 32. Starting to see a little of relief. 1 +fi 3) Spoke with Council President Zastawny, Councilpersons Owen and Payne and to Controller Harmon regarding spending of the LOIT money to cover some of the expenditures cut from the budget and believes there is no council action needed. The items will be in the 400 series buy some command vehicles and money saved from fire apparatus money set aside and shift money around to make purchases. 4) Retirees Insurance did some number that the council can at least think about and meet together with maybe some other department heads. Chief Hedrick wants to make it as affordable and attractive as possible for people who might want to retire. First year saving for someone who retires from the Fire Department is $14,000, year 2 $10,000, year 3 $8,200. In three year, saving up to be about $33,500 in three years, make an option to retire and anything we can do to help with retire insurance would be x' willing to meet with council and other department head. 5) Josh Thompson presented information about the radio system voted on last year by the council on May 2, 2011. The agreement is with the City of New Albany Fire Department, received a very large grant for the radio system tower. This would also get the Fire Department off the Hoosier Safety System, which has 35 -40 different agencies presently using. Going to a proprietary system option of expandability and option of controlling how the system works. Councilperson Sellers stated approved i, last ear and the council is supportive. pportive. Corporate Counsel Tom Lowe stated that he is working with City Attorney of New Albany to iron out language the agreement, which was voted upon by the council last year but not signed. AGENDA ITEMS: UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1) Scott Lewis — 2012 -OR -25 An Ordinance Abolishing Inactive Non - Mandatory Boards and Commission on the 2 " and 3 reading. Councilperson Samuel made the motion to PASS on 2 " and third reading, seconded by Councilperson Smith, passing on a vote of 8 -0. NEW BUSINESS: 1) Council President Ed Zastawny — "National Night Out" Jeffersonville Neighborhood Assoc. Council President introduced Katie Miller representing Jeffersonville Neighborhood Leadership Alliance (MLA). Ms. Miller introduced the Neighborhood Leaders in the audience who are a product of the Jeffersonville Neighborhood Leadership Program instituted by former Economic Development Director Clarence Hulse and Michael McCoy with University of Louisville. There have been three classes graduate and stated "We are the product of your money ". Ms. Miller continued with a Power Point Presentation of 2011 National Night Out, reporting that NNO was designed break the red tape between neighborhoods and city government with the presence of police and fire departments along with other city departments. In 2011, City of Jeffersonville received the "Rookie of the Year 2011). Ten neighborhoods participated last year and as of today, 16 neighborhoods have said yes to this year. Councilperson Zastawny asked the question has the Alliance spoken with the Mayor or Department Head, Ms. Miller stated the Alliance has approached many people including the Mayor and have not received a response back from any one sadly. Councilperson Smith commented that he would like to see the city departments that have equipment to participate in 2012 NNO. Councilperson Smith made the motion to APPROVE up to $6,000 from Council Special Projects, seconded by Councilperson Julius, passing on a vote of 8 -0. 2 t i 1 2) Tom Lowe — 2012 -OR -26 An Ordinance Changing the Zoning Map of Real Estate Located at East 10 Street and Herb Lewis Road, Jeffersonville, Clark County Indiana. Corporate Counsel Lowe presented 2012 -OR -26 stated that the acres should state 19.783 Acres, and requested Council President Zastawny to Open Public Hearing. Monty Chalfant, 2304 St. Andrews Road, he is a member of the BZA and not opposed to the project only request is to keep low income tax credits in mind. Council President Zastawny CLOSED Public Comment. Greg Fifer Attorney for Mr. Gilmore presented to the council a packet of the timeline of the project dated back to 2005. In March 14 2007, the Clark County Plan Commission gave favorable recommendation, March 22 2007 Board of Commissioners i adopts ordinance approving change of zoning, April 20, 2007 City Council adopts annexation ordinance (2007- OR -10) Proposed change of property from County B1 to City C1. David Blankenbaker, Surveyor passed out the plan of the property discussed the drainage plan. Councilperson Zastawny asked Shane Corbin, Planning Director if the department has received a landscaping and lighting plan. At this point, no development plan filed with Planning Department this is strictly a change in zoning. Councilperson Smith made the motion to TABLE until the June 18, El 2012 meeting, seconded by Council Vice - President Sellers, passing on a vote of 8 -0. 3) Tom Lowe- 2012 -R -9 Resolution Amending Statement of Benefit for Proposed Real and Personal Property Tax Abatement. Corporate Counsel Lowe presented 2012 -R -9 stating that this is basically a change of ownership from Sphere One Inc., to Arctic Minerals, LLC and JKBR, LLC. Councilperson Samuel made the motion to APPROVE, seconded by Councilperson Gill, passing on a vote of 8 -0. 4) Monica Harmon- 2012 -OR -27 An Ordinance which Amends 2012 -OR -16 Fixing the Salaries of Appointed Officers and Employees for All the Departments of the City of Jeffersonville, Clark County, Indiana for the Year 2012. Controller Harmon stated that this Ordinance reflects the budget cuts, i cleaning up of several items that either omitted or in the wrong category, changed the HR Department and Financial Department to 80% for General Fund and 20% Wastewater Department. t Ms. Harmon also stated no Department Heads salaries are increased. Councilperson Smith made,, the motion to PASS on 1St Reading, seconded by Councilperson Julius, passing on a vote of 8 -0. 1 5) Monica Harmon - 2012 -OR -28 An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds Within The Same 1 Department. Controller Harmon presented 2012 -OR -28 transferring funds from the Mayor's budget 1 Department Travel and Mileage to Office Supplies. Councilperson Smith made the motion to PASS I ' on 1 Reading, seconded by Councilperson Sellers, passing on a vote of 8 -0. i REPORTS AND COMMENTS: I 1) Public Comment — Mr. Ed Hack, 2410 Logan, spoke regarding the Traffic Issue on Woodland Court the owner of the condominiums are parking on the street causing problems with visibility of oncoming traffic. Mr. Hack also commended the council of checking to assure drainage issues approved before developers are giving the okay to build. , Joe Hubbard, FOP President spoke in regards to the contract negations starting in June. Mr. Hubbard is requesting a meeting with city leaders, FOP and Fire how the negotiation formats will be. Mr. Hubbard also spoke in regards to the retiree insurance, become a big issue with the police and fire especially due to the increase, as the insurance goes up also the retiree portion increases and r they cannot afford to retire. , 3 i t f 2) Council President, Ed Zastawny — Council President Zastawny read a prepared statement RESPONSE TO MAYOR'S PRES RELEASES. i "Recently, The Mayor issued two press releases concerning the City's summer relief program for is sewer bills and the enforcement of the City's ordinance requiring that retired employees contribute 40% of their health insurance premium. The Council would like to address several inaccuracies and misstated facts in the Mayor's two press releases. r Summer Relief for Sewer Bills: t In regards to the summer relief program, the Sewer Board and the City Council did not entirely abolish the summer relief program. Instead, the Sewer Board and the City Council changed the way summer relief was implemented. Rather than arbitrarily reducing the sewer bills for every household during the summer months, regardless of whether or not the household used water for their lawns, gardens, or swimming pools, the new policy requires verification that the household 1 used water that did not enter the City's sanitary sewer system. The Mayor states that the Sewer Board and City Council should us "common sense" regarding summer relief. In considering the changed method in calculating summer relief, the Sewer Board and City Council did in fact use common sense. It is not common sense to arbitrarily reduce sewer t rates for every household during the summer months if a household is not watering their yard, garden or filling swimming pools. In addition, when the City increased its sewer rates recently o cover the cost associated with the required sewer project pursuant to the Consent Decree with the Environmental Protection Agency, the elimination of arbitrarily reduced sewer rates for summer it relief was considered and used to determine the amount of the new rates. The City was losing too much revenue to cover the increased costs of sewer projects mandated by the EPA Consent Decree and to cover the payment of bonds associated with those projects. If the summer relief program is re- established to provide reduced sewer rates for every household for summer relief, then the City' may have to increase sewer rats again to ensure that there is sufficient revenue to pay for the outstanding bonds and for future mandated projects. I The Sewer Board and the City Council agree that households should not have to pay sewer fees for water that does not enter the City's sewer system. However, the City Council believes that the fiscally responsible procedure is that summer relief is grated to household that provides proper 1 verification of water usage that does not enter the City's sewer system, such as verifying such usage with a water meter. 6 Retiree Health Insurance Contribution: i In his press release regarding the City's retired employee health insurance contribution, the Mayor p attached the City Council with inaccurate statements and singled out by name individual Council i members. The Mayor falsely accused the City Council of previously refusing to enforce the ordinance and of inaction during the prior years. However, the City Council was only made aware of this issue during the past month by the City's Financial Controller. When it was made aware of this i situation, the City Council had a fiscal responsibility to alert the Mayor and his administration that the ordinance was not being enforced properly. While the City Council does sympathize with the retired employees, the fact is that for several years the retired employees have enjoyed the benefit i of paying a lower contribution that required by ordinance. The City Council is not requesting that the enforcement of the 40% contribution b retroactive, the City Council is only requesting that the 4 40% contribution be enforced going forward. While the Mayor questions the fairness of this action, the City Council believes that it is not fair for the general taxpayers of the city, and not fiscally i responsible, to subsidize a certain sub -set of people by not enforcing an existing ordinance. 4 t E i i The City Council has acted in a fiscally responsible manner regarding the changes in summer relief for sewer bills and in enforcin g city's employee the cit 's retired em to ee health insurance contribution. The Council fully discussed and considered these matters. The Council did not act arbitrary and instead t made fully informed decisions. The City Council understands that the Mayor disagrees with the t 1 policies set forth in the ordinance concerning summer relief and the retired employee health insurance contribution, but the Council fully expects that the Mayor will comply with his statutory duty under Indiana law and property enforce all of the City's duly adopted ordinances. In going forward with city business, the Council hopes that the Mayor will discuss such matters directly with the Council in an attempt to find common solutions rather than resorting to inaccurate attacks in 1 the form of press releases." „` t L Councilperson Smith stated several years ago when these issue, summer relief and water meters was being discussed he purposely purchased a water meter and the adapter to fit a garden hose, to comparison with using the meter and his sewer bill to be knowable so he was able to discuss this i information with his constituents. The cost of the meter was approximately $80.00 and the first year t the meter and adapters paid for itself and if treated properly will last a lifetime. Council Vice President Sellers stated that she attended the Sewer Board meeting in either Feb or March when this was discussed and Ms. Harmon reported there is between a $400,000 - $500,000 shortfall each year due to summer relief. Most of the bonds are for 20 years that is approximately [' 10 million dollar shortfall that will have to be made up and the only way is to raise the sewer rates, the Council and the Sewer Board are not in favor of doing this to make up the shortfall. This is a Sewer Board issue not a Mayoral decision and has to come before the Council because it is an ordinance. City Attorney Lewis reported Mr. Ashack contacted him and this issue will be addressed at this Thursday Sewer Board Meeting. I Councilperson Julius stated it is very frustrating as a new council member spending hours regarding discussion all these issues regarding the sewers and looking at what can be done. The council is unilaterally would love to give summer relief, if we could afford it, but with $100 million in projects we have to pay for them. Very frustration when you receive a phone call that understand that we voted it down and someone else is doing it anyway. Councilperson Julius requested that Council President Zastawny statement be made part of the record, seconded by Council Vice President Sellers, passing on a vote of 8 -0. i s Council President Ed Zastawny commented several council meetings ago the Mayor came before the council asking for $100,000 speed humps, but did not offer any type of criteria or procedure to how speed humps would be given out. At that time, the council requested the Mayor to set up some procedures with the departments and at this time the Mayor has not related to the council this has been done. The council is not against speed humps in certain circumstances but waiting to hear back from the Mayor on a plan. i Council Comments: Councilperson Smith — None at this time. Councilperson Payne — None at this time Council Vice - President Sellers — None at this time. g 5 i 'f 1 i Councilperson Glover — None at this time. Councilperson Julius — Jeff Fest is this weekend at Preservation Station. Councilperson Samuel —1) Zoning understand that we have no input due to the property being grandfathered, but is we are asked to do something and take action they need at least to comply when we expect others to and need to have our standards upheld. 2) Budget Reduction component at the next meeting will be a Public Hearing and can be voted on all three readings. 3) Joint meeting with Redevelopment Commission made aware there are no set plans for the design of the Big Four Ramp. This is extremely concerning that, there are no design plans being followed. Wants to make people aware and the Council is working with the Redevelopment Commission and the Mayor Office to try to pull this together and to have another regular scheduled meeting with Redevelopment Commissions. • Councilperson Gill — None at this time. Council President Zastawny — Apologized for starting the meeting late had a joint meeting with the Redevelopment Commission regarding the Big Four Bridge Ramp and the Police Headquarters looking at different ways for financing of the Police Headquarters. Workshop to discuss sidewalk on June 18, 2012 at 6:00 P.M. ADJOURN: With no further business of the City Council, Councilperson Smith made the motion to ADJOURN, seconded by Councilperson Payne, passing on a vote of 8 -0. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 P.M. Edward Zastawny, President 640, S Val 0-444 ATT .TED BY: Vicki Conlin, City Clerk 6