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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 20, 2013 workshopJEFFERSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP Wednesday March 20th, 2013 City Hall, Mayor's Conference Room The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville met in a workshop on Wednesday March 20th, 2013. Council President Sellers called the workshop to order at 5:35 P.M. and on the roll call members present was: Councilpersons Bryan Glover, Zach Payne, Lisa Gill, Mike Smith, Nathan Samuel, Ed Zastawny, and Dennis Julius. Absent were Councilperson Zastawny and Owen. Guests present: Redevelopment Board Member Jack Vissing, Redevelopment Director Rob Waiz, Grant Writer Delynn Rutherford, UEZ Director Kelly Phillips, City Engineer Andy Crouch, Mayor Mike Moore, Controller Amy Deering, City Attorney Les Merkley, City Council Attorney Scott Lewis, and Jorge Lanz from Jacobi, Tooms, and Lanz. REDEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN Redevelopment presented twenty projects to the City Council for discussion. These twenty projects are to go before the council for approval through the Redevelopment Master Plan. Mr. Lewis stated at the workshop that through approval of any or all of these projects into the Redevelopment Master Plan, the Council is authorizing Redevelopment to go ahead with the spending for the projects. City Attorney Les Merkley stated that some of the projects have already started and will need to be in the Plan for approval. Mr. Merkley stated that even after Council approval of the amendment to the Falls Landing and the inner city road project, Redevelopment will then need to approve the projects and any amendments. Mr. Merkley stated the next step once the council passes the resolution choosing any or all of the projects, Redevelopment will then need to adopt the resolution to confirm what the Council approved. Mr. Merkley stated that the plan commission has approved all twenty projects. Mr. Lewis stated that Indiana Code requires Public hearing on some of these. Mr. Merkley agreed that Redevelopment will have to have the public hearing when the plan comes back to them. Mr. Merkley stated that he believes in regards to the resolution he believe this attachment description it is sufficient. Director Rob Waiz led discussion in each of the 20 projects before the Council members. BIG FOUR RAMP/BIG FOUR STATION/FLOOD WALL OPENING: The Big Four Ramp is currently in the construction phase and is set to be complete August 2013.The handrail lighting is set to be bid out in May. The station is set to bid in May and is on a timeline of 2013- 2014 at an estimated cost of 4 Million from Redevelopment. The flood wall opening is an estimated cost of $600,000 from Redevelopment and INDOT and set to bid out in May. Mr. Waiz stated there are some items with the Big Four Station that can be handled in house. Councilperson Samuel asked about decorative bikes being included in the station and Mr. Waiz stated it is included but how elaborate the city wants to go with it can work with the Arts administrator. Mr. Waiz stated they would need to talk about this by April for bidding in May. Mr. Waiz stated he has included a copy of the letter from the Corps Engineers giving the OK to take out the panel of the flood wall and replace with a gate. CHESTNUT STREET RECONSTRUCTION: Mr. Waiz stated that the estimated cost of the project is $598,000 with $250,000 grant and local match by UEZ, Beautification, and Redevelopment. The project bidding opened March 20th, 2013. The reconstruction will blend in with the Big Four Station by changing asphalt to concrete and the coloring to the same. Mrs. Rutherford stated the release of funds should be the end of March and it will not start until after Thunder over Louisville and may be October/November until it is completely done. Councilperson Smith asked how much the Falls Landing TIF generates, since these before mentioned projects are all in the Falls Landing TIF district. Mr. Merkley stated Falls Landing by itself would not be able to pay for these projects, but can support the statement that using money out of inner city road to help these projects. Mrs. Deering stated in 2012 the revenue for Falls Landing TIF was under 3 million. Mr. Merkley stated current commitments for Falls Landing TIF is $700,000 annual payment ending in 2015 and another bond payment around $100,000 until 2013. Mr. Merkley stated starting 2016 the estimated cash flow will be 1.3-1.4 million. Councilperson Julius stated we do have to keep about 1 million in for the reserve for the bond rating. JEFFERSONVILLE MARINA: The estimated cost is 22 million and funding sources include possible grants and local funding. The project is currently in a design phase and is looking at including floating pier, sewage pump -out facility and floating docks. Mr. Waiz introduced Jorge Lanz to discuss the design process thus far. Mr. Lanz stated that the design will promote the greenway path and include docks perpendicular to the shore. Mr. Lanz stated they are also envisioning a debris reflecting pier, floating boat slips for seasonal rental, a realigned and reconstructed boat launch ramp, and sewage pump -out facility. Mr. Lanz stated for now they are looking at a floating dock system. Mrs. Rutherford stated they have an application in to the Fishing Wildlife for a grant through the Clean Water Act for the pumping station. Mrs. Rutherford stated that grant would fund it 75% and the city would have to match 25% of the estimated $70,000. Another grant that is possible would cover the wave deflector up to $100,000 with a 75/25 match as well. Mr. Lanz stated the Corps wants one application for the permits and they are currently working on those. Councilperson Glover asked about dock spaces that are available. Mayor Moore stated the marina currently is not an attractive site and he believes the city can really turn this into a showcase and anticipates a waiting list for the docks. Mayor Moore stated the rates for the dock rentals will be adjusted. Councilperson Glover recommended having empty docks for daytime traffic. Mayor Moore stated they are leaving about 5-6 docks available for daytime traffic. Councilperson Glover suggested looking at the number being left open to increase. Mayor Moore stated he would be happy to do that. Mayor Moore also stated where there is a boat ramp down there now; they will be widening the launch area and parking. Mayor Moore stated he is happy to look at surrounding communities and look into more dock space. Councilperson Smith stated he wouldn't mind a small type of ramp for emergency use if anything else. Councilperson Smith suggested looking at putting the docks at an angle to go with the current and to help deflect any debris. Mr. Lanz stated he would look into it. CHARLESTOWN PIKE/HOLMANS LANE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS: This project is the installation of right turn lane at Charlestown Pike where it meets Holmans Lane at an estimated cost of $200,000 to be funded from Redevelopment and is in the design phase currently. Mr. Lanz spoke on this project stating that the short term is improving the right turn lane. This is the first phase of the Veterans Parkway Phase II Project. Mr. Lanz stated they are looking at taking Charlestown Pike and veering off to the south where two empty Tots are which would allow an additional light if needed and gives an additional 250 feet of separation to the signal at Veterans Parkway. Mr. Lanz stated that then they could close off that piece of Charlestown Pike and eliminate a bunch of traffic accidents from people turning left. VETERANS PARKWAY PHASE II HOLMANS LANE: Mr. Lanz stated they have been working on Engineering for 3-5 years and in the finalizing design and right-of-way engineering. Mr. Lanz stated they are looking at construction in 2017. Mr. Crouch is working hard to obtain some KIPDA funds and the Construction has not been authorized yet. The estimated cost is $7 million. The project is an 80/20 project. The project goes from Whoerle road to 10th street and will include widening, putting in sidewalks, and lighting. Mayor Moore stated this project as far as construction goes, they were counting on $2 million dollars and to be able to get 80% funding pushes back the project to 2017. FALLS LANDING PARK MULTI -USE AREA: This project is estimated at $1.1 million with possible funding from an OCRA grant in the amount of $500,000 and money from Redevelopment. The RFP has been issued for development with a time frame of 2013-2014 and the area will improve downtown drainage and flooding problems by creating a community park with a walking track and potential commercial development. Mrs. Rutherford stated the grant application is to be submitted by the 5th and is not a competitive grant. Council President Sellers asked if the $700,000 in the Resolution that was tabled is the matching funds because the council was under the impression the amount was $250,000. Mrs. Rutherford stated it is $700,000. The resolution was passed to match the grant at the last Redevelopment meeting. Mr. Merkley stated that the same resolution will come before the Council on April 1st, 2013 and the deadline for the grant is April 5th, 2013. ALISON BROOKE PARK: This project is in the design and permitting phase and is estimated at $150,000. Redevelopment approved the funding on 5/30/2012 for the park that will include a park, walking trail, pond and community garden at the vacant lot of Alison Lane and Middle Road. Mr. Crouch stated that the project is in a flood plain so JTL put together a Hydraulic Study and it has been submitted to DNR. The city is awaiting comments and approvals from them and Mr. Crouch stated they are still a few months away from receiving permits. Mayor Moore stated construction will be in house and the pond is being gifted to the city from the owner. Councilperson Gill stated DNR has some strict conditions on the pond to be dredged and Mr. Crouch stated they will work through that with JTL's permit. TOWN CENTER SOUTH ROAD AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL: This project is a project is extend the road from Veterans Parkway to New Albany -Charlestown Pike and a traffic signal at NACP at an estimated cost of $2.35 million and ready to bid out in April. Mr. Lanz stated this project has been in the works for a long time and there have been discussions regarding contribution percentages from the Developer. Redevelopment has only approved the design portion of the contract and will need to approve it to go out for bids. The developer is donating about $3.5 million of land right-of-way. WESTBOUND RIGHT TURN LANE AT VETERANS PARKWAY FROM HAMBURG PIKE TO TOWN CENTER BLVD: This project is the installation of continuous westbound right turn lane from Hamburg Pike and the installation of pipe and roadside ditch. The project is estimated at $650,000 and is a few months behind the Town Center South Road project, but will be ready for bidding soon. Mr. Lanz stated that they are finalizing that project as well. 10TH STREET WIDENING: This project is to widen 10th street and add turning lanes at an estimated cost of $18.1 million dollars with possible funding of $12.6 million from Redevelopment and $5.5 million from KIPDA. The Design work is to be completed in 2015. Mr. Crouch gave a short presentation regarding the project that shows the funding breakdown into categories of Design, Right-of-way, Utilities, Construction, and Inspection. Mr. Crouch stated they will be holding a public hearing soon regarding the design phase. Mr. Crouch showed the council the breakdown of what KIPDA is funding in each category and what the City will need to match in order to receive that money. Mr. Crouch also gave estimates for each category of the project that the City will need to finish the funding. The total liability of the city is estimated at $12,672,117. Mr. Crouch stated the timeline is looking at starting a 2 year construction in early 2016. THOMPSON LANE: This project is the widening of Thompson Lane and the installation of a new stoplight at an estimated cost of $1 million. Possible funding sources Redevelopment and bond fund and this project is set to bid in summer. Mr. Crouch stated that plans are complete and they are meeting with the superintendent of Greater Clark County this week to negotiate. Mr. Crouch stated they hope to begin this year. BIKE AND HIKE: This project includes the transformation of 23 miles of abandoned railroad tracks into walking and biking paths that will loop around the city. The estimated cost is $500,000 with the funding source being Redevelopment. This project is in a discussion phase and they are looking for additional funding sources. Councilperson Glover stated as someone who works with CSX Railways that the rails to trails program is where any abandoned property is leased, however if the Railroad decides they need that property they can take it back. Councilperson Glover suggested the city talk to the City of Bedford who has done this. Mr. Merkley recommended that they would definitely do a title search and they may look into the Transportation Enhancements fund. TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR This project is an establishment of a business incubator with a focus on attracting and developing high tech business to the city's existing technology park. This project is in the discussion phase and there is $1 million in the technology park fund to be used within this area. Funds need to be spent within that park. The building would be constructed and leased out to new technology businesses. BROWNFIELD GRANT: This grant is awarded in May 2013 and is an EPA Community Wide Assessment Grant for up to $400,000 with a $10,000 match from Redevelopment. Mrs. Rutherford spoke regarding the grant stating it can be used for funding phase 1 and phase 2 of about 10 Redevelopment properties. ARTIST INCUBATOR: This project is to create the establishment of an incubator that will concentrate on developing artists with a focus on small business. There is no funding required and the properties being considered are the old Gray and Wells property and the Bond Sign property. The artists would have these buildings for 2 years. MUSEUM/CLARK COUNTY MUSEUM: The two museums would not require funding and would be a part of a Cultural District that Redevelopment would like to establish as an area dedicated to arts and culture for the public. One museum would be located at 723 Spring Street and the lease is pending. The Clark County Museum is located at 721 Michigan Ave and the lease was signed at the last Redevelopment meeting. Councilperson Smith asked for a copy of the Clark County Museum lease to City Council Attorney Scott Lewis. Mr. Lewis asked if the lease had the provision that it is contingent upon the council approval. Mr. Lewis stated that he believes if the purpose of lease is being changed that the lease would not be affected until the master plan is approved. City Attorney Les Merkley disagreed with Mr. Lewis. Mr. Merkley stated that the purpose of the lease is to give a developer an opportunity and allow the city to get out of the lease with provisions if the property is necessary to the developer. CULTURAL DISTRICT: This project is in the discussion planning mode to establish an area dedicated to arts and culture. Establishing this area creates a broad district to include downtown, river stage, big four, quadrangle and surrounding areas. Mrs. Rutherford stated that this will give the city more opportunity to grants. The establishing of the area will not affect residents. Councilperson Sellers suggested expanding the area to include housing close by for a possibility of flipping that area. The City Council agreed to meet in a workshop setting to discuss the projects and which or all of the projects to approve. Mayor Moore asked the council to consider approving all of the projects so as to support his vision for the City. Mr. Lewis reminded the council that they can always amend the plan later to add in projects. Councilperson Gill made a motion to adjourn at 7:25 P.M. with Councilperson Gill seconding, passing unanimously. Connie Sellers, President ATTESTED BY: Vicki Conlin, City Clerk