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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 1, 2013COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA April 1, 2013 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session in Room 101, 500 Quartermaster Court, Jeffersonville, Indiana at 7:OOpm, on Monday April 1, 2013. Council President Connie Sellers, with Vicki Conlin, City Clerk, called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm. President Seller asked those in attendance to stand as Bobby Campbell gave the invocation. Council President Sellers then led all those present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The roll call and those present were: Councilperson Smith, Councilperson Gill, Councilperson Zastawny, Councilperson Samuel, Council President Sellers and Councilperson Vice President Julius. Absent were: Councilperson Payne, Councilperson Glover and Councilperson Owen. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Councilperson Samuel made a motion to add an item under New Business, #4, Redevelopment Master Plan Projects, seconded by Councilperson Smith, PASSING on a vote of 6-0. Councilperson Smith made a motion to APPROVE the agenda with the added item, with Vice President Julius seconding, PASSING on a vote of 6-0. MINUTES TO BE APPROVED: Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE the minutes from March 18th, 2013, with Vice President Julius seconding, PASSING on a vote of 6-0. Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE the minutes from the March 20, 2013 Council Workshop, with Councilperson Gill seconding, PASSING on a vote of 6-0. CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED: General Claims: Ms. Deering presented the general claims list for approval in the amount of $466,064.58. Vice President Julius questioned a claim listed under the Fire Department for "2012 Chevy remote start". After discussion, it was decided to pull the claim pending clarification. Councilperson Samuel questioned the numerous medical services listed under Common Council on page four. Ms. Deering described these as PHP claims that are exceptions the city decided to cover after the contract ended December 31, 2012. Councilperson Smith made a motion to APPROVE the claims list minus $175.00 under the Fire Department in the amount of $465,889.58, with Councilperson Gill seconding, PASSING on a vote of 6-0. Parks Claims: Ms. Deering presented the parks claims list for approval in the amount of $20,714.26. Councilperson Zastawny made a motion to APPROVE the claims list in the amount of $20,714.26, with Councilperson Gill seconding, PASSING on a vote of 6-0. Councilperson Samuel stated that he has observed multiple departments using John Deere Financial which he believes to be a credit card. Councilperson Samuel asked Ms. Deering to make sure that the departments provide receipts for that card and Ms. Deering agreed to do so. 1 OUTSTANDING WARRANTS: Ms. Deering explained to the Council that any checks that are outstanding over two years should be declared void. Ms. Deering presented 15 checks from Civil City Funds totaling $5,604.14 that will be receipted back into the system. Councilperson Gill made a motion to accept cancellation of warrants in the amount of $5,604.14, with Councilperson Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote of 6-0. REPORT OF THE CLERK: Chief Deputy Erica Burress reported that the BIS software has been fixed and the sound quality is now crystal clear. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS: City Attorney Les Merkley asked to speak at the next Council meeting. A. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Amy Deering — 2013 -OR -3 An Ordinance of Additional Appropriation (PASSED ON 1ST READING 3/18/13): Mrs. Deering presented 2013 -OR -3 to the Council with no further changes and requested approval on a second and third reading. Councilperson Smith made a motion to APPROVE 2013 -OR -3 on a second and third reading, with Councilperson Julius seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-1. Councilperson Samuel voted nay. Councilperson Zastawny asked if the money was in place for this action and Mrs. Deering stated it was. 2. Amy Deering — 2013 -OR -4 An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 2012 An Ordinance of Addition Appropriation by Reduction (TABLED 3/18/13): Mrs. Deering came before the Council presenting 2013 -OR -4 for approval after it was tabled at the March 18th, 2013 meeting. Mrs. Deering stated she can easily report out by a revenue report that will show revenue and expenditures by department within the funds. Councilperson Julius made a motion to APPROVE 2013 -OR -4 on a first reading, with Councilperson Gill seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-1 with Councilperson Zastawny voting nay. 3. Amy Deering — 2013 -OR -5 An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 2013 -OR -2 Amending Ordinance 2012 -OR -49 Fixing the Salaries of Appointed Officers and Employees for all the Departments of the City of Jeffersonville, Clark County, Indiana, for the Year 2013 (PASSED ON 1sT READING): Mrs. Deering presented 2013 -OR -5 to the City Council for approval on a second and third reading. Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE 2013 -OR -5 with the removing of city attorney under the law department and adding paralegal at a pay grade 6 at 75% and dropping attorney under Redevelopment and adding paralegal at pay grade 6 at 25%. Councilperson Julius seconded, PASSING on a vote of 6-0. B. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Delynn Rutherford and Melissa Woods- 2013-R- Resolution Of The City Council Authorizing the Submittal of the Disaster Application to the Indiana Office Community and Rural Affairs and Addressing Related Matters: Mrs. Rutherford brought a Representative from Bales Auto, a local resident whom wrote a letter to the council, Melissa Woods with the grant process, Charlie Bryant from the Drainage board and Jorge Lanz from JTL to speak on the resolution being presented that will authorize the submittal of an application for a $500,000 grant for the retention pond with a match of $698,000. The Representative from Bales Motor Company stated that they have been flooded out many times and have thought on several occasions about leaving Jeffersonville. They thought the solution was going to be the canal, but 2 plans change and they think this pond will make a beautiful entrance and help solve the water problem. Mrs. Rutherford read a letter from a local resident stating that they have been flooded on many occasions and they are in full support of Jeffersonville applying for the grant. Mr. Lanz with JTL, Inc. stated that as the engineer on the project he is ready to answer any questions the Council may have. He stated that he has consistently warned the city as a CSO community that there is always a possibility of cross contamination and has spent millions in bettering the situation. Mr. Lanz stated that 10th Street Pump Station is helping, but the project is "holistic" and made up of many parts, one being the retention pond. Charlie Bryant from the Drainage board came before the Council to address why the board did not approve the retention pond for funding from drainage. Mr. Bryant stated that the board had felt as if there were other projects that drainage needed to take care of and did not want to put the money into. It is on the master plan, but it is at the very bottom because it is low on the priority. Mrs. Rutherford clarified asking Mr. Bryant if they are indeed in support of the project as long as Drainage does not have to contribute any funding. Mr. Bryant stated yes. Ms. Woods spoke regarding the grant stating that it will need to be turned in by Thursday and the income survey resulted 85.35% in low- moderate low income so the city does qualify. Mayor Moore spoke to the Council stating that if the city does not fix this flooding solution, companies will not come in. Mayor Moore stated that surrounding businesses are supportive and excited for the project. Councilperson Julius asked what the amount is for the pond and the amount for the park. Mr. Lanz stated that about $350,000 of the $500,000 is directly related to the pond. About $100,000 of the $500,000 has to do with sidewalks and curbs. Mr. Lanz stated these are all predesigned estimates for the grant so there is not a contingency fund like most projects; however the contingency is included in the total price. There was NO ACTION on this item so the resolution DIES for lack of motion. Councilperson Samuel stated he is in support of the pond, but he does not think Redevelopment and TIF should be used for beautification for the park. Councilperson Samuel stated he would rather spend $300,000 for the pond than $700,000 for the match for both the park and the pond. Councilperson Smith asked if the property can be smoothed out and fixed up. Mayor Moore stated that developers will not develop businesses in an area that floods. Mrs. Rutherford stated that thus far they haven't been able to touch the property because IOCRA would not let the City move any dirt around until the decision on the grant was received. Mrs. Woods stated that the grant is only available to the city because of the park element that is added to the retention pond. 2. Les Merkley- 2013-R-_ Common Council City of Jeffersonville, Indiana Regarding the Amendment of the Falls Landing Area Economic Development Plan: Mr. Merkley stated that this resolution and the next one have been amended for the falls landing retention pond. Council President Sellers asked why Redevelopment would want to just put the money in for just the pond to help the flooding since the land is owned by Redevelopment. Mr. Merkley stated he is sure the administration is going to be looking into all options to solve the flooding problems in the area. The resolution DIES for a lack of motion. 3. Les Merkley — 2013-R- Common Council City of Jeffersonville, Indiana Regarding the Amendment of the Inner City Road Area Economic Development Plan: This resolution DIES for a lack of motion. 4. Scott Lewis- Redevelopment Master plan: 2013-R-5 Amendment of the Falls Landing Redevelopment Plan and Clarifying Pledge: Mr. Lewis presented the resolution for Council approval stating that the resolution includes the four following projects decided upon by the Council: 1. The Big Four Ramp 2. The Big Four Station 3. The Flood Wall opening Project 4. The Chestnut Street Reconstruction project 5. The Thompson Lane project. Councilperson Samuel stated that the perception is that the Council doesn't 3 support any of the Mayor's projects, but he stated he bases his decisions off of dollars appropriate. Mr. Lewis stated that this can always be amended to add any of all of the 15 other Redevelopment projects at a later time. Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE 2013-R-5 with Councilperson Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote of 6-0. 2013-R- 6 Amendment of the Inner City Road Economic Development Plan: Mr. Lewis presented the resolution with the same four redevelopment projects included as 2013-R-5. Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE 2013-R-6 with Councilperson Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote of 6-0. C. Public Comment None D. Council Comment Councilperson Smith: Stated that the pond will not solve the problem. Councilperson Smith stated that the canal project was going to have the start of the canal at the retention pond and water was going to move from the pond to the river. This pond will fill up and flow into Clarksville. The Canal proposal water was going to be turned over rather than sitting stagnate and causing mosquitos. The pond with the canal and this pond are two different projects and two different water directions. Councilperson Zastawny: None Councilperson Gill: Stated she would not support anything that would violate the clean water act and the put the City subject to fines from the EPA. Council Vice -President Julius: Stated that he doesn't think there is a problem with the pond, but there is a problem with the park. This will not end all the flooding and as a business owner in downtown Jeffersonville he would like to see a solution to the flooding. Councilperson Samuel: The city has hit the tax caps of 3.2 million dollars and will be looking to the administration at where that can be cut out. Councilperson Sellers: The council needs to set up a workshop for Wednesday April 17th, 2013 at 6 PM to discuss the remaining 15 Redevelopment projects and also the finance committee needs to get in touch through email to discuss a time to meet regarding the tax caps. Councilperson Gill made a motion to ADJOURN at 8:24 P.M. with Councilperson Smith seconding, PASSING on a vote of 6-0. APP 9VED BY: Connie Sellers, President ATTESTED BY: Vicki Conlin, City Clerk 4