HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-18-2000COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE
COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA
DECEMBER 18, 2000
The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville met in regular session in the Multi-Purpose
Meeting Room in the City-County Building, Jeffersonville, Indiana, at 7:00 P.M. on the 18th day of
December, 2000.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Thomas R. Galligan, with Clerk and Treasurer
Peggy Wilder at the desk. Also present were Council Attorney Shon Leveritt and Deputy Clerk
Barbara Hollis. Mayor Galligan welcomed all in attendance, asking all those present to stand as
Council President Ron Ellis gave the invocation. Mayor Galligan asked all those present to join him
in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
The roil was called and those present were Councilpersons Les Merkley, Ron Ellis, Denny
Frantz, Rob Waiz, Barbara Wilson, and Ron Grooms.
Absent: Councilperson Vicki Conlin.
Mayor Galligan presented the minutes of the meeting of December 4, 2000 for consideration
by the Council. Councilperson Wilson made the motion to approve the minutes as presented,
seconded by Councflperson Waiz and carried unanimously.
Clerk Treasurer Wilder informed the Council the Ordinance Of Additional Appropriation
From The City-County Building Fund could be deleted from the agenda as the fund would not
support the request. Councilperson Merldey made the motion to approve the agenda deleting the
Building Fund Additional Appropriation, seconded by Councilperson Grooms, passing unarfimously.
Clerk Treasurer Wilder presented the claim list asking to delete two Local Roads and Streets
claims and add claims to Ohio River Greenway, Historic Landmarks, Clark General Insurance, and
Bank One for Building Rent. Clerk Treasurer Wilder asked to pay the amount short in the Building
Rent Fund fi'om Cumulative Capital Improvement. Following explanations and discussion,
Councilperson Merkley made the motion to delete the Local Roads and Streets claims as requested,
seconded by Council President Ellis, passing unanimously. Councilperson Merkley then made the
motion to add the claims as requested, seconded by Councilperson Wilson, passing unanimously.
December 18, 2000 Page 2 of 5
Councilperson Merkley made the motion to approve the claims as amended, seconded by
Councilperson Wilson, passing unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no public comment.
AGENDA ITEMS:
Ordinance No. 2000-OR-66, An Ordinance Amending Section 150.075 Of The Jeffersonville
Municipal Code was presented for consideration. Councilperson Wilson made the motion to pass
Ordinance No. 2000-OR-66 on the second and third readings, seconded by Councilperson Merkley,
passing unanimously.
Ordinance No. 2000-OR-67, An Ordinance Amending Section 150.076 Of The Jeffersonville
Municipal Code was presented for Council consideration. Councilperson Merldey made the motion
to remove Ordinance No. 2000-OR-67 from table status, seconded by Councilperson Grooms,
passing unanimously. Councilperson Grooms made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2000-OR-67
on the second and third readings, seconded by Councilperson Wilson, passing unanimously.
Ordinance No. 2000-OR-69, An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds Within Same
Department (Police Department) was presented for consideration. Councilperson Waiz made the
motion to pass Ordinance No. 2000-OR-69 on the second and third readings, seconded by
Councilperson Merkley, passing unanimously.
Ordinance No. 2000-OR-70, An ordinance Of Additional Appropriation (General Fund - Fire
Department) was presented and explained by Clerk Treasurer Wilder. This Ordinance has been
advertised for a public hearing for this meeting. There being no public comment, Councilperson
Merkley made the motion to suspend the rules for Ordinance No. 2000-OR-70, seconded by
Councilperson Frantz, passing unanimously. Councilperson Merkley then made the motion to pass
Ordinance No. 2000-OR-70 on all three readings, seconded by Councilperson Frantz, passing
un~mimously.
Ordinance No. 2000-OR-71, An Ordinance Of Additional Appropriation (General Fund -
Common Council) was presented and explained by Clerk Treasurer Wilder. This Ordinance has also
been advertised for a public hearing for this meeting. There being no public comment, Councilperson
Merkley made the motion to suspend the roles for ordinance No. 2000-OR-71, seconded by Council
December 18, 2000 Page 3 of 5
President Ellis, passing unanimously. Councilperson Merkley then made the motion to pass
Ordinance No. 2000-OR-71 on all three readings, seconded by Council President Ellis, passing
unanimously.
Mayor Galligan presented Resolution No. 2000-R-35, Jeffersonville Common Council
Approving A Declaratory Resolution And Redevelopment Plan Of The Redevelopment Commission
Of Jeffersonville, Indiana, And Approving Order Of The Jeffersonville Plan Commission. Mayor
Galligan explained the area. An area map will be attached and the Council will receive a revised
Resolution. Councilperson Grooms made the motion to pass Resolution No. 2000-R-35, seconded
by Councilperson Merkley, passing unanimously.
Councilperson Grooms presented and read portions aloud of Resolution No. 2000-R-26, A
Resolution In Support Of Jeffersonville Main Street Ine.'s Application For A Great American Main
Street Award Through The National Trust For Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center,
explaining he had received a request fxom Main Street Director Jay Ellis for this. Mayor Galligan
feels Main Street has a good chance of winning the award. Councilperson Grooms made the motion
to pass Resolution No. 2000-R-26, seconded by Councilperson Wilson, passing unarfimously
Councilperson Merkley said he attended a workshop during the National League of Cities Conference
that made him realize Jeffersonville is ahead of most cities. Councilperson Wilson attended a similar
workshop last year that made her realize that Jeffersonville was ahead then.
Clerk Treasurer Wilder presented and explained the need for passage of Ordinance No. 2000-
OR-72, An Ordinance Transfen-ing Certain Funds Within Same Department (Police Pension).
Councilperson Merkley made the motion to suspend the rules for Ordinance No. 2000-OR-72,
seconded by Councilperson Frantz, passing unanimously. Councilperson Merldey then made the
motion to pass Ordinance No. 2000-OR-72 on all three readings, seconded by Councilperson Frantz,
passing unanimously.
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Councilperson Grooms received a request last Saturday during a heavy rain firom a resident
on Perrin Lane for sandbags. He called Vehicle Maintenance Director Mike Ewton to see what could
be done. Director Ewton went out of his way to personally see the sandbags were delivered and
placed. Councilperson Grooms said it is employees like this that he does not hesitate to vote for
December 18, 2000 Page 4 of 5
employee longevity pay. He requested all say thanks if they see Director Ewton. Councilperson
Grooms wishes all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Councilperson Wilson says Merry Christmas.
Councilperson Waiz wishes all Happy Holidays.
Councilperson Frantz wishes all a Merry Christmas.
Councilperson Merkley said the 10th and Spring Street project is a step in the fight direction
for the gateway to the City. Councilperson Merkley has prepared a memorandum of his participation
at the Congress Of Cities and Exposition 2000 held in Boston. This will be included as a part of the
minutes.
Council President Ellis announced a workshop for Wednesday, December 27, 2000 at 5:30
P.lVL Council President Ellis said it has been a great opportunity to be President of the Council this
past year. There have been good times and there have been some bad times. If he could go back and
change anything this year he would secure a better working relationship with the Mayor. He hopes
this next year is cohesive. Council President Ellis wishes all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year.
Mayor Galligan thanked Council President Ellis for the nice statement. He does appreciate
it. Mayor Galligan announced the start of the demolition of Pet Paradise today. This is a great time
for the City ofJeffersonville. A great area is going to be revitalized. He wants to make this area first
class. The amphitheater will be a showcase next year. There are a lot of good things happening in
Jeffersonville and he looks forward to next year. Mayor Galligan wishes all a Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year.
Councilperson Wilson asked when the work on Warder Park would begim Mayor Galligan
hopes in early Spring. The concern is to have the work done before the concerts start. These plans
are also first class. The Jefferson sculpture will be started and students will be invited to come and
watch on Thursdays. Councilperson Wilson appreciates Mr. and Mrs. Don Dooley for coming to the
meetings.
December 18, 2000 Page 5 of 5
There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilperson Merkley made
the motion to adjottm at 8:00 P.M., seconded by Councilperson Wilson, passing tmanimously.
ATTEST:
CLERK ,~ASURER PEGGY WILDER
M E M O R A N D U M
To:
From:
Date:
Subject:
Jeffersonville City Council
CounciIperson Les Merkley
12-18-00
National League of Cities Conference, Bos
The following is a brief memorandum on of my participation at the Congress of Cities and Exposition
2000 held in Boston, MA December 5 - December 9. It is intended to provide the council and public
a report of the conference. The event was sponsored by the National League of Cities.
I. Opening General Session: the opening ceremonies took place December 7th. The featured
speaker was Harvard Law Professor Lani Guinier. She spoke about different ways to increase voter
participation through the implementation of the proportional representation system as opposed to the
current "winner take all" model. Also, NLC President Bob Knight spoke. He is the Mayor of Wichita,
KS. The crux of his remarks surrounded the need for those in the majority to listen to those in the
minority.
2. American Downtown - New Thinking, New Life: on December 8th l attended a workshop about
many innovative strategies that are being implemented across the country to help local governments,
concerned citizens, businesses, property owners, and others in their effort to revitalize their
downtowns. NLC has a national program called America Downtown: New Thinking, New Life. It is
intended to help communities in their efforts to bring businesses to downtown. The workshop
discussed trends in economic development and downtown revitalization, ways to spark private/public
partnerships and provided examples of successful strategies and ways to focus on revitalizing
downtown.
The keys to ensure that your downtown has diversification of business in an effort to compete with
shopping malls - give the consumer something they cannot get at the mall. The trend is to locate
retail in at the street level with residential or non-retail on the upper floors (mixed development).
Many communities have implemented a Downtown Development Authority to help create a
partnership between the public and private sectors. In Cass City, MI local business leaders and a few
local banks implemented a loan program whereby downtown businesses could obtain a loan rate of
6.5% for years and maximum amount of $20,000. The city then floats 1% of the rate resulting in the
business paying only 5.5%.
Also, it is very important to determine what the current downtown anchors are before developing the
downtown area. Many of the downtown anchors were riverfronts, libraries, and post offices. Cities
should fight to keep these anchors to ensure downtown attracts people. Occasionally, the post office
needs more space. If so, then the city should work to acquire a larger lot for the post office to remain
downtown,
Strengthening the downtown rental base should be a high priority. This is done in three steps: I )
conduct a market analysis to see what businesses are needed; 2) have businesses focus on quality and
not quantity; and 3) help business owners implement the market analysis. The bottom line is to give
consumers something they cannot get anywhere else.
Do not suburbanize your downtown. Keep the downtown area's distinct characteristics. For
example, shops should be near the street. Do not allow buildings to be constructed away from
street. You want to ensure that peopte walk the sidewalks in front of the stores.
Finally, attempt to have a building code that makes old buildings more attractive to businesses. The
New Jersey Rehabilitation/Flexible Building Code is the model of building code that helps old
structures meet code.
3. Citizen Participation in Planning for Smart Growth: on December 7~h I attended a workshop that
addressed the effort to avoid sprawl. It was stated that communities thrive when smart growth
principles are applied to land use plans and zoning codes. These benefits include decreased
infrastructure spending, less traffic congestion,, and more open space. The workshop highlighted how
active citizen participation can achieve smart growth with the assistance of two different techniques -
the Citizens Jury and the Visual Preference Survey,
The Citizens Jury is where the private firm is hired to conduct a telephone survey of residents. The
survey helps select a jury of about 20 residents who are selected to serve on a jury that will judge
what is acceptable use of land. The Visual Preference Survey is much more psychological. It utilizes a
private firm that shows residents different pictures of how the land would be used. The residents
then rate how they "feel" about the picture. The picture is changed from one land use to another
while the resident rates which they like better. Both techniques can educate and excite residents
about the benefits of using smart growth principles to create stronger citizen participation.
4. Morning General Sessions: in addition to the opening session there was a morning speaker each
morning. On December 8th former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson and former Labor Secretary Robert
Reich spoke about the presidential election and other issues facing the nation. Simpson provided the
conservative view while Reich gave the liberal perspective. On December 9th U.S. Senator Ted
Kennedy addressed the convention. He spoke about education and family legislation pending in
Congress.
5. Youth Issues: much of the conference concentrated on the problems and challenges facing youth.
There was even a youth delegation that participated in the conference. On December 9th there was a
panel of community leaders from Boston who discussed that city's innovative program to keep young
people enrolled in and attending school. The program was developed using the community-based
approach that has made Boston a national model in reducing youth violence. In addition, to keeping
kids in school the Boston program works on raising student achievement, keep children safe,
addressing families' health needs, and in the process enabling a broad based cross-section of the
community to work together as partners on behalf of children, youth, and families. The bottom line
was that local oflqcials have a respons!bility to ensure that children and families have the tools they
need to succeed. But it requires strong local leadership, partnerships, and a focus on the positive. It is
very important that the school system takes an active role in any program focused on youth.
Conclusion: The NLC conference was a great opportunity to learn from other communities. All cities
face many of the same problems. The key is not to reinvent the wheel, but build upon what others
have found to be successful.