Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-07-1993 The Common Council of the special session in the Mayor:s Conference Building~ Jeffersonville, Indiana at 6:30 September, 1993. The special session was called Parker Jr., with Clerk and Treasurer C. desk. All present were asked to stand and allegiange to the flag.. All Councilpersons were present. Mayor Parker explained the purpose of the was to have an informaal exchange of information on COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA SEPTEMBER ?~ 1993 City of Jeffersonville met in Room, in the City-County P.M. on the ?th day of to order by Mayor Raymond J. Richard Spencer Jr, at the repeat the pledge of special session gaming issues as there is a need for some semblance of a plan. He has heard other Councilpersons have proposals and this would be an opportunity for all to discuss ideas. Mayor Parker then read a statement of those things necessary and the deadline dates. He then asked for discussion. Councilperson Frantz asked what actions are underway? Mayor Parker explained he does not know for a fact, but has been lead to believe the money necessary to conduct a referendum vote will be paid. Councilperson Frantz then inquired who would hire a consultant? Mayor Parker explained that he would. Council President Potter explained he will introduce a Resolution in regular session to He feels~ as the Mayor does, forthcoming. Councilperson Wilder an application is made. override the Parks Department lease. the money for the referendum is explained payment cannot be made until the gaming commission as of today, established a procedure applicants. This will be in two parts. He believes rules procedures were established at the meeting in Indianapolis today. payment procedure was explained. Carroll Gowens~ Director of Redevelopment~ explained for and The Mayor Parker explained other sites will be considered as he does not want to be "short changed". Councilperson Wilder explained PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER ?~ 1993 it is a good idea to amend the R.F.P. to accept other locations~ giving more credit to the Spring Street site. Ms. Sharon Smith aeked if the Council riverboat gambling sites and if they enjoyed the visit to found improvements. Councilperson Stemler explained it was a positive visit and he will be presenting a report to the Mayor. Council President Potter also found it all to be positive with the only negative being traffic problems. Mayor Parker will be making a report available done by the Police Department on 15 locations concerning crime. Questions were answered from the audience regarding the selection of an operator and the deadline dates. The Council agreen to change the meeting scheduled for September 20~ 1993 tg September ~?~ 1993. Mayor Parker will be inquiring with various agencies regarding a consultant. The special session was adjourned at 9:05 P.M. PAGE 3 SEPTEMBER ?~ 1993 COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE~ INDIANA SEPTEMBER ?, 1993 regular Jeffersonville, 1993. The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville met in session in Council Chambers in the City-County Building, Indiana, at 9:30 P.M. on the 9th day of September, The meeting was called to order by Mayor Raymond J. Parker Jr., with Clerk and Treasurer C. Richard Spencer Jr, at the desk. Mayor Parker welcomed all in attendance~ asking all those present to stand as asked all flag. Bill Wilder~ Councilperson Steven Stemler those present to join him in The roll was called Wolpert~ Andrew Williams Barbara Wilson, Robert L. Absent: None. Mayor Parker presented gave the invocation. He then the pledge of allegiance to the and those present were Councilpersons III, Donna M. Frantz~ Peggy Knight Potter, and Steven R. Stemler. the minutes of the meetings of August B3, and August 30, President Potter made meetings as presented, unanimously. Clerk and Treasurer consideration by the President Potter made 1993 for consideration by the Council. Council the motion to approve the minutes of both seconded by Councilperson Wolpert, and carried Spencer presented the claim list for Council. Following all discussion, Council the motion to approve the claims as presented, seconded by Councilperson Wolpert and carried unanimouely. Ms. Sharon Smith of the Downtown Merchants again thanked the Council and expressed appreciation to for taking the time to gather information and endorse Association the Council the Spring Street location. Ms. Smith believes there is new excitement in downtown as Riverboat Gambling will only add to the City. Ordinance No. 93-0R-55, An Ordinance Transferring Funds Within Same Department (City Engineer, Clerk and Treasurer, and Common Council) was introduced for discussion. City Engineer Miller explained the need for money to repair traffic signals. Following all PAGE ~ SEPTEMBER ?, 1993 discussion, Council President Potter made the motion to suspend the rules for Ordinance No. 93-0R-55, seconded by Councilperson Stemler and carried unanimously. Council President Potter then made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 93-0R-55 on all three readings, seconded by Councilperson Stemler, passing on the following roil call vote: Ayes: Councilpersons Stemler, Potter, Wolpert, Williams~ Frantz, Wilder, and Wilson. Nays: None. Council President Potter introduced and explained Resolution No. 93-R-R4~ a Resolution overriding the Parks Department agreement regarding a proposed lease between the City and the Star of Louisville. Council President Potter further explained this will allow all riverboat gaming applicants to bid on the Spring Street site. At the conclusion of all discussion Council President Potter 93-R-R4, seconded by made the motion to pass Resolution No. Councilperson Stemler and carried unanimously. Mayor Parker explained that if the gaming referendum will have to be passed by the County it is of vital concern to the City of Jeffersonvilie to share in the revenues. He has distributed a proposal to share the revenue based on population. Mayor Parker then read a letter in support of sharing in the revenue from Mayor Braswell~ Mayor of Charlestown. Mr. Richard Dickman, President of the Clarksville Town Board, explained the legislation allows~ but does not require, sharing in the gaming revenues. Mr. Dickman needs to have something to take back to the voters. Jeffersonville is not an island, a vote of ali of Clark County will be necessary to pass this referendum. Mr. Dickman will not work against the passage but would like to have a reason to work for the passage. Mr. Dennis Simon~ President of the Clark County Council has personally been working for passage of the referendum. He hopes the Council will work expendiently on a proposal of sharing. Mr. Simon encourages the Council to pass the Mayor's proposal of sharing the revenue. Mr. Karl Truman, Sellersburg Town Council Member spoke personally that he supports Mayor Parker's proposal and he will encourage the Sellersburg Council to support it also. Mr. Rick Reynolds, Utica Town Council PAGE 5 SEPTEMBER 9~ 1993 Member explained he also is personally in support of this for Jeffersonville and Clark County. He does feel that support of the referendum may be rather soft in the County. A selling point is needed. Mr. Reynolds will help to get the ~ob done. Mr. Grant Morton believes there will be additional costs to Jeffersonville and feels Jeffersonvitie should receive a higher percentage for the risk taken. At this time. Mr. Carroll Gowens presented and reviewed a formula for distribution of tax revenues. He has talked with gamers and feels his figures are very conservative. Councilperson Frantz believes the economic needs of areas like Borden and Utica are great and should receive more. Mayor Parker explained many worked on this formula and it is believed the fairest division is by population. When questioned Mayor Parker explained several attorneys worked on the formula, however Attorney Sam Gwinn put it in written form. Mr. David Mosley~ on behalf of the Town of Utica, explained opening the riverfront to development will help all of Clark County. reveneu is appropriate. Ms. Sharon Smith should be shared. Mayor Parker will not He feels sharing the also feels the revenue ask for a vote on his is total support. He Mayor Parker intends wants it to happen. as a whole~ to be proposal at this time as he does not feel there does ask the Council endorse sharing in concept. to do his best to sell this in the County and he Councilperson Frantz would like the Council, involved in a revenue sharing formula. Councilperson Wilder is in favor of sharing the revenue however has concerns for plans for economic development in the other communities. The Council will meet Saturday, September 11, 1993 Potter then made the motion manner, seconded roll call vote: Ayes: Councilpersons Frantz, Wilder, and Wilson. Nays: None. Councilperson Wilder Councilpersons describing a to work on a formula. Council President to share riverboat gaming revenues in some by Councilperson Wolpert, passing on the following Stemler~ Potter Wolpert, Williams, reviewed a letter she distributed to proposal to correct drainage problems. She asks the Council to review this and be prepared for further discussion, suggesting approximately $125,000 in revenue from the sale PAGE 6 SEPTEMBER 77 1993 of the sewer plant be dedicated to this project. She explained some of her ideas for the proposal. Councilperson Wilder requests the Council's permission to work on an overview and priority list. The Council has no objections to this. Council President Potter wants to make sure the developers are responsible. closely a Jacob's Court the taxpayer. September 87~ Mayor Parker hopes a workable formula for sharing the can be worked out as he feels something is better than Council President Potter presented a Request For Proposals To Lease Facility~ gone into Property For Development and Operation Of Riverboat Gaming City of Jeffersonville, Indiana explaining the work that has it. Counciiperson Wilder proposes an amendment to include other sites, giving specific preference to the Spring Street site on page 2, and to amend page 11 to reflect that site one will receive preference. There are no problems with these amendments. Council President Potter will make this R.F.P. available to all that want them. Council President Potter asks the Council to look over letter from the County Commissioners regarding moving Judge to the main building. This will reflect a savings to He asks the Council be prepared to vote on this at the 1993 meeting. Councilperson Frantz asked if there would be a City Float for the Steamboat Parade. Park Superintendent Caldwell was not notified there was money in place. It was suggested local car dealers provide convertables for the elected officials to ride in. Councilperson Wilder does believes a workshop should be set up to work on the gaming revenue sharing. This will be Saturday, September 11~ 1993 at 8:00 o'clock A.M. Councilperson Stemler would like to follow through on the money designated for a float. Mr. Billy Tanner, as a concerned citizen whose taxes are too high, urges the Council to look at specific ways and definitive statements on how gaming revenue can be used to reduce property taxes. The voters must be told what will be done with the money. nothing. PAGE ? SEPTEMBEB ?, 1993 Mr. Ted Rajchel would like to cleaned up to make Jeffersonville attractive Rajchel would also like to see Steamboat Days not to inconvenience the downtown businesses. Answers were given to questions from the audience regarding the R.F.P., the Parks Attorney Gillenwater R.F.P. 's. see Jeffersonville downtown to new business. Mr. moved to an area so as presented passing on the following roll call Ayes: Frantz, Wilder, vote: Councilperson Stemler, Wilson. Nays: None. Mr. Carroll Gowens will advertise There being no further business Council President Potter moved to adjourn seconded by Councilperson Stemler and unanimously carried. MAYOR'~YhO~D J. PARKER'J~. ATTEST: the R.F.P. to come before the Council, at 8:45 o~clock P.M. Councilperson Wilder made the motion to accept the R.F.P. as with the amendments~ seconded by Council President Potter~ Potter, Wolpert, Williams, Department lease, the site, and deadline dates. explained there is no harm in handing out the