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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-11-1993COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE~ INDIANA SEPTEMBER 11, 1993 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville met in special session in the Mayor's Conference Room in the City-County Building, Jeffersonville, Indiana, at 8:00 A.M. on the llth day of September, 1993. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jr.~ with Deputy Clerk Barbara Hollis, at the desk. welcomed all in attendance: asking all those present to the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Raymond J. Parker Mayor Parker join him in The roll Bill Wolpert, Andrew Williams Wilder, Barbara Wilson, Robert L~ Absent: None. One claim from Street Commissioner was called and those present were Councilpersons III, Donna M. Frantz, Peggy Knight Potter, and Steven R. Stemler. the Motor Vehicle Department was presented by George Trembly. Following discussion Councilperson Frantz made the motion to pay the claim as presented, seconded by Councilperson Wolpert and carried unanimously. Street Commissioner Trembly presented a written report to the Council on the police vehicles asking the Council to review this. He will be happy to answer questions or go over the report with any Councilpersons who may desire to do so. Council President Potter explained the Mayor has proposed a gaming revenue sharing plan based on population. Potter believes this is a fair and equitable plan. schools do. He asks the Council to have any other the September 27, 1993 meeting. Councilperson Frantz is not in favor of Council President Potter and the Mayor's proposal Councilperson Council President This is what the proposals ready for appropriate to involve the Council in a revenue sharing plan before announcing to the public, as the financial responsibilty belongs to opposed to having outside elected officials telling spend it's money. He has no problem with the concept the Council, as the City how to the 95%-25% share. explained that by law the City receives 25% actually figures out to 43% to the City. Williams feels it would have been more PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER 11~ 1993 of sharing, however the means need to be ironed out. He does not feel it is incumbent to have figures by September 2?. Time needs to be taken. Councilperson Williams referred to the DeMars project and the cost to the City. Expenses need to be considered when sharing. Proportional sharing is fair but other options should be considered such as using a grant method as is done in Davenport. Councitperson Frantz suggested adding another dollar to the three dollar admission tax to be used in a grant-type program. Attorney Gillenwater explained the gamer may charge anything or nothing, however the gamer will have to pay three dollars for each person boarding the boat. Councilperson Wilder mentioned the admission tax will be lost if the boats are docked and land based. This will be a loss of revenue for the City as well as the County. Council President Potter feels if this does happen there will be about 20~ more in gambling revenue. Councilperson Williams feels to share should be decided first and should be shared. Councilperson Stemler feels regionally so the growth could be collective. non-elected committee to maybe included the Chamber Center for Lay Ministries and member of the affected the percent the City is willing then consider how the remainder the Council should think He suggests a of Commerce, the communities. He does favor the grant concept. He feels the City may want to consider taking more of a share up front to help cover start-up costs. County Councilperson Pepper Cooper stated the County represents all the areas in the County and would be distributing funds back to the General Fund, need for an whole county. communities. The funds would not go into the County but be used for something new. He believes there is a expanded Redevelopment Commission to help promote the County Councilperson Cooper wants to make it clear that is was Mayor Parker's proposal that was talked about at the County Council meeting. The County Council is open to any ideas but is in basic agreement. The concept of an ambulance service is a good consideration. The County Council does need to know something so they make go out into the different areas to sell the referendum. PAGE 3 SEPTEMBER ll~ 1993 Counci!person Stemler explained the ambulance service is a big consideration and a major major cost. Some thinking together needs to be done and the hospital needs to be involved. The concept would be to fund the start-up cost and hopefully be self-sufficient at a point in time. Councilperson Williams feels one of the advantages of thinking regionally is that duplication of efforts would be minimized. Councilperson Stemler~ speaking about the start-up costs, the revenues as projected by Redevelopment Director the City. Anything above these projected revenue be The third and fourth years would be proportioned would like to see Gowens go I00~ to proportioned out. out by population. and all Councilperson Wilson smaller to start. Councilperson Frantz development Councilperson Williams agrees the start-up will not be free need to be sensitive to this. suggests using the Mayor's plan only feels the areas that need the economic the most will be getting the smallest portion. County Councilperson Cooper explained the County Council represents all these areas. He feels the allowance for start up is reasonalbe but also feels the referendum will be very hard to sell if the areas do not get a share. Councilperson Frantz feels someone is telling the areas how the City was going to share before the City knows how they are going to do it, as it has never been discussed with this body. Mayor Parker explained the Council is the fiscal body but in defense he reminds the Council he was asked to work with Council President Potter on this. This was discussed~ and he worked with Council President Potter and different groups in the County and came up with the proposal which was given to the Council for discussion and questions for a whole week. He received no calls questioning the proposal. He felt it was incumbent on him to get things going to initiate conversation. He did not get any input from the Council. He emphasized this is only a proposal to be discussed~ add to, or take away. It took an open meeting to generate conversation. PAGE 4 SEPTEMBER 11, 1993 Council President Rotter looks at this as a marketing concept. It must be kept in mind the County has to be sold on this and a reason for voting yes must be given to the voter. Councilperson Williams agrees the Mayor and Council President were asked to work on ~his however he feels it would have been appropriate for the Mayor to discuss this with the Council before taking it out to the County. Councilperson Wilson feels ths body is upset because another municipality attorney was passing out information before the Council received it. Mayor Parker explained this Attorney Sam Gwinn) was the one that put the proposal several municipality had input. Attorney Gillenwater explained it revenue can be shared. This is why he did (Clarksville Attorney in writing. There were Mayor and happen so plan". attorneys and elected officials present and ali is not iOOZ certain if the not draft the document. Councilperson Stemler, repeating what has been said that o'f something is something and 25~ of nothing is nothing, however if your start up costs are 35~ and you get 85Z, you go in the hole. If this is going to be marketed he suggests the possibility of sharing with the areas where the referendum passes. In other words if you want it go out and work for it. County Councilperson Simon feels the indecison of the City Council is causing confusion in the County. He begs the City Council to make a decision so the areas can start today working toward passing the referendum. Mr. Jim Johns feels the Council wants an apology from the he feels all the Mayor wants is to know what is going to the concept can be sold. The big questions is "what is the Councilperson Wolpert feels greed will get you in a lot of · trouble. He feels the Mayor's proposal is a good one, however he agrees with Councilperson Stemler regarding start-up costs. Ms. Sharon Smith agrees the City should make provisions for start-up costs. A decision needs to be made as she feels the downtown merchants are selling the bill for the whole County and it is hard. PAGE 5 SEPTEMBER 11~ 1993 Councilperson Wilson is hearing all the responsibility is going to the City. The County will receive moneys so the County needs to have some responsibility in letting the voters know how this money will be used. The County needs to sell Simon explained this is being worked on. agrees~ however they do not package would be better. understand this will be used the City of Jeffersonville. problem with a Economic also. County Councilperson County Councilperson Cooper want to go out there twice. The whole They are working hard so the voters for economic development, which includes County Councilperson Cooper sees no Development Council consisting of representatives from ail areas including Jeffersonville. Mr. Grant Morton asked how the County could the City. money to County Councilperson Cooper fund tourism, to fund redevelopment Morton is concerned of the cost to the City and off the top. Mr. tax reduction must be dealt President Potter example would be from the budget. spend money in explained the County can spend and many others. Mr. feels this should come Billy Tanner feels unless a meaningful statment toward is made the referendum will not pass. Tax reduction with or it will end up worse than it is now. Council explained this has been considered and said an to purchase capital equipment so that it is removed Mr. Tanner would like to see percentages designated to lower again". City Council taxes~ as he has heard it is "just the State lottery all over Clarksville Town Board as this is one of Member Charles King does feel for the the biggest issues to deal with. He does not feel there would be objection to allowing for start-up fees and if not needed redistribute. Clarksville will be directly affected by having to deal with more traffic and other problems. Mr. King would like to have something to take to the voters to pass the referendum. He suggests the percentages be used but on a smaller basis to allow for start up. Mayor Parker suggests the City take a larger first year decreasing each year back down to the 25~. to make a decision as all eyes are on the City percentage the It is necessary to do so. PAGE 6 SEPTEMBER 1!~ 1993 Council President Rotter feels much of the start-up costs are in the R.F.P. He does like the idea of money for start up provided and then redistributed if not needed. Mr. Grant Morton recommends the first two years that Jeffersonville receive 25~ 10~ for tax reduction~ 5% contingency~ 5~ start up (if not used go to the County for redevelopment and tourism) 5% to Jeffersonville for redevelopment and tourism and 50~ distributed by population. This would not include the admission fee, He feels He emphasizes committments the major risks would be covered by this. are needed. County Councilperson Cooper feels Mr. are very viable and would consider the 5~ for Jeffereonville if needed. Mr. Mr. Johns supports help the referendum. A recess was called for at 9:30 o'clock A.M. The meeting was reconvened at 9:55 o'clock A.M. Attorney Gillenwater received a call from Surveyor David Blankenbaker explaining less than 100 feet from these areas. Potter feels aware there is a problem. waterway was discussed. Kentucky before a license is issued. Attorney Greg Filer has been concerned understanding is that there is a document that Morton's suggestions the County be used in Cooper praised Mr. Morton's knowledge. Mr. Morton's idea and feels this would there are places where the State boundry is the shore and the foot of Spring is one of This may or may not be a problem. Council President the legislature will deal with this and they are well The question of the river being a federal An agreement will have to be made with with this issue. Mis settled a case between Illinois and Kentucky. He read a quote from this case. He does believe the Spring Street site will have at least 100 feet. Council President Potter explained there are similiar problems in other areas so there will be, tremendous pressure on the Indiana Legislature to allow dock-side gambling. Attorney Gillenwater read a proposal drafted from Mr. Morton's ideas. Councilperson Wilder feels the minimum received by any municipality should be at least 1%. Council President Potter made the motion to adopt the proposed plan, seconded by Councilperson PAGE ? SEPTEMBER 11~ !993 Wolpert. Following further discussion Councilperson Wolpert withdrew his second and Council President Potter withdrew his motion. It was agreed to meet Wednesdays September 15~ 1993 at 5:00 o'clock P.M. to discuss this further. Compensating for the 1~ minimum was discussed and agreed to take it from the unincorporated areas. Councilperson Williams questioned if the process being used is in line. Attorney Gillenwater feels it is O.K. Councilperson Williams was assured the R.F.P. had been approved by the Council. Councilperson Wilson explained several members of the Council would like to hire an attorney to assist Attorney Gillenwater in selecting a gamer applicant to recommend to the State Gaming Commission. Councilperson Williams feels this would be a good idea. Councilperson Frantz agrees and has talked with Attorney Anne Marie Sedwick who has agreed to represent the City. Council President Potter explained there is $10~000 in the Council budget for this. Attorney Gillenwater suggested the Council agree on a contract to present to an attorney. Mayor Parker asked if the Council did not want a consultant. It is agreed there is still a need for a numbers person. Attorney Gil!enwater suggests this not be paid by the hour. Counci!person Frantz asked if she should contact Attorney Anne Marie Sedwick. It was suggested and discussed that an Attorney not from this area be used. Attorney Gillenwater was asked to draw up a contract and the Council was asked to bring their recommendations to the next meeting. Attorney John Montgomery asked the Council to keep in mind that Indianapolis attorney rates will be considerably higher. Local rates would be $95.00 to $185.00 per hour. suggested if the Council knows of an attorney that they propose a contract. Council seconded There being no further business to come before the Councils President Potter moved to adjourn at 10:30 o~clock A.M. Attorney Gillwater is interested that by Councilperson Stemler and unanimously carried. ATTEST'. CLERK AND TREASURE~ C. RICED SPENCE JR.