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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOCTOBER 5, 2015COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA OCTOBER 5, 2015 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session in Room 101, 500 Quartermaster Court, Jeffersonville, Indiana at 7:00 pm, on Monday, October 5, 2015. Council President Gill, with Vicki Conlin, City Clerk, called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Council President Gill asked those in attendance to stand as Councilperson Samuel gave the Invocation. Council President Gill asked those in attendance to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The roll call was conducted and those present were: Councilperson Smith, Councilperson Wadsworth, Councilperson Sellers, Council President Gill, Councilperson Julius, Councilperson Owen, and Councilperson Samuel. Councilperson Zastawny and Councilperson Webb were absent from the proceedings. MINUTES TO BE APPROVED: Minutes from the Regular Council Proceedings September 21, 2015- Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE the minutes from Regular Council Proceedings on September 21, 2015 with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote, 7-0. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE the agenda with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote, 7-0. CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED: GENERAL - $688,280.76 Councilperson Smith stated he had a question. He did not want to vote to approve the $25,000 for the Norton's contribution. He wanted to know if the Council would like to do a roll call for the vote. It was decided the claim would be pulled (to be submitted during the next meeting when all members were present to vote) and the new claims total amounted to $663,280.76. Councilperson Samuel made the motion to APPROVE the claims, noting that the Norton's contribution had been removed with Councilperson Julius seconding, PASSING on a vote, 7-0. REPORT OF THE CLERK: City Clerk Conlin attended the IACT Training in Indianapolis. Some of the workshops were better than others, but one thing noted was that because of the Affordable Healthcare Act there will many new mandatory forms that we have to stay on top of or we will be penalized. AGENDA ITMES: UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1 1. Amy Deering —2015 -OR -51 ORDINANCE FOR APPROPRIATIONS FOR TAX RATE (Passed on 1st Reading 9/21/15) City Controller Amy Deering presented this ordinance for approval. It was approved at the public hearing on 9/21/2015. There were two changes, one being that under Engineering the administrative assistant was changed to reflect the current salary ($44,304). The second change was under BPW the city Wi-Fi was amended to $8,000.00 to keep Wi-Fi only at City Hall. Councilperson Samuel asked if there were any other changes. City Controller Deering stated there were no other changes. Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -51 on the second and third reading and requested a roll call. Before the roll call was done, Councilperson Owen asked regarding the Fire Department's request to increase their LOIT Funding. Councilperson Owen stated there was an email from Chief Hederick concerning this and he wanted to make sure they had what they needed prior to voting. Councilperson Owen- There was another email that went out regarding his budget that pertained mostly to their LOIT funding that was cut $300,000 or almost $300,000. Council President Gill- With the emails, I know that I have had multiple conversations with Chief Hederick and Chief Hederick is here as well as Amy has had conversations with him, and I asked him if there was anything vital before Circuit Breakers and he said no and he is here. I think the problem Tied that when we were going through the budget a lot of the amounts to date had not been spent and I told him that all they have to do is come before us and ask. If it's needed just come back and ask. Councilperson Owen - Our LOIT spending is not impacted by the Circuit Breaker and we have taken all of their safety supplies and training out of that. Councilperson Sellers - Once again, all they have to do is come back and ask. Council President Gill- Well we didn't take anything out of LOIT. Amy that's where each department receives a pot of money and they had to determine how to change it, correct? Controller Deering - That is correct. Council President Gill - And he got an extra $100,000 than he would have got originally, isn't that correct? Controller Deering - Based off of the original discussions, yes. Council President Gill - If he wants to use the bulk money for training or whatever, that is fine, we did not break it down line by line, correct me if I'm wrong Nathan because it was you and Ed and Steve who decided this. 2 Councilperson Samuel - We were just going to budget. The budget is not revenue neutral it spends more than we were going to bring in. Councilperson Owen - It was who that did that? Who decided that? Council President Gill -We decided that at the last budget workshop. Councilperson Owen - I was thinking the last time we came there was a separate meeting after that. Council President Gill - Nope, we had that meeting before that last meeting. There were no meetings other than the discussion with Chief Hederick. Councilperson Samuel - Originally we were going to give the Police $500,000 and the Fire $500,000 and let them decide how to spend that and then we increased it to $600,000. Councilperson Owen - The fire apparatus was $375,000 so we raised it. Roll CaII: YES NO Smith: YES Wadsworth: YES Sellers: YES Gill: YES Julius: YES Owen: NO Samuel: YES. Clerk Conlin reported : Let the record reflect that the vote was 6-1, PASSING 2015 -OR -51. 2. Amy Deering — 2015 -OR -52 An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds Within the Same Department (Passed on 1St Reading 9/21/15) The transfer is for Office Supplies and Uniforms. Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -52 with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote 7-0. 3. Amy Deering — PUBLIC HEARING 2015 -OR- 53 An Ordinance of Additional Appropriation (Passed on 1St and 2nd Reading 9/21/15) City Controller Amy Deering presented this and there has been no changes since the last meeting. Council President Gill opened the Public Hearing at 7:16 PM and no members of the community came forward to speak for or against the matter. Public hearing was closed; Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -53 on the third and final reading with Councilperson Julius seconding, PASSING on a vote, 7-0. 3 NEW BUSINESS: 1. Alan Applegate — PUBLIC HEARING - 2015 -OR -54 An Ordinance Vacating an Unimproved Alley Between Eighth Street and Spring Street and a Portion of Eighth Street, Between Michigan Avenue and Ohio Avenue, A Public Way in the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana. New Hope Services has acquired this property (Industrial Nightmare and Masonic Building) and is on contract to acquire additional surrounding properties. They have been before the Planning and Zoning and asked for a rezoning and received a favorable recommendation. This is all contiguous parcel and all they would like for it to be zoned the same. This project will consist of an addition to the current structure and resurfacing the whole structure. There will also be repaving and additional parking. Councilperson Julius asked about the catch basin and what would happen to it. Mr. Applegate stated that due to state statute, vacating an alleyway would not allow them to alter any utilities. Councilperson Smith stated he has never known the City to maintain this alley and he has not been contacted by any constituents against this project. Council President Gill thanked New Hope Services as they are really working hard to clean up and update downtown Jeffersonville. Council President Gill opened the Public Hearing at 7:30 and closed it as no members or the community came forward to speak for or against this matter. Councilperson Smith made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -54 with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote, 7-0. 2. Alan Applegate — PUBLIC HEARING 2015 -OR -55 An Ordinance Changing the Zoning Map Designation of a Certain Tract of Property Located at 801 Spring Street and 805 Spring Street and Fully Described in Attached Exhibit A From C2 to Dc Mr. Applegate requested that the earlier testimony from 2015 -OR -54 be incorporated into this ordinance. Councilperson Julius made a motion to incorporate the testimony with Councilperson Sellers seconding, passing on a vote, 7-0. Mr. Applegate stated if this is approved there will be retail and amenities, not only for the residents living in New Hope, but also for the public. There will be restaurants, a possible movie theater, and a community room to name a few. The hope is that all of the property owned by one entity (New Hope Services) would be zoned as one classification. Council President Gill opened the public hearing at 7:34 and closed it as no members of the community came forward to speak for or against the ordinance. Councilperson Smith made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -55 with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote, 7-0. 3. Dennis Julius — 2015 -OR -56 Guidelines and Principles for Consideration of Property Tax Phase -In (Tax Abatement) in Jeffersonville, Indiana This is a good tool to keep under our belt and it still gives us an opportunity to step out of the box and offer more to those companies that we would really like to see come to Jeffersonville. Councilperson Smith made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -56 on the first reading with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote, 7-0. 4 4. Kim Calabro — 2015 -OR -57 AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE SLARIES OF APPOINTED OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, CLARK COUNTY, INDIANA FOR THE YEAR 2016 Human Resources Director Kim Calabro presented 2015 -OR -57. Kim and Amy will work together before the next Council Meeting to make sure this ordinance matches with the budget that was approved today. Councilperson Owen asked if this had to match the budget, or if it wasn't necessary because if the position wasn't budgeted it would not be funded. Council Attorney Lewis responded that it is best practice to try and get the Salary Ordinance to match the budget. Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -57 on the first and second reading with Councilperson Julius seconding, PASSING on a vote, 7-0. 5. Les Merkley— PUBLIC HEARING 2015 -OR -58 PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO JEFFERSONVILLE COMMON COUNCIL TO AMEND ORDINANCE 2007 -OR -68, THE JEFFERSONVILLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Planning and Zoning Director Shane Corbin presented this plan. It received a unanimous recommendation from the Planning Commission to come before the Council. This is just an update, it can change as new projects come around or as projects change. This helps to address the changes needed to grow with the community and allows the City to be proactive instead of reactive. This has been through community focus groups, business focus groups, and leadership focus groups. The Port of Indiana did submit a letter stating they did not approve of the bike path that was submitted in the plan. Again, this plan can be amended at any time. Council President Gill opened the Public Hearing and closed it as no members of the community came forward to speak for or against the matter. Councilperson Smith made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -58 with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote, 7-0. CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY REPORT: Nothing at this time. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORT: Nothing at this time. Public Comment: Alan Applegate spoke during the meeting. Fire Department Union President Joe Hurt stated he came before the Council approximately 5 months ago and requested additional employees. The Council granted that request and 3 new employees were hired. Now that these employees have been trained the Union would like to reopen the contract to address the number of men needed for each apparatus. Mr. Hurt stated he went before the Finance Committee and was told that this could be done with a SOP but the official stance of the Union is that they would like the contract reopened and amended. City Clerk Conlin stated if a SOP was done, it could be submitted to the Clerk's office and scanned into Public Records. 5 Mr. Hurt stated his concern is that with it being election time, Administrations could change and then the SOP would become invalid. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilperson Mike Smith: Councilperson Smith asked City Controller Amy Deering if the information stating health insurance had went up 10% was accurate. The amount that the premiums were raised were accounted for in what the Council had budgeted. Councilperson Ed Zastawny: Not Present. Councilperson Wadsworth: Nothing at this time. Councilperson Sellers: Nothing at this time. Councilperson Webb: Not Present. Councilperson Julius: Councilperson Julius appreciates all of the support for the Tax Abatement guidelines. Also, there was an accident at the Courthouse today, someone had thrown a car's dipstick out into the grass and it was subsequently thrown through Ms. Conlin's car window. Had her car not been there it could have been sent through her window. This gets very dangerous and please be mindful, if you see a piece of metal in the grass, pick it up. The repercussions could be much worse than the outcome today. Councilperson Owen: Nothing at this time. Councilperson Samuel: Councilperson Samuel just wanted to remind everyone of the dedication of the art sign "Welcome to Jeffersonville". Please wear bright shirts for the photo if you attend. Council President Gill: Council President Gill reminded everyone it is important to respond to emails. We will schedule a workshop for the Honeywell presentation on October 19, 2015 at 5:30 PM. Also, we need to be mindful about the signs we are putting out. There are many in drainage ditches. This is unacceptable. So many people are still out of their homes and have lost everything due to flooding we need to be mindful to not be the cause of the problem. ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Owen made a motion to ADJOURN at 8:29 pm with Councilperson Samuel seconding, moving the motion. APPROVED BY: isa Gi I President Vicki Conlin, City Clerk 6