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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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