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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MAY 20, 2019 COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA May 20, 2019 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, May 20, 2019. Council Vice President Lisa Gill along with City Clerk Conlin called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Councilperson Ellis gave the invocation. Council President Zastawny asked those in attendance to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL:The roll call was conducted and those present were Councilperson White, Councilperson Payne, Councilperson Gill, Councilperson Hawkins, Councilperson Owen, Councilperson Ellis, Councilperson Samuel and Council President Zastawny. Councilperson Maples was absent from the proceedings. MINUTES TO BE APPROVED: May 6, 2019 Regular Proceedings—Councilperson Jahn made a motion to APPROVE the minutes with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote, 8-0. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE the agenda with tabling number 10 due to not being advertised with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote, 8-0. CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED: City Controller Heather Metcalf presented the General Claims. There is one claim on page 2 for reimbursement that needs to be moved under the Thunder Budget. Councilperson Gill asked if all claims are in order and Controller Metcalf stated they were. Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE the claims with Councilperson Payne seconding, PASSING on a vote, 8-0. Councilperson Samuel noted that on page 3 there is a claim for Mission BBQ that is listed under Subscriptions and Dues. Controller Metcalf stated that is incorrect. City Controller presented the Parks Claims. Councilperson Gill asked if the contract that needed a signature was signed. Controller Metcalf stated it was signed. Councilperson Gill asked if all claims were in order and Controller Metcalf stated they are. Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE the claims with Councilperson Payne seconding, PASSING on a vote, 8-0. REPORT OF THE CLERK: She has not received the signed Ordinances back from the last meeting. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Ed Zastawny/ Heather Metcalf—2019-OR-18 An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds within the Same Department—There have been no changes since the last meeting. Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE 2019-OR-18 on the third and final reading with Councilperson Payne seconding, PASSING on a vote, 8-0. 2. Ed Zastawny- Heather Metcalf—2019 -OR-19 An Ordinance of Additional Appropriation— TABLED during approval of agenda. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Ed Zastawny/Brad Benson—PUBLIC HEARING 2019-OR-20—Mr. Brad Benson of Applegate Fifer Pulliam was present representing the applicant. He provided the Clerk with proof of contact in the form of Certified Mail to the surrounding parties. Jeffersonville Commons is in the process of developing. These easements are not used and there are new easements throughout the development. They received no phone calls on this matter with the exception of one resident requesting more information. Council President Zastawny opened the Public Hearing at 7:09 PM and as no member of the community came forward to speak for or against the matter the Public Hearing was closed. Councilperson Payne made a motion to APPROVE 2019-OR-20 with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote, 8-0, 2. Ed Zastawny/Assistant Chief McVoy—Information on the Federal Port Security Grant— Assistant Chief McVoy was present requesting permission to apply for the Federal Port Security Grant. If awarded this money will go towards purchase of a new boat. Their current boat is going on 12 years arid is used throughout the entire season. It seems as though every year the events on the river grows. This does require a 25% match if awarded which will be covered out of their LOIT budget. Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE going forward with applying for the grant with Councilperson White seconding, PASSING on a vote, 8-0. 3. Ed Zastawny/2019-R-4 Resolution Approving Urban Enterprise Zone Tax Credit for Development Located Within a Tax Increment Financing District—Councilperson White presented 2019-R-4. A representative,Jason Sams with ARC was present as well. What this resolution is designed to do is continue to support the investment in the property. This will bring in three new businesses on the bottom floor and on the remaining two levels it will be single bedroom and two bedroom apartment units. This is one of the last and final steps in the plan. Public Comment: Deb Henderson—222 Meigs Ave.—She requests that be voted down by the Council. There have been protests from both residents and board members concerning this plan and the concerns are regarding quality, design, use, and parking. These concerns have been voiced each step of this process. This does not fit with the current flow of Downtown Jeffersonville. She has concerns about who will live here. This property is being utilized for economic gain. There is already concern for parking in this area and by adding this it will only get worse. She would like to see the Council wait for a development or project that properly reflects the downtown area. Councilperson White said that this will be an asset to downtown and he has received an overwhelming amount of support for this project. Councilperson Samuel asked if this property was sold by UEZ. It was for$1. Councilperson Owen said that it is worth noting that this is not the first developer to look at this location. There have been several different proposals that didn't work out, it has not been a short process to get here. Councilperson White said they have been in constant communication with the Mayor's office concerning the money not going into the TIF district and everyone is on board. Councilperson Payne asked what the anticipated timeline for this project is. It will begin around August and take around 11 months to complete. It will be 22 units made up of 16 one bedrooms and 6 two bedrooms. Councilperson White noted there is about $200,000 worth of prep work to do because when previous buildings were torn down rubble was left. UEZ is contributing about$40,000 to that process. Councilperson Gill asked about the parking that will be needed not only for the residents but also the businesses. There are 34 parking spaces plus 11 along the street. Councilperson Hawkins said he will not be voting for this. ARC does nothing but good work but he is not for giving and entity a large sum of money over the next many years that is not subject to Open Door Law. It is not subject to DLGF or SBA and he has been told on more than one occasion as well as people who come to the podium have been told that they don't have to tell how they spend their money or what they do with it. Whereas Redevelopment they have open meetings,they can be asked for anything, people can attend as they see fit so when he received this he really didn't even look at the project because it is not a matter of the project. He will be voting no. Councilperson Gill said she will be voting no. For many of the same reasons as Councilperson Hawkins but additionally Redevelopment has an awful lot of investment in Downtown and she thinks that has been a huge benefit to anyone coming in looking at the property in Downtown. Councilperson Owen said that Redevelopment has put a substantial amount into Downtown. There is one apartment unit going in, there is the 10' and Spring project. The only completed project that they have is a completed UEZ project that was done under similar terms. The UEZ is a 15 board committee that is appointed by either the Council or the Mayor's office and they hold public meetings. There is also a State Representative on the board. He is asking for the No votes to reconsider so they can see another project get off the ground. Nobody is going to pay $200,000 to clean up the lot and then pay for the property. This has been ongoing for 3 years. It will remain an empty lot if this doesn't happen. Councilperson White asked if there was any opposition from the Mayor's office. City Attorney Les Merkley said it had not been discussed but he is aware of concerns from Redevelopment Director Rob Waiz. Councilperson Ellis said he heard a concern about granting this in a TIF district. He is concerned when they sell something for$1 and then we turn around and give them money to clean up the property. Council President Zastawny asked if UEZ could sell this to Redevelopment. Councilperson Owen said that we just heard an argument that Redevelopment doesn't want to invest in this property. Councilperson White made a motion to TABLE this Resolution until the next Council Meeting with Councilperson Owen seconding. A roll call vote was requested: Councilperson White—Yes Councilperson Payne—Yes Councilperson Gill—No Councilperson Hawkins—No Councilperson Owen—Yes Councilperson Samuel —No Councilperson Ellis—No Council President Zastawny—No Final vote, motion to TABLE FAILED on a vote, 3-5. Councilperson White made a motion to APPROVE 2019-R-4 with Councilperson Owen seconding. A roll call vote was requested. Councilperson White—Yes Councilperson Payne—Yes Councilperson Gill—No Councilperson Hawkins—No Councilperson Owen—Yes Councilperson Samuel —No Councilperson Ellis—No Council President Zastawny—No Final vote, motion to approve FAILED on a vote, 3-5. 4. Ed Zastawny/Heather Metcalf—Top 20 Employees and Top 40 vendors—City Controller Heather Metcalf presented the Top 20 Employees and Top 40 Vendors. This just needs to be accepted into the record. Councilperson Owen made a motion to ACCEPT into the record with Councilperson Payne seconding, PASSING on a vote, 8-0. 5. Ed Zastawny/Heather Metcalf—2019-OR-21 An Ordinance of Additional Appropriation—City Controller Heather Metcalf presented 2019-OR-21. This is to fund the concessions for the pool. This was previously handled through an outside contact. Councilperson Gill and a motion to APPROVE 2019-OR-21 on the first and second reading with Councilperson Payne seconding, PASSING on a vote, 7-1 with Councilperson Ellis voting against the matter. 6. Ed Zastawny/Heather Metcalf—2019-OR-22 An Ordinance of Additional Appropriation—This will be for the discussed work needed at Bob Hedge Park. Councilperson Owen said that in the Parks meeting the estimate came back slightly more than this amount and Paul Northam is working to get that down. Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE 2019-OR-22 on the first and second reading with Councilperson Gill seconding, PASSING on a vote, 8-0. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL ATTORNEY Apologized for his absence the last meeting. He was attending his daughter's college graduation from I US. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Commented during the agenda item. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS: Bruce DeArk present requesting permission to begin the hiring process. This will be for 6 new hires and to replace one retiring. They would like them in no later than September 1St. Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE beginning the hiring process with Councilperson Hawkins seconding, PASSING on a vote, 8-0. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilperson White—Apologized to Mr. Sams for the vote. He hopes that ARC remains committed to that project. This Resolution did not have to be done until next year and he is confident that the next Council will be more pro-business minded. A number of those who voted no will not be here next year. Hopefully we will get this where it needs to be next year. Councilperson Payne—She met with Kim and the HR regarding professional development workshops. There was one scheduled for next week but with everything coming up with the holiday it will be postponed. It will be in early June. Happy Memorial Day weekend. Thanks to Paul for everything getting ready to open the pool. Councilperson Gill—Welcome back Callie and wanted to recognize former Councilperson Zack Payne in the audience. Last week was Police Appreciation and we appreciate all that you do. With the explosion and then subsequent needs for assistance (structure fires) we appreciate all JPD and JFD does. Paul-we have some broken equipment in Vissing Park and Bob Hedge. The repair at Bob Hedge was fixed last week. Vissing Park the parts have been ordered. Councilperson Hawkins—The explosion that happened in Capitol Hills yesterday was a tragic event in Jeffersonville. He is glad we have such professional people that took part in the process. It's not just an explosion; that was somebody's life. It makes you be thankful for every minute that you have. Also he spoke with all of the different agencies that were involved and it sounds like it was handled as well as it can be handled. He's had numerous contacts from the community asking what people can do. It's still in assessment. He doesn't have anything yet. Things like that if they don't they should make you appreciate every day. Councilperson Owen—Echoes a thanks to everyone who came out to support the neighborhood for that. Thanks to JFD and JPD for everything. Councilperson Ellis—Encourage everyone to remember what Memorial Day is about. To remember those who lost their lives in the line of duty. Pray for them and bless them and their families. Councilperson Samuel—Homelessness has been an issue in Jeffersonville and continues to be an issues in Jeffersonville since he can remember. Approximately 7 years ago the Mayor pulled together a taskforce. He doesn't feel it is government's role to be a service provider. He does feel government should support and influence in some way to make sure needs are met. He would like to propose to Council that the establish a non-reverting fund called Homeless Needs and Services Fund. Since homelessness impacts businesses and economics he would like to propose that 1%of EDIT dollars go to this fund. He would like to get input on a more developed plan. Part of this would be where twice a year it would be opened for proposals and the Council would decide if the proposals meet a need that they see. He would like to see this money go to the direct services and not the administrative aspect of it. This can be a tangible step to meet the needs of Jeffersonville's homeless. He would like this to be separate from the support of the Homeless Coalition. At budget time it's easy to overlook this. Councilperson Gill said she would like to be a part of this discussion. Councilperson Payne said the estimated economic impact of having one person on the street is about $49,000 per one person per year. Council President Zastawny—This weekend was Scholar Weekend at Jeffersonville High School. We all should be proud of the job that they do at Jeffersonville High School and you got to see some of that this weekend. He wanted to call attention to at least one person and that is Mark Johnson he got a direct admit to the Air Force Academy. Councilperson Hawkins said that there were over a hundred who had a 4.0 GPA or higher and that was a record. ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Hawkins made the motion to ADJOURN and the meeting adjourned at 7:52 P.M. APPRO 'i, BY. Ill ` _ • Zastawny, Pre ':ent 7FST: Vicki Conlin, Clerk