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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 6, 2020 City Council Minutes COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA JANUARY 6,2020 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session in Room 101, 500 Quartermaster Court,Jeffersonville, Indiana at 7:00 p.m.,on January 6,2020. Councilperson Owen along with City Clerk Gill called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Reverend Moon gave the invocation. Councilperson Owen asked those in attendance to please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: The roll call was conducted by City Clerk Lisa Gill and those present were Councilperson Dustin White, Councilperson Bill Burns,Councilperson Joe Paris, Councilperson Scottie Maples,Councilperson Donnie Croft,Councilperson Matt Owen,Councilperson Steve Webb,Councilperson Scott Hawkins and Councilperson Ron Ellis—all nine members present. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Councilperson Croft made a motion to elect Councilperson Owen as Council President,seconded by Councilperson White and motion passes 8-1 (Ellis). Councilperson White made a motion to elect Councilperson Maples as Council Vice-President,seconded by Councilperson Paris and motion carries 9-0. MINUTES TO BE APPROVED: Councilperson Maples made a motion to APPROVE the minutes of the December 16,2019 regular meeting with Councilperson Webb seconding, PASSING on a vote 9-0. Councilperson Maples made a motion to APPROVE the minutes of the December 23,2019 special meeting with Councilperson White seconding, PASSING on a vote 8-0-1(Ellis abstained). Councilperson Maples made a motion to APPROVE the minutes of the December 27, 2019 special meeting with Councilperson White seconding, PASSING on a vote 8-0-1(Ellis abstained). APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Councilperson Maples made a motion to approve the agenda,seconded by Councilperson Hawkins and motion passes 9-1(Ellis) CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED: City Controller Heather Metcalf presented the Civil Claims in the amount of$1,141,824.59. Councilperson Burns made a motion to APPROVE the Claims with Councilperson Ellis seconding, PASSING on a vote,9-0. City Controller Heather Metcalf presented the Parks Claims in the amount of$136,142.71. Councilperson Webb made a motion to APPROVE the Parks claims with Councilperson Hawkins seconding, PASSING on a vote,9-0. 1 REPORT OF THE CLERK: Ms.Gill—I want to let everyone know that I am happy to be working with you this term. Peggy Hardaway is my Deputy Clerk. There is a State called meeting along with the AIM conference the week of the next Council meeting and it is MLK Holiday. My office will need Council agenda items by noon on Tuesday the week before the Council meeting and Resolution/Ordinance by noon on Wednesday. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: 1. City Council Attorney Appointment—Councilperson Webb made the motion to continue services with Mr.Wilder,seconded by Councilperson Croft and motion passes 9-0. 2. Council Appointments: a. Drainage District At Large—Councilperson Ellis made the motion to re-appoint James Wright,seconded by Councilperson Hawkins and motion passes 9-0 b. Drainage District 4 —Councilperson Maples made the motion to appoint Tim Franklin, seconded by Councilperson Paris and motion passes 9-0 c. Drainage District At Large—Councilperson Hawkins made the motion to re-appoint Arthur Geupe, seconded by Councilperson White and motion passes 9-0 d. Drainage District 6—Councilperson Webb made the motion to appoint Adam Ross, seconded by Councilperson Maples and motion passes 9-0 e. Drainage District At Large—Councilperson Croft made the motion to appoint Steve Gill,seconded by Councilperson Owen and motion passes 9-0 f. Drainage District 2 —no action g. Plan Commission—Councilperson Burns made the motion to appoint Councilperson Burns,Councilperson Paris,and Councilperson Webb,seconded by Councilperson Ellis and motion passes 9-0 h. Parks Authority- no action i. Public Arts—Councilperson White made the motion to appoint Teah Williams- Hampton, Councilperson Burns Councilperson Maples,seconded by Councilperson Ellis and motion passes 9-0 j. Redevelopment—Councilperson Maples made the motion to re-appoint Councilperson Hawkins and Council President Owen; seconded by Councilperson White and motion passes 9-0 k. Sewer Board—Councilperson Burns made the motion to re-appoint Bill Saegesser and Dale Orem,seconded by Councilperson Croft and motion passes 9-0 I. Building Authority—no action m. UEZ—Councilperson Ellis made the motion to re-appoint Peggy Hardaway resident/Democrat, seconded by Councilperson Paris and motion fails 2-7 (White, Burns, Maples, Owen, Hawkins,Webb,and Croft). No action on other appointments n. Finance Committee—Councilperson Webb made a motion to appoint Council President Owen Councilperson Paris and Councilperson Hawkins,seconded by Councilperson Burns and motion passes 9-0 o. Clark County 911—Councilperson Maples made the motion to appoint Councilperson Burns,seconded Councilperson White and motion passes 9-0 p. Zoning—no action 2 3. Rev.Jim Moon update on Haven House—request from City for assistance with the homeless in the City as well as Southern Indiana. Presented demographics of homeless in the area because he hears rumors in the community that people which included how long the individual has been homeless,where they last lived,age group,gender,veteran, income if any, mental illness,and if they left a domestic violence situation. Rev. Moon is the pastor at Park Memorial Church and their church is investing in Jeffersonville as a service to Southern Indiana. Rev. Moon will also be seeking investment request from other Cities and Towns in the region. Park Memorial has invested funds in the building adding safety camera, new fire emergency system and gutting room by room. They are evaluating each new arrival and getting them in touch with other services. It takes$310,000 per year to run this shelter with several thousand individuals staying overnight that come thru the doors a year not counting those that only seek a meal or a bath. Councilperson Ellis asked how many individuals are currently there—93. Councilperson Hawkins relayed some research that it cost the local community$59,000 per homeless person a year. Rev. Moon concurred that Dr.Yazel,Clark Memorial Emergency Room indicated it was$50-80,000 per year with cost to shelter, hospital or jail. Councilperson Maples indicated that he voted against the resolution when then Councilperson Samuel presented this non-reverting fund, because there was no clear direction, but I will support this plan. Councilperson Maples made the motion to transfer under ordinance 2020-OR-1$50,000 out of homeless to pay Catalyst Rescue Mission on the first and second,seconded by Councilperson Croft and motion passes 9-0. Councilperson Maples made the motion to repeal 2019-OR-36 on the first and second, seconded by Councilperson Hawkins and motion passes 9-0. Claim to be processed on next meeting and Rev. Moon agreed to present an accounting report annually to the Council. 4. Dustin White: 2020-R-1 A Resolution Authorizing an Investment Deduction within the Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Zone-Councilperson White indicated this is for the ARC project at Spring and Market Streets. 22 apartments and 3 new business to downtown as presented previously approved by all the necessary Boards. Councilperson Ellis stated that records should be review because he believed a resolution forbidding this brought back up and we are in violation until litigation was resolved. Council President Owen indicated the resolution was defeated twice. Counsel Wilder stated the original was defeated,second was defeated and the third time it died for a lack of a second. Councilperson White made the motion to approve the Resolution,seconded by Councilperson Maples and there was a request for a roll call vote. President Owen indicated there was a member of the public requesting to speak on this matter and requested Ms. Henderson to come forward. Deb Henderson 222 Meigs Avenue—Ms. Henderson spoke about the following concerns (presented written document): • Not against progress, but need a long game • Lack of design,throughout Kentuckiana because it's cheaper to build • Tenants-$850 for 600 square feet and no elevator • Parking—surplus parking where? • Process to get here—JUEA special meeting where members were unable to attend and proxy votes allowed and not allowed • Why is this on the Council agenda pending lawsuit? Roll call vote: Councilperson White—I Councilperson Burns—I Councilperson Paris—I 3 Councilperson Maples—I Councilperson Croft—I Councilperson Webb—I Councilperson Hawkins—no Councilperson Ellis—no Motion passes 7-2 ATTORNEY COMMENTS: Counsel Wilder stated he appreciated the votes to continue as Council Attorney in this new year. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS: None PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mary Jo Carrico 217 West Market Street lives in the Rose Hill neighborhood and spoke of concerns with the noise ordinance not being enforced since the Big 4 Station Park was complete and ongoing (presented written document). • Spoke to Council July 1,2019 • Husband arrested over asking instructor at event to turn down the volume; charges dropped • Councilperson White promoting his upcoming election on neighborhood facebook page but would not support or attend neighborhood meetings • Councilperson White December 27 incident while chatting with other Councilpersons regarding noise ordinance to seek At Large representation Time called. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilperson White—Happy New Year Councilperson Burns—Looking forward to working with the Council and can the Clerk send out a list of Council Appointments? Councilperson Paris—explained his decision to change his vote from last time with the JUEA Resolution —recent changes in transparency and that hopefully this might help this complete mess. Councilperson Maples—thought this was a productive meeting and congratulated City Clerk Gill and Deputy Clerk Hardaway on their new positions. Councilperson Croft—hoping for four productive years Councilperson Webb—hate that the ARC vote came to us on our first meeting as new members, but felt that numbers wise had to vote that way. Happy New Year and looks forward to working with the Council. Councilperson Hawkins—would like rules to be clear in a public way how we can have a meeting,who can call a meeting because it did not look like we knew what we could do. Glad everyone is here on the Council,took a big step to set your life aside and I want to work with everyone. One of my favorite quotes is from Jefferson's inaugural "we are all republican and federalist now" so now we have to put all aside and do what's best for city. 4 Councilperson Ellis—along with working out when we can have meetings,just how many times we can bring the same situation up,as it stands now it is unlimited. We have not lived up to what the citizens of Jeffersonville would have us do. If one single person can do something that makes the whole city,this council,or the JUEA responsible for the actions of what happened we need to look at our rules;we are hurting the citizens of Jeffersonville; several will not be happy. I hope it is not as many times that I do not have to vote no. Council President Owen—in the documents Finance provided their investments has earned one million dollars in interest—thank you Controller Metcalf. I will be sending out an e-mail request who will need business cards. Later we will have the opportunity to order City apparel. Every four years there is the question of changing City Council meeting time. Councilperson Burns made a motion to change the time to 6 p.m., but after discussion the motion was rescinded. Next meeting will be held on Tuesday,January 21 at 7 p.m.due to the MLK Holiday on Monday,January 20. A Rules Committee of Councilpersons Ellis, Hawkins, Maples and President Owen will work with Counsel Wilder to review how and when meetings can be called, notice,and business not on the agenda to hold ourselves accountable and transparent. Contract negotiations with Police and Fire are up this year so we will need to put together a team. Councilperson White volunteered. Welcome Corporal Lydon who will be attending our meeting since the retirement Officer Morlan. Councilperson Ellis requested a plaque be purchased for Officer Morlan's service to the Council. ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Maples ADJOURN and the meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M. APPROVED BY: Alf .np Matt •wen, President ATTEST: Lisa 5