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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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