HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 18, 2020 City Council Minutes COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA
FEBRUARY 18,2020
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 February 3, 2020.
Councilperson Owen along with City Clerk Gill called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilperson
Ellis gave the invocation and 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 Bill Burns,
Councilperson Joe Paris,Council Vice President Scottie Maples,Councilperson Donnie Croft, Council
President Matt Owen, Councilperson Steve Webb, Councilperson Scott Hawkins and Councilperson Ron
Ellis. Councilperson Dustin White absent. Members present 8,absent 1.
MINUTES TO BE APPROVED:
Councilperson Burns made a motion to APPROVE the minutes of the February 3, 2020 regular meeting
with Councilperson Webb seconding, and motion PASSES on 8-0.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
President Owen made a request to move number 12 up to first item under new business. Councilperson
Maples made the motion to amend the agenda,seconded by Councilperson Webb and motion passes
8-0. Councilperson Maples made the motion to approve the agenda as amended,seconded by
Councilperson Burns and motion passes 8-0.
CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED:
City Controller Heather Metcalf presented the Civil Claims in the amount of$758,983.13. Councilperson
Burns made a motion to APPROVE the Claims with Councilperson Paris seconding, motion passes 8-0.
City Controller Heather Metcalf presented the Parks Claims in the amount of$47,338.43. Councilperson
Burns made a motion to APPROVE the claims with Councilperson Paris seconding and motion passes 8-0.
REPORT OF THE CLERK:
City Clerk Gill reminded the Council to watch the Internal Controls webinar, sign the certificate and
submit it to the Controller.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1. None
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Heather Metcalf-2020-OR-12 An Ordinance Transferring Funds within the same
Department Councilperson Owen indicated this Ordinance is moving funds from the
Mayor's performance increase pool to the correct funds and includes all social security and
INPRS that was not on the ordinance before. Councilperson Maples made the motion to
approve the ordinance on the 15t and 2nd reading. Controller Metcalf indicated there was
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also an addition from the Parks Activity Center. Councilperson Burns seconded the motion
and motion passes 8-0.
2. Heather Metcalf-2020-OR-13 An Ordinance of Additional Appropriation—Controller
Metcalf indicated that the first two items are appropriating cash that is in the fund and the
last one is for Park vehicles. Parks Director Northam passed out information on vehicles and
equipment status for his department and Greenspace. Council President Owen talked to
the Mayor and the Attorney about this. We increased money from EDIT going Parks in the
budget and this is on top of the other departments' possible needs. Council President Owen
would like to only pass this ordinance on a 1st reading to allow time for discussion;
suggested the Finance committee needs to work up a schedule for immediate needs, 5 year
and 10 years for all City vehicle/equipment. Councilperson Ellis made motion to table;
motion failed for lack of a second. Councilperson Burns made the motion to approve on the
1st reading, seconded by Councilperson Hawkins with finance review. Motion passes 7-1
(Ellis).
3. Dawn Spyker-Annual Update on Public Arts Ms.Spyker presented this year's theme—
SOAR. Time to fly into a colorful and cultural future. Working on mobile NOCO Unit to take
Arts into other neighborhoods. Performance Art this year is Shakespeare's Hamlet at
Picasso Point—April 24. Working on a coloring book about Public Art in our City to educate
where City Art is located and who created them. Public Engagement Project(PEP) is
bringing back the following events: Black Light, Upcycle,Gingerbread House,and Sugar Skull
Shake Shake Festival which is to NOCO October 24. New to NOCO we have 8 permanent
artist in our new studio spaces—press release to be out soon. March 9th at 7 pm we will
have the Arts Commission meeting at NOCO and I am encouraging the artist to be present
and you are invited to attend as well. Maker Market Pop Up Market-this will be a quick
and colorful event next to the water tank for our emerging talent artists, including one
during the holidays. Comedy in the Art Center—Comedy by the Bridge with a headline and
local talent with food and drink. Working to make Picasso Paint a little safer by installing a
berm unit on Spring Street and repaving the alleyway between 6&7 Street for a more
walkable space. Large and In Charge—maybe at Big 4 this year. Long range plan
connectivity to other communities. We have scheduled 58 events for this year, inside the
art center, area grounds and in neighborhoods. Shared events brochure. Council President
Owen thanked Ms.Spyker for her presentation.
4. Chad Reischl-Revision to Landscape Standards 2020-OR-14 favorable recommendation
(unanimous)from the Planning and Zoning Commission Chad Reischl, Director of Plan and
Zoning presented this revision request, believing when you have a handful of developers
have a problem with our zoning code it's a good sign it is working, but when we see
consistency repetitive compliance issues a change is needed. The landscape code is the
most problematic section of the code. We issued at least 30 waivers/variances and/or"in
lieu of"fees over the last three years against the landscaping standards. We examined
existing standards based on our case work over the last 3 years to determine where
modification could be made to the code to reduce the number of waiver/variance request
we receive while still providing an acceptable quality of landscaping. The primary changes
include eliminating minimum tree planting per the building area with minimum per lot area
which reduces issue with multi-story buildings and small lots. Reduces trees required along
city street from one per 25'to one to 35'street frontage which works better to meet
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entrance drives,signs and utilities in public right-a-way. It is healthier for survival and
longevity of trees planted in this right-a-way. Rearrange some components by zoning
classification for easier to use and adjust some buffer yards standards. Minor changes of
native plant and pest list and added definition for landscaping materials that are required.
No fee changes. Councilperson Webb made the motion to approve the ordinance,
seconded by Councilperson Paris and motion passes 8-0.
5. Ron Ellis-Urban Enterprise Zone Appointment—Councilperson Ellis indicated there was an
appointment last meeting that did not follow State Code; our appointment to the UEZ
Republican resident last voted as a Democrat. President Owen indicated this is correct and
inquired if a vote was necessary to remove the appointment. Counsel Wilder indicated that
as a matter of law she is not a member. President Owen then made the motion to appoint
Shannon Grant as the resident Republican to the UEZ,seconded by Councilperson Ellis and
motion passes 8-0.
ATTORNEY COMMENTS:
None
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
None
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Councilperson Burns—no comment
Councilperson Paris—no comment
Councilperson Maples—recent new role at work is creating a scheduling conflict with the Public Arts
Board and asked to resign. Councilperson Maples made the motion to appoint Councilperson White,
seconded by Councilperson Croft and motion passes 8-0.
Councilperson Croft—no comment
Councilperson Webb—glad to see everybody out there,familiar faces. Had another grand opening for
First Savings Bank with a crowd of about 100. Please stop by and say hello to Cheryl and Nancy.
Councilperson Hawkins—as a member of the Finance Committee thinking when I signed up when would
we ever meet and here we are in the next meeting scheduling a meeting. Council President Owen will
e-mail out some date options for a meeting.
Councilperson Ellis—requested the committee meet again to finish Council Rules. Council President
Owen will e-mail out some date options to schedule a meeting.
Council President Owen—congratulations are in order for Councilperson Maples promotion to Chief
Deputy of the Sherriff Department and Fire Chief Grant(soon) and Asst Fire Chief Emerson. Inquired if
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contract negation's committee started—Councilperson Burns indicated they meet earlier tonight.
Apparel order should be in next week.
ADJOURNMENT:
Councilperson Maples made the motion to ADJOURN the meeting at 7:40 p.m.
APPROVED BY:
Matt Owen, President
ATTEST:
c
isa G. ,Clerk
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