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Home My WebLink AboutMarch 16, 2020 City Council Minutes COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA March 16,2020 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 March 16, 2020. Council President Owen along with City Clerk Gill called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilperson Owen gave the invocation and led 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, Council Vice President Scottie Maples,Councilperson Donnie Croft, Council President Matt Owen,Councilperson Steve Webb, and Councilperson Scott Hawkins. Members present 8. Councilperson Ron Ellis absent. MINUTES TO BE APPROVED: Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 2, 2020 regular meeting with Councilperson Webb seconding, and motion passes 8-0. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Council President Owen made a request to table item 12 (Spring Street Grant Application). Councilperson Burns made the motion to approve the agenda with tabling item 12, seconded by Councilperson Paris and motion passes 8-0. CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED: City Controller Heather Metcalf presented the Civil City Claims in the amount of$858,708.88. Controller Metcalf presented a hand carry of$117,500 for Parks Department for the foam and cleaning of the River Stage from the$185,500 Clark-Floyd Counties Tourism Grant; new total$976,208.88. Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the Claims with the additional hand carry, seconded by Councilperson Hawkins, motion passes 8-0. City Controller Metcalf presented the Parks Claims in the amount of$106,883.50. Councilperson Hawkins made a motion to approve the claims with Councilperson Paris seconding and motion passes 8-0. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Heather Metcalf-2020-OR-15 An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds within the same Department—Controller Metcalf indicated no changes. Councilperson Hawkins made the motion to approve the ordinance on the final reading,seconded by Councilperson Paris and motion passes 8-0. 2. Heather Metcalf-2020-OR-16 An Ordinance of Additional Appropriation—Council President Owen opened up public hearing at 7:05 p.m.; no one came forward;closed public hearing at 7:06 p.m. Councilperson Burns made the motion to approve the ordinance on the final reading, seconded by Councilperson Croft and motion passes 8-0. 1 NEW BUSINESS: 1. Brad Benson—New Hope Development Services, LLC's Petition for Waiver or Reduction of Property Taxes against a Brownfield(Public Hearing) Brad Benson with Applegate Fifer and Pulliam 428 Meigs Avenue Jeffersonville. This property is located at the old Reeder's Cleaners and is classified as a Brownfield. The statue claims that once it is a Brownfield it is valueless and be assessed as such. DLGF has final approval. New Hope paid a lot of past due taxes. Still in the cleanup stage. Public hearing opened at 7:09 p.m.; no one came forward; public hearing closed 7:09 p.m. Current plan is a parking lot. Request for waiver of$2,818.20 delinquent taxes. Councilperson Hawkins made the motion for a favorable recommendation to waive property tax on this Brownfield property, seconded by Councilperson Webb and motion passes 8-0. 2. Nick Creevy—Spring Street Grant Application (tabled during agenda approval) 3. Les Merkley—2020-R-3 Resolution Requesting Funds from Clark-Floyd Counties Convention& Tourism Bureau to Pay Costs of a Project Designed to Promote Tourism in Jeffersonville Counsel Merkley indicated this Council,as well as,the Town of Clarksville must adopt this Resolution to be awarded this grant of$500,000. This will be used to develop the Art Depot Center. Councilperson Burns made the motion to approve Resolution, seconded by Councilperson Hawkins and motion passes 8-0. 4. Shawn Dade—2020-OR-17 Ordinance Amending the Jeffersonville Zoning Ordinance(2000- OR-61)Amend Articles 7.4,7.5 and 7.6 Shawn Dade, Planning and Zoning Coordinator ZO- 2020-02-this request is for revising some common issues with our strict codes,Article 7 height standards, accessory structures; and fences and walls. This comes to the Council with a unanimous favorable recommendation from the Planning Commission Board. Public hearing open 7:17 p.m., no one came forward; public hearing closed at 7:17 p.m. Councilperson Burns made the motion to pass the ordinance, seconded by Councilperson Hawkins and motion passes 8-0. 5. Shawn Dade—2020-OR-18 Ordinance Amending portions of the Zoning Ordinance(2000-16- OR-45)to make revisions to the C2 District intent. Shawn Dade, Planning and Zoning Coordinator-this request is to correct Article 4.15 C2 District error in the table that conflicts with convenient stores with gas pumps;this will follow Council's intent. This comes with a favorable recommendation from Plan Commission Board. Public hearing open 7:20 p.m., no one came forward; public hearing closed at 7:20 p.m. Councilperson Webb made the motion to pass the ordinance, seconded by Councilperson Burns and motion passes 8-0. 6. Shawn Dade—2020-OR-19 Ordinance Amending the Jeffersonville Zoning Ordinance(2000- OR-61)to revise the land use matrix table in Article 14. Shawn Dade, Planning and Zoning Coordinator-this request is to update Article 4 to match Article 14. This comes to the Council with a favorable recommendation from the Plan Commission Board. Public hearing open 7:22 p.m., no one came forward; public hearing closed at 7:22 p.m. Councilperson Webb made the motion to pass the ordinance, seconded by Councilperson Hawkins and motion passes 8-0. 7. Les Merkley—2020-OR-20 Ordinance Amending 2020-OR-4(Salary Ordinance) Counsel Merkley presented this ordinance to prepare for the State's and National emergency guidelines to protect the City and Public with continued services during this crisis. Police, Fire and Sanitation will continue;the City to remain open with skeleton crews started today. Mayor Moore signed this Executive Order based on the Governor and President's request to work at home remotely;with no overtime. Each department implemented plans to make that happen. We are venturing into uncharted territory; with AIM and the legalities what needs to be done and comply with the law. The City Employee Handbook does not address work at home and to comply with State Board of Accounts we need this policy and with the Executive Order this new section allows employees to work remotely, set parameters and get paid. This is only during the 2 emergency. We request this be adopt on all three readings. Motion to suspend the rules to approve on three readings was made by Councilperson White,seconded by Councilperson Maples and motion passes 8-0. Councilperson White made the motion to pass ordinance on all three readings,seconded by Councilperson Maples and motion passes 8-0. 8. Les Merkley 2020-R-4 Resolution Waiving Certain Procedures and Formalities during Disaster Emergency Pursuant to I.C. 10-14-3-17 Counsel Merkley indicated the Board of Public Works approved this request this morning with concerns that as a City will not be able to meet(avoid 10 or more in a group). Board of Public Works will not meet again until further notice. This action gives the Mayor authority to approve payroll,and other BPW tasks. If City Council cannot meet the Council President can waive the requirement that the Council approve claims during a meeting and authorize the Controller to pay those valid claims. We added other City Boards that can follow these guidelines to approve claims(drainage and sewer). This is not an adoption; it will expire. Council will still see all claims requested to be approved for payment. State Board of Accounts said to try your best to comply with regulations to make this work. Council President Owen indicated that the Council will receive the packet and then decide if we would meet or not; and then by default the Controller will approve claims. This resolution is only for claims. Councilperson White made the motion to approve resolution, seconded by Councilperson Hawkins and motion passes 8-0. ATTORNEY COMMENTS: No comment. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS: Chief of Police Kavanaugh—reported his department will continue normal operations with precautionary steps and do more when possible by telephone and hold safety in the highest regard. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilperson White—we will all get through this in time;follow advice from the professionals. Councilperson Burns—no comment Councilperson Paris—no comment Council Vice President Maples—Governor's recommendation of groups less than 10 meet;this may give us some recourse on our direction. We should be looking into conference call with multiple callers that allow the public to participate. Caution distance; if you have been in contact with someone who has been exposed (Covid 19) don't flood the system, self-quarantine at home and don't panic. Councilperson Croft—pray all this passes as soon as possible. I'm still having issues with receiving the attached packet in my e-mail. Clerk Gill indicated hard copies are available normally Thursday afternoon. Councilperson Webb—no comment Councilperson Hawkins—no comment 3 Council President Owen—expect an e-mail if we are meeting again in two weeks; self-quarantine till all passes. Clerk Gill—how will we receive meeting recordings during this time? Counsel Merkley indicated that this is still something we are figuring out as we go. ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Maples made the motion to ADJOURN the meeting at 7:44 p.m. APPROVED BY: s1 Matt Ow-�", President ATTEST: A-1-41 a Gill,Clerk 4 A A A A A A A A A C A O O O O O O O O O ,a1„ O c c c c c c c m A. 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