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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 20, 2023 City Council COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA March 20,2023 Regular Meeting Minutes • The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met for the Regular Meeting on March 20, 2023. Council President Owen along with City Clerk Gill called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m:The meeting was open to the public in person as well as live streamed via the City Website using Zoom. INVOCATION: Councilperson Ellis led the Invocation. Pledge of Allegiance: ROLL CALL: The roll call was conducted by City Clerk Lisa Gill and present in Council Chambers were Councilperson White, Councilperson Burns, Councilperson Anderson,Councilperson Croft,Councilperson Webb, Council President Owen, Council Vice President Hawkins and Councilperson Ellis.Councilperson Paris was absent. Let the record reflect that 8 Council Members were present in Council Chambers. APROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the Minutes of March 6, 2023 of the Regular Meeting, seconded by Councilperson Anderson; motion passed, 8-0. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Councilperson Webb made a motion to approve the agenda,seconded by Councilperson Burns; motion passed, 8-0. CLAIMS TO APPROVE: Civil City$661,592.88 Council President Owen advised Mrs. Metcalf is out but she confirmed there were no changes. Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the Civil City Claims,seconded by Councilperson Webb; motion passed,8-0. Parks$218,273.05 Councilperson Webb made a motion to approve the Parks Claims, seconded by Councilperson Croft; motion passed,8-0. REPORT OF THE CLERK: No Comment UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Heather Metcalf 2023-OR-14 Ordinance of Transfer of Funds Within the Same Department Councilperson Anderson made a motion to approve 2023-OR-14 on the Third and Final Reading, seconded by-Councilperson Burns; motion passed,8-0. 2. Heather Metcalf 2023-OR-15 Ordinance of Additional Appropriation Council President Owen advised:this Additional Appropriation is the Opioid Settlement funds the Council will be granting out to the two applicants for match funding. Council President Owen opened the Public Hearing at 7:04 pm. Clerk Gill stated there were no comments submitted to the Clerk's office.There were no members of the community present to speak for or against the matter.Council President Owen closed the Public Hearing at 7:04 pm. Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve 2023-OR-15 on the Third and Final Reading, seconded by Councilperson Croft; motion passed,8-0. 3. Heather Metcalf 2023-OR-16 Ordinance of Additional Appropriation Council President Owen advised this is the Additional Appropriation for the Spring Street Master plan, planning only. Council President Owen opened the Public Hearing at 7:04 pm. Clerk Gill stated there were no comments submitted to the Clerk's office.There were no members of the community present to speak for or against the matter.Council President Owen closed the Public Hearing at 7:05 pm. . Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve 2023-OR-16 on the Third and Final Reading, seconded by Councilperson White; motion passed,8-0. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Heather Metcalf 2023-OR-17 Ordinance of Additional Appropriation Council President Owen advised he sent out an email regarding this Appropriation in the Edit Fund for repairs and maintenance in the Parks Department. This money was received due to an insurance settlement for a water pipe that burst at the Woehrle Athletic Center back in December 2022. Mr. Northam did try to reach out to Council President Owen, however, Council President Owen was unavailable to call him back. Council President Owen advised if anything is different it will be brought up before it is passed on the final reading. Councilperson Anderson made a motion to approve 2023-OR-17 on the First and Second Reading,seconded by Councilperson Burns; motion passed, 8-0. 2. Heather Metcalf 2023-OR-18 Ordinance of Additional Appropriation Council President Owen advised he sent an email out regarding this Appropriation. It will come from the Public Safety Local Income Tax to pay the final payments for capital leases for both Fire and Police Departments. The money will be encumbered before the end of the year so the money will not need to be appropriated to make final payments in 2024. Council Vice President Hawkins asked what the total amount was for the shortfall of that fund. Council President Owen advised the budget squeeze is about$489,000.00. Council Vice President Hawkins asked what the amount is being paid off. Council President Owen advised it is approximately$400,000.00. Council Vice President Hawkins made a motion to approve 2023-OR-18 on the First and Second Reading, seconded by Councilperson Anderson; motion passed,8-0. Council President Owen thanked the Fire and Police Departments for sitting down at the table to talk through the Public Safety Budgets;they have some capital needs that need to be addressed, and another meeting is to take place in the near future to look at how to address those needs over the next couple of years. - ATTORNEY COMMENT: Larry Wilder—No Comment Les Merkley—Absent DEPARTMENT HEADS: JPD Chief Kavanaugh—Thanked the Council on behalf of JPD and Chief Grant and JFD for the opportunity to discuss the issues the departments are faced with, LIT Funds,from the strategic stand point for the department to have the opportunity to focus on this for the future. These meetings are very beneficial to the department and the City of Jeffersonville. PUBLIC COMMENTS: 1. Kate McNeely-3002 Eastbrook Blvd Apt B,Jeffersonville, IN 47130 Ms. McNeely advised that since moving to Jeffersonville,she has had multiple issues with Pinnacle Properties not replying to her maintenance concerns and feels that the City of Jeffersonville needs to adopt an Ordinance to protect renters from being neglected. Ms. McNeely advised that she had contacted Pinnacle Properties and their response was that her concerns were petty, she then contacted the Building Commissioner and the Health Department. Ms. McNeely finally received a call from Pinnacle Properties today after she spoke with the Building Commissioners office. Ms. McNeely provided a copy of the City of Clarksville Indiana's Ordinance for these matters and requested something similar be,implemented in Jeffersonville. Council Vice President Hawkins asked if Pinnacle Properties stated her concerns were petty or the Building Commissioners office, Ms. McNeely advised it was Pinnacle Properties.Councilperson Croft asked where these apartments are located. Ms. McNeely advised that Pinnacle Properties owns over two thousand properties in Southern Indiana. Councilperson White asked where Ms. McNeely is located. Ms. McNeely advised she is in apartments behind Aldi's store on 10th Street. 2. Lorraine Mathews-311 E.Charlestown Ave,Jeffersonville, IN 47130 Ms. Mathews spoke after Councilperson's White comment. Ms. Mathews is a home owner of six years,also has rental property. Pinnacle Properties also has rentals houses close to her to whom they rent to anyone and they don't care what is done or brought in there. Each time someone moves out,those houses are bombed for roaches and they have spread to her properties,this has gone on for four months now. `Ms. Mathews has contacted Pinnacle Properties with no response from them, Pinnacle Properties will not acknowledge her when she goes to their property to confront them. Ms. Mathews also would like to have a recycling station in Jeffersonville for old batteries and would like to see the issue of people parking on the sidewalks be.handled correctly, stop spending her tax dollars on something that is not being taken care of,also feels that our streets are starting to look like Louisville, need to do something to make 10th Street cute. Councilperson Webb asked about how old the apartments on E Charlestown Ave.are. Ms. McNeely advised that she isn't for sure,would guess at least 20 years or newer, Pinnacle Properties bought the property about four years ago. Councilperson White advised that he has had experience with Pinnacle Properties and one of his clients,this is the type of landlord that is being talked about. COUNCIL COMMENTS: • Councilperson White—Councilperson White advised he did not know Ms. McNeely was here to speak on the matter of Jeffersonville needing an Ordinance to protect renters, however, he has brought up in the past about Jeffersonville having an Ordinance to hold landlords accountable for inspections and ensure their property is in safe living conditions and up to code. • Councilperson Burns—No comment • Councilperson Paris—Absent • Councilperson Anderson—No Comment - • Councilperson Croft—Thanked Councilperson White for his input on the Ordinance matter regarding renters. • Councilperson Webb—Councilperson Webb said he is sorry people are having this issue with property owners, also advised as a Council body,this should be considered now and 20-30 years down the road. This can be discussed further in the next Comprehensive Plan meeting. Restrictions have been put on car washes and banks, maybe there should beta restriction on any further drive-thru establishments, need to consider what things will be like 20-30 years down the road. • Council Vice President Hawkins—No Comment • Councilperson Ellis—No comment • Council President Owen—Council President Owen said he appreciates the information and documentation provided today by the public speakers. Council President Owen advised he does think this is something that needs to be looked into and see what would be appropriate for the City of Jeffersonville. If anyone is having problems with these issues,they can reach out to the Building Commissioner,Code Enforcement or the Health Department. If that is not successful, if it is something serious or hazardous, other avenues can be considered. If anyone has not attended the Comprehensive Plan workshop, it is very beneficial to hear Mr. Reischl's input. The draft is certainly going to be more detailed,the direction of the City of the next 5-10 years will weight heavily on what goes in the final plan. Date for the next meeting needs to be determined. Last week the Capital Budget for all departments was discussed,the next workshop is planned for April 6, 2023 at 3:00 pm in Council Chambers and Council President Owen requested Council Attorney Wilder advertise for the Workshop. ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Burns made the motion to ADJOURN the meeting at 7:28 p.m: APROVED BY: v/ ja: Matt Owen, Cou c esident TTEST: Lisa Gill, Clerk