HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 18, 2023 City Council COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY
JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA
September 18, 2023
Regular Meeting Minutes
The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met for the Regular Meeting on September 18,
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 Vice President Hawkins, Councilperson Ellis and Council President Owen. Councilperson Paris
was absent. Let the record reflect that 8 Council Members were present in Council Chambers and 1
absent.
APROVAL OF MINUTES:
Council President Owen advised that there is a change on page 2 of the August 28, 2023 Budget
Workshop Minutes that has been made. The reference to the Circuit Breaker being at 5.1 percent this
year and being at 5.3 percent next year for the Budget should say 5.1 million for this year and 5.3 million
for next year. Also the assessed value of the City for 2019 said $72,000,000.00 and should read
$1,701,000,000.00.
Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the amended Minutes from the August 28, 2023 Budget
Workshop Meeting, seconded by Councilperson Webb; motion passed 8-0.
Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the Minutes of Special Meeting on September 5, 2023
for the Budget Workshop, seconded by Councilperson Anderson; motion passed, 8-0.
Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the Minutes of September 5, 2023 of the Regular
Meeting, seconded by Councilperson Anderson, motion passed, 8-0.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Councilperson Anderson;
motion passed, 8-0.
CLAIMS TO APPROVE:
Civil City$479,866.49
Mrs. Metcalf advised there were no changes.
Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the Civil City claims, seconded by Councilperson
Anderson; motion passed, 8-0.
Parks$116,158.44
Mrs. Metcalf advised there were no changes.
Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the Parks Claims, seconded by Councilperson Croft;
motion passed, 8-0.
REPORT OF THE CLERK:
No comment tonight.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Heather Metcalf 2023-OR-55 Ordinance of Additional Appropriation
Mrs. Metcalf advised the first line is for Riverstage-Prof. Services in the amount of$15,000.00 and is
for reimbursement from Jeff goes Country; the next one is for the Police Non-Reverting Fund in the
amount of$15,000.00 for uniforms and has already been received. Line 3 is for Fire-Motor vehicle,
Equipment/Supplies in the amount of$3,014.46 which is an insurance reimbursement.
Council President Owen advised he asked what the appropriation was for the Jeff Goes Country line
and was informed that money was a reimbursement and will be used to reimburse a sponsor since
the event was cancelled and then to cover a few other nonrefundable expenses.
Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve 2023-OR-55 on the First and Second Reading,
seconded by Councilperson Croft; motion passed, 8-0.
2. Heather Metcalf 2023-OR-56 Ordinance of Transfer of Funds Within the Same Department
Mrs. Metcalf advised the first line is for Motor Equipment Supplies for Police for vehicle repairs in
the amount of$65,000.00; the next line is for the Fire Department for two vehicle radios in the
amount of$12,000.00; the third line is for Vehicle Maintenance pressure washing in the amount of
$6,722.45.
Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve 2023-OR-56 on the First and Second Reading,
seconded by Councilperson Anderson; motion passed, 8-0.
3. Heather Metcalf 2024 Proposed Budget Discussion
Council President Owen advised the Council had already met two times and some changes were
made. Council President Owen advised he would like to discuss making a change under the
Riverboat Fund; Communities in Schools is no longer in existence and he proposed the $5,000.00 be
moved to the Special Projects line.
Council President Owen made a motion to move the $5,000.00 to the Special Projects line and
Councilperson Burns seconded the motion; motion passed, 7-0-1. Councilperson Ellis abstained.
Council President Owen asked if anyone had any other changes to discuss regarding the Budget
before Mrs. Metcalf advertised for it and no other changes were requested.
ATTORNEY COMMENT:
Larry Wilder—No Comment
Les Merkley—Not Present
DEPARTMENT HEADS:
Mrs. Metcalf---No Comment
JPD Assistant Chief McVoy-JPD Assistant Chief McVoy advised regarding the approval to move forward
with the Mobile Command Center(not to exceed $1.3 million), they have been working with the Fire
Department to build the specs for that project and at the end of October they will be traveling to the
factory to begin the process of building the Mobile Command Center and he should have additional
updates in regards to the specs and design after that trip. Assistant Chief McVoy thanked the
Jeffersonville Fire Department for their assistance with the design of the Mobile Command Center.
JPD Assistant Chief McVoy said the second reason he is here is to request a favorable recommendation
on leasing 12 Dodge Chargers and 6 Durangos for the Police Department. It has been previous practice
as a courtesy that JPD brings all agreements before the City Council prior to getting final approval from
the Board of Public Works. Assistant Chief McVoy has spoken with First Savings Bank about entering
into an agreement with them to lease the vehicles over the next 4 years and this is similar to what was
done in 2016. The Police Department currently has the money in their budget for the down payment
and based off their historic budget they will have the money budgeted to make those payments.The
total amount would include the vehicle and up-fit; everything additional including stop-sticks, radars,
printers, radios, tough books and docking stations. No additional funds are being requested, this will
come from JPD Budget over the course of the next 4 years. Council Vice President Hawkins asked how
many vehicles will be leased and Chief McVoy advised a total of 18. Council Vice President Hawkins
stated he typically is not in favor of passing expenses off to the next Council and asked why they should
lease the vehicles instead of buying. Assistant Chief McVoy advised with leasing they are able to replace
more of their fleet in a faster manner and at the end of the 4 years, the Police Department can buy the
vehicles back at$1.00. To buy all of these vehicles up front would be 1.320 Million dollars and it is not in
the budget to do all at once. Proceeding this way there is still money in the budget as long as things stay
historically the same to address other needs that may come up over the next 4 years. Leasing gives a
little more flexibility to get a larger number of vehicles immediately and pay over the course of 4 years.
Council President Owen clarified with Assistant Chief McVoy that their budget will allow for the payment
to be made on these vehicles and will not max out the vehicle allotment. Chief McVoy advised, yes that
was correct.There will be a $400,000.00 down payment and the lease payment will roughly be
$935,000.00 over four years with an annual payment of around $270,000.
Council Vice President Hawkins made a motion for a favorable recommendation. Seconded by
Councilperson White; motion passed, 7-0-1. Councilperson Ellis abstained.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
• Councilperson White—No Comment
• Councilperson Burns—No Comment
• Councilperson Paris—Absent
• Councilperson Anderson-No Comment
• Councilperson Croft—No Comment
• Councilperson Webb—No Comment
Council Vice President Hawkins— Council Vice President Hawkins asked where the remaining
amount of the reimbursement for Jeff Goes Country would be placed. Mrs. Metcalf advised
Redevelopment paid $30,000 of the amount so that amount will be returned to
Redevelopment.
He also voiced his concern about the fees that new businesses are being charged to get started
in Jeffersonville and requested Mr. Wilder pull the ordinance so it could be looked at and
discussed further in the near future. Councilperson White recommended also speaking with
Chad Reischl, Planning & Zoning Director regarding this.
• Councilperson Ellis—He advised that he will be abstaining from voting on any Appropriations or
Budget issues from here on out due to this being his last year on Council.
• Council President Owen—No Comment
ADJOURNMENT:
Councilperson Burns made the motion to ADJOURN the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
APROVED :Y: 4��7 �� •
Matt Owen, Presi..ent ATTEST: Lisa Gill, Clerk