HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-2005 (Workshop) CITY COUNCIL
WORKSHOP PUBLIC HEARING
January 13, 2005
Councilperson Wilson called the workshop to order at 10:00 a.m. She stated for the
record that Councilperson Sellers and Councilperson Perkins were in attendance. She
stated that this was a workshop to discuss annexation and to get input from those in
attendance.
Department Heads in attendance were: Street Department Director Ellis, Fire Chief
Miles, BUilding Commissioner Segraves, Animal Shelter Director Wilder, Police Chief
Ashabranner, Planning and Zoning Director Hicks, Assistant Fire Chief Decker, and City
Engineer Miller.
Also in attendance were: Housing Authority Director Carroll Gowens, Former Building
Commissioner Gavin, Taxpayer Richard Crum, Matt Reuff with Bemardin
Lochmueller and Associates, and Clerk Mayfield of the City Clerk Treasurer's
office.
Councilperson Perkins stated for the record that the city may or may not annex anything.
He said it has to be determined what will be in the best interest of the most people and be
cost effective. He said we should look at what areas would be least costly. He said he
and Housing Authority Director Carroll Gowens have worked on annexations before and
it needs to be done in a timely manner.
Matt Reuff, Senior Associate with Bernardin Lochmueller and Associates went over the
general annexation issues (attached) such as Capital Upgrades and the extension of
services, non-capital services, the annexation process, and the fiscal plan. Mr. Reuff said
it could be a complicated process that could move Jeffersonville from a third class city to
a second-class city. He said there would be a three-year window to put it in place. He
said there would be capital improvement issues as well as street and road improvements.
Future sites for police and fire facilities would need to be reviewed. Solid waste
management would need to be evaluated as well. He said the administrative cost to the
city such as fees and permits and extra staffing would need to be reviewed and that
citizen participation is critical.
Councilperson Perkins asked Mr. Reuff if the first area to look at should be where
existing sewers are as far as cost. Mr. Reuff said sewer and water are the biggest
infrastructure costs; therefore looking at areas with existing sewers is reasonable to
consider.
Animal Shelter Director Wilder asked about homeowner remonstrance in regard to
restrictions through builders in subdivisions. Mr. Reuff said the deeds would need to be
looked at.
City Engineer Miller asked Mr. Reuff police and fire protection have to be provided
immediately when an area is annexed. Mr. Reuff said it should be provided right away as
well as garbage pickup.
Housing Authority Director Carroll Gowens said there are a lot of problems to consider
like providing services such as police and fire protection. He asked if the city has
fulfilled all of its commitments to its current annexed areas. Councilperson Perkins said
yes for the most part. Mr. Gowens said it's very important for the city to keep its word
and commitment to the citizen's before moving to annex more areas. Animal Shelter
Director Wilder said he thinks the hardest part is to get annexation accepted by the
citizen's.
Police Chief Ashabranner is concerned about the cost factor to provide services to more
areas. He said the citizen's would expect police cars patrolling their areas if annexed so
there is a considerable cost for more manpower, cars, fuel, and equipment.
Former Building Commissioner Gavin said the annexation would create the need for
extra cars and more building fees.
Fire Chief Miles said his main issue is getting firemen to all areas in a timely manner. He
said as is there are twice as many calls as there used to be. Chief Miles said there is a
five-minute response time and that 52 of his 55 firemen are First Responder trained. He
said most of the time his First Responders are about two minutes faster than ambulance
service.
Redevelopment Director Cahill said he believes his department would become a taxing
agency that it isn't at the present time and that over time annexation would be
advantageous.
Planning and Zoning Director Hicks said annexation would not affect him that much. He
hopes in the coming year to coordinate an informal meeting with all Clark and possibly
Floyd County Planning and Zoning administrators to talk shop. He said he thinks input
on sewers is critical to this annexation possibility. He has done a preliminary population
projection of 32,000 people in twenty years. He estimated there are 29,200 people
currently based on residential building permits and 62,000 households with 2.2 people
per household.
Building Commissioner Segraves is concerned about property maintenance of older
subdivisions that may be annexed as well as businesses that will be brought in due to the
coming east end bridge.
Street Commissioner Ellis said he is concerned about the condition of streets and roads in
older areas and the cost to maintain them. More manpower and equipment would be
needed.
Citizen Richard Crum said his business on Hamburg Pike is an area that is not annexed
and he pays a $300.00 drainage fee, whereas an identical business a short distance away
from his is annexed and pays no drainage fee. He said he would like to be annexed.
CouncilPerson Wilson said it is good to hear everyone's concerns and there are a lot of
pro's and con's to annexation. She hopes to get some citizen's at future meetings on this
issue.
Animal Shelter Director Wilder said we are so close to becoming a second-class city and
so much more money could be brought in for the city.
Conncilperson Perkins suggests taking in less expensive areas to become a second-class
city. He hopes some can be taken in by the end of 2005.
Planning and Zoning Director Hicks said there should be a healthy mix of residential
areas and commercial areas annexed.
Councilperson Wilson said she would talk to Council President Ron Grooms about
planning the next meeting in the next few weeks. Everyone will be notified of the date
and time, Councilperson Wilson thanked everyone in attendance for his or her input.
The workshop adjourned at 11:50 a.m.
ATTEST:
Clerk-Treasurer