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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-07-2005COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA February 7, 2005 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session in the Multi-Purpose Meeting Room in the City-County Building, Jeffersonville, Indiana, at 7:30 P.M. on Monday February 7, 2005. Mayor Rob Waiz, with Clerk Treasurer Peggy Wilder at the desk, called the meeting to order. Also present were City Attorney Les Merkley, Council Attorney Allen Morris, and Chief Deputy Clerk Suzy Bass. Mayor Waiz welcomed all in attendance, asking all those present to stand as Reverend Bruce Barkhauer gave the invocation. Mayor Waiz then asked all those present to join him in the pledge of allegiance to 'the flag. The roll was called and those present were; Councilpersons John Perkins, Ed Zastawny, Keith Fetz, Connie Sellers, Barbara Wilson, and Ron Grooms. Absent' Phil McCauley Councilperson Sellers made the motion to approve the agenda with the deletion of agenda item # 14, second by Council President Grooms, passing on a vote of 6-0. Mayor Waiz presented the minutes of the annexation meeting of January 13, 2005, for approval. Councilperson Wilson made the motion to approve the minutes of as presented, second by Councilperson Fetz, passing on a vote of 6'0. Clerk Treasurer Wilder presented the claim list for consideration by the Council. Councilperson Fetz questioned the claim for the Greenway Project for $15,000.00. Clerk Treasurer Wilder also questioned this claim as there is no formal agreement for this, therefore, there would be no past due amount owed and the money is not budgeted for this amount. Councilperson Wilson made the motion to approve the claims as presented, except for the Greenway claim, seconded by Councilperson Fetz. Clerk Treasurer Wilder asked for clarification concerning two claims presented by the Council for a breakfast for apparently five people and/or Councilpersons and also a claim for lunch. She needs names of whose meals these were for State Board of Accounts. Councilperson Perkins February 23, 2004 said that he could not remember but would get the information to her. The claims were approved by a vote of 6-0. PUBLIC COMMENT' There was no public comment. AGENDA ITEMS' Brian Forrest gave the Council an update on the new quartermaster station. The bad weather has put them behind and the new deadline for the main construction is April 1, 2005. They now have lights on in the complex. They have about 25,000 square ft leased already with another 30,000 square ft close to being signed.~ There is one main issue with a liquor license. All figures are still in line with the initial amount. The City will still receive their agreed upon amount. Danny Flannigan, Repair Affair, appeared before the Council to give his report for 2004. He thanked the Council for their generous donation last year and asked for $7,500.00 for 2005. He will fax a letter to Clerk Treasurer Wilder with the agreed upon amount and she will make up a claim to be added to the next claim list. John Kraft, representing 1st Savings Bank, asked the Council to change the zoning at 2207 Allison Lane from Residential to C-1 for the expansion of 1st Savings Bank. The motion was made by Councilperson Fetz to approve Ordinance 2005-OR-8, seconded by Councilperson Sellers. Mayor Waiz informed those present that this was a public heating. After no comments were made by those present, the motion passed with a vote of 6-0. City Attorney Merkley asked the Council to approve changing the zoning from R- I to C-2 on l0th Street between Thompson Lane and Elberta Drive. Mayor Waiz informed all present that this was a public heating. Delene Murray told the Council that fourteen property owners signed a letter in favor of the rezoning. The motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to pass Ordinance 2005-OR-9, seconded by Councilperson Zastawny and passed with a vote of 6-0. Attorney Merkley presented the Council with a copy of the Interlocal Agreement for the Animal Shelter to be discussed at a future meeting. He sent out letters to other February 23, 2004 communities abOut the agreemem and received responses from Clarksville and Charlestown. Councilperson Fetz asked Animal Shelter Director Harry Wilder how hard. it would be to track the number of animals brought in from other communities. Director Wilder said this could be done with little problems. Councilperson Perkins thinks a population count would be better than an animal count as a way to charge communities. . Councilperson Fetz feels that. regardless of how the City decides to charge, this information would be very useful. Councilperson Sellers will work with Director Wilder on this. City Judge Vickie Carmichael asked the Council to approve a resolution showing their support of the Indiana Cities and Towns Court Judges AsSociation request to the General Assembly to develop a Study Committee on City and Town Courts. There have been changes in court rulings in the last several years that affect city and town courts and the judges want a committee formed to discuss any changes made by the General Assembly. This will involve no money. After discussion, the motion was made by Councilperson Zastawny to approve Resolution 2005-R-5, seconded by Council President Grooms and passed With a vote of 6-0. Councilperson Perkins presented the Council with a resolution encouraging and supporting the acquisition and development of vacant, abandoned, unsafe and/or underutilized properties in downtown Jeffersonville bY the Department of Redevelopment. He informed the Council that he wants to change the last paragraph to read 'may it also be resolved that the Common Council of the citY of Jeffersonville encourages the Department of Redevelopment to appropriate and approve the expenditure of $200,00.00 from TIF funds to aid in the acquisition and redevelopment of vacant, abandoned, unsafe, and/or underutilized properties of the downtown Jeffersonville business district. He will provi~te a clean copy to Clerk Treasurer Wilder. Council President Grooms asked how much money was currently in the TIF Fund. Councilperson Zastawny said he is not sure of the exact amount but it is ever $200,000.00. Councilperson Grooms asked Merkley if there were any legal problems using TIF money for this project. Merkley answered no. After further discussion the motion was made by Councilperson Fetz to approve Resolution 2005-R-6, seconded by Councilperson Sellers and passed 6-0. 4 February 23, 2004 Clerk Treasurer Wilder presented the Council with Ordinance 2005-OR-1 for consideration on the 3rd and final reading. Attorney Merkley asked to add an amendmem'. to the Ordinance concerning the salaries in Redevelopment. A portion of their salaries; has been paid by Urban Enterprise Zone but now will all come from Redevelopment. The motion was made by Councilperson Fetz to approve this amendment, seconded by Councilperson Sellers and passed 6-0. The motion was made by Council President Grooms to move the salary for the Youth Commission Director from the Parks Department into the Mayor's Office in the amount of $36,050.00, seconded by Councilperson Zastawny and passed 6-0. Council President Grooms made the motion t° increase the salary of the Probation Officer in City Court to $46,709.28 seconded by Councilperson Zastawny and passed 6-0. The motion was made by Council President Grooms to change the salary of the Probation Officer in PUF to $36,551.61, seconded by Councilperson Zastawny and passed 6-0. The motion was made by Councilperson Fetz to approve Ordinance 2005-OR-01 on the 3rd and final reading with these amendments seconded by Councilperson Fetz and carded unanimously. The motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to pass Ordinance 2005-OR-4 on the 2nd and 3rd readings seconded by Councilperson Fetz. This money would be funded by EDIT. Council President Grooms said that he doesn't feel the Council should utilize EDIT funds for this venture. He feels that this is stretching the intent of what the EDIT funds should be used for. He feels that this will splinter the Council and cause competition among the Council for certain projects but Councilperson Perkins thinks it will do the opposite and unite the Council. The vote was taken and passed 5-1 with Council President Grooms voting no. Councilperson Wilder presented Ordinance 2005-OR-05, transferring funds within the same department, on the 2nd and 3rd readings. Councilperson Perkins made: the motion to pass 2005-OR-5 on the 2nd and 3rd readings, sec°nd by Councilperson Sellers and passed 6-0. -CLERK TREASURER COMMENTS' ~' None COMMITTEE REPORTS' Councilperson Grooms asked for comments on Committee Reports. February 23, 2004 Councilperson Perkins told the Council that he has'met with Redevelopment Director Cahill concerning the way tax abatements are given. Councilperson Zastawny told the Council that he met .with several others to go over the TIF districts and looked at how and when they were formed, the balance and any other pertinent information concerning each district. They want to make sure that each district has the same objective and make sure each are funded appropriately. COUNCIL AND MAYOR COMMENTS: Councilperson Perkins told the Council that the last gas bill on the City garage was $4,164.00. Something needs to be done ASAP and the City needs to relocate the garage, preferably within the city limits. Councilperson Perkins told the Council that he has communicated with some interested parties concerning the negotiation of Veteran's Parkway. There is much frustration among those concerned about these negotiations. Councilperson Zastawny asked Clerk Treasurer Wilder for a copy of the budget in the same format that they received it in during the budget process. She will get it to him as soon as possible. Councilperson Zastawny said that he had some complaints from residents against other residents concerning the exterior maintenance of their property. He asked that maybe the City send out a semi-annual newsletter reminding them of the City's expectations of their property. Councilperson Fetz said that the Fire Department has acquired a search and rescue boat at no cost to the City. It is now parked at the old fire station for anyone wanting to see it. Councilperson Fetz told the Council that he would like to see revitalization to the islands on Park Place with benches and maybe trees. Councilperson Fetz said that the report Director Knight gave at the workshop was very informative and would like to see the Parks Director .do the same and let the Council know what the Parks Department has planned for this year. Council President Grooms will ask Director Poff to do this. COuncil President Grooms told the Council that there is a Legislative Workshop on March 2, 2005 at a cost of $35.00. February 23, 2004 Council President Grooms met with John Severs from Umbaugh and Buddy Downs from Ice Miller concerning the problems with the TIF districts. This has been ignored for the last five years and feels that Umbaugh will be a great help by monitoring this project. Council President Grooms will like. to see the Council pick one meeting night a month to have a Council Workshop so everyone will know in advance when they will be. He suggested the 3rd Monday of the month. Council President Grooms said that he is working with Street Commissioner Ellis to discuss options for moving the City Garage back to the City. Council President Grooms feel that the..c0mmit!:ees.are working well and it will greatly benefit the City. As there was no further business to c r e adjoumed 9:40 P.M. ROBERT L. Council, the meeting was MAYOR ATTEST: PEGGY ~ILDER, CLERK AND TREASURER