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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-17-2005 Special SessionJeffersonville City Council Special Session Meeting Memorandum - October 17, 2005 - Mayor's Conference Room 5:30 p.m. Attendees: Those members present were: Councilpersons Perkins, Fetz, Grooms, Wilson & Sellers. Absent: Councilperson Zastawny. Councilperson McCauley arrived at 5:50 p.m. The motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to approve the agenda as presented second by Councilperson Fetz and passed 4-0. Agenda Items: Item 1. Firefighters Payment of Benefits Don Growe, representing the Firefighter Union, appeared before the Council to discuss a change that needed to be made to the ordinance concerning the firefighters payment of uniforms. He said that the resolution was had a typing error. He asked that clothing allowance be paid on the 25th of May and November and that Holiday Pay and 1st Responder Pay be paid on the l0th of May and the l0th of November. After discussion, the Council said that they would address this at the meeting following this special session. Item 2. Regulation of Smoking Councilperson Wilson presented an ordinance banning smoking in public places and places of employment throughout the City of Jeffersonville. She feels very strongly about this ordinance and would like to see it pass. Councilperson Perkins spoke in favor of the smoking ordinance as he has had close family members pass away due to smoking diseases. Councilperson Fetz applauded Councilperson Wilson for her work on this Ordinance and for bringing it forward. He said that it has been proven that the economic affects have not been remotely as devastating as once believed. (Councilperson McCauley arrived at this time.) Councilperson McCauley not only supported the ordinance but would like to see it include no smoking in bars also. Council President Grooms said that as a member of the health profession he understands the impact of smoking but he also is concerned about the rights of the businessperson. He feels the decision to allow smoking in a business should be left up to the business owner and not the local government. Paige Vollmer, representing the American Cancer Society appeared before the Council to hand out brochures on the harm and affects of second-hand smoke. Vanessa Smith, representing the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Coalition, commended the City for being the first City in the community to step up to the plate and vote on this issue. She also gave the Council a packet for their revue. Jason Lisovicz also spoke in favor of the smoking ban. He gave statistics of death rates f~om 2~d hand smoke. City Attorney Merkley said that he looked at several ordinances in the area and the state 0f Indiana, including Columbus and Bloomington, when putting together this ordinance. If it passes, the City will need to decide who will be the enfomement officer. This will need to be amended in for the 2~a reading. He suggested the Building Commissioner. Mike Hutt, a City resident, spoke in favor of the ordinance. Item 3. Trash Collection Policy Review Street Commissioner Ron Ellis appeared before the Council to discuss a meeting he had with Councilperson Wilson and Grooms concerning a trash collection policy. The main issues that were discussed were the mount of large items picked up, free on removal from refrigerators, the lack of policies on tree limbs, etc and the lack of policy concerning business trash pick up. At present, refrigerators are picked up on a flat bed track and a gentleman picks them up and disposes of them for the City. But there is concern that he will be retiring soon and the City needs to address this problem. Commissioner Ellis would like to set a limit of 96 gallons to be picked up per resident and business. Commissioner Ellis will work with Councilpersons Wilson and Grooms and City Attorney Merkley to design an ordinance to address these issues. There were suggestions of having a clean up day in the City. Councilperson McCauley said that is we are not at the present time picking up trash for most businesses he would like to see what the cost to the City will be to pick up these businesses before it is written to an ordinance. Mike Hutt suggested buying a freon recovery machine for about $800.00 to remove freon. Item 4. Tax Abatement Director Barry Cahill recommended a tax abatement for Heartland in Youngstown Plaza. They intend to add 230 new jobs that will start at $15.95 per hour and hopefully double that in a couple of years. It is in the Tech Park which is not good in a way because the way the state is giving them an incentive it by declaring these jobs as not in the Tech Park. This means that we won't capture the income tax to pay offthe med venture bonds that we anticipated everyone coming into the Tech Park would be paying to pay off the bonds. Councilperson McCauley stated that the City will still get the money but it won't be as quickly. Councilperson Fetz has heard many good things about this company. They are asking for a 10 yr abatement on real only. Council President Grooms thanked Director Cahill for staying late for this meeting. Director Cahill also talked about the Urban Enterprise Zone renewal on the agenda for the regular Council meeting and also a renewal for the partial Urban Enterprise for the INAAP. His understanding that any business that were to locate in the Urban Enterprise Zone at the INAAP would get 100 % abatement on real and personal property for 10 yrs. If the City approves this, the City will be giving up their ability to pick and choose who gets the abatements. He is not sure if we can have two zones. Attorney Merkley said that a representative from INAAP asked that it be put on the agenda. He is not sure if the statute has been repealed. Director Cahill said that all areas of the Utica Township are now being assessed. There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 6:30 P.M. Mayor / Attest: