HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-23-2006 Special MeetingJEFFERSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION
Meeting Memorandum - January 23, 2006- Mayor's Conference Room
6:30 p.m.
The meeting was called to order by Council President Barbara Wilson.
Those members present were: Councilpersons Perkins, Sellers, Wilson, Zastawny,
McCauley, Fetz, and Grooms.
Also present were City Attorney Merkley, Clerk Treasurer Peggy Wilder and Chief
Deputy Clerk Suzy Bass.
The motion was made by Councilperson Grooms to amend the agenda to replace Council
President Wilson as the speaker for the Committee appointments and also the Liaison
appointments, seconded by Councilperson Sellers and passed on a vote of 7-0.
City Council Appointments
The motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to nominate Councilperson Grooms to
the Solid Waste Board, seconded by Councilperson Sellers and passed on a vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson McCanley to nominate Rob Stevens, Vice
President of Fetter Sales and Marketing to the Redevelopment Board, seconded by
Councilperson Zastawny and passed on a vote of 7-0. Mr. Stevens said that he looked for
to serving on the Committee and feels his background in marketing will be advantageous:
The motion was made by Councilperson McCauley to nominate Councilperson Perkins to
the Redevelopment Board and seconded by Councilperson Wilson. The motion was
made by Councilperson Sellers to nominate Councilperson Grooms and seconded by
Councilperson Zastawny. The roll was called and Councilperson Perkins won the
nomination on a vote of 4-3, with Councilpersons Fetz, McCauley, Perkins, and Wilson
voting for Councilperson Perkins and Councilpersons Grooms, Zastawny, and Sellers
voting for Councilperson Grooms.
The motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to nominate Councilperson Sellers to the
Plan Commission, seconded by Councilperson McCauley and passed on a vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to nominate Councilperson Wilson to
the SIEDC Board until 7-1-06, seconded by Councilperson Sellers and passed on a vote
of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to nominate Councilperson McCanley
and Charles Reisert Jeffersonville Ethics Commission, seconded by Councilperson
Sellers and passed on a vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Zasta~vny to nominate Councilperson Wilson to
the Economic Development Board, seconded by Councilperson Sellers and passed on a
vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to nominate Councilperson McCauley to
the Board of Public Works Board, seconded by Councilperson Sellers and passed on a
vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Zastawny, to add Councilperson Fetz to the Tree
Board, seconded by Councilperson Sellers and passed on a vote of 7-0.
The motion ~vas made by Councilperson Zastawny to nominate Councilpersons Grooms
and McCauley to the Finance Committee, seconded by Councilperson Sellers and passed
on a vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Zastawny to nominate Councilpersons Sellers,
Zastawny, and Grooms to the Budget Committee, seconded by Councilperson McCauley
and passed on a vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Fetz to nominate Chief Deputy Clerk Suzy Bass
and Councilpersons Fetz and Zastawny to the Health Insurance Committee, seconded by
Councilperson Perkins and passed on a vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to nominate Councilpersons Perkins,
McCauley, and Zastawny to the Annexation Committee, seconded by Councilperson
Sellers and passed on a vote ofT-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Zastawny to reaffirm the following Committees:
Revolving Loan Fund Committee - Barry Cahill and Councilpersons Fetz, McCauley,
and Grooms; Tax Abatement Committee - Barry Cahill and Councilpersons Grooms and
Perkins; Tax Increment Finance - Barry Cahill and Councilpersons Sellers, McCauley,
and Zastawny; Sewer Board Review - Councilpersons Wilson, Perkins, and Sellers. The
motion was seconded by Councilperson Sellers and passed on a vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Fetz to nominate Councilperson Fetz as Youth
Commission Liaison, seconded by Councilperson Perkins and passed on a vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Zastawny to nominate Councilperson Sellers as
Drainage Board Liaison, seconded by Councilperson Grooms and passed on a vote of
7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to nominate Councilperson Grooms as
Streets, Roads, Traffic and Engineering Liaison, seconded by Councilperson Sellers and
passed on a vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Sellers to nominate Councilperson Fetz as
Public Safety Liaison, seconded by Councilperson Grooms and passed on a vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Grooms to nominate Councilperson Perkins as
Downtown Liaison, seconded by Councilperson Zastawny and passed on a vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Grooms to nominate Councilperson Perkins as
Legal Matters Liaison, seconded by Councilperson Zastawny and passed on a vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Grooms to nominate Councilperson Sellers as
Animal Control Liaison, seconded by Councilperson Zastawny and passed on a vote of
7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Sellers to eliminate Human Resources Liaison,
seconded by Councilperson Zastawny and passed on a vote of 7-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to nominate Councilperson Wilson to
the Parks Board, seconded by Councilperson Fetz. The motion was made by
Councilperson McCanley to nominate Councilperson Sellers to the Parks Board,
seconded by Councilperson Zastawny. The vote was taken and Councilperson Sellers
won the nominations on a vote of 4-3 with Councilpersons McCauley, Zastawny, Sellers,
and Grooms voting for Councilperson Sellers and Councilpersons Wilson, Perkins and
Fetz voting for Conncilperson Wilson.
Councilperson Grooms made the motion to ask City Attorney Merkley to compile of list
of the above nominated Committees and distribute to all Department Heads, seconded by
Councilperson Zastawny and passed on a vote of 7-0.
Councilperson Grooms gave his State of The City Address (attached).
/' e~fnotion was made by
There being no further business to come before t. JJ:te'Co~u~,c,d,2~gfincilperson Sellers and
Councilperson Perkins to adjourn at 7:28 P.lv~ seconaea r r~
passed on a vote of 7-0. ~_~ / ~,
ROBERT WAIZ,, AYOR
ATTEST:
PEGGY ¥~IL"'DER, CLERK AND TREASURER
THE
RON GROOMS
Councilperson At Large
Common Council
January 23, 2006
3104 Autumn Green Way
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
(812) 282-6108 Home
hangerrx@aol.com
One of America's greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln, once said," The
legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to
have done, but cannot do at all in their separate and individual capacities." I thought
about that quote often this past year while serving as Council President. I think that
history will reflect this sentiment in many of the accomplishments of the Jeffersonville
City Council in the year, 2005. I believe that the council persons approached their jobs
with seriousness and commitment. There were few major disagreements on important
fiscal or legislative issues.
Our council retreat held in May, 2005, in which the council members met, with
the assistance of a professional facilitator, and established ground work for our future
progress and goals and objectives was a valuable tool and instrumental in some of our
successes in 2005.
A flurry of activity followed our council retreat and continued throughout the
year. The council met 24 times in regular session and 22 times in special meetings,
budget sessions, and workshops and held seven executive sessions. Attendance was
exceptional with all but six regular meetings resulting in perfect attendance. Council
committee chair persons and Council :appointees to boards and agencies did an
outstanding job of attending meetings and exchanging information.
The Council continues to play .an important part in the area of economic
development. Mayor Waiz and several members of the Council spent hours meeting with
offices of Med-Venture, a Louisville, Kentucky based medical devices manufacturer.
Finally, it was announced in July that Med-Ventm'e would re-locate in Jeffersonville and
bring about 500 jobs to Jeffersonville. Key communication was another company that
moved to Jeffersonville in the fall of 2005. Having been located in New Albany, Key
communications and Med-Venture became early tenants in Jeffersonville recently
designated certified technology park. In the fall of 2005, our Department of
· th · t
Redevelopment secured agreements voth the owners of property at I0 a?fi Spnng Stree
to jointly market and develops two parcels of land on the north side of 1W' Street. We can
now develop the l0th Street corridor from 1-65 to the newly renovated Quadrangle
Station.
In other areas of economic development, Mayor Walz and the Council agreed to
purchase a hotel/lounge in downtown Jeffersonville. The city took ownership in
November and designated the Department of Redevelopment to market the property.
Redevelopment is in negotiations with a local developer to reopen this facility in the
summer of 2006. The retail development near Veteran's Parkway and 1-65 named
Jeffersonville Towne Center is still in progress and announcements are expected in
AN EQUALOPPORTUNITYEMPLOYER
February, 2006. This project could result in over $100 million in inveslment by
developers and businesses and add several million dollars in assessed value to a soon to
be created tax increment financing (T.I.F.) district.
The Council continued its financial support in the area of public safety. The
Council agreed to fund the design of two new fire stations. Work has begun on the design
and site selection for these stations. Engine #2 will be re-located and a new station may
be built near 1-265 and Highway 62. The Council agreed to the purchase of new safety
equipment for our current firemen and encouraged more Iraining and fire prevention
efforts with our citizens. The Council supported the continued purchase of eight new
police cars each year, plus the acquisition of additional vehicles and equipment from
government surplus. We agreed to the payment for the cities share for two new stoplights,
one near Jeffersonville High School and another near Quadrangle Station.
In addition to the above improvements, we the Council adopted an ordinance in
November to limit smoking in public places. Jeffersonville became one of the few cities
in Indiana to prohibit smoking in restaurants, most businesses, public buildings, and
public indoor events. New sidewalks along Hamburg Pike near the Meadow subdivision
will help public safety. Almost 2500 feet of new construction at a cost of about $80,000,
paid from EDIT funds, will hopefully make it safer for pedestrians walking this section of
Hamburg pike. Other sidewalk construction projects are under consideration for 2006.
Annexation by thc city became an issue with the mayor and Council in early
2005. It was finally agreed that an annexation study would be funded by the council with
an effective date for annexation no so0ner than November, 2007. It is estimated that our
population could increase to around 45,000 persons, depending on the magnitude of
annexation. Work on this project is in progress and much work will need to be done in
2006. Total costs of this annexation study have not yet been determined and
approximately $20,000 has been spent thus far.
Some of the special projects funded by the Council in 2005 include the following:
Clark County Health Clinic, Howard Steamboat Museum, Repair Affair, The
Jeffersonville-Clark County Animal Shelter spray-nenter program, The Jeffersonville
Riverstage, Jeffersonville Floodwall Art Committee, Jeffersonville Main Street, and the
Jeffersonville Beautification Committee, and others. The Council agreed to appropriate
$131,000 from EDIT funds to help rebuild the Ken Ellis Community Center. Thc Council
also approved the spending of about $1,300 for expenses related to the Celebration of
Racial Equality Day on October 1, 2005. It is hoped that this will become an annual event
and will gain momentum
Construction is underway for a new City Hall in Quadrangle Station. It is assumed
that almost all city offices will re-locate to the new City Hall in June 2006. The city will
have about 30,000 square feet of office space in the newly remodeled historic Quarter
Master Depot. Groundbreaking ceremonies in the spring of 2005 began this project by the
Department of Redevelopment at a cost of about three million dollars. A new City Hall
will provide a stimulus for new economic development and create a new sense of pride
and ownership in city government. We are all excited about this new era in city
government. In a similar manner, the city will need to address the long overdue move to a
new vehicle maintenance facility. This project has been studied for about two years and
delays affect efficiency productivity and increase future costs. An estimate on this project
including the land purchase is about $1,500,000.
The 2006 annual budget adopted by the Council contains approximately
$11,600,000 in anticipated revenues from property tax levies. We are still awaiting
approval from the State Department of Local Budget and Finance on this proposed
budget. The 2006 budget includes a 3% pay raise for all city employees. It includes
increases for emPloyee health insurance, comprehensive insurance, City Hall, and other
city services. Additional revenues in 2006 will come from EDIT funds, estimated at
$1,400,000 and CAGIT funds estimated at $250,000 in revenue not dedicated to property
tax replacement.
Some highlights from the Fund Report dated December 31, 2005 from the City
Clerk-Treasurer include the following:
Title Balance Current Balance
1-1-05 12-31-05
Economic Development $1,093,901 $1,640,094
Income Tax
Cum. Capital Improvement $168,890 $254,473
Share of Gaming Revenues $172,712 $345,250
General Fund $6,986,016 $2,942,482
Cum. Capital Development (-)$578,753 (-)$730,329
Sewage Drainage $3,326,488 $2,830,482
Probation User fund $204,680 $258,223
Local Roads, Streets $613,365 $684,958
Assuming that our 2006 budget is approved by the state of Indiana, as submitted,
there should be adequate funding for most expenses in 2006. As always, the cost of
providing health and hospitalization coverage, gasoline and vehicle expenses, and the
unknown expenses of maintaining a new City Hall will challenge this Council to provide
expected services.
As a Councilpcrson, every day brings new challenges and experiences. As
Council president in 2005 1 have appreciated the opportunity, the honor, and the
challenges. I truly believe that this Council shares our vision statement which is "The
Jeffersonville City Council will provide a city government that is aligned, connected to
its citizens, and working at peak efficiency and effectiveness."
Councilperson
Jeffcrsonville City Council