HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-22-2006 Special Session
Jeffersonville City Council Special Session
Meeting Memorandum - September 22, 2006 - Council Chambers
9:45 a.m.
Meeting called to order by: Mayor Rob Waiz
Attendees:
Councilpersons Sellers, McCauley, Grooms, and Perkins, Also in attendance were City
Attorney Les Merkley and ChiefDeputy Suzy Bass.
Mayor Waiz asked all present to stand for the pledge of allegiance.
Community Focus Grant:
Doug Heberle and Jill Saegesser from River Hills, appeared before the Council to ask for
approval of a resolution for the submittal of a community focus fund grant. The grant
will be almost a 50-50 match and will help revitalize Spring Street between Court Av~
and 10th Street. The total cost of the project is $1,063,000.00. The UEZ has committed
$150,000.00 and Bales Auto Mall $5,000.00. Ms. Saegesser said that the request is now
down to $320,000.00 from the City. She said that the money could be pledged in half for
2007 and 2008 budget. She also said that she has secured a pledge of private donations in
the amount of $5,000 and $10,000. Mayor Waiz suggested the Council take
$250,000.00 from their Special Projects line in this year's budget and the balance be split
in the Edit Budget in '07 and '08.
Councilperson Perkins said that his problem with the resolution is the wording declaring
the area 'slum or blight'. He also said that the resolution doesn't specify the area. Ms.
Saegesser said that the outside blocks of Spring Street are covered. She said the wording
is standard language for this type of grant. The wording has to be in the Resolution
because ofHUD regulations. Ms. Saegesser said that Estopinal is burying the lines on
their property at their own expense. Councilperson McCauley said that the City has
worked hard to improve this area and he also doesn't like the wording but understands
that for the sake of the grant, the wording has to be in the grant and resolution.
The motion was made by Councilperson McCauley to approve Resolution 2006-R-41, a
Declaratory Resolution of the City Council for the Submittal of a Community Focus
Fund Grant, second by Councilperson Grooms. The roll was called and the motion failed
on a vote of3-1, with Councilperson Perkins voting no. Mayor Waiz asked
Councilperson Perkins what might get him to change is mind. Councilperson Perkins
feels that the Resolution is not accurate. Councilperson McCauley said that although the
resolution is not totally accurate, it is also not totally inaccurate. He said that this area
looks awful with the lines going everywhere and if this is the language it takes to get the
grant, then it is okay with him. He said that he would hate to see it die because of the
wording and asked Councilperson Perkins if changing the wording would get him to
reconsider changing his vote.
Councilperson Perkins asked for a short recess to think about it. He also asked Mayor
Waiz and Councilperson McCauley to join him. The meeting recessed at 9:55 A.M.
The meeting reconvened at 10: 15 A.M.
Councilperson Perkins asked for a motion to reconsider. The motion to reconsider was
made by Councilperson Perkins, second by Councilperson McCauley passing on a vote
of 4-0.
The motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to pass 2006-R-42, Declaratory
Resolution of the City Council for the Submittal of a Community Focus Fund Grant,
second by Councilperson McCauley passing on a vote of 4-0.
Ms. Saegesser then asked the Council to consider a Resolution allowing Mayor Waiz to
submit the application for the grant. Councilperson McCauley asked if it would be better
to include the $50,000 that Estopinal is pledging to improve their property so we can get
the match. Tape......
Council person McCauley also said that he would like to make Duke Energy responsible
for some of the mess they have made with the electrical lines going everywhere.
Councilperson Perkins asked Ms. Saegesser what it would hurt the project ifthe City
only proposes $150,000.00. She said that the project would have to be cut back. The
Council suggested scaling the project back for now and if the City can come up with the
money later, then we can enhance the project. Councilperson Grooms asked if this would
slow down the project. Ms. Saegesser said no but the enhancement would have to be
done within the project timeline.
Councilperson Sellers said that she is willing to vote for the $150,000.00 but no more.
She also said that she knew nothing about the project before the meeting on Monday
night.
After further discussion, the motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to approve
2006-R-43, a Resolution ofthe City Council for the Submittal of a Community Focus
Fund Grant, authorizing Mayor Waiz to submit an application for the grant with the City
pledging $160,000.00 ($10,000.00 coming from a private donation), second by
Councilperson McCauley passing on a vote of 4-0.
There being no other items of discussion, the motion was made by Councilperson
McCauley to adjourn at 11 :35 A.M. second by Councilperson Perkins passing on a vote
of 4-0.
Attest:
Mayor