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HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-16-2002PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2002 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m , Monday, September 3, 2002, in the Council Chambers in said City. President Bruce Wissel presided with the following Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack" Elstro, Etta J. Lundy, Karl Sharp, Bing Welch, Larry Parker, Paul Combs, Phil Dickman and Sarah "Sally" Hutton. The following business was conducted: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRAYER BY COUNCILMEMBER DICKMAN ROLL CALL Nine present. President W issel a sked the government students in the audience t o s tep t o the microphone and i dentify themselves by name and school. One student was from Centerville. High School and all the others were students at Earlham College. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of the September 3, 2002 meeting were approved on a motion by Councilmember Welch, second by Councilmember Parker and the motion was carried on a voice vote PRESENTATIONS, MEMORIALS, REMONSTRANCES, PETITIONS AND INTRODUCTIONS MOTIONS OR RESOLUTIONS. (MUST BE IN WRITING) Councilmember Hutton moved to open the agenda and bring Resolution No. 3 — 2002 back from the table, second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Bever pointed out the changes he had made (all Councilmembers had been given that list prior to the meeting) addressing the (no. 2) uptown hotel; (no. 3) depot; (no. 5) Gorge and Gas Co. building; and (no. 10) vacant structures. (That list in its entirety is attached to the resolution on file in the Clerk's office. Councilmember Parker said he has no problem with the wording, but he has a problem that once this leaves Council and goes back to the Commission that group has the option of spending whatever kind of money they want on rehabbing on any of these things mentioned, or demolition. He said he said he has a concern over continuing to spend money for these things when there are no economic prospects for the buildings. Bever pointed out that he is the liaison of the Council on the Commission and he could make his wishes known at that time should they change from what Council intended. Councilmember Hutton moved to amend Resolution No. 3 — 2002 incorporating the changes presented by the City Attorney, second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Councilmember Hutton then moved to adopt Amended Resolution No. 3 — 2002, second by Councilmember Dickman and the motion was carried on a voice vote. COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Shelley Miller announced that the appointment of Robert W. Tyler to the position of Sanitary District manager is anticipated at tomorrow's meeting of the Richmond Board of Sanitary Commissioners will sign a 3-year contract. She said Tyler has nearly 20 years experience in the public sector, is a professional engineer with certification as a land surveyor and for the last few years he has worked as a consultant in many municipalities throughout the state. The Mayor also read a letter dated September 11, 2002, written by Congressman Mike Pence stating that at a special luncheon after a wreath laying ceremony at Ground Zero he and his wife, Karen, were Tresented a pen by Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City. He said the pen is inscribed with "107 Congress, Federal Hall, New York, September 6, 2002." He said the pen is a symbol of appreciation to all Americans who traveled to New York to contribute to the cleanup efforts at Ground Zero and those who offered prayers for the victims and sent support for the recovery efforts after the attack on the World Trade Towers. He said he realized the pen did not belong to them, but to the people in Richmond, Indiana who he represents. Mayor Miller said she was very honored to accept the pen on behalf of the citizens of Richmond. Councilmember Sharp offered his congratulations to the Richmond Police Department who have been busy the past few days and done an outstanding job. Mayor Miller said she had done just that and would pass the appreciation of the Council on to the department. /,2 Common Council Minutes Cont'd September 16, 2002 Page 2 Councilmember Welch commented that he had had several calls questioning what is going to be done about the Ramada Inn which was vandalized during the past few days, as well as the Carpenter building. Mayor Miller said that the Ramada Inn had been a concern and it is certainly a safety issue for the community. She said they have been looking into that through the unsafe building commission and working very closely with the Law Department to ensure that if it comes to the point the City orders the demolition of the building, the City would be able to recover that money with a lien on the property. She said a number of citations had been issued to the owners to make them aware of the City's concerns. Bever said he had been in contact with this, adding that the owners are not going to do anything with the property. That means, he said, that the City is dealing with the first mortgage holders which are the banks that are involved. He said he has been told that the building is going to be torn down, but it is just a matter of time and who will be doing that. The Mayor said that the City has been working closely with Clayton & Associates, the environmental consultants the City has hired, and IDEM. She said the most recent results of the testing indicates that the source of origination for the contamination has been identified, stating that with that, there can be a more focused remediation effort. Inf "the meantime, she said, the City is in contact with both the prospective buyers of that facility and they are comfortable with the manner in which the City is moving forward. Councilmember Welch said rumors are coming out that are being fed to the businessmen in the City saying that a realtor has been hired by the City and the cost has been raised. The Mayor responded that that information is absolutely incorrect; adding that she had also heard the rumors and the City has been trying to squelch them within the past week. REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY President Wissel said the minutes of the meeting of August 22 and 29, 2002 were in their packets. REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS President Wissel said Councilmembers had been given nomination forms for the Street Tree Commission and this is the second four-year appointment of Will Misner III. He added that he is the Chairman of that Commission and this would come back before Council at its next meeting. ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinance No. 77 - 2002 by title only, second by Councilmember Sharp and the motion was carried on a voice vote. ORDINANCE NO. 77 — 2002 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 77 — 2002 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE REZONING THE PROPERTIES COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1601 NATIONAL ROAD WEST, 1605 NATIONAL ROAD WEST, AND 315 S.W. 17TH STREET, RICHMOND, INDIANA President Wissel said Ordinance No. 77 — 2002 would go to the Planning Commission to be heard at its September 26 meeting. ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT ORDINANCE NO. 58 — 2002 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 58 — 2002 — A GENERAL ORDINANCE AMENDING AND RE- STATING SECTIONS 74.24 AND 74.47 OF RICHMOND CODE President Wissel declared Ordinance No. 58 — 2002 to be continued on public hearing. Terri Quinter, speaking for the Parking Advisory Committee, noted the changes suggested after its last meeting. She pointed out that the names of all the lots will be replaced with letters A through I, adding that patrons using Lots A and G (located at the rear of the American Legion and at the rear of Harmon Glass) will continue to be charged $10 per month and that's a change from the proposed $15 per month in the original ordinance. 1 r 0 Common Council Minutes Cont'd September 16, 2002 Page 3 She pointed out a clarification in section (h) saying that a yearly parking pass for an individual would entitle that person to one month free parking, but if a business purchases parking passes for all its employees it would receive the 10 percent discount. Quinter called this a "user friendly" ordinance. Councilmember Parker questioned how the new business's free parking passes would be kept straight and what would happen if they have a lot of turnover. Bever tried to explain how that might work and Clerk Schroeder explained that First Bank operates that way now, purchasing passes for its employees. Clerk Schroeder stated that the last time this ordinance was discussed she had asked Councilmember Welch to go through the North 7`h Street lot (Lot B) to check out the signage and he responded with the comment that it is not obvious where those public spots are. He said he would encourage the Parking Advisory Committee to look at making the signage for the designation of those public spots VERY obvious. He also suggested that the City code concerning parking on the streets in the uptown area should also be gone over and possibly some changes made. Bever suggested some changes which included inserting "all of their employees in the next to the last line from the bottom of page 5, in section (h), and, again "all of their employees in the fourth line from the top of page 6, in section (i). He also suggested a change in the first line of section (i) on page 6 to read any business moving into "or starting as a new business in" the uptown area. Councilmember Welch moved to accept Amended Ordinance No. 58 — 2002 to replace the original ordinance brought before Council and in accepting the amended ordinance, incorporate the three changes submitted by City Attorney Bever, second by Councilmember Parker and the motion was carried on a voice vote. There being no further comments for and none against the ordinance, Councilmember Welch moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Dickman and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Amended Ordinance No. 58 — 2002 to third and final reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Elstro and the motion was carried on a voice vote. The Clerk read Amended Ordinance No. 58 — 2002 on third reading. Amended Ordinance No. 58 — 2002 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote. ORDINANCE NO.69 — 20002 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 69 — 2002 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FIXING THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF ALL ELECTED CITY OFFICERS FOR 2003 City Controller John Kenny stated that he was available to answer any questions from Councilmembers. President Wissel declared Ordinance No. 61 — 2002 on public hearing. There being no further comments for and none against the ordinance, Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Dickman and the motion was carried on a voice vote. President Wissel said the ordinance would be on third reading at the special meeting September 26. AMENDED ORDINANCE NO. 75 — 2002 The Clerk read Amended Ordinance No. 75 — 2002 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE TO BE KNOWN AS THE 2003 SALARY ORDINANCE Kenny said there had been three amendments from the original ordinance and these included the change on the last page starting with Roseview & Off -Street Park Mgr. and ending with District Crew Leader, with all of them now showing 3 percent and Transit Bus Driver (17) showing 3.5 percent. Another change, he said, was in Department of Planning, Permits and Inspections on the second page. He said the original ordinance showed Inspectors (5) but it now shows Inspectors (4) and a new position of Building Commissioner and that is what the Mayor discussed at the Committee of the Whole meeting when the department heads presented their budgets. He said it represents a slight reorganization in that department. The last change, Kenny said, was on the next page within the Police Department. He said it appears as the very last thing listed there which was originally presented as Mechanic (2) and is supposed to be presented as two positions with Mechanic first and ending with Computer Technician. Councilmember Welch moved to accept the ordinance as the amended version of Ordinance No. 75 — 2002, second by Councilmember Sharp and the motion was carried on a voice vote. President Wissel declared Amended Ordinance No. 75 — 2002 on public hearing. There being no further comments for and none against the ordinance, Councilmember Welch moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Dickman and the motion was carried on a voice vote. 14 Common Council Minutes Cont'd September 16, 2002 Page 4 Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 75 — 2002 to third and final reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Parker and the motion was carried on a voice vote. The Clerk read Amended Ordinance No. 75 — 2002 on third reading. Amended Ordinance No. 75 — 2002 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote. ORDINANCE NO. 76 — 2002 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 76 — 2002 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE TO BE KNOWN AS THE 2003 BUDGET President Wissel declared Ordinance No. 76 — 2002 on public hearing. There being no further comments for and none against the ordinance, Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Parker and the motion was carried on a voice vote. President Wissel said that Ordinance No. 76 — 2002 would be held over until the special meeting on September 26. ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING UNFINISHED BUSINESS CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, on a motion duly made, seconded and passed, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 P.M. ATTEST: Norma Schroeder, Clerk 1 Bruce Wissel, President