HomeMy Public PortalAbout08-19-2002PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, MONDAY AUGUST 19 2002
The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., Monday,
August 19, 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 PARKER
ROLL CALL
Nine present.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of the August 5, 2002 meeting were approved on a motion by Councilmember Welch, second by
Councilmember Sharp and the motion was carried on a voice vote
PRESENTATION OF REMONSTRANCES, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS INTRODUCTIONS
MOTIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR
Mayor Shelley Miller commented on the amount of construction going on within the community and gave
an update on some of the projects. She said that at this time the CSX Railroad has two of the five crossings
completed at South L and she said the road would probably be closed for at least another two weeks before
they could complete their part of the project. She said when that is done, the City would be able to move
forward with the asphalt and the curb and sidewalk repair in that area.
The improvements to re-route Bridge Avenue are more than one-third complete and the road should be
opened in another two to three weeks. Also, improvements on Main Street from 15S to 5 h, including curbs,
sidewalks and landscaping started today and the completion of the project is estimated to be sometime in
October.
The Mayor said work on 1" Street into the Gorge is proceeding and the road will be completed down to the
logo building in the Starr Gennett valley. She said the additional work will be delayed as the City is
working with IDEM, on remediation of the remainder of the work site.
Councilmember Sharp alluded to a list he had seen earlier this year which contained projects and some of
those, he said, were in his area. However, he said, he has seen no activity along that line and he was curious
about the schedule. Mayor Miller said there are several contracts for the asphalt, curbs and sidewalks and as.
far as she knows there have been no changes so if it was on the original list it should be completed within
this construction season.
REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
President Wissel said the minutes of the meeting of July 25, 2002 were in their packets.
REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS
Bob Goodwin, Planning Director, gave an update on the activities within his department saying that the
switch of office spaces between his department and the Law Department has taken place and is completed.
He commented on the retirement of Larry Cash as deputy director, stating that Wayne Jackson has agreed
to serve as interim assistant director while a job description is being prepared.
His statements included the G.I.S. system, inspections, complaints made by the neighborhoods, properties
repaired and the status of the unsafe buildings. Goodwin also said that as Chairman of Board of Works and
Safety, he will be approaching Council to address the condition of this building, adding that he had already
talked with the Mayor and she has expressed some concerns that since the building is 34 years old and
some plans should be made to replace some systems.
Councilmember Welch had a question about the implementation of the Historic Preservation ordinance and
the Historic Preservation Committee that was formed. Goodwin said the survey is complete in both the city
and county and recently the City's designated representative to that committee, Donna Chapman,
completed a week in Texas to upgrade her skills in that area. Mayor Miller said the president of the group,
Charlie Ball, plans to make an appearance at an upcoming Council meeting to talk about some of the things
that they are doing.
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
August 19, 2002
Page 2
Councilmember Welch also had some questions concerning the aquifer committee, the testing of the wells
and the aquifer protection. He asked about a new treatment chemical that has surfaced and Goodwin said he
had received a copy of the report which he referred to the chemist at the Sanitary District. He said the
report came back showing that the water is clean enough to drink it straight out of the ground. He said he
would be happy to share any information about the aquifer that is forthcoming with Councilmembers.
Alluding to Ordinances No. 61 and 65 — 2002, Goodwin said the one that has to do with North Salisbury
Road and the mobile home court is of particular interest to a lot of people. He said he has a request received
today from Attorney George Sowers asking that this Thursday evening the hearing be continued for a
month. Goodwin s aid both ordinances had been advertised and he requested that they b oth be added to
tonight's agenda.
Councilmember Parker moved to add Ordinances No. 61 and 65 — 2002 to the agenda, second by
Councilmember Dickman and the motion was carried on a voice vote.
Councilmember Sharp commented on the quick response he has had when calling the Planning Department
and how much he appreciated the help.
Councilmember Elstro moved to bring Ordinance No. 32 — 2002 on to the agenda and then strike it, second
by Councilmember Parker. Commenting on that ordinance, Councilmember Welch explained that he and
Tony Foster of the Community Development office had spoken to representatives of Smith Dairy this
week. He said they explained that the problem is that in the building they purchased from FreshAmerica
they have the engineers and architects working now to determine what has to be done to that building and
they are putting together a list. He said that he and Foster had told them that this ordinance would be
stricken but that they would be allowed to submit a new request without a fee.
President Wissel said that the motion made by Councilmember Elstro would have to be submitted as two
separate ones. Councilmember Elstro then moved to add Ordinance No. 32 — 2002 to the agenda, second by
Councilmember Parker and the motion was carried on a voice vote.
Councilmember Parker presented a petition that he said he wanted to pass on to the Board of Works for its
consideration. He said it is a request to have an alley paved that runs between North West 7a' and 8fl' Street
and is used as a short cut to Dennis Middle School. He said the alley needs some attention and the petition
is signed by 51 residents of the area.
Councilmember Combs mentioned again the wildlife removal that he talked about at a previous meeting,
stating that there are a number of neighborhoods that have this problem. He said that is one of the reasons
he has been a strong proponent of changing the animal control services to the Parks Department to get more
manpower. He said Bill Gilbert, owner of a wildlife remover company, contacted him and offered to put
out some traps without cost in one of the neighborhoods. He said he put out three traps and within two to
three days he had caught 3 raccoons, 2 possums and a mole. Councilmember Combs said this was a safe
removal, adding that he felt it was a humane way of addressing this problem. He said he feels the City
needs to think about and plan for especially when looking at future budgets.
Councilmember Sharp called attention to the article in the Palladium -Item about the Roseview Transit
Department for receiving a Service Provider of the Year award given by the state and congratulated them
on its accomplishment.
.President Wissel said that prior to the meeting Councilmembers had received a nomination for the Street
Tree Commission and that was for Neil Sabine, an associate professor of biology at Indiana University
East, who has expressed a desire to continue to serve another term on that Commission.
REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES
REPORTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinances No. 61, 64, 65, 67 and 68 - 2002 by
title only, second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a voice vote.
ORDINANCE NO. 61— 2002
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 61 — 2002 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE REZONING THE PROPERTY
COMMONLY KNOWN AS 625 N. 19rn AND 1975 HAWKINS ROAD, RICHMOND, IN
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
August 19, 2002
Page 3
President Wissel explained that this ordinance is a request for a special use district for mini -storage
buildings and it would be assigned to Planning.
ORDINANCE NO.64 — 2002
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 64 — 2002 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
SUBMITTAL, ACCEPTANCE, AND APPROPRIATION OF A GRANT FROM THE INDIANA
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
In the absence of Tony Foster, Mayor Miller explained that this ordinance deals with a request for a
Community D evelopment B lock G rant o n b ehalf o f W ernle H ome. She s aid t his o rdinance a ddresses a
planning project for Wernle and the funding will be used to develop a facility master plan for the campus
and specifically for the main structure which was built in 1909. She said areas of the structure which need
to be evaluated include the school; fire escape and the facility's ability to meet ADA regulations.
The Mayor described the criteria for the grant and the reasoning behind the City's requirements to submit
the application. She said that in the past, the City has provided assistance to such grants to Townsend
Center, Depot, Green Acres and the YWCA Genesis Battered Women Shelter. She said these grants
typically are awarded and closed out within a nine -month period. She added that there is a required 10
percent local match and those funds would be provided by Wernle. She said in the audience tonight is Ron
Murphy, chief of programming of Wernle, to answer questions.
Councilmember Welch said he understands there is a public hearing scheduled for August 30 and asked if it
would be appropriate for this ordinance to go through that public hearing to seek public input. The Mayor
said that hearing is at 10 a.m. and the deadline for this ordinance is September 30.
President Wissel said this ordinance would be held on second reading.
- ORDINANCE NO.65 — 2002
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 65 — 2002 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE REZONING THE PROPERTY
COMMONLY KNOWN AS 3132 N. SALISBURY ROAD, RICHMOND, IN
President Wissel explained that this ordinance deals with a request for a C-4 special use district at 3132
North SalisburyR oad for use as a mobile home park. He said this would be passed on to the Planning
Commission. Councilmember Parker asked Goodwin to point out exactly where this would be located and
he explained that this is immediately southwest of Clover Leaf Mobile Home Park and actually surrounds
it, fronting on State Road 38.
Councilmember Sharp asked if this was the same one that was discussed a few years ago and Goodwin
answered that it was, and it is basically the same request. However, he said, that was in 1997 or 1998 and at
that time it was turned down because the City did not want them tying into the sanitary sewers. He said he
understands that they have now put together their own sewage system which is acceptable to the state and
has been cleared and that is why it has come back before Council tonight. Councilmembers Welch and
Parker voice concerns about the ordinance.
ORDINANCE NO.67 — 2002
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 67 — 2002 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
APPROVAL OF A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR
DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C. 6-1.1-12.1
Councilmember Sharp explained that this ordinance deals with a tax abatement request by Sanko Peterson
Corp. at 505 Industrial Parkway and is being assigned to Councilmember Welch to look into and bring
back to the next Council meeting.
ORDINANCE NO.68 — 2002
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 68 — 2002 — A GENERAL ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 30.01
OF CHAPTER 30 OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND CODE REGARDING BOUNDARIES FOR
COUNCIL DISTRICTS
City Attorney Bob Bever explained that this is the year by state statute that the City has to submit a
redistricting ordinance even if there are no changes made. He said Councilmember Sharp had spent
numerous hours on this, attending a couple of the seminars and worked with the numbers. He said
Councilmember Sharp had put together his suggestions which he (Bever) attempted to codify in this
ordinance.
Bever said he had explained the changes in his cover letter received by all the Councilmembers. President
Wissel said this ordinance would come back on second reading.
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
August 19, 2002
Page 4
ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT
ORDINANCE NO. 32 — 2002
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 32 — 2002 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
APPROVAL OF A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR
DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C. 6-1.1-12.1
Councilmember Welch moved to strike Ordinance No. 32 — 2002, second by Councilmember Parker and
the motion was carried on a voice vote.
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
Terry Quinter, Roseview Transit Manager, speaking on behalf of the Parking Advisory Committee
highlighted a few of the changes addressed in this ordinance:
Parking Garage: Raise the cost of the monthly parking permit to $10 and to allow those permit holders to
park anywhere within the garage, eliminating the ban on parking on the first two floors; and, in an effort to
have some consistency to the charges in the City -owned lots, change them to reflect a cost of $15 per
month for a parking permit.
She also noted that businesses who reserve their monthly permits by the year would received a 10 percent
discount and new businesses which come into the uptown area that agree to purchase permits for their
employees would receive the first year free, the second at one third of the rate, the third year two-thirds and
the fourth year they would pay the regular fee.
Discussion centered on the definition of a new business, the parking attendants, revenues being received
from the merchants, taking a look at the three-hour free parking and the issuing of parking violations.
Bever stated that none of the items in this amended ordinance will go into effect until it is adopted by the
Council.
City Controller John Kenny stated that the parking situation is not holding its own without City backing
right now. Councilmember Parker said he feels there should be something to help offset the cost of the
parking. The M ayor c ommented that s ome o f the things that have b een 1 ooked at include the a xpenses
associated with collecting, the cost of personnel at the lots and parking meter costs. She said some of the
things that are being done to increase the revenue side is to provide incentives to help more businesses
locate in the uptown area.
She said it is not an easy puzzle to solve and the City is open to any suggestion or recommendation to put
in place to alleviate the parking problems. She stated that just about every community struggles with the
pros and cons of any plans that they have in place.
Councilmember Combs also commented on making the uptown user friendly for those people choosing to
shop uptown and use the services in the area.
President Wissel declared Ordinance No. 58 — 2002 on public hearing.
Renee Oldham, executive director of Main Street Inc., said that what is needed is an ordinance that is
flexible. She said the thing to keep in mind is how to make the parking more user friendly for the visitor,
employer and the employee to utilize. She stated that the uptown area has changed from what it was in the
1960s. and is not full of merchants, but many are service businesses which own their own lots and have
their own lot on which to park.
The discussion concluded with President Wissel announcing that Ordinance No. 58 — 2002 would be
brought back on second reading and public hearing at the next meeting.
ORDINANCE NO.60 — 2002
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 60 — 2002 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE TO BE KNOWN AS
THE 2003 FIREFIGHTER AND POLICE OFFICER SALARY ORDINANCE
Explaining this ordinance was City Controller John Kenny, who said this is the third year of the contract
and has an August 19 deadline, and asked that it be adopted.
There being no further comments in favor of the ordinance, and none against, Councilmember Elstro
moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a voice vote.
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
August 19, 2002
Page 5
Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 60 — 2002 to third and final
reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a voice
vote.
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 60 — 2002 on third reading.
Ordinance No. 60 — 2002 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote.
ORDINANCES ON TBIRD READING
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Councilmember Combs said he had been approached by a friend who had problems with his motorcycle
that was stolen and was in the impound. He said the friend was going to have to pay to get it out and he
thought that was not quite right and Councilmember Combs said he agreed with that. He asked if someone
could address the issue at the next Council meeting. Bever said that if Councihnember Combs could give
the name to him he would check into it and get back to him with an answer.
CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, on a motion duly made, seconded and passed, the meeting was adjourned
at 8:55 p.m.
ATTEST:
Norma Schroeder, Clerk
Bruce Wissel, President