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Home My Public Portal About05-21-2001PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2001 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 21, 2001, in the Council Chambers in said City. President Karl Sharp presided with the following Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack" Elstro, Etta J. Lundy, Bruce Wissel, Phil Dickman, Bing Welch, Larry Parker, Paul Combs and Sarah "Sally" Hutton. The following business was conducted: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRAYER BY PRESIDENT SHARP ROLL CALL Nine present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilmember Wissel moved to accept the minutes of the meeting of May 7, 2001, second by Councilmember Parker and the motion was carried on a voice vote. PRESENTATION OF REMONSTRANCES, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, INTRODUCTIONS, MOTIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS Manuel Green from Boy Scout Troop No. 119 was invited by President Sharp to step forward and explain his presence to the Councilmembers. He explained that he is working on his communications merit badge and one of the requirements is to attend a public meeting and he chose to attend this Council meeting, adding that this is the last requirement he needs to complete this merit badge. Alluding to memo from West Richmond Friends Meeting, President Sharp said there were three high school students who competed in an essay contest to encourage young people to think clearly about how we can have a more peaceful world. They were Craig Mauger, age 15, a freshman at Richmond High School, who placed first; Michael Vierck, age 14, also a freshman, won second prize; and Michael Wooldridge, age 17 and a senior, won third prize. He said he had read the essays and commented that they were very informative and had some good ideas. He invited the other Councilmembers to read them at their leisure. COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR Reading from a Press Release issued tonight on the possible expansion of the Roseview bus service hours was Misty Hollis, Community Action Coordinator. She said that a group of community members and the City staff are reviewing options for expanding the bus service, pointing out that there is a need to expand bus service from 5:30 a.m. to 12 midnight. She said the expansion would allow citizens who do not have transportation to be able to work 2nd or 3rd shifts as well as allow citizens to take evening courses at the local colleges. She added that currently the bus service runs from 5:50 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hollis said if the grant request is approved the new hours would begin January 1, 2002, adding that the State has encouraged the expansion so the City is confident the grant will be approved. Councilmember Combs said he would be concerned about the lighting at the bus stops and Hollis said that would be looked at thoroughly when the time comes, adding that safety issues will certainly be at the forefront of the project. Councilmember Welch said he had attended a meeting, along with Hollis, where the issue was discussed about the handicapped individuals having transportation late in the evening when they have wanted to go to either recreational or their places of employment. She answered that Para transit would also be operating on the same schedule as the Roseview bus, adding that that is one of the requirements of the federal guidelines. Bever informed Councilmembers that in dealing with one of the four permits while discussion was going on about the sign ordinance which was Ordinance No. 83 — 2001, only one has disputed the City's position because the sign had already been erected. He said that sign, which is at 4747 National Road East, is a 600- foot sign which, under the newly adopted sign ordinance, would not be allowed. However, he said, in talking with the parties involved and discussing it with the Mayor, he felt that if they took the City to court, which is what they said they would do, the City has had better cases that he would have gone to court on. He said none of the other three have all the same conditions that could be argued in court and he made the determination that the 600-foot limitation could not be enforced. He said he would only take that determination with the complete release of any and all liability of the City for any damages they were claiming due to the delay, due to loss advertising, due to loss income, etc. and they signed off on that this past Friday. He added that he also took into consideration how much farther out it was on East Main Street, saying he might have decided to fight it harder had it been closer to the uptown area, but said he felt the City did not have a winning issue on this one. Common Council Minutes Cont'd May 21, 2001 Page 2 Councilmember Elstro asked about the advertisement on the benches and Bever responded that the City is sending notices to all the bench holders and the public at large saying that a 30-day warning is being given to everyone. He said he is also putting together a press release which again reiterates the major elements of the sign ordinance saying what is allowable and what is not. REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY President Sharp said the minutes of the meetings of April 26 and May 3, 2001, were included in their packets. REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES President Sharp commented that he and his wife had an opportunity to walk the Cardinal Greenway recently and to also attend the celebration of the opening of the new playground area at Glen Miller Park. He noted that both experiences were worthwhile and invited others to do the same. Councilmember Hutton commented on the "excellent job" that the Sanitary Department is doing on the neighborhood cleanups. REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS President Sharp also commented on the groundbreaking on May 10, 2001, for the new Fickensher building out in the Industrial Park area, adding that there have been a couple of other offers made on other plots of ground there so things are moving along fairly rapidly. President Sharp congratulated Councilmember Dickman on the birth of his son last Wednesday. He also mentioned the upcoming 47a` wedding anniversary of Councilmember Welch and his wife, Patricia. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinances No. 14, 27, 31, 32, 33 and 34 — 2001, on first reading by title only, second by Councilmember Lundy and the motion was carried on a voice vote. ORDINANCE NO. 14 — 2001 The Deputy Clerk read Ordinance No. 14 — 2001 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP AT 3150 NATIONAL ROAD WEST, RICHMOND, INDIANA Councilmember Wissel explained that this ordinance would go to Planning Commission, adding that this property is directly in front of the Kmart building. He said this is a special use request to allow the property to be used as a motor vehicle service station. ORDINANCE NO. 27 — 2001 The Deputy Clerk read Ordinance No. 27 — 2001 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP AT 275 FT. WAYNE AVENUE, RICHMOND, INDIANA Councilmember Wissel also explained this ordinance, saying that this would also go to the Planning Commission and it asks that the zoning designation be amended to allow for a new solid waste transfer station building. In answer to a question posed by Councilmember Hutton, Bever said that it is a different building and since this is a significant change it would require approval again. ORDINANCE NO. 31— 2001 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 31 — 2001 — 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 Wissel explained that this ordinance deals with a tax abatement" request for new manufacturing equipment made by Quality Tool & Guage Inc. with an estimated value of $1,397,000. Common Council Minutes Cont'd May 21, 2001 Page. 3 ORDINANCE NO.32 — 2001 The Deputy Clerk read Ordinance No. 32 — 2001 — 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 Wissel explained that this is a request for a tax abatement for 10 years for real estate made by Fleet Trailer Service and Fritz Shoemaker and the estimated value is $250,000. ORDINANCE NO.33— 2001 The Deputy Clerk read Ordinance No. 33— 2001 — 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 Wissel explained that this is a request for a tax abatement made by Recycling Center Inc. for real estate with an estimated value of $165,000 and for new manufacturing equipment in the amount of $1,864,000. ORDINANCE NO.34— 2001 The Deputy Clerk read Ordinance No. 34— 2001 — 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 Wissel explained that this is a request for a tax abatement by Prim Door Corp. in the amount of $511,000 for real estate and $586,000 for new equipment. ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT AMENDED ORDINANCE NO. 16 — 2001 The Deputy Clerk read Amended Ordinance No. 16 — 2001 — 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 Wissel explained that this is a tax abatement request by Amcast and it is being held up by the Tax Abatement Committee. ORDINANCE NO. 18 — 2001 The Deputy Clerk read Ordinance No. 18 — 2001 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE FIXING CERTAIN BENEFITS UNDER THE POLICEMAN PENSION FUND FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND Bever explained that the Mayor is pursuing the suggestion made by Council at the last meeting and is looking into the cost of an actuary and he suggested that the ordinance be held. ORDINANCE NO.28 — 2001 The Deputy Clerk read Ordinance No. 28 — 2001 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE FIXING CERTAIN BENEFITS UNDER THE 1937 FIREFIGHTER'S PENSION FUND FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND Bever asked that this ordinance be held for the same reasons as above. ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING There were none. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was none. Common Council Minutes Cont'd May 21, 2001 Page 4 CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, on a motion duly made, seconded and passed, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. ATTEST: Myra Miller, Deputy Clerk Karl Sharp, President 1 Ii