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HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-16-2000 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND,INDIANA,MONDAY,OCTOBER 16,2000 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 16,2000,in the Council Chambers in said City.President Larry Parker presided with the following Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack" Elstro, Etta J. Lundy, Bruce Wissel, Karl Sharp, Bing Welch, Paul Combs,Phil Dickman and Sarah"Sally"Hutton.The following business was conducted: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRAYER BY COUNCILMEMBER HUTTON ROLL CALL Nine present. Councilmember Wissel moved to amend the agenda and add Resolution No.4—2000 and Resolution No.5 —2000,second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a voice vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilmember Welch moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 2 and the special meeting of September 28,second by Councilmember Sharp and the motion was carried on a voice vote. PRESENTATION OF REMONSTRANCES, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, INTRODUCTIONS, MOTIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS President Parker said Council had received a petition from "Family First," regarding the possibility of adding the words "sexual orientation" as an amendment to Ordinance No. 63 —2000. He said now is the time to present any other petitions because none will be accepted after this time. COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Shelley Miller talked about the demolition of the old Main Street Bridge,stating that the City would be in contact with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) saying they had a timetable within the next couple of weeks about the project and how long it should take.The second project,she said,is that the City Engineer's office received information from INDOT that funding has been identified for the fiscal year of 2000—2001 to assist the City in an 80 percent match to widen Hodgin Road from Windsor Place east to South 37th Street. City Attorney Bob Bever reminded President Parker that Resolution No. 5 — 2000 might want to be addressed early in the agenda.With that,President Parker recognized Bever to make that presentation. Bever pointed out that in their copy of the resolution it should read Resolution No. 5—2000, not 1999, as printed. He explained that this is a "cleanup" resolution, stating that the City is getting requests for tax abatements in the new industrial park and in reviewing the records he found that that area of the City has never been formally declared as an Economic Revitalization Area. He said going back in history,these tax abatements are all prerequisited and required to be in such an area, and he explained that this was the area that was annexed back in 1994 and was never added to the Economic Development Areas. He said this resolution takes the legal description from Phase 1 of the Midwest Industrial Park and declares that to be an Economic Revitalization Area which would now make valid any of the tax abatement that would be before Council tonight,including Ordinance No.73—2000. Councilmember Elstro moved to adopt Resolution No.5—2000, second by Councilmember Lundy and the motion was carried on a voice vote. REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY President Parker said the minutes of the meetings of September 21 and 28, 2000 were included in their packets. REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS Common Council Minutes Cont'd October 16,2000 Page 2 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS Councilmember Hutton said she has talked with the owners of the property where she has had complaints of people parking in the front yard and has discovered that the people living there have a fairly large family. She said there are eight children,five of whom live with them and all have vehicles. She said when they first moved in they were parking on the street and the neighbors complained so they pulled into their yard. Within the past couple of weeks, she said, they have started making a parking pad which is graveled now, but, by spring will be paved and have some shrubbery around it. She added that this, hopefully, should take care of the problem. Councilmember Combs reported that he was looking into a situation on behalf of a constituent who has a concern in a residential area in which there is a large van that seems like an advertisement other than simply a vehicle that is being parked there. He said he just wanted to bring it to the attention of Council to reassure those individuals in that neighborhood that he was looking into it. ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read by titles only Ordinance No. 74 — 2000 and Ordinance No.76-2000,second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a voice vote. ORDINANCE NO.74—2000 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 74 — 2000 — 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 Planning Director Bob Goodwin explained that this ordinance replaced Ordinance No. 35 — 2000, which was on second reading, but was withdrawn because sufficient changes had been made after it had gone through Planning Commission that he felt it warranted a new ordinance to come back through Council. President Parker said this ordinance would go before Planning Commission at its October 26 meeting and return to Council. ORDINANCE NO.76—2000 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 76 — 2000 — 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 a 10-year abatement for new manufacturing equipment from Ahaus Tool and Engineering.He said it is estimated that this would create one new job and retain 135,and the estimated value of the new equipment is$225,000. ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT ORDINANCE NO.35—2000 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 35—2000—A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP AT THE SOUTHEAST C ORNER OF INDUSTRIES ROAD (EXTENDED) AND CHESTER BOULEVARD,RICHMOND,INDIANA(WITHDRAWN) President Parker said Council had received a letter as well as notification from Goodwin to withdraw Ordinance No. 35 —2000 as well as Ordinance No. 44 — 2000. He asked the Clerk to proceed and read Ordinance No.55—2000. ORDINANCE NO.55—2000 The Clerk read Ordinance No.55—2000—A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP AT 1607 CHESTER BOULEVARD,RICHMOND,INDIANA Councilmember Wissel reported that the Planning Commission had held public hearing on this ordinance and heard Jim Backmeyer speak in favor of it, explaining that it deals with putting in a medical office, making it necessary to rezone the area from R-1 to R-2.He said the staff liked the parking arrangement and it was recommended through a unanimous vote to support the change. President Parker declared the ordinance on public hearing. Backmeyer was present to answer questions from Councilmembers. There being none and no one speaking against the ordinance, Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Wissel and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Common Council Minutes Cont'd October 16,2000 Page 3 Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No.55—2000 to third and final reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No.55—2000 on third reading. Ordinance No.55—2000 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote. ORDINANCE NO.70—2000 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 70 — 2000 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF A STATEMENT OF BENEFI'1 S FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C. 6-1.1-12.1 Councilmember Combs announced that he would have a report at the next Council meeting. ORDINANCE NO.71—2000 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 71 — 2000 — 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 10-year tax abatement for new manufacturing equipment made by Gold Star Coatings and they estimate that the new equipment would allow them to increase their employment by four jobs and retain 67. He added that the estimated value of the new equipment is in excess of$900,000. He said Brad Ballinger, material handling supervisor, took him on a tour of the plant,explaining that the company does the coatings for metal dies as well as for different gears and work primarily with the automotive industry. However, they do supply local firms such as Mosey Manufacturing and Amcast and wages are above the industrial average. He said the Tax Abatement Committee recommended approval. President Parker announced that Ordinance No. 71 — 2000 was on public hearing. There being no comments either for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Welch moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Combs and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Councilmember Welch moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No.71 —2000 to third and final reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Combs and the motion was carried on a voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No.71—2000 on third reading. Ordinance No.71—2000 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote. ORDINANCE NO.73-2000 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 73 — 2000 — 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 dealt with a request from Fickenshear America LLC and the City of Richmond was added as one of those requesting the benefit. He said the company is a manufacturing injection molding and they have been in Indiana since 1996. Under this request, he said, they are planning on adding 40 new jobs and retain 26, adding that it is well above our average industrial wage, has good benefits and is located in the Midwest Industrial Park. He said he had met with the president of the company and went over the numbers they had requested and as a result of that conversation they need to adjust some of the numbers. He said Bever has presented Council with an amended form, noting that under real estate the request would now be $3 million and $5 million under the new manufacturing equipment.He recommended approval. Councilmember Wissel moved that the ordinance be amended to read as stated above, second by Councilmember Sharp and the motion was carried on a voice vote. President Parker announced that the ordinance was on public hearing. There being no comments either for or against the ordinance,Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment,second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Councilmember Wissel moved to suspend the rules and read Amended Ordinance No. 73 —2000 on third and final reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Sharp and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Common Council Minutes Cont'd October 16,2000 Page 4 The Clerk read Amended Ordinance No.73—2000 on third reading. Amended Ordinance No.73—2000 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote. ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING RESOLUTION NO.4—2000 Councilmember Wissel read Resolution No. 4—2000—A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE HIRING PRACTICES FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND EMPLOYEES "WHEREAS, the City of Richmond has and will continue to seek the most qualified individuals for all positions of employment hired by the City;and "WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of all citizens for City government to recruit and hire those individuals who are most capable of performing the tasks associated with any job position;and "WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Common Council for the City of Richmond to express its intent and direction regarding the hiring policies for city employees. "NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, it is the intent of Common Council that all positions of employment hired by the City of Richmond be hired, retained and/or terminated based solely upon merit and an individual's ability to perform those responsibilities associated with such employment, and pursuant to all applicable national,state and local legal requirements." Councilmember Wissel moved to adopt the resolution, second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a voice vote. ORDINANCE NO.63—2000 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 63 —2000—A GENERAL ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 35 OF THE CITY CODE REGARDING THE CITY'S AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM Comments were heard from Councilmembers Elstro and Lundy who said they would be voting against the ordinance, and Councilmember Combs who said he would be voting for the ordinance. Councilmember Hutton commented that she would continue to fight until everyone is not discriminated against. Ordinance No. 63—2000 was adopted on a roll call vote of 6 in favor and 3 against. Those voting against were Councilmember Elstro,Lundy and Hutton. UNFINISHED BUSINESS CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT There being no further business,on a motion duly made,seconded and passed,the meeting was adjourned. Larry Parker,President ATTEST: Norma Schroeder,Clerk