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HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-02-2000 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND,INDIANA,MONDAY,OCTOBER 2,2000 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 2,2000,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 DICKMAN ROLL CALL Nine present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilmember Wissel moved to approve the minutes for the September 18,2000 meeting,second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Councilmember Hutton moved to open the agenda to add Ordinance No.73—2000,second by Councilmember Lundy and the motion was carried on voice vote. PRESENTATION OF REMONSTRANCES, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, INTRODUCTIONS, MOTIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS Councilmember Hutton asked State Representative Dick Bodiker to step forward and present Sagamore of the Wabash awards to Councilmembers Elstro and Parker for their longevity as Councilmembers and for their service to the community in that capacity. Both were overwhelmed with surprise at the awards given by Bodiker who was representing the Governor. The Clerk read RESOLUTION NO. 2 — 2000 — A RESOLUTION TO RICHMOND COMMON COUNCIL APPROVING THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF A NEW CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF RICHMOND AND JOHN HENNIGAR LODGE NO.63,FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE City Attorney Bob Bever explained the background of this resolution again as he did at the September 18 meeting when it was added to the agenda. He said there is a paragraph in the current contract between the City and the Police F.O.P.that says any financial ramifications of the contract in a new contract are subject to approval of Common Council and that is what this ordinance does. He said if Council approves, the contract would start January 1, 2000. Councilmember Welch moved to adopt the resolution, second by Councilmember Sharp and the motion was carried on a voice vote. The Clerk read RESOLUTION NO. 3—2000—A RESOLUTION FOR SUPPORTING THE APPROVAL OF A LATE FILED APPLICATION FOR A PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT FOR GOLD STAR COATINGS—RICHMOND,INC. Tony Foster, Grants Administrator for the City of Richmond, explained that the Gold Star Coatings inadvertently did not get their 1999 tax abatement documentation sent to the state on time.He added that as a way to allow for the abatement to continue, the state put some guidelines together that allows the designating body to approve that this abatement could be filed. He said Kelly Hale of Brady, Ware & Shoenfeld, the accounting firm for Gold Star Coatings, is here to answer any additional questions from Council. Councilmember Welch commented that the letter submitted by Linda Corder from the Wayne County Auditor's office representing that the abatement is $249,630 and asked if that is the entire amount of the abatement or capital equipment put in by Gold Star. Hale answered that that is the assessed value of the equipment placed in service in March 1999, adding that the total cost is $829,000 which equated to the assessed value. Councilmember Dickman moved to adopt the resolution,second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a voice vote. COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR There was none. REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY President Parker said the minutes of the meetings of September 7 and 14, 2000 were included in their packets. Common Council Minutes Cont'd October 2,2000 Page 2 REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS Councilmember Hutton said she is still receiving complaints about vehicles parked in the front yard of a home and even brought photographs, adding that it is becoming a real nuisance and a big parking lot. She passed along that information to Bever to see what could be done about it. ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read by title only Ordinances No. 70,71,72 and 73 -2000,second by Councilmember Lundy and the motion was carried on a voice vote. ORDINANCE NO.70—2000 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 70 — 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 made by Envirotech Extrusions, Inc. for $596,000 in real estate and $1,126,000 in new manufacturing equipment, adding that it would create 22 new jobs and retain 32. He said this would be reviewed by the Tax Abatement Committee and brought back to Council at its next 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 ordinance deals with a tax abatement request made by Gold Star Coatings—Richmond,Inc. for$900,000 for new equipment.He said it would create 4 new jobs and retain 67,adding that the Tax Abatement Committee would review the request and it would come back to Council at its next meeting. ORDINANCE NO.72—2000 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 72 — 2000 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2000 BUDGET Explaining this ordinance was Robin Henry,director of Human Resources,who said it deals with a transfer of $9,000 within the Board of Works account of Other Contractual Services to the Unemployment Compensation category. Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 72—2000 to second reading and read by title only,second by Councilmember Sharp and the motion was carried on a voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No.72—2000 on second reading. President Parker declared Ordinance No. 72—2000 on public hearing. There being no comments either for or against the ordinance,Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment,second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No.72—2000 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 Ordinance No.72—2000 on third reading. Ordinance No.72—2000 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote. Common Council Minutes Cont'd October 2,2000 Page 3 ORDINANCE NO.73—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 ordinance was given to Councilmembers prior to the meeting tonight and added,by vote, to the agenda. He said it is a request made by Fickenscher America LLC and the City of Richmond for new manufacturing equipment of$13,200,000 and real estate for$1,300,000 and it is believed it will create 40 new jobs and retain 26. He said the Tax Abatement Committee will review the request and that should be brought back at Council's next meeting. City Attorney Bever explained that this ordinance has a little interesting twist to it in that the owner of the property right now is the City, although Fickenscher will be in the process of purchasing it. He also added that there will be a resolution necessary to go along with this when Council considers this at its next meeting because, at this point, it is not even in one of the revitalization areas because it is in a newly annexed area. Jim Hizer,director of Economic Development, said this company would sign a purchase agreement if this tax abatement is approved and would like to use the retention pond for aesthetic purposes as well. He also said the average wage, which includes office help, would be $18 per hour, adding that the company is looking at making a long-term investment of$50 million in the Richmond community. Before going on to Ordinances on Second Reading, President Parker called for a 10-minute break and announced that those speaking for or against Ordinance No. 63—2000 would be allowed 5 minutes each. ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT 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 President Parker declared the ordinance on public hearing. Those speaking in favor of adding "sexual orientation" to the affirmative action program, which this ordinance addresses, included Hope Farber, 304 South West H Street who read a letter from Dr. Mark Staebler, 809 College Ave.; Scott Flesher, 1041 South West 5th Street said he knew of several City employees who are gay and lesbian who were afraid to come to this meeting tonight; Tracy Peterson,425 South West 3rd Street, who said that she felt gays and lesbians need a law to help protect them in today's society;Bud King, owner and operator of Taste of the Town, said he employs both gays and lesbians and, although he may not agree with their lifestyle he does not feel they should be excluded; Cindy Hartman, representing the YWCA; Phil Norman, 120 College Avenue, who said he has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology,stated that sexual orientation is a natural variant. Also speaking in favor of the addition was Sheila Armstead, 3369 Inke Road, who said not to forget that gays and lesbians are human beings and that should be considered first and foremost;Keith Dobbins, 1021 South West 15th,said that as a physician he has to inquire,at times, about sexual practices which he said is certainly a private matter, adding that he fears the impact that this will have on the younger generation; Leticia Sanders, 322 College Ave., said she feels that this is a legislative issue, not a moral one;Rebecca Fine, 702 Peacock Road, said she is best friends with gays and lesbians at Richmond High School where she is a student, adding that they do not prey upon small children;Monteza Snyder, 30 South 21s`St., who said she teaches at Earlham College and she sees no evidence of inappropriate behavior in gays and lesbians; and Joshua Brown, 450 College Avenue„ a minister, who said this issue has divided churches across the country,adding that he thinks it will take another generation to"shake out.' Those speaking against the inclusion of the term "sexual orientation" in the ordinance included James Duke,2118 Liberty Avenue,who said there are two things he considers sins against the family and they are abortion and homosexuality; the Rev. Ralph Holderman, 2339 West Cart Road, who said that he felt"the gay agenda" is detrimental to families; Chris Dixon, 1810 Williamsburg Pike, who said current laws are already in place to deal with this issue, adding that this is not a moral issue but a political one;Frank Keal, 29 South 12 Street, member of the Hodgin Road Christian Church, read from a letter written by the Rev. Roger Williams, minister, who stated that this is not a civil rights issue and supported the Rev. Ron Chappell,director of the City's Human Rights Council,in his speaking out against it. Also speaking against the addition were Bonnie Slick, 3130 Bethel Road, who called homosexuality a "shameful abomination;"the Rev.Paul Mingus,pastor of a local Nazarene Church; Gary Stoller, 30 South 13th Street,who said he was against special rights for any one special group; and Steven Baker,508 South 13th Street, who said he knows that he is black and he has learned to deal with discrimination, added that nowhere on the job application does it ask for the person's sexual preference. Common Council Minutes Cont'd October 2,2000 Page 4 Also speaking against including the additional phrase was the Rev. Kenneth Riden, 132 Pine Drive, who read from a letter stating the combined opinions of 45 pastors saying that homosexuality causes damage to traditional family values and leads to their deterioration;Ramona Chappell, 330 South 4th Street, said that "just because somebody loves the Lord it doesn't mean they hate gays and lesbians; A.L. Bledsoe, 1701 Chester Blvd., said history shows that "the discrimination has been against the Christians" and that you have to learn to listen to God, not man; and Don West, 223 South West 3rd Street, said he felt it was his responsibility as a Christian to stand up and say he does not agree with the addition. Others speaking against the additional phrase were Terry Craig,326 South 15th Street,who shared the story of his younger brother who,he said,died five years ago as a result of AIDS,added that prior to his death he had reformed from homosexuality and had expressed regret that he had accepted that lifestyle; Wanda Stevens, 134 North West G Street, said she is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother as well as a minister, and added that she thinks the issue here tonight is love; Robert Fannin, 630 East Main in Hagerstown, said he is a minister and a bus driver and he gets called "all kinds of names;" Ken Harris, 4086 Palmer Road, an Evangelical minister,said it has been proven that a homosexual can change from that lifestyle, but on the other hand, a black person or Hispanic, cannot change, adding that theirs (homosexuals)is not a special need to consider because it's a matter of choice for them. Councilmember Combs moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Sharp, but a "no" vote by Councilmember Hutton kept it from passing.President Parker announced that the ordinance would be back on the agenda on third reading at Council's next meeting. ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING There were none. 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