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HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-07-1999 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND,INDIANA,TUESDAY,SEPTEMBER 7,1999 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 7, 1999,.in the Council Chambers in said City. President Bing Welch presided with the following Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack" Elstro, Etta Lundy, Bob Dickman, Sarah "Sally" Hutton, Geneva"Gene"Allen,Dennis R.Rice Sr.,Bruce Wissel and Larry Parker. The following business was conducted: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRAYER BY COUNCILMEMBER ELSTRO ROLL CALL Nine present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilmember Hutton moved to approve the minutes of the August 16, 1999 meeting, second by Councilmember Rice and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. PRESENTATION OF REMONSTRANCES, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, INTRODUCTIONS, MOTIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS Councilmember Parker presented a petition signed by residents of Hidden Valley Lane and adjoining South West I Court to request resurfacing of their streets. COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Dennis Andrews said he had distributed information on three items he would like to bring before the Council tonight. First, he said, was the copy of the letter he had sent to the Trustees of Indiana University who are planning to conduct a retreat mid-week this week concerning, among other subjects, the Indiana University campus in Richmond which includes Purdue University programs and facilities also for Ivy Tech State College. He reminded Council that the City was successful in achieving planning study dollars for Ivy Tech to expand its facility,adding that they have a site selection committee working and they are in negotiations with Indiana University and Ivy Tech State College. He said a part of the complicating aspects that have come along since and actually with the same legislative session that made that money available with the community college initiative and how Vincennes University has been added to that statewide,which would include Richmond. Ivy Tech's schedule, he said, is such that they have to have a site selected now so it is an awkward and difficult situation for the university, Ivy Tech and the state to work through. In his letter, he said, he basically encouraged the trustees to make a good faith effort to make acreage available on that campus for Ivy Tech's facilities. Also,he said,Ivy Tech has made a commitment to work with Indiana University to develop an alternative proposal for campuses like this one around Indiana where there are existing partnerships between Indiana University East, in Richmond's case, putting programs Ivy Tech State College. He said the City feels, as does both of the educational facilities, could aptly provide community college system without adding another university structure and another board to complicate matters. He said that is a difficult issue for both parties and the City is hopeful that they will be able to resolve something that would allow Ivy Tech State College and the campus, as it was originally envisioned in Richmond and for East Central Indiana to stay at that location and make the best use of the acreage there. The second matter addressed by the Mayor was City Government Reorganization&Changes.He explained that the items listed here are accommodated in the 2000 budget and is not going to require any changes beyond those that are already in the budget for 2000. The Mayor explained the following changes for City government: 1. Department of Public Works To Be Reorganized — The Street Division of the Department of Public Works will be reorganized as a separate Department of the City which will create nine separate department rather than eight.The Commissioner of the Street Department will report to the Mayor. 2. Sanitation Department To Return to Full Strength—The 2000 budget reflects staffing back to the level of 80 employees instead of 78.The two reinstated positions will allow the trash routes to be reduced in size and number of trash collection points per driver. Common Council Minutes Cont'd September 7, 1999 Page 2 3. Salary Adjustment Requested and Part of the 2000 Budget—Several labor positions in Sanitation, Streets, and Board of Works budgets have been increased above the 2.5 percent to achieve compatibility and equity across City departments. There are approximately 17 positions in Sanitation, five in Streets, and one in the Board of Works budget that were out of adjustment. These reviews will continue under the partnership initiative. 4. Employee Management Partnership Initiative — A comprehensive employee management partnership initiative will be developed for all of city government during the next few months. A. The Mayor explained that the Employee Management Partnership Council will consist of representatives from each of the soon to be nine departments of the City. He added that each department will have teams within their departments that will be unique and different depending upon the department. The diversity of positions that is to be reflected within those teams would also be shadowed in a Council that would enable comparative discussions between and among departments. He said this structure is unique in several ways and most importantly it is comprehensive to City government,adding that it is a network that would serve all of the departments and all of the employees, giving each a voice. Those serving on the employee/management council or the employee/management team will be determined by the employees.He said the creation of this council was not something that was self inspired, adding that he believed everyone here was very well informed of the request for union recognition that he received and the presentation was made to Council and to other groups within the City. He said this structure does not require recognition of additional bargaining units which means the City won't be faced with additional contracts,or attorneys or negotiators,but it does mean that the City will organize with all of its employees and provide a deliberate and thoughtful systematic network to provide input and access to decision making along a variety of fronts. The Mayor explained some of the areas proposed that this group start with which include"We Serve Days" is a category whereby department heads and supervisors would twice annually work with employees in their department in different positions than they would normally work; "Employee Dignity Project,"there would be at the department level and the combined level, a review of personnel policies that the City has concerning job security, performance appraisal, compensation and benefits, employee participation and decision making, personal and professional development and break time and consecutive hours of work limitations; "Jobs To Mission Initiative," is something whereby these groups would be asked to look at each position in City government to value that position and to link it to the mission of the department and to ensure that mission is also connected to the mission of the City; "Review Policies To Ensure A Family Focus,"is comparing retirement benefits for all City employees, ensure adequate health, life and disability insurance to help family members, provide adequate family leave in times of hardship to family and to provide adequate personal leave in times of hardship to family; and "Safety Committee," to bring the existing safety committee under the umbrella of the City of Richmond Employee Management Partnership Council which,in a large part,is patterned after the partnership embarked on several years ago. The Mayor said when this administration opened the Community Partnerships office there were some skeptics and many who didn't know what was going to be done.He said that effort now, although belated, needs to be to establish those kinds of partnerships within City government to ensure that there is adequate and sufficient communications with the employees. He talked about the time he spent this summer working with employees and observing the work they did, noting that in almost all cases he found employees who are working hard and taking pride in what they do and that is the same with most all of the managers as well. The Mayor said this format and this structure will provide, as opposed to just another unit, a network and a structure for this administration to systematically communicate throughout City government more efficiently and more effectively. The third item the Mayor addressed was the US 40/Main Street Bridge Evaluation Study done by Cole&Associates listing alternatives for the bridge. He alluded to a report received from Cole & Associates recently concerning the condition of the bridge and an estimate of$4 '/z million to save that structure. He said in a meeting with Cole, after receiving that report, the City questioned the exact meaning of the report. He said the City would receive from Cole within the next week a cost estimate for what it would require to basically refurbish the existing structure as a two-lane, rather than a four- lane bridge. He said information would also be received about what it would cost to have a different bridge at that location. Oddly enough,he said, the preliminary information suggests it would be much less costly to completely build a new bridge that would last 50 years longer than it would be to refurbish the existing one. Common Council Minutes Cont'd September 7, 1999 Page 3 He said they would actually have cost-figures associated with the alternatives. He said Cole was also asked to provide an estimate of what it would cost for a pedestrian passageway across that location where the original covered bridge was and actually even a replica of that bridge,although much smaller. He said the expectation, regardless of what this information suggests, is that the City will move in a direction that will allow an opportunity to evaluate the traffic pattern after the new bridge is opened and before the existing bridge is decided upon. He said that would require some negotiations with the Indiana Department of Transportation. President Welch stated that he had had several phone calls and questions in the past 10 days about 11/ recycling pickup dates and he was pleased to hear that two people were going to be added back into the Sanitation Department. Responding, the Mayor said the recycling schedule was established to get it from a small neighborhood to citywide in a relatively short period of time and he said that implementation schedule was just finished. He said another new recycling unit had also just been received and sometime within the next few weeks, one of the goals is that the recycling schedule will be the same,meaning every other week. Councilmember Wissel asked what the advantages would be to the Street Department being a separate department. The Mayor said there are several, which include the Street Commissioner reporting directly to his office to give them better access and better communications to him. He added that in many cases,department heads report to each other anyway.He gave examples of this and how it works. He said this change will enable his office to keep better track of all the additional cement work,asphalt work,curb work and tree work that pertains to that department. REPORTS FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS In giving an update of the Department of Law activities, City Attorney Bob Bever said much of what he does is regular work every year. He distributed a memo showing the six major areas of the department's work. These included the preparation of ordinances (to date there have been 81), preparing and reviewing all City contracts, litigation hearings dealing with City Code violations (taken 281 people to court this year), advising the Mayor, Council and RP &L, representing and advising all City Boards, Commissions and Departments (have legal counsel at almost every one of those), and special projects which include the Midwest Industrial Park, stormwater district, refuse ordinance, aquifer ordinance, historic preservation ordinance (hopefully will be in final form and be presented to Council within the next 30 days), landlord/drug nuisance revisions and the annexation of three major areas which include the area west of Round Barn Road,where DMI is locating between I-70 and U.S. 35 and a small square next to IU East that has never been put into the City limits. REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY President Welch said the minutes of the meetings of August 5 and August 12, 1999 were included in their packets. 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. 70, 71, 72,73, 74, 75,76, 77, 78, 79, 80 and 81— 1999 on first reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. ORDINANCE NO. 70—1999 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 70 — 1999 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS TO CERTAIN FUNDS Explaining this was City Controller Shelley Miller who asked Council to refer to the amended ordinance which she distributed prior to the meeting tonight. She said the first item is the FNMA grant in which an ordinance was presented and approved earlier this year to allow the City to apply for a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to reimburse the City for extraordinary cost incurred during the snowstorm and wind damage in the first few months of the year. She said the total amount received was$46,766.46 and the next step, with the approval of this ordinance and the approval of the State Board, to appropriate this money into the Motor Vehicle Highway in the amount of$42,090, the Fire Department for $701.00, the Richmond Airport for$2,221.00 and the Department of Parks and Recreation for$1,754.46. Common Council Minutes Cont'd September 7, 1999 Page 4 The second item in this ordinance,she said,is an additional appropriation to the Park Reverting Fund based on the bond reimbursement that Ordinance 81 refers to the Park Bond which is currently being looked at. She said the amount of$129,719.54 would be for engineering and design services for the park projects that would be financed through that bond. The next additional appropriation, she said, is for$64,000.00 and is for the local road and street fund which is supported by additional revenues received through the local road and street distribution from the State. Finally, she said, there is an additional appropriation in the general fund for$112,192.00 which is a result from the recommendation from the State Board of Accounts because previously they were doing a pass through for the payment received from Carpenter and RP & L they requested that those expenses be appropriated. Therefore, she said at this time they will be including the estimated revenues from Carpenter as well as the appropriations that are needed for the expenditures to RP &L. Councilmember Dickman moved to suspend the rules and advance amended Ordinance No. 70— 1999 to second reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Elstro and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. The Clerk read amended Ordinance No.70—1999 on second reading. President Welch declared amended Ordinance No. 70— 1999 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 unanimous voice vote. Councilmember Dickman moved to suspend the rules and advance amended Ordinance No. 70— 1999 to third reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Allen and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. The Clerk read amended Ordinance No.70—1999 on third reading. Amended Ordinance No.70— 1999 was adopted on the following call of the roll. Ayes:Elstro,Lundy,Dickman,Hutton,Allen,Rice,Wissel,Parker and Welch(9) Nays:None ORDINANCE NO. 71-1999 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 71 — 1999 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF A PROGRAM INCOME APPLICATION TO THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ADDRESSING RELATED MATTERS Explaining this ordinance was Lori Casterton, the grants administrator for the City, who said she would also like to address Ordinance No. 72— 1999 as well. She said both ordinances would allow the City to submit program income applications to the Indiana Department of Commerce. Specifically, she said the City is requesting program income funds to purchase an aerial fire truck for the Richmond Fire Department which would help increase public safety and would also allow the department to use its existing aerial as a backup in case of emergencies. These funds, if approved, she said, would also allow the Department of Commerce to allow the City to update the playground equipment that is currently in Glen Miller Park and also to construct an outdoor skate park to be located at North 22nd and D Streets. In addition, she said, the City is requesting the use of$300,000 to make infrastructure improvements along North 12th Street, adding that these funds have been designated for the North 12th Street corridor because the area is in need of renewal and also because the street is eligible to receive funding for these improvements. The proposed improvements have emerged after several public hearings regarding the linkages project. She said North 12th Street is also the natural connection to Main Street. She added that she has been in recent contact with the Indiana Department of Commerce and they are in full support of all the projects she has mentioned here. President Welch stated that later on in the agenda Council has an ordinance coming related to a bond ordinance for the park department and that will be put on first reading tonight with final reading and passage coming on September 20.Therefore,he said, since these two ordinances do tie somewhat similarly to that bond ordinance and request he said he would like to treat these in the same way. He said the reasoning for that is that it would give the public an opportunity to address any,concerns or questions they may have at that meeting. ORDINANCE NO. 72—1999 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 72 — 1999 —A SPECIAL ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF A PROGRAM INCOME APPLICATION TO THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ADDRESSING RELATED MATTERS This,as President Welch stated,will come back on second at the September 20 meeting. Common Council Minutes Cont'd September 7, 1999 Page 5 ORDINANCE NO.73—1999 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 73 — 1999 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 1999 BUDGET Explaining this ordinance was City Controller Shelley Miller who said it is a request to transfer funds within the Board of Works budget deleting$24,000 from the Property and Liability Insurance Account and adding it to Motor Equipment to add an additional car pool for the City Building employees. Councilmember Wissel moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 73 — 1999 to second reading and read by title only,second by Councilmember Allen and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No.73—1999 on second reading. President Welch declared Ordinance No. 73— 1999 on public hearing. There being no comments either for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Rice moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Allen and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. Councilmember Rice moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 73 — 1999 to third reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Lundy and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No.73—1999 on third reading. Ordinance No.73— 1999 was adopted on the following call of the roll. Ayes:Elstro,Lundy,Dickman,Hutton,Allen,Rice,Wissel,Parker and Welch(9) Nays:None ORDINANCE NO.74—1999 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 74 — 1999 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 1999 BUDGET Explaining the ordinance was Miller again, who said this ordinance is a request for a transfer of funds by the Human Rights Commission. She said the Commission has depleted the appropriations in its Copier Account and wishes to move an additional$300 into the Contractual Printing Account into that account. Councilmember Dickman moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 74 — 1999 to second reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Bistro and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No.74—1999 on second reading. President Welch declared Ordinance No.74— 1999 on public hearing. There being no comments either for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Lundy moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Wissel and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. Councilmember Wissel moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 74— 1999 to third reading and read by title only,second by Councilmember Parker and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No.74—1999 on third reading. Ordinance No.74— 1999 was adopted on the following call of the roll. Ayes:Elstro,Lundy,Dickman,Hutton,Allen,Rice,Wissel,Parker and Welch(9) Nays:None ORDINANCE NO.75—1999 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 75 — 1999 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE TO BE KNOWN AS THE 2000 SALARY ORDINANCE Explaining the ordinance was Miller, again, who said this is the first of the three required ordinances to set the salaries for the year 2000. She said there is one additional position included in this ordinance and that is the G.I.S. coordinator and that is reflected as one less position on the resolution presented to the Sanitary District Board. Common Council Minutes Cont'd September 7, 1999 Page 6 She said that did not increase full-time employees but made a shift from one department to another. She also said the majority of the positions had been increased to a level of 2.5 percent and there are nine positions that are above that which have been identified through ongoing evaluations to bring them up to a level that has been recommended through the salary administration review and working with the other departments. President Welch said this ordinance would come back on second reading on September 20. ORDINANCE NO.76—1999 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 76 — 1999 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FIXING THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF ALL ELECTED CITY OFFICERS FOR 2000 Miller explained this ordinance also, stating that this is the second of the three required ordinances. She said it is required that this ordinance be published twice and they are in the process of doing that and the final passage cannot occur until 30 days after the first publication. She said that would be Council's first meeting in October. President Welch said this ordinance would come back on second reading October 4, 1999. ORDINANCE NO.77—1999 The Clerk read Ordinance No.-77 — 1999 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 1999 BUDGET Explaining this ordinance was also Miller, who said this is a request for a transfer in the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund deleting $11,000 from Other Contract Services and adding it to a Capital Outlay Account for other equipment. She said that money would be used for two projects, which would include the conversion of a truck for Weights and Measures and the purchase of a backup generator to be purchased possibly from the Federal Surplus and be available should any of the municipal buildings need a backup generator.Miller said this is a third account used for a number of contract services besides the maintenance of street trees and curbs and sidewalks. Councilmember Parker questioned the purchase of a generator some years ago and Miller said that one is not in good repair. She said she could answer a lot of technical questions on the generator if Council would like to hold this ordinance over. She said Bill Smith said he would be available to answer any questions at the second meeting in September if Council preferred to hold this over. President Welch said he thinks he has heard enough questions to justify holding this ordinance to come back on second reading September 20. ORDINANCE NO.78—1999 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 78 — 1999 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 1999 BUDGET Explaining this ordinance was Greg Stiens, assistant City Engineer, who said this is a request to transfer funds in off-street parking. He said the transfer is from two funds, which are Repair Equipment and the other for Contractual Labor. He said they would like to add it to part-time help which is for the parking attendants and also to Other Supplies which is used for light bulbs,fixtures and repairing equipment. Councilmember Wissel moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 78 — 1999 to second reading and read by title only,second by Councilmember Allen and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No.78—1999 on second reading. President Welch declared Ordinance No. 78— 1999 on public hearing. There being no comments either for or against the ordinance,Councilmember Bistro moved for engrossment,second by Councilmember Wissel and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 78 — 1999 to third reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Elstro and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No.78—1999 on third reading. Ordinance No.78—1999 was adopted on the following call of the roll. Ayes:Elstro,Lundy,Dickman,Hutton,Allen,Rice,Wissel,Parker and Welch(9) Nays:None Common Council Minutes Cont'd September 7, 1999 Page 7 ORDINANCE NO.79—1999 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 79 — 1999 — 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 Explaining this ordinance was Councilmember Allen who said Cinram Inc. has requested a 10-year abatement because they are planning on buying new equipment with a value of$2,672,670. She said this would generate five new jobs and there would be 522 jobs retained. She said this would go to the Tax Abatement Committee. President Welch said this ordinance would come back on second reading September 20. ORDINANCE NO.80—1999 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 80 — 1999 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE TO BE KNOWN AS THE 2000 BUDGET Explaining this ordinance was also Miller, who said it presents the 2000 budget as discussed during Council's Committee of the Whole meeting. She said there were no changes other than those discussed at that time.She said the necessary publication process has begun and she requested public hearings be held at the next Council meeting and an additional meeting be held September 27 for final adoption of that budget prior to Indiana Code prior to the end of September.President Welch asked Councilmembers to mark their calendars for that meeting at 7:30 p.m.September 27. ORDINANCE NO.81-1999 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 81 — 1999 —AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, APPROVING OF THE ISSUANCE BY THE CITY OF RICHMOND,INDIANA,BOARD OF PARKS AND RECREATION OF SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT BONDS OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND,INDIANA,PARK DISTRICT Explaining the ordinance was City Attorney Bob Bever who stated that this deals with the Park Bonding and at Council's meeting would be the public hearings for it. At that time, he said,bond counsel would be present and Parks Superintendent Stan Lambert would have the complete presentation.However,he said,in summary the Park Board has previously held public discussion on this June 23, July 12 and August 31 to discuss the planned projects and the proposed bonding and,to date,no objections have been raised. He said this is for the$2 1/4 million bonding that will be used for six different projects previously approved by the Park Board which include the renovation of the Clear Creek Swimming Pool,the replacement of the existing Glen Miller Park tennis courts, the replacement of the existing Glen Miller Playground, the replacement of the Restroom/Concession Building in Glen Miller Park, the new addition to the new administrative office in Glen Miller Park and some other minor various projects that are set out in the ordinance and have been discussed at the Park Board and which Lambert will discuss in detail at the next public hearing. President Welch said there would be a bond counsel at the September 20 meeting to answer specifics around the bonding process and the interest rate and the number of dollars that would be generated by that. He said this ordinance would be on second reading September 20. ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT There were none. 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. Bing Welch,President • ATTEST: Norma Schroeder,Clerk