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HomeMy Public PortalAbout12-15-1997 169 la CEE I 3 F-RterrMeN�--IroDt N -rtna�rD r-vEeE IB�R-is. 19 1 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Monday, December 15, 1997, in the Council Chambers in said City. President Bob Dickman presided with the 3 following Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack"Elstro, Etta J. Lundy, Bruce Wissel, Sarah"Sally"Hutton, 4 Geneva"Gene"Allen, Alan Stamper and Bing Welch. Larry Parker was absent. The following business was had to-wit: 3 r PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRAYER BY COUNCILMEMBER ALLEN 1. 1 ROLL CALL 1' 1: Eight present. 1'• 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. 1 The minutes of the meeting of December 1, 1997 were approved on a motion by Councilmember Hutton, 1: second by Councilmember Wissel and was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 1s 21 PRESENTATIONS OF REMONSTRANCES. PETITIONS. MEMORIALS OR PUBLIC COMMENTS 2 2' COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR 2: 2, Mayor Dennis Andrews presented a certificate of excellence in managment operations to the Richmond 2. Housing Authority and accepting on their behalf was Sarah Johnston, standing in for Maxcine Bragg, the 2. director, who is recuperating from surgery. He said the award is for achieving high performance designation 2' in recognition of exemplary performance for the fiscal year of 1997, which actually ended in mid year on the 2: federal cycle, under the Public Housing Management Assessment Program. He said the assessment was 2; made on items such as financial management, income,collection and administrative functions. 31 3 The Mayor also said he had distributed to Councilmembers correspondence about the meeting at Townsend 11 3' Center Saturday, adding that there will be additional information concerning the administration's response to 3° some of the concerns raised at that meeting. He said he will continue to have ongoing meetings to share the 3, information. 3. 3. Also included in the items he distributed to Councilmembers, the Mayor said, was information about the 37 Wayne County Emergency Communications Department. He explained said there is a contract which has 3: been agreed to, in principal, which will be presented to the Board of Works this week and there will be 3' something back to Council very soon, either in the form of a resolution or an ordinance that will finalize the 41 agreement on the City's end. He explained there is a 50/50 agreement with the County on the cost of the 4 combined dispatch not to exceed the money budgeted for 1998 for the employee dispatchers. He said the 4f City employees will become County employees when this agreement becomes effective and it has meant a 4 lot of work in resolving personnel and policy differences as well as salary differences. 4 4 He cited the reasons for this to move forward is because of a windfall for the City such as the County 4 providing the facilities and the director and assistant director will be paid out of the surcharge. He added that 4 it will also fund all the equipment needs for the emergency operations center which was previously a burden 4: on the City tax rate. Financially,the Mayor said, it is a good situation for the City plus an improvement in the 4° efficiency in the operation. 50 5 REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY 5 5 The minutes of the meetings of November 13,20 and 26, 1997 were in the Council packets. 5, 5. REPORTS FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS 5° 5' REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES 5: 5° Councilmember Lundy commented that she was proud to be the Council's liaison to the Housing Authority 6: and commended the staff and its Board of Directors for their hard work. 6 6 REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES 6 6- REPORTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS 6. Councilmember Hutton stated that the Urban Enterprise Association office has moved in with Main Street and the Neighborhood groups uptown, adding that Lynn Johnstone will be taking over the office responsibilities temporarily. She announced the new phone number for the U.E.A. is 965-5656. =7 Common Council Minutes Cont'd December 15, 1997 Page 2 1 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS 2 3 Councilmember Hutton explained names had been submitted for Council's consideration for appointment- to 4 the Wayne County Convention & Tourism Bureau Board of Directors and the Police Merit Commiss on. 5 Councilmember Wissel said Council has, for the last few appointments, read the nominees at one mee ing 6 then voted on them at the following meeting, giving time for public input. Councilmember Allen said the 7 problem with these appointments is that they are supposed to be effective January 1, 1998. After a :rief 8 discussion about procedure, Councilmember Allen moved to instruct Clerk Norma Schroeder to send out 9 letters to the organizations informing them that their requests would be read at one meeting then vote. on 10 the next,second by Councilmember Wissel and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 11 12 Councilmember Hutton moved to approve the appointments of Linda Von Pein, Dana Weigel and Kirit P:tel 13 to the Board of Directors of the Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau, second by Councilme ber 14 Allen and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. Councilmember Hutton also moved to appoint 15 Hal Hanes to the Police Merit Commission,second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carrie. on 16 a unanimous voice vote. 17 18 ORDINANCES 19 20 ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING 21 22 Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinances No. 135, 136, 144, 145 and 1%6 - 23 1997 by title only,second by Councilmember Allen and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vot-. 24 25 ORDINANCE NO. 135-1997 26 27 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 135 - 1997- A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP AT 28 1417 NORTH A STREET 29 30 President Dickman announced that Ordinance No. 135 - 1997 would go to the Planning Commission. 31 Councilmember Wissel commented that the meeting of the Planning Commission had been moved up to his 32 Thursday because of the holiday, which means the ordinance will be back before Council at the first of he 33 year. 34 35 ORDINANCE NO. 136-1997 36 37 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 136 - 1997 - A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SPECIAL USE 38 DISTRICT FOR RUMPKE OF INDIANA, LLC,AT 275 FORT WAYNE AVENUE 39 40 President Dickman announced that Ordinance No. 136 - 1997 would go to the Planning Commission. In 41 answer to a question by Councilmember Lundy, Bob Goodwin, director of planning, explained that although 42 the special use is in effect, the ordinance amending the special use district will have to be put into effec to 43 allow the use of two buildings. 44 45 ORDINANCE NO.144-1997 46 47 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 144- 1997-A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL •F 48 A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR DEDUCTIONS UNDER C. 49 6-1.1-12.1 50 51 Councilmember Stamper explained that Ordinance No. 144- 1997 deals with a request for a tax abatem-nt 52 by Dana Corp.for its machining plant. He said they will retain 156 jobs, create 15 and invest $590,000 i to 53 the community. He said this will stay on second and come back to Council the first of the year. 54 55 ORDINANCE NO. 145-1997 56 57 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 145 - 1997-A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL .F 58 A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR DEDUCTIONS UNDER I C. 59 6-1.1-12.1 60 61 Councilmember Stamper explained this ordinance deals with a tax abatement request by Holland Colors 62 America for its new lab and office facility. He said the company is looking at making Richmond its North 63 American Headquarters, adding that this abatement will enable them to retain 52 jobs and create 13 n-w 64 ones while investing $650,000 into the community. He said this ordinance also will come back on second 65 reading the first of the year. 471 Common Council Minutes Cont'd Deeember-1-57-1-907 Page 3 1 ORDINANCE NO. 146-1997 2 3 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 146 - 1997 - AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 1997 4 BUDGET 5 6 Shelley Miller explained this ordinance deals with the deletion of funds from several accounts within the Fire 7 Department and adding the entire total of $26,779 to the Other Equipment account. She said the major 8 portion of the funds will be used for the new heating and air conditioning unit for Fire Station No. 1. 9 10 Councilmember Welch moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 146 - 1997 to second to 11 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Wissel and the motion was carried on a unanimous 12 voice vote. 13 14 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 146-1997 on second reading. 15 6 President Dickman declared Ordinance No. 146 - 1997 on public hearing. There being no comments either 7 for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember 8 Hutton and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 9 •0 Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 146 - 1997 to third and final 1 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Elstro and the motion was carried on a unanimous '2 voice vote. '3 '4 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 146- 1997 on third reading. '5 6 Ordinance No. 146- 1997 was adopted on the following call of the roll: .7 '8 Ayes:Elstro, Lundy,Wissel,Hutton,Allen, Stamper,Welch and Dickman (8) '9 Nays: None. 0 1 ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT 2 '3 ORDINANCE NO. 118-1997 .4 5 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 118 - 1997 - A GENERAL ORDINANCE MANDATING THE DEPOSIT OF .6 REVENUES FROM CERTAIN PARKING VIOLATIONS TO THE OFF STREET PARKING FUND 7 8 President Dickman declared Ordinance No. 118 - 1997 on public hearing. There being no comments either 9 for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Wissel moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember 0 Hutton and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. -1 •2 Councilmember Hutton moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 118- 1997 to third and final .3 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Allen and the motion was carried on a unanimous •4 voice vote. 45 .6 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 118- 1997 on third reading. '7 8 Ordinance No. 118-1997 was adopted on the following call of the roll: ,9 0 Ayes: Elstro, Lundy,Wissel, Hutton,Allen, Stamper,Welch and Dickman (8) `1 Nays: None. 2 .3 ORDINANCE NO.130-1997 `4 •5 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 130- 1997-A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF A 6 STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C. 7 6-1.1-12.1 `8 -9 President Dickman declared Ordinance No. 130- 1997 on public hearing. Councilmember Stamper moved to ;0 keep Ordinance No. 130 - 1997 on second reading, second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was .1 carried on a unanimous voice vote. :2 .3 ORDINANCE NO.139-1997 :4 s5 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 139 - 1997-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 4 7-2 Common Council Minutes Cont'd December 15, 1997 4 1 Councilmember Stamper explained this ordinance deals with a tax abatement request by Marvel Industries, 2 stating that 80 jobs will be retained, 20 new ones added, and it will be a $900,000 investment into the 3 community as well as $927,000 worth of new manufacturing equipment. 4 5 President Dickman declared Ordinance No. 139- 1997 on public hearing. There being no further comments 6 either for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Hutton moved for engrossment, second by 7 - Councilmember Allen and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 8 9 Councilmember Allen moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 139 - 1997 to third and final 10 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried o a 11 unanimous voice vote. 12 13 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 139-1997 on third reading. 14 15 Ordinance No. 139- 1997 was adopted on the following call of the roll: 16 17 Ayes: Elstro, Lundy,Wissel, Hutton,Allen,Stamper,Welch and Dickman (8) 18 Nays: None. 19 20 Councilmember Wissel commended Marvel Industries for doing such a fine job filling out its stateme of 21 benefits, stating that he had never seen one done as well. 22 23 ORDINANCE NO. 142-1997 24 25 The Clerk read revised Ordinance No. 142- 1997-A GENERAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A CASH 26 TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE OFF STREET PARKING FUND 27 28 Councilmember Stamper stated that he feels it is important to realize that when Council is approving the 29 transfer of$30,000 to cover last year's deficit in the off street parking fund it has left the administration ith 30 the chance of having a deficit again unless something is done to improve revenues such as having he 31 uptown businesses purchase parking passes for their employees. Councilmember Hutton said she belie es 32 that Renee Oldham,director of Main Street Inc., has already started that process. 33 34 President Dickman declared Ordinance No. 142 on public hearing. There being no further comments eit er 35 for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Hutton moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember 36 Allen and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 37 38 Councilember Welch moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 142 - 1997 to third and f nal 39 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Allen and the motion was carried on a unanimous 40 voice vote. Bever pointed out that this is a revised draft. 41 42 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 142- 1997 on third reading. 43 44 Ordinance No. 142- 1997 was adopted on the following call of the roll: 45 46 Ayes: Elstro, Lundy,Wissel, Hutton,Allen, Stamper,Welch and Dickman (8) 47 Nays: None. 48 • 49 ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING 50 51 There were none. 52 53 UNFINISHED BUSINESS 54 55 Councilmember Welch provided copies to each Councilmember for consideration of the proposed ''ax 56 abatement guidelines he indicated he would work on for Council. He also commented on the newspa•er 57 article about this issue,stating his opinions about it, noting he questioned the ethics. 58 59 City Attorney Bob Bever explained that after the Committee of the Whole meeting was held, Councilmember 60 Welch was asked to put together what came from that meeting so he was working on an amendment or 61 revised Ordinance No. 113 - 1997, and had brought it to the Department of Law. However, Bever said, he 62 had not made his final examination of it and it was not in the form Councilmember Welch had wanted it. e 63 said the Tax Abatement Committee had also presented an amended Ordinance No. 113 - 1997 vers on 64 which the Department of Law had done and revised. He pointed out that when members of Council corn: to 65 the office of the Department of Law and ask for something somebody is working on and it is given to th:m, he feels it is important for them to know whether or not it is in final form and if it is not, it is most appropri.te not to be giving it to the public or the news media. He stated that this was an unfortunate incident. 473 Common Council Minutes Cont'd December 15, 1997 Pdye5 1 President Dickman said Council is planning a Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss this matter,adding 2 that it got a lot more complicated than it needed to. Councilmember Wissel said that meeting had been II 3 announced for 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 17, however he had been notified by three Councilmembers 4 and the City Attorney that they would be unable to attend. He said given the holiday season perhaps Council 5 would prefer to have the meeting the first of the new year. He suggested 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 7, 6 1998 in the Council Chambers. 7 8 Councilmember Stamper voiced his concern about taking six months to come up with tax abatement 9 guidelines, stating that he feels that is giving the wrong impression to the business community. He 10 questioned the importance of forming the Tax Abatement Guideline Committee and Councilmember Wissel 11 responded with a few brief comments. 12 13 Councilmember Lundy interrupted the conversation, stating that she had a duty to perform and that was to 14 lead Councilmembers in singing"We Wish You A Merry Christmas,"which she proceeded to do. 15 16 ADJOURNMENT 17 18 There being no further business,on a motion duly made,seconded and passed the meeting was adjourned. 19 20 21 2 '3 '4 '5 '6 Robert Dickman, President '7 '8 '9 '0 I '1 .2 ATTEST: :3 Norma Schroeder,Clerk :4 '5 '6 7 8 .9 ,0 �41 2 3 4 15 6 47 8 9 0 1 12 3 4 •5 6 7 '8 9 Io0 01 02 a3 04 05 41'4