HomeMy Public PortalAbout11-03-1997 PRAGEEBINGS-QFT-HE-C-OMM0N-C-QUNetL-OFTI I C
C1T�rQ RICHMONMINDI NA MON13A- . .
The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Monday,
November 3, 1997, in the Council Chambers in said City. President Bob Dickman presided with the following
Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack" Elstro, Etta Lundy, Bruce Wissel, Sarah "Sally" Hutton, Geneva
"Gene"Allen, Alan Stamper, Bing Welch and Larry Parker. The following business was had to-wit:
• PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PRAYER BY COUNCILMEMBER LUNDY
°
1 o ROLL CALL
1
1 Nine present.
1 '
1 A APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1 •
1. The minutes of the meeting of October 20, 1997 were approved on a motion by Councilmember Hutton,
1 second by Councilmember Wissel and was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
1:
1° PRESENTATIONS OF REMONSTRANCES, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS OR PUBLIC COMMENTS
20
2 A. Vacation Petition No. 8- 1997(Ordinance No. 96- 1997) -A PETITION TO VACATE A PUBLIC
2. PLACE
2
2• President Dickman asked City Attorney Bob Bever about Vacation Petition No. 8 - 1997 and Bever
2' suggested that it be referred to the Planning Commission even though they had jumped the gun and already
2• heard it. He said it needs to be referred to them so they can bring it back for another public comment at its
2 next meeting.
2:
2• Russell Clevenger of 1010 Sylvan Nook said he lives half a block east of "demolition highway," referring to
3, U.S. 27 North, and questioned the firefighters and police officers living outside the City limits. He said there
3 are police cars all over the county and taxpayers are paying for the maintenance. He also questioned the
3- pensions they receive. President Dickman thanked him for his comments.
3
3, COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR
3-
3: Mayor Andrews asked City Engineer Bob Wiwi to step forward and talk about the Uptown Parking Proposal
3 which he said is being presented to Council in advance of going to the Board of Works next week. He
3: expressed his appreciation to those who had put in numerous hours on the project.
3•
4. Wiwi said that included in the packets received by Councilmembers is a report which is the result of work of
41 many individuals who are on the staff of the City and Main Street Richmond/Wayne County. He said the
4. following are recommendations presented as a result of several meetings and are comprehensive parking
4 recommendations. He noted that the charge of the committee was to overview the entire parking situation in
4,1 the uptown area and the committee took a big picture approach of the employees, merchants and
4- customers. He said input was received from those merchants from Main Street and information compiled by
4. Cole&Associates, adding that the information is being presented to Council for analyzing and review.
4
4� Police Chief Bill Shake stepped forward to speak about security issues, mainly the parking garage and
4 security. He said two additional part-time personnel will be hired to utilize the enforcement process, adding
5 they will be added to the one full-time position. He said the part-timers will be working on Saturdays and will
151 be providing security to the parking garage with offices located inside the garage where a telephone will be
5 made available to the officers on patrol who will be making their reports from the garage. He said their
5 marked vehicles will be parked there and they will also do some walk throughs at the same time. He said
5 money has been identified in an account so they can go ahead and hire the two part-time people so they will
5 be able to implement any parking restrictions and code violations. Chief Shake said they will also be noting
5 on the parking citations that they were issued in the uptown areas so the money can be designated for the
5 I off-street parking fund.
581
In answer to a question by Councilmember Welch, Chief Shake said the people he is talking about are one
60 full-time parking enforcement officer and two part-time parking enforcement people who will be working out
611 of the parking garage in an office area near where the buses load and unload.
6 ,
63 Deputy Controller Ann Cottongim said one of the changes will be the merchant contributions, with
6, businesses being asked to pay $240 per year to be able to offer the three hours free parking to the
6 customers.
436
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
November 3, 1997
Page 2
1 She said the Finance Department has budgeted for approximately $24,000 coming in from thope
2 contributions. She said monthly fees will be increased and there will also be some new spots added for
3 monthly parking in the lot south of Elder Beerman and north of the Clarion-Leland Hotel.She also explain d
4 that the expense of the security guard currently in the parking garage will be moved over to the Poll e
5 Department budget. She said the supplies accounts were kept so they could keep the lots and the garage in
6 the best condition possible. She added that it is possible for this fund to break even instead of ending up at
7 a loss as it has for the past few years.
8
9 She also noted the fulltime person is the maintenance person who will remain and the only part-time h 1p
10 will be the two parking attendants at the garage. Neither of the booths at the lot south of Elder Beerman a d
11 north of Bank one will have parking attendants.
12
13 Councilmember Parker asked about merchant contributions in the past, noting that the deficit is bigger th n
14 the $1,800 shown, and is $3,600 short already. Cottongim said she knows the number of merch nt
15 contributions is not enforceable, but she said she feels the $240 will allow the businesses to provide $1 per
16 day for free parking. She said capital outlays could decrease and the money would not have to be spent on
17 capital improvements.
18
19 Cottongim said one hour free parking will be allowed on Main Street,two hours in the first blocks of the north
20 and south streets and three hours in the parking lots and parking garage. In answer to Councilmember
21 Parker's question about enforcement, Cottongim said the parking enforcement officers will circulate, adding
22 that the two part-time officers will be strictly for the uptown area. She said the committee also recommendid
23 that revenues collected from parking fines in the uptown area be posted to the off-street parking fund inste d
24 of the general fund. Councilmember Wissel said he felt $24,000 is optimistic and asked what that is basggd
25 on, noting that those same merchants have not contributed in the past. Cottongim said Renee Oldharn,
26 director of Main Street Richmond/Wayne County, will answer that question.
27
28 Stepping forward, Oldham said one of the important parts of this plan is the Business Improvement District.
29 She stated that parking is a complex issue because there are a lot of customers downtown which include
30 employees, the customers and businesses. She said there is an education component which is needed to
31 come up with a fair and equitable plan for everyone. In looking at the big picture, she said, the three-hair
32 maximum was agreed to be a "normal"time. She said the businesses want to contribute their fair share and
33 they need to understand what parking means to them in dollars and cents.
34
35 She added that she feels $240 per year will be an "easy sell." She also noted the City is not alone in t is
36 project because Main Street is going to stand beside the City and go with it in a joint effort. She said t e
37 parking issue has to be marketed, promoted and understood, adding that it can be a "win, win"situation f r
38 both Main Street and the City to have a vital center city. She said most people think this plan is all about a
39 street, a five-block removal of a pedestrian mall, but this project is about what is going to make the upto n
40 work.
41
42 Oldham said Main Street Richmond/Wayne County wants to implement a Business Improvement Distr ct
43 (B.I.D.) which is a simple, self assessment of the businesses to come up with the funds that supplemept
44 current services such as maintenance, beautification, parking, security and overall marketing of the are
45 She said it will help make the businesses more responsible and take the burden off the government, addi�g
46 that it is a way for the businesses to take care of themselves through continual management and growth f
47 the center city.
48
49 She said it will be a partnership with the City where the budget will come before the Council each year a d
50 the make up would be by state statute and there will be a representation of the property owners w o
51 determine how much the budget is and what type of services they want. She added that this is curren ly
52 being used in Fort Wayne and Kendallville. She said the parking plan will be looked at again in two yea s
53 and is another layer making the center city successful and vital for everyone.
54
55 In answer to a question by Councilmember Welch, Oldham said she sees the B.I.D. concept being here py
56 the fall of 1998 and implemented in 1999. That prompted Councilmember Welch to ask what plans the M n
57 Street groups has for general maintenance in that two year span after the street is opened.
58
59 Mayor Dennis Andrews said the B.I.D. concept and application, when it is actually done, essentially wou d
60 look at what Main Street as an organization does now, what the City does now and what individu-I
61 merchants do now and identifies things that property owners and businesses want added. He said th:t
62 would be funded through B.I.D. He said the City has taken this investment and partnered with Main Stre:t,
63 making improvements in the parking areas and now looking at fixing rates and asking once again f.r
64 contributions. He said at the same time they are doing that in the environment when also looking for t e
65 development of B.I.D.
437
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
NnvembPr.3, 1997
PVP3
1 He added that in two years, if there is not a Business Improvement District, whatever these rates and
2 conditions are would be much more likely to be changed, especially if Main Street and the City are not
3 successful in receiving contributions at a higher percentage of what has been or if there is no B.I.D.
4 developed. He repeated that the B.I.D. would be identifying things outside the parking issue and moreso for
5 adding things that the businesses want to identify. He gave as an example, there is currently no foot patrol
6 uptown, and they may want to identify that as something that does not look like an addition. Oldham said it is
7 truly a supplement.
8
g Councilmember Welch said the City is going to be providing the services as the corridor is opened up and
10 there will come a time when the merchants will be wanting other things and he hopes in the two year span it
11 will take to get the B.I.D. in place they will have patience with the City.
12
13 Oldham said the merchants are excited about Main Street being opened, adding that the business owners
14 are willing to take responsibility for the care of the front of their building, such as sweeping off the snow, and
15 will contribute whatever they can for other things they need. She added that they want to do their fair share
16 and be good corporate citizens. Wiwi expressed his appreciation for Council's time tonight to listen to the
117 parking committee's recommendations.
1
1 REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
2 The minutes of the meetings of September 25 and October 2, 1997 were in the Council packets.
2'
2e Councilmember Welch said he had seen, in the minutes that the properties on Industries Road have all been
2, obtained and that Wiwi had indicated that construction on the bridge over the river could start as early as late
2. this year. Wiwi stepped forward and commented that the work could start as early as this week, noting that
2. the contractor is moving in a construction trailer this week. He said the work will start for sure next week,
2r adding that the construction equipment will be coming off Chester Boulevard.
2:
2! REPORTS FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS
3.
3 REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES
3'
3: REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
3,
3. REPORTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS
3.
3, MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
3:
3• ORDINANCES
4'
4 ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
4'
4' Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinance No. 96, 113, 116, 118, 119 and 120-
4, 1997 on first reading by title only, second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a
4. unanimous voice vote.
4.
4 ORDINANCE NO.96-1997
4:
41 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 96 - 1997 - A SPECIAL ORDINANCE VACATING THE PUBLIC PLACE
5a DESCRIBED AS 17 FEET IN EQUAL WIDTH EAST OF THE ENTIRE EAST SIDE OF LOT NUMBER 48 IN
5 M. PARRY'S ADDITION TO GREENWOOD, NOW A PART OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, WAYNE
5 COUNTY, INDIANA
5
5, President Dickman said Ordinance No. 96 - 1997 would go to the Planning Commission and come back on
51 second reading.
5.
5 ORDINANCE NO.113-1997
5:
5' The Clerk read Ordinance No. 113 - 1997 - A SPECIAL ORDINANCE REGARDING PROCEDURE FOR
6o TAX ABATEMENT
6
6 President Dickman asked if every Councilmember had received a revised copy of this ordinance,then asked
6 what the Council's pleasure was and whether or not they thought it warranted a Committee of the Whole
6, meeting. Councilmember Welch said he would recommend that it be discussed in the Committee of the
6.. Whole because he feels it needs public input.
438
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
November 3, 1997
Paye 4
1 Councilmember Stamper said the Tax Abatement Guideline Committee would agree with the Committee o
2 the Whole meeting. He said he wanted to clarify a couple of the numbers bandied around, noting that th:
3 number you get from many different sources is the$9.56 per hour which is the average manufacturing wag:
4 in the community. He said that comes from the IU School of Economics, the Economic Developmen
5 Corporation and whoever you talk to. He said once you get beyond that, there is no consistent way to corn:
6 up with the number for the average wage within the entire community. He said he was told by the E.D.C. an'
7 the Chamber that the average is about$8.50 but there is nobody that publishes a number that says that. H:
8 added that those average wages do not exclude health care.
9
10 He thanked those who had given of their time to serve on the committee, noting that they had met si
11 different times. Councilmember Wissel suggested the Committee of the Whole meet at 7 p.m Tuesday
12 November 18, in the Council Chambers. Councilmember Stamper expressed his disappointment that th:
13 meeting could not be sooner and Wissel said he will be unavailable next week.
14
15 ORDINANCE NO. 116-1997
16
17 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 116 - 1997-A GENERAL ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS 74 AND 7s
18 OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND CODE
19
20 Assistant City Attorney Steve Rabe explained that this ordinance incorporates in the first section a lot o
21 changes that have come from the parking committeee and the parking sub committee. He said the ordinanc:
22 amends the current city codes to bring them up to date in terms of some of the legal descriptions of some o
23 the parking lots and incorporates the descriptions of the newly constructed parking lots into the City code.
24
25 In the second section, Rabe said, it sets forth the rates for each of the off-street parking facilities of whic
26 there are 14. He said it not only sets the parking rates but also states which lots have monthly passe
27 available. It also provides for the opening of Main Street to two-way traffic, he said. Addressing the issue o
28 parking fines, Rabe said almost all parking fines will be increased to $20, giving some consistency to tha
29 area. He said currently $10 fines are reduced to $5 if paid within three days, but that provision has bee
30 updated so the$20 fines will be reduced to$10 if paid within three days.
31
32 Also, Rabe said, those with monthly parking passes must display them so they can be seen in thei'
33 windshields or they are subject to a $10 fine. Also new, Rabe said, is a yearly pass which gives the pas
34 holder a month of free parking since the charge is for only 11 months. Rabe said the ordinance will tak:
35 effect upon its passage and will be re-evaluated in 1999. Councilmember Hutton said that evidently th-
36 two-hour parking does not have to be in the ordinance since it is already spoken to in an ordinance an.
37 Rabe said that is correct. Councilmember Parker asked about the North 6th Street lot where there are
38 certain amount of spaces reserved for the American Legion. Clerk Norma Schroeder said there are 13 spot
39 next to the American Legion building which are occupied by the American Legion.
40
41 President Dickman announced this ordinance would come back on second reading.
42
43 ORDINANCE NO. 118-1997
44
45 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 118 - 1997 - A GENERAL ORDINANCE MANDATING THE DEPOSIT 0
46 REVENUES FROM CERTAIN PARKING VIOLATIONS TO THE OFF STREET PARKING FUND
47
48 Rabe said this ordinance mandates that all revenues received from parking violations in the uptown area wi
49 be posted to the off-street parking fund. He said these are violations between North and South A Streets an
50 between 5th and 12th Streets. He said the funds will be used to maintain and improve the off-street parkin.
51 facilities. Councilmember Parker asked what that would do to the revenue the City is currently receiving
52 Robin Henry told Rabe that 70 percent of the fines collected are in the uptown area now. Councilmembe
53 Parker said 70 percent will be going away from the fund it is currently in. Rabe said it is not a situation wher-
54 you are taking from one place and giving it to another.
55
56 City Controller Shelley Miller said what will occur is that fines will be identified for the locality and will go into
57 the off-street parking fund but others will still go into the General Fund. She said they will be supporting th-
58 expenses with the revenue generated in that area. Councilmember Welch asked her for an estimate of th:
59 total of what the parking fines are now. She answered that there is no way of telling, adding that the General
60 Fund uses it to subsidize the off-street parking. She said doing that will have no adverse effect.
61
62 President Dickman said Ordinance No. 118- 1997 will come back on second reading.
63
64 ORDINANCE NO.119-1997
65
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 119 - 1997 - AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 199
BUDGET
4 39
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
November 3, 1997
-age-5
1 Bob Goodwin, director of Planning, stepped forward to explain that this ordinance allows the transfer of
2 $735.01 to cut the cost of waste containers and tissue dispensers in the restrooms throughout the Municipal
3 Building.
4
5 Councilmember Wissel moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 119 - 1997 to second
6 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Allen and the motion was carried on a unanimous
7 voice vote.
8
9 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 119- 1997 on second reading.
10
11 President Dickman declared Ordinance No. 119 - 1997 on public hearing. There being no comments either
12 for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Wissel moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember
13 Hutton and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
14
15 Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 119- 1997 to third and final
16 reading and read by title only,second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a unanimous
17 voice vote.
18
19 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 119- 1997 on third reading.
0
q1 Ordinance No. 119- 1997 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
23 Ayes: Elstro, Lundy,Wissel, Hutton,Allen, Stamper,Welch, Parker and Dickman (9)
2+4 Nays: None
6
26 ORDINANCE NO.120-1997
28 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 120 - 1997 - AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 1997
2i9 BUDGET
3
31 Shelley Miller explained the puose of Ordinance No. 120 - 1997 is to provide funds to be available for
3 temporary help in the Engineering Department for the Uptown Project. She said there is a shortage in
313 several of the accounts in the Board of Works Department due to overtime incurred. She said additional
31 funds have been identified in the insurance account in the amount of $6,000 and will be moved into the
3 temporary and associated tax accounts for the temporary help.
3
3r Councilmember Welch moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 120 - 1997 to second
3: reading and read by title only,second by Councilmember Wissel and the motion was carried on a unanimous
3: voice vote.
4s
4 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 120- 1997 on second reading.
4,
4: President Dickman declared Ordinance No. 120 - 1997 on public hearing. There being no comments either
4, for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember
4. Wissel and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
4.
4r Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 120 - 1997 to third and final
4: reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Lundy and the motion was carried on a unanimous
4: voice vote.
5,
5 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 120-1997 on third reading.
5,
5: Ordinance No. 120- 1997 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
5,
5. Ayes: Elstro, Lundy,Wissel, Hutton,Allen, Stamper,Welch, Parker and Dickman (9)
5. Nays: None
5
5: ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT
6. ORDINANCE NO.71 -1997
611
6P The Clerk read Ordinance No. 71 - 1997 - A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP AT
6: 1318 SOUTH 23RD STREET, LOTS 7,8,9,42 AND 43 IN RICHARD'S ADDITION
6,
6. Councilmember Hutton moved to strike Ordinance No. 71 - 1997, second by Councilmember Allen and the
motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
-40
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
Rage-G
1 ORDINANCE NO.109-1997
2
3 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 109 - 1997-A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL F
4 A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C.
5 6-1.1-12.1
6
7 Councilmember Stamper explained this ordinance is a request for a 10-year tax abatement for Frtz
8 Schoemaker doing business as Fleet Trailer Service. He said it will create five new jobs and retain sev n,
9 contributing an estimated $300,000 to the community. He said the seven jobs retained will pay an average of
10 $9.10 per hour and the five new jobs will pay$9 per hour.
11
12 President Dickman announced that Ordinance No. 109- 1997 was on public hearing.
13
14 Attorney Bruce Metzger, with Schoemaker at his side, explained the purpose of the new facility on Progre s
15 Drive is to fabricate some inserts for trailers for the purpose of transporting caskets.
16
17 There being no further comments for and none against the ordinance, Councilmember Allen moved or
18 engrossment, second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
19
20 Councilmember Allen moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 109 - 1997 to third and fi al
21 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Wissel and the motion was carried on a
22 unanimous voice vote.
23
24 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 109- 1997 on third reading.
25
26 Ordinance No. 109-1997 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
27
28 Ayes: Elstro, Lundy,Wissel, Hutton,Allen, Stamper,Welch, Parker and Dickman (9)
29 Nays: None
30
31 ORDINANCE NO. 110-1997
32
33 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 110 - 1997-A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL of
34 A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR DEDUCTIONS UNDER I. .
35 6-1.1-12.1
36
37 Councilmember Stamper said this is a request for a tax abatement by Johns Manville International Inc.fo a
38 10-year tax abatement on new manufacturing equipment. He said there'will be no new jobs but 114 will oe
39 retained and the average wage of the plant is in excess of$10 per hour which does not include the benefi s.
40 He said the estimated new value to the community is $3.2 million and they are completely redoing th-ir
41 current insulation line. He said the average wage is $13.05 per hour and with the addition of health ca e,
42 dental and disability at $1.61 an hour, it means an hourly wage of $14.66. He said this will mean a $312
43 million addition to the community.
44
45 President Dickman said announced the ordinance on public hearing.There being no further comments eith-r
46 for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment, second by Councilmemb-r
47 Wissel and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
48
49 Councilmember Allen moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 110 - 1997 to third and fin-I
50 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Parker and the motion was carried on a
51 unanimous voice vote.
52
53 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 110-1997 on third reading.
54
55 Ordinance No. 110-1997 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
56
57 Ayes: Elstro, Lundy,Wissel, Hutton,Allen, Stamper,Welch, Parker and Dickman (9)
58 Nays: None
59
60 ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING
61
62 There were none.
63
64 UNFINISHED BUSINESS
65
There was none.
4 '
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
Novembccr 3, 1007
PagP 7
ADJOURNMENT
a There being no further business, on a motion duly made,seconded and passed the meeting was adjourned.
r
1'
1 Robert Dickman, President
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1.
1• ATTEST:
1 r Norma Schroeder, Clerk
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