HomeMy Public PortalAbout07-18-1994 491
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1 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Monday,July 18,
2 1994, in the Council Chambers in said City. President Larry Parker presided with the following
3 Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack" Elstro, Etta Lundy, Mary Ellen Donat, Don McBride, Gene Allen,
4 Bob Dickman and Sally Hutton. Absent was Jane Brookbank.The following business was had to-wit:
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6 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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8 PRAYER BY COUNCILMEMBER LUNDY
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10 ROLL CALL
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12 Eight present.
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14 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 5,1994
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16 Councilmember McBride moved to approve the minutes of July 5, 1994, second by Councilmember Hutton
17 and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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19 COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR
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21 PRESENTATIONS OF REMONSTRANCES, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
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23 REPORT FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS
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25 REPORT FROM OTHER OFFICES
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27 REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
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29 Minutes of the June 30 and July 7 meetings were in the Council packets.
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31 REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES
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33 REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
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35 Councilmember Donat commented that the Redevelopment Commission had met and discussed several
36 items which included the proposed budget staying the same as it was last year at $37,500. Also, she said,
37 the contract for the feasibility study for the convention center was submitted but members felt they needed
38 time to study it and delayed the signing until a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. Friday. She said the study will
39 begin two weeks from the date of the signing and take about 12 to 16 weeks to complete. A report was
40 heard on the Medical Arts Building, she said, noting that no one opposed the demolition of the building at a
41 public hearing held today, adding that the City will be applying to the State Department of Commerce for a
42 $300,000 grant. She added that it will probably be the first of the year before that demolition will begin.
43
44 REPORTS FROM OTHER COUNCIL COMMITTEES
45
46 ORDINANCES
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48 ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
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50 Councilmember Hutton moved to suspend the rules and read on first reading by title only Ordinances No.29,
51 36,51 - 1994, and read Ordinance No. 52- 1994 in its entirety, second by Councilmember McBride and the
52 motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
53
54 ORDINANCE NO.29-1994
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56 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 29 - 1994 - AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY
57 TO RECEIVE A DONATION FROM RICHMOND CENTER, LLC
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59 Councilmember Elstro moved to strike Ordinance No. 29 - 1994, second by Councilmember Allen and the
60 motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
61
62 ORDINANCE NO.36-1994
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64 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 36 - 1994 - AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 1994
65 BUDGET
t.).2
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
July 18, 1994
Page 2
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2 President Parker announced that this ordinance could be passed tonight, noting that it transfers $5,627.7
3 from the electric current category in Public Works Maintenance to the other materials category in the sam
4 budget to be used for weed killer for property maintained by the City.
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6 City Controller Dennis Grimes explained that the electric current costs were less after the reorganization o
7 the maintenance group out of the Parks and Recreation Department to the Public Works Department.
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9 Councilmember Hutton asked if this would be cutting the Parks and Recreation Department short and
10 Grimes answered that it would not, in that this is for the maintenance complex, adding that the rest of th
11 Parks system has money in the budget.
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13 Councilmember Elstro asked Grimes if the City is still lagging behind in making its payment to RP & L an
14 Grimes said that the City is on a 45-day cycle on payments and he felt that it is within that time frame.
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16 Councilmember Hutton moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 36 - 1994 to seconq
17 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember McBride and the motion was carried on
18 unanimous voice vote.
19
20 President Parker declared Ordinance No. 36 - 1994 on public hearing. There being no comments either fo
21 or against the ordinance, Councilmember McBride moved for engrossment, second by Councilmembe
22 Lundy and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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24 Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 36 - 1994 to third and fin
25 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember McBride and the motion was carried on
26 unanimous voice vote.
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28 The Clerk read Ordinance No.36 - 1994 on third reading.
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30 Ordinance No. 36- 1994 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
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32 Ayes:Elstro, Lundy, Donat, McBride, Allen, Dickman, Hutton and Parker(8)
33 Nays:None
34 Absent: Brookbank
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36
37 ORDINANCE NO.51 -1994
38
39 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 51 - 1994 - AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 199,
40 BUDGET
41
42 President Parker commented that this ordinance could also pass tonight. Grimes explained that th:
43 ordinance requests a transfer of $1,000 from the tree farm supplies account in the Public Works operation-
44 budget to the temporary help budget to facilitate the data input of the street tree inventory into the compute
45 system.
46
47 Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 51 - 1994 to secon
48 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Elstro and the motion was carried on a unanimou
49 voice vote.
50
51 President Parker declared Ordinance No. 51 - 1994 on public hearing. There being no comments either fo
52 or against the ordinance, Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Hutto
53 and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
54
55 Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 51 - 1994 to third and fina
56 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember McBride and the motion was carried on
57 unanimous voice vote.
58
59 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 51 - 1994 on third reading.
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61 Ordinance No. 51 - 1994 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
62
63 Ayes: Elstro, Lundy, Donat, McBride, Allen, Dickman, Hutton and Parker(8)
64 Nays:None
65 Absent:Brookbank
493
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
July 18, 1994
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2 ORDINANCE NO.52-1994
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4 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 52 - 1994 - A SPECIAL ORDINANCE SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION OF
5 THE SISTER CITIES PROGRAM TO JAPAN
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7 "WHEREAS The Sister Cities program has successfully linked the City of Richmond with the City of
8 Serpukhov, Russia, since 1983, and
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10 WHEREAS global relationships between diverse cultures and national economies has benefitted the lines of
11 our citizens, and
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13 WHEREAS cultural, educational and economic ties already exist between the City of Richmond with the
14 nation of Japan as a result of the efforts of Earlham College and other community organizations, companies
15 and individuals, and
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17 WHEREAS the development of a"people-to-people" relationship with the citizens of Daito-cho, Japan, would
18 expand and enrich such relationships,
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20 NOW,THEREFORE, be it ordained by the Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana,that the efforts
21 to expand the Sister Cities program by establishing a linkage between Richmond, Indiana, and Daito-cho,
22 Japan, is enthusiastically supported and encouraged."
23
24 Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 52 - 1994 to second reading
25 and read by title only,second by Councilmember McBride and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice
26 vote.
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28 President Parker declared Ordinance No.52- 1994 on public hearing.
29
30 Speaking in favor of the ordinance was Karen Montgomery, director of pupil personnel for Richmond
31 Community Schools and also president of Sister Cities of Richmond Inc. Giving some background on the
32 groups she noted it had been in existence since 1988 and Richmond is one of 1,041 cities in the United
33 States with sister city relationships with other cities in other countries, adding that it is one of only 79 that has
34 a sister city with Russia.
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36 She said this organization has been a successful one with a proven track record which includes a musical
37 artists exchange, agri-business exchange and an educational exchange. She said during the breakup of the
38 Soviet Union and its hardship, this community sent 14 tons of humanitarian aid to Serpukhov and last year
39 had one of the most successful exchanges of all which was a visual artists exchange that culminated in a
40 hands on project with children in kindergarten through third grade, county wide, participating. She said it was
41 back in the early 1980s when the citizens of Richmond and Wayne County went looking for a city they could
42 call their own and now it has an outreach from a City in Japan. She said the Board of the Sister Cities of
43 Richmond Ind. authorized a feasibility study to see what the potential is for a City the size of Richmond to
44 undertake a second sister cities relationship.
45
46 Reporting the findings of that feasibility study was Wayne Copenhaver, chairperson of the project, who
47 distributed maps of Japan and some additional information to Councilmembers. He said he had been working
48 on the Board for six years and Earlham College has had contact with Daito-cho, Japan for almost eight
49 years, sending students there and has had two groups comprised of people of all ages and backgrounds
50 come here in the past five years. He said they were impressed with Earlham College and Richmond, noting
51 that they already know us.
52
53 Copenhaver said the request for the ordinance comes by way of Richard Wood, Earlham College's president,
54 Mayor Roger Cornett and to the Sister Cities organization. He said it was publicized in the Palladium-Item,
55 inviting interested people to pursue the idea and to explore it, zeroing in on those especially interested in
56 Japanese culture. He said a task force was formed with Montgomery and himself guiding it and is now
57 meeting the criteria for readiness for a match. He asked Council to pass the ordinance as a sign that the
58 City's officials see the global connections that are really important in the world. He added that the Mayor is
59 supporting this, not just economically but culturally and educationally. He said the organization wants to bring
60 children of various ages together, plus business and professional people and farmers. He said Daito-cho is a
61 small town covering an area about the same size as Wayne County, adding that he feels there is a lot to
62 learn and share with the Japanese.
63
64 Also speaking in favor of the ordinance was Peggy Kraft, who works at Earlham College in the Japan Study
65 Program which has the connections to Daito-cho. She added that she had been there and lived with a family
and that it had been a wonderful experience, sharing such things as going shopping, attending parties,
meeting relatives and even attending a college graduation. She said her host sister had also visited with her
and her family in Pennsylvania.
494
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
July 18, 1994
Page-4
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3 Krissy Swartz,the newest member of the Sister Cities task force, also spoke in favor of the ordinance notin•
4 that she had arrived here a year ago after 15 years of working with Sister Cities in Kansas City where sh-
5 saw enormous rewards through the educational system and particularly with the children. She said there ar-
6 244 cities participating in this program between the United States and Japan.
7
8 Councilmember Lundy expressed a concern about what kind of support would be needed, whether or not i
9 was a financial one. Montgomery responded that the major concern is a matter of sustaining interest in th-
10 project, noting that when a formal commitment is made it indicates a long term, enduring and clos-
11 relationship. She added that it is not the economics that is the critical element but whether or not thi
12 community, in its heart and soul, is ready for such a commitment.
13
14 Councilmember Lundy then noted that if Council passes the ordinance it is simply saying it lends its suppo
15 and encouragement. Councilmember Hutton responded that the City does not have to put any money into it.
16
17 There being no further comments in favor and none against Ordinance No. 52 - 1994 Councilmember Elstr.
18 moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a unanimou
19 voice vote.
20
21 Councilmember Hutton moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 52 - 1994 to third and fina
22 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember McBride and the motion was carried on A
23 unanimous voice vote.
24
25 Ordinance No.52- 1994 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
26
27 Ayes: Elstro, Lundy, Donat, McBride, Allen, Dickman, Hutton and Parker(8)
28 Nays: None
29 Absent: Brookbank
30
31 ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING
32
33 There were none.
34
35 ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING
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37 There were none.
38
39 OLD BUSINESS
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41 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
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43 Councilmember Donat commented on the minutes of July 5, calling attention to lines 33 and 34 whic
44 concerned the cash operating balance. She said it reported that the City is in the process of eating up the
45 cash balance so there will be virtually no carryover, adding the the City entered into this year with aroun•
46 $394,000 and it is going down rapidly. She said she felt Councilmembers needed to be prudent stewards o
47 the cash reserve fund and called upon Council to request the City administration to stop spending so muc
48 money. She requested that Grimes give Council a monthly accounting of the expenditures and Grimes sal.
49 he would do that.
50
51 Councilmember Elstro asked Grimes if he could tell roughly what is in that fund at this date. Grimes said the
52 report Councilmember Donat is referring to is the general fund and the cash balance at the beginning of the
53 year was about$450,000. He added that what that anticipated cash balance will be at the end of the year i-
54 based upon the present budget is close to zero, noting that that means what would be assumed is that eve
55 dollar that is authorized to be spend from the general fund would be spent. However, he said, in reviewin
56 the budgets of 1993 and the past eight years, that has not happened, adding that what has been spent i
57 about 98 percent.
58
59 Grimes said he had encouraged the department heads at the end of every year not to spend the budget i
60 they do not need to. However, based upon the authority to spend the cash balance, it would be the
61 projection it would be flat. He added that that was not to say the City would not have the cash to pay the
62 bills, because he has instituted a cash management program which he spoke to earlier as far as payable-
63 were concerned and the 45-day cycle. He reiterated the problem encountered early in the year with the
64 appeals not approved and at the end of February is was decided to protect the budget as passed by Counci
65 and use the available cash built up over the past two years to save for a rainy day which came sooner tha
anticipated.
495
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
July 18, 1994
Page-5
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3 Councilmember Donat said she was interested in seeing how some of the money is spent because some
4 items were cut from the budget. She said she feels Council is responsible to the taxpayers and it is not
5 asking too much for accountability. Grimes said if the trend holds true he anticipated about $200,000 in
6 unspent appropriations at the end of the year. He repeated that he urges department heads not to spend the
7 money budgeted if they don't have to. However, he added, if they spend every dime they get,they have the
8 authority to do that because Council gave them that authority, but he doesn't see that happening.
9
10 Commenting on the Starr News Councilmembers received in their Council packets, Councilmember Donat
11 said there is an article which shows what would happen without a historic preservation ordinance and she
12 asked what happened to the one discussed in the Committee of the Whole. President Parker said there is no
13 ordinance at this time but it is being looked at and being recommended by the historic society.
14 Councilmember Hutton said such an ordinance is being worked on and being rewritten in hopes of getting
15 the Mayor's blessing.
16
17 President Parker reminded Councilmembers to get their recommendations on the 1995 budget to the Mayor.
18 He also commented that the summaries had been received from the retreat and asked Councilmember Allen
19 if she would serve as a clearing house for Council's input. He said the projects had been gone over and been
20 ranked 1 through 24 and there had been a suggestion to post them on the walls. Councilmember Donat said
21 that the retreat had only been a working session and since there had been no coverage and the public did
22 not attend, it was her feeling that if something is posted on the walls that was determined at a meeting it puts
23 a completely different slant to it.
24
25 ADJOURNMENT
26
27 There being no further business,on a motion duly made, seconded and passed,the meeting was adjourned.
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35 Larry Parker, President
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41 ATTEST:
42 Norma Carnes, City Clerk
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