Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout01-20-1994 411 { PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE • CITY—OE RICHMOND-INDIAMA 4AN.UAR_1-2O.,.994 • 1 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 2 January 20, 1994, in the Council Chambers in said City. President Larry Parker presided with the following 3 Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack" Elstro, Etta Lundy, Jane Brookbank, Mary Ellen Donat, Don 4 McBride,Gene Allen, Bob Dickman and Sally Hutton.The following business was had to-wit: 5 6 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 7 8 PRAYER- COUNCILMEMBER DICKMAN 9 10 ROLL CALL 11 12 Prior to the City Clerk calling the roll, President Parker commented on the patience and courtesy exercised 13 by the citizens and the City employees during the heavy snowfall and bitter cold which prompted the 14 postponement of the regular meeting from Tuesday, January 18, 1994, to Thursday, January 20, 1994. He 15 said he was proud of the way the problems were handled and since the City was not shut down and totally 16 paralyzed it proved that Richmond is doing things properly. 17 18 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 3.1994 19 20 Councilmember Brookbank moved to approve the minutes of January 3, 1994, second by Councilmember 21 Lundy and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 22 23 President Parker announced that Councilmember Brookbank had an introduction to make and she 24 recognized Nicki Wynegar and Brandy Grimes, Test Middle School students who are enrolled in the mentor 25 program. She added that she has had the honor of working with them as their mentor since last fall. 26 27 PRESENTATIONS OF REMONSTRANCES. PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS 28 29 None presented. 30 31 . 32 COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR 33 34 None presented. 35 36 37 REPORT FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS 38 39 None presented. 40 41 42 REPORTS FROM OTHER OFFICES 43 44 None presented. 45 46 REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY 47 48 Minutes of the December 30, 1993 and January 6, 1994 meetings in the packets. 49 50 REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES 51 52 None presented. 53 54 REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES 55 56 None presented. 57 58 REPORTS FROM OTHER COUNCIL COMMITTEES 59 60 President Parker noted that he had distributed copies of the Council appointments and noted some 61 appointments to be made later which included human rights and redevelopment. He asked Councilmembers 62 who might possibly have a conflict in the scheduled meeting dates to check with him to see if they can be 63 re-assigned. Councilmember Hutton moved to nominate Councilmember Brookbank for the Plan 64 Commission and herself for the Urban Enterprise Zone, second by Councilmember McBride and carried on a 65 unanimous voice vote. • ,42 Common Council Minutes Cont'd January 20, 1994 Page 2 Appointments included the following: SPECIAL COMMITTEES: TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES: JANE BROOKBANK, GENE ALLEN AND ETTA LUNDY 7 PARKS AND RECREATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY: HOWARD"JACK"ELSTRO, DON MCBRIDE AND BOB DICKMAN 1 ' 1 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE: 12 SALLY HUTTON, CHAIRPERSON, AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL 1 1 STANDING COMMITTEES: 1 REID HOSPITAL - LARRY PARKER; PARK BOARD - SALLY HUTTON; ANIMAL WELFARE - 17 JACK ELSTRO; AIRPORT BOARD - JANE BROOKBANK; PLAN COMMISSION - JANE 1 . BROOKBANK; URBAN ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION - SALLY HUTTON; AND COMMUNITY 1 SERVICES-BOB DICKMAN 20 2' OTHER COUNCIL COMMITTEES: 22 2 CAPITAL EQUIPMENT - JANE BROOKBANK, GENE ALLEN AND SALLY HUTTON; STREET 2 TREE COMMISSION -DON MCBRIDE; PERSONNEL- ETTA LUNDY;TAX ABATEMENT-MARY 2 ELLEN DONAT; HOUSING AUTHORITY LIAISON - ETTA LUNDY; REDEVELOPMENT 2. COMMISSION - MARY ELLEN DONAT; SOLID WASTE - MAYOR ROGER CORNETT; CITIZENS 2 ADVISORY COMMITTEE - DON MCBRIDE AND JACK ELSTRO; AUDIT COMMITTEE - GENE 2_ ALLEN, MARY ELLEN DONAT AND SALLY HUTTON; AND ECONOMIC LOAN FUND BOARD - 2 BOB DICKMAN 3' 3 ORDINANCES 3 • 3 ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING 3 --- - 3 Councilmember Brookbank moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinances No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6- 1994 3 on first reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember McBride and the motion was carried on a 3 unanimous voice vote. 3 3 ORDINANCE NO.1 -1994 4c 4 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 1 - 1994 - A SPECIAL ORDINANCE TO CLARIFY THE ESTABLISHMENT 4 OF THE SANITARY DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT 4 BETWEEN INDIANA-AMERICAN WATER COMPANY, INC., AND THE SANITARY DISTRICT OF THE 4• CITY OF RICHMOND FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF BILLING, REVENUE COLLECTION, DEBT 4• COLLECTION AND GENERAL OPERATION SERVICES, AND TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE FOR THE 4° RESOLUTION OF DISPUTED CHARGES FOR THE DISCHARGE OF LIQUID WASTE INTO THE 4 FACILITIES OF THE SANITARY DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND 4: 4° President Parker said all Councilmembers had received copies of Ordinance No. 1 - 1994 and had ample 50 time to study it. Councilmember Allen called it a step in the right direction noting that it means combined 5 billing and will save money. 5 5 Councilmember Hutton moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 1 - 1994 to second reading 54, and read by title only, second by Councilmember McBride and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice 59 vote. 5¢ The Clerk read Ordinance No. 1 - 1994 on second reading. 56 President Parker asked Kent Klinge, attorney for the Richmond Sanitary District, to explain the ordinance. 6 He said it has been about nine months since he, Jerry Judge and Orville Allen discussed the merits of the combined billing of the charges made by the Sanitary District and the Water Company. He said Judge had 6 engineered this on behalf of the City and is in the audience tonight. Klinge noted that this agreement was 6 reached after a comprehensive discussion by all parties, adding that this is essentially to combine the billing 64 of the two companies. He said it provides for the termination of water use by the delinquent user, noting that 65 in the past if they didn't pay their Sanitary bill a lien was placed on the property. He said that has not worked out well, adding that sometimes liens don't get paid as fast as they should, and secondly,the lien may not be against the person who is the responsible party. He said that person in this case is the user. 41.3 Common Council Minutes Cont'd January 20, 1994 Rage_3 1 He said there is the landlord/tenant situation where tenants run up the water bill and sewer bill and walk away 2 from the debt and the only recourse of the Sanitary District was to place a lien on the real estate and the 3 owner who was not the responsible party. He said doing away with this way of doing things will significantly 4 enhance the cash flow, adding that it simply makes sense to do it this way. 5 6 Councilmember Elstro asked if the Water Company charges delinquent fees if the bill is not paid on time and 7 Allen responded that no such fees are levied. In answer to a question by Councilmember Lundy, Allen said 8 the rates will stay the same. The only change will be that the bills will simply be combined. Councilmember 9 Hutton asked Judge about how the change will affect the staff. Judge said there are only three people who 10 will be affected and there will be a transition period. He added that although the process wasn't started to 11 save money, it will mean about $160,000 savings of indirect costs down the road. He added that it is a 12 win-win situation for the Sanitary District and for the customers in that the user will pay the bill, not the 13 landowner. Councilmember Parker asked if a tenant moves out owing a sewer and water bill and it has gone 14 to the limit and is disconnected, who is responsible for that bill. Judge said in the future they will never go 15 after the property owner, adding that it will always be the user. Councilmember Parker asked if the landowner 16 would be notified before the water is shut off. Allen said those arrangements can be made, but the landowner 17 would have to contact the office of the Water Company. Councilmember Parker said he would strongly 18 suggest to those landowners with radiator heat to do that. 19 20 President Parker declared Ordinance No. 1 -1994 on public hearing. 21 22 Speaking in favor of the ordinance, representing himself and the Wayne County, Indiana Property Owners 23 Association, Scott Gibson of 347 Henley Road, said he was pleased with the combined billing but had a 24 couple of concerns. He said he has a number of boilers himself and for the last few years he and others like 25 him have been putting the water bills in their names to avoid having the service shut off. He said this 26 ordinance puts the responsibility back on the person who is actually using the services, adding that he hopes 27 this will keep costs down in the future. 28 29 Hearing no more comments in favor and none against, Councilmember Hutton moved for engrossment, 30 second by Councilmember McBride and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 31 32 Councilmember Hutton moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 1 - 1994 to third reading 33 and read by title only, second by Councilmember McBride and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice 34 vote. 35 36 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 1 - 1994 on third reading. 37 38 Ordinance No. 1 -1994 was adopted on the following call of the roll: 39 40 Ayes: Elstro, Lundy, Brookbank, Donat, McBride,Allen, Dickman, Hutton and Parker(9) 41 Nays: None 42 43 ORDINANCE NO. 2--1994 44 45 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 2 - 1994-A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP AT 410 46 SOUTH D STREET 47 48 President Parker announced that Ordinance No.2-1994 would go to the Planning Department. 49 50 ORDINANCE NO.3-1994 51 52 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 3 - 1994 - A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF 53 STATEMENTS OF BENEFITS FOR PROPERTY OWNERS APPLYING FOR DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C. 54 6-1.1-12.1 55 56 President Parker announced that this ordinance can be passed tonight. He said the concerns listed here for 57 real estate and machinery abatement all meet the criteria of the law and it is recommended they be passed. 58 In answer to a question posed by Councilmember Lundy about Limited Liability Co., President Parker said 59 they are bringing in corporations presently here and some new jobs, noting that it is being used as an 60 incubator-type system and has the capability of putting in as many as 12 different factories. At the present 61 time, he said,there are only three or four there. 62 63 Councilmember Brookbank moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 3 - 1994 to second 64 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Dickman and the motion was carried on a 65 unanimous voice vote. Common Council Minutes Cont'd January 20, 1994 Page 4 The Clerk read Ordinance No.3- 1994 on second reading. President Parker declared Ordinance No.3- 1994 on public hearing. There being no comments either for or against Ordinance No. 3 - 1994, Councilmember McBride moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. - Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 3 - 1994 to third and final • reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember McBride and the motion was carried on a 1 I unanimous voice vote. 1 1 The Clerk read Ordinance No.3 - 1994 on third reading. 1 1, Ordinance No. 3- 1994 was adopted on the following call of the roll: 1 1• Ayes: Elstro, Lundy, Brookbank, Donat, McBride,Allen, Dickman, Hutton and Parker(9) 17 Nays: None 1 1 ORDINANCE NO. 4-1994 2 2 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 4 - 1994 - A GENERAL ORDINANCE TO PROTECT THE SOUTHEAST 2 AQUIFER 2 2 President Parker announced that Ordinance No. 4 - 1994 will go to the Committee of the Whole and asked 21 Councilmember Hutton to set a date for the Committee of the Whole meeting. 2 27 ORDINANCE NO.5-1994 2 2 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 5- 1994-A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS 3 TO ACCEPT PENSION LIABILITY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA 3 3 City Controller Dennis Grimes said this ordinance is a requirement of the Public Employees Retirement Fund 3 to designate individuals who authorize a new employee's participation in the retirement plan as well as those 3 individuals who are no longer City employees to be able to get their benefits back. He said the signatures of 3 certain individuals who can authorize such action are needed. He reminded Council that in October of 1993 3 such action was taken to authorize the signatures of himself and Eileen Burtzlaff, personnel assistant. He 3 said she has left the employment of the City and this request is to designate the signatures of Janet Hibner, 3 personnel director, and Earnest Jarvis, director of public works,to be authorized. 3• 4 Councilmember Brookbank moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 5 - 1994 to second 4 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember McBride and the motion was carried on a 4 unanimous voice vote. 4 4 The Clerk read Ordinance No.5 - 1994 on second reading. 42 4 President Parker declared Ordinance No. 5 - 1994 on public hearing. There being no comments either for or 43 against, Councilmember Dickman moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Hutton and the 4 motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 4• 5 Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 5 - 1994 to third and final 5 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember McBride and the motion was carried on a 51 unanimous voice vote. 5 5 The Clerk read Ordinance No.5- 1994 on third reading. 5 5 Ordinance No.5- 1994 was adopted on the following call of the roll: 57 5J Ayes: Elstro, Lundy, Brookbank, Donat, McBride, Allen, Dickman, Hutton and Parker(9) 5 Nays: None 60 6' ORDINANCE NO. 6-1994 62 6 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 6 - 1994 - A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP AT 6, 2308 NICHOLS AVENUE 6 President Parker announced that Ordinance No. 6- 1994 will go to the Planning Department. 415 Common Council Minutes Cont'd January 20, 1994 Page 5 1 2 ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING 3 4 There were none. 5 6 ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING 7 8 There were none. 9 10 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS 11 12 President Parker announced Council appointments which included naming Mary Alexander to the Human 13 Rights Commission and Debbie Jenkins to the Redevelopment Commission. Councilmember Brookbank 14 moved to reappoint Mary Alexander to the Human Rights Commisssion for a one-year term, second by 15 Councilmember Lundy and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. Councilmember Lundy 16 moved to appoint Jenkins to the Redevelopment Commission, second by Councilmember Elstro and the 17 motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 18 19 A letter from Mayor Roger Cornett was read by President Parker. In it the Mayor noted the resignation of 20 Charlie Nelms from the Economic Development Corporation Board and added that, with the Council's 21 permission, he was appointing City Controller Dennis Grimes to fill the unexpired term to December 31, 22 1995. Councilmember Brookbank moved to approve the appointment,second by Councilmember Hutton and 23 the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 24 25 ADJOURNMENT 26 27 There being no further business,on a motion duly made, passed and seconded the meeting was adjourned. 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Larry Parker, President 35 36 37 38 39 ATTEST: 40 Norma Carnes, City Clerk 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 • 4 70.,_ 41' 1.13, • •