HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-19-1988 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, SEPTEMBER 19, 1988
1 R The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session $ p.t_.�=91988 at the hour of
2 1 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers in said City. President Morris presided with the following Councilmembers
3 i present: Williams, Hankinson, McBride, Parker, Hutton, and Paust. Absent: Elstro and Brookbank. The
4 following business was had to-wit:
5 }
6 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
7 I I
8 }SILENT DEVOTIONS
9
10 EXCUSED ABSCENCES
11
12 President Morris announced that Councilmember Elstro was unable to attend the meeting due to business
13 and Councilmember Brookbank was part of a delegation visiting the USSR.
14
15 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 6 . 1988
16
17 Councilmember Hankinson moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as prepared, seconded
18 i by Councilmember McBride and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
19
20 COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR
21
22 Mayor Frank H.Waltermann was unable to be at the meeting due to his attendance at Quality College for a
23 City wide"Quality"promotion.
24
25 REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
26
27 ! Due to the absence of Mr. Barden,there was no report from the Board of Public Works and Safety.
28
29 REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES
30
31 32 None
33 , REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
34
35 Park Board
36
37 Councilmember Hutton shared an article with the Council members regarding the Richmond Park
38 Department.
39
40 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
41
42 Performing Arts/Conference Center Study
43
44 !Mr. Evans Woolen, Mr. Lou Fleming and Mr. Tim Downing made a progress report to the Council on the
45 feasibility study being conducted with regards to a Performing Arts/Conference Center.
46
47 Mr.Woolen reported that no final conclusions have been reached and the must complete the second phase
48 ;of the study before any final conclusions can be offered.
49
50 i Mr. Downing spoke regarding his research on a conference center and the benefits to the community. He
51 ;said that the local Convention and Tourism Bureau is doing s good job,but has limited facilities to market and
52 that local businesses have limited needs for meeting facilities.
53
54 Mr. Downing stated that Richmond needs to compete in the second tier of Cities in marketing and since the
55 I City does not have an image to project,would need to create one. He said it would not be possible to capture
56 large associations since there are limited hotel room available and the air access is not competitive, but rather
57 look to social groups in the region.
58
59 Mr. Downing said when choosing a location for a meeting site,consideration is given to the number of rooms
60 i available,the headquarters hotel, accessibility and the living cost. He added that 75%of conventions have
61 600 or less persons in attendance and the target marketing groups should be educations groups, social
62 groups and local area corporations.
63
64 i Mr. Downing addressed facility needs and that Richmond would need a small facility of good quality with
65 modern services and breakout room for smaller group meetings. He said the facility would also need ample
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12
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
September 19,1988
Page 2
1 parking and able to be made expandable. Mr. Downing said the facility size should be a 6000 sq. ft. main
2 room that would be divisible by four,six breakout rooms of 350 to 500 sq.ft. and one board room of 200 sq.
3 ft.for a total facility of 8300 to 9200 sq.ft.
4
5 Mr. Downing stressed the importance of available hotel rooms and said the idea of combining a performing
6 arts and conference center was a good idea since on premises entertainment would be a good marketing
7 vehicle that the competitors do not have. He said there would be good sales for a convention center with an
8 attached performing arts center and there would be benefits in operating costs with the two located in the
9 same facility.
10
11 Mr. Lou Fleming addressed the Council regarding the performing arts in the community. He said that more
12 people attend the performing arts that sporting events and that Richmond is well endowed with first grade
13 arts organizations. He spoke of the Whitewater Opera Company and their need for a space to perform that
14 would seat 1200 persons, have a rehearsal area and scenery area and the Richmond Symphony needing the
15 proper acoustical facility seating 1000 people and rehearsal area. Mr. Fleming spoke of the Civic Theater
16 being able to do larger musicals in connection with a performing arts center, Junior Players being able to
17 attract more children, Nettlecreek Players doing their summer productions there, and the Art Association
18 needing more space for their permanent collection. He said that the Indiana Arts Commission will put more
19 money into the arts with the proper space and environment. He also told of the Jazz Committee needing a
20 large facility for five jazz concerts.
21
22 Mr. Fleming said there is substantial need for a regional arts center and without the right facility, Richmond
23 could lose its arts groups. He told the Council that the facility would not need to be too grand, but well
24 equipped and able to seat 1200 persons with good acoustics, provide 1200 sq. ft. for the art gallery, and
25 have rehearsal rooms and ample parking. He said certain areas could be jointly used with the conference
26 center and he felt the City of Richmond has treasurer in its arts and great potential.
27
28 Mr. Evans Woolen told the Council abou t the six site that had been investigated, including an area
29 downtown between 10th and 12th from A to A, Civic Hall which has limited arrangements for expansion ,the
30 conference center and parking, Earlham College which has a site on campus that offers sufficient land and
31 parking, IU East which a site would be determined by the University, First Friends Church at 15th and Main
32 which only seats 737 persons and the Fairgrounds with sufficient land, but would need street improvements.
33
34 Mr.Woolen said they were in the process of making a more detailed analysis of the sites in order to be ready
35 to make a single site recommendation.
36
37 Councilmember Paust asked if there was a written report available and was informed the conference center
38 study was ready,but the others were not available and it would be five to six weeks for completion.
39
40 Councilmember Paust asked if there would also be a recommendation regarding separate or singular facilities
41 for the conference center and the performing arts center and Mr. Woolen said that would be included in the
42 final report.
43
44 Councilmember Paust asked if they would also look at other sites and Mr.Woolen said they would, but they
45 have been offered no other sites to investigate.
46
47 Councilmember Paust asked if the report would address the visibility of the site and the aethetic value to sthe
48 City and Mr.Woolen said it would.
49
50 Councilmember Paust questioned the number of people versus the need for parking and Mr. Downing said
51 they used a one to one ratio for the types of conferences Richmond would attract.
52
53 Councilmember Hankinson asked for comparable cities that have developed performing arts centers and
54 conference centers successfully.
55
56 Councilmember Parker asked that an alternate site locations also be offered and Mr.Woolen said there would
57 be a fall back position.
58
59 RESOLUTIONS
60
61 None were presented.
62
63 ORDINANCES
64
65 ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
129
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
September 19, 1988
Page 3
1 Councilmember Williams moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinances No. 59, 66, 67, and 68-1988 on
2 first reading by title only,seconded by Councilmember Williams and on unanimous voice vote the motion was
3 carried.
4
5 ORDINANCE NO. 59-1988
6
7 The Clerk read on first reading by title only Ordinance No. 59-1988 -AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON
8 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA MAKING TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 76:
9 1TRAFFIC SCHEDULED OF THE RICHMOND CITY CODE.
10
11 The Council was informed the Ordinance ratified actions taken by the Board of Works regarding City streets.
12 Councilmember Paust moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 59-1988 to second reading,
13 seconded by Councilmember Parker and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
14
15 The Clerk read Ordinance No.59-1988 on second reading.
16
17 President Morris announced Ordinance No.59-1988 was on public hearing.
18
19 There being no questions, Councilmember Hankinson moved for engrossment, seconded by
20 Councilmember Williams and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
21
22 Councilmember Williams moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 59-1988 to third and final
23 reading, seconded by Councilmember Hankinson and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
24
25 The Clerk read Ordinance No.59-1988 on third and final reading by title only.
26
27 Ordinance No.59-1988 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
28
29 Ayes: Williams, Hankinson, McBride, Parker, Hutton, Paust and Morris (7)
30 Nays: None
31 Absent: Elstro and Brookbank (2)
32
33 ORDINANCE NO. 66-1988
34
35 The Clerk read on first reading by title only, Ordinance No. 66-1988-AN ORDINANCE TO ANNEX TO THE
36 CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA CERTAIN CONTIGUOUS TERRITORY, ADJACENT AND ABUTTING
37 THERETO, DESCRIBING THE SAME, PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION THEREOF,AND FIXING THE
38 TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL TAKE EFFECT.
39
40 President Morris announced the Ordinance could be passed and would be advertised after passage for
41 remonstrances to be filed.
42
43 Councilmember Paust moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 661988 to second reading,
44 seconded by Councilmember Hankinson and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
45
46 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 66-1988 on second reading.
47
48 President Morris announced Ordinance No. 66-1988 was on public hearing.
49
50 Speaking for Ordinance No. 66-1988 was Mr. Dan Dooley . Mr. Dooley said the property to be annexed was
51 located on the west of Industrial Parkway and was not in the Sanitary District. He said it was necessary to annex
52 the property in order that the new company locating on the property can be physically connected to the city
53 sewer service and that it it already physically possible for connection,they just need to be annexed.
54
55 There being no further questions, Councilmember Williams moved for engrossment, seconded by
56 Councilmember Hankinson and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
57
58 Councilmember Williams moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 66-1988 to third and final
59 reading,seconded by Councilmember Hankinson and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
60
61 The Clerk read Ordinance No.66-1988 on third and final reading by title only.
62
63 Ordinance No. 66-1988 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
64
65 Ayes: Williams, Hankinson, McBride, Parker, Hutton, Paust and Morris (7)
Nays: None
Absent: Elstro and Brookbank (2)
130
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
September 19, 1988
Page 4
1 TRANSFER ORDINANCE NO. 67-1988
2
3 The Clerk read on first reading by title only, Ordinance No. 67-1988 - AN ORDINANCE TO TRANSFER
4 WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND.
5
6 Councilmember Paust moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 67-1988 to second reading,
7 seconded by Councilmember Parker and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
8
9 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 67-1988 on second reading.
10
11 President Morris announced Ordinance No. 67-1988 was on public hearing.
12
13 Speaking for Ordinance No. 67-1988 was Mr. Dan Dooley. Mr. Dooley said the funds would be for the City's
14 portion of Ms. Johnstone's payroll for working on the Mainstreet project. He said the funds had been
15 released
16 from the State for Mainstreet due to Ms. Johnstone's efforts in getting letters of commitment from the
17 businesses and this grant would pay the balance of the already approved pay.
18
19 There being no further questions, Councilmember Williams moved for engrossment, seconded by
20 Councilmember Paust and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
21
22 Councilmember Williams moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 67-1988 to third and final
23 reading,seconded by Councilmember Hankinson and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
24
25 The Clerk read Ordinance No.67-1988 on third and final reading by title only.
26
27 Ordinance No.67-1988 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
28
29 Ayes: Williams, Hankinson, McBride, Parker, Hutton, Paust and Morris (7)
30 Nays: None
31 Absent: Elstro and Brookbank (2)
32
33 ORDINANCE NO. 68-1988
34
35 The Clerk read on first reading by title only,Ordinance No. 68-1988-AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CERTAIN
36 PROVISIONS OF THE POLICE MERIT COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND.
37
38 President Morris assigned Ordinance No. 68-1988 would be advertised, but she would allow public comment
39 with the attendance of members of the FOP and the Merit Commission.
40
41 Police Chief Nimitz told the Council that the ordinance presents revisions for the Merit Commission that have
42 been worked out by both the Police Officers and the Merit Commission and all were discussed by the
43 membership. The changes will make the rules more contemporary and are based on the past experiences
44 and needs of the commission. He said most of the changes are self explanatory and when approved copies
45 will go to each officer.
46
47 President Morris suggested it would be helpful for members of the Merit Commission to be in attendance at
48 the next meeting.
49
50 Dr. Jack Portzline, President of the Merit Commission explained the changes were all due to state law
51 changes, or unworkable conditions identified by the Commission, Police Chief or members of the
52 Department.
53
54 ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING
55
56 None were presented.
57
58 ADJOURNMENT
59
60 There being no further business, on a motion duly made, seconded and passed, the meeting was
61 adjourned.
62
63
64 Lynn Nepote Morris,President
65
ATTEST:
Mary Merchanthouse,City Clerk