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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2/09/1999City of Greencastle ® City Hall Four East Walnut Street Greencastle, Indiana 46135 Pamela S. Jones Clerk- Treasurer GREENCASTLE COMMON COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1999 7:00 P.M. TZOUANAIUS SCHOOL The Greencastle Common Council met in Regular Session Tuesday, February 9, 1999, 7:00 p.m. at Tzouanakis School. Mayor Michael called the meeting to Order. On the Roll Call, the following were found to be present: Councilor Roach, Councilor Hammer, Councilor Baynard and Councilor Masten. Councilor Green arrived at 7:50 p.m. Also present were City Engineer Ron Smith and City Attorney Trudy Selvia. Public Petitions and Comments There were no public petitions or comments. Department Reports Police Chief Hendrich publicly thanked Wal -Mart for their donation of fishing tackle boxes which • have been converted to first aid kits for the vehicles. Chief Hendrich reported he has reviewed the Bike and Skateboard Ordinance and stated it is very well prepared. Chief Hendrich also reported he is currently working on filling two vacant positions in his department. Mayor Michael thanked Street Commissioner Jim Wright for his 18 years of service to the City and stated that everyone is saddened by his resignation from the City. A reception will be held in his honor March 3, from 5 -7 p.m. at the Walden Inn in the Library. Tom Miles will be Acting Street Commissioner at this time. Park Director Staton reported the Park Department is working with People Pathway on a grant to do Phase III which includes Albin Pond Road. The grant is an 80 %- 20% match with a grant cap of $100,000.00. People Pathway will be giving a presentation at next month's meeting. Director Staton also reported the Park is in the process of hiring a full -time maintenance person. Water Superintendent Terry Dale stated he has received Y2K compliance verification from Leiopold - the heart and soul of the Water Plant. Wastewater Superintendent Mike Neese was not present. Mayor Michael thanked Trudy Selvia for ajob well done and introduced the new City Attorney Laurie Robertson who will begin on March 1. ® Councilor Masten stated there is a vacancy on the BZA that he is willing to accept if any of the other Councilmembers are willing to accept his appointment to the Putnam County Foundation. EW ow N ® Councilor Baynard stated he would be willing to accept the appointment to the Putnam County Foundation. Councilor Masten will now serve on the BZA and Councilor Baynard will be appointed to the Putnam County Foundation. Motion to approve minutes from January 12, 1999, Regular Session, made by Councilor Masten, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. City Engineer Ron Smith reported a claim has been presented with claims tonight regarding the purchase of the Dick Brown Lot and the transaction will be completed once the check has been received by Rick Brown. Engineer Smith reported that design projects for Franklin Street and 10th Street intersections are moving along as are the radius improvements on Jackson and Bloomington Street intersections. Councilor Baynard asked Engineer Smith if he has started the design on the Dick Brown Lot, Engineer Smith stated that a conceptual design was put together by the previous Engineer. Councilor Baynard stated he thought the old Street Department lot improvements were going to be included with the Dick Brown Lot. Engineer Smith stated he wasn't aware of the two projects beingjoined as one project. We are looking for funding for improvements of the Dick Brown lot at this time and have had no direction regarding any work on the old Street Department lot. Mayor Michael stated she and Ron will look into what it will cost to pave the Southside lot. Claims ® Councilor Masten made the motion to approve City claims in the amount of $363,585.94, seconded by Councilor Baynard. Councilor Baynard questioned a claim for the Park Department for the Indiana Bike Conference questioning why we need to send some to a bike conference. Director Staton stated this is in conjunction with People Pathway and the relationship of the Park Department and People Pathway. Councilor Baynard asked if the Park Department is working with the schools on bicycle safety. Director Staton replied she is going to the conference for the Park Department not for People Pathway. Councilor Hammer stated that part of the Park Comprehensive Plan includes streets that will co- mingle bike and vehicle traffic. Councilor Baynard stated he wants to see a direct tie to the conference and the City, not People Pathway. Vote was as follows: Councilor Hammer, yes; Councilor Bavnard, yes; and Councilor Masten, yes. Councilor Roach abstained due to his son having a check for basketball officiating. Ordinance 1999 -1, An Ordinance Amending Section 7 of Ordinance 1998 -13 An Ordinance Establishing The Size of Departments of the City Government of The City of Greencastle, Indiana, Fixing Salaries For the Employees of Such Departments and Fixing the Salaries of Certain Other Appointed Officials for the Year 1999, second reading. Motion to approve made by Councilor Hammer, seconded by Councilor Masten. Vote was unanimous. A letter was presented to Council from Mainstreet and the Heritage Fest Committee to request street closings for the Heritage•Fest on May 14 and 15, 1999. The following street closings and parking restrictions were requested: ® The closing of Franklin Street between Jackson and Indiana beginning at 5:30 p.m. May 13 until Sunday morning, May 16, around midnight. The closing of Indiana Street between Franklin and Washington and between Washington and Walnut (leaving 231 open) from 5:30 p.m., May 13, until Sunday morning, May 16, around midnight. Parking restricted on these streets during the times they are closed beginning at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 13. Motion to approve request for the above street closings and parking restrictions made Councilor Masten, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. A letter from DePauw University was presented to Council requesting street closings for Commencement, May 22, 1999 and practice and set up May 21. The following street closings were requested for Commencement, May 22, 1999: Simpson Street from Locust to College from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. College Street from Seminary to Larabee from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. College Street at Olive diverted for a short period of time from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Hanna Street from Locust Street to College diverted for a short period of time from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The following closings were requested for practice and set up, May 21, 1999: Simpson Street from Locust to College from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. College Street at Olive diverted for a short period of time from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Hanna Street from Locust Street to College diverted for a short period of time from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. It is stated in the letter that DePauw Safety Officers and Police will direct traffic at these times. ® Motion to approve requested street closings and diversions made by Councilor Baynard, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. Dr. Renz and Tony Robertson were present to request the City approve a quit claim deed for a small tract of property that houses part of the bus barn and is currently leased by school corporation on a 50 year old lease. Councilor Masten made the motion authorizing the City Attorney to draw up the paperwork for a quit claim deed to turn the property over to the school corporation. Motion seconded by Councilor Hammer. Vote was unanimous. City Attorney Selvia stated she will draw up the deed. Resolution 1999 -3, A Resolution Authorizing Additional Appropriation, was read by Mayor Michael. Motion to approve Resolution 1999 -3 was made by Councilor Roach, seconded by Councilor Hammer. Vote was unanimous. Councilor Green enters meeting, 7:50 p.m. Ordinance 1999 -2, An Ordinance Establishing Section 8 -90 of The Greencastle City Code Regulating The Use Of Bicycles and Skateboards Upon the City Streets in the Designated Business District, first reading, was read by Mayor Michael. Councilor Hammer stated the scope has been narrowed to a nine block area and roller blades are not included. Maybe we need to include parking lots stated Councilor Hammer. Councilor Roach stated this is a much cleaner Ordinance, but questioned paragraph "e" and asked if there are any signs that would prohibit bike ® riding in the streets. Councilor Hammer replied there is not. Mayor Michael stated the intent is not to keep anyone from riding their bike in the street, but we do want them to walk the bikes ® across the crosswalks. Councilor Masten questioned if parking lots are added are we going to disallow neighborhood kids from riding their bikes in a parking lot on a nice summer evening? I don't think so, he replied to his own question. Mayor Michael stated the original intention is to allow pedestrians to walk on the sidewalks without being ran over by bike riders or skateboarders. Councilor Baynard questioned if bike racks will be placed in the downtown area? Acting Street Commissioner Tom Miles stated there are only two bike racks in the downtown area at this time. They are located in the parking lot across from the Post Office. Councilor Hammer made the motion to approve Ordinance 1999 -2, excluding paragraph e, seconded by Councilor Green. Vote was unanimous. Discussion of renaming First Street was the next agenda item to be discussed. Councilor Baynard submitted Resolution 1999 -4, A Resolution Renaming First Street "Percy L. Julian Drive ". Councilor Baynard stated this is a way to honor someone who has done so much for the United States. Councilor Baynard further stated that Mr. Julian is a graduate of DePauw University and a renowned scientist who has received many awards and has had two issues of commemorative stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service. Dr. Cook, a retired professor from DePauw University, was present and gave a history of Percy Julian's life, starting in 1916 when Mr. Julian came to Greencastle at 17 years old. Councilor Baynard stated he picked First Street hoping it may prompt a teach to teach about him or a student to ask about Mr. Julian. Councilor Roach stated it is a very good point and the location is important. Mayor Michael read Resolution 1999 -4, A Resolution Renaming I st Street "Percy L. Julian ® Drive ". Councilor Roach stated that the expense of changing a street name needs to be considered. Councilor Hammer stated that the Council should wait until the next meeting to act on the Resolution due to the fact it was on the agenda as discussion only and has not been advertised as a Resolution. There are a very limited number of public present here tonight, Councilor Hammer continued, and none of the residents that live on 1st Street nor the school have been notified. First Street already has a number of names; First Street, Zinc Mill Road, Fawnview Drive and has also been designated as Tiger Cub Trail, maybe there is another street that is more appropriate. Councilor Hammer stated he feels public input is needed if we are going to change a street name. Councilor Baynard stated the street is formally know as 1st Street and I don't feel that is an issue. Councilor Hammer stated he would feel much more comfortable if the residents were notified and had an opportunity to attend the meeting for input. Councilor Hammer made the motion to table Resolution 1999 -4 for 30 days. After some discussion, the motion dies for lack of second. After some discussion about the appropriate way to add the resolution to the agenda, Councilor Baynard made the motion to add Resolution 1999 -4 to the agenda. Councilor Roach seconded the motion. Vote was as follows: Councilor Roach, yes; Councilor Hammer, did not vote; Councilor Green, yes; Councilor Baynard, yes; and Councilor Masten, yes. Councilor Baynard made the motion to adopt Resolution 1999 -4, seconded by Councilor Roach. ® Vote as follows: Councilor Roach, yes; Councilor Hammer, no; Councilor Green, yes; Councilor Baynard, yes; and Councilor Masten, yes. An Executive Session for Economic Development was scheduled for February 23, 1999, 5:30 Aft Ip p.m. at the Library in the Rotary Room. Councilmembers gave updates on boards and commissions. Being no further business, Councilor Hammer made the motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilor Green. Vote was unanimous. //�� Nancy A. Mi ael, Mayor A TTF7"CT/ Pamela S. Jones, C J