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HomeMy Public PortalAbout01-06-2003PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, JANUARY 6, 2003 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., Monday, January 6, 2003, in the Council Chambers in said City. President Bing Welch presided with the following Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack" Elstro, Etta J. Lundy, Karl Sharp, Bruce Wissel Larry Parker, Paul Combs and Phil Dickman. Sarah "Sally" Hutton was absent. The following business was conducted: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRAYER BY COUNCILMEMBER PARKER ROLL CALL Eight present. President Welch recognized a student in the audience and asked him to come forward and be recognized. Christopher Ponder introduced himself, saying he is a student in Gary Weir's government class at Richmond High School. President Welch presented Councilmember Wissel with an engraved pen in appreciation of his service as President of Council in 2002. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of the December 16, 2002 meeting were unavailable. PRESENTATIONS, MEMORIALS, REMONSTRANCES, PETITIONS AND INTRODUCTIONS MOTIONS OR RESOLUTIONS. (MUST BE IN WRITING) RESOLUTION NO. 1— 2003 The Clerk read Resolution No. 1— 2002 — A RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN WAYNE COUNTY'S INNKEEPER'S TAX FOR PURPOSES OF ASSISTING IN THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT OF A CONFERENCE CENTER City Attorney Bob Bever explained that this resolution is a result of a committee formed a couple of months ago with representatives of the City of Richmond, Wayne County, Richmond/Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, and Economic Development Corporation. That committee, he said, was led by the Richmond/Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau to discuss the future of the Lowe's building because a private developer had come forward with a proposition that something could be done as a conference center at that location if some help was received from the government sector. From those meetings it was determined that one of the things that would be available would be funds from the innkeeper's tax which is a tax of 5 cents on the dollar paid by those individuals spending the night in the City in any one of the hotel/motel rooms. He said if that tax was to be increased by one cent, an additional $100,000 per year, approximately, could be raised. Through some other research, he said, it was found that the EDC could be a conduit in giving money to a private developer to make interest payments on their loan or the statute could be raised to allow the one cent increase cut could also be amended to allow that direct payment. He said the committee put together a proposal to send to the Legislature to ask that the tax be increased by one cent to six cents to raise that $100,000 which could be paid directly to the developer. Or, he added, if the legislature didn't want to go with that part of the statute would still allow the increase to be funded to the Tourism Bureau. He said the resolution presented to Council tonight has already been adopted unanimously by the County Commissioners, County Council, Chamber of Commerce Board and the EDC Board, as well as Mayor Shelley Miller. He said this is asking the Common Council for its support, adding that the more support shown locally, the more likelihood it will be that the Legislature will take it into consideration. Bever said all three House Representatives and State Senator Allen Paul have said they are in favor of it but wanted to see how much community support there is. Mayor Miller commented that this is a unique opportunity for the community to enter into a private/public venture, adding that in many communities a conference center is run by a municipality and it is difficult to keep them running and to be profitable or to break even. She said this is an opportunity to begin the conference center then to turn it over and it would be run completely by the private sector and immediately be a part of the community's assessed evaluation and be receiving tax revenues as well as the huge economic impact that the City would see from the increased tourism and conference business that a facility like this could bring to this area. Common Council Minutes Cont'd January 6, 2002 Page 2 President Welch asked for comments from Councilmembers before discussion is opened to those in the audience. He asked speakers to keep their comments limited to five or six minutes and not make them repetitive. Speaking first was Ken Paust, president of Wayne County Council, who gave some background on the subject of a conference center which was actually started in 1975 by the Richmond/Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. A group of three traveled to eight locations which included Dayton, Ohio; Waterloo, Iowa, and Lexington, Ky. That group, he said, met with people who were operating convention centers at that time to find out what was good and what was bad about their centers. It was quite a project but was not completed at that time. He said that group recommended at that time that a hotel/motel tax be put into place, which actually came about, and today brings in approximately $500,000 yearly. He mentioned some of the changes that have come about since that time which included the renovation of Civic Hall and the building of Tiernan Center. The difference this time, he said, is that progress has been made with plans to move forward and be competitive with other communities of the same size. He cited many opportunities that would come about with the opening of a conference center. He said time is needed to develop all the plans and it is hoped that this project can be put together before the end of this year. Others speaking in support of the resolution included Mary Walker, director of the Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau, who cited the economic impact of the different conference centers within the state; Bill Pendley, 4495 Park Elwood Road, who is the owner The Potter's Wheel, a bed and breakfast facility; Linda Von Pein, board member of the Tourism Bureau and co-owner of Advanced Travel; Dick Kirchner, Vice President of Belden Wire and Cable Co.; Kathy Zelia, plant manager of Hill's Pet Nutrition; and Frank Mazzei, President of the Richmond/Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, who named several Chamber members who signed a petition in favor of the resolution. Councilmember Combs commented about his participation with the committee in back of this resolution, pointing out that the funds will not come from local taxpayers but from those individuals who choose to stay overnight in the community in the hotels and motels. President Welch asked Bever about the date the bill would be signed into law if the Legislature would approve the one cent increase being asked for. Bever responded that the way he reads the statute amendment is that it gives the ability to Wayne County Council to raise the tax to six cents, adding that what the Legislature would be doing is giving the power to Council. He said that the tax could be implemented around January 1, 2004 if all things went as projected. He added, however, that the building could be started yet this year and would not have to be delayed until the start of the tax increase. There being no further discussion, Councilmember Wissel moved to support the resolution, second by Councilmember Parker and the motion was carried on a unanimous roll call vote. COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Shelley Miller expressed her appreciation of the work done on Christmas Day by the street department employees clearing the streets of the snow. Alluding to the Martin Luther King breakfast on January 20, she asked those Councilmembers who were interested in attending to make their wishes known through a telephone call to her office. Mayor Miller announced two changes within the administration stating that City Controller John Kenny has accepted a similar position in Piqua, Ohio, and City Engineer Bob Wiwi who is director of the City's Public Works and Safety Department will be moving to the Richmond Sanitary District as its Engineer. Councilmember Combs commented about Ordinance No. 102 — 2002 which was adopted at the last meeting, questioning whether or not it would affect the grants received by Roseview Transit. Mayor Miller assured him that the City is well within its grant criteria through the action taken in the ordinance. In answer to his question about fare increase, Mayor Miller said the majority of the fares are donations and contributions and the health insurance issue would not affect those fares. REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY President Welch said the minutes of the meeting of the November 21, December 5, 12 and 19, 2002 were in their packets that they received tonight. Since Councilmembers had not had the opportunity to look them over, he said, any questions they had about those meetings could be answered at the next meeting of Council. REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS Common Council Minutes Cont'd January 6, 2003 Page 3 REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING There were no ordinances on first reading. ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT ORDINANCE NO. 98 — 2002 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 98 — 2002 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE REZONING THE PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS 911 NORTH "E" STREET, RICHMOND, INDIANA Reporting on the public hearing conducted by the Planning Commission on this ordinance December 19, 2002, Councilmember Wissel said the Commission heard the request to rezone to the Special Use District in an M-1 Light Manufacturing District for a pizza restaurant located at 911 North E Street. He said there were no comments against the petition and the Commission voted 9-0 in favor of the request. President Welch declared Ordinance No. 98 —2002 on public hearing. Speaking in favor of the ordinance was Joe Veazey who, along with his wife, is the owner of Joe's Pizza which was previously located at 1723 National Road West. He said the facility that they want to occupy is approximately 6,000 square feet and part of the building in which the Adam H. Bartel Co. formerly had its distribution outlet. There being no further comments for and none against the ordinance, Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Dickman and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Councilmember Wissel moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 98 — 2002 to third and final reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Parker and the motion was carried on a voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No. 98 —2002 on third reading. Ordinance No. 98 — 2002 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote ORDINANCE NO. 105 — 2002 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 105 — 2002 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C. 6-1.1-12.1 AND SPECIFICALLY 6-1.1— 12.1-7 (UPTOWN AREA) President Welch requested that this ordinance be held for at least 30 days pending re-evaluation of the request. 7] N IJ 1►k,11201 [�]�Ol►6AZ6� The Clerk read Ordinance No. 107 — 2002 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C. 6-1.1-12.1 Councilmember Sharp explained that this ordinance deals with a request by Elder Lite Express Inc. and Focus Five LLC for a new building in the Midwest Industrial Park with an estimated value of $3.5 million in addition to the current value of $300,000, making it $3.8 million. He said he had asked Michael Sparks, President and C.E.O. of Elder Lite to attend the meeting tonight to give additional information and to answer any questions Councilmembers might have. Sparks gave background on his company and its growth since 1988 when it began its operation with three tractors and eight trailers. Today, he said, they are operating with 45 tractors, 102 trailers and rent space from four different facilities within the City. He added that they employ 65 full time people and three part time. He said the company's growth is being hampered with the operation as it is today and last month received all the necessary approvals for Lot No. 3 in the Midwest Industrial Park and is ready to move forward with expansion plans. He said they expect to add 15 to 25 new positions by 2005. Common Council Minutes Cont'd January 6, 2003 Page 4 Councilmember Sharp moved for approval of Ordinance No. 107 — 2002. President Welch declared Ordinance No. 107 — 2002 on public hearing. Speaking in favor of the ordinance was Frank Mazzei of the Richmond/Wayne County Chamber of Commerce alluding to the company's successful background within the community. There being no further comments for and none against the ordinance, Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Dickman and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 107 — 2002 to third and final reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Elstro and the motion was carried on a voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No. 107 — 2002 on third reading. Ordinance No. 107 — 2002 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote. ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING UNFINISHED BUSINESS CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, on a motion duly made, seconded and passed, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 P.M. Bing Welch, President ATTEST: Norma Schroeder, Clerk