CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
DECEMBER 29, 2003
The Honorable Council of the City of Evansville held a special meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2003 in the City Council Chambers, Room 301 Civic Center Complex, Evansville, Indiana with President John, presiding. The following business was conducted.
These minutes are not intended to be a verbatim transcript. Audiotapes of this meeting are on file in the City Clerk’s Office.
ROLL CALL:
There being eight (8) members present and one (1) member absent and eight (8) members representing a quorum, the President declared this session of the Common Council officially opened.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilwoman Robinson led the pledge of allegiance this evening.
COUNCIL ATTORNEY
John Hamilton is Council Attorney this evening.
REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
IN YOUR DECEMBER 26TH PACKET:
*Agenda for December 29, 2003 City Council Meeting.
*Ordinance F-2003-23
ON YOUR DESK THIS EVENING
*News Release from Mayor Lloyd about the City’s finances.
*City of Evansville 911 Ambulance Call Summary.
*City of Evansville Financial Report for November, 2003
Councilman Melcher moved and Councilwoman Robinson seconded the motion to receive, file and make these reports and communications a part of the minutes of the meeting. Voice vote. So ordered.
President John: May I have a motion to suspend the rules on Ordinance F-2003-23 on all three readings?
Councilman Watts moved and Councilwoman Walden seconded the motion to suspend the rules and hear Ordinance F-2003-23.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: Kniese, Bagbey, Melcher, Robinson, Koehler Walden, Watts, Angermeier, John.
Absent: Kiefer.
There being eight (8) ayes and zero (0) nays, Ordinance F-2003-23 will be heard on all three readings this evening. Let the record reflect that it did receive a unanimous approval by Council.
CONSENT AGENDA
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES
ORDINANCE F-2003-23___________________________________________ KNIESE
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS AND FOR ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FROM VARIOUS CITY FUNDS
Councilman Melcher moved and Councilman Kniese seconded the motion to adopt the Consent Agenda as written. Voice vote. So ordered.
REGULAR AGENDA
SECOND READING OF ZONING ORDINANCE:
ORDINANCE F-2003-23 FINANCE (ROBINSON) KNIESE
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS AND FOR ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FROM VARIOUS CITY FUNDS
President John: Madam Clerk, would care to correct….there’s probably scribners error, that should be 23 instead of 21.
Clerk Matlock: Yes sir.
President John: Discussion. I would assume at this point in time, Mike, you’d like to make your presentation?
Mike Shopmeyer: This involves the funding, additional funding, and those given by the Convention Bureau, which they voted on last week. They would secure financing and make a contribution of that amount of $175,000 to the City, and then this is the appropriation of that. Parks Board is mad. There are three bodies that of course have to pass on this. This is to complete the construction so it can be done this winter. Mainly to finish out the buildings, and the largest share of it goes to the lighting and equipment purchases. The key….the most important point of the lighting is to get it in when the ground is frozen. The lighting has to be ordered. Obviously it can’t be ordered until this appropriation goes through and the contract signed. This was an alternative that was included in the contract with Industrial for the lighting, and with Lichtenberger on the buildings. This would complete the project. It’s important that lighting go in when the ground is frozen rather than later for obvious reasons because of all the work that’s out there. So the project is 75% complete other than that. The Convention Bureau, as you may recall, the Commission made as a requirement that the synthetic field be installed. The Parks Department tried to negotiate with them for that to be taken out. It came in over bid. They came back and required it to be put in plus this additional lighting. The synthetic field was put in because in sequencing the job that needed to be done, when Industrial was doing the other work to keep the price down. Also, the building was commenced partially completed again to get that in before we got into (unknown) now so we didn’t have the added cost of line stabilization. So, it’s sad, it’s ratty. What needs to be done is the roof and the interior features of those structures. So, that’s where we stand. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. But, one question that did come up or maybe anticipate is, why are we here? We had additionally sought to put this in the….the Administration sought to include this in the bond issue, that was rejected by the Council. Then there was an attempt…I don’t know if we came formally in front of you, but an attempt for that to come straight out of the Riverboat funds. It would be paid back in over time. I think over three/four year period from the Convention Bureau Grant, which is the same thing the County Commissioners did with the Convention Center, which was funded by similar funds. And then, the third course for financing this, which was I think, recommended by this body was to go through the Downtown Fund, and as you know they…we got a goose egg on that one. So, that’s why we are here….
Councilman Bagbey: I don’t believe the attempt was ever made to that body. Is that correct? It was made?
Councilwoman Robinson: It was made.
Councilman Bagbey: Okay, I apologize, because I asked for feedback on that and never got any.
Mike Shopmeyer: Yeah, we tried and I think the point that it was located so far out on Green River Road and not in the downtown that that body just didn’t bite on that so we….that’s why we are here. The loan included financing cost when we went to the Convention Bureau along with Mayor Weinzapfel, who we met with on this process, and the Mayor recommended that the Convention Bureau that they look at financing the interest and stay with the status quo. One comment was to take out one set of lights, which would have been about not quite $100,000. And it was encouraged that they move ahead and so they agreed to pick up all the interest costs. There was a play made for the City to pick up that interest cost and I said: Look I’ve tried, I don’t think that’s going to happen given the budgetary problems that you folks have inherited. And…so anyway Mayor Weinzapfel’s involved in that process and we ended up here, which I think is a win, win solution. There’s quite a bit of funding as you know that comes through that 6% tax and this is obviously a perfect match for that from the Convention Commission. And they voted unanimously on this, it was unanimous in the Parks Board too incidentally.
President John: Councilman.
Councilman Melcher: How much is it for the buildings?
Mike Shopmeyer: How much is the buildings? Two hundred and…… $244,000.
Councilman Melcher: You know, if I remember right, the bond issue was for three million dollars to go back into cash balances.
Mike Shopmeyer: It was 3.4 if I recall correctly.
Councilman Melcher: Well, it was to go back into cash balances. Then we had another….there was an another place where they wanted the $975,000 and that’s where the Council said no. You know, now is the time to go back and re-look at this because it started out with a million eight and went up to four million, plus the land. But, we’re past that because this is all money coming to us. But, you might want to go ahead and answer this question. We discussed it before the meeting about how you awarded the contract for a partial of a building, with out a roof, to begin with, and now this money is for the rest of the building with a roof.
Mike Shopmeyer: That’s correct.
Councilman Melcher: Because there’s a lot of misunderstanding because we were getting…at least some of us, I think, were getting calls. And we know by State Statues you can’t give a contract unless it’s a complete contract, but you only contracted for part of the building without a roof. That’s what you’re saying.
Mike Shopmeyer: That’s right.
Councilman Melcher: And that’s never came out. I didn’t know that until tonight when you told me.
Mike Shopmeyer: Yes.
Mike Shopmeyer: And, that was to make sure that we can stay on the construction track. The Administration took that risk and the risk being of course the appropriation wouldn’t come through the other two steps, two of three would have gone thought which so far…..
Councilman Melcher: Because we were getting….. as you know we were getting calls saying well, how come the City Council is not going to put a roof on it and damage this building. I said: “City Council gave then the money to do this building”. Now, I didn’t know that you only gave part of the….
Mike Shopmeyer: The problem that came with the synthetic field and we tried to get that….we went back. There’s where the problem occurred on the synthetic field. We’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don’t think this body pushed for the synthetic field, in fact I know you didn’t. And, nor did the parks necessarily push for it. We had a Study Committee, that Study Committee said this is very important, and then the Convention Bureau likewise backed up that Study Committee and said that will be in or we’re not going to give you the money. Actually the Convention Bureau money is closer to 1.5. They increased it to keep that synthetic field. So that’s why the timing got off on this Councilman Melcher. We had to put the field in when the ground work is being done because it’s really, as you know, is more of an excavation project than….than….and it wasn’t…wouldn’t fit under Lichtenbergers contract for sure. So, that’s why it…if the sequence seems out of order, there was some risks taken, but it was to keep this on track so that there could be play in this facility come spring.
Councilman Melcher: Well that makes sense because it makes sense now that the contractor was saying the Council was holding up the extra money for the roof when we really weren’t. You know, I guess…nobody knew what was actually happening. Or we didn’t know…we didn’t know it was a partial building.
Mike Shopmeyer: In the heat of an election I think everybody blames everybody so, you know how that goes.
Councilman Melcher: Well, on the lights. Is that for one field?
Mike Shopmeyer: No, no the lights is for additional five fields. There’s one field already lit. The Convention Bureau also said because….what happens on a tournament, which is where the money comes in this community. Fortunately, it doesn’t come to us although parks will certainly make money off of those. But, the main funds come into the restaurants and the retailers of this community. If you put lights on and it’s no different than golf, anyone that’s run golf courses, or ski resorts, your play through will go up. I don’t know the exact number I’m just going to….something like thirty teams by adding six lights. Six lighted fields, you play through because Friday night is the key. So you will add two or three night….two or three more sets of games on. You may have a 7:00 and an 8:00 or 9:00 game now that you wouldn’t have had before times six fields. You can do the math. You see what your play through is on a tournament. And, thirty teams times eighteen per team that’s an entire hotel. I mean that’s an entire good size hotel. Which is times $150.00 a day that’s where the money….
Councilman Melcher: My last questions then…and it gets back to this synthetic field I guess. Didn’t we get a grant for part of that too?
Mike Shopmeyer: No we did not.
Councilman Melcher: Wasn’t that one that we applied for and when they were in front of the Council somebody was bragging that this is the first time?
Mike Shopmeyer: Yes sir.
Councilman Melcher: Okay, because somebody was saying that we got a grant for this field because this is going to happen, but the grant must have fell through then afterwards.
Mike Shopmeyer: The grant turned out to be, and Mike step in if I’m wrong, but the grant turned out when you looked at all the bells and whistles you had to buy this particular product, it was a package….
Councilman Melcher: I understand, but that’s what Youth Soccer was pushing that they had this money…this is part of their commitment.
Mike Shopmeyer: Yes, but they never committed completely on that. And the problem you have is that it has to go through a public bid process. And when you went through the bid process they weren’t even close. We ended up with another product that we think is superior. And the other…did they ever bid Mike? No, they didn’t even bid.
Councilman Melcher: It was just coincidence. I just remember that this was suppose….part of this is supposed to be in the grant. I didn’t know who got it or didn’t get it. That’s all I have.
Mike Shopmeyer: But I think the grant ought to be continued to be pursued, I mean I think they should be pursued. I’d like to say it’s been a great honor to serve in front of this Council all these years. And particularly I wanted to say a thank you for many, many years of service to this community from Councilman Angermeier who served this community in countless ways. I think this may be his last night here. I been grateful for what he’s given to this community both as Assessor and I don’t know how many other offices he’s served but certainly on City Council for eight years, I think. Is that so? I wanted to say thank you for your service to the community. So…we have the answer to any other questions?
President John: Councilman.
Councilman Bagbey: First meeting I attended on this was February 26th, 2003 with Councilman Watts. In going back and looking at my notes because I too, Councilman Melcher, was not aware until this evening. I never owned a business, never made a payroll, but I didn’t think you’d ever engage in a business activity where you would halfway build/construct anything. And, I too have sat down with Mayor elect Weinzapfel, at his request, along with Mr. Nicholson and Mr. Gant to make sure that this thing comes to fruition and to make sure that this is done correctly. And that’s why we are here. I look at the press release tonight that our outgoing Mayor….and it gets my Irish up. But there are a couple of things that I still have gotten no explanations on and I’m looking at all my notes. Going back Jeff Kniese was there at this meeting. One time we were talking nine full collegiate fields, four lighted fields, we were talking about getting the fuel from the donated property. We were talking about the Heckle Road access, Green River Road improvements. What has happened to Heckle Road?
Mike Shopmeyer: Heckle Road is in there. We secured the easement for that, in fact we just title insurance for it today. That’s in the appropriation next year through Public Works. I think its $185,000 that’s in there and its bid through alternative through Industrial Contractors.
Councilman Bagbey: Okay. Did we work out anything with Keystone Subdivision in regards to the lighting concerns?
Mike Shopmeyer: Uh-huh. Yes, there’s a barrier fence that’s in this and all the lightning’s been worked through with them when we went through the special use process.
Councilman Bagbey: Okay.
Mike Shopmeyer: And on the nine fields it is ten and we did get one field out of that additional donated property. It’s on the north end, so there is a tenth field. But, for tournament purposes, this thing could easily be turned into a sixteen field complex because these are full size field and for a tournament you’re going to have a lot of nines, tens, in fact under the new field arrangements on 66 you’ll probably end up with eighteen fields.
Councilman Bagbey: Okay.
Mike Shopmeyer: The synthetic field can be turned into three small fields, I believe, Councilman Bagbey.
Councilman Bagbey: One of the things that I caught a lot of criticism and I believe that Councilman Melcher did as well when this whole idea began to come to an action plan I guess would be the term to describe it at a previous location. I talked about a football field and I was laughed at and ridiculed by members of the soccer community. Now I’ve been told, and I’ve been waiting for confirmation and I’ve had discussions I know with Stephen about this. I’m told Mr. Madriaga, we do in fact have a football field there. How do we….how do we arrive that?
Are we using the dual-purpose field? Mr. Madriaga would you please come up? Are we using a duel purpose field that we see now in college athletics where we have soccer/football….?
Mike Madriaga: In the initial stages of this I always sold…I sold to the Convention Visitors Bureau that it was imperative that this is a multi purpose field, and multi-purpose means exactly what you are saying. Any given Sunday you will see a synthetic field where the gold is the soccer, the white’s the football. We were pro-active enough to put the sleeves in the ground, they are there. And the Evansville Vipers and the Evansville Express have assumed the cost, $5,000 for the goalpost and on any vacated Sunday or Saturday where that field is available, you can play football on it.
Councilman Bagbey: I was told by the members of the Vipers that this was going to be there home field which no such term is vacated, that this was going to be their field that they would no longer be playing in Henderson, Kentucky, thank God. And, that they would be here as their name represents the Evansville Vipers and the Evansville Express.
Mike Madriaga: Their schedule isn’t complete, but I have four express, that’s the women’s. I have four on the books for them. The Vipers schedule is not complete yet. They have to look to see what days are available. We already have twenty-three contests on this field this year. Not just contests, tournaments or contests.
Councilman Bagbey: What has any steps been made about, and my notes reflect it again back in February. It says, percentage paid to the City from the Attorney’s to be determined. And we were talking about fee’s that people would pay. What is going to be coming back to the City to help underwrite the increase expenses that the notes reflect as well as additional teamster employees and etc.
Mike Madriaga: This is the marketing book. This has everything from the cost. I think Glen may have to help me here, but as we were in the budget during the budget hearings, I think it’s an estimated $160,000 for the operational cost of this field. Am I close? It’s approximately $160,000 when you take into account the two teamsters, the manager, the part time help, all the cost of the gasoline the paint and such. And, if David Nicholson were here he could give you the numbers from a large tournament, so you have two hundred teams coming in. There will be a share to the City. Just like the Aces or the Blue Cats when they play at the stadium there is a percentage. The contracts drawn up where there’s a percentage that goes to the City to offset those costs and should be revenue spend. I’ve said that from day one. I think not only is this a huge economic impact to the city through hotels, beds, and heads, and meals, but I also think if done properly, if marketed properly, than there will be monies coming to the City.
Councilman Bagbey: Last question. Was the fencing…..how did we end up on the fencing?
Mike Madriaga: We’re about half way around the facility. The eastside of the complex is secure, that’s the Green River Road. We took that all the way to our property line. The south side of the field is completely fenced. And then we turned the corner on the west side a short distance. To the west, that’s all farmland. It would awfully hard to access our properties to the north towards Millersburg Road it would be hard to access our property. I think the long-range plan. if it ever come to fruition, we should fence the entire properties, but right now we feel the properties is secure.
Councilman Bagbey: Okay, my notes reflect that we are definitely going to fence the entire property.
Mike Madriaga: We just ran out of monies. We had to prioritize.
Mike Shopmeyer: One of the alternates that had to come out so that the fenced….largely fenced but we ran out of funds to fence the whole property. That was one of the alternates that was taken out. I thought we discussed that with you when we took that out, but maybe I’m misguided.
Councilman Bagbey: I would never say that you are misguided, I don’t think we had that communication. You might have had it in your minds eye, but it’s not reflected. Thank you.
Mike Madriaga: That’s all I have.
Councilman Bagbey: Thank you Mr. Madriaga. Thank you Mike.
President John: (INAUDIBLE MIC OFF) I believe they didn’t bond the request for the 2.9 million. It wasn’t from this it was to repay the Riverboat funds with a return of 3.4 million and I think an additional $675,000 a couple of years earlier.
Mike Shopmeyer: I believe you’re right.
President John: These contracts that were issued, you say that they were basically contingent on funding? The ones from Lichtenberger and…..
Mike Shopmeyer: No, the Lichtenberger was only partial and there has not been a contract either with them for the completion of the facility.
President John: (INAUDIBLE MIC OFF)
Mike Shopmeyer: I don’t think it was 525 because I think that’s the full amount of Lichtenberger. It was something less that that I think. Is that a signed one? It may have been the original.
President John: No, this is not signed.
Mike Shopmeyer: Yeah, the later was considerably less then that. I think that’s the full amount to Lichtenberger. So we entered a partial with them and then Industrial, we pulled the lighting alternative out. That bid is still good. So…. and the bid’s in there as well for the road. That’s going to be done not on our time that will be done on the next administrations time, but that easement secure. The sewers just went in there, they were the last thing to go in because we had a hard time getting that easement worked out. The Ziemer firm worked on that. But it’s done.
President John: When you did the Victory you had some commitments from people that were in favor of it and I think they raised roof proposal about five million dollars. And then we had like a million-dollar commitment from people that wanted hockey (INAUDIBLE MIC OFF) somewhere between 250 and 300 and we had a representation from this organization or these organizations that they would help. Have they come forward with anything?
Mike Shopmeyer: I wouldn’t say they have.
President John: Is there any expectation that they will?
Mike Shopmeyer: Yes. And I think the expectations in other aspects of this facility. I mean there are a number of fields that need to be let. The bleachers where we have them are not maybe to the level some would want them. I don’t know where Mike is on scoreboards although a lot of those may be donated. Not donated, bought. So, there are a number of other sources and I think Councilman Melcher touched on this and you are as well. That challenge ought to be carried through on. I mean, I think they made a commitment to this podium and they should follow through. The grant just didn’t work. The way they wanted to go with this grant did not work.
President John: And I can understand that. I think it’s going to be a great project and it already is and you have to get it complete that’s why we’re here tonight.
Mike Shopmeyer: There’s another issue. There’s that……and it just depends on the success of this, but that land to the west, is that right Mike? Is you know….if someone would ask me what would you do, would you complete that fencing or a number of alternatives we knocked out, but that’s one Councilman Bagbey mentioned. I would secure an option for some period of time on that land to the west.
Councilman Bagbey: I thought you were in discussions with that gentleman because of his ill health and….
Mike Shopmeyer: We have been in discussions, but we haven’t had time to get that done. I mean we’ve had to deal with this situation and countless others. I’m just letting you know that that would be…if I were in your position that would be one that I would watch over the next year. If this thing isn’t as successful as it’s been sold to be, then you will need to do that. But if it is, I would think that would be some property that could easily turn into subdivision and then it’s….you know, you’re not going to be able to do that. So the opportunity exists here for a short term that we had not…. secure that. We did secure the donation and it’s the same property owner. And you know in some ways it’s too bad his name isn’t on this facility as well personally. I mean, I think….but he’s there.
Councilman Bagbey: I don’t want to get in that discussion.
Mike Shopmeyer: And I think he agreed to it. I mean he was in on it, but you know that what Mr. Charlier did a lot for this park, a whole lot for this park. This is not just soccer folks, this park is a beautiful wooded area. It’s going to be, I mean it’s going to be a jogger’s dream. I mean if you’re kite flyers, joggers, I mean it’s going to be…it’s got a whole lot going for it. And they planted…. the trees are planted now, the lakes are beautiful. Mike knows where all the trees are hidden so that we can go get the bass in a couple of years.
President John: Any other questions? Yeah, if you would, then I have a quick discussion with Glen. (INAUDIBLE MIC OFF) It’s my understanding that we do have an order of commitment from the bank, the loan…. (INAUDIBLE) to fund this, but I noticed that this is coming out of a line item as opposed to a cash balance.
Glen Barnes: Right.
President John: What consequences if any with the Board of Accounts, by taking this account who probably will not have it before the end of the year or my guess is you wouldn’t.
Councilman Kniese: Maybe tomorrow.
President John: Can we take it tomorrow?
Glen Barnes: They can sign the loan papers tonight.
President John: Any problem with running that into the red?
Glen Barnes: The line item will not go in the red, nor will the fund. It will be in the Riverboat. What will happen is we’ll appropriate, or basically establish a revenue line, which you see on the Ordinance for $975,000. And then at the end of the year if that money doesn’t come in in the next couple of days, isn’t booked as 2003 revenue. You will have a $975,000 receivable basically on the books when that does come in. And you will appropriate that receivable at this point on the soccer line to…for the appropriation.
President John: Any questions?
Councilman Kniese: Does that mean it will not be spent (INAUDIBLE)?
Glen Barnes: As soon as you…if you approve the appropriation tonight it’s available for… to be encumbered and checks written off that line item prior to the City receiving the $975,000. It would be available prior to us receiving the check. I’m not sure the time line and maybe Councilman Kniese could help us with that.
John Hamilton: Is the State Board of Accounts need to be notified of this? Is this like a short-term cash flow transfer? I know there is a special procedure for that.
Glen Barnes: No, similar to…say we are receiving a grant from say the…as an example the INDOT or something like that for a project we appropriate that, we know we’re going to get it, but we have to build the road before we get the money back. So we appropriate the monies knowing that that revenue will come in as soon as the project is complete. This is a little different situation in that we are weeks from getting the money, or days, we are appropriating the monies now just like you would a grant, like an INDOT grant.
Councilman Kniese: The three banks that are participating in this loan should be Integra Bank, Fifth/Third and Old National. The loan has been approved. We’ve got commitment from Fifth/Third today, Integra Bank being the lead bank and Old National it has been verbal approval. It goes to their committee on Wednesday, it’s just when they meet. But we’ve gotten approval from them. So, the loan papers, technically, we could draw them up tomorrow. And just as long as we have the….somebody who is eligible to sign on behalf of the Visitor’s Convention Bureau, show up and sign the papers. That’s really all we are waiting on right now. A couple of things I would like to point out is the $975,000, that is the money that had already been committed by the Visitor’s Convention Bureau over a period of time of I believe four years. So, when they asked me to see if there was a way of financing this now, that’s where I came up with just basically traditional financing. I structured the loan where it matched the monies coming in that they had already committed. So, to do that though there’s a cost of funds and obviously they had to go back and I gave a presentation to their board and they did approve a loan. I did discuss this prior to that meeting with Mayor elect Weinzapfel and Mayor Lloyd. I believe we had a couple of conversations, Curt you and I on this, and so I tried to…I needed County Council I’ve talked to them just to kind of let everybody know what’s going on. Personally, I think we got a pretty good deal on this as a fixed rate. I did get the fees lowered a thousand dollars for the closing. I felt pretty good about the package we were able to submit. This loan will be taken out by the Visitor’s Convention Bureau, not the City of Evansville so they will be liable for this. So I felt this is a win, win situation and this is the best alternative that I can come up with knowing that the Capital Development Fund money was not an option and nether was this to be included in the Zoo Bond. So, I think when you look at the commitment that’s been made here I feel pretty good about the package that’s been presented.
President John: Questions by the Members of Council? We are taking a two-thirds majority vote. Let the record reflect that Councilman Kiefer was here. (INAUDIBLE)
Councilman Kiefer: I’m sorry. I apologize for being late. I had a flat tire on the Lloyd Expressway. So what exactly does this mean Jeff, I mean, they are just going to take a conventional loan out? Is that what you are saying?
Councilman Kniese: Yeah.
President John: The Visitor’s Convention Bureau will transfer it over to the City as a donation and the City is going to use it for safety improvements at the Soccer Complex. And the Convention Bureau rather than pay out over a four or five year period, they will just take it to the bank.
Councilman Kiefer: Okay.
President John: The Council isn’t really in a position to play bank with everybody.
Councilman Kiefer: Thank you.
President John: With that the Chair would entertain a motion.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: Kniese, Bagbey, Melcher, Robinson, Koehler Walden, Watts,
Angermeier: Mr. President, I would like to compliment all the people that were involved in that. And I think I told your Counselor in the meeting we had. Now I can face my family without having the defense Counsel or anybody else. And again I vote aye and very much in favor of the soccer field.
Kiefer, John.
There being nine (9) ayes and zero (0) nays, Ordinance F-2003-23 is hereby moved to Third Reading.
REGULAR AGENDA
THIRD READING OF ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE F-2003-23 FINANCE (ROBINSON) KNIESE
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS AND FOR ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FROM VARIOUS CITY FUNDS
Ordinance F-2003-23 and call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: Kniese, Bagbey, Melcher, Robinson, Koehler Walden, Watts, Angermeier, Kiefer,
John.
There being nine (9) ayes and zero (0) nays, Ordinance F-2003-23 is hereby declared ADOPTED.
President John: I have one quick comment. I received a news release from the Mayor’s office today and at first I guess I was a little upset with him, for him blaming City Council for the Cities financial woes and blaming the Mayor elect and blaming the Governor. Then I had to just kind of sit back and chuckle. Here for the last four years we’ve been informing the Administration that the spending habits have been running amuck. That the income estimates were being done improperly and the expense estimates were inadequate. And three years later with a 10 million dollar deficit budget for each of the last three years quite ironic that we, or any other person, would get blamed for the budget woes when we have continually discussed this with the Administration to no avail. And I was a little shocked how they did this. (INAUDIBLE) and I do have a copy of a little chart I did last year, in the middle of last year. I think I showed it to Council last year where since 1991 through the year 2000, which was the last budget prepared by the former Administration said the office operated in the black, and for the year 2001-2002-2003 and continuing on (INAUDIBLE). So I think that tells it all right there. That was just my little, I guess, political comment that I…that bothers me to death. (INAUDIBLE)
Councilman Kniese: Just a quick comment to make sure everybody understands that 10 million dollar deficit that’s been thrown out there that 90% of that are capital projects and only 10% is operating. So it’s just….you know those are projects that are out there that sometimes people get confused thinking that’s all operating.
President John: Well, if you look at the ten years from ’91 through 2000 we had capital projects like the Victory, we had capital projects like sewer and water, we had capital projects at the Stadium, and not one of those years ended in the red. So to blame capital projects is misleading.
Councilman Kniese: I wasn’t blaming. I was just stating. Make sure everybody understands it’s different than operating.
President John: That’s all I have. Councilwoman.
Councilwoman Walden: Thank you. I just want to say that I look forward to the new year and the chance for all of us to work together and just put our best foot forward and continue to seek to see that we have a prosperous City and I know that we all have the same desires.
Councilman Bagbey: Councilman John. My research, looking at other Municipal elections throughout the United States we are very fortunate to have two vote, one vote, and landslide as we go into 2004.
President John: With that I’ll accept a motion to adjourn.
ADJOURNMENT:
Councilman Watts moved and Councilwoman Walden seconded the motion to adjourn. Voice Vote. So Ordered. Meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
PRESIDING OFFICER
CITY CLERK