CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 12, 2004
The Honorable Council of the City of Evansville met on regular session at 6:30 pm on Monday, January 12, 2004 in the City Council Chambers, Room 301 Civic Center Complex, Evansville, Indiana with President Bagbey 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:
Absent: John.
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
Councilman Melcher led the pledge of allegiance this evening.
COUNCIL ATTORNEY
John Hamilton is Council Attorney this evening.
TEEN ADVISORY COUNCIL
Member: Laura Ferguson Member: Caleb Levell
Member: Alex Issacs Member: Emily Miller
Member: Brad Burkhart Member: Holly Baker
Member: Sarah Hurley Member: Patricia Engle
President Bagbey: Councilwoman Riecken, I’m sorry, Park Director Riecken. I think you know this young lady don’t you?
Gail Riecken: That’s my niece.
President Bagbey: That’s right.
The Council recognizes students in audience: Josh Wanner and Krystal Holzmeyer.
READING AND AMENDMENT OF MINUTES
Councilman Kiefer: I have a question about the minutes please. Thank you. Just a technical question. On the December 29, 2003. It showed that I was absent, but I came in late.
President Bagbey: Yes.
Councilman Kiefer: Is that okay to…..or would… Okay, thank you.
President Bagbey: We’ll take a motion to amend the minutes of December 29th.
Councilman Watts moved and Councilman Kniese seconded the motion to amend the minutes of December 29, 2003 to show that Councilman Kiefer was present.
Is there a motion to approve the minutes of the December 15, 2003, December 29, 2003, and January 5, 2004 meetings of the Common council as written.
Councilman Watts moved and Councilman Kniese seconded the motion that the minutes of the meetings of the Common Council held December 15, 2003, December 29, 2003, and January 5, 2004 be approved as written. Voice vote. So ordered.
REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
IN YOUR JANUARY 9TH PACKET:
*Agenda for the January 12, 2004 City Council Meeting.
*Committee Meeting Schedule.
*Minutes of City Council Meetings held December 15, 2003, December 29, 2003,
and January 5, 2004.
*News release announcing Building Commissioner, City Engineer, METS
Director, and Cemetery Superintendent.
*News release regarding Mayor Weinzapfel Board and Commission Appointment.
*New release announcing Zoo Director and Executive Assistant of Transportation and Services.
*News release regarding Board and Commission Appointments.
*Board of Park Commissioners Agenda for January 7 meeting.
*Board of Zoning Appeals Agenda for January 15 meeting.
*Notice of Public Works Meetings for the Year 2004.
*Legal Aid Statistics for December 2003.
*Memo from Connie Wells of the American Heart Association.
*News release regarding EMA grants.
*Teen Advisory Council Shadowing Schedule.
*Evansville Redevelopment Commission Notice of Special Meeting.
*Agenda for Evansville Redevelopment Commission for January 13th meeting.
*City Council List for 2004.
*Memo from Peggy Braun regarding Administrative Allocation for Housing Program grants.
*Finance Ordinance F-2004-1.
ON YOUR DESK THIS EVENING:
*Revised Agenda for January 12, 2004 City Council Meeting.
*A News Release regarding Mayor Weinzapfel Board Appointments.
*A News Release regarding Mayor Weinzapfel to speak to City Council
At January 12, 2004 meeting regarding an efficiency review of all
City Operations.
Councilman Melcher moved and Councilman Jarboe 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 Bagbey: Ladies and gentlemen the Council is required to…. Consent Agenda, the first reading. If it would be in agreement with all parties here I’d like to invite our Mayor, the
Honorable Jonathan Weinzapfel, to come forward and enlighten us on the program that he wishes to move the government along. Welcome Mayor.
Mayor Weinzapfel: Thank you Mr. President. Well, I appreciate the opportunity….Mr. President and Members of the Council. I appreciate the opportunity to speak at your Council meeting this evening and to discuss an efficiency review that I believe that the City of Evansville should undertake. Looking at all City Departments basically from top to bottom. I think we can, through this efficiency review, make City Government more effective and more efficient. It’s also an opportunity to hopefully, through this process, address some of the budget shortfall that we are going to have to tackle in the 2004 budget. It’s also an opportunity to restructure some departments that are woefully in need of better organization. One such example that we have talked about….that I’ve talked to each of you about over the past several months is the Department of Metropolitan Development. We have been working with an outside consultant. It would be an independent team that would come in, that would help facilitate this review. How I envision this is that we would set up three-member committees. We’d have five committees. These committees would be looking at….there would be one looking at Finance, Administration; one looking at Public Safety; one looking at Public Works, Utilities, Environment and Transportation; a fourth looking at Planning and Economic Development; and a fifth looking at Parks, Recreation, and the Arts. Again, there would be three member committees looking at each of these different areas. This would be a review that would involve the Department Heads obviously, but also would involve the employees that work in these Departments. Obviously, they are the ones who have the day-to-day experience and the know how of how City Government works, or maybe more importantly, how it doesn’t work.. We would start this process off with a confidential survey that would be sent to every City employee. They would be able to fill that out and really begin the process where we can begin evaluating each of the City Departments from top to bottom. This consultant would also look at two other areas where we need some help. We have a personnel policy which hasn’t been updated since 1992. That’s twelve years old. Obviously, it doesn’t incorporate a lot of changes in Federal and State Law, namely the Family Medical Leave Act as an example. We’ve run into problems where there have been, I guess, informal policies put in place like flex time which really had no basis within personnel policy or within State of Federal law. I mean, obviously that is creating some problems for Department Heads and for this Administration. This is also an opportunity for them to help us update and upgrade job descriptions. We can take a comprehensive look at the specific duties that each position would be responsible for and the reporting relationships between various positions and management and supervisors. I would appreciate your approval of this Finance Ordinance and be happy to entertain any questions about this issue, if you have any.
President Bagbey: Joe.
Councilman Kiefer: Just a comment Mr. Mayor. I wholly endorse this program because I think doing the efficiency review is much….a necessary thing in government just as it is in business. I hope that this review will come out with some positive changes, and hopefully, somewhere in the future, can segue this with the City Stat Program. So, I think it’s a great start, and I commend you for coming out with a program like this.
Mayor Weinzapfel: Thank you. I can envision this as really, I guess, the second phase of the transition to the new Administration. Possible… as you say, a segue into a third phase of
looking at maybe some better….and improve accountability not only through a City Stat program, but maybe through the hiring and promoting practices that are currently underway in the City.
President Bagbey: Councilman Kniese.
Councilman Kniese: Thank you. Mr. Mayor the $30,000 price tag for the project. Help us to understand where that’s coming from.
Mayor Weinzapfel: At least I believe that is coming from personnel account using LIT funds.
President Bagbey: Lisa would you…..it won’t pick you up there. State your name for the record and then go from there.
Lisa Acobert: I’m Lisa Acobert, City Controller. That is funds that have been set aside for a project in the Finance Division. That project was completed in 2002, so we are repealing these funds and using it for this study.
Councilman Kniese: So in essence, it’s no new money.
Lisa Acobert: That’s correct.
Councilman Kniese: It’s money that just was not….was allocated but never used.
Lisa Acobert: That is correct.
Councilman Kniese: Thank you very much. Nice to meet you Lisa.
President Bagbey: Councilwoman.
Councilwoman Walden: Thank you. I don’t know, Mr. Mayor, if you and Lisa will have the answer to this, but the $30,000, is that projected to cover the complete cost of this study?
Mayor Weinzapfel: Yes.
Councilwoman Walden: Okay, great. Thank you.
President Bagbey: Anyone else? Okay Mayor, we will hear the Finance Ordinance on the 26th along with some homeland security issues I see and look forward to having it passed where you can get on with your program.
Mayor Weinzapfel: Thank you.
President Bagbey: Thank you sir. Now, we will resume with Consent Agenda, Madam Clerk.
CONSENT AGENDA
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE F-2004-1 FINANCE JOHN
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 FUND
Councilman Melcher moved and Councilman Watts seconded the motion to adopt the consent Agenda as written. Voice vote. So ordered.
CONSENT AGENDA
SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE G-2003-27 (as amended) PUBLIC WORKS BAGBEY
AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE CERTAIN PUBLIC WAYS OR PUBLIC PLACES WITHIN THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, COMMONLY KNOWN AS A PORTION OF THE PUBLIC ALLEY SOUTHWEST OF NINTH STREET AND BETWEEN COURT AND VINE STREETS
COMMITTEE REPORTS
PUBLIC WORKS CHAIRMAN_______________________________________ BAGBEY
As all who were here except for three who were in a meeting with the Mayor, we have a do-pass recommendation, and you should have a copy of the agreement that was signed. I am glad that we finally have put this thing to rest. So at this time I would accept a motion to adopt.
Councilman Watts moved and Councilwoman Robinson second the motion to adopt the Committee Report and move these Ordinances to Third Reading. Voice vote. So ordered.
There being no further motions, this Ordinance is hereby moved to Third Reading.
REGULAR AGENDA
THIRD READING OF ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE G-2003-27 (as amended) PUBLIC WORKS BAGBEY
AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE CERTAIN PUBLIC WAYS OR PUBLIC PLACES WITHIN THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, COMMONLY KNOWN AS A PORTION OF THE PUBLIC ALLEY SOUTHWEST OF NINTH STREET AND BETWEEN COURT AND VINE STREETS
Councilman Melcher moved and Councilman Jarboe seconded the motion to adopt Ordinance
G-2003-27, as amended, and call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: Kniese, Melcher, Robinson, Koehler Walden, Watts, Jarboe, Kiefer, Bagbey.
Absent: John
There being eight (8) ayes and zero (0) nays, Ordinance G-2003-27, as amended, is hereby declared ADOPTED.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
President Bagbey: There’s been a request made to move the City Council meetings time, and this would be reflective for the first meeting in February. We would move from our current time of 6:30 to 5:30. How does the Council feel about that?
Councilwoman Robinson: Mr. President, I’m in support of that.
President Bagbey: Okay. Everybody seems to be in agreement?
Councilwoman Walden: Mr. President. I would say that the three of us have discussed it, and we thought it was a great idea. Perhaps, maybe it would make it easier for people to stop by on their way home from work.
President Bagbey: Well, that would be a first wouldn’t it? Okay, so we are in agreement…and will just… do we have to vote…okay. The Chair would entertain a motion.
John Hamilton: You should since you’re giving notice of the meetings. You’re starting in effect with the first meeting in February? The meeting on January 26th is still going to be at the regular time?
President Bagbey: Right, the motion would be, Councilman Watts to move the time for the City Council meeting to 5:30 beginning with the first meeting in February. Is that your motion? Okay.
Councilman Watts moved and Councilwoman Robinson seconded the motion to change the time of City Council meetings from 6:30 to the new meeting time of 5:30, beginning the first meeting in February. Voice vote. So ordered.
President Bagbey: I’ve been asked to poll the Members of Council who plan to attend the Right to Life Banquet on April 19th. Okay. So right now, Lynn, we have four. Is that right, counting Curt? Did I count those right? We’ll get back where we have to talk with Area Plan as well?
Deputy Clerk Buhr: They say as long as they know ahead of time they can change their schedule, but they need to know in advance if we are going to have a Council meeting that night.
President Bagbey: Okay. We’ll get back on that, but we were requested to poll the Council. Rob, do you want to come up? In view of what the Mayor has said to us this evening about doing a study on government, I don’t know exactly where we are at or what you need this evening, but state your name for the record, and thank you for being here Rob.
Rob Kerney: Thank you Mr. President. My name is Rob Kerney. I came before you a month or so ago about creating a joint City/County office on Disability Services. Since seeing you, I’ve also been before the County Commissioners and the County Council. All have given their moral support on this idea and this project. The County Council even got to the point of suggesting that a committee be created, more or less, to write job description policy and so forth and to help create the job…. to bring it back for a formal vote. So, at this time I came in basically just to try and give you an idea where we stand and to see if the City Council would desire to put a member on this committee. The current committee is made up of myself, three other people with disabilities, and one that we are looking for with a hearing impairment. Weve talked to a couple people. Also, Mr. Don Kelps, who’s with me tonight, who is the father of a person with a disability. We have two service members, or service providers, one who does for the general….a broad perspective of people with disabilities, and one who deals with geriatrics. And so we’ve tried to make a well-rounded committee to try to create and bring back for a formal vote and everything in a few months. So our purpose for tonight is bringing you up to date where we stand and to see if the City Council would desire to put a member, or it doesn’t have to be a member, a representative on this committee.
President Bagbey: Anyone on Council have any comment? Rob, what I’m willing to do, as I told you in the past, I support this program, but I really want to talk to Mayor Weinzapfel in lieu of this study to see exactly where….what his vision is. I would like to have some further discussion between you and I about this.
Rob Kerney: Okay, that would be fine.
President Bagbey: Then we can possibly bring back the….enlighten the Council a little bit more, because if we’re talking about creating a department that is funded by the Council, or joint funded by City/County, we’re going to have to look at where we are going to get the money.
Rob Kerney: And that’s one thing that this committee would do. They would bring back those facts and figures so you’d have the better idea of where we think we might pull the money from that and also what we’re thinking about cost. So that’s the idea. This committee is doing the early foundation footwork for you so you won’t have to do it over. So we can have it ready for everybody.
President Bagbey: So you’re saying basically, this is an exploratory committee?
Rob Kerney: Basically yes, in coming back with facts, figures, and some ideas. I mean, the first step towards trying to make this a formal step. Actually we’re going to be…we’re going to have a formal position within six months. I told County Council it takes six months to a year, because they were very interested also in funding. If they were the ones that were in most favor of it, it didn’t seem to phase them when I said $80,000. But I would like to do some more research and hire this committee to bring back more facts and figures, so that as I say $80,000, if I could lay it out rather than just be a guesstimate. So that’s where we are right now. This is more of an exploratory committee to start writing…or start looking into the costs and so forth.
President Bagbey: Okay.
Rob Kerney: So we’re just….we’re just basically just offering a courtesy to see if the Council would like to have representation, or if you can guess well enough to run with the idea and come back with you with information as we get our full report ready. We’d like also, not only, see what we have in other cities in Indiana, but also in cities similar in size to Evansville throughout the United States. I know for an example, compared to Indianapolis, we’ve let some areas that we are going to tough on that they don’t. So, it’s kind of the early stages of it now to come back with a full report, and so that it’s not just me standing here giving you the hope and pipe dreams or wishes and everything like that, but actually have facts and figures for you all.
President Bagbey: Well, this is an exploratory committee. I will go ahead and appoint myself Rob, but I do want discussions with the Mayor to see what his vision is in lieu of this study.
Rob Kerney: I realize being new with the Mayor’s transition and everything I’ve not had time or really an opportunity to meet with him yet. So, from early conversation with him it does seem like he’s in favor of entertaining the idea. I’ve just not had time to sit down and speak with his transitional team.
President Bagbey: Okay. Well then you can list me on your exploratory committee then we can go from there. You and I will have some dialogue there very soon about this.
Rob Kerney: All right, sounds good sir. Thank you Mr. President.
President Bagbey: Thank you. The last piece of business. Since Ms. Riecken, Gail Riecken is now the Parks Director we have a vacancy on the Green River Passage, Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage Advisory Board. The letter that I’m in receipt of is that they are looking for a person as a media specialist, or one of the banks, or representative from the University of Evansville. University of Evansville has helped in some water studies and problems in regards to Pigeon Creek. Don’t have to have a name tonight, but if anybody’s got someone out there that may fit this criteria that Shirley James the Chairperson is looking for, let us know and we will make that appointment.
Councilman Kiefer: Mr. President you said this is for a Board appointment?
President Bagbey: Yes.
Councilman Kiefer: Okay.
President Bagbey: An Advisory Board appointment.
Councilman Kiefer: Mark Miller might be a good fit from Vectren. He’s….he was in radio and TV and advertising for a number of years and handles those kind of things sometimes for Vectren. He might be a good fit.
President Bagbey: I noticed a lot of people walking around Vectren today with picket signs. I thought that’s what it was. Mark Miller. Okay, think about it and get back with me by the 26th, and we will go from there. Any other business to come before Council at this time?
Councilwoman Walden: Mr. President. Thank you. I just wanted to fill you in in case you haven’t heard the big news that our minority leader for 2004 is none other than Councilman Jeff Kniese.
President Bagbey: Welcome.
Councilman Kniese: Nobody wants this.
President Bagbey: Okay, Committee Reports.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
FINANCE CHAIRMAN___________________________________________________JOHN
President Bagbey: In Councilman John’s absence Ordinance F-2004-1, January 26th at 6:15. Notify Lisa.
ASD
CHAIRWOMAN_____________________________________ ROBINSON
Nothing at this time Mr. President.
PUBLIC WORKS CHAIRMAN______________________________________ MELCHER
Mr. President, I guess there’s Ordinance G-2003-10, which was carried over, the housing code and owner registration, but I think there is still….no dates have been set. So I guess we’re going to continue that for a long time.
President John: So that would be the FOP into 2004.
Councilman Melcher: That’s already worse than the FOP. It’s surpassed the FOP.
President Bagbey: I hear ya. Anything else? Seeing none the Chair would entertain a motion for adjournment.
ADJOURNMENT:
Councilman Kniese moved and Councilman Watts seconded the motion to adjourn. Voice Vote. So Ordered. Meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
PRESIDING OFFICER
CITY CLERK