CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 15, 2003
The Honorable Council of the City of Evansville met on regular session at 6:30 pm on Monday, September 15, 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 nine (9) members present and zero (0) members absent and nine (9) members representing a quorum, the President declared this session of the Common Council officially opened.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilwoman Walden led the pledge of allegiance this evening.
President John: As I’m sure everyone is aware it’s been in the news for the past week we lost a great man in the State of Indiana Indiana this past week, Governor O’Bannon. He will be sorely missed by I’m sure all of us. At this time if we’d just take a moment of silence in his honor.
Thank you. Fellow Councilmen, those in the audience, welcome to the September 15th meeting of the Common Council. We have with us today our Teen Advisory Members. I welcome them.
COUNCIL ATTORNEY
John Hamilton is Council Attorney this evening.
TEEN ADVISORY COUNCIL
Beth Polin Breanna Herschelman
Jenna Schmitt Carlada Flowers
READING AND AMENDMENT OF MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING
Is there a motion to approve the minutes of the September 8th meetings?
Councilman Bagbey moved and Councilwoman Robinson seconded the motion that the minutes of the regular meeting of the Common Council held September 8th, 2003 be approved as written. Voice vote. So ordered.
REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
IN YOUR SEPTEMBER 12TH PACKET:
*Agenda for September 12, 2003 City Council Meeting.
*Committee Meeting Schedule.
*Minutes from City Council Meeting held September 8, 2003.
*Rezoning Ordinance R-2003-30.
*Area Plan Commission Minutes from September 3, 2003 meeting.
*Area Plan Commission Staff Reports.
*Addendum to Ordinance F-2003-16.
*Letter from Les Shively asking for a continuance for R-2003-26 (121 Dexter Avenue.)
*Agenda from the Evansville Redevelopment Commission.
*Letter from the Legal Aid Society concerning the rearrangement of Civic Center office space.
ON YOUR DESK THIS EVENING:
*City of Evansville, Indiana Park District Bonds of 2003.
*911 Ambulance Call Summary for August 2003.
*A memo from Peggy Braun regarding Homeless Management Information System.
*Board of Park Commissioners Agenda for September 17, 2003 meeting.
*Citizen call-in for City Council members.
*Revised City Council Agenda adding Ordinance F-2003-16 to 2nd and 3rd Readings.
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.
CONSENT AGENDA
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE R-2003-30 TO APC C-1 and R-1 TO C-4
AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE CERTAIN REAL ESTATE IN THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, STATE OF INDIANA, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 3900 WEST LLOYD EXPRESSWAY
PETITIONER: DENNIS V. OWENS
OWNER: SAME
REP: BARTHOLOMEW J. MUELLER
DISTRICT: B.J. WATTS
Councilman Melcher moved and Councilwoman Robinson seconded the motion to adopt the Consent Agenda as written. Voice vote. So ordered.
President John: I do have in front of me this evening a letter from Les Shively the Attorney for Ordinance R-2003-26. The rezoning of the property located at 121 South Dexter. Requesting for a couple of reasons a continuance of this matter. I believe it would be appropriate for us to make a motion that this matter be continued. It does not have a date set on here so I don’t know if there’s a specific date that he wants this…..
Beverly Behme: In October.
President John: It will be the third Monday in October. Does anyone have a calendar? And if he does amend he would have an opportunity to go back to Area Plan. In the event that he doesn’t he will be back here on the third.
Councilwoman Walden: October 20th.
President John: Okay, may I have a motion that this matter be continued until October 20th.
Councilman Bagbey moved and Councilwoman Walden seconded the motion to continue R-2003-26 until October 20th, at 6:30 p.m. Voice vote. So ordered.
CONSENT AGENDA
SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE R-2003-27 FROM APC R-2 TO R-3
AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE CERTAIN REAL ESTATE IN THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, STATE OF INDIANA, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 21 & 23 WEST MARYLAND STREET
PETITIONER: KARAN WOODS
OWNER: SAME
REP: SAME
DISTRICT: STEPHEN MELCHER, WARD 3
This petition was recommended for approval, having 10 affirmative votes.
Is there a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda Second Reading of Zoning Ordinances and to accept the Area Plan Commission Report?
Councilman Melcher and Councilman Watts seconded the motion to Adopt the Consent Agenda Second Reading of Zoning Ordinances and to accept the Area Plan Commission Reports. Voice Vote. So ordered.
Council now stands at Third Reading of Zoning Ordinances, which is final action.
REGULAR AGENDA
THIRD READING OF ZONING ORDINANCES:
ORDINANCE R-2003-27 FROM APC R-2 TO R-3
AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE CERTAIN REAL ESTATE IN THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, STATE OF INDIANA, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 21 & 23 WEST MARYLAND STREET
PETITIONER: KARAN WOODS
President John: Ms Woods would you please come forward? Welcome, would you please give a brief description of your request and then make yourself available for questions by Council.
Karan Woods: Sure, we basically have the rezoning of an apartment building back to its original state and found out after the fact that it was zoned R-2. We have followed all of the city guidelines. We called the City July 9th and got the copies from that. They have three electrical units downstairs that’s totally up to code and this is the one we wanted to rezone now because being is May would just be lending lending agency that governs (inaudible) really have tightened down on the zoning making sure that they are, you know, proper zoning. I requested that this be needed to sell the property or refinance in the future that it be up to the proper zoning.
President John: Thank you very much. I would point out to Council it did receive unanimous approval from the Area Plan Commission. Are there questions by Members of Council? Is there anyone in the audience that would like to speak either in favor of or in opposition to this petition?
Ordinance R-2003-27 and call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: Kniese, Bagbey, Melcher, Robinson, Koehler Walden, Watts, Angermeier Kiefer,
John.
There being 9 ayes and 0 nays, Ordinance R-2003-27 is hereby declared ADOPTED.
CONSENT AGENDA
SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE F-2003-15 FINANCE (ROBINSON) JOHN
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL APPROVING THE ANNUAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND APPROPRIATING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT, HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS GRANT AND OTHER FUNDS.
ORDINANCE F-2003-16 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
RESOLUTION C-2003-22 FINANCE ROBINSON
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE CONFIRMING THE DECLARATION OF AN ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AREA FOR PROPERTY TAX PHASE-IN FOR REDEVELOPMENT OR REHABILITATION OF VARIOUS PROPERTIES (HABITAT OF EVANSVILLE)
RESOLUTION C-2003-23 FINANCE ROBINSON
A PRELIMINARY RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE DECLARING AN ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AREA FOR PROPERTY TAX PHASE-IN FOR REDEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT 252,256,258, 260,262, 264, 266 MULBERRY STREET (CAPE SENIOR HOUSING PROJECT)
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRWOMAN ROBINSON:
Councilwoman Robinson: Yes President John. Ordinance F-2003-16 comes before you with a do-pass. Resolution F-2003-22 also comes before you tonight with a do-pass. Resolution F-2003-23 comes before you with a do-pass and one Councilman abstaining, Councilman Melcher. And Ordinance F-2003-15 is held until September 22nd. I’m sorry, F-2003-16 was also amended.
Councilman Melcher moved and Councilman Kniese seconded the motion to adopt the Committee Reports and move these Ordinances and Resolutions to Third Reading. Voice vote. So ordered.
There being no further motions, these Ordinances and Resolutions are hereby moved to Third Reading.
REGULAR AGENDA
THIRD READING OF ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE F-2003-16 (as amended) 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
Councilman Melcher moved and Councilwoman Walden seconded the motion to adopt Ordinance F-2003-16, as amended, and call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: Kniese, Bagbey, Melcher, Robinson, Koehler Walden, Watts, Angermeier, Kiefer,
John.
There being 9 ayes and 0 nays, Ordinance F-2003-16, as amended, is hereby declared ADOPTED.
RESOLUTION C-2003-22 FINANCE ROBINSON
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE CONFIRMING THE DECLARATION OF AN ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AREA FOR PROPERTY TAX PHASE-IN FOR REDEVELOPMENT OR REHABILITATION OF VARIOUS PROPERTIES (HABITAT OF EVANSVILLE)
Councilwoman Walden moved and Councilman Bagbey seconded the motion to adopt
Resolution C-2003-22 and call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: Kniese, Bagbey, Melcher, Robinson, Koehler Walden, Watts, Angermeier, Kiefer, John.
There being 9 ayes and 0 nays, Resolution C-2003-22 is hereby declared ADOPTED.
RESOLUTION C-2003-23 FINANCE ROBINSON
A PRELIMINARY RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE DECLARING AN ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AREA FOR PROPERTY TAX PHASE-IN FOR REDEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT 252,256,258, 260,262, 264, 266 MULBERRY STREET (CAPE SENIOR HOUSING PROJECT)
Councilwoman Walden moved and Councilwoman Robinson seconded the motion to adopt Resolution C-2003-23 and call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: Kniese, Bagbey,
Melcher: For the record, as everybody knows and got a letter earlier that I work for CAPE so it won’t be perceived even though I don’t have anything to do with housing or any of those parts I’m abstaining from the vote.
Robinson, Koehler Walden, Watts, John, Angermeier, Kiefer, John.
There being 8 ayes and 0 nays, and 1 abstention, Resolution C-2003-23 is hereby declared ADOPTED.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
President John: Does any Councilman have anything to bring up under Miscellaneous. Councilman Kniese.
Councilman Kniese: I’ve receive a couple of calls from people that you know the westbound ramp there at Lloyd Expressway and Green River Road is closed now. I think it’s supposed to be closed for around thirty-three plus days. Had some calls from people I guess they were complaining about there’s no detour signs showing people from out of town how they can get to Green River Road. And, I made a phone call to the local representative of INDOT that’s handling that project and basically he told me he said: “They are just not going to do it!” He said they didn’t schedule to have the signs there so, I guess my question to him was I’ve seen other projects where they have these signs that says detour showing how to get over to Green River Road. And, just wanted to make everybody aware that I made those calls, tried to get some detour signs put up and they refused to do it. So hopefully they will stick to their schedule of thirty/thirty-one days and have it completed and opened back up. But I have had some calls complaining about that.
President John: Have you contacted maybe Jerry Hayes or some of the people with the administration and have them follow up with it.
Councilman Kniese: Yeah, I actually have a call in to Brian Nichol as well. I’m just waiting to hear back from Brian. But it’s…you know they have those signs. So the detour signs are nothing they have to print up there they have those in abundance. I was hoping they could put those up and let people know how they can get to Green River Road but, they refused to do that.
Councilman Watts: Jeff, Mark McGregor runs this area of INDOT and he’s usually pretty easy to work with. That might be someone you can get in touch with. Mark McGregor is his name, he’s….I’ve never had trouble, I can’t imagine they won’t do that. I understand they said no, but if you get with Mark, and he’s local, then he may be a little more receptive to what you are looking for.
Councilman Melcher: I believe all we really have to do so not to have to make nine phone calls. Why don’t we call…Alberta, if you could call Rose in the morning, Zigenfus. She’s over Evansville Urban Transportation Study. That project comes through her office. So I’m sure this question has came up before and they have done it. So I think if you get hold of her and she get hold of INDOT and the proper people and the consultants I think we can work something out.
Councilwoman Walden: I would just ask if you would like to have a resolution from the Council endorsing that. Or, maybe when you talk to Rose even just let her know that Council would request that this be taken care of.
President John: And if she thinks that would help maybe that would be good next week we could entertain something like that. Any other matter by Members of Council? Councilwoman.
President John: Yes, please come forward and state your name for the record and….
Beth Schaefer: I’m Beth Schaefer from Youth Resources. I’m a Teen Advisory Council Coordinator. We are…you are letting us sit with you for the next year. I think we have it planned out through May. We had an advisory meeting Friday we have to alert people from companies that sit on our Teen Advisory Council and act as advisory communications between discussing accountability issues and thought maybe we could get some of these Council people to come to one of our Friday morning meetings and talk to the kids about what you all do. Maybe some of your districts and the importance of City Government. That might give them a little bit (INAUDIBLE) I’m disappointed with the accountability when we talked to them about that before. So maybe we could get some of you all to come. They are every other Friday and they are at 5:55 a.m.
Councilman Kniese: I would suggest our Council President should be the first one to go.
President John: I’d be more that happy to do that.
Councilman Kniese: And I’d like to have pictures showing him being there at 5:50 a.m.
President John: I have to find out what to do in that interim from the time I get up until 5:55, but I’m sure I’ll find something.
Councilman Bagbey: I’d like the record to reflect that my workday begins at 0615 so I am up and rock-and-Rollin’, I’d be more than happy to go there.
Beth Schaefer: I think it would be just great for the kids to see you all come.
Councilman Bagbey: When’s the next meeting?
Beth Schaefer: It is Friday actually.
Councilman Bagbey: I’ll be there.
President John: Thank you very much Beth. Did you want to make any comments today after Notre Dame’s performance this weekend? (laughter)
Councilman Bagbey: I need to respond after that challenge. Always remember there are a lot of people that grab the bandwagon last year with Coach Willingham and his success, okay. But it’s one thing you can say about Steve Bagbey and the Bagbey clan. We’re there with the Irish through thick and thin, win or lose, yes it was a dark day, but as Ara Parsegian once said: “from these ashes a new and stronger Notre Dame Football Program will arise, and I’ve got all the confidence in Coach.
President John: I agree. And they don’t have very many lean times. Any other matters to come before Council this evening? If not we’ll go to Committee Reports. Finance Chairwoman Robinson.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
FINANCE CHAIRWOMAN____________________________________ ROBINSON
F-2003-13, September 22, 2003 at 6 p.m. Ordinance F-2003-17 on October 6, 2003 at 6:15.
ASD CHAIRMAN_______________________________________________ ANGERMEIER
There is nothing scheduled for ASD at this time.
PUBLIC WORK CHAIRMAN__________________________________________ BAGBEY
We will hear the famous sound/noise Ordinance that we have championed then it will be G-2003-23 on September 22, at 5:50 p.m.
President John: May I have a motion to adjourn?
ADJOURNMENT:
Councilwoman Robinson moved and Councilman Watts seconded the motion to adjourn. Voice vote. So ordered. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
PRESIDING OFFICER
CITY CLERK