CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 6, 2003
The Honorable Council of the City of Evansville met on regular session at 6:30 pm on Monday, January 6, 2003, in the City Council Chambers, Room 301 Civic Center Complex, Evansville, Indiana with President Robinson, 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
Councilman Kniese led the pledge of allegiance this evening.
COUNCIL ATTORNEY
John Hamilton is Council Attorney this evening.
TEEN ADVISIORY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Member: Jennifer Lamb Member: Jayce Eifler
Member: Krista Eifler Member: Andy Lindauer
Member: Jessica Lamb
SERGEANT AT ARMS
This evening Officer Middendorf is our Sergeant at Arms.
READING AND AMENDMENT OF MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING
Is there a motion to approve the minutes of the December 16, 2002 meetings of the Common Council as written?
Councilman Bagbey moved and Councilman Melcher seconded the motion that the minutes of the regular meeting of the Common Council held December 16th, 2002 be approved as written. Voice vote. So ordered.
NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
President Robinson calls for the election of officers for 2003.
Council Member Bagbey moves to nominate Council Member John for President.
Councilman Watts seconded the motion.
Councilmen Melcher moves to close the nomination for President.
Councilman Watts seconded the motion.
There being no further motion, Councilman John now stands as President for 2003. Voice vote. So ordered.
President Robinson now asks for the nomination for Vice-President
Councilman Melcher moves to nominate Councilman Steven Bagbey for Vice-President of the Council for 2003.
Councilman Angermeier seconds the motion
Councilman Melcher moved to close the nomination for Vice-President.
Councilman Watts seconds the motion.
There being no further nomination Councilman Bagbey now stands as Vice-President for 2003. Voice vote. So ordered.
President John: Thank you Councilman. First, I’d like to thank Connie for a great job she has done over the past year. You’ve once again shown why the people in your district elect you, you do a great job and we are all proud of you. At this time I’d like to appoint some committee chairs. Finance Chairman. You didn’t get out of everything Connie. You are now the Finance Chairman should you decide to accept it.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN APPOINTMENTS:
Finance Chairman: Connie Robinson.
ASD Chairman: Councilman Angermeier.
Public Works Chairman: Councilman Bagbey.
REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
IN YOUR DECEMBER 27TH PACKET:
*A letter from Debra Wade.
*A News Release regarding Aztar lease agreement.
*Westside Improvement Association letter.
*A News Release regarding Park and land gift from the Charlier family.
*AMR Quarterly Report.
*Grants for Cities and Towns Biweekly Hotline.
*A memo from DMD regarding Market Analysis of Housing Feasibility.
*A copy of a tort claim against the City of Evansvillle.
*A copy of Nation’s Cities Weekly.
IN YOUR JANUARY 3RD PACKET:
*Agenda for the January 6, 2003, City Council Meeting.
*Committee Meeting Schedule.
*Minutes of City Council Meeting held December 16, 2002.
*Resolutions C-2003-1 and C-2003-2
*Ordinance G-2003-5.
*Vacation Studies and return receipts for Ordinances G-2003-1 and G-2003-4.
*An agenda for the January 7, 2003, meeting of the Redevelopment Committee.
ON YOUR DESK THIS EVENING:
*Board of Park Commissioners Agenda for January 8, 2003 meeting.
*Environmental Protection Agency Annual Report for 2002.
*A list of the Evansville Historic Preservation Commission members subject to City
Council approval.
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 G-2003-5 PUBLIC WORKS BAGBEY
AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING TAXICABS
RESOLUTION C-2003-1 FINANCE JOHN
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE GRANTING A WAIVER OF NONCOMPLIANCE FOR AN ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AREA FOR MEAD JOHNSON NUTRITIONALS (LOCATED AT 2404 WEST LLOYD EXPRESSWAY)
RESOLUTION C-2003-2 FINANCE JOHN
A CONFIRMING 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 AND/OR REHABILITATION OF PROPERTY AND FOR THE ACQUISITION AND INSTALLATION OF NEW MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT, LOCATED AT 2404 WEST LLOYD EXPRESSWAY (MEAD JOHNSON NUTRITIONALS)
Councilwoman Robinson moved and Councilman Melcher seconded the motion to adopt the consent agenda as written. Voice vote. So ordered.
CONSENT AGENDA
SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE G-2003-1 PUBLIC WORKS BAGBEY
AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE CERTAIN PUBLIC WAYS OR PUBLIC PLACES WITHIN THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1204 - 2137 W. INDIANA STREET
ORDINANCE G-2003-2 PUBLIC WORKS BAGBEY
AN ORDINANCE GRANTING CERTIFICATES OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE OPERATION OF TAXICABS FOR THEYEAR 2003 (CHECKER CAB CO.)
ORDINANCE G-2003-3 PUBLIC WORKS BAGBEY
AN ORDINANCE GRANTING CERTIFICATES OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE OPERATION OF TAXICABS FOR THEYEAR 2003 (RIVER CITY YELLOW CAB CO.)
ORDINANCE G-2003-4 PUBLIC WORKS BAGBEY
AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE CERTAIN PLATTED ALLEY WITHIN THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 602 EDGAR STREET THROUGH 622 EDGAR STREET
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
PUBLIC WORKS CHAIRMAN: Councilman Bagbey: Mr. President we have a do-pass recommendation on all matters heard this evening and I’m trying to remember which one we amended, Steve?
President John: G-2003-1 for Indiana Street, would be as amended.
Councilman Bagbey: As amended. And I believe that was the only one.
Councilman Melcher: Two and three.
Councilman Bagbey: Two (G-2003-2) and three (G-2003-3) were amended too. We changed the year on that, so. We do have a do-pass recommendation, as amended.
Councilman Melcher: With that I’ll move to adopt the Committee Reports and move these Ordinances to Third and Final Reading.
Councilman Melcher moved and Councilman Kniese to adopt the Committee Reports and move these Ordinances to Third Reading. Voice vote. So ordered.
REGULAR AGENDA
THIRD READING OF ZONING ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS:
ORDINANCE G-2003-1 (as amended) PUBLIC WORKS BAGBEY
AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE CERTAIN PUBLIC WAYS OR PUBLIC PLACES WITHIN THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1204 –2137 W. INDIANA STREET
Councilwoman Walden moved and Councilman Watts seconded the motion to adopt Ordinance G-2003-1 and call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: Kniese, Bagbey, Melcher, Robinson, Koehler Walden, Watts, Angermeier, Kiefer, John: Let the record reflect that it is as amended, aye.
There being nine (9) ayes and zero (0) nays, Ordinance G-2003-1, as amended, is hereby declared ADOPTED.
REGULAR AGENDA
THIRD READING
ORDINANCE G-2003-2 (as amended) PUBLIC WORKS BAGBEY
AN ORDINANCE GRANTING CERTIFICATES OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE OPERATION OF TAXICABS FOR THEYEAR 2003 (CHECKER CAB CO.)
Councilman Bagbey moved and Councilman Melcher seconded the motion to adopt Ordinance G-2003-2, as amended, 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 G-2003-2, as amended, is hereby declared
ADOPTED.
REGULAR AGENDA
THIRD READING
ORDINANCE G-2003-3 (as amended) PUBLIC WORKS BAGBEY
AN ORDINANCE GRANTING CERTIFICATES OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE OPERATION OF TAXICABS FOR THEYEAR 2003 (RIVER CITY YELLOW CAB CO.)
Councilwoman Walden moved and Councilman Melcher seconded the motion to adopt Ordinance G-2003-3, as amended, 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 G-2003-3, as amended, is hereby declared ADOPTED.
REGULAR AGENDA
THIRD READING
ORDINANCE G-2003-4 PUBLIC WORKS BAGBEY
AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE CERTAIN PLATTED ALLEY WITHIN THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 602 EDGAR STREET THROUGH 622 EDGAR STREET
Councilwoman Walden moved and Councilman Kniese seconded the motion to adopt Ordinance G-2003-4 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 G-2003-4 is hereby declared ADOPTED.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
President John: We have previously appointed the Committee Chairs. At this time I’d like to name the Members of the Committee. It’s traditional that the President serve on all three Committees.
Finance Committee with Connie Robinson as Chairman. It is my understanding your Committee Members were going to by myself, Mr. Watts, and Ms. Walden.
Councilwoman Robinson: Correct.
President John: Councilman Bagbey it is my understanding that your Committee is going to by myself, Councilman Kniese, Councilman Watts, and Councilman Angermeier.
Councilman Angermeier it is my understanding that your Committee is going to be myself, Mr. Kiefer, and Mr. Bagbey. Okay.
Those would comprise our three operating committees. There are some other board appointments that are to be made at this time. The vast majority of them are a mirror of the appointments from last year. If any Council Member has any objection to the reappointment to a committee please let me know and we’ll try and correct that and change it for…at our next meeting. In the past Councilman Kiefer you’ve been on the Animal Control Board. Councilman Angermeier you’ve been with the Area Plan Commission. I have served as our representative on the Center City Corporation; it is now Downtown Evansville Inc. Councilman Angermeier you’ve been on Central Dispatch. Councilwoman Walden you’ve been on the Community Foundation Board. Councilman Kiefer you’ve been on the Data Board. Councilman Melcher on the EUTS Board. Myself on Legal Aid. Councilman Kniese with the Museum. Councilman Melcher on the Urban Enterprise Zone. Councilwoman Walden on WNIN Board, and Councilman Watts on the Solid Waste Board. Does anyone have any objections to those reappointments?
The Youth Leadership Grant Chairman will remain the same, Councilman Watts, and the Committee will be comprised of Councilwoman Robinson, Councilwoman Koehler Walden, and Councilman Kniese.
The Youth Sports Grants Chairman will remain as Councilman Melcher. The sub-committee will be Councilwoman Robinson, Bagbey, Watts, and Kiefer.
We also have some miscellaneous boards. The Building Authority Board will remain the same as Howard Williams. The Home Inspection Board, Mr. Kattmann has indicated that he would once again like to serve on that commission. Our MBE/WBE Utilization Board appointment in the past has been Jeff Lake and if anyone has any objections to him being re-appointed please bring it up at this time, if not he is re-appointed. Our Greenway…the Pigeon Creek Greenway Committee has been Gail Riecken and I believe Jack Corn in the past which will remain the same. Absent any objects by Members of Council. Our Police Merit Commission Members has been Reverend Adrian Brooks. Our Redevelopment Commission Board Members have been Bob Goldman and Pete Watkins, Alphonzo “Pete” Watkins. The Refrigeration and Steamfitters Board Jack McNeely. Tree Advisory Board Larry Caplan. That’s the only board committee
appointments…or board appointments that I have at this time. Is there any objections to any of those members serving in those capacities? If not we’d entertain a motion that those be approved. Voice vote. So ordered.
I think it’s been customary in the past that all Council Members that are being appointed to a committee… Is it required even though we are sworn in as Members of Council to uphold the Constitution State…Constitution of the United States?
Deputy Clerk Buhr: I think it is because it’s a year term.
President John: The Clerk has requested that we all raise our right hands and be sworn in to the various positions that we’ve been appointed to tonight so…just to make sure everything is legal I guess we all raise our right hands and get sworn at by the Clerk.
Deputy Clerk Buhr: Raise your hands and I’ll just read it in general. Just state your name, I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Indiana, and that I faithfully and impartially will discharge all of my official duties as a member of the appointed board of the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, according to the law to the best of my ability so help me God.
President John: You have been duly sworn in.
Deputy Clerk Buhr: I have your paperwork if you’ll sign it.
President John: Next under miscellaneous we did receive in the mail this weekend and I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get it earlier and have some discussions as….I don’t know if Angela was there or not, but Connie you and I attended a meeting and we had six board members from the Historic Preservation, and I noted some of them in the audience this evening. And we requested to have a meeting with him regarding his request for appointments because we had some concerns about the Board and the direction that it was going. And it was my understanding that we would have some dialogue prior to the recommendations, but we do have some recommendations in front of us. I don’t know what the other Council Members thoughts on this are. The original intent of the Ordinance was to create an atmosphere down there that was both productive and good for the neighborhood. And to be honest for the past year there has been…and I know that many of you have received phone calls and there has been articles in the newspaper and in Evansville Living, and a number of other areas. I have concerns with the direction that we are going. The original intent was to make a cohesive neighborhood to protect the neighbors with their investments and I have some concerns about the direction we’re going right now. I would have liked to have met with the Mayor, and I’m sure that Ms. Robinson would have too regarding the direction the Committee has taken and the direction that we would like to see it go in the future. However, we haven’t had that opportunity. And I am reluctant today to bring this up for any kind of vote. I would like an opportunity to have some dialog with the administration. And so this will not be voted on this evening I will hold it.
Councilman Watts: Mr. President what happens to the Board to the members, maybe a better question for John.
President John: It’s my understanding and correct me if I’m mistaken that any appointed board member would continue to serve until his or her replacement has been duly appointed, sworn in, and the replacement has become effective. Otherwise you would continue to serve in your capacity as a member of that board until that particular instant.
Councilman Watts: I’ve also had…fielded several calls, and complaints with the way business was conducted. Mr. Hamilton I would ask that you draft an Ordinance and I will sponsor it repealing the Ordinance that established the Historic Preservation Commission for First Reading next week. I hope it can be remedied through appointments between now and the time that that will take place, but if not I think we’re headed in the wrong direction, and I can’t support something that I don’t have any input on. And two, it’s not an asset to the neighborhood.
Councilwoman Robinson: Mr. President I was out of the office most of the time today and I did want to back and I can’t see the fax from Ms. Crowley. She might want to come up to the podium and address the letter that I received.
Susan Crowley: I have a letter addressed to…I sent a copy to Connie and I’d like to give a copy to each of the Council Members. I won’t read the whole letter. There are some interesting facts in the letter. There’s a quote in the letter from
Councilman Melcher: You’re not being recorded.
President John: Yeah, you may want to get back to the podium and get your name in the record.
Councilman Melcher: (INAUDIBLE) if you want us to Ms. Crowley.
Susan Crowley: I’m not going to read the whole letter. I faxed it to Connie Robinson this afternoon. There’s two interesting facts in the letter, and these are facts, and I want you to remember this. And I am a resident of the neighborhood. I have a lot of money invested in my house and a lot of hard work involved in the neighborhood. My information was compiled in October of 2002 and this has to do with property value. Claims have been made that many potential landowners in the historic district have declined to take the risk of buying property in this area. Properties sell in the preservation area with values increasing at an average of 46.5% from 1996 to 2002. Turnover time is very rapid and many sales are private. Only a few homes and some that have insensitive renovation and structural problems and remain on the market for extended periods. Chief Justice Randall Shepard who was instrumental in setting up the Preservation Commission states in a letter to Connie Robinson. In a recent Statewide study of property values the Evansville section of the report starting on page 7, I think Connie you have a copy of this.
Councilwoman Robinson: Yes I do have (INAUDIBLE MIC OFF). Chief Justice Randall Shepard.
Susan Crowley: Indicates the property values in the commission district grows faster than values in the Evansville market as a whole. Faster than values in adjoining historic neighborhood not covered by the Commission. The comparisons with other cities contained in the introduction on page 1 of the study suggests that this result is the best of any city in the study. Quite simply the quality of homes brought about by the actions of our Preservation Commission, of City Council,
and an early residence have attracted people to the area who very much want to live there and some do not want to play by the rules. They want to reap the benefits of living in a beautiful area, enjoy the rising property values, the high standard of living but they don’t want to play by the rules and these are the very rules that made this place what it is today. So I will differ with Mr. Watts when he says our neighborhood has been harmed. The other interesting fact that I would like you to read is at the Wheeler Drive Neighborhood Association within the last two years has decided that they are no longer going to mail newsletters or meeting updates to the residents. They have decided to hand deliver. These people are getting CDBG Grant money from the Federal Government to pay for these mailings. These flyers and neighborhood newsletters are distributed to only a few people. This group has created an atmosphere of mistrust because they are not holding open meetings and those who oppose their views are not being heard. These individuals are anti-preservation and their soul interest is to do away with the Preservation Commission and the district as a whole. Some of these people work for the School Board and I think Mr. Watts works for the School Board also. I think that’s a very interesting fact, thank you.
President John: Thank you. Are there any questions for Ms. Crowley?
Councilman Melcher: I will say one thing. Under this block grant I think we all understand the block grant really was set up to be passed out by block captains. So in other words they weren’t supposed to be mailed at all. In fact it took the neighborhoods to…that’s the only thing you probably said that really wasn’t true. Block Captains were supposed to pass out all the neighborhood things. It’s just the last few years, and Mary Kixmiller could probably jump up and say that..that they have been allowed to mail them. Up until then they were all supposed to be handed out personally, that’s what started the grass roots neighborhood thing was that they were supposed to hand them out door to door to make sure everybody got handed one. That’s all the twelve targeted neighborhoods, not just Wheeler, all of them. And then what’s happened as we get more and more requests it’s getting tougher and some people don’t want to go up to different houses so that’s when the mailing started. Am I right Mary?
President John: I guess my biggest concern is that it’s creating a lot of animosity and ill feelings within…and I’m not picking sides. But it’s acting as a devisive board instead of a cohesive board. And I’m not pointing fingers and I’m not saying that anybody’s right or wrong, but I would like an opportunity to try to resolve it to where everybody can embrace what’s trying to take place in that particular neighborhood and achieve what we want to in a reasonable manner. Councilwoman Walden, I think you had your hand up first.
Councilwoman Walden: Thank you. Then am I to understand that as long as some dialogue takes place prior to next week then we could go ahead and hopefully resolve this and take a vote on it. If I understood….I just want to clarify too what you said Councilman. Your request for that Ordinance was if dialogue doesn’t take place then you would request that Ordinance…
Councilman Watts: I’m requesting it being drafted for first reading next week.
President John: And I would assume that…
Councilman Watts: If things can take place I have no problem with that.
Councilwoman Walden: And I just want to say that because I just want to go on record as saying that I do support the Preservation Commission, the original Ordinance I know that’s something….I had a little personal history with it that my father worked very hard to start so I would just be happy to be available in any way to help work this out so that we can have something that is cohesive for the neighborhood instead of dividing it apart.
President John: Great. And I think that’s common among all the members of Council. Councilman.
Councilman Kiefer: Thank you Mr. President. I want to make sure I understood Councilman Watts’ correctly. BJ did you say that you were going to have drafted an Ordinance that would abolish the Preservation Commission?
Councilman Watts: Preservation Commission as it exists.
Councilman Kiefer: Okay. Councilor I want to make sure I understand correctly. Doesn’t the City Council have input by we approve…and maybe we haven’t done this in the past, but I mean…but I think by Ordinance aren’t we supposed to approve the members that are appointed by the Mayor’s office, or appointed period?
John Hamilton: Yes, these appointments are subject to your approval, but if there’s people already appointed and you don’t approve of them they simply stay until replaced.
Councilman Kiefer: Well, you know, maybe we can discuss this later, but I mean it would make more sense to me to amend the Ordinance….
Councilman Watts: I didn’t want to do this on the Council floor….
President John: We can’t amend the Ordinance.
John Hamilton: You can’t. It’s under a State Statute and it has to be if you have one, it has to be under that…those rules. As to the appointments.
Councilman Kiefer: Okay. Okay.
Councilwoman Robinson: Let me ask a question to make sure I understand what you’re saying. BJ is requesting that you draw up a repeal so that it can be repealed. Our other alternative is to approve everyone that the Mayor has recommended, that’s one alternative, to approve everyone that the Mayor has recommended. We didn’t receive this list until over the weekend so can you approve partial, you have to approve the entire list or just…
John Hamilton: You could approve partial, but if you don’t approve ones and they are already previously appointed they stay in until they are replaced.
Councilman Watts: And there’s no time limit I understand on when they could replace them then in November of next year.
John Hamilton: Correct, and if you don’t approve them then they are still not replaced.
Councilman Melcher: I guess what maybe ought to be done under…I don’t think anybody wants it appealed. I guess that’s a step too…if you’re going to do that, that’s a step to maybe get some dialog. I’d request the Mayor meet with you and Connie and go over your concerns that was supposed to happen originally.
Councilman Watts: (INUADIBLE) two months ago.
Councilman Melcher: Lets go….I understand, but what I’m saying is lets go back to the original deal and let the Mayor meet with them and Angela I think you’re supposed to be in that meeting too as a minority leader. So you need to go and speak with the Mayor and I would request that maybe in good faith that the Redevelopment…excuse me I’m on the wrong….the Preservation Commission not meet and not take any action, that way we’re all working a good spirit, we’re working a good spirit, the Mayor’s office, and the existing board as it sets today. So they don’t vote on anything that’s going to create more uprising until you meet with the Mayor. I think in fairness, and we’re all working together to come to a common goal.
President John: Well just a few comments. Number 1: With the wording of the Statute and the Ordinance it’s obvious that the drafters indicated that input should be coming from Council as to who the appointments are or else it wouldn’t have subject to our approval. And over a month ago we had a meeting requested that we discuss this because I frankly I didn’t want this at a public meeting. You know I would rather come up with a board that’s agreeable to the neighbors that’s going to accomplish the goal that we are looking to accomplish there without any controversy.
Councilwoman Robinson: Councilman John I wasn’t in that meeting.
President John: You were there?
Councilwoman Robinson: No I wasn’t in that meeting.
President John: Or was that a SAC meeting?
Councilwoman Walden: I wasn’t at a SAC meeting, the last SAC meeting there.
President John: Okay.
Councilwoman Robinson: But I did receive a telephone call from you asking if the Mayor contacted me about his appointments. And I said I got this in the mail over the weekend. And he said he’d asked them to contact me earlier about that.
President John: Okay. Well, now maybe there will be some dialogue and in the event that there is not there’s always the threat of repeal. And nobody wants to see that, but…
Councilwoman Robinson: I think that this is something that we can work out.
President John: I would hope so.
Councilwoman Robinson: And Joan has mentioned she has the Mayor’s calendar and can sit down and….
President John: Please. I’m not sure, were you in that meeting? Boy it just must have been the two of us. I could have sworn there was six people there.
Joan David: It’s been a long holiday. As the Mayor’s scheduler I feel obligated to address you because it was not my understanding that you wanted to meet with him to discuss the Ordinance. It was my understanding that….
President John: The appointments.
Joan David: I’m sorry, the apartment…the appointments I…. the appointment. It was not my understanding that you wanted to meet with him to discuss the appointments. It was my understanding that you wanted to see the appointments before tonight’s meeting. Granted they only came over the weekend, but if you will excuse us we’ve taken some rare precious vacation time during the holidays and only came back to work on Thursday. And after we got all the paper work done Thursday and Friday it went out in the mail Friday afternoon and I’m assuming then you all got it Saturday. So that was our understanding that you get a list of the appointments before tonight’s meeting. I never knew that you wanted to discuss this with him in advance. I’m happy to call both of you tomorrow morning or you can walk over here to the office immediately after this meeting and schedule something. Be happy to do that. So if I’m….
President John: Tomorrow will be fine. We’ll set up a time maybe next week to where we can sit down and see Councilwoman Robinson schedule.
Councilwoman Robinson: I believe, I think they have a public hearing Dennis Au said
President John: the 15h.
Councilwoman Robinson: The 15th of January, hopefully we can meet before that.
Councilman Watts: But I’d like to state for the record that this is not a threat of repealing.
You will all be entitled to a vote. I will bring it up at first reading next week if the members that are on here are not changed drastically as evidence by the statements earlier, the sarcasm, and the statement about who I work for has nothing to do with what I do. I take my job very seriously and that treatment of myself is evidence of the way people are treated before they go before that commission. And unless the people that are on their take part in those activities change I will stand by my Ordinance to repeal.
Councilman Angermeier: Mr. Chairman, ask if there is anybody that would like to speak from the audience.
President John: Okay. Was there anyone else who would like to speak from the audience? Please come forward and state your name.
Nancy T. Drake: My name is Nancy Tarsatano Drake and I do live in the Riverside neighborhood. And I just have one comment to make and that is if you all will look at the names
of these people that you are getting telephone calls from, there are five at best. This is a group in the neighborhood for the rest of us this is a dangerous crowd of people, because all of this is happening, because frankly a couple of women got upset, and they have stirred things up to the point that when you talk about articles in the newspaper that’s right. Because they picked up the phone and called, not the other side. The article in Evansville Living, it doesn’t matter how you look at it, I subscribe to the magazine, I love the magazine, it was bias. Whose picture was on the cover? Was it one of the Commissioners pictures? Or was it the complainer’s picture? I’m asking all of you before it turns into something incredibly volcanically political, this is a couple of women with an incredible agenda and they are dragging all of you through the mud, believe me. I live downtown, I’m in the Larvy Condominium Association, we are in the middle of a mess right now with the Preservation Commission. They have treated us fairly, I have no complaint, part of living in that beautiful neighborhood is that when you want to redo your railings, or do your shutters, or paint the exterior of your building you must go and get permission. If you live in Johnson Place you can’t do anything like that without…you cannot paint your house pink without getting permission. Don’t take away the very fabric of our city by getting involved in such a way that you think what you’re doing is making it better for people. It’s good; it’s good the way it is. Look very carefully at the complainers, please. Look very carefully what they are really saying. And I thank you.
President John: Thank you. Are there any questions for Ms. Drake?
Councilman Bagbey: Comment. I guess I’m the only person on Council who hasn’t got a telephone call. I’ve been following this going back to the letter that we got from Mr. Hamilton back in September 12th and everything that I’ve ever heard has been hearsay. But I will say one thing that I didn’t like tonight Mrs. Crowley. I thought it was totally unprofessional for you to attack Mr. Watts. I have seen that more than one occasion and I have been a victim of that. I don’t know what are the issues there with the Historic Preservation. But I think it was very uncalled for to single out Mr. Watts because he’s a teacher. And from that…that leaves a bad taste in my mouth, I mean it really does. I also think BJ it’s kind of reactionary to want to do away with this Ordinance. But that’s my opinion, and like you said I have my vote. I don’t know what the issues are somebody’s going to have to enlighten me because nobody has every called me about this, but Mr. Watts I do take exception to Mrs. Crowley’s comment to you.
Councilman Kniese: Mr. Chairman if you would.
President John: Councilman.
Councilman Kniese: Steve I haven’t received any calls myself either.
Councilman Bagbey: Well thank you Jeff.
Councilman Kniese: I’ve not received any complaints. Yes, my only comment would be…I think in the spirit that the Preservation Commission was established. I think most everyone here would agree that we want to try and preserve that if possible. And so I just hope that next week, or whatever time frame we use that the meeting can occur with the Mayor’s office and certain representatives of Council and the Commission to resolve the issues. I would hate to see this repealed. I think it serves a great purpose for our city and I hope we can work things out in the next week or so.
President John: And I do too, and I think they are making moves in the right direction. They have now established some guide lines of a….almost like building codes and I think that’s an important step, because it takes the arbitrariness out of it, and it sets up some procedures. And I think we’ve got a big job in front of us on educating not only the residents of the neighborhood but also potential buyers and other individuals as to what’s expected of them if they do invest in property down there. And I think we’ve probably been lax there, maybe the Council and the Commission, and the Building Commissioner and everyone that’s involved with the issue. Because I know that people do get down there and don’t know that they have to follow certain procedures, and I know that there are certain people that do know but don’t do it. So we’ve got some education to do and I don’t think anyone is for doing away with the Commission. It looks like Dr. Crowley would like to address us as well. Good evening.
Dr. Tim Crowley: Good evening, Tim Crowley. I didn’t have anything prepared but I just thought I’d ask if you had any questions of me?
Councilman Bagbey: Not at this time I don’t.
Dr. Tim Crowley: Oh, okay, thanks.
Susan Crowley: I’d like to say one more thing in regards to Mr. Bagbey.
President John: Ms. Crowley.
Susan Crowley: I’d like to officially apologize to Mr. Watts if my behavior was uncalled for. I guess it was my reaction to his outrageous request that we abolish the Preservation Commission in the district. I’m sorry.
President John: Thank you.
Councilwoman Robinson: Mr. President I would just like to be on the record that I don’t have any problems with the names that have been submitted by the Mayor, it’s just that I want to communicate with him about some of my concerns.
President John: Any other matters to come under Miscellaneous Business? Councilwoman.
Councilwoman Walden: Thank you. I would like to make an announcement Mr. Councilman Melcher referred to me earlier as a minority leader and I’ve been pleased to serve as a minority leader for the last, oh I guess four or five years. Today we had a little announcement earlier today and this year Councilman Kniese has agreed to serve as a minority leader. We feel like with his expertise in finance that this is going to be something that he can bring to us. So, I’m officially passing the hat to you Councilman Kniese and look forward to continuing to work with not only Jeff but all of you.
President John: Thank you.
Councilman Angermeier: Chairman.
President John: Councilman.
Councilman Angermeier: Before we adjourn I’d like to complement the President of the Council last year for doing an excellent job. I thank the Attorney to the Council has done an excellent job of advising us and I want to pay the complement to all who made 2002 a good year..
Councilwoman Robinson: Mr. President. I have on my desk tonight that I received today from the Baseball Stadium Invocation Committee I’m a member of that. And what I have in front of me, and I guess what I will do is give it to Madam Clerk and let her distribute it. It is a screen captured from the web site on www.evansvillebaseball.com, it’s a copy of videotape: “Bring the Dream Home” designed for use of neighborhood associations and other community meetings. It’s copies of the TV, radio, and newspaper, public service announcements, a copy of the Outdoor Board, which will be posted later this month. And it’s a series of press releases that have been issued and bumper stickers, and multi-use stickers that the Baseball Committee wants you to look at and let you know that they are trying to reach out to the people. I see Josh Hafer is here tonight, I don’t know if he wanted to come forward and make some comments Josh.
But I will turn this over to Madam Clerk and she can make copies and distribute it to us in our packet on Friday. Thank you Mr. President.
President John: Any other matters under Miscellaneous?
John Hamilton: Councilman Melcher did you want me to speak? A couple of weeks ago you might remember I made a comment on the restructuring of the school tax credit and taxes and the fact that that was going to lower the TIF taxes that they collected and that there is an automatic levee to recapture that TIF. And this Council has a roll in that if you choose to do so. And where it’s at right now I received information that the Redevelopment Commission has submitted phase one so to speak. The State Office of Local Government Finance reviews that since this is an assessment year they actually rework the values and the numbers. They come up with a final levee and they send it back to the Redevelopment Commission. When that happens the Redevelopment Commission has indicated they will notify this Council, because this Council then has an opportunity to say that you are in agreement that they get that credit, or you want to reduce that credit, or eliminate that credit. So I’m just kind of giving you an update. It will be a real short timeframe once they get that notification. Council will have like one or two weeks in order to take any action if you want to take any action.
President John: Councilman.
Councilman Melcher: I will say I met with Peggy right before the Council meeting and she was going over some of that with me. And I think we’re talking about $74,410.00 as of right now. But what we have to understand that’s basically what I understand it to be because we’ve been going back and forth phone calls for a month now. It’s actually one quarter of one percent on the tax rate for all the citizen’s of Evansville to go up. If we pass it, I mean if it gets accepted. The Redevelopment Commission has already asked for it, my understanding. They have already asked for that increase. So if that’s the case we’re raising taxes one quarter of one percent to go into the TIF Fund downtown. Now the TIF Fund, my understanding, is paying for the Vectren Riverside One Project and the new stadium project. So if it’s going for the new stadium and that’s part of it then we are starting to raise taxes for the stadium if that’s the case. So that’s something that we need to kind of look at to see if that’s what’s really happening.
Councilman Kniese: I would like to have clarification on that too, because that was not my understanding that that fund would be used to fund those two developments.
Councilman Melcher: TIF is…the TIF Fund, the reason why they set the TIF Fund up was to be able to…just like, just like their Riverside One deal, that Vectren deal, it’s going to cost that TIF Bond is about $575.000 a year. When Vectren pays their property taxes is $465,000 so they need an extra $100,000. And that’s going to come out of the TIF Fund. And we’ve lost taxes on…we’ve already lost those taxes. Now we’ve also lost the taxes for all the property around the Greyhound. So we’ve lost those taxes, now all the new taxes and that are going to go into the TIF Fund which is going into an Economic Development Fund to do projects down there. Right now we only have one. The next one will be the stadium. So everything that’s going in there is for those two projects unless we get the housing.
Councilman Kniese: Just keep in mind the Vectren deal with Riverside One. I’m not sure how far this goes back, but there’s no property taxes being collected on that building to begin with so…
Councilman Melcher: Well that depends.
Councilman Kniese: You can’t loose something that you are not receiving to begin with.
Councilman Melcher: But there is 165 on there they paid it the year before, they were just behind one year. The Executive Inn was a million behind and we collected that. But we do know for sure that for twenty-two years we’re not going to get $465,000. That’s a given. That’s not a maybe, that’s a given. We are not going to get $465,000 worth of taxes plus for twenty-two years.
Councilman Kniese: But what…and I’ve had this conversation with some other people and I wonder what the City of Evansville would do to…what kind of package would put together to attract that kind of a corporation to have their Corporate Headquarters move to Evansville and the type jobs that that would create here. My guess is the incentive package we’d put together would far out weigh, and be far in excess in monies you’re talking about.
Councilman Melcher: And that’s why I went to the Redevelopment Commission and asked them, but they never looked at any type of package. They didn’t look at anything they just…it was going to be full steam ahead, because they talked about building a parking garage.
Councilman Kniese: All I’m saying is, I came out in favor of that deal because I looked at it in the big picture. It said this makes a lot of sense, what would we do to attract new business’ into Evansville. We would put together a heck of an incentive package. And here we’re trying to put together an incentive package to retain a current corporate customer of Evansville. So I understand you know there is going to be some property taxes that wouldn’t go to other areas possibly, but at the same time I think in the big scheme of things it’s money well spent. This is my opinion.
Councilman Melcher: And it might be but when we start talking about raising taxes that comes back to us. And we’ve got to replace all that taxes.
Councilman Kniese: I would just..again I would just hate to even think about losing a good corporate customer and the jobs that that creates for the citizens of our city.
President John: I guess it all boils down to who’s negotiating the deal. When Old National had done a threat to move out to the eastside outside the city limits the current Mayor, the then Mayor, negotiated the Old National not only bought two acres from the city, but paid us a half a million more than we paid for it. So I guess it all boils down to what you’ve got to offer and how you negotiate the deal. And I agree that we did not want to lose Vectren.
Councilman Kniese: Right. I imagine there are several differences of opinions there, but the bottom line is I think we all want to retain them as corporate customers if at all possible.
President John: That’s the one given, we all want to retain it. Any other matters to come under Miscellaneous Business? If not we will go to Committee Reports. Finance Chairman Councilwoman Robinson.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
ADJOURNMENT:
Councilman Bagbey moved and Councilman Melcher seconded the motion to adjourn. Voice Vote. So Ordered. Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
PRESIDING OFFICER
CITY CLERK