CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

APRIL 14, 2003

 

The Honorable Council of the City of Evansville met on regular session at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 14, 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.  Audio tapes of this meeting are on file in the City Clerk’s Office.

 

ROLL CALL:

Present:            Kniese, Melcher, Robinson, Koehler Walden, Watts, Angermeier, Kiefer, John

Absent:             Bagbey.

 

There being eight (8) members present and one (1) members absent and eight (8) members representing a quorum, the President declared this session of the Common Council officially opened.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Councilman Kiefer led the pledge of allegiance this evening.

 

COUNCIL ATTORNEY

John Hamilton is Council Attorney this evening.

 

READING AND AMENDMENT OF MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING

Is there a motion to approve the minutes of the April 7, 2003 meetings of the Common Council as written?

 

Councilman Kiefer moved and Councilman Kniese seconded the motion that the minutes of the regular meeting of the Common Council held April 7, 2003 be approved as written.  Voice vote.  So ordered.

 

REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

IN YOUR APRIL 11^th PACKET:

*Agenda for the April 14, 2003 City Council Meeting.

*Committee Meeting Schedule.

*Minutes of City Council Meeting held April 7, 2003.

*A News Release regarding Mayor Lloyd “Walks” for the Homeless.

*Evansville Redevelopment Commission Agenda for April 16, 2003.

*A copy of a memo from the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Floodplain

  Management Committee.

*An information packet from WGBF-AM.

 

ON YOUR DESK THIS EVENING

*Notice of non-compliance from Mike Wathen, Resource Conservation Specialist.

*Brochure from the Performance Institute.

*Nations Cities Weekly.

*Government Product news.

 

*Memo from the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

*Financial Report dated March 31, 2003.

 

Councilwoman Robinson moved and Councilman Melcher 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

Nothing filed for first reading.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS      

ORDINANCE G-2003-12___PUBLIC WORKS (BAGBEY)                                     KIEFER

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA

 

ORDINANCE F-2003-3            FINANCE (ROBINSON)                                                            JOHN

AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATION AND REPEAL OF FUNDS WITHIN A CITY DEPARTMENT

 

ORDINANCE F-2003-4            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

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

PUBLIC WORKS CHAIRMAN BAGBEY:

President John: Committee Reports.  Councilman Bagbey’s Committee on Public Works met this evening and Ordinance G-2003-12 goes forward with a do-pass recommendation.

 

FINANCE CHAIRWOMAN­­­­ ROBINSON:

Mr. President your Finance Committee met today on Ordinance F-2003-4 and Ordinance F-2003-3 comes before you with a recommendation for a do-pass.

 

Councilman Melcher moved and Councilman Angermeier seconded the motion 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-2003-12___PUBLIC WORKS (BAGBEY)                                     KIEFER

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA

 

 

 

Councilman Melcher moved and Councilwoman Robinson seconded the motion to adopt Ordinance G-2003-12 and call the roll.

 

ROLL CALL:

Ayes:                Kniese, Melcher, Robinson, Koehler Walden, Watts, Angermeier, Kiefer, John. .

Absent:             Bagbey

 

There being eight (8) ayes and zero (0) nays, Ordinance G-2003-12 is hereby declared ADOPTED.

 

REGULAR AGENDA

ORDINANCE F-2003-3            FINANCE (ROBINSON)                                                            JOHN

AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATION AND REPEAL OF FUNDS WITHIN A CITY DEPARTMENT

 

Councilman Melcher moved and Councilman Angermeier seconded the motion to adopt

Ordinance F-2003-3 and call the roll.

 

ROLL CALL:

Ayes:                Kniese, Melcher, Robinson, Koehler Walden, Watts, Angermeier, Kiefer, John.

Absent:            Bagbey.

 

There being eight (8) ayes and zero (0) nays, Ordinance F-2003-3 is hereby declared ADOPTED.

 

ORDINANCE F-2003-4            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 Robinson seconded the motion to adopt

Ordinance F-2003-4 and call the roll.

 

ROLL CALL:

Ayes:                Kniese, Melcher, Robinson, Koehler Walden, Watts, Angermeier, Kiefer, John.

Absent:            Bagbey.

 

There being eight (8) ayes and zero (0) nays, Ordinance F-2003-4 is hereby declared ADOPTED.

 

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

 

President John: Miscellaneous, Councilman Bagbey has asked me to read a Resolution in this evening and ask for Council’s support.  I know this is a last minute deal for all of us but I don’t think it’s that difficult to maybe join your support in for this particular Ordinance or Resolution.  The Resolution in support of American military personal and their families.  Whereas the war in

 

Iraq has caused concern to all of American and whereas the City Council wishes to express consolation and sharing in the grief and loss of the families who have lost loved ones in Iraq.  And whereas the City Council wishes to express appreciation in our National leaders and to those who are members of our military and their families where their courage and efforts through these events and in the events to come.  And whereas the City Council wishes to express appreciation to citizens of Evansville who have contributed and supported in said efforts through donations, correspondence, support, volunteer efforts and displays of patriotism.  Now therefore be it resolved by the Common Council of the City of Evansville Indiana as follows: The City Council of the City of Evansville Indiana on behalf of the residents of the City of Evansville hereby supports the continuing efforts and contributions of all the members of the military and their families and of our National leaders and or citizens who are here who are supporting their efforts.  A copy of this Resolution shall be sent to the President of the United States and to the Secretary of Defense of the United States.  Are there any comments, questions, concerns  regarding this Resolution by Councilman Bagbey?

 

Councilman Melcher moved and Councilwoman Robinson seconded the motion to pass this Resolution and send it on to the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense.

 

Madam Clerk would you please see that a copy of this is sent to the Mayor’s office and forwarded to the President and the other parties requested by Councilman Bagbey.

 

Clerk Matlock: All right.

 

President John: I think it’s just the Secretary of Defense and the President.

 

Clerk Matlock: Right.  Do you want me to get with you to get it signed?

 

President John: Yeah that would be fine.

 

Clerk Matlock: All right.

 

President John: Any other matters to come under Miscellaneous Business?

 

Councilman Kiefer: Mr. President.

 

President John: Councilman Kiefer.

 

Councilman Kiefer: Thank you.  In 2002, the City Council passed a Resolution number C-2002-7 that requested the Vanderburgh County Income Tax Council to use an 8% tax credit for the Homestead Act or Homestead Credit of 8%.  And I understand that the State Legislature has and the State has changed some of their calculations which in effect reduces the 8% Homestead Tax Credit to approximately 3 ½ to 4 ½%.  So I’d like to introduce a Resolution for you guys to review so we can vote on perhaps next week.  I gave a copy of it to everybody on their desk and to John Hamilton, Council Attorney so that was next week we could introduce this and vote on it if that’s possible. 

 

Clerk Matlock: In other words you wanted a Resolution, you want it put on as a Resolution Docket?

 

Councilman Kiefer: Yes.

 

President John: For next week?

 

Councilman Kiefer: Right.

 

President John: That’s fine.

 

Councilman Kiefer: Okay, thank you.

 

President John: Yeah, I would like an opportunity to review it.  Does it state in here what effect this will have with us locally and where we’ll come up with the money or what all?  I haven’t had an opportunity to read it yet.

 

Councilman Kiefer: Yeah, why don’t you read it and then you can give me a call.

 

President John: Okay.

 

Councilman Kiefer: I think the intent is just to keep it as we had originally passed it, and the 2002-7 Resolution.  But you can give me a ring.  Thanks.

 

Councilman Melcher: Mr. President.

 

President John: Councilman.

 

Councilman Melcher: I was going to wait another week of so before I did this, or the person before me used to do this every year was Jim Price.  We need to go ahead and ask the Mayor even though it might not happen this year we need to go ahead and ask the Mayor to file the Resolution and I’d be glad to sponsor it, or we can sponsor it as a Council as a whole.  We want the same 8% Homestead Credit for next year now.  I mean we’ve got to get it done by June 1.  We usually do it this time of the year; we haven’t seen it yet.  So let’s ask the Mayor to get that filed.

 

President John: That will be fine and understand that it may have a substantial impact on how we treat the rest of our budget.  Because last year for the first time in our history we used about 75% of our local income tax to supplement operation expenses where in the past we’ve used between 40 and 50.

 

Councilman Melcher: Right, and he’s the administrator if he wants to bring in a different…then he needs to do that.  If we…we’ve got to pass something to get the Homestead Credit.  So I’ll leave the percentage up to him.

 

President John: Any other items to come under Miscellaneous?  Committee Reports, Finance Chairman.

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

FINANCE CHAIRMAN ROBINSON:

Finance Chairman Robinson: Mr. President your Finance Committee will meet regarding on this F-2003-5 April 28^th at 6:00 p.m., Ordinance F-2003-6 April 28^th at 5:45.  Thank you.

 

ADS CHAIRMAN ANGERMEIER:

Nothing scheduled at this time.

 

PUBLIC WORKS CHAIRMAN BAGBEY:

President John: Councilman Bagbey has Ordinance G-2003-10 scheduled for May 12^th at 5:30.

Any other items to come under discussion this evening?  If not I’ll move to adjourn.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

Councilman Melcher moved and Councilwoman Robinson seconded the motion to adjourn.  Voice Vote.  So Ordered.  Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

 

 

                                               

PRESIDING OFFICER

 

 

                                               

CITY CLERK