CITY OF FORT THOMAS,

CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY, ON

TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2009

Mayor Mary Brown called the meeting of City Council to order at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. The Clerk called the roll and the following Councilmembers were present: Lisa Kelly, Jill Steller, Eric Haas, and Roger Peterman. Members absent were Jim Doepker and Tom Lampe. Staff members in attendance included: City Administrative Officer Don Martin, City Clerk Melissa Kelly, Finance Director Fred Ewald, Police Chief Mike Daly and Fire Chief Mark Bailey and City Attorney Jann Seidenfaden.

Mayor Mary Brown led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Minutes

The minutes of the January 5, 2009 meeting were presented to council for consideration. A motion was made by Mr. Peterman and seconded by Mr. Haas to approve the minutes as written. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Visitors and Communications

Chief Bailey introduced Boy Scout Troop 86. Part of the nine requirements to earn their “Citizenship in the Community” badge is to attend a city council meeting. Mayor Brown welcomed them and thanked them for coming.

Mike Jansen and John Engelhardt introduced the 2009 Citizens Police Academy who were present at the meeting. The Mayor thanked them for coming and also thanked them for taking such an interest in the community.

Jeff Eger and Jim Turner with Sanitation District No. 1 were present and addressed Council. Mr. Eger gave a presentation on why SD1 must apply an increase to all residential bills on a monthly basis beginning in July of 2009 as part of the storm water consolidation.. This adjustment will be to help cover the many projects that SD1 must address in 2009. Mr. Eger went into detail on several of the projects and stressed that if any resident has a question about this increase to contact SD1.

Reports of Boards, Committees and Commissions

The Recreation Committee met prior to the council meeting at 7:15 p.m. to discuss two items.

Stream Restoration in Tower Park: During the committee meeting, Jay Treft reported that the NKU Center for Applied Ecology is proposing to conduct a stream restoration project in Tower Park. The overall goal of the project would be to improve stream and water quality. It would include restoration of the stream that runs behind the basketball courts to its natural pattern, bank stabilization using native vegetation to improve drainage and reduce erosion, and steam enhancement with riparian forests buffers. Scott Fennell from the NKU Center for Applied Ecology was present to discuss the stream restoration. Mr. Fennell stated that the time line they are looking at for the restoration would be approximately 18 months, once approval is obtained from the Corps of Engineers. Also required as a part of the project would be a buffer of 50 feet on each side of the stream through a conservation easement. A motion was made by the Recreation Committee of Council that stated the following: “We the undersigned members of the Recreation Committee of Council recommend to the Board of Council to allow the NKU Center for Applied Ecology to conduct a stream restoration project along a stream beginning immediately below the basketball courts in Tower Park. And further, that the Board of council agree to preserve a conservation easement of 50 feet on each side of the stream.” The motion was seconded by Mr. Haas. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Consideration of Filling, Grading, and Brush Removal near the Amphitheater: At the last Council meeting council endorsed a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant application for grading terraces into the hillside near the amphitheater for better viewing opportunities for the public. The city is in the fortunate position of getting the work completed as a result of the gas main replacement by Duke Energy. Duke’s contractor will supply the fill material, remove and replace topsoil, and terrace the hillside at no cost to the city. They will also remove overgrown vegetation and several locust trees, dead evergreen trees and four large trees in the bowl area approximately 3 feet in diameter. Without removing these trees, the project cannot be completed. A motion of recommendation was made by the Recreation Committee of Council that stated the following: “We the undersigned members of the Recreation Committee of Council recommend to the Board of Council that staff be directed to work with Duke Energy’s subcontractor to grade, fill and remove brush and four large trees from the area in the immediate vicinity of the amphitheater in Tower Park. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Steller. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Reports of Officers

Fire Department Monthly Report: Chief Mark Bailey: Chief Bailey presented his monthly report for December to council. A motion was made by Mr. Peterman and seconded by Mrs. Steller to receive and file the Fire Department monthly report for December. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Police Department Monthly Report: Chief Mike Daly: Chief Daly presented his monthly report for December to council. Chief Daly also noted that there has been a rash of break ins to homes and cars in the Campbell County area and to take caution to prevent this by locking your doors. A motion was made by Mr. Haas and Seconded by Mr. Peterman to receive and file the Police Department monthly report for December. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Report on Vouchers

The Finance Committee presented its Report of Disbursements and recommended the payment of warrants numbered 57282 through 57362 for the period of January 5, 2009 – January 20, 2009. A motion was made by Mrs. Steller and seconded by Mr. Peterman to concur in the recommendation of the Finance Committee. Upon call of the roll, the following members voted “aye” – Ms. Kelly, Mrs. Steller, Mr. Haas, and Mr. Peterman. Voting "no" - none. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Ordinances, Resolutions, and Orders

Resolution R-2-2009: A resolution recognizing the historic significance of the Delta Queen Sternwheel Passenger Boat and her longstanding connection to our region and supporting her nomination to the list of America’s 11 most endangered historic places was presented to Council for consideration. A motion was made by Mr. Peterman and seconded by Mr. Haas to approve Resolution R-2-2009.

Resolution R-3-2009: A resolution granting a competitive franchise for the operation of a cable television system within the confines of the city to Cincinnati Bell Extended Territories, LLC., was presented to Council for consideration. A motion was made by Mrs. Steller and seconded by Mr. Haas to approve Resolution R-3-2009. Upon call of the roll, the following members voted “aye”: Ms. Kelly, Mrs. Steller, Mr. Haas, and Mr. Peterman. Voting “no”: none. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Municipal Order MO-01-2009: A municipal order declaring city-owned personal property as surplus and authorizing the city administrative officer to solicit public bids for their sale was presented to Council for consideration. A motion was made by Mrs. Steller and seconded by Mr. Peterman to approve municipal order MO-01-2009. Upon call of the roll, the following members voted “aye”: Ms. Kelly, Mrs. Steller, Mr. Haas, and Mr. Peterman. Voting “no”: none. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

With no further business to come before council, the meeting was adjourned by Mayor Brown.

APPROVED:

_____________________________

Mary H. Brown, Mayor

ATTEST:

____________________________

Melissa K. Kelly, City Clerk