MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
COUNTY, KENTUCKY,
ON
MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2005.
The Regular Meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Runge on
Monday, April 18, 2005. She asked for a Call of the Roll; then led the
group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. The following Councilmembers
were present: Jim Doepker, Karen Lied, Eric Haas, Roger Peterman, Tom
Lampe. Mayor Mary Brown was absent for this meeting. Minutes from the
previous Regular Meeting were presented in the Council packets and with one
small correction, from Mayor Pro Tem Runge, they were approved upon motion
(Lied) and second (Doepker) and unanimous Aye voice vote.
A letter
presented earlier to Councilmembers (in their packets) was read and commented
upon by Mrs. Krista Baioni, 61 Mayfield Avenue, regarding increased traffic and
dogs being permitted to run without leashes within the Highland Hills Park
area. Approximately a dozen residents also attended and
commented on this issue, including Mr. Paul Grey, Mrs. Earleen Johnson, Mr. Jim
Milar, Mr. Joe Schwerling, and Mr. Brent Baioni. Councilmembers and staff
members discussed this issue with the residents and Mr. Earlywine commented
that the amount of current information about the traffic situation is both
outdated and limited; this would need to be resurveyed by members of the Police
Department. He said that he would be in touch with Police, the Animal
Control Officer, the Director of Recreation,
Don Brindle, and also our City Engineer, regarding all of these issues.
It may be necessary to review rules within the Park itself along with those at the
new Dog Park. The Engineer and Police Department can help determine the average
daily volume of traffic, the time of day when traffic numbers may
increase and the average speeds of vehicles traveling along Mayfield Avenue to
reach Highland Hills Park.
Several residents requested that the City revisit an option discussed several
years ago, of providing a new entrance into the Park; several mentioned the
provision of speed humps, (or some other traffic calming
device) similar to those placed on Shawnee or Garrison. Other complaints were
hears about cars that accelerate at they approach the Park and don’t stop, as
well as potential safety factors with numerous children on the street.
Mr. Ken Weidinger, another Mayfield resident, at #52, presented his letter and
statement about the situation on that street for Council’s information.
Mayor Pro Tem Runge acknowledged the concerns of these residents, thanked them
for bringing this to Council’s attention and said this will be a priority
matter that hopefully can be solved or at least lessened with the assistance
of the Police Department.
Several residents brought a specific complaint and expressed their frustration
about several properties owned by a single owner on Mayfield that they said
were not being kept up. They addressed this with the owner, who was also
present. Mayor Runge said she would encourage the neighbors to communicate
with one another and keep the properties in good repair.
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Grey, Co-Chairmen of the 4th at the Fourth Celebration, which
is sponsored by the Fort Thomas Business Association at Tower Park. They
brought a new concept plan just received this week that has been
developed for the Amphitheater adjacent to the Community Center in Tower Park.
They wanted Council to see the new design prior to bringing it to their
Business Association meeting on Tuesday. They pointed out several features of
the design, including the terrace seating, a handicapped access pathway, design
for a shell and adjoining structure, and several planting areas. They are
now working to find possible grants and/or any additional support for the project.
Fire Chief Mark Bailey presented his Fire Department Monthly Report and it was
received and filed upon motion (Doepker), second (Lied) and unanimous Aye voice
vote. Next, Police Chief Steve Schmidt presented the Police Department
Monthly Report and it, too, was received and filed, after a motion (Lampe),
second (Peterman) and unanimous Aye voice vote.
Four (4) Standing Committees presented reports of meetings they had conducted
during the past weeks, and Mr. Earlywine provided a brief synopsis of each
Committee’s review and recommendations, including the following: The Public
Safety Committee, that amendments be made to the Civil Service
Ordinance that would separate out the Police and Fire Pension Fund from that document,
and that would provide a broader look at each candidate. Mr. Haas voice
his support for the changes which would present better candidates for hiring,
with an option for hiring any of the top five rather than the current
three. There are numerous other small “housekeeping” type changes to
streamline the hiring process and make it more efficient. Their recommendations
were approved upon motion (Lied), second (Peterman) and unanimous Aye voice
vote; motion carried.
The Public Works Committee presented recommendations for the streets to be included
in the 2005 Street Program, with an ordinance to be introduced later on the
Agenda. The recommendations, for Crown Avenue, Crown Point, Mayo Avenue,
Mayo Court, a portion of North Fort Thomas Avenue, Riverview
Avenue, and West Southgate Avenue, were approved upon motion (Peterman), second
(Lied) and unanimous Aye voice vote; motion carried.
The Public Works Committee also recommended approval of a prior request from Greene
Street Homeowners Association (the homes are located within Tower Park) for
assistance with their streetscape improvements, with some modification to the
amount that the City would contribute toward this project. The HOA
requested $6,500; Mr. Earlywine said that it was thought it was essential that
the City used the front foot method of their portion of the property to
determine an amount and that was $3,100. It was moved (Lied) to approve
the request and provide the City’s portion of $3,100 toward the project; seconded
(Doepker), and upon unanimous Aye voice vote, the motion carried.
The Law-Labor-License Committee presented a draft document to the Mayor and all
Councilmembers for some updates to the City’s Personnel Manual and these were
approved upon motion (Doepker), seconded (Lied) and unanimous Aye voice vote;
motion carried.
The Finance Committee, having met and reviewed the requests for a Budget
Amendment to the Fiscal Year Budget, recommended that this request be approved,
upon motion (Lied), second (Haas) and unanimous Aye voice vote. Mr. Earlywine
commented that the amount requested includes funds for capital equipment,
purchase of a portion of the Anderson property, payouts for some long-term
employees and replacement of funds within the Tower Park Fund used for the new
Dog Park. It was moved to approve the amendment, via motion (Lied),
second (Haas) and unanimous Aye voice vote; motion carried.
Under Old Business, Mr. Earlywine reviewed the necessary Ordinances to award
and implement both electric and gas franchises within the City and asked that
Council approve the process outlined in the
Ordinances, which are each for a five (5) year period and one additional five
(5) year period. It was moved (Haas) and seconded (Lampe) to approve these and
upon unanimous Aye voice vote, motion carried.
The Finance Committee presented a Report on Vouchers for the period and upon
motion (Doepker) and second (Lied) to concur in their recommendation, a Roll
Call vote was taken, with unanimous aye votes; motion; motion carried.
Several Ordinances were presented, all for 1st Readings and they will be laid
over for review and presented for Council’s vote at the next Regular Council
meeting. These were:
Ordinance O-7-2005, Amending the Civil Service
Ordinance--Pension Fund Section; Ordinance O-8-2005, Amending the Civil
Service Ordinance--Police and Fire Department Hiring Procedures Section;
Ordinance O-9-2005, Presenting the Streets selected for the 2005 Street
Improvement Program; Ordinance O-10-2005, Awarding an Electric Franchise;
Ordinance O-11-2005, Awarding a Gas Franchise; and Ordinance O-12-2005,
Amending the Fiscal Year Budget.
There being no further business to come before Council, the meeting was
adjourned.
APPROVED:
_______________________
Mary H. Brown, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________
Dorothy A. Ivie, City Clerk