Fort Thomas, Ky.
March 5, 2001

An advertised Public Hearing for the purpose of soliciting any public comments on the Alcohol Beverage License application by the Fort Thomas Yacht Club, LLC, known as Aquaramp Marina, 617A Mary Ingles Highway, owner: Frederick J. Crawford, Jr., was opened by ABC Administrator Jennifer Machesney at 7:30 P.M. Those in attendance included City Clerk Dorothy A. Ivie, Director of Finance Fred W. Ewald, and Councilmembers Barbara H. Runge and James Doepker. Other citizens and staff members entered the room as the hearing was being conducted. Mrs. Machesney read the Proof of Publication and Proof of Posting for the Public Hearing on the application for a Malt Beverage Retail License. No written comments were received prior to the meeting. No oral comments or objections were heard from any citizen attending. The Hearing was then adjourned and the license will be issued to the applicants, as outlined by law.

Mayor Mary H. Brown called the Regular Meeting to order at 8:00 P.M. and asked for a Call of the Roll. The following Councilmembers were present: Runge, Doepker, Lied, Haas, Peterman. Mr. Fernandez was absent. Also attending were the following staff members: Clerk Ivie, Director of Finance Ewald; City Administrative Officer Jeffrey Earlywine, Assistant to the CAO Jay Treft, City Attorney Jann Seidenfaden, Police Chief Steve Schmidt and Fire Chief Dale Edmondson.

Copies of the Minutes were inadvertently omitted from the Council packets this time; therefore their review and approval will be postponed until the next Council meeting. A letter was read by the Clerk from the Ky. Dept. of Transportation announcing the approval of a traffic light on Memorial Parkway at the intersection of Clover Ridge Avenue. It was moved (Doepker) and seconded (Runge) to receive and file the letter, and upon voice vote, unanimous Aye, the motion carried. The letter stated that work will begin on March 12, 2001, and is expected to take approximately 3 weeks.

Police Steve Schmidt said he would like to save the Police Department Monthly Report, which was listed on the Agenda, for the next Council meeting. He then presented his Annual Report. Each Council member got a copy of this Report in their packet. He commended Lt. Ken Fecher for his outstanding creative work on this Report as well as other Department members who contributed in various ways. He reviewed the personnel actions that created some staffing problems over the past year. One result was the elimination of the DARE Program in the Fort Thomas Schools for this school year.

The issue of the DARE program was discussed, as it is under some national scrutiny regarding its effectiveness. Chief Schmidt said that given the improvement in our numbers of personnel, this program will be reassessed and possibly aimed more toward the Middle School grades. Both he and Mr. Earlywine acknowledged the receipt of many letters, phone calls, and e-mails from parents supporting the restoration of the program. As our new officers graduate and are trained, the Program could be reintroduced within the next school year. Mr. Haas said he thought this program did offer an excellent opportunity to get police officers into the schools making personal contacts with our children. Mrs. Runge said that the School Board should provide and support this type of education within the school system. Mayor Brown underscored the value in relationships built between the classes and the police officers. Chief Schmidt noted that the School Buddy system that was begun in 1999, where officers volunteered to visit the schools was ended when the entire Department went to permanent shifts. After some further discussion of statistics and events from the Police Annual Report, it was moved (Runge) and seconded (Lied) to receive the Report and make it a part of the Official City Record; upon unanimous Aye voice vote; motion carried. Mayor Brown said that she would like to thank the Police Department members for this outstanding report.

Director of Building Services Ron Dill was in attendance to present his Department's Annual Report. Each Council member got a copy of this Report in their packet. He reviewed current personnel in his Department as well as some of their activities for the past year. He said that the Planning Commission is currently working on some revisions to the Official Zoning Ordinance which are to be completed in May of this year. He mentioned that the number of Building Permits for 2000 was 169, as compared with 182 last year. The Department processed 149 zoning complaints, which included the case of some notoriety, the "cat house," and he praised the appointed members of the Board of Housing Appeals which did an excellent job in this case. He reported that garage sale permits were 139, as compared with 115 last year; also, 799 sidewalk blocks were physically inspected and replaced under the City's Sidewalk Program. It was moved (Runge) and seconded (Lied) to receive the Report and make it a part of the Official City Record; upon voice vote, it was unanimous Ayes; motion carried. Mayor Brown thanked Mr. Dill for a job well done.

Next, the Chairman of the Law-Labor-License Committee, Roger Peterman reported that from the meeting held prior to Council, regarding complaints from the owners of 31 Bonnie Lane regarding drainage, fencing, etc., the Committee agreed to several work items and, if necessary, final ruling from an appeal to the Board of Adjustment. Mr. Earlywine then reported on the possible acquisition of a piece of equipment through an interlocal agreement between the cities of Edgewood, Taylor Mill and Fort Thomas. The item is a bucket truck or "cherry picker" for which we have a real, but sporadic need.

The Public Works Department generally "bundles" tree-trimming jobs and hires them out; however, there is a 1994 Ford Diesel from the Louisville Gas and Electric Company at a price of $22,500, which could be split three ways. Mr. Haas asked if we could consider adding even more cities to lower the cost to each even lower, but Mr. Earlywine responded that there was a consideration as to whether the equipment would be available upon need. Mr. Peterman commended that he supported this concept of working with other communities to share the monetary burden. Mr. Haas asked if it could be possible for business owners to use the bucket for façade improvement; however, there could be some liability attached to that. After further discussion, it was moved (Runge) and seconded (Lied) to authorize the staff to move forward with the drafting of an interlocal agreement with 2 or 3 other cities, and to fund our portion of approximately $7,000 - $11,000 from the Equipment Reserve Fund. Motion carried on a 5-0 Aye vote.

The Finance Committee's Report on Vouchers was approved, upon a motion (Runge) and second (Lied) and unanimous Aye vote to concur in their recommendation for Approval. Ordinance No. O-3-2001, Apportionment of Costs for the 2000 Street Resurfacing Program was given a second reading by the Clerk, and was adopted, upon motion (Doepker), second (Lied) and unanimous Aye Roll Call vote. Municipal Order MO-9-2001, Appointing Linda Nesbitt to the Tree Commission, was approved upon motion (Lied), second (Runge), and unanimous Aye voice vote.

There was a Motion (Runge), second (Doepker) and 5-9 Aye voice vote of Council to meet in Closed Session for the purpose of discussing: "Acquisition of Real Estate." There being no further business to come before Council, the meeting was adjourned.

APPROVED:

_____________________________
Mary H. Brown, Mayor

ATTEST:

_______________________________
Dorothy A. Ivie, City Clerk