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CCM-07-02-90CARMEL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 2. 1990 7:00 P.M. CARMEL CITY MEETING HALL The meeting of the Carmel City Council was called to order by Mayor Dorothy J. Hancock. Council members in attendance were Minnie Doane, Frank Fleming, Lee Lonzo, Tom Irvin, Annabelle Ogle, Alan Potasnik and David Adams. City Attorney Steve Andrews and Clerk-- Treasurer Susan W. Jones were also in attendance. Councilor Lonzo offered an amendment to the minutes of MINUTES : June 20, 1990 asking for the elimination of the top two sentences on page 2 concerning his remarks about the Middleton re-zone. A motion to approve the minutes with that amendment was made by Councilor Fleming. The motion was seconded by Councilor Irvin. All members voted aye. Motion carried. Councilor Potasnik made a motion to add two CHANGES TO AGENDA : items to the agenda. Council needed to consider a transfer within its budget and Councilor Potasnik asked for the approval of a claim for the Communication Center. The motion was seconded by Councilor Lonzo. All members voted aye. Motion carried. Councilor Lonzo made a motion to add the presentation of a plaque to the Carmel High School boys' golf team. The motion was seconded by Councilor Potasnik. All members voted aye. Motion carried. Clerk-Treasurer Susan W. TRANSFER WITHIN CLERK-TREASURER BUDGET : Jones requested a transfer within the Clerk's budget (General Fund) to pay for the cost of checks and computer supplies. The transfer would come from the unused travel money in the 1990 budget. Councilor Irvin made a motion to approve Resolution 7-2-90-1. The motion was seconded by Councilor Fleming. All members voted aye. Motion carried. STOP SIGN REQUEST/SMOKEY KNOLL - SPRUCE & ARROWWOOD INTERSECTION : Councilor Ogle made a motion to introduce Ordinance D-670 and suspend the rules for reading of the same. The motion was seconded by Councilor Doane. All members voted aye. Motion carried. Councilors Irvin and Fleming spoke in favor of the stop sign request. The Council also requested a sign denoting a dangerous curve located at just north on Spruce, east of the intersection be installed at the same time. Councilor Potasnik made a motion to suspend the rules and act on Ordinance D-670 tonight. The motion was seconded by Councilor Ogle. All members voted aye. Motion carried. Mayor Hancock called for the question. All members voted aye. Motion carried. Ordinance D-670 calling for a Stop sign at Spruce and Arrowwood intersection passed unanimously. PETITION PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE/WOODBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTO - WIDENING OF 116TH Councilor Lonzo introduced this item of business to the STREET: Council. Councilor Lonzo stated he was disturbed and troubled by how this issue has divided the city government and its citizens but hoped that, after tonight, everyone could begin to work together and arrive at a solution to the traffic problem on 116th Street. Councilor Lonzo then introduced Tom Kendall, spokesman for the Woodbrook Elementary School PTO Community Affairs Committee. A complete transcript of Mr. Kendall's presentation is attached to these minutes. After Mr. Kendall read his statement, members of the Council and the Mayor thanked them for their efforts and their input. PUBLIC HEARING/CUMULATIVE CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FUND AND CUMULATIVE The Mayor opened the discussion to the Council CAPITAL SEWER FUND: concerning the raising of the fixed rate of the Cumulative Capital Development fund from three cents (.03) to ten cents (.10). The rate would be established in 1990 and payable in 1991 and would continue for three years. The Clerk-Treasurer said the ten-cent levy would generate $290,103.22 under the current assessed valuation. The three-cent rate would generate $87,030.97 and the five-cent levy would generate $145,051.61. Mayor Hancock stated the rate would automatically go to five cents if the Council did nothing. The monies generated by this rate would be used for sidewalks and/or road repair. Councilors Fleming and Adams both felt the new rate of ten cents would be necessary especially in light of not using federal funds for certain road projects. Councilor Irvin spoke against the measure to increase taxes in light of reassessment last year. Councilor Irvin felt the citizens had already seen enough tax increases in one year. Councilor Lonzo then asked Councilor Irvin if he would like to serve on the sidewalk committee and see all the requests they have for much needed sidewalks within the city. Councilor Lonzo stated he felt that if the Council didn't take care of the infrastructure the Council was not leaving a good legacy for their children. Councilor Ogle stated she would support the rate increase if it was going to be used for sidewalks. The Mayor then opened the hearing to the public. Judge George Hoffman, 116th Street, spoke against the tax increase stating that two years ago when the rate was set, the Council knew the amount of money the rate was going to generate. Now with reassessment, the old rate would generate even a greater amount of money and yet the Council still raised the rate even further. Judge Hoffman said he was concerned about his income versus the tax rate, since he was nearing retirement. Judge Hoffman asked the Council to consider fiscal responsibility in this matter and not raise the rate. Mr. John Ross of Woodland Springs spoke against the tax increase. Mr. Ross said he felt that perhaps the Council should consider the needs first, establish an amount needed for the projects and then budget accordingly. Mr. Ross was concerned that perhaps we don't know the price yet before we set the rate. Mayor Hancock told Mr. Ross that an engineer works with the sidewalk committee and determines the needs and the costs for sidewalk projects. There being no further comments and/or objections, the hearing was closed to the public and opened to the Council for their comments and/or objections. Councilor Potasnik said if these sidewalk projects were done under General Obligation bonds, with interest, the cost would be much greater. Councilor Fleming spoke in favor of the tax increase, stating the money stays in Carmel and is used for much-needed projects. Councilor Doane also spoke in favor of the tax increase. Councilor Doane said she serves on the committee for sidewalks and she definitely sees the need. She did not like having to raise taxes, but felt it had to be done. Councilor Irvin said he didn't dispute the needs, but was against raising taxes after everyone's increase this year. There being no further questions, comments or objections, Councilor Potasnik called for the question. Councilor Irvin voted nay and all other Councilors voted aye. Resolution 7-2-90-2 passes by a vote of 6 - 1. Resolution 7-2-90-3: Mayor Hancock stated the rate on the Cumulative Capital Sewer fund would automatically go up to the nickel rate next year unless the Council takes action tonight to reduce it. Councilor Lonzo made a motion to suspend Resolution 7-2-90-3 indefinitely. The motion was seconded by Councilor Doane. All members voted aye. Motion carried. PUBLIC HEARING/ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION/GENERAL FUND/FIRE A motion was made by Councilor Lonzo DEPARTMENT BUDGET/$7,600.00 : to introduce Ordinance D-671 and suspend the rules for reading of the same. The motion was seconded by Councilor Potasnik. All members voted aye. Motion carried. Mayor Hancock stated the purpose of this additional appropriation was to pay for a much needed repair to the fire truck. The Mayor then opened the hearing to the public for their comments and/or objections. Judge Hoffman, 116th Street spoke in favor of the appropriation. Hearing no other comments the hearing was closed to the public and opened to the Council. There were no comments from the Council on this appropriation. Councilor Lonzo made a motion to suspend the rules and act on Ordinance D-671 tonight. All members voted aye. Motion carried. Mayor Hancock called for the question. All members voted aye. Motion carried. Ordinance D-671 passed unanimously. The Clerk-Treasurer said the owner of Circle NEW TAXI CAB LICENSE : City Cab had applied for a license and asked it be placed on the agenda. The owner was not in attendance. Councilor Potasnik made a motion to remove this item from the agenda. The motion was seconded by Councilor Ogle. All members voted aye. Motion carried. Councilor Potasnik made a motion to TRANSFER OF FUNDS/CITY COUNCIL : approve a transfer within the City Council budget to pay for envelopes. The transfer would be $75.00 from Travel (250) to Printing (301). The motion was seconded by Councilor Lonzo All members voted aye. Motion carried. Councilor Potasnik made a motion to INVOICE/COMMUNICATIONS CENTER : approve an invoice in the amount of $205.00 for roof repair to the Communications Center from the Council budget. The motion was seconded by Councilor Irvin. All members voted aye. Motion carried. There being no further business before the Council, the meeting was duly adjourned . APPROVED: Dorothy J. Hancock, Mayor ATTEST: Susan W. Jones, Clerk-Treasurer Presentation of Woodbr ook P.T.O. Petition and Recommendation For Improving East 116th Street To: The members of the Carmel City Council, Dorothy J. Hancock, Mayor On behalf of the Woodbrook P.T.O., its Executive Committee, the Community Affairs Committee, the nearly 1200 residents who signed this petition, the volunteers who have invested many hours of time away from their families to follow this issue, I would like to thank the Council for granting us this opportunity to address you and present this petition. I would also like to thank Mr. Lonzo for the introduction and his position on this matter. Many people have chosen to attend this meeting tonight, knowing it is not a public hearing and they will not have an opportunity to speak to you on this issue. Just as each of you represent the voices of your constituents, there will be but one voice this evening representing hundreds of Carmel residents and carrying their message to you. As their spokesman tonight, I am not hear to reiterate the issues to which we are opposed, because you have all attended public meetings where these views have been expressed and reiterated time and time again. I am sure you are all well aware of the deep public concern surrounding this issue. Instead, I am hear to talk about the things we would like to see, seek your support and offer our cooperation in achieving these goals. I would like to take a moment to explain how the Community Affairs Committee was formed and how we got to where we are today. After a public meeting was held last fall at Woodbrook Elementary School regarding the proposed widening of 116th Street, many residents were shocked and surprised to see plans and drawings hung on the walls depicting a 5 lane wide highway in front of the school. Jeannie Reid, then President of the Woodbrook P.T.O., appointed Bonnie Liggett to chair this committee to look into this matter and obtain the input of the families who have children at Woodbrook and other neighbors in the area. As a parent, my daughter brought home a note asking for anyone interested in this issue and who would like to become a member of the committee to attend a meeting at the Liggett's home. Subsequently, Mayor Hancock was asked to attend a public meeting on this issue which was held on April 23, 1990. Over 100 parents and residents attended this meeting and voiced their opposition to this project. Though it was clear that those in attendance were opposed to the project, we were told we were only 100 out of 23,000. As a result, we realized our voices may be virtually ignored as this project moved on. We also realized that there was no organization behind the overwhelming opposition. Shortly thereafter, another committee meeting was held to begin an organized, unified effort to seek a common goal to which those in opposition could subscribe and support. We discussed the possible options that could be considered for 116th Street. We all believed we should not just be in opposition to a proposal unless we could offer what we felt was a better suggestion and have valid reasons supporting it. There was conversation that we should take a position on keeping 116th Street 2 lanes and settle for 3. After much discussion, we realized that asking the Council to do nothing was unrealistic and not really in the best interests of the community as a whole. We subsequently drafted the petition titled a "Recommendation and Acknowledgement of Support" that we present to you this evening. The text reads as follows: We, the undersigned members of the Woodbrook P.T.O., concerned parents, neighbors and Carmel residents, are against any plans or proposals that focus on widening 116th Street east of Keystone Avenue to four or five lanes of traffic. Instead, we recommend that 116th Street be 2 lanes (1 eastbound, 1 westbound) separated by a grassy, treed boulevard. The center boulevard would accommodate left turn lanes for east and west bound traffic to turn onto all residential streets. As part of this project, the City of Carmel should install and maintain concrete sidewalks parallel to the street on both the north and south side of 116th Street. The current 30 MPH speed limit should be retained. It further commented that we believe this recommendation will optimize both the safety of our children at Woodbrook Elementary School as well as that of the motorists using 116th Street. Traffic will no longer be restricted by left turns into residential streets and into Woodbrook by parents, school busses and other vehicles transporting school children. Though some of the informal neighborhood groups have similar ideas on 2 or 3 lanes, we sought their support for this single recommendation in order to provide single focus and unification in the community. To date, 1183 names have been added to the petition. The majority of these names were obtained at Woodbrook's Ice Cream Social and by volunteers going door to door one Saturday morning for about two and one half hours. As one of those volunteers who went door to door, I can attest that most people couldn't wait to get the pen and sign. A few volunteers met 1 or 2 people that morning who wanted 4 lanes and a couple that felt they didn't know enough about the issues to make a decision one way or another. However, practically everyone we spoke to was more than willing to sign. It is also important to note that many of the names on the petition are from subdivisions north of 126th Street, even some north of 146th Street including the Village Farms area. This is important in understanding that this is not just an issue for a few people who live along 116th Street. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the Mayor for beginning to organize a citizen task force to review the issue and act in an advisory capacity. We recognize that something needs to be done with 116th Street as well as the intersection at Gray Road. We do not want to see either project delayed unnecessarily and hope that once the task force is organized, it will be given parameters in which to work and provide a recommendation by a reasonable date in order that the project might move ahead expeditiously from that point forward. As the final decision maker on this issue, we hope the Council will see the merits of the 3 lane option and will move ahead with that option with fervor. In doing so, I believe the Council could expect as much community support to proceed as there had been remonstration against the 4 or 5 lane option. By doing this, the Council will send a message to the people that their stated vision of a residential community will not be compromised with a central east/west highway and that the documented opinion of a large number of residents is meaningful to the Council. Over the past few months, a "we/they" attitude has seemed to prevail between the Council and the public on this issue. This is an unhealthy attitude for both sides. I hope that tonight will be the beginning of a joint effort to improve 116th Street, the Gray Road intersection and retain the residential atmosphere of our community. The Council has stated its "visions" for Carmel during its recent retreat. I can assure you our vision for the future includes having the community working in harmony with the Council, the Mayor and other public officials. Again I thank you for this opportunity to present this petition. I hope that when we pass each other on 116th Street in the near future, it will be on a 3 lane road.