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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCM 05-20-1996City of Carmel Ci~x~HEL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ~GEND~ MONDAY, F~Y 20, 1996 -- 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS / CITY H~LL / ONE CIVIC SQUi~RE Meetinq Called to Order 1. Invocation 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Recognition of Outstanding Citizens/City Employees Approval of Minutes a. May 1, 1996 Recognition of Citizens Who Wish to Address the Council a. Sharon Clark, Hamilton County Commissioner, GIS Plan Update Claims a. $ 449,126.58 b. $ 31,636.82 c. $5,000,000.00 d. $ 555.92 e. $$2,273,184.40 Payroll Retirements Benefits Investments Claims Claims 7. Committee Special Reports Old Business a. Second Reading of Ordinance D-1208-96/Additional Appropriation from the MVH Fund for $200,000/Mayor Brainard b. Second Reading of Ordinance D-1210-96/Additional Appropriation from the MVH Fund for $200,000/Mayor Brainard c. Second Reading of Ordinance D-1211-96/Additional Appropriation from the General Fund for $25,000/Mayor Brainard d. Second Reading of Ordinance D-1212-96/An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 2 Article 4 Section 2~105 of the Carmel City Code (Petty cash Funds for City Departments)/Clerk Treasurer Cordray Public Hearings a. First Reading of Ordinance D-1213-96/Additional Appropriation from the General Fund for $480,000/Mayor Brainard 10. New BUsiness ONE CIVIC SQUARE CARMEL INDIANA 46032 317/57 Carmel City Council Meeting Agenda Monday, May 20, 1996 Page 2 11. Other 12. Announcements 13. Adjournment CARMEL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, MAY 20, 1996 -- 7 P.M. Members present: Mayor Brainard; Councilors Kirby, Battreall, Rundle, Snyder, Carter and Walker. Clerk Treasurer Cordray, Chief Deputy Vandegriff and Administrative Assistant crail were also present. The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Councilor Carter gave the invocation. The Mayor led the pledge of allegiance. The Mayor also presented Chief Callahan of the Carmel Fire Department with a proclamation in recognition of Emergency Medical Services Week. Approval of Minutes: Councilor Snyder moved to approve the minutes of the May 6, 1996, Council meeting. Councilor Walker seconded. Councilor Carter suggested that the minutes be corrected to show that Councilor Walker had attended the meeting. Chief Deputy Vandegriff stated that the minutes did reflect Councilor Walker's late arrival at the meeting. All members voted AYE. The minutes were approved. Citizens Who Wish to Address the Council: Hamilton county Commissioner Sharon Clark had asked to make a presentation regarding the county GIS Plan update. As she had been called out of town, she requested to withdraw her presentation from tonight's meeting and to reschedule it for June 3. The Mayor recognized that a number of citizens were attending the meeting to speak to the proposal to make ll6th four lanes. The Mayor stated that if the Council passed the 4-lane proposal he would veto it. The following citizens addressed the Council: Dr. Tim Story, 14265 Oakbrook Court, "items of general interest" Thomas Kendall, 11818 Gray Road, "taxes - spending" Lance Harting, 641 1st Ave., NW, "infrastructure" John Schuler, 11724 Rolling Springs Drive, "budget" Joann Feltrinelli, 631 1st Ave. NW, "infrastructure" Ted Summer, 1824 Hamilton Lane Alan Potasnik, 572 Melark Drive, "private plot raises city taxes" Frank Fleming, 130 3rd Ave. NW, "general fund operating balance" Paul Reis, 1466 Williamsburg Court, "budget" Keith DeTrude, 12025 Durbin Drive, "leadership" Barbara Hammer, 10850 Wilmington Drive, "open, accountable and responsive government" Beth Sickles, 13159 Players Circle, "budget process" Joy Russell, 3196 Driftwood Court Lori Watson, 5068 Kingswood Drive Councilor Walker supported the budget as first proposed. He stated he missed the secret meeting and that he voted his conscience. He applauded the State Board of Tax Commissioners for their actions. Councilor Carter said the 1995 Council left a legacy of a bridge over 96th Street, no capital projects plan and a bad taste in the mouths of Carmel residents. He then proceeded to read a list of proposed projects and dollar amounts for each. Councilor Kirby commented that the City needed to be taken care of before it crumbled. It added that it was time to do it. The Mayor called for a recess at 8:22 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 8:32 p.m. The Mayor requested that the add-on agenda item, D-1215-96, be moved to this portion of the agenda. Councilor Snyder moved to introduce ordinance D-1215-96. Councilor Walker seconded. Councilor Snyder read the ordinance in its entirety. The Mayor opened the public hearing at 8:46 p.m. Several members of the public spoke. Josephine McCormick, 11035 Lakeshore Drive West, representing the League of Women Voters, asked that the Council consider having an informational meeting regarding this issue and offered the LWV's assistance in that endeavor. Others speaking on the issue of ll6th Street were: Bonnie Leggett, 11610 Bradford Place, ll6th Street Committee Tom Kendall, 11818 Gray Road Jeannie Reid, 11733 Bradford Lane Richard Wood, 12109 Somerset Way East Colleen Stransky, 11619 Valley Brook Place David Wilcox, 200 Twin Springs Court Lou Leggett, 11610 Bradford Place Matt Dickey, 5188 Woodside Court Nelson Steele, the project engineer, noted that his firm has contacted INDOT regarding a design exception to go from 3 lanes to 4 lanes. Councilor Snyder stated that the street should be safe and well constructed. Councilor Rundle stated the project should be 3 lanes; then additional data from the 96th Street project's completion can be factored in to determine if additional work needs to be completed in the future. He also suggested that the other council members follow his and Councilor Snyder's lead as the street cuts through their respective districts. Councilor Battreall stated he supported 4 lanes during the election. He believes that the Council must do what is right for the city as a whole. Nelson Steele noted that the right turn blisters have been removed. Councilor Carter asked if there was a safety difference between 3 lanes and 4 lanes. He suggested that thoroughfares be planned and constructed accordingly. Councilor Kirby asked Steele about the traffic counts and the number of lanes required. Steele replied that the information determined 5 lanes were required. Kirby stated the road should be made as safe as possible and that he supported right turn blisters. He echoed Councilor Battreall's sentiment to do what is best for the community as a whole. Councilor Rundle has requested that a vote on this matter not take place until June 17 as he is out of town and that this is a matter which concerns his district. Councilor Walker moved to withhold a vote on D-1215-96 and to keep open the public hearing until June 17. Councilor Kirby seconded. All members voted AYE. The Mayor pointed out the item was not on the agenda due to a clerical error. The Clerk Treasurer informed the Mayor that this was not the case. The reason for the item not being on the agenda was miscommunication. The Mayor accepted the responsibility for not adequately communicating that this item needed to be placed on the agenda. Claims: Councilor Snyder moved to approve the claims as listed on the agenda as well as a claim for $83,152.24 from CC & T Construction for the Olde Towne project. Councilor Walker seconded. All members voted AYE. The claims were approved. Committee Special Reports: There were none. Old Business: Councilor Walker moved to approve ordinance D-1208- 96, an additional appropriation of $200,000 for the Carmel Street Department. Councilor Kirby seconded. All members voted AYE. The ordinance passed. councilor Battreall said that he believed ordinance D-1210-96 was a full study of the township and that he thought the county should also be responsible for a portion of the engineer's fee. Steve Fehribach of A & F Engineering explained the rational for the study as it exists. Councilor Snyder asked why the Council should consider this study when in reality the Council may be paying for the county to collect a fee. Councilor Kirby explained that the process is a lengthy one and that he does have a problem with studying the township. He also stated his objection to the Board of Public Works signing a contract in advance of the ordinance being funded. He also stated his concerns about the study becoming out-dated. Fehribach stated that the firm could divide the community into zones and that the study encompasses a 20 to 30 year growth. Councilor Battreall stated that he believes the study should be restricted to those areas which will come into the city within the next few years. Fehribach says the study can be scaled back to a 5 to 10 year period. Councilor Battreall stated he still didn't see a return on the investment. Councilor Carter asked how Fishers and Noblesville are handling their individual impact fee studies. Fehribach said Noblesville is working on a 20 year plan and that Fishers is now expanding its study to the Hamilton-Marion county line. Each community is divided into zones and each has an approved contract and appropriated funds as the individual zones are studied. Councilor Carter asked about the cost benefit to the city and wondered if the County had been contacted about an impact fee study. Fehribach replied that the County had an interest and that a presentation had been made to the commissioners. Councilor Kirby suggested the Council be prudent and provide funding for what we need to know now. The Mayor asked what amount of funds would be needed for a 5 year study. Fehribach stated he couldn't answer the question tonight but did estimate that to complete a study of 3 zones over a 2 year period would cost $100,000. Councilor Snyder left the room. Councilor Rundle asked if the matter should be tabled until June 3. Fehribach stated he wanted to meet with DOCS staff. Councilor Rundle moved to table the matter until June 3. Councilor Walker seconded. All members voted AYE. The ordinance was tabled until June 3. The Mayor noted that due to the fact the last claim for the Olde Towne project had been approved, Ordinance D-1211-96, was not necessary any longer. Councilor Carter moved to withdraw the ordinance. Councilor Kirby seconded. All members vote AYE. The ordinance was withdrawn. Councilor Carter left the room. Councilor Kirby moved to approve ordinance D-1212-96, an ordinance to establish Petty Cash Funds for the Clerk Treasurer and DOCS. Councilor Walker seconded. All members voted AYE. The ordinance passed. New Business: Councilor Kirby moved to introduce Ordinance D-1213-96, an ordinance for an additional appropriation in the amount of $480,000 for traffic improvements on Main Street in front of Carmel High School. Councilor Walker seconded. The Mayor, at the suggestion of Councilors Rundle and Walker, read the ordinance in its entirety. Councilor Carter returned. The Clerk Treasurer left the room. Councilor Snyder returned. The Mayor opened the public hearing at 10:10 p.m. Nyla Johnson, 317 Concord Lane, inquired if the area had a high accident rate to justify the project. She asked why the change was necessary and why area residents were not notified. She suggested that aligning the intersection of 4th and Main Streets might alleviate the problem. She asked that the Council give more study to the issue. Jack Clary, 711 Allwyne Road, stated that he was interested in safety and that he saw no problems with the existing three lanes. He also related that he thought only one traffic circle was proposed not two. Joan Sauls, a resident of the 700 block of Allwyne Road, stated that she believed that the project does not merit the expense and believed that it would lead to more accidents. She hoped that the Council would drop the proposal. Gary Blough, 11682 Bradford Place, suggest a user-demand stoplight might better suit the needs of the area. Councilor Kirby returned. Councilor Battreall moved to keep the hearing date open to June 3 or longer if necessary. Councilor Kirby seconded. Christy McKay, 153 Brierley Way, stated that she is in total opposition to the project. She stated that a way to remedy the traffic problem is to request that parents not drop off their children at the high school and ask that students ride the bus. She requested that this issue needs mere publicity and recommended that aligning the intersections of 4th and Main and Beechmont and Lexington might better serve the residents of the area. She stated that if there's no problem, what are the engineers trying to fix. The Mayor asked that the engineers from Bonar Group address the Council and assembled audience. Tim Schwalm and Leo Rumschlag of Bonar Group stated there are 3 concerns: pedestrian safety, speed, and landscape and lighting. The Clerk-Treasurer returned. Mrs. Johnson stated her main concern was for the elementary age children crossing Main Street from Carmel Elementary. The Mayor explained the rationale behind the project as looking for a cost-effective way to solve the traffic problems in a manner that would enhance the community. He also stated that the proposal for the new library calls for an entry and exit off of 4th Street. He added that the cost of traffic signals alone would be upwards of $70,000 not including any other work. Christy McKay reiterated her opposition including whether firetrucks could maneuver around traffic circles. Other residents who spoke to this issue include: Jim~,9 Lexington Boulevard Ann Johnson, 421 2nd Ave NE Lori Watson, 5068 Kingswood Drive Jeannie Reid, 11733 Bradford Place Dr. Stephen Teagarden, 1136 Bradbury Place Councilor Walker suggested that there be a designated pick-up and drop-off points at the high school. Dr. Teagarden noted that there are 2 spots now. Councilor Rundle inquired about the differences between a roundabout and a traffic circle. Leo Rumschlag provided an explanation. Councilor Carter said that the situation needed to be clarified as to traffic counts, speed, etc. He also stated that the traffic circle needs to be reviewed along with a conventional solution. He noted that a traffic circle handles more traffic at a reduced speed. Dr. Teagarden asked if the research the Mayor had provided to him and Carmel Clay Schools could be made available to the public. Gary Blough questioned the annual cost of the landscaping maintenance. Joan Sauls stated that if a police officer was only needed for 30 minutes per day then a 24 hour stoplight was not necessary either. Christy McKay asked if a study of the 3 lanes which currently exist was a waste of money and would future studies continue to be a waste of funds. Councilor Kirby stated that the engineers interpret the numbers from the traffic counts,etc., to come up with appropriate solutions to problems. Councilor Kirby moved to adjourn the meeting. The Mayor seconded. All members voted AYE. The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 p.m. Attest: Respectfully submitted,