Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.18.23 CC Meeting Minutes 1 COMMON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 – 6:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS/CITY HALL/ONE CIVIC SQUARE MEETING CALLED TO ORDER Council President Jeff Worrell; Council Members: Laura Campbell, Sue Finkam, Timothy Hannon, Miles Nelson, Adam Aasen, Kevin D. Rider, Anthony Green, Teresa Ayers and Chief Deputy Clerk Jacob Quinn were present. Council President Worrell called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. AGENDA APPROVAL The agenda was approved unanimously. INVOCATION Rev. George Davis, Carmel Police Department Chaplain, delivered the Invocation. Councilor Ayers led the pledge of allegiance. RECOGNITION OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUSTANDING CITIZENS Carmel Police Chief James Barlow announced the swearing in of three new police officers. Mayor James Brainard swore in Austin Guerrattaz, Alex Grant and Sheldon Robinson as Officers of the Carmel Police Department. Mayor James Brainard recognized Rev. George Davis, Carmel Police Department Chaplain, with the Range Line Pioneer Award. Council President Worrell recognized retiring Councilors Campbell, Finkam, Hannon, Nelson and Rider. Council President Worrell also recognized Chief Deputy Clerk Jacob Quinn for his work serving the Common Council. RECOGNITION OF PERSONS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL There were none. COUNCIL AND MAYORAL COMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS There were none. DocuSign Envelope ID: 48E41E59-ACDE-4824-8EFB-0879223FF40D 2 CONSENT AGENDA Councilor Green moved to approve the consent agenda. Council Rider seconded. There was no Council discussion. Council President Worrell called for the vote. The motion was approved 9-0. a. Approval of Minutes 1. December 6, 2023 Regular Meeting b. Claims 1. Payroll $3,486,522.25 2. General Claims $4,370,392.69 3. Retirement $107,695.97 4. Wire Transfers $2,111,182.27 COMMITTEE REPORTS Council President Worrell reported that the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee had met on December 14, 2023 regarding three items that will be discussed as they appear on this meeting’s agenda. Councilor Campbell reported that the Land Use and Special Studies Committee was returning with favorable recommendations for three items that will be discussed as they appear on this meeting’s agenda. OTHER REPORTS – (at the first meeting of the month specified below): There were none. OLD BUSINESS Council President Worrell announced the Third Reading of Ordinance Z-684-23: An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana Rezoning 154 W. Carmel Drive to the C1/City Center District; Sponsor: Councilor Aasen. Councilor Campbell stated that this returns from the Land Use and Special Studies Committee with a unanimous favorable recommendation. Councilor Rider moved to approve Ordinance Z-684-23. Councilor Nelson seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Worrell called for the vote. Ordinance Z- 684-23 was approved 9-0. Council President Worrell announced the Third Reading of Ordinance Z-685-23: An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana Rezoning 988 3rd Avenue SW to the C1/City Center District; Sponsor: Councilor Aasen. Councilor Campbell stated that this returns from the Land Use and Special Studies Committee with a unanimous favorable recommendation. Councilor Rider moved to approve Ordinance Z-685-23. Councilor Finkam seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Worrell called for the vote. Ordinance Z- 685-23 was approved 9-0. DocuSign Envelope ID: 48E41E59-ACDE-4824-8EFB-0879223FF40D 3 Council President Worrell announced the Third Reading of Ordinance D-2688-23: An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Authorizing the Issuance of Economic Development Tax Increment Revenue Bonds to Support the Gramercy Project, and Authorizing and Approving Other Actions in Respect Thereto; Sponsor: Councilor Worrell. Item remains tabled until January 8, 2024. Council President Worrell announced the Third Reading of Ordinance D-2690-23: An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Authorizing the Issuance of Economic Development Tax Increment Revenue Bonds to Support the Valentina Project, and Authorizing and Approving Other Actions in Respect Thereto; Sponsor: Councilor Worrell. Item remains tabled until January 8, 2024. Council President Worrell announced the Third Reading of Ordinance D-2691-23: An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Designating the Caperton- Carter House Historic District Located at 35 and 39 Maplecrest Drive; Sponsor: Councilor Aasen. Councilor Campbell stated that this returns from the Land Use and Special Studies Committee with a unanimous favorable recommendation. Councilor Rider moved to approve Ordinance D-2691-23. Councilor Finkam seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Worrell called for the vote. Ordinance D-2691-23 was approved 9-0. Council President Worrell announced the Third Reading of Ordinance D-2696-23: An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Adding Chapter 8, Article 4, Section 8-44 to the Carmel City Code; Sponsor(s): Councilor(s) Worrell, Aasen, Rider and Hannon. This remains in the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee. Council President Worrell stated that he had sent out a survey regarding this item and received 1,015 responses already, and the survey is still open for response. PUBLIC HEARINGS Council President Worrell announced the Second Reading of Ordinance D-2692-23: An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Amending Chapter 9, Article 2, Division IV, Section 9-55 and Restating the Schedule of Rates and Charges Collected by the Water Utility; Sponsor(s): Councilor(s) Worrell and Finkam. Council President Worrell stated that the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee had met and that he would provide a summary of their discussion. In 2001, there were 3 different companies providing water service to Carmel, and the city decided to consolidate this. The purchase of the other 2 companies took until 2005 to be completed, which added 10,600 new customers. The existing lines were not sufficient and had to be upgraded. In 2008, the Common Council authorized an $85 million debt to build a new water plant, install new wells and put in new, larger mains. This was done through a $35 million bond anticipation note and a traditional $50 million bond. Utilities Director John Duffy stated that the goal was to keep the rates low, while also upgrading the service. The current plant will now serve the city for generations to come. When the Council voted in 2008 to approve the $35 million, ($20.5 million of which was used), there were no payments made. It was intentional to wait until the upgrades were completed, so that the cost increase would be absorbed by all of the new users. This will be a 35% price increase on water. Councilor Green asked if there was any way the 35% rate increase could get phased in. Scott Miller of Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors replied that phasing in would not be advised because we have $17,745,000.00 of bond DocuSign Envelope ID: 48E41E59-ACDE-4824-8EFB-0879223FF40D 4 anticipation notes coming due on May 1, 2024. Additionally, the outstanding bonds that remain from the 2008 transaction are being restructured, and we need the new rates in place to do that. That financing is anticipated to happen in the Spring. Councilor Rider asked what dollar amount an average Carmel customer would expect to pay with a 35% increase. Mr. Miller responded that the average customer, using 4,000 gallons per month, could expect their monthly rate to increase by $11.27. This still keeps our rates right in the middle of the range that our surrounding municipalities pay. Council President Worrell opened the public hearing at 6:28 p.m. Seeing no one who wished to address the Council, Council President Worrell closed the public hearing at 6:28 p.m. Councilor Rider moved to approve Ordinance D-2692-23. Councilor Campbell seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Worrell called for the vote. Ordinance D-2692-23 was approved 9-0. Council President Worrell announced the Second Reading of Ordinance D-2693-23: An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Amending Chapter 9, Article 2, Division II, Section 9-44, Chapter 9, Article 2, Division III, Sections 9-45, 9-51 and 9-52 and Chapter 9, Article 2, Division IV, Sections 9-58, 9-62 and 9-75 of the Carmel City Code; Sponsor(s): Councilor(s) Worrell and Finkam. Council President Worrell stated that this came out of the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee with a unanimous favorable recommendation. Council President Worrell opened the public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Seeing no one who wished to address the Council, Council President Worrell closed the public hearing at 6:31 p.m. Councilor Rider moved to approve Ordinance D-2693-23. Councilor Finkam seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Worrell called for the vote. Ordinance D-2693-23 was approved 9-0. Council President Worrell announced the Second Reading of Ordinance D-2694-23: An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Amending Chapter 9, Article 3, Division IV, Section 9-171 of the Carmel City Code; Sponsor(s): Councilor(s) Worrell and Finkam. Council President Worrell stated that this came out of the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee with a unanimous favorable recommendation. In summary, this is for a 20% increase in Sewer/Wastewater rates. Although the current system is fine, we are looking toward future growth, which will require expansion, including installation of a larger keystone interceptor. In the interest of timing this expansion with road improvements on Carmel Drive, it makes sense to only tear up the roads once, so time is of the essence. There is currently $2.6 million in debt for the next 3 years, this drops to $2.5 million, and the adjustment in rates would provide for improvements of $14 million plus remove the $10.5 million band that was done earlier this year. Councilor Aasen asked if future population growth would conceivably cover any future bonds. Utilities Director John Duffy responded that future fees collected would reduce the bond needed, and our goal is to issue the bond without having to raise rates again. Council President Worrell opened the public hearing at 6:33 p.m. Seeing no one who wished to address the Council, Council President Worrell closed the public hearing at 6:34 p.m. Councilor Rider moved to approve Ordinance D-2693-23. Councilor Finkam seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Worrell called for the vote. Ordinance D-2694-23 was approved 9-0. DocuSign Envelope ID: 48E41E59-ACDE-4824-8EFB-0879223FF40D 5 NEW BUSINESS Council President Worrell announced the First Reading of Ordinance D-2697-23: An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Amending Chapter 9, Article 6, Sections 9-224 and 9-231(k) of the Carmel City Code; Sponsor: Councilor Worrell. Councilor Rider moved to introduce the item into business. Councilor Campbell seconded. Councilor Rider introduced the item to Council. Utilities Director Duffy presented the item to Council. In 2011, the City and the Common Council created an ordinance to allow the Utilities to put out a bid to find a city-wide solid waste and recycling service, which resulted in rates being 150% lower than what they had been previously. Republic Services won that bid and we signed a 5-year contract with them. In 2016, they won the bid again, and we signed a 7-year contract, which expires at the end of 2023. We recently put out a bid and Republic won again. The program requires that the Council adopt the new rate, and this ordinance sets that rate. Councilor Green asked Director Duffy to go through the rate differences. Director Duffy presented the bid responses, and Republic’s bid was lower throughout the 7-year contract than the other two companies. Councilor Hannon commented that this bid system has helped to achieve lower costs and less waste removal traffic on the roads, but more should be done to educate the public on more efficient recycling practices. Director Duffy responded that Republic’s current contract requires them to spend $5,000 per year on education and the next contract will require $10,000.00 be spent per year. Councilor Aasen commented that although some citizens were initially hesitant to move to a city-wide program, this program has proven to be beneficial to the community. Council President Worrell stated that some of our senior citizens have arranged to have their cans brought out to the curb, and we want to make sure that arrangement continues. Director Duffy stated that those residents should call the Utility directly and they can facilitate making sure that stays in place. Council President Worrell also asked about the secondary bid that went out regarding electric vehicles. Republic uses compressed natural gas, which is greener than diesel. Director Duffy responded that although Republic has a plan to roll out electric vehicles in the next few years, it doesn’t make sense to pay higher rates for electric vehicles now, while they are not available. Councilor Rider moved to suspend the rules and act on this tonight. Councilor Finkam seconded. There was no discussion on suspending the rules. Council President Worrell called for the vote. The motion was approved 9-0. Councilor Rider moved to approve Ordinance D-2697-23. Councilor Finkam seconded. There was no Council discussion. Council President Worrell called for the vote. Ordinance D-2697-23 was approved 9-0. ADJOURNMENT Council President Worrell adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, _______________________________ Jacob Quinn, Clerk DocuSign Envelope ID: 48E41E59-ACDE-4824-8EFB-0879223FF40D 6 Approved, _______________________________ Anthony Green, Council President ATTEST: _______________________________ Jacob Quinn, Clerk DocuSign Envelope ID: 48E41E59-ACDE-4824-8EFB-0879223FF40D