City Council

Florence City Council Special Meeting Tuesday, April 16, 2024 6:00 p.m. MINUTES The City Council of the City of Florence, Kentucky, met in special session on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Boulevard, Florence, Kentucky, with Mayor Julie M. Aubuchon presiding as chair. CALL TO ORDER & WELCOME: Mayor Julie M. Aubuchon called the special meeting to order and declared the meeting open for the presentation of items on the special meeting agenda. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Aubuchon and Members of City Council recited the invocation. All attendees recited the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: The roll was called, and the following five (5) members of council were registered present: Mel Carroll, Lesley Chambers, Jenna Kemper (Vice-Mayor), David A. Osborne, and Patricia Wingo. Councilmember Gary Winn was absent. Staff members present were: City Attorney, Thomas R. Nienaber; Fire/EMS Chief, Rodney Wren; Chief of Police, Jeff Mallery; Public Services Director, Eric Hall; Director of Administration/City Administrator, Joshua J. Hunt; City Clerk, Melissa Kramer; Videographer, Joel Clines; and Police Lieutenant, Roger Allen. The following were also present in the audience: Police Captain Eric Bowles; Retiring Chief of Police Tom Grau; Police Captain Greg Rehkamp; Police Lieutenant Nathan Rettig; Assistant City Clerk, Brandi Roundtree; Members of the Florence Police Department; Family and friends of Chief of Police Jeff Mallery; Community Services Coordinator, Victoria Riley; Fire/EMS Assistant Chief, Ryan Born; Fire/EMS Assistant Chief, Chris Miller; Former Florence Mayor, Diane E. Whalen; Family of Betsy Conrad and spouse, Stephen Conrad; Resident of Florence, Thomas Judd; and Northern Kentucky Tribune Reporter, Trisha Scheyer. Florence City Council (Special Meeting) Minutes: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the minutes of the March 26, 2024, business meeting. Councilmember Carroll motioned to approve the minutes with a second from Councilmember Kemper. All councilmembers present voted aye. SECOND READING ORDINANCE O-6-2024: Mayor Aubuchon read Ordinance O-6-2024. An Ordinance of the City of Florence, Kentucky, changing the name of Holiday Drive to Betsy Conrad Way. This Ordinance changes the name of the public way presently known as Holiday Drive to Betsy Conrad Way. The full text of Ordinance O-6-2024, including its exhibits, is available for examination in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Florence, Kentucky, in the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence, Kentucky, during regular office hours. Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the second reading of Ordinance O-6-2024. Councilmember Carroll motioned to approve, with a second from Councilmember Osborne. Mayor Aubuchon requested a Roll Call Vote. Councilmember Carroll, yes; Councilmember Chambers, yes; Councilmember Kemper, yes; Councilmember Wingo, yes; Councilmember Osborne, yes. Roll call recognized five yes votes approving the second reading of Ordinance O-6-2024 by unanimous vote. SECOND READING ORDINANCE O-7-2024: Mayor Aubuchon read Ordinance O-7-2024. An Ordinance of the City of Florence, Kentucky, changing the name of a section of Cardinal Drive and Commerce Place to Tom Gill Way. This Ordinance changes the name of a portion of the public way presently known as Cardinal Drive and Commerce Place to Tom Gill Way. The full text of Ordinance O-7-2024, including its exhibits, is available for examination in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Florence, Kentucky, in the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence, Kentucky, during regular office hours. Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the second reading of Ordinance O-7-2024. Councilmember Wingo motioned to approve, with a second from Councilmember Kemper. Mayor Aubuchon requested a Roll Call Vote. Councilmember Carroll, yes; Councilmember Chambers, yes; Councilmember Kemper, yes; Councilmember Wingo, yes; Councilmember Osborne, yes. Roll call recognized five yes votes approving the second reading of Ordinance O-7-2024 by unanimous vote. 2|Page Florence City Council (Special Meeting) Minutes: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 FIRST READING ORDINANCE O-8-2024: Mayor Aubuchon called upon Joshua J. Hunt, Director of Administration/City Administrator, with regard to Ordinance O-8-2024. Mr. Hunt explained that in 2022, Florence City Council passed an ordinance regarding a KBI incentive for M&P Logistics, located at 7900 Tanners Gate Lane. Subsequently, after the incentive was approved, state legislators passed House Bill 1 (HB1) in 2023, which reduced personal income tax levels in Kentucky. The ordinance specified a 3% personal income tax level, as it was a state- level incentive. However, since the KBI had not been utilized, M&P Logistics requested removal of the specific percentage and adjustment to match the prevailing personal income tax rates over the next 10 years. Mayor Aubuchon read Ordinance O-8-2024. An Ordinance of the City of Florence, Kentucky, providing for a credit of its occupational license fee for new Kentucky resident employees as part of an Economic Development project under the Kentucky Business Investment Program (KRS 154.32-010–KRS 154.32-100) by Mackenzie and Paige Logistics, LLC. This Ordinance approves participation by the City of Florence in an economic development project in conjunction with the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority. The purpose of the Project is for Mackenzie and Paige Logistics, LLC to relocate their operations within the City and create 120 new full time Kentucky resident jobs. Participation by the City will consist of a credit equal to 0.7857% of the City’s 2% occupational license fees on wages of new Kentucky resident employees created as part of this project, for a period of 10 years. The full text of Ordinance O-8-2024 including its exhibits, is available for examination in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Florence, Kentucky, in the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence, Kentucky, during regular office hours. Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance O-8-2024. Councilmember Carroll motioned to approve, with a second from Councilmember Wingo. Mayor Aubuchon requested a Roll Call Vote. Councilmember Carroll, yes; Councilmember Chambers, yes; Councilmember Kemper, yes; Councilmember Wingo, yes; Councilmember Osborne, yes. Roll call recognized five yes votes approving the first reading of Ordinance O-8-2024 by unanimous vote. FIRST READING ORDINANCE O-9-2024: Mayor Aubuchon called upon Joshua J. Hunt, Director of Administration/City Administrator, with regard to Ordinance O-9-2024. Mr. Hunt referenced his Memorandum and stated the Human Resources Coordinator position had been vacant since 2008 and highlighted the significant changes since then. Therefore, he stated the amendment was to revise the job description to reflect current needs and requirements. 3|Page Florence City Council (Special Meeting) Minutes: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 Mayor Aubuchon read Ordinance O-9-2024. An Ordinance relating to Personnel: amending Ordinance Nos. O-33-2023 and O-4-2024 relating to Personnel Policies, Job Descriptions, Authorized Positions and Pay Plan thereby updating the job description of the Human Resources Coordinator. The purpose of Ordinance O-9-2024 relating to Personnel Policies, Job Descriptions, Authorized Positions, and the Pay Plan is to include an updated and revised Job Description for the Human Resources Coordinator for the City. In all other respects, the current Ordinance relating to Personnel Policies, Job Descriptions, Authorized Positions and Pay Plan shall remain the same. The full text of Ordinance O-9-2024, including its exhibits, is available for examination in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Florence, Kentucky, in the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence, Kentucky, during regular office hours. Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance O-9-2024. Councilmember Wingo motioned to approve, with a second from Councilmember Kemper. Mayor Aubuchon requested a Roll Call Vote. Councilmember Carroll, yes; Councilmember Chambers, yes; Councilmember Kemper, yes; Councilmember Wingo, yes; Councilmember Osborne, yes. Roll call recognized five yes votes approving the first reading of Ordinance O-9-2024 by unanimous vote. MUNICIPAL ORDER MO-4-2024 Mayor Aubuchon stated Municipal Order MO-4-2024 is to appoint Eric Hall to the Boone County Transportation Improvement District Board. She explained that this board is newly established by recent Kentucky legislation. Additionally, she noted that the mayor of the county's largest city has an ex officio seat on the board and designated Eric Hall, the Public Services Director, as the city's representative. Mayor Aubuchon read Municipal Order MO-4-2024. A Municipal Order appointing Eric Hall to the Boone County Transportation Improvement District Board. Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve Municipal Order MO-4-2024. Councilmember Wingo motioned to approve, with a second from Councilmember Carroll. Mayor Aubuchon requested a Roll Call Vote. Councilmember Carroll, yes; Councilmember Chambers, yes; Councilmember Kemper, yes; Councilmember Wingo, yes; Councilmember Osborne, yes. Roll call recognized five yes votes approving Municipal Order MO-4-2024 by unanimous vote. OATH OF OFFICE – JEFF MALLERY, CHIEF OF POLICE: Mayor Aubuchon expressed pleasure in welcoming Chief Mallery’s family and friends to his swearing-in ceremony and acknowledged the retiring Chief Grau. She stated Chief Mallery was a Florence native and Boone County High School graduate, who had dedicated his entire law 4|Page Florence City Council (Special Meeting) Minutes: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 enforcement career to the department. Mayor Aubuchon administered the oath of office to Chief Mallery and congratulated him. Chief Mallery expressed his gratitude to God, Mayor Aubuchon for her trust, and city council for their continued support. He acknowledged his family’s unwavering support throughout his career, despite the sacrifices they had to make. Lastly, he appreciated his colleagues at the Florence Police Department for their dedication and professionalism and pledged to continue serving the community. CLOSED SESSION: There was no need for Closed Session. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to adjourn the Special Meeting. Councilmember Carroll so moved, with a second from Councilmember Wingo. Councilmembers present voted aye, the time being 6:17 p.m. APPROVED: /s/ Julie M. Aubuchon Julie M. Aubuchon, Mayor ATTEST: /s/ Melissa Kramer Melissa Kramer, City Clerk 5|Page