Board of Public Works and Safety

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY CITY OF HOBART, LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA July 16, 2014 Call to Order – Moment of Silence: Mayor Snedecor called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call: The following members were present: Mr. Lain, Mr. Ehrhardt and Mayor Snedecor. Also present: City Attorney DeBonis and Clerk-Treasurer Longer. Reading of Minutes: Motion by Mr. Lain, seconded by Mr. Ehrhardt, to accept and approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 2, 2014 as presented. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Correspondence: Mr. Lain complimented the addition of the pylons on 3rd Street near the clock tower to facilitate the crosswalk and praised the Old Ridge Road area streetscape near Festival Park. Mrs. Longer noted the Hobart Sanitary District Payment Center will be moving to the Police/Court/Community Complex at 705 E. 4th Street on Friday, July 25th. They will be closed on that Friday and will reopen in the new space on Monday, July 28th. Approval of Register of Claims and Payroll Claims: Motion by Mr. Ehrhardt, seconded by Mr. Lain, to approve the register of claims and payroll claims as presented. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Approval of Agenda: Mr. Snedecor requested the addition of: Order to Comply re: 4060 Missouri Street; and a Request from Code Enforcement to remove a tree overhanging the alleyway at 3879 Maple Street. Motion by Mr. Lain, seconded by Mr. Ehrhardt, to approve the agenda as amended. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Unfinished Business: Tabled: Consideration of Motorola Solutions Radio Quote: E911 Consolidation: Mr. Snedecor requested this item remain on the table as the City gathers additional information regarding the radios and the lease/purchase. New Business: Request to remove tree from parkway: Jim Knight, re: 968 Union Ct.: The owner was not present. Mr. Hannigan noted the tree appears dead and should be removed. Mr. Snedecor stated the ash bore has had an impact on many areas of the City and the arborist is working with Public Works to address the problem. Motion by Mr. Snedecor, seconded by Mr. Lain, to turn this request over to Public Works for review and a determination as to the removal of the tree. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Request to fence a portion of unimproved Illinois St.: Robert Ericksen & Janet Mellon-Ericksen re: 335 N. Linda St.: The owner was present and requested either placement of a continuous fence across the 50 ft. right-of-way or placement of two 25 ft. gates on either side of the right-of-way that the owner could leave open to allow access to his property or close if the City needed access along unimproved Illinois St. City Planner Sergio Mendoza provided a history of various Plan Commission (PC) petitions in 2005 and 2007 regarding the possibility of vacating Illinois Street that were removed from the PC agendas when determined it was too costly to the owners. He recommended the neighboring property owners join in a petition to the PC to vacate the right-of-way. City Engineer Phil Gralik stated there are concerns in Board of Works Minutes: July 16, 2014 1 fencing off an area of the right-of-way and noted there may be lots that would become land-locked if the right-of-way was vacated which was cause for great concern. Attorney DeBonis reviewed the process of the vacating of property and noted the right-of-ways are valuable assets for the City in terms of future planning, utility placements, and access to lots. Motion by Mr. Lain, seconded by Mr. Ehrhardt, to refer this matter to the Plan Commission upon the proper petitions being filed by the homeowners. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Request for 2-4 additional parking spaces: Brickies Gyros, re: 431 E. Third St.: Lana Wuest, owner of Brickies Gyros, requested clarification regarding parking being permitted on the 3rd Street bridge as spaces are not marked and parking is at a premium for her business just east of the bridge. She noted that the signage in the area is also confusing: one sign says 2 hour parking and the other list hours for permitted parking. City Engineer Phil Gralik noted he would like to look closer at the area to determine the need, signage and markings. Police Chief Zormier stated the parking in the area is precarious and suggested that the bridge should be all marked as “no parking” to avoid confusion and to alleviate potential dangerous situations. Motion by Mr. Ehrhardt, seconded by Mr. Lain, to turn this request over to the City Engineer to review and grant him the authority to work with Public Works and the Police Department to determine the configuration of parking areas, better markings and signage. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Signing of Mylars: Replat of existing 19-lot Nob Hill Country Estates to a 1-lot Subdivision (Ryann's Ridge), located approx. 800' east from the SE corner of 34th Lane & St. Joseph Place to the dead end, zoned R-4, 13 acres: The Plan Commission provided a favorable recommendation for this subdivision and no bond is required. Motion by Mr. Ehrhardt, seconded by Mr. Lain, to approve the 1-lot subdivision known as Ryann’s Ridge and execute the mylars as presented. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) 1-lot subdivision (Sebos Healthcare Addition), located approx. 1/2 mile west from the NW corner of 49th Ave. & Liverpool Rd., zoned R-1 & R-2, 14.916 acres: The Plan Commission forwarded a favorable recommendation for this subdivision and no bond is required. Motion by Mr. Lain, seconded by Mr. Ehrhardt, to approve the 1-lot subdivision known as Sebos Healthcare Addition and execute the mylars as presented. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Order to Comply: Randy Goldschmidt, re: 4060 Missouri Street: The owner was present. Mr. Hannigan provided photos taken earlier this week and noted the 4 items listed in the Order to Comply have been addressed and recommended the order to comply be dismissed. Mr. Goldschmidt stated he had gone above and beyond the requests of the City to bring the property into compliance. Motion by Mr. Lain, seconded by Mr. Ehrhardt, to show this property as in compliance as to the Order to Comply issues and remove this item from the agenda. Attorney DeBonis stated that while it is clear that the property has been brought into compliance as to the Order to Comply from the Building Commissioner, he recommended a clarification be added to the motion to show that this is removed from the Board of Public Works and Safety agenda “without prejudice” to the right of the Law Department to bring further proceedings if necessary if it determines the evidence so warrants either under the Stormwater Management Ordinance or the Fill Ordinance of the City. Mr. Lain amended his motion to include the language as stated by the City Attorney, and Mr. Ehrhardt seconded the amended motion. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Request to remove dangerous tree: re: 3879 Maple: Code Enforcement Officer Russo requested this item as the tree is partially down in the back yard of a property and limbs are partially obstructing the alleyway. He requested a 10-day Notice to Abate letter be sent to the property owner, Chase Home Financing as per Sec. 95.03 of the Hobart Municipal Code to have the tree removed or the City will Board of Works Minutes: July 16, 2014 2 remove the tree and lien the property. Motion by Mr. Snedecor, seconded by Mr. Lain, to direct a 10-day Notice to Abate letter be sent to the property owner as recommended by Officer Russo. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Announcements: Mr. Snedecor asked if there was anyone who wished to address the Board and there was no response. Adjournment: Motion by Mr. Ehrhardt and Mr. Lain to adjourn. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) The meeting adjourned at 5:04 p.m. ____________________________ ______________________________ SECRETARY PRESIDING OFFICER Board of Works Minutes: July 16, 2014 3