City Council

MINUTES OF THE LAFAYETTE COMMON COUNCIL February 4, 2013 REGULAR MEETING The Common Council of the City of Lafayette, Indiana met in regular session on Monday February 4, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 20 North 6th Street, Lafayette, Indiana. President Campbell called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was given to the flag of our Country. The following members were present: Present: Heide, Klinker, Meyer, Reynolds, Brown, Ahlersmeyer, Weast-Williamson, Downing and Campbell. The City Clerk stated that there was a quorum present. Councilwoman Ahlersmeyer moved to recess for Public Hearing on Ordinance 2013-03 ( An Ordinance to Vacate a Portion of the Public Way in the City of Lafayette, Indiana A Portion of Land in Austin Subdivision off Poland Hill Road- David Murtaugh, Petitioner). Councilman Brown seconded. No public comment was heard. Councilwoman Ahlersmeyer moved to reconvene to regular council meeting, Councilman Brown seconded. Councilman Meyer moved to approve the minutes of January 7, 2013 common council meeting Councilman Klinker seconded. There were no additions or corrections. Minutes approved by unanimous voice vote. The Clerk stated there were no Claims, Petitions or Communications. The Clerk stated the following reports are available in the City Clerk’s Office: Clerk’s Office Monthly-December Water Works Department Monthly-December Water Pollution Control Department Monthly-December Fleet Maintenance/Motor Vehicle Department Monthly-December Police Department Monthly- October and November Ordinances for Second Reading The Clerk read Ordinance 2013-03 (An Ordinance to Vacate a Portion of the Public Way in the City of Lafayette, Indiana-A Portion of Land in Austin Subdivision off Poland Hill Road-David Murtaugh, Petitioner) by title only on second and final reading. Councilman Meyer moved for passage, Councilwoman Weast- Williamson seconded. Ordinance 2013-03 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote on second reading. There are no Ordinances for First Reading. Resolutions: The Clerk read Resolution 2013-02 (A Resolution Approving a Deduction for Tax Abatement in an Economic Revitalization Area (ERA)-Heartland Automotive) by title only on first and final reading. Councilwoman Weast- Williamson moved for passage, Councilman Downing seconded. Mayor Roswarski spoke in favor of this tax abatement. Jody Hamilton from Greater Lafayette Commerce introduced the Heartland Automotive project managers: Ronan Miot and Ritsuko Abrams, spoke regarding their request for a tax abatement and explained the process and products they will produce for this plant. Resolution 2013-02 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote on first and final reading. The Clerk read Resolution 2013-03 (A Resolution Dissolving the Dental/Vision Agency Fund- /Fund 721) by title only on first and final reading. Councilwoman Ahlersmeyer moved for passage, Councilman Brown seconded. Mike Jones, Controller spoke regarding the dissolution of the old Dental and Vision plan for city employees. Resolution 2013-03 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote on first and final reading. There were no Reports of Standing Committees: There were no Reports of Special Committees: Report by the Mayor: Mayor Roswarski gave his State of the City: STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, February 4, 2013 Mr. President, members of the City Council, those in attendance and all citizens of Lafayette: It is my honor to deliver to you my STATE OF THE CITY address. I would like to begin with what I believe is most important. That is to acknowledge and thank those who help make our community strong and vibrant. First, I would like to thank  The City Council, members of the Board of Works, the Redevelopment Commission, our Police and Fire Merit Boards, and all those who serve on our citizen- driven boards and commissions. I also want to thank the City department heads for their leadership and vision, and our City employees, who day in and day out get the job done for our citizens. I want to thank our business community and our labor organizations, who work to keep Lafayette working. A special thanks, too, to all our residents who continuously work hard, volunteer, promote the arts and culture, and find time to give of their talents and treasure. The strength of our community is our people. We must never lose focus that we are servant leaders. As I reflect on 2012, I continue to feel blessed to be a part of a strong, vibrant, compassionate and caring community. A community where cooperation and collaboration are valued and respected. A community where finding solutions are more important than who gets the credit, where actions are taken to improve people’s quality of Life, not to prove someone’s point of view. This spirit continues to make good things happen. Economic Development continued to be strong in the Greater Lafayette Community, for 2012. The Lafayette M.S.A. had over 600 million dollars of public and private investment. A very strong number. Some of the highlights for Lafayette were: Nanshan Aluminum Technologies installed the second press – their investment now stands at 161 million dollars. Alcoa’s 90 million dollar expansion is progressing nicely; in addition, they invested 2.6 million dollars in renovating the parking area.  After our trip to Japan, S.I.A. announced a 75 million dollar expansion and most recently another 200 million dollar expansion. Heartland Automotive built a new 8.4 million dollar building and made a long term commitment to our community. Wabash National: is making a $800,000.00 investment Kirby Risk: $1.3 million Rea Magnet Wire: 7.5 million Lafayette Community Bank has a beautiful new building under construction in Downtown Lafayette – investing 4 million dollars New retail came to Lafayette w/Gander Mountain investing 1.2 million dollars Earnest Health: 18.6 million dollars Riggs South Street – 4.9 million dollars Metro-Net fiber project: 60 million dollars These new investments translates to 100’s of new jobs for our community. With the unwavering support of North Central Health Services, we made significant progress in advancing our Wabash River Master Plan. Additional land has been purchased, remediation efforts are underway and water shed projects are going well. I want to thank the – Lafayette City Council, Greater Lafayette Commerce, Tippecanoe County Commissioners, County Council, Mayor Dennis, Department Heads, and again everyone who works together to make these opportunities possible.  The City of Lafayette continued important infrastructure projects in 2012. Maple Point Extension opened in the late fall. Significant drainage improvements were completed in Orchard Heights. The next section of the Downtown Conveyance tunnel was completed. The North Street project was substantially completed and I have received many compliments regarding this project. The construction on several Railroad Crossings was completed to move the quiet zone process forward. The Bill and Donna DeFouw Education Center opened at the Columbian Park Zoo, and this is only a portion of the projects. In addition, we completed the fourth phase of our comprehensive annexation plan. 2013 also looks bright. Economic activity is strong, housing is improving. In 2013, we will see the widening of Veterans Memorial Parkway from Concord Road to US 52. It will have four lanes, turn lanes, a trail, street lights and an additional traffic signal for Wabash National. The Earl Avenue Durkees Run Project will begin. Surveying will continue on Sagamore Parkway from Beach Drive to the Railroad Tracks behind Von Tobels. Preliminary design and engineering will begin on the phase from 300’ North of McCarty Lane to Teal Road. We will finish the Engineering of South 18th from Veterans Memorial Parkway to 430 South. It will be four lanes, with a trail, pedestrian bridge, sidewalks, and a roundabout. Again, this is only a portion of what we will be doing. 2013 will be a very busy year.  As with my presentation last year, I also want to talk about other issues that are just as important and in some cases more important than our infrastructure. I was pleasantly surprised on how many positive comments I received on last year’s presentation. When we discuss infrastructure, we plan for years, we develop goals, projections, discuss sustainability, and lay out a path to complete the projects. We need to do the same thing for other issues that face our community and we need to have open and frank discussions. Quote: “Values control behavior. We act on the basis of what we believe really matters, what is right and good. Whoever influences the core values in a group is, in fact, the leader. That process must begin with the values God instills in the leader”, which brings me to the question of what kind of community do we want to be? What are our standards and expectations, from big issues to smaller one, and how do we get there. So, this is my version of a modified top ten. Except they are not in a particular order. 1. Are we cultivating our human spirit, that everyone in our community has value, that with hard work, personal responsibility this community will do everything it can to help you succeed? 2. Do we find a way to increase Mental Health Services and not accept the Status Quo? 3. Do we work together to move people out of poverty to self-sufficiency. Can we have the difficult discussions, that deal with personal responsibility, and that making good decisions is a must, and the community also commits to having services in place that gives people a real chance who are making that effort. 4. Are we willing to take the time to ensure that the next generation of young people will be good citizens? Will we live our lives in a way that set’s the proper example?  Can we tell kids no with love, can we do even the simple things like teaching them the importance of recycling, it is not okay to litter? 5. Are we all willing to do everything possible to ensure that our children grow up free of mental and physical abuse or do we take the attitude that it’s just someone else’s problem. 6. What about restoring pride from doing an honest day’s work, and pride in craftsmanship and quality. Don’t we want a community where work ethic is admired as much as athletic ability? Where we have employment opportunities that appropriately reward the skill and work ethic with good pay, health benefits, and retirement. 7. Pride in neighborhoods – we have to continue to strengthen our core neighborhoods – We need to have difficult conversations. It is not acceptable to park vehicles in the front yard, to have trash and debris lying around, not to mow your yard or not maintain the property and it just can’t be government out doing ordinance violations. We need the whole community to participate and set the standard. 8. Reducing crime: this must be a community effort, with every neighborhood on every street. We must collectively send a message that crime won’t be tolerated here. Law enforcement and citizens must work and stand together. When it comes to fighting crime and public safety, there is definitely strength in numbers. It is time to say not on my street, not in my neighborhood, not in my City. Everyone can play some role, from turning on your porch light, to watching for suspicious activity, to reporting street lights that are out. Signing up for next door, being a block captain,  participating in a neighborhood watch, or being a Volunteer in Policing. Everyone can do something and the time is now. 9. EDUCATION: Will we truly have meaningful discussions about education, instead of looking for someone to blame. Will we as a community help restore the value and importance of education, and I don’t just mean a score on a test. I am talking about young people who are problem solvers, have critical thinking skills, can work as part of a team and that have technical skills for advanced manufacturing. Where students are well rounded, where they get a chance to explore Art, and Music along with science and math. Will we truly value our teachers, compensate them appropriately and give them the tools and resources they need? 10. Strengthening our families – Quote from – Mother Theresa; “Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater development and greater riches, so that children have very little time for their parents, and parents have very little time for their children and for each other. So the breakdown of peace in the world begins at home.” I believe the breakdown of the family is one of the greatest tragedies of our time. Too many children are being raised without the love, discipline, and without the proper examples that they need. This is the foundation that starts a child down the path of making good decisions. STATE OF THE CITY CONCLUSION So tonight as last year, this is again a call to action, a request for everyone to ask themselves and decide:  What can I do for my community? Am I willing to help address the tough issues and have the difficult conversations? What am I willing to do for the heart and soul of Lafayette? We all have different talents, skills, and treasures, so what we can give will all be different. The bottom line is, we can all do something and it is unacceptable to do nothing! The challenge is now, the time is now. Thank you and may God continue to bless our community. There was no Miscellaneous and New Business. There were no Reports of Council. Public Comment: Lloyd Wells- 3717 Rawlings Drive commended the council. Perry Barbee - 3700 Redbud spoke regarding the Mayor's State of the City and wanted the community to start the Nominate your Neighbor project again. Councilman Heide moved to adjourn Councilman Klinker seconded. Meeting adjourned at 7:32pm Minutes prepared by Cindy Murray, City Clerk Complete audio of meeting available in the City Clerk’s office or at www.lafayette.in.gov