City Council

MINUTES OF THE LAFAYETTE COMMON COUNCIL February 5, 2024 REGULAR MEETING (https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofLafayetteIN/live The Common Council of the City of Lafayette, Indiana met in regular session Monday, February 5 ,2024 at 6:00 pm. In the Common Council Chamber at 20. N 6th Street. President Snyder called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. The Pledge of Allegiance Present: Nargi, Snyder, Hession Weiss, Brown, Ahlersmeyer, Weast-Williamson, Downing. Absent: Klinker, Reynolds. City Clerk and City Attorney Jacque Chosnek were present. Councilmember Nargi moved to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2024, meeting. Councilmember Hession Weiss seconded. Motion passed by unanimous voice vote. There were no Disposal of Claims, Petitions or Communications. The Clerk stated the following reports are available in the City Clerk’s Office: Renew Department Monthly-December Water Works Department Monthly-December Ordinances for Second Reading No Ordinances for Second Reading Ordinances for First Reading The Clerk read Ordinance 2023-61 (An Ordinance to Amend The Zoning Ordinance of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, To Rezone Certain Real Estate From GB to I3) Jacque Chosnek spoke regarding this Ordinance and asked for motion to withdraw this from the agenda. Councilmember Ahlersmeyer moved to withdraw Ordinance, Councilman Weast-Williamson seconded. Ordinance 2023-61 removed by unanimous voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-01 (An Ordinance Authorizing The City Of Lafayette, Indiana To Issue And Fund Its Taxable Economic Development Revenue Note, Series 2024 (Anvil 26 Project) And Authorizing And Approving Other Actions In Connection Therewith) Jacque Chosnek spoke regarding this Ordinance and asked for motion to withdraw this from the agenda. Councilmember Downing moved to withdraw, Councilmember Weast-Williamson seconded. Ordinance 2024-01 removed by unanimous voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-04 (An Ordinance Amending Lafayette Municipal Code Section 13.05.100 Unsafe Building Recoverable Costs. Councilmember Brown moved for passage; Councilmember Ahlersmeyer seconded. Jacque Chosnek spoke regarding this Ordinance. Ordinance 2024-02 passed 6-0 on a roll call vote. The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-05 (An Ordinance to Amend Ordinance 2023-46 An Ordinance Fixing the Salaries of the Appointed Officers and Employees Of the City of Lafayette, Indiana, for the Year 2024, Excluding the Sworn Protective Occupation and Law Enforcement Members of The Police and Fire Departments. Councilmember Nargi moved for passage, Councilmember Hession Weiss seconded. The Mayor spoke regarding this Ordinance. Chief Gallaway spoke regarding the Ordinance and answered a few questions the councilmembers had. Ordinance 2024-05 passed 6-0 on a roll call vote. Resolutions The Clerk read Resolution No. 2024-06 (Resolution Of The Common Council Of The City Of Lafayette, Indiana Approving An Economic Development Agreement In Connection With The Development And Financing Of A Mixed-Use Commercial/Residential Project, Including A Parking Garage, And Authorizing Other Matters In Connection Therewith.) Councilmember Brown moved for passage; Councilmember Ahlersmeyer seconded. Dennis Caron, Economic Development Director, spoke regarding this Resolution. Antone Najem, of Third Street Ventures, spoke regarding this Resolution. Andy Sahm, of Barrett & Stokley, spoke regarding this Resolution and went through a PowerPoint presentation. Mayor Spoke regarding the Resolution. Resolution 2024-06 passed 6-0 on a roll call vote on first and final reading. The Clerk read Resolution No. 2024-07 (Lafayette Common Council A Resolution Declaring The Designation Of Certain Real Estate As An Economic Revitalization Area (Era) And Approving The Application For Property Tax Abatement Tate & Lyle Solutions USA, LLC Personal Property.) Councilmember Downing moved for passage, Councilmember Weast-Williamson seconded. Dennis Carson Economic Development Director, spoke regarding this Resolution. Keith Oliger, Tate & Lyle, spoke regarding this resolution. Resolution 2024-07 passed 6-0 on a roll call vote on first and final reading. Councilmember Ahlersmeyer moved to set public hearing for March 4th, 2024 at 6:01pm, Councilmember Weast-Williamson seconded. Public Hearing set for March 4th, at 6:01pm passed by unanimous voice vote. No Reports of Standing Committees. No Reports of Special Committees. Report by the Mayor: STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS – 2024 Mr. President, members of the City Council, and all the citizens of Lafayette: It is my honor to present my 2024 State of the City Address. I would like to thank our City Clerk Cindy Murray, the City Council, Department Heads, and Team Members who work every day to serve our citizens. I would like to thank our citizens, who volunteer, support our schools, give their time, talent, and treasures to make Lafayette a wonderful, thriving community. I am pleased to report that we continue to be in a strong financial position. The current Rainy Day Fund is $8,011,335.00. Our operating accounts have strong cash balances. Our investment strategy is working well. At this time, we have $6,626,495.00 in unallocated EDIT reserves. This brings our total reserves to $14,637,830.00, which is 28.7% of the General Fund and 17.4% of the overall Civil City Budget. We also have $3,500,000.00 in unallocated CCD funds. I am also pleased to report that this year we have again lowered the tax rate from 1.125 to 1.0566. You may also remember we lowered the rate last year from 1.1526 to 1.125. So, over two years we have lowered the tax rate 8.3%. Public Safety continues to be our #1 priority. 2023 saw the opening of our new state of the art Public Safety Building. This new building is enhancing our public outreach, integration of new technologies, data collection, analysis, evidence processing, and resource efficiencies. Most Part 1 crimes remain stable at multi year lows. Crimes involving firearms are our #1 priority. Through the dedicated hard work of our Officers, Detectives, and civilian Crime Scene Investigators, we increased our arrests by 25% in these firearm cases. As we work on engagement, I am pleased to announce in 2024, the Police Department’s Facebook page has 5,776 followers, with a goal of 10,000 followers by the end of 2024. The Inside the Squad podcast will be released the first Monday of every month. Topics will include updates and behind-the-scenes of the LPD force, city updates and current events, tips on safety and health, and so much more! We value community engagement and encourage listeners to ask questions for us to answer on air and submit suggestions for podcast topics at insidethesquad@lafayette.in.gov. Episodes will be released on SoundCloud, Spotify and YouTube, and will be announced on LPD's social media pages.  The L.P.D. digital newsletter will begin early this year! Anyone can subscribe and receive the newsletter directly in their inbox. Newsletters include a monthly edition featuring crime stats and highlights from the previous month, community outreach events, and recruitment/hiring. Stay tuned! Approximately 3,000 attended the Cops and Goblins event! The Fire Department continues the process of truck acquisition. We have purchased 8 trucks in the last 11 years and # 9 is being built. The Fire Department is in the process of being evaluated by a 3rd party consulting organization. This evaluation will review the fire department’s configuration, programs, and processes, service delivery, and response performance in detail and compare the conditions found to national standards and best practices. Additional areas of review will include financials, staffing, deployment of personnel and equipment. This gap analysis will be used in future strategic planning’s. The Fire Department is testing traffic preemption equipment that allows traffic signals to change, allowing fire trucks to enter an intersection with a green light. This will not only reduce emergency response times but also reduce the risk of traffic collisions both to the fire department and community members as fire trucks pass through intersections while on emergency calls. Mobilization has begun for the remodeling of the East portion of City Hall. As you are aware, the Fire Department Administration, Inspectors, and civilian staff will occupy the entire first floor. This will create a true Public Safety Campus, bringing leadership of the Police and Fire Departments together, along with other City Officials. We will continue our progressive approach to infrastructure with the following projects:  Park East Blvd. (McCarty to Haggerty)  Development of two new well fields  Construction of two new solar fields (we currently have 2)  Completion of Wea Water Tower  $4,200,000.00 upgrades to Glick Well Field system  Installing 2 new wells – 1 at Canal and 1 at Glick for redundancy  Improvements to Veterans Memorial Parkway between U.S. 52 and State Road 38  The Public Works Campus is moving along nicely and will be completed late summer, early fall  Invest nearly 40 million dollars in Service Area 11A and 11B for growth opportunities In Parks and Recreation, we are pleased that Phase 1 renovations at McCaw Park are complete, including the new dog park. Phase 2 will begin in the spring and will feature 12 new pickle ball courts, a trail, basketball court and improvements around the baseball fields. In 2023, we completed the all-accessible sports field at CAT Park. Work is beginning on the very important commissary building at the zoo. The design of the Primate Exhibit is underway. Over the last few years, we installed new playgrounds in several of our parks. I am pleased to announce that we will be replacing the playground in Columbian Park with play pieces poured in place rubber, and some really fun new ways for the kids to get up and down the hill. In conclusion, our strong financial position, along with our unwavering commitment to public safety, continuing to enhance our quality-of-life initiatives, and progressive infrastructure plans, all will allow us to continue our strong economic growth and community development. Miscellaneous or New Business 6:55p.m. Councilmember Klinker enters Council chambers for City Council meeting. Public Comment: Lloyd Wells spoke regarding the street lines on some of the roads. Councilmember Klinker moves to adjourn. Councilmember Brown seconded. Meeting adjourned at 6:57 PM. Minutes prepared by Cindy Murray, City Clerk Complete audio of meeting available in the City Clerk’s office or at www.lafayette.in.gov