City Council

MINUTES OF THE LAFAYETTE COMMON COUNCIL October 7th 2024 REGULAR MEETING (https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofLafayetteIN/live The Common Council of the City of Lafayette, Indiana met in regular session Monday, October 7, 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: Klinker, Nargi, Snyder, Reynolds, Hession Weiss, Brown, Weast-Williamson, Downing and Ahlersmeyer City Clerk Cindy Murray and City Attorney Jacque Chosnek were present. Councilmember Klinker moved to recess for a public hearing on Ordinance 2024-41 (An Ordinance Vacating a Portion of 17th street in the City of Lafayette, Indiana) Councilmember Nargi seconded. The Motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Ordinance 2024-42 (An Ordinance For Additional Appropriation of American Rescue Plan Grant Fund (Fund #1760)) Resolution 2024-24 (A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Lafayette, Indiana Approving the Exchange of Real Property) Councilmember Klinker moved to reconvene the regular meeting. Councilmember Nargi seconded. Motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Councilmember Reynolds moved to approve the minutes of the September 3rd, 2024, meeting. Councilmember Hession Weiss seconded. Motion passed by unanimous voice vote. The Clerk stated the following reports are available in the City Clerk’s Office: Renew Department Monthly-July August Water Works Department Monthly-July & August Fleet Department Monthly- July & August Ordinances for Second Reading The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-41 (An Ordinance Vacating a Portion of 17th street in the City of Lafayette, Indiana) by title on second and final reading. Councilmember Brown moved for passage; Councilmember Ahlersmeyer Seconded. Jacque Chosnek, City Attorney, spoke regarding this Ordinance. She shared that they had a survey done and the 17th street had never been officially vacated. The area is grass and there is no actual road there. Discussion ensued. Ordinance 2024-41 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote for second and final reading. The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-42 (An Ordinance For Additional Appropriation of American Rescue Plan Grant Fund (Fund #1760)) by title on second and final reading. Councilmember Weast-Williamson moved for passage; Councilmember Downing seconded. Jacque Chosnek, City Attorney, spoke regarding this Ordinance. Ordinance 2024-42 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote for second and final reading. Ordinance for First Reading The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-43 (An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Ordinance of Tippecanoe County, Indiana) by title on first and final reading. Councilmember Klinker moved for passage; Councilmember Nargi seconded. Jacque Chosnek, City Attorney, spoke regarding this Ordinance. Discussion ensued. Ordinance 2024-43 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote for first and final reading. The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-44 (An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Ordinance of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, to Rezone Certain Real Estate from NBU and R2U to PDRS) by title on first and final reading. Councilmember Reynolds moved for passage; Councilmember Hession Weiss seconded. Chris Shelmon, Gutwein Law, spoke regarding this Ordinance. Ordinance 2024- 44 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote for first and final reading. The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-45 (2025 GLPTC Budget An Ordinance Appropriating Money for the Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation as Required Pursuant to Indiana Code 6-1.1-17-20) by title on first reading. Councilmember Brown moved for passage; Councilmember Ahlersmeyer seconded. Bryan Smith, CEO of City Bus, spoke regarding this Ordinance. Discussion ensued. Ordinance 2024-45 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote for first reading. The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-46 (2025 Budget Ordinance an Ordinance Appropriating Money for the Purpose of Defraying the Expenses of Several Departments of the City Government of the City of Lafayette, Indiana for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2025 And Ending December 31, 2025, Including the Outstanding Claims and Obligations and Fixing a Time When the Same Shall Take Effect.) by title on first reading. Councilmember Weast-Williamson moved for passage; Councilmember Downing seconded. Mayor Roswarski thanked Jeremy Diehl, Controller, and the entire Controller’s Office as well as the department heads and all the staff in the City for their hard work on the 2025 budget. Mayor thanked the council for their hard work and being pro-growth on growing the community. Mayor Roswarski gave a detailed report on the budget process and how the final numbers are calculated. The overall budget is $97,727,659 that’s about a $8.4 million dollars increase over last year’s budget. Ordinance 2024-46 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote for first reading. The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-47 (An Ordinance Fixing the Salaries of the Appointed Officers and Employees of the City of Lafayette, Indiana, for the Year 2025, Excluding the Sworn Protective Occupation and Law Enforcement Members of the Police and Fire Departments) by title on first reading. Councilmember Klinker moved for passage; Councilmember Nargi seconded. Mayor Roswarski spoke and noted that this was for the civilian personnel, and they are pleased to announce they were able to give a 5% raise. Ordinance 2024-47 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote for first reading. The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-48 (An Ordinance Fixing the Salaries of the Sworn Protective Occupation and Law Enforcement (POLE) Members of the Police and Fire Departments of the City of Lafayette, Indiana, For the Year 2025) by title on first reading. Councilmember Reynolds moved for passage; Councilmember Hession-Weiss seconded. Mayor Roswarski spoke and noted that this was for the sworn personnel, and they were able to give them a 6.5% raise. Ordinance 2024-48 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote for first reading. The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-49 (An Ordinance Fixing the Salaries of the Elected Officials of the City of Lafayette, Indiana for the Year 2025) by title on first reading. Councilmember Brown moved for passage; Councilmember Ahlersmeyer seconded. Jeremy Diehl, Controller, spoke and noted that they were able to give a 5% raise this year. He also shared the Mayor and City Clerk will receive a 6.5% increase. Ordinance 2024-49 passed 7-1 on a roll call vote for first reading. Ayes: Klinker, Nargi, Snyder, Reynolds, Hession Weiss, Weast-Williamson, Downing and Ahlersmeyer Nays: Brown The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-50 (An Ordinance Authorizing the City of Lafayette, Indiana to Make and Fund a Loan, As Evidenced by the Taxable Economic Development Revenue Note, Series 2024 (Anvil 26 Project), And Authorizing and Approving Other Actions in Connection Therewith) by title on first reading. Councilmember Weast-Williamson moved for passage; Councilmember Downing seconded. Dennis Carson, Redevelopment Director, spoke regarding this Ordinance. Joe Blake, Ironman Properties, spoke regarding the project on 2600 south street and what their mission and vision are with the project. Pearl Speakman, 923 S. 2nd Street, asked about cost of rent at this new complex. Discussion endued. Scott Frissell, Attorney with Krieg DeVault, noted that they are serving as special council to the city for the finances of the Anvil 26 project. Scott shared that this is a forgivable loan structure in an amount not to exceed 2.5 million the actual loan amount is anticipating being 2,080,000.00. Greg Balsano, Baker Tilly municipal advisors, serving as municipal advisor on this transaction. He shared that this would be paid out in over 6 payments and would be around $690,000 a year. Mayor Roswasrki spoke regarding this ordinance. Ordinance 2024-50 passed 8- 0 on a roll call vote for first reading. The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-51 (An Ordinance For Additional Appropriation In The Economic Development Income Tax Fund (Fund #2090)) by title on first reading. Councilmember Klinker moved for passage; Councilmember Nargi seconded. Jeremy Diehl, Controller, spoke regarding this Ordinance. Ordinance 2024-51 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote for first reading. Councilmember Klinker moved to set a public hearing for Monday, November 4, 2024 at 6:01pm for second and final reading, Councilmember Brown seconded. Motion passed by unanimous voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance 2024-52 (An Ordinance of the City of Lafayette Authorizing the Issuance of Waterworks Revenue Bonds for the Purpose of Providing Funds to Pay the Cost of Construction of Certain Additions, Extensions and Improvements to the Municipal Waterworks of Said City, Providing for the Safeguarding of the Interests of the Owners of Said Bonds, Other Matters Connected Therewith, Including the Issuance of Notes in Anticipation of Bonds, And Repealing Ordinances Inconsistent Herewith) by title on first reading. Councilmember Reynolds moved for passage; Councilmember Hession Weiss seconded. Jacque Chosnek, City Attorney, spoke regarding this Ordinance. Hans Steck, Dentons, spoke regarding the Ordinance. Jennifer Wilson, Crowe, spoke regarding this Ordinance. Discussion Ensued. Ordinance 2024-52 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote for first reading. Resolutions The Clerk read Resolution 2024-24 (A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Lafayette, Indiana Approving the Exchange of Real Property) by title on first and final reading. Councilmember Brown moved for passage; Councilmember Ahlersmeyer seconded. Jacque Chosnek, City Attorney, spoke regarding this Resolution. Discussion ensued. Resolution 2024-24 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote for first and final reading. No reports of Standing Committees No reports of Special Committees Report by the Mayor: Mayor Roswarski was pleased to announce that Sustainea has chosen Lafayette for their new site. This will be approximately $400-million-dollar facility which will be one of the largest in the U.S. They will be partnering with Primient for the material that they need and will also help create an environmentally friendly product that will replace fossil fuel- based products in clothing, footwear, etc. The mayor thanked everyone who had a hand in helping get Sustainea here and for choosing us. Reports of the Councilmembers: Perry Brown shared that in 1977 he was awarded the grand political science award from Northern Illinois University. During the first week of October the Political Science Department asked him to come back to that school and speak to a state and local government class. Having his experiences on the council and knowing how things are ran in the City of Lafayette he was able to talk to them about many things such as; the mayor, his administration, about councilmember, etc. Council member Jerry Reynolds shared that the Lafayette Fire department has their annual the fire safety show at Sunnyside. Wednesday October 9th they will be having a show open to the public at 6:00pm. President Snyder reminded everyone about the public hearing for 2025 Lafayette City Budget and 2025 GLPTC Budget on Thursday, October 10th at 5:00 pm in the Council Chamber. Public Comment: Pearl Speakman, 923 S. 2nd Street, spoke regarding sidewalk issues and the need for more speedbumps to help combat people speeding. Councilmember Klinker moves to adjourn. Councilmember Reynolds seconded. Meeting adjourned at 7:40PM. Minutes prepared by Cindy Murray, City Clerk Complete audio of meeting available in the City Clerk’s office or at www.lafayette.in.gov