Board of Public Works & Safety

REGULAR MEETING – January 4, 2016 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Michigan City, Indiana, met in REGULAR SESSION on Monday morning, January 4, 2016 at the hour of 9:00 a.m., in the Council Chambers, in the City Hall Building, located at 100 East Michigan Boulevard, Michigan City Indiana – a regular meeting room of this Board. The meeting was called to order by President Steve Janus, who presided. Noted present: Steve Janus, Michael Palmer and Virginia Keating (3). A QUORUM WAS NOTED PRESENT. Also noted in attendance: Amber Lapaich, Corporate Counsel Russ Hatfield, Code Enforcement Officer Jessica Gage, Assistant City Planner Bob Zondor, Superintendent Central Maintenance Craig Phillips, City Planner Charles “Spike” Peller, City Engineer Scott Kaletha, M.C.F.D. Training Officer Fire Chief Randy Novak, M.C.F.D. Jeff Cox, M.C.F.D. Deputy Chief Steve Stimley, M.C.F.D. Firefighter Mike Neulieb, M.C.F.D. Firefighter Arber Himaj, Engineer, M.C. Sanitary District Kalon Kubik, Administrator Shelley Dunleavy, Personnel Director Terry Borolov, Code Enforcement Officer Capt. Steve Jesse, M.C.P.D. Traffic Division Rich Murphy, City Controller Gale Neulieb, City Clerk Kim Sliwa, Deputy City Clerk ELECTION OF OFFICERS – Election of Officers for 2016 Virginia Keating made a motion to retain the Officers the Board currently has as President, Steve Janus and Vice-President Michael Palmer. The motion was seconded by Vice- President Palmer and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS Janus, Palmer, and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. APPROVAL OF MINUTES President Janus asked if there were any corrections to the minutes of the Regular meeting of December 21, 2015. Vice-President Palmer made the motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Virginia Keating and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS Janus, Palmer and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion carries. Regular Meeting – January 4, 2016 Page 2 APPROVAL OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 150 Shelley Dunleavy the Personnel Director stated the current contract was approved in 2014 for 2015, 2016 and 2017, and there has been a shift change at Central Maintenance so the contract language had to be adjusted. Corporate Counsel Amber Lapaich added that she has been instrumental in these changes and does not have any problem with them and would recommend approval. Vice-President Palmer made a motion to approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150. The motion was seconded by Virginia Keating and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS Janus, Palmer and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. Note: A copy can be viewed in the City Clerk’s Office. APPROVAL OF UPDATE FOR VALIC RETIREMENT PLAN Shelley Dunleavy the Personnel Director stated this is an annual update for the deferred compensation program that the City has with Valic, and this is just updating various IRS regulations and does not affect the operation of the plan at all. Corporate Counsel Amber Lapaich added that she has looked this over and recommends approval. Virginia Keating made a motion to approve the updates to the Valic Retirement Plan. The motion was seconded by Vice-President Palmer and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS Janus, Palmer and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. REQUEST FOR 5K RUN BY JOY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Kris Kiser representing Lisa Suter Principal of Joy Elementary School stated the Parent Group is proposing to have a 5K run on May 7, 2016 with the funds helping to improve the playground as well as the grounds of the school, that a large portion of the run is intended to be on the grounds of the school but in order to make it a 5K it does have to go off the premises a little; explaining the Parent Group is trying to minimize how much they are actually on the streets as they would like to keep traffic flowing on all the streets but want to make sure the people are still safe, advising there have been police officers who have offered to volunteer as well as fire personnel to help make sure the roads are safe so this would be at no cost to the City; further advising they would like to start the race at 9:00 am, but they are flexible if this needs to change. Capt. Steve Jesse with M.C.P.D Traffic Division stated he did briefly look at this; that he did have questions about the route and it was explained to him. Capt. Jesse stated as long as Mrs. Kiser had the intersections covered by a police officer for this period of time he had no objections. Vice-President Palmer reminded Mrs. Kiser that the Clerk’s Office still needed the Certificate of Liability Insurance for the event. Regular Meeting – January 4, 2016 Page 3 Mrs. Kiser said the school will provide a copy prior to the event; Mrs. Kiser was also reminded of the City being named as an additional insured as well. Virginia Keating made a motion to approve the request for the 5K run for Joy Elementary School on Saturday, May 7, 2016 to start at 9:00 am with road closure to begin at 8:45 am contingent on receiving the Liability Insurance naming the City as an additional insurer. The motion was seconded by Vice-President Palmer and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS Janus, Palmer and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. CLAIMS AND PAYROLL Vice-President Palmer moved that the claims set forth in the Register of Claims (in possession of the City Controller) and appearing in the Register be severally allowed and ordered paid and proper warrants for payment thereof hereby ordered issued in the stated amounts to person(s) and/or firm(s) as set forth, and payrolls approved. The motion was seconded by Virginia Keating and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS Janus, Palmer and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion carries. The Board signed: Payroll items in Register of Claims for informational purposes (which Register is in the possession of the City Controller) as follows: Page Date Amount 1 of 7 12/22/2015 $381,563.50 1 of 3 12/30/2015 $208,749.61 Allowance of claims as set forth in the Register of Claims for the Board of Public Works and Safety and the Department of Redevelopment (which Register is in the possession of the City Controller) as follows: Page Date Amount 1 of 2 12/30/2015 $1,001,441.78 1 of 1 01/04/2016 $2,369.88 UNFINISHED BUSINESS – Pending Items Pending Items – Runnin’ for Prestin 5K/10K Kris Kiser addressed the Board stating that this run was for September 17, 2016 and is done at Washington Park. Mrs. Kiser stated this will be the 5th Annual Runnin’ for Prestin race if it is approved, and the course would remain unchanged from previous years; and this has been approved by the Park Department; advising as in years past, there will be volunteer police and fire on hand to help keep everything secure and safe; the proceeds from this run will go toward Pediatric Cancer Research at Riley’s Children Hospital because this is the least funded Cancer in the United States, and this run is also in honor of Prestin Butcher who at the age of 10 was diagnosed with brain cancer and is currently cancer free but still has the secondary effects of cancer. Discussion ensued between President Janus and Mrs. Kiser about the route. Regular Meeting – January 4, 2016 Page 4 Mrs. Kiser stated it does go a little outside of Washington Park, the course is unchanged from the past years and there were no issues. Capt. Steve Jesse addressed the Board stating it was his understanding that it is the 5th time this run has happened; they do get volunteers from the Police and Fire Departments to man the intersections. Capt. Jesse added that he has no issues with holding this event. Vice-President Palmer made a motion to approve the Runnin’ for Prestin 5K/10K on Saturday, September 17, 2016 starting at the tennis courts in Washington Park and utilizing some of the streets in the area provided that the City receives the Certificate of Liability Insurance naming the City as an additional insured. The motion was seconded by Virginia Keating and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS Janus, Palmer and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. Pending Items – “Do Not Litter” Signage on Warnke Road Charles “Spike” Peller, City Engineer, stated he has been working with the Planning Department and they have recommended some signs that could be used. Craig Phillips, City Planner, addressed the Board about what prompted this and why this location? Corporate Counsel Amber Lapaich answered Mr. Phillips questions that the Board decided not to do the “Do Not Litter” signs; however, the Board was looking for an alternative; possibly an Adopt A Highway/Street/Road Project/Program. Craig Phillips stated he has not researched “Adopt A Highway” programs himself. Mr. Phillips was at a point where he was asking more questions about the “Do Not Litter” signs more than anything. Discussion ensued between the Board and Mr. Peller about the possibility of putting up “Do Not Litter” signs and that they could create more litter; advising Mr. Peller thought maybe the “Adopt A Street” would be a good idea for this and other streets in the City. Craig Phillips would like to do some more research on this and talk with Councilman Schwanke as well since this request came from him. This will be held over until the next meeting which is January 19, 2016. Pending Items – Parking at 204 S. Lake Ave. Charles “Spike” Peller, City Engineer, stated there is parking at 204 S. Lake Ave and only disabled residents should have special parking permits; advising special parking permits for non-disabled residents should be avoided as this would open the Board of Works to making decisions that they really do not need to make. Mr. Peller stated if during the summer the home owner has a reason for a disabled parking sticker or sign, then they may go through that process. Mr. Peller recommends that if the home owner is not disabled, then the Board not approve this request. Vice-President Palmer made a motion to deny the request for a special parking permit at 204 S. Lake Ave per the City Engineer recommendation. The motion was seconded by Regular Meeting – January 4, 2016 Page 5 Virginia Keating and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS Janus, Palmer and Keating (3). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. Vice-President Palmer asked Mr. Peller to inform this petitioner about today’s discussion since he was informed that the Board would not get back to this matter until the January 19, 2016 meeting. PUBLIC COMMENTS UPDATE – 2 WAY STREET CONVERSION Brad Minnick with Primera Engineers updated the Board on the 2-way Street Conversion Project; stating Hawk Electric has resumed work at the corner of 11th and Pine Streets which will continue throughout the winter. Mr. Minnick stated there is still lighting that needs to be done north of Hwy 12, but the main focus right now was Pine Street between 11th Street and Hwy 12. BOARD COMMENTS President Janus asked if there were any Board comments. Vice-President Palmer asked the City Engineer, Charles “Spike” Peller about the intersection of Hwy 212 and Tryon Rd; knowing that this is a state highway, but there are several issues with this intersection; advising there has been several accidents there and part of the problem he believes is the visibility with the gas station being there on the corner; the delivery trucks park near the road making it hard for traffic trying to cross the road to see; further advising This intersection needs to be made safer, maybe a study can should be done and a stop light installed because of the school buses that use this intersection. The Board took a five (5) minute recess. The Board then resumed to conduct the Grievance Hearing filed by Steven Stimley. Matter heard and tabled to next meeting for disposition of grievance. ADJOURNMENT President Janus inquired whether there was anything else to be considered by the Board at this time and, there being none, declared the meeting ADJOURNED (approximately 9:43 am). Vice-President Palmer made the motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Virginia Keating and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS Janus, Palmer and Keating (3). NAYS: (0). Motion Carries. _________________________________________ Gale A. Neulieb, City Clerk