Board of Public Works & Safety

REGULAR MEETING - Ju ly 6 , 2’2’ ZOOM MEETING The Board of Public Works , and Safety of the City of Michigan City, Indiana met in regular session on Monday morning , June 15 , 2’2’, at the hour of 8:3’ a.m., local time , hosted by “ZOOM” and streamed live on “My Michigan City” Facebok page. The meeting was caled to order by President Harris , who presided. Noted present: Keith Harris, Virginia Keating, Duane Parry (3) Absent: (’ ) A QUORUM WAS NOTED PRESENT. Also noted in attendance: Amber Lapaich, Corporate Counsel Kaleb Godwin, IT David Coney-Asst. Chief of Police Skyler York-Planing Dept. Cranston Harris-Central Services Shong Smith-Central Services Jessica Arnett-City Forester Gale Neulieb, City Clerk Dawn Debald, Deputy Clerk Kristina Zawacki, Assistant Deputy Clerk APPROVAL OF MINUTES President Harris asked if there were any corrections to the minutes from the Regular Meeting of June 4 , 2’2’. Vice-President Keating made the motion to aprove the minutes from the Regular Meeting of June 4 , 2’2’. The motion was seconded by Mayor Parry and carried as folws: AYES: MEMBERS Harris, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (’). Motion Carries. REQUEST FOR SOLICITATION OF BIDS/APPROVAL OF BID PACKET-Jef Wright, City Engineer, is requesting to solicit bids for York Street Reconstruction and aproval of bid packet President Keith Harris stated that this is a pricey project, but we are receiving federal money and al the engineering is being done in house by our City Engineer Jef Wright ; we are saving over $1’’,’’’. Mr. Harris needed some clarification on which funds the rest of the money is coming from. Mayor Parry stated this is the only project that we are going to be doing this year and only 1’% is coming out of our budget and funded primarily through Federal Funding . W e included in the scope of work not only just resetting the brick but also leveling the street and setting the bricks down and we are replacing stormwater sewer in that area which wil be paid for by the Sanitary District. Also, since there are water lines in the area the Water Department wil pay for that as wel. That coupled together and the Federal funds leaves very little that the city is involved in. Regular Meeting - June 15 , 2’2’ Page 2 Skyler York from the Planing Department stated that this project is funded by Comunity Crossings; this is a state grant. It saved us $113,’’’ to have our City Engineer do this project in house. He did the surveying and the design. Corporate Counsel Amber Lapaich reviewed the bid packet and is okay with the packet going out. Vice President Virginia Keating wanted to inform the public that the project is between Barker and Homer Street and wil last 9’ days. Mr. York informed the Board that he and Jef Wright, City Engineer wil be having a public meeting at the schol with the houses on the West side of the project that wil be directly impacted. He also stated that they have met with the schol to talk about the days the road wil be closed, alternative parking etc. Ms. Keating asked Mr. York if they wil be putting advertising in the paper to inform the comittee of the closings. Mr. York stated that yes there wil be, but he is hoping for a ful story about the project instead of just a simple legal notice. Mayor Parry agreed we wil publicize this project because it improves the neighborhod. Mr. York and Mr. Wright talked to the residential property owners along York Street and viewed their parking along their property and improve as wel. Vice President Virginia Keating made the motion to aprove the solicit bids for the York Street Reconstruction project and aproval of bid packet. The motion was seconded by Mayor Parry and carried as folws: AYES: MEMBERS Harris, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (’). Motion Carries. APPLICATION FOR VENDOR LICENSE- Moe Mroueh, Moe & Me LLC, 8’6 Long Beach th Lane, is requesting a vendor license for a Mediterranean fod truck at the corner lot of 7 Street & Wabash from June 1, 2’2’ to December 31, 2’2’ Thursday thru Sunday 11:3’ a.m. to 7:’’ p.m. Skyler York stated that when they first came up with the ordinance, they were having some issues with fod truck vendors and needed to control at where they are parked or were placed. There’s a radius of how far a vendor/fod truck is from a restaurant. They wanted a mechanism to alow people to be able to express whether they are in favor of the placement or not. Mayor Parry said this was the first time that he had heard about the vendor wanting to be placed at 7th and Wabash. Normal procedure is to request feedback from the neighboring residents and businesses. If it has not been done that this should be tabled. Mr. York stated that when we have our public meetings it ’s easier to notice everyone and for them to be heard; versus the ZOOM meetings. Corporate Counsel Lapaich made a suggestion to table this until we can hold our first live meeting that can hold the public in July. Also , that the Board can identify the businesses in the surrounding area and give them specific notice and when the hearing wil be held; also the aplication was missing the actual LaPorte County Health Department Permit. Kim Riley-Owner of Moe & Me LLC, stated that she believed that she had to be only 3’’ feet away from the same cuisine. Ms. Riley asked if they were not able to have a permanent location can she have a permit to park wherever. Stating that once coler weather hits that she wil no longer receive business; if we are pushing back the meeting til July then her season wil basicaly be over. Ms. Riley said that the Health Department has cashed her check, but they did not send her the Health Permit and only gave her a temporary one. She agreed to reach out to them one more time letting them know she hasn ’t received the permit yet and ask them what is going on with it. Ms. Lapaich responded and said that was fine; but that the ordinance doesn ’t state a certain cuisine; if it is in direct competition with any type of gods, wares, merchandise, or services. It specifies in general terms it could be fods vs fods. Ms. Riley asked if she would be able to get a permit to park anywhere besides the specific location. Ms. Lapaich said no; the ordinance doesn’t alow to just park anywhere they have to specify where. Mr. York stated that people have turned in requests for multiple Regular Meeting - June 15 , 2’2’ Page 3 locations that they have gotten aproval for. He also said that they specified what days they would be at certain locations; and that they were trackable locations. Mr. York said that if there is a fod truck set up at the mal and we do not control the mals property; so that is left up to them. We do not regulate who has fod trucks there. Mayor Parry made the motion to table this request pending the conditions that were referenced by Corporate Counsel Lapaich are met for the July meeting. The motion was seconded by Vice President Keating and carries as folw s: AYES: MEMBERS Harris, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (’). Motion Carries. APPROVAL FOR ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES- Ron Landtrop, “A Slice of Heaven” is requesting aproval to hire additional employees on his vendors license President Harris stated that he believes that Mr. Landtrop has turned in al of the required paperwork with who he is going to be putting on board. Mayor Parry asked if the additional workers are going to be working at the location that has been aproved for him. Mr. Harris replied with they wil be. Mr. Harris asked Ms. Lapaich if everything is in order with this request. Ms. Lapaich said yes, it is. Vice President Keating made the motion to aprove the request for Mr. Landtrop to hire additional employees on his vendor license . The motion was seconded by Mayor Parry and carried as folws: AYES: MEMBERS Harris, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (’). Motion Carries. REQUEST FOR STREET CLOSURE- Stevan Grop, South Shore Freight, is requesting aproval to close grade public crossing to aid in its renewal to increase public and railroad safety, June 16-18, 2’2’ starting at 6:’’ a.m. President Harris stated that he spoke with Cpt. Jef Loniewsk i, Trafic Division and he had no issues with it . Mayor Parry asked if they are rebuilding the crossing. Mr. York said that is what they did on Motts Parkway. They tok out the crossing and put new rails down; improving the crossing. Mayor Parry made the motion to aprove the request to close the grade public crossing to aid in its renewal to increase public and railroad safety. The motion was seconded by Vice- President Keating and carried as folws: AYES: MEMBERS Harris, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (’). Motion Carries. REQUEST FOR DESTRUCTION OF CITY PROPERTY- David Coney, Chief of Operations, M.C.P.D., is requesting to destroy property no longer needed by the Drug Task Force; destruction of computer and video equipment the City ’s I.T. department has deemed unsable President Harris stated that what is on the list is 5 outdated video cameras. Chief Coney stated he had nothing to add. Mayor Parry asked if the video cameras had no use for anything else or if they could be repurposed. Mr. Harri s replied that the equipment is very outdated, and they have removed the memory cards from the cameras. There are internal memory cards, so some sort of destruction is needed. Ms. Lapaich asked if al the relevant data has been downloaded for any criminal cases before the cameras are destroyed. Chief Coney said the information has been downloaded and the cameras do not have any information left on them. Regular Meeting - June 15 , 2’2’ Page 4 Mayor Parry made the motion to aprove the request to destroy property no longer needed by the Drug Task Force. The motion was seconded by Vice President Keating and carried as folws: AYES: MEMEBERS Keating and Parry (2). NAYS: (’). ABSTAINED: Harris (1). RETIREMENT- Michigan City Fire Department anouces the retirement of Captain Robert Schafer efective April 26, 2’2’; 2’+ years of service (Note: for informational purposes only) CLAIMS AND PAYROLL Alowance 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 Controler) as folws: CLAIMS DOCKET June 1, 2020 Municipal Claims $ 1,25,172.54 Worker ’s Comp $ 3’,345.73 Health & Life $ 193,174.’4 Total Claims $ 1,478,692.31 Vice President Keating made the motion to aprove the claims docket for June 1 , 2’2’. The motion was seconded by Mayor Parry and carried as folws: AYES: MEMBERS Harris, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (’). Motion Carries. PAYROLL DOCKET June 1, 2020 City Payrol Total: $ 22’,156.26 June 5, 2020 City Payrol Total: $ 5,981.4 Mayor Parry made the motion to aprove the Payrol Claims for June 1, 2’2’ as presented. The motion was seconded by Vice President Keating. Vice President Keating made the motion to aprove the Payrol Claims for June 5, 2’2’ as presented; the motion was seconded by Mayor Parry and carried as folws: AYES: MEMBERS Harris, Keating, and Parry (3). NAYS: (’). Motion Carries. BOARD COMMENTS President Harris asked if there were any Board coments. President Harris asked Ms. Lapaich to elaborate on what she meant about the Board being able to go back to holding public meetings in July per the Governors orders. Ms. Lapaich stated that the Mayor wil be issuing directives either this week or next; the intention is to have meetings start next month. Regular Meeting - June 15 , 2’2’ Page 5 ADJOURNMENT President Harris stated as there were no coment from the Board , declared the meeting ADJOURN ED (aproximat ely 8:48 a.m .). Vice President Virginia Keating made the motion to adjourn . The motion was seconded by President Harris and carried as folws: AYES: MEMBERS Harris, Keating and Parry (3). NAYS: (’). Motion Carries. _________________________________________ Gale A. Neulieb, City Clerk