Zionsville Town Council

ZIONSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MEMORANDA FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 AT 7:30 A.M. ELECTRONIC MEETING This meeting was conducted pursuant to Governor Eric J. Holcomb’s Executive Orders 20-02, 20-04 and 20-08 and Governor Holcomb’s Exercise of his powers under Indiana’s Emergency Management and Disaster Law, Ind. Code 10-14-3, et seq. Additional information about this meeting was provided in the annex published with the Agenda 1. OPENING A. Call meeting to order President Garrett called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. B. Pledge of Allegiance C. Attendance Municipal Relations Coordinator Amy Lacy took Council attendance. Council Members Present: Josh Garrett, President; Jason Plunkett, Vice-President; Alex Choi, Joe Culp, and Bryan Traylor Absent at time of attendance: Brad Burk and Craig Melton. Both joined the meeting later. Also Present: Heather Willey, Town Council Attorney; Mayor Emily Styron, Deputy Mayor Julie Johns-Cole, Amy Lacy, Municipal Relations Coordinator, and Town Department Staff. 2. APPROVAL OF THE MEMORANDUM OF THE FEBRUARY 1, 2021 REGULAR MEETING (copy posted) COUNCIL ACTION: President Garrett moved to approve the Memoranda of the February 1, 2021 Regular Town Council Meeting. Vice-President Plunkett seconded the motion. Ms. Lacy took a roll call vote: ROLL CALL VOTE: PRESIDENT GARRETT Yea VICE-PRESIDENT PLUNKETT Yea COUNCILOR CHOI Yea COUNCILOR CULP Yea COUNCILOR TRAYLOR Yea The Memoranda of the February 1, 2021 Regular Town Council meeting was approved by a vote of five in favor, zero opposed (5/0).  Councilor Melton joined the meeting at this time. 3. APPROVAL OF THE MEMORANDUM OF THE FEBRUARY 3, 2021 EXECUTIVE MEETING (copy posted) COUNCIL ACTION: President Garrett moved to approve the Memoranda of the February 3, 2021 Executive Town Council Meeting. Vice-President Plunkett seconded the motion. Ms. Lacy took a roll call vote: ROLL CALL VOTE: PRESIDENT GARRETT Yea VICE-PRESIDENT PLUNKETT Yea COUNCILOR CHOI Yea COUNCILOR CULP Yea COUNCILOR MELTON Yea COUNCILOR TRAYLOR Yea The Memoranda of the February 3, 2021 Executive Town Council meeting was approved by a vote of six in favor, zero opposed (6/0). 4. REQUEST TO SPEAK Zionsville resident Craig Triscari spoke in opposition of the approved VanTrust project, stating that VanTrust had failed to run eight-inch water lines into Saratoga Springs as promised and was still in violation of the commitment documents as of February 2021. Mr. Triscari raised concerns about the increased pollution and poor air and water quality resulting from the trucks using the new facility. Mr. Triscari concluded by expressing displeasure at what he felt to be the absence of services or funding provided by the Town of Zionsville in Perry Township and the rural community. Zionsville resident Korena Dearholt spoke in opposition to proposed fees on the Fee Schedule presented at the January 19, 2021 meeting, specifically those fees proposed by the administration for the use of rooms at Town Hall by not for profit organizations like the Scouts. She said that the fees were too steep for non-profits and would force those organizations to go to Whitestown where they were offered meeting space at no cost. Councilor Burk joined the meeting at this time. Zionsville resident Monisha Miller spoke, saying she had been watching Town Council meetings and saw what she perceived to be implicit bias. She discussed what she perceived to be hostility toward the Mayor or her representatives by the Council, which she felt had no place at the meetings. Discussion followed, with Councilors stressing that while there were sometimes policy differences, these were not meant as personal attacks nor were they political in nature. Councilors expressed their appreciation for Ms. Miller’s insight and comments and welcomed her continued shared dialogue with them on a one on one basis, as well as input from all other community members.  Zionsville resident and Volunteer Service Unit Manager for Girl Scouts in the Zionsville area Jennifer Weintraut spoke in opposition to the proposed fees for use of Town Hall rooms by non- profit organizations. She detailed the many positive effects of the Scouts in Zionsville. She cited the negative impact the proposed fees would have on the very small budgets of the Scouts and the importance of access to the Town Hall rooms for the Girl and Boy Scouts. Dan Rhodes, Manager for Government and Community Relations for Duke Energy spoke in support of Zionsville’s efforts to create a Climate Action Plan. He said Duke Energy supports Zionsville’s efforts to consider climate impacts as the Town plans for future development, adding that the Climate Action Plan is in alignment with Duke Energy Indiana’s goal to diversify Indiana’s power generation in a moderate and orderly transition. 5. MAYOR/ADMINISTRATION UPDATE Mayor Styron expressed her thanks to the DPW for their hard work and successful efforts during the winter storm the previous night and that morning. Saying that she had heard other feedback much like that of Ms. Dearholt and Ms. Weintraut about proposed fees, the Mayor voiced her understanding and agreement. She said the proposed fees were being revisited and they were looking at doing something more like a refundable cleaning deposit rather than charging fees that could prohibit groups like the Scouts from using the Town Hall rooms. Referring to a presentation given by County Commissioner Tom Santelli at the February 1, 2021 Town Council meeting, Mayor Styron said she would welcome an acknowledgement that there was information provided in that presentation that was not factual. She said that what Mr. Santelli said about her and missed voicemails was inaccurate. She went on to say she did not have any voicemails from Mr. Santelli and that what he said in relation to her or anything she had said or done with him was inaccurate. The Mayor said she would not speak to any information Mr. Santelli shared about the health crisis or the COVID vaccines. She said she hoped in the future that an issue such as what was stated at that meeting could be tabled until she was available to discuss it. In response to why she was not present at the February 1st Town Council meeting during Mr. Santelli’s presentation, Mayor Styron said that she wanted to clarify to the Council and to the people of Zionsville that, as a single mother, she has her children to care for on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Citing the importance of putting her family first, she said that unless absolutely necessary, she would not attend Monday night meetings but would make it a practice to be present at the morning Council meetings. Further discussion followed regarding the Council’s wish to have more information on what Zionsville’s role was in the COVID vaccination process. 6. BOONE COUNTY/ZIONSVILLE COVID-19 VACCINE DISCUSSION Mayor Styron said that she has been in close contact with the Boone County Health Department and the Governor’s Office since the beginning of the pandemic. She said she was careful not to discuss publicly anything that was not a message coming from these entities. She went on to say that she was 100% behind as many shots in arms as possible, as were the State and the County. Mayor Styron explained that if there were a need for another distribution site in Zionsville, there is a plan in place, but it is a matter of the supply chain.  Vice-President Plunkett asked if Zionsville would have a site ready if an opportunity presented itself. Mayor Styron responded yes, there is a site identified and the State is aware of it. Further discussion followed regarding how best to enhance communication between Boone County Health Department, Administration, and Town Council at it relates to COVID and vaccines. It was agreed that the Council and Administration are aligned in their goal to provide the most effective ways to get vaccinations for all who qualify. 7. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business to discuss. 8. NEW BUSINESS A. Consideration of Appointments to the Safety Board President Garrett announced the nominations of the citizen appointments to the Safety Board, Jeff Papa and Krista Lathan. COUNCIL ACTION: Vice-President Plunkett moved to adopt the appointments as recommended. Councilor Melton seconded the motion. Ms. Lacy took a roll call vote: ROLL CALL VOTE: PRESIDENT GARRETT Yea VICE-PRESIDENT PLUNKETT Yea COUNCILOR TRAYLOR Yea COUNCILOR BURK Yea COUNCILOR CHOI Yea COUNCILOR CULP Yea COUNCILOR MELTON Yea Zionsville Town Council appointments to the Safety Board were approved in entirety by a vote of seven in favor, zero opposed. (7/0) B. Consideration of A Resolution Adopting the Town’s Climate Action Plan Resolution 2021-04 President Garrett introduced Resolution 2021-04. Executive Assistant to the Mayor Carol Johnson gave background on the Plan and the purpose of the resolution. She confirmed that the Parks Board passed a similar resolution regarding the Climate Action Plan at their recent meeting. Discussion followed. Ms. Johnson answered questions from the Council. COUNCIL ACTION: President Garrett moved to approve Resolution 2021-04. Councilor Choi seconded the motion. Ms. Lacy took a roll call vote: ROLL CALL VOTE: PRESIDENT GARRETT Yea VICE-PRESIDENT PLUNKETT Yea COUNCILOR BURK Yea COUNCILOR CHOI Yea COUNCILOR CULP Yea COUNCILOR MELTON Yea COUNCILOR TRAYLOR Yea Resolution 2021-04 was approved by a vote of seven in favor, zero opposed. (7/0)  C. Presentation of Town Hall Reconfiguration Project Director of Department of Public Works Lance Lantz provided a Power Point presentation on the proposed Town Hall reconfiguration. He explained that this proposed reconfiguration reimagined operations for both internal and external customers, intended to enhance customer service experience and efficiency. He stated that the goal was twofold: to combine administrative functions of Town staff leadership under one roof on the second floor of Town Hall, and to enhance the customer experience and improve internal processes and efficiencies by collocating services from all departments on the first floor. Director Lantz gave an overview of the reconfiguration. He shared construction plans. He explained that as a cost savings measure, any existing construction elements or furniture that could be repurposed would be. Director Lantz provided a breakdown of construction, IT, and furniture costs and funding sources. He also detailed the costs for the 2018 proposed new municipal complex and said the reconfiguration would eliminate the need for the complex. He said that this would result in an estimated long-term cost savings of $1.3 million in new construction costs. Director Lantz explained the concept of the Municipal Action Center (MAC) on the first floor which would bring together experts and services from all departments, providing both internal customers and the community with an efficient, customer-centric “one-stop shop” experience. He concluded by saying that no action was necessary at this meeting but that there would be an additional appropriation request for the project presented at the March 1st Town Council meeting. Director Lantz and CFO Havard answered questions from the Council. 9. OTHER MATTERS Vice-President Plunkett said that Boone County Senior Services was a good source for those in need of transportation to Boone County Fairgrounds for COVID vaccines. President Garrett reiterated that if Zionsville were to open another vaccine site in Zionsville right now, there would be no vaccines available to supply it, so having transportation resources to the Fairgrounds was important. 10. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS COUNCIL ACTION: Councilor Burk moved to approve claims as presented. Councilor Traylor seconded the motion. Ms. Lacy took a roll call vote: ROLL CALL VOTE: PRESIDENT GARRETT Yea VICE-PRESIDENT PLUNKETT Yea COUNCILOR BURK Yea COUNCILOR CHOI Yea COUNCILOR CULP Yea COUNCILOR MELTON Yea COUNCILOR TRAYLOR Yea Claims were approved by a vote of seven in favor, zero opposed. (7/0) 11. ADJOURN COUNCIL ACTION: President Garrett moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Culp seconded the motion. Ms. Lacy took a roll call vote: ROLL CALL VOTE: PRESIDENT GARRETT Yea VICE-PRESIDENT PLUNKETT Yea COUNCILOR TRAYLOR Yea COUNCILOR BURK Yea COUNCILOR CHOI Yea COUNCILOR CULP Yea COUNCILOR MELTON Yea The motion was approved by a vote of seven in favor, zero opposed. (7/0) The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 a.m. The next regular Town Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 1, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. This meeting will be held on-site in the Zionsville Town Hall Council Chambers as well as electronically via Zoom. Final notice will be posted in compliance with the Indiana Open Door Law. Respectfully Submitted, Amelia Lacy, Municipal Relations Coordinator Town of Zionsville