CITY OF PROSPECT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
March 21, 2011

(A complete transcript of this meeting is available at City Hall and on the City's Web Site, http://www.prospectky.com )

ATTENDANCE:                                                                                            

Present:   Mayor Todd Eberle; Council Members Loretta Ertel, Sandra Leonard, Stuart Miles, Mike Scott, Alan Simon and Sandy Tucci; City Attorney Grover Potts; City Administrator Ann Simms; Police Chief Marvin Wilson; Recording Secretary Ann Melton; Court Reporter Rose Mary Kithcart.    

Mayor Eberle called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Council Member Alan Simon moved approval of the February 9, 2011 Special Council Meeting Minutes and the February 21, 2011 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes; Council Member Ertel seconded; both passed unanimously.

MAYOR'S REPORT:

Mayor Eberle announced that Deputy City Clerk for Administration Ann Melton is retiring at the end of March after over eight years of service to the City.   He expressed his appreciation for her dedication to the City over the years.   She will be leaving City Hall, but will remain in the Louisville area.   A reception will be held in her honor at City Hall on Friday, April 1 st from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.   All residents and friends are invited to attend.   The Deputy Clerk position has been advertised and it is hoped that Ann may have a period of time in overlap with her replacement to ease the transition.   

Current monthly financial records reflect 81.1% of budgeted revenues collected and 64.1% of budgeted expenses disbursed eight months into the fiscal year.   Ann Simms continues to work on the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant request to provide funds for an emergency generator at City Hall.  

The Prospect Library Committee continues to work on their inventory and is beginning the planning process for their May 20 & 21 Spring Book Sale.   The group has scheduled their next meeting for April 6 th at 3:00 p.m. in the library.    

After consulting with Putney Pond and Woodlands Advisory Committee Chair Linda Wardell and City Council Committee Liaison Stuart Miles, Mayor Eberle has changed the name of the Committee to "The Prospect Parks and Recreation Committee."   The Committee's scope and purpose has been broadened to include all three city park areas and city-owned properties which have recreational possibilities.   The Committee's charge will also include assessment of and assistance with progress on recommendations made in the Prospect 2010 Mobility Study concerning pedestrian and bicycle connectivity.   The Committee has scheduled two citizen volunteer opportunities next month.   On Saturday, April 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Stuart Miles will lead a trails work day to improve the trail system at Putney Pond and Woodlands.   On Saturday, April 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Linda Wardell and Barbara Donoghue will lead a "Garlic Mustard Pull" at Putney Pond and Woodlands to remove that invasive species from the woodland area.  

Mayor Eberle has received informal notification that the Prospect Forestation Board's application for the City's renewal of Tree City USA status as well as their application for a Tree City Growth Award have been approved.   Prospect has now been a Tree City for three consecutive years.   Tree City Growth Awards are given for particularly exemplary activities by a Tree City in a given year.   Prospect is pleased to have received a Growth Award for two years in a row.   The Forestation Board is currently working on their 2011 Annual Forestation Plan and should have it ready for the April City Council Meeting.  

Mayor Eberle noted that he has been designated by the Jefferson County League of Cities and appointed by Metro Mayor Greg Fischer to serve on the Metro Government Merger 2.0 Task Force.   As the Jefferson County League of Cities member on the 21 person task force he will represent the interests of the eighty-three suburban cities in Jefferson County.   The initial organizational meeting is set for March 25 th .    

Changes have been adopted by the Louisville Metro Council to the Jefferson County Land Development Code.   The changes involve conditional use permits in Jefferson County which were subject to a moratorium until February of this year.   Conditional use permits allow property owners to obtain permits for activities which would otherwise be prohibited by zoning restrictions.   Copies of the changes for Metro were distributed.   The Prospect City Council will need to either accept or reject the changes in the near future.   Mayor Eberle asked for feedback from members of the Council as to which if any of the changes Prospect would like to accept.

Mayor Eberle introduced Prospect resident John VanderToll who has accepted nomination to the Prospect Code Enforcement Board as an Alternate Member.   One additional appointment has yet to be made.   A Municipal Order for appointments will be prepared for Council consideration at an upcoming Council meeting.

Mayor Eberle reminded the Council that Prospect Ethics Commission Disclosure Forms were due to the Commission on March 1 st .   Despite numerous contacts, one appointed member of an ordinance-established Board has not yet filed a Disclosure Form.   Discussion followed and Council Member Leonard moved that the appointed member be given until April 15 to file the completed form.   Motion seconded by Council Member Scott.   Passed unanimously.       

POLICE REPORT:

Chief Marvin Wilson presented the monthly police report to the Council.   He called attention to four specific incidents.   Several air conditioner compressor units were recently stolen from the Overlook at Harrods Creek Condominiums.   In follow up, Officer Marianne Haverlin assisted the management of the condominium complex with an assessment of security precautions.   The Kroger wine and liquor store recently experienced a series of thefts of merchandise.   The Police Department increased patrols near the store.   Two weeks ago Officer Elgin Price arrested an individual at the site and charges have been filed.   Officers Heather Loeser and Elgin Price were involved in an investigation of purchases from a credit card which was stolen at Circle K in Prospect.   They identified a suspect, interrogated her and have obtained a confession to that crime as well as several other crimes.   An attempted break-in at a residence on Wythe Hill Circle was recently averted by a quick response by Prospect police to a burglar alarm.   The resident was not home at the time, but was contacted and arrived home to meet with the officers on the scene.

The Kentucky League of Cities grant application to purchase additional digital video camera equipment for patrol cars remains pending.   This is the third year the City has applied for these grants.   The decision regarding this year's application should be made by April 15th.  

COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS:

Mayor Eberle invited comments from citizens.   Bill Brab, Steve Jecker, Joe Kehlbeck, Larry Roberts and Ken Rogers addressed issues concerning the municipal budget.   Tom Binzer, Frank Fulcher, Howard Harding, Judith Rademaker, and Dave Theuerkauf addressed issues concerning deer in Prospect.      

OLD BUSINESS:

Council Member Mike Scott thanked those who had participated in the Ad Hoc Committee to Study Prospect Deer Populations and read a statement of appreciation for their dedicated efforts over the past two months.   He expressed hope that the work of the committee could be continued in the future.  

NEW BUSINESS:

Due to substantive changes made to an ordinance originally introduced at the February 21, 2011 Council Meeting, First Reading was again given to re-introduce CITY OF PROSPECT ORDINANCE NUMBER 511, SERIES 2011:   AN ORDER AMENDING CHAPTER 157 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PROSPECT REGULATING CONTRACTOR SIGNS.   After a brief discussion among Council Members, a motion to make additional changes clarifying language in the ordinance was made by Council Member Simon.   It was seconded by Council Member Tucci.   The motion to amend the ordinance with clarifying changes passed unanimously.   Second reading of the ordinance as amended will be scheduled for the April 18 th Regular City Council Meeting.  

Council Member Alan Simon gave First Reading to, CITY OF PROSPECT, ORDINANCE NUMBER 512, SERIES 2011, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 150 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PROSPECT RELATING TO BUILDING REGULATIONS.   The ordinance would confirm the maximum square footage of any single commercial business within the city at 70,000 square feet, being the current square footage standard set out in the Village Center Form District which applies to Prospect's commercial district.

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business, Council Member Alan Simon moved adjournment; Council Member Loretta Ertel seconded; passed unanimously.

Mayor Eberle declared the meeting adjourned at 9:08 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Melton
Recording Secretary

Approved:  
Todd B. Eberle
Mayor                                                              

ATTEST:  
Ann R. Simms
City Clerk