CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
August 20, 2012
(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, Stuart Miles, Sandra Leonard, Mike Scott, Alan Simon, and Sandy Tucci; City Administrator Ann Simms; Acting City Attorney Frank Chuppe; Police Chief Jeff Sherrard; Police Lieutenant Todd Shaw; Recording Secretary Holly LeVold; Court Reporter Carola Strijek.
Mayor Eberle called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Council Member Alan Simon moved approval of the minutes of the regular City Council Meeting of June 18, 2012; Council Member Loretta Ertel seconded; passed on a 5-0 voice vote with Council Member Sandra Leonard abstaining.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Eberle welcomed the Boy Scout Troop 984 to the meeting. The members of the North Oldham Baptist Church Boy Scout troop were in attendance to complete two merit badges, one in communications and the other in citizenship.
Financial Report: Mayor Eberle reported that the accountant’s monthly financial update for the end of July 2012 reflect 5.0 % of budgeted revenues received and 8.4 % of budgeted expenses disbursed one month into the 2012-2013 fiscal year. These figures will be adjusted after the 2011-2012 fiscal year audit is completed. He reminded everyone that the 2012 property tax bills have been sent out by Deputy Clerk Debra Skaggs and payments are due October 1st.
Drainage Repairs for Hunting Creek Drive: The repairs to resolve drainage problems along the lower portion of Hunting Creek Drive have been completed and the situation is being monitored during heavy rainfall to assure that the situation has been resolved.
Forestation Board Update: Mayor Eberle thanked those who participated in the re-inventory of public area trees in the city. The count of roughly 1700 trees was in need of an update due to severe storms over the past four years. He then asked Lee Tucci, Chair of the Forestation Board for an update of Board activities. Mr. Tucci noted that the re-inventory of trees is complete except for one subdivision. Tree plantings in public areas will be conducted in October or November. At this year’s Arborfest tree seedlings will be given away instead of flower bulbs. The Forestation Board has sent several communications to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials as well as our state representative and state senator asking that trees along U.S. 42 be preserved if the highway is widened.
Parks and Recreation Update: Mayor Eberle reported that the contract for construction of the access road off of Timber Ridge Drive to Putney Pond and Woodlands had been awarded to E-Z Construction, a company owned by a Prospect resident. E-Z’s was the lowest bid and construction will begin as soon as all permits are obtained and a utility pole is relocated by Louisville Gas & Electric. Council Member Leonard inquired about the funding for the access road and it was noted that payment will be made from the Municipal Road Aid Fund provided to cities by state government. Mayor Eberle asked Council Member Stuart Miles, Liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, for an update on other parks activities. He reported that two new Eagle Scout Projects are planned, one being an informational kiosk at Harrods Creek Park and the other being a boardwalk through a marshy area in Little Hunting Creek Park. Council Member Loretta Ertel stated she had been contacted by a resident who suggested that no smoking signs be placed along the trails at Harrods Creek Park as well as at Putney Pond and Woodlands. Mayor Eberle noted that the Putney Pond and Woodlands conservation easement does not regulate smoking and the city does not have an ordinance prohibiting smoking in public areas, but fire danger may dictate that such a prohibition could be placed in park rules posted at trailheads.
Library Committee Update: Council Member Sandra Leonard, Council Liaison to the Library Committee, reported that the fall book sale will take place October 26 & 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. She encouraged donations of books and other library media.
State Highway Department’s Proposal for Widening U.S. Highway 42: Mayor Eberle stated that he and City Administrator Ann Simms had attended an August 15th meeting at the Kentucky Department of Highways, Division Five Offices. Highway Department officials, Prospect officials and Metro Parks officials attended along with our State Representative Bob DeWeese and our State Senator Ernie Harris who also serves as the Chair of the State Senate Transportation Committee. Mayor Eberle asked for consideration of several alternatives to avoid the removal of the city’s trees including: moving the road expansion to the north side of the highway, using the current road width for one-lane in each direction with a turn lane in the middle and pedestrian/bicycle lanes on the sides, using the current road width while implementing reversible lanes for morning and afternoon peak traffic, or merely leaving the road as is. Discussion ensued among all members of the Council. No final decisions resulted from the August 15th meeting, though the Department of Highway agreed to develop alternative proposals, and our state legislators agreed to investigate the possibility of identifying additional funds in the next biennial state highway budget for relocation of utilities along the north side of the highway. Mayor Eberle has asked the Department of Highways to hold local public hearings for any new proposals made. It was suggested that the City Council consider a resolution to express concerns the city has with the current proposal from the Department of Highways.
POLICE REPORT:
Chief Jeff Sherrard gave the monthly police report. Traffic citations and warning tickets were up for the month compared to the same month of last year. Dispatched runs were down about 11%, but officer-initiated runs were up roughly 10%. Code enforcement citations primarily involved tall grass and weeds. Felony cases included a residential jewelry theft, the theft of a residential air conditioner and theft of a large air conditioning unit from Hunting Creek Country Club. Several vandalism cases also involved the Country Club. A missing persons report was received and the individual was located after several days. Chief Sherrard noted that the Police Department’s Annual Women’s Self Defense Class will be held on September 11th at City Hall and asked that anyone interested please contact the Police Department to sign up. He also addressed the Ironman Triathlon which will be coming thru Prospect on Sunday August 26th. Heaviest traffic from the bicycling portion of the event will affect residents of Sutherland and Innisbrook from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Letters are being sent to all persons living in the areas most inconvenienced. Chief Sherrard also noted that patrols had been increased in the city parks and trails with officers walking the trails and talking with park goers as well as residents living adjacent to park areas. The increased visibility with law enforcement has been welcomed.
CITIZEN AND PUBLIC COMMENT:
Mayor Eberle opened the floor to citizen comment. A resident of Fox Harbor expressed concern over the unwillingness or inability of residents to adequately take care of their property, including situations where construction materials remain on property for extended periods of time with no construction activity being conducted. He suggested that more strict ordinances be developed to handle neglect of residential properties. Several residents came forward with comments and concerns over the Highway 42 road widening project including the removal of trees and the removal of a retaining wall in the Harrods Landing / Marina View Drive area. There was overwhelming agreement that the project would adversely affect Prospect’s appearance and charm. Several residents voiced concern about speeding within the city, specifically on U.S. Highway 42 and Hunting Creek Boulevard.
NEW BUSINESS:
Council Member Alan Simon moved adoption of Municipal Order No. 4, Series 2012: AN ORDER TO CHANGE THE DATE OF THE SEPTEMBER 2012 CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF PROSPECT. Seconded by Council Member Loretta Ertel. It was explained that the September 2012 Regular City Council Meeting would normally fall on September 17th, the Rosh Hashanah religious holiday and the municipal order would move the meeting date one week earlier to September 10. Passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Council Member Alan Simon gave first reading to Ordinance No.522, Series 2012, AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE ADOPTION, AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR ALL OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY AND THE MODIFICATION OF THAT CODE AS PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED BY THE CITY OF PROSPECT. It was noted that the proposed ordinance would allow the City of Prospect to accept or decline changes made to the Louisville Metro Land Development Code since Prospect’s last consideration of that Code in January 2006. The changes considered involve permitted land uses in various zoning districts within the City of Prospect as well as conditional uses which are not generally permitted in those zoning districts. Mayor Eberle asked all Council Members to review the proposed changes and noted that amendments would need to be made to the ordinance before final passage. It is hoped that the final version of the ordinance can be acted upon within the next two or three months.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
There was no unfinished business to come before the City Council.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further action to come before the Council, Council Member Ertel moved to adjourn. Council Member Simon seconded. Motion passed unanimously on a voice vote. Mayor Eberle declared the meeting adjourned 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Holly LeVold
Recording Secretary
Approved:
Todd B. Eberle
Mayor
ATTEST:
Ann R. Simms
City Clerk