CITY OF PROSPECT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
August 20, 2007
(A complete transcript of this meeting is available at City Hall and on the City's Web Site, HTTP://www.PROSPECTKY.COM )
PRESENT:
Mayor Todd Eberle; Council Members Loretta Ertel, Sandra Leonard, Stuart Miles, Alan Simon, Sandy Tucci and Lee Zimmerman; Acting City Attorney Frank Chuppe; City Administrator Ann Simms; Police Chief Marvin Wilson; Recording Secretary Deirdre Buckley; Court Reporter Bruce Handy.
Mayor Eberle called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Council Member Leonard moved approval of the minutes of the regular City Council Meeting of July 16, 2007; Council Member Simon seconded: passed unanimously.
MAYOR'S REPORT:
Mayor Todd Eberle noted that the City had just today received notice of the Kentucky Supreme Court's grant of discretionary review in the litigation involving Prospect's annexation of the "Prospect Cove" area, an area located on the opposite side of Timber Ridge Drive from Prospect Village Shopping Center. A motion had been made by Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government for review of the favorable decision which Prospect received in the trial court and in the Kentucky Court of Appeals. If the Supreme Court had denied the request for discretionary review the court case would have ended in our favor. It is anticipated that briefs will be filed this fall and the Supreme Court will render a final decision in the first half of 2008.
The second floor fire escape at City Hall remains under construction, but the current schedule calls for it to be completed by Labor Day.
Mayor Eberle reported that he recently traveled to Frankfort to speak with officials in the Kentucky Division of Real Estate concerning progress of the Putney Pond and Woodlands grant. He noted the state is moving forward and has requested additional information concerning the title to the property. Prospect is now waiting for an official determination as to "fair market value" for the property.
Prospect is considering a new computer system for the Falk Reading Center which would provide a more efficient system for library inventory and checkout procedures.
Mayor Eberle also noted that the annual financial audit for the city is currently being conducted and should be concluded in September with a written report ready for the October Council Meeting.
POLICE REPORT:
Chief Marvin Wilson informed the Council that automobile break-ins occurred with regard to eight vehicles at six different locations on July 4 th . The vehicles were parked in the driveways of homes and a good number of the vehicles were unlocked with visible items on the seats. He noted that it takes only about twenty seconds for these types of crimes to occur. The police department is advising residents to park their cars in the garage, not in the street or driveway. One recent early morning Prospect police counted 125 cars parked outside of garages at homes in the city. The police department is currently placing flyers on cars left on the street or in driveways with a reminder that cars should be placed in garages whenever possible.
Chief Wilson reported the "Girls Night Out" overnight session was a success with eighteen girls between the ages of 8 to 11 in attendance. Officer Heather Loeser and Police Administrative Assistant Patti Baker hosted the event to promote personal safety and to educate young women on the role of police officers in the community. Some of the activities included self-defense instructions and "stranger danger" information. Pizza and soft drinks were provided with a light breakfast served in the morning. Several parents called to express appreciation for the event. The police department is currently planning to host an event for boys in the fall of 2007.
Council member Simon noted that the Louisville Ironman Triathalon is being held this coming Sunday and asked if the Police department knew details regarding the bicycling portion of the event which is scheduled to run through Prospect. Chief Wilson noted that the Prospect Police Department had been in contact with the Louisville Metro Police Department and that Metro will be handling public safety and traffic control for the event.
NEW BUSINESS:
Council Member Tucci gave FIRST READING, ORDINANCE 481, SERIES 2007: AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE SELECTION, PLANNING, PROTECTION, CARE, MAINTENANCE, REMOVAL AND MANAGEMENT OF TREES WITHIN THE CITY OF PROSPECT. Council Member Miles seconded.
Mayor Eberle noted that an ad hoc drafting committee consisting of himself, Harry Hardin, Mike Powers, Lee Tucci and Catherine Wallace held many meetings over the past five months working on the ordinance. The proposal had recently been reviewed by Peter Barber of the Kentucky Division of Forestry after which additional changes and refinements were made. Council Member Tucci pointed out that the committee had tried to achieve a delicate balance between the rights of private landowners and the growing needs of the city regarding forestation in public areas.
RESOLUTION 1, SERIES 2007. REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION OF REFERENDUM PERTAINING TO SOCIAL SECURITY COVERAGES.
City Administrator Ann Simms explained that this resolution would secure the right of elected officials to collect both social security and whatever the County Employees Retirement System would provide. This is a standard resolution suggested by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Without the resolution, social security for those persons would be reduced when they chose to collect under the County Employees Retirement program. Council Member Zimmerman moved to adopt the resolution; Council member Simon seconded; passed unanimously.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Mayor Eberle noted that work on the failed creek bank at The Overlook at Harrods Creek Condominiums was proceeding in the manner agreed upon between Premier Land Company and the City of Prospect. The work is to be finished by August 23, 2007. An on-site meeting had also recently held between the City and Julie Tinnell of Premier Land Company and her attorney, Cliff Ashburner, regarding their obligation to grant the city an easement and construct a hike/bike path through that property.
Mayor Eberle reported that after the storm of Thursday evening August 16 th City Hall was without power for some time, however there was minimal interruption in city operations and telephone lines were functioning by mid-morning on August 17 th . Council member Tucci recalled that there had been some talk of having a backup generator for this type of emergency. Mayor Eberle stated that the Prospect Emergency Preparedness and City Administrator Ann Simms had looked into that issue and they are discussing the possible purchase of a generator for the City.
COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS:
Sally Haswell of Shadwell Lane noted that she had lost a number of branches during the August 16 th storm and suggested that the city have a centrally located spot for citizens to drop off storm debris. The City agreed to investigate that possibility.
Dan McNair and Lynn Granger, two members of the Forestation and Public Lands Advisory Committee made a comprehensive presentation on multi-use trails and how they might benefit the City of Prospect. Council member Ertel thanked Dan and Lynn for the hard work and research they put into the presentation. Mayor Eberle expressed appreciation for their work and noted that with the public works projects currently being conducted in and around Prospect that the next five to ten years will be a crossroads for the city to work with state, federal and local agencies to connect the various residential and commercial areas of Prospect, as well as to consider recreational trails for future generations.
Council Member Simon moved adjournment; Council Member Ertel seconded; passed unanimously.
Mayor Eberle declared the meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Deirdre Buckley
Acting Recording Secretary
Approved:
Todd B. Eberle
Mayor
ATTEST:
Ann R. Simms
City Clerk