CITY OF PROSPECT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
December 10, 2007

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

PRESENT:

Present:   Mayor Todd Eberle; Council Members Loretta Ertel, Sandra Leonard, Stuart Miles, Alan Simon, and Lee Zimmerman; City Attorney Grover Potts; City Administrator Ann Simms; Police Chief Marvin Wilson; Recording Secretary Ann Melton; Court Reporter Bruce Handy.

Absent:   Sandy Tucci

Mayor Eberle called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.  

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Council Member Leonard moved for approval of the minutes of the Special Council Meeting of November 5, 2007; Council Member Zimmerman seconded; passed unanimously.

Council Member Leonard moved approval of the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of November 19, 2007; Council Member Zimmerman seconded: passed unanimously.

MAYOR'S REPORT:

Mayor Eberle introduced Brenda Peixotto the newly hired Clerk/ Administrative Assistant.   She will be primarily assigned to the Police Department, but will also assist with front desk duties and cross-training will be conducted between Ms. Peixotto and Deputy City Clerk for Administration Ann Melton. Mayor Eberle noted that he was very pleased to have Ms. Peixotto join the City Hall staff.   She has received Certified Professional Secretary and has over 20 years of combined experience with both the private and the public sectors.

Mayor Eberle reported the annual Light Up Prospect event was held on November 30 th and was very successful.   He thanked everyone for their assistance in planning and conducting the event which began with "Frosty" and his elves lighting the holiday tree at the Cowley Open space followed by their traveling through all neighborhoods of the city for the first time in the history of the event.

POLICE REPORT :

Police Chief Marvin Wilson presented the monthly police report.   He stated that Officers Loeser and Proffitt conducted a child safety event on December 6 th at the Latin School.   They gave presentations to two separate groups of children.   The officers provided basic tips on how to deal with strangers.   Chief Wilson noted that the Police Department is planning additional events in the coming months.

NEW BUSINESS:

Mayor Eberle introduced Mr. William A. Talley, CPA, of Richardson, Pennington & Skinner PSC, the City's independent auditor.   Mr. Tally noted that his firm audited the financial statements for each of the major funds and all remaining aggregate funds for the City as of the year ending June 30, 2007.   He stated that the firm found the City's records to be in good order and that any questions the firm had during the course of the audit were answered promptly and professionally by the City. The City's financial position is quite strong and there was no need to draw on reserves during the past fiscal year.   Mr. Tally detailed the income and the balance sheets for Council Members.   The City's financial position is straight forward, with solid assets and valuations. Mayor Eberle noted that the City was in the process of addressing several issues in the September 20, 2007 management letter included in the audit.   Specifically the City has taken steps to assure invoices are securely attached to all expense authorizations; is working to develop a written policy for compensatory time for both exempt and non-exempt employees; and will take steps to integrate administrative functions among more than single employees where financial approvals, payments and reconciliations are conducted. Council Member Zimmerman moved acceptance of the Auditor's Report; Council Member Simon seconded; passed unanimously

Mayor Eberle introduced guest speaker Peter Barber, Urban Forester with the Kentucky Division of Forestry in Frankfort.   Mr. Barber noted that the Council was on the threshold of enacting a comprehensive ordinance regarding forestation in the City.   He noted the importance of having such ordinances for appropriate preservation and management of trees within the city. He pointed out that the concept of urban forestry recognizes that nature surrounds us even in urban settings and provides very tangible community benefits.     He acknowledged that cities have both "gray" and "green" infrastructure; gray infrastructure being streets, utilities and artificial lighting; green infrastructure being trees, grass and a great variety of plants. Green infrastructure provides cities with essential natural services we cannot live without. He encouraged the City to hire experienced professionals who are trained and competent in managing our forestry.   He noted that the Kentucky Division of Forestry can provide the City with services, information and funding to support forestation efforts.   The Division can determine the risk of a single tree or make an entire risk assessment of all the trees in the city.   Finally, Mr. Barber mentioned three things the City of Prospect should plan to do:   (1) Embrace the concept of requiring set percentages of tree types and recommended ensuring a maximum amount of canopy coverage, (2) learn and follow horticultural standards for tree care, and (3) endeavor to educate the citizens of the community regarding available forestry programs.   Mayor Eberle thanked Mr. Barber for his presentation and noted that the assistance provided by the Division of Forestry had been indispensable to the Prospect Forestation Board Task Force in their drafting of the proposed ordinance.   He acknowledged that all members of the Task Force were in attendance: Harry Hardin, Mike Powers, Lee Tucci and Catherine Wallace.  

COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS:

There were no comments from citizens or members of the public.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Council Member Sandra Leonard gave SECOND READING ORDINANCE 484, Series 2007:   RELATING TO THE SELECTION, PLANNING, PROTECTION, CARE, MAINTENANCE, REMOVAL AND MANAGEMENT OF TREES.   Council Member Loretta Ertel seconded; passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

Council Member Alan Simon gave SECOND READING ORDINANCE 485, SERIES 2007:   RELATING TO TEMPORARY PORTABLE STORAGE AND TRASH CONTAINERS. Council Member Sandra Leonard seconded; passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

Council Member Alan Simon gave SECOND READING ORDINANCE 486, SERIES 2007:   AMENDMENT OF 2006 - 2007 BUDGET FOR GENERAL FUND OF THE CITY TO REFLECT THE RESULTS OF THE ANNUAL AUDIT.   Council Member Loretta Ertel seconded; passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

Council Member Loretta Ertel moved approval of a RESOLUTION ADOPTING AND APPROVING THE EXECUTION OF A MUNICIPAL ROAD AID DISCRETIONARY BOND FUND AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE INCORPORATED AREA AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, TRANSPORTATION CABINET, DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.   Mayor Eberle advised the Council that it was necessary to adopt this Resolution in order to accept the roughly $75,000 that the state has offered Prospect for street repaving.   Council Member Alan Simon seconded; passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Mayor Eberle called for an executive session to discuss possible purchase of real estate.   Motion was made and seconded to recess for an executive session of the Council; passed unanimously.

The Council went into Executive Session at 7:45 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT:

Upon return from Executive Session, Council Member Zimmerman moved for adjournment and Council Member Simon seconded; passed unanimously.

Mayor Eberle declared the meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Ann Melton
Recording Secretary

Approved:
Todd B. Eberle
Mayor

ATTEST:
Ann R. Simms
City Clerk