Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/07/08OCTOBER 7, 2008 At a Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners, held on Tuesday, October 7, 2008, at 5:30 p.m., Mayor Paxton presided, and upon call of the roll by the Assistant City Clerk, the following answered to their names: Commissioners Coleman, Kaler, Smith, Watkins, and Mayor Paxton (5). PUBLIC HEARING TAX LEVY Commissioner Coleman offered motion, seconded by Commissioner Kaler, that we now open the public hearing for the Tax Levy. Adopted on call of the roll, yeas, Commissioners Coleman, Kaler, Smith, Watkins and Mayor Paxton (5). Finance Director, Jon Perkins, reviewed the real estate and personal property taxes for FY 2009. The Finance Department proposes the City's real estate tax levy be the same as last year's: 25 cents per $100 assessed value. Since 1994, the City's real estate tax rate has dropped from 43.8 cents to 25 cents per $100 assessed value. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING Commissioner Coleman offered motion, seconded by Commissioner Kaler, that we close the public hearing and begin our regular scheduled meeting. Adopted on call of the roll, yeas, Commissioners Coleman, Kaler, Smith, Watkins and Mayor Paxton (5). WORKSHOP STORM DAMAGE REPORT Earnie Via, Public Works Director, and Pat Stephenson, Public Works Superintendent, presented an update from the September 14, 2008 windstorm, which was the remnant of Hurricane Ike. Costs from the storm have been submitted to FEMA but, at this time, a reimbursement amount is unknown. Public Works crews continue to remove debris (trees and limbs) at approximately 100 tons per day. If the City continues at this pace, it will take approximately 8 months to complete the job. Therefore, Mr. Via has looked into options that will allow the cleanup to be performed more quickly. The one option most cost effective is to rent larger dump trucks than the ones the City currently owns and allow for employee overtime. The additional rental equipment plus overtime will cost approximately $100,000. Using this option Mr. Via estimates the job could be completed in 4-5 months. After some discussion, the Commission gave their approval for Mr. Via to proceed with this plan. FIRE CHIEF RECRUITMENT STATUS REPORT Herschel Dungey, Human Resources Director, distributed to the Commission a "Staffing Plan" that he is following to fill the Fire Chief vacancy. An interview team, made up of a few department heads and Human Resources personnel have just completed telephone interviews of the short list of applicants. There are twelve applicants on the short list. Mr. Dungey is now in the process of conducting reference checks, background investigations, and reviewing the applicants' Predictive Index analysis. Upon completion, he will schedule interviews with the top 5-6 candidates and the Commissioners. POLICE CHIEF RECRUITMENT BROCHURE The City Commission reviewed the recruitment brochure prepared by Slavin Management consultants that will be given to police chief applicants. The Commissioners offered no changes. (Copy of brochure is in the Minute File) Commissioner Kaler offered motion, seconded by Commissioner Coleman, "that the Board of Commissioners authorize Slavin Management Consultants to proceed with use of the recruitment brochure as attached". Adopted on call of the roll, yeas, Commissioners Kaler, Smith, Watkins and Mayor Paxton (4). Commissioner Coleman abstained. OCTOBER 7, 2008 FLOODWALL REPAIRS & RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT UPDATE City Engineer, Rick Murphy, presented a power point presentation of the history of the floodwall and required repairs as mandated by the Army Corps of Engineers. He did not include Riverfront Development in his presentation due to time constraints. The pipes through the floodwall are in desperate need of repair, and in 2007 the Corps of Engineers rated the City's floodwall as "unacceptable". If the City spends money to repair the floodwall, the City could forfeit the opportunity for receiving federal credit for its efforts since a feasibility study has not been conducted by the Corps of Engineers. That study and a partnership agreement would need to be in place before the City would receive federal funding to rehabilitate the City's floodwall. At this time the City is awaiting a decision regarding the potential drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding from the Assistant Secretary to Army Civil Works (ASACW). If we receive a favorable MOU, then the City may be able to proceed with the repair of the floodwall with the expectation that the federal government would recognize our expenses as in-kind cost sharing of this and future floodwall rehabilitation projects. If the City does not receive a favorable MOU, then the City will repair the floodwall but be forced to pay for it without federal assistance or recognition. (Copy of Presentation is in the Minute File) 2009 HEALTH INSURANCE PREVIEW City Manager Jim Zumwalt and Greg Carlton, the City's insurance consultant with Peel & Holland Insurance, gave a presentation of the City of Paducah's employees' health insurance plan beginning January 1, 2009. Premiums have increased as was expected. Mr. Zumwalt has scheduled meetings with all employees over the next two weeks to explain the changes to the insurance policies and wellness incentives. (Copy of Mr. Zumwalt's Presentation is in the Minute File) CITY MANAGER REPORT • Calendar Items • Personnel Actions — no discussion COMMISSIONER CONCERNS Mayor Paxton asked the Commission to consider allowing a festival (name not yet determined) for November 15, 2008 encompassing the area of the Market House Square in downtown Paducah. Organizers would like to have artists set up along the sidewalk painting, demonstrating their art, and displaying items for sale. There would be beer gardens set up at Toucans and Max's Restaurants and Kirchoff's Bakery would also be involved. This idea has been developed to bring people to downtown during the month of November when three new businesses will be celebrating grand openings. They are: Hooper's Outdoor Center, Argentine Grill, and the City's Ice Rink. All Commissioners agreed with the idea. Mayor Paxton then asked for an Executive Session to discuss a business proposal. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Smith offered motion, seconded by Commissioner Watkins, that the Board go into closed session for discussion of matters pertaining to the following topics: A specific proposal by a business entity where public discussion of the subject matter would jeopardize the location, retention, expansion, or upgrading of a business entity, as permitted by KRS 61.810(1)(g). Adopted on call of the roll, yeas, Commissioners Coleman, Kaler, Smith, Watkins and Mayor Paxton (5). Upon motion the meeting adjourned. ADOPTED: October 14 , 2008 J C Assistant City Clerk