CITY OF INDIAN HILLS CITY COUNCIL MEETING February 15, 2018 Minutes of Regular Meeting Louisville Boat Club 4200 River Road (40207) 6:00 p.m.

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1 CITY OF INDIAN HILLS CITY COUNCIL MEETING Minutes of Regular Meeting Louisville Boat Club 4200 River Road (40207) 6:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor: Council: Attorney: Chip Hancock Sandra K. Carroll Joel Deming Frank Doheny Laura Dunbar James Giesel Stephen Gruebbel Jason Kron Mimi Zinniel Finn Cato Lee Garlove (Absent) Public Works: Jim Graven Police Chief: Kelly Spratt City Clerk: Donna M. Sinkhorn Visitors Address Purpose Pam Rogers 55 Tepee Rd Animal Ordinance Mr. & Mrs. Astorino 130 Council Rd. Speeders Matt & Jamie Swyers 203 Council Rd. Speeders Jessica & Greg Daunhauer 134 Council Rd. Speeders Mendy & John Vidal 132 Council Rd. Speeders Luanne George 131 Council Rd. Nick Hamilton-Cotter 5508 Hempstead Speed Humps Kent Hall 3008 Murray Hill Pike Metro Council Candidate 1) Mayor Hancock called the Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2) Recognize any Visitors Mayor Hancock recognized the visitors. Kent Hall introduced himself as Republican candidate for District #7 Metro Council. Pam Rogers, resident and long-time lobbyist for animal protection in Kentucky, The Humane Society of United States and once worked on the task force for Louisville Metro Animal Services, requested placing on the City s website a link to Metro s Animal Ordinances and place in the newsletter a reminder to residents that dogs and cats are to be restrained, not be allowed to roam freely; and owners are to have them licensed, have shots for rabies and wear those tags at all times. Following discussion, Councilman Gruebbel stated he would review what is on the

2 City s website relating to animals. Most of the remaining visitors who lived on Council Road, one lived on Hempstead were present to discuss speeders. Luanne George was spokesperson for the residents. More than a 25- minute discussion ensued. In response to Ms. George s inquiry, Councilman Doheny stated there were no guidelines to present to the Council but the Committee, consisting of Chief Spratt, Public Works Director Graven, Councilman Doheny and Nick Hamilton-Cotter, Hempstead resident, will be meeting again and may have guidelines to present at next month s meeting. It was explained the reason a speed hump that was requested for Council Road nine months ago had not been installed was due to the fact the City had no guidelines with respect to when, where and how speed humps should be allowed. More specifics discussed were: Council and Public Works work together on residents speed hump requests; due to residents request for speed hump on Council Road and a resident s request for one on Hempstead, both streets are being considered what the best possible solution may be to deter speeding. Mr. Cato confirmed there could be legal liability on the city if a car was damaged by a speed hump. Ms. George asked since the residents have requested a speed hump on Council Road and a resident requested one on Hempstead, would there be any legal liability on the City if a person is hit on their street. Mr. Cato replied he can look into it, but he thinks the liability would lean more towards to who the negligent driver is in that circumstance; a resident raised concern that there is no Stop sign or caution sign where Council Road breaks from Totem and none at where it ends at Indian Hills Trail; police will randomly monitor speed on various streets during targeted times such as before and after school. Following lengthy discussion, Mayor Hancock stated they will address the residents concerns and get something resolved for them. 3) Minutes - Mailed (a) January Minutes Councilman Giesel moved to approve the January Minutes as mailed; seconded by Councilman Doheny; motion passed unanimously. (Councilman Garlove was not present to vote.) 4) Committee Reports Mailed (a) Finance and Budget Report 1. Treasurer s Report (Dunbar) - Councilwoman Dunbar reported the following: General Fund January net ordinary income was $33,379 better than budgeted for the month; YTD actual net ordinary income was $440,988 worse than budgeted. Approximately $423,000 of this was from the City s portion of the cost associated with the city s new offices. Road Fund January actual net ordinary loss was $6,425 worse than budgeted; and YTD net ordinary loss was $9116 worse than budgeted. Over $20,000 of road salting was done in January due to the inclement weather. Police Department The January operations were $3,493 better than budgeted; $8,698 worse than budgeted for the fiscal year. The police department purchased new equipment, etc. while transitioning to the new office so the year to date overage is not a surprise. 2. Approval of Disbursements (City & Police Disbursement Details-January) Councilwoman Zinniel moved to accept the Treasurer s Report as presented by Councilwoman 2

3 Dunbar and to approve the City and Police disbursements; seconded by Councilwoman Carroll; motion passed unanimously. (Councilman Garlove was not present to vote.) (b) Public Safety Report Spratt & Doheny & Garlove 1. Police Report Chief Spratt January was fairly quiet. There were two criminal reports. Theft of lawn equipment on Apache Road that occurred over a couple month period; and an identity theft case on Blankenbaker. Our detective is working on this case and making some progress. There were two collision reports and only one of those was in Indian Hills; there were no arrests; and the list of citations is provided in the monthly Report. As he did last year, Chief Spratt will provide year to date stats in his monthly reports. 2. Speed Hump Committee Report Doheny Mayor Hancock stated he would like to have a Stop sign placed at the triangle and maybe one at the end of Council Road where it comes to Indian Hills Trail. Mr. Graven said he can get it done tomorrow. Councilman Doheny asked when the Mayor says to put a Stop sign at the triangle, is he stopping cars coming from the Trail towards Totem or cars coming from Totem towards the Trail or both. Councilman Gruebbel stated there are standards on where and when you can put a Stop sign. Mr. Graven commented a Stop sign needs to be at the intersection at Indian Hills Trail and should be done immediately but Chief Spratt should advise as to whether to do so at the triangle. Chief Spratt stated if the flow of traffic is going to be stopped on one of those approaches, then, in his opinion, the flow of traffic should be stopped at all those approaches because if the flow of traffic from Totem towards Council is stopped, that does nothing on the rare vehicle that may be coming from Westwind down Totem towards Council. Following discussion, it was decided to place Stop signs at the triangle and at the intersection of Indian Hills Trail. Councilwoman Dunbar received a nice call from a neighbor complimenting the electronic flashing signs; it helps her to keep her speed down. Chief Spratt commented that is why he likes them; the driver interacts with the flashing sign and automatically slows down. (c) Public Works & Building Graven 1. Public Works Director Report Graven Electronic Speed Limit Sign Back in January, a man slid on the icy road and hit the sign beyond repair and hit the pole with Indian Hills Trail and Westwind sign. He fixed the pole so there was no cost there. He sent a bill to the insurance company last week for the electronic sign. He will stay on it until he gets the $2500. Councilman Gruebbel suggested instead of waiting, why not approve the purchase of another electronic sign. Following little discussion, Councilman Gruebbel moved to purchase an electronic sign; Councilman Doheny seconded. Mr. Graven asked where the new sign would be placed. Councilman Gruebbel suggested placing it on Council Road. After little more discussion, it was decided to place the new sign at the same location as the previous one and place Stop signs on Council Road. Motion passed unanimously. New Home A couple will be building a home on one of the two empty lots located on Old Brownsboro Road. These lots have 0 lot lines. 3

4 Honeysuckle Work will be done on cutting back honeysuckle that is growing into the right-ofway on some area roads. Paving 2018 Pothole problems are expected so at this time, paving will be put on hold. Flynn has a new product to fill potholes where no heat is needed. This may be a good option for any small potholes in the City. Backflow Valves/Automatic Sprinkler System Last year, scrappers were stealing the solid brass valves so Mr. Graven decided to paint them black and it worked for a while. Someone has discovered there is brass under the black paint and has stolen one. As a deterrence, the replacement valves will be placed underground. Discussion. Snow Report Plowing and salting went well. Deer Tags There have been 4 tags used of the 12 that the State provided the City. Two deer had been caught in fences; one was chased from Locust Hill Road to the other end of Woodside; and one was hit on Brownsboro Road. Mr. Graven is keeping track of the deer tags and reporting back to the State. 5) Other Reports (a) Waste Management Report Deming No report. Council Members Comments Councilwoman Carroll informed the Council that she and Donna Sinkhorn have been working on a Welcoming packet. Mr. Graven will advise of which ordinances a new resident should be made aware of. She asked for the Council s input whether to go to local businesses asking if they would like to include something in the packet; such as, a 5% discount card. Mayor Hancock said Councilwoman Carroll has put together a nice packet for a new neighbor. The packet may include the most recent newsletter, City and Police contact information, and two Indian Hills stickers to place on their vehicles. Following discussion, Councilwoman Carroll asked the Council if anyone sees a Sold sign in their neighborhood to please notify her so she may get a packet to the new resident. 6) Old Business - None 7) New Business - None 8) Legal Cato (a) Google Fiber Update Mr. Cato informed Council that late last month, he attended a Jefferson County League of Cities meeting where Google representatives were present. Google has originally tried to get all the municipalities in Jefferson County to sign a franchise agreement to approve the installation of fiber optic cable for ultra-high-speed internet along the easements and rights-of-way along the streets, but Google never signed the agreement. They have held off on moving forward because they wanted to get into a wireless system but decided that was not cost-effective so then they made an additional change which was to dig trenches in the streets and lay the fiber. Google wants to find out which cities are interested, and 4

5 which ones are not interested in proceeding with this option. He has learned from being at these meetings, there are several cities that do not want the streets being trenched because Google plans to trench only about less than two inches deep which may cause a huge problem in terms of repaving. In the next two or three months, Google will send information to the municipalities. There is nothing to be signed at this time. Discussion. 9) Comments of Mayor Mayor Hancock showed a nice copy of a Rolling Fields newsletter to the Council and commented Ms. Sinkhorn has learned there is a way on her computer to get the City s newsletter to look something very similar. Mr. Graven and Mayor Hancock thanked her. Mr. Cato reminded the Council if an relating to City business is distributed to five or more Council members that is considered a quorum and may be considered a City meeting. Councilman Doheny stated what is coming in these s is information that requires no action, and none is ever requested. For example, he sent out information about coyotes in urban areas; he asked nothing, he just said it was what he read in the New York Times. How does that qualify as a meeting? Mr. Cato said Councilman Doheny had a good point. Most Attorney General Opinions are on a case-by-case basis. Discussion. Chief Spratt updated the Council on the cameras that were discussed at previous meetings. A demo camera was put in place for a few days to get some video footage and still shots. He will send them in an so they may see the quality of the pictures. An upgrade on the camera lens will be needed because the night vision picks up all the tail lights flooding out the license plate. Upgrading the lens will bring the total cost to $933 per camera which includes installation so it is within $75 of the original price discussed. Discussion. Mayor Hancock informed Council he has contacted the shredder and left a message asking to have the shredding event on April 21 st from 9:00 to Noon but has not heard back from them. 11) Executive Session and/or Adjournment Councilman Doheny moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:13 p.m.; seconded by Councilman Deming; motion passed unanimously. (Councilman Garlove was not present to vote.) Next Meeting: Thursday March 15, :00 p.m. Louisville Boat Club Chip Hancock, Mayor Donna M. Sinkhorn, City Clerk 5