CALL TO ORDER - The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM by Mayor Harold A. Ries with the Pledge of Allegiance and a silent prayer.

ROLL CALL - Present were Mrs. Beverly Draud, Messrs. Ralph Laird, Joe Maloney, Frank Sommerkamp and Paul Meier. Mr. John Drummey was absent.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA - Approved as submitted.

Motion: Mr. Meier Second: Mr. Laird

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - The minutes from the meeting held December 12, 1996 were approved as submitted.

Motion: Mr. Maloney Second: Mr. Meier

Mr. Maloney then suggested a couple of words be changed in the aforementioned. On page 2, first paragraph under Engineering, the last word in the fourth sentence should be changed to berm instead of median.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Mr. Celarek reported on the following:

A new list of Councilmembers and staff has been printed and each council person should have received one. A snow removal contract has been signed by Jarco, Inc., which is the same company that provided the service last year. Labor costs will hold steady at $60 per hour with a four hour minimum for each call made. Salt costs will be $5 per bag until the bagged salt purchased has run out. At that point, salt will be picked up at the State storage facility. The City has purchased about 23 tons for use in Jarco’s new salt spreader.The telecommunications board has had to wait on the restructuring of the International Communication Services before writing a summary paper for distribution to the participating cities. That summary should be completed in March and will be sent to all Councilmembers.A quick computer update: the accounting program, CMI, seems to be going well. Our city does not seem to be experiencing the problems that other cities are encountering. The City is trying to find an Internet provider that will work within a network environment. Fusenet was tried but would not work because it was made for stand alone PCs. Christmas tree recycling had taken place January 3^rd and would again January 10th. Residents just need to place their trees, with no ties or bags, at the end of the curb with regular garbage to be picked up. Chipping will take place January 13^th.Crestview Hills is hosting the January Business to Business get together sponsored by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. The get together is Tuesday, January 14^th from 7:30 AM to 9 AM. Mr. Laird thought that most small businesses do not have a representative attending the Eggs and Issues meetings, so this meeting might serve as a local introduction to the Chamber. Letters were sent to all known Crestview Hill’s businesses inviting them to attend.St. Elizabeth’s advanced life support sent letters to city residents explaining the error made by sending membership notices. The letter stated that Crestview Hill’s residents are already covered by the service and therefore do not need to purchase additional services.A copy of 1996 top business expansions as published in the January issue of The Cincinnati Business Courier was passed out to Councilmembers. Especially noted was number 4 on the list, Harris Corp. Also mentioned was Hemmer Construction Co. for having a great year and continuing to draw large, national tenants to the area.A copy of the Ft. Mitchell Fire Dept. and Ft. Mitchell Life Squad’s year end reports were passed out. Both departments had a record year with reference to runs. The reports showed a breakdown by city and by events.Ft. Mitchell has invited Mayor and Council to a Fire Dept. and EMS orientation on Tuesday, January 8^th at 8 PM. KCMA winter conference is being held at the Covington Quality Inn, January 23^rd & 24^th. Mr. Celarek is one of the co-chairs of this event.

OLD BUSINESS

A. Engineering - Thomas More Parkway

Mr. Berling stated that basically the road is completed. Currently, auditing on invoices submitted is taking place. The final invoice for Broome Paving and the invoice for striping has not yet been received. The firm of Pflum, Klausmeier & Gehrum did traffic engineering and traffic signal design for Thomas More Parkway. Council still needs to decide if a light should be put at the intersection of Thomas More Parkway and Chancellor Blvd. Mr. Celarek said it is a matter to be first discussed in a public works meeting. Also, the installation of the signal will have to go out for bid since the project would be well over ten thousand dollars. Mr. Sommerkamp mentioned that the stretch of road between Four Seasons and the hospital is particularly bad for people exceeding the speed limit. Trying to get out of Legends Way proves a difficult task on a regular basis. Mr. Berling pointed out that signalization would help that problem as traffic on both sides at some point would be stopped. Also, Mr. Berling said for years a 35 mph speed limit on the parkway was recommended to the State. Mr. Laird inquired as to what [the City of ] Edgewood is doing about the speed limit.

Mr. Meier wished to address that question. In the last meeting, council seemed uneasy with a 35 mph speed limit. Colonel Anderson monitored speed one day and found that the average speed of approximately 600 cars was 40 to 45 mph. [The City of ] Edgewood had planned on Crestview Hills making the first move to change the speed limit on the parkway, but the Edgewood City Council had first reading on an ordinance to lower the speed limit on Thomas More Parkway in Edgewood to 35 mph. Mr. Meier wanted to have this be considered first reading of an ordinance that would lower the speed limit on Thomas More Parkway in Crestview Hills to 35 mph. Mr. Sommerkamp agreed saying let the City be proactive rather than reactive. Mr. Wehrman agreed to let this be considered first reading of Ordinance 1997-1-1.

B. Valley View Ridge Condominiums

In phase I there were to be 19 buildings, each with 12 units. In phase II there were to be 14 buildings, each with 12 units. Presently there are permits for 8 buildings [96 units] and 1 clubhouse. Mr. Celarek read a letter from Mr. Gary Erpenbeck which stated that Erpenbeck Co. would reconstruct the entrance at Horsebranch Rd. and Valley View Drive in accordance with the recommendations of Pflum, Klausmeier & Gehrum’s scheme 1. Scheme 1 provides for widening the road on one side only and includes a ten foot wide by seventy five foot long left turn storage land. The existing guardrail would be reconstructed to provide six feet of lateral clearance between the new edge of the pavement and the guardrail. Mr. Erpenbeck would expect the City to reconstruct the guardrail but would reconstruct the surface portion of the new paving at the entrance and in the deceleration lane. The intersection would be re-striped as necessary to comply with safety codes. Work is expected to begin in April, 1997.

Mr. Celarek stated that a letter was sent to Bill Bowdy of the NKAPC to lift the hold on Valley View building permits.

NEW BUSINESS

A. State of the City.

The Mayor read his State of the City Address with goals and objectives which are verbatim as follows:

The City of Crestview Hills has experienced a progressive and prosperous year in 1996.

The most significant event of 1996 was the construction of sidewalks and widening of Thomas More Parkway. This project of the State of Kentucky, Kenton County, the City of Edgewood, St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Thomas More College, the Hemmer Company, and Four Seasons is nearly complete. The City plans to re-examine the roadway surface in the spring. The new sidewalk on the south side of the parkway is a real positive step for the new generation of walkers and runners.

In economic development, the City approved the addition of Top Flight Gymnastics and Flottman Printing to the Thomas More Centre Research Park. The City also revised the research park zoning code to allow the Harris Corporation to relocate 250 jobs to Crestview Hills, if our site is selected for their "Digital Center of Television Excellence."

In residential development, phase II of the Summit Lakes subdivision is over 70% completed and 96 units in the Valley View Ridge subdivision are more than 50% completed.

We have maintained 250 trees in the public rights-of-way with water and mulch.

Streetlights were installed along Shinkle Road and in parts of the "Old Crestview" area.

The City has once again lowered the property tax rate. Property taxes were lowered from .1586 per $100 valuation in 1995 to .1525 per $100 valuation in 1996. Effective January 1, 1997, the Kenton County Treasurer’s Office will collect all business taxes in the city. Hopefully, this will allow businesses that work in multiple cities to more easily file their taxes.

In 1996 the City purchased two new computers and installed a new integrated financial program to better manage financial transactions. Staff productivity seems much better. Kevin Celarek has successfully completed his first year as city administrator with only a few bumps and bruises.

As usual my overall goal is to work with City Council to provide the best possible services at the lowest possible cost to the residents and businesses of Crestview Hills.

1. To work with the city engineer to complete the widening of Thomas More Parkway in a way that is satisfactory to members of City Council.
2. To seek economic development projects that enhance our City and are compatible with the current developments in the Thomas More Centre Research Park. I will also work with the owner of the mall to seek ways to improve the Crestview Hills Mall.
3. To continue to seek funds to construct new sidewalks along main roads in the City.
4. To continue to install streetlights in appropriate areas throughout the City.
5. To monitor and support, where appropriate, the construction of condominiums in the Valley View Ridge Project on Horsebranch Road.
6. To create a new City Tree and Landscape Improvement Board for the purpose of planting more trees and establishing planters at main entrances.
7. To research ways to improve our recreation program and investigate the possibility of purchasing land in the City for recreational purposes.
8. Lastly, I will seek ways to maximize the efficiency of our City services by working with other governmental agencies. But, I will oppose all efforts to force our citizens into one county-wide consolidated government. We will preserve our uniqueness and seek better ways to serve our residents and businesses.

These are my objectives for 1997. I welcome your assistance in accomplishing these worthwhile objectives.

Mr. Sommerkamp inquired about David Garner from Mackey McNeill Mohr’s office going to Kansas City as discussed last month. Mr. Celarek explained and informed council that the City was not billed for the entire trip, just the two hours that Mr. Garner spent with the owner of the Crestview Hills Mall.

Committee Reports

Committee List

Mr. Meier suggested that council formally approve committees as submitted by the Mayor and Mr. Celarek. Mr. Meier made a motion to accept committees as submitted, seconded by Mr. Sommerkamp.

Police Authority

Mr. Meier said that the new officer will finish the academy January 20^th and should be ready for the streets in May. There were excess funds after the audit that resulted in a $17,490 refund to Crestview Hills. Mr. Meier wondered if this refund could be set aside for safety issues such as traffic signals and such. In the Police Authority budget for next year is the purchase of a cruiser. Mr. Maloney inquired as to the previous occupation of the newly hired officer and his residency. Mr. Meier replied that the officer was a security guard and currently lives in Ohio.

Safety

Mr. Meier pointed out that the fire and ambulance contract is up for renewal. The current contract with Ft. Mitchell Fire and EMS expires March 31, 1997.

Streetlighting

Mr. Meier reported on this since the newest streetlights are near his home. The streetlights on the lower part of Shinkle Rd. are now operational and look good. The second light past Springside Rd. is not on and will be looked at by ULH&P.

Mr. Maloney, on behalf of council, welcomed Mr. Sommerkamp as the City’s newest Councilmember.

Motion to adjourn made by Mr. Sommerkamp, seconded by Mr. Maloney at 8:17 PM.