CITY OF CRESTVIEW HILLS

MINUTES - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

September 9, 1999

CALL TO ORDER - With the Pledge of Allegiance and a silent prayer, Mayor Paul W. Meier called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.

ROLL CALL - Present were Messrs. Ralph Laird , Joe Price, Harold Ries, Joe Maloney, Frank Sommerkamp and Mrs. Robin Huller.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA - It was suggested that New Business be conducted prior to Old Business. Approved as amended. Ayes carried.

Motion: Mr. Ries ??Second: Mr. Sommerkamp

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Mr. Price stressed that there were grammatical errors in last month's minutes. Notably under the City Administrator's Report, item 1, line 2 should read, "to discuss improvements in the County tax collection system." On page 2 under item 8, third sentence should read, "In phase II, it will extend from Kings Island, Ohio to Florence and the International Airport in Kentucky." Also on page 2 under Old Business, Item A, the first sentence should read, "Mrs. Huller noted that the committee has looked at many drawings of the logo provided by Don Neihaus." Accepted as amended. Ayes carried.

Motion: Mr. Price ??Second: Mrs. Huller

CITIZENS AND GUESTS

Sgt. Paul Herbst was introduced as the new acting Chief of the Police Authority. Kathleen Corneil, representing the Lookout Farm area of the city, was acknowledged.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Mr. Celarek reported on the following:

  1. The Board of Adjustment denied the variance at 12 Rosemont. The residents had requested an eight-foot variance so a storage building could be placed two feet from the rear yard boundary. However, the topography of the variance was amended and resubmitted. The resubmitted request was granted.
  2. The City has moved the General Fund from PNC Bank to Heritage Bank. There will be a new lockbox to which residents can send their property tax bills. Heritage Bank offered the City a higher interest rate on the checking account balance and no charge for many banking services.
  3. Joe Kearnes, George Hoffman and Ralph Wolff will retire from the Kentucky Department of Transportation on October 1, 1999. Mr. Sommerkamp suggested a proclamation from the City for Ralph Wolff, a resident of Crestview Hills, thanking him for fourteen years of service.
  4. Mr. Celarek has spoken with Joe Kearnes regarding I-275 noise issues and to date, there has been no movement from the State. Mr. Kearnes believes the State is still collecting data and making projections on the issues.
  5. Mr. Celarek will attend the International City Manager's Association's annual conference from September 25 - 29 in Portland, OR.
  6. The annual audit of City records will be performed October 19 and 20.
  7. The Holbrook Student Center at Thomas More College will be dedicated September 10, 1999 at 11:30AM.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Law

Mayor Meier recommended the appointment of Jeff Mando with the law firm of Adams, Stepner, Wolterman and Dusing as the new City Attorney. Motion made by Mr. Sommerkamp to accept the appointment, seconded by Mr. Maloney. Ayes carried. Mr. Mando thanked Council and noted that he anticipated a harmonious and long relationship with the City.

B. Safety

Mrs. Huller gave a brief history of the Police Authority and the need for updates in the Inter-governmental Agreement. Mr. Mando referred to the original 1968 agreement and the revision in 1991 and noted that the 1999 amendment primarily clarified the former agreements regarding the procedures for hiring and firing. The Police Authority Board may interview, hire, and fire all employees including the Chief of Police. This power did not exist under prior agreements. However, The Board shall advise the respective cities of personnel decisions and actions that are taken with regard to staff.

Language has been included that clarifies that each respective City Council must review and approve the proposed budget of the Police Authority, which provides some measure of oversight and control. Both the City of Lakeside Park and the City of Crestview Hills may terminate the agreement with 90days written notice. The termination procedure has been set forth in this revision.

How the Board is comprised, the election of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer, and the formula for each City's contribution to the Police Authority stay the same.

Mr. Maloney made the motion to accept the 1999 revision of the Lakeside park/Crestview Hills Police Authority Inter-governmental Cooperative Agreement, seconded by Mr. Price. Ayes carried.

C. Finance - Ordinance 1999-9-1

Mr. Laird introduced Ordinance 1999-9-1 which is an ordinance providing for the levy, apportionment, and collection of taxes and revenue for the City of Crestview Hills, Kentucky for the year 1999. After review by the Finance Committee, Mr. Laird recommended that the property tax rate remain unchanged for 1999. This was first reading of this ordinance.

D. Telecommunications - Resolution 1999-R91

Mr. Celarek reviewed the history of Intermedia Partners of Kentucky, L.P. Intermedia has held the cable television franchise for northern Kentucky. Events have transpired that led the Telecommunications Board of Northern Kentucky to recommend that the City of Crestview Hills pass a resolution approving transfer of control. The franchise will continue to be held by Intermedia Partners of Kentucky, L.P., which will be reorganized under the control of Insight Communications. There will be no change in the franchise fee structure to the City. Mr. Laird made the motion to accept Resolution 1999-R91 approving a transfer of control of Intermedia Partners of Kentucky, L.P. from Intermedia Capital Management VI, LLC to Insight Communications Company, L.P. Motion seconded by Mr. Sommerkamp. Ayes carried.

OLD BUSINESS

A. Economic Development

Mr. Celarek noted that there have been further amendments to the Waterford Project on Centreview Blvd. The amendments are significant enough that the Economic Development Committee, by a 3 - 2 vote, allowed the decision to come to City Council as to whether changes to be submitted by Estes Engineering and Triad Senior Living to the Waterford Project will be considered minor. Changes will be made in the topography that affect landscaping and the retaining walls. The square footage should remain the same however 2 new parking spaces are proposed. Once the amended plans are submitted, it will be up to staff and the Economic Development Committee to recommend to council whether the new proposal constitutes a minor change to the first amended plans approved on June 10, 1999. The recommendation from committee will then go to council for approval or rejection. Regardless, the developers must take significant action by December 9, 1999 or the Board of Adjustments can rescind the conditional use permit for that lot. It is expected that the second amended plans will be submitted in time for the October Economic Development Committee meeting.

Mr. Maloney stated that he believes the reason this project cannot get going is that the soil has not been tested properly.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Finance- Mr. Laird wanted members of council to review their financial reports.

Police Authority- Mrs. Huller informed council that the Police Authority has begun the accreditation process, which includes a self-evalutation and scrutiny from outside Police Departments. Once the Authority has completed the accreditation process, KMRMA, who insures the Police Authority, estimates a 10 percent reduction in premiums. Acting Chief Herbst noted that he has scheduled a meeting with Lt. Butler from the Independence Police Dept. to review materials that might be helpful in completing the process.

Fire and Safety- Mrs. Huller noted that a Neighborhood Watch meeting has been set for October 12, 1999 at the city building.

Development and Zoning- Mr. Price stated that the purpose of the Edgewood zoning text amendment is to eliminate all new multi-unit residences. The Planning Commission rejected the proposal citing the Kenton County Comprehensive Plan requires the county to provide housing for those with all levels of income. The Edgewood attorney will review the rejection and the proposal and make a recommendation.

Recreation- Mr. Price stated that an adhoc committee has been formed to better plan recreational events, activities and green space in the City. The sub-committee shall hold a meeting October 21, 1999 at 4PM.

Communications- Mrs. Huller enlightened council to the temporary inaccessibility of the City website. The website will be hosted by a new company, the ordinances will be added in a searchable database format, and will receive a facelift by January 1, 2000.

Mr. Celarek introduced Ft. Mitchell City Administrator Bill Goetz who thanked Crestview Hills Council and staff for their contributions int he success of the moving Vietnam Veterans wall.

Mr. Sommerkamp recollected tht the City opted out of the Telecommunications Authority when it began. The project is now dead and the City saved $12,000.

After general conversation, motion to adjourn made by Mr. Laird, seconded by Mr. Ries at 8:13 PM.