CITY OF CRESTVIEW HILLS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2005
7:30 PM
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. David Kramer, Ralph Laird, Joe Maloney, and David Meier. Absent were Messrs. Thomas Moser and Frank Sommerkamp
APPROVAL OF AGENDA - Agenda approved as submitted.
Motion: Mr. Maloney Second: Mr. Laird
Ayes carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Regular meeting minutes of January 13, 2005. Approved with the following additions or corrections: Page 1 under Citizens & Guests spelling of Sue Byrn should be Sue Berns. Also, under Citizens & Guests the word malcontent shall be changed to discontent.
Motion: Mr. Kramer Second: Mr. Meier
Ayes carried.
CITIZENS AND GUESTS
David Jansing, Fire Inspector with Ft. Mitchell Fire Department. Mayor Meier asked Mr. Jansing to report on the endeavors for the creation of a Joint Emergency Ambulance Serviced District between the cities of Bromley, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Fort Wright, Lakeside Park, Ludlow and Park Hills. Mr. Jansing reported that they are in the process of looking for a director, a coordinator and are applying for the necessary licenses.
Peggy Sensel, City Representative to the Telecommunication Board of Northern Kentucky.
Chief Paul Herbst, Lakeside Park/Crestview Hills Joint Police Authority.
Brian Mains, Reporter for the Community Recorder Newspaper.
1) Eggs & Issues – Tuesday, February 15, 7:15 A.M. at 5 Seasons. Topic of Interest “Protecting you and your Business from Identity Theft” and special update on the county Payroll Tax & TANK Funding for Service in Northern Kentucky. Mr. Laird stated that those wishing to hear the topic of interest, but not wanting to attend the breakfast, should be there at 8:30 A.M.
2) Municipal Government League Meeting – Thursday, February 17, 6:00 P.M. in the NKADD Building on Spiral Drive. Topics: “Kenton County Ambulance Study, ALS/BLS Billing.”
3) Mayor’s Meeting, Saturday, February 19, 9:00 A.M. at the Independence Senior Center.
4) Kenton County Fiscal Court Meeting – Tuesday, February 22, 7:00 P.M., Independence County Building – The Insurance Premium Tax will be discussed. Mayor Meier urged citizens to attend.
5) Freshman Forum, Thursday, February 24, Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce – Congressman Geoff Davis will be the guest speaker at 11:30 A.M. at the Marriot on Progress Drive n/o at the Airport. If Council members wish to go you can give your name at the door and they will bill the City.
6) Government Forum, Friday, February 25 – Senator Mitch McConnell is the guest – to be held at the Metropolitan Club at 11:30 A.M. There is a seat open if anyone on Council is interested.
Mr. Groth reported on the following:
1. Fire & EMS bids are out for a four year period. All bids are due at the City Building by 4:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 23rd.
2. The winter newsletter will go out tomorrow or Monday.
3. Don’t forget to show support for our adopted Troop by donating items or money for the next shipment, scheduled to go out next Friday. Mr. Groth met Linda Patterson who is the national founder of “America Supporting Americans”. The City has all the troop’s names if anyone wishes to write to them personally.
4. Dillard’s will have Media Day on March 3rd and a soft opening of the new store on March 7th or 9th – Grand Opening and ribbon cutting on Friday, March 11th. The time has not yet been set.
5. The cut-through from Dixie Highway to Turkeyfoot Road via Mall Road, will be closed from March 7th until July 1st. Access will be available to Carrabba’s and Panera from Dixie Highway. Access to Friday’s, Applebees, Sableux, Coldwell Banker, the Gallenstein Office Building at 25 Mall Road and the City Building from Turkeyfoot Road.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Mayor Meier asked that Council postpone any action regarding Ordinance 2004-12-1 to repeal Ordinance 2004-09-03 for the creation of a joint emergency ambulance service district with the cities of Bromley, Crestview Hills,, Fort Mitchell, Fort Wright, Lakeside Park, Ludlow, and park Hills, Kentucky; and repealing the imposition of an ad valorem tax on all Real Property located within the City of Crestview Hills.
NEW BUSINESS
A. First Reading of Ordinance 2005-2-1 – to provide for the Levy Apportionment and Collection (on a yearly basis) of a License Fee, imposed upon each insurance company for the privilege of engaging in the business of insurance within the corporate limits of the City of Crestview Hills. If Kenton County passes this tax, and the City does not notify the State Board of Insurance by March 23rd that the tax has been passed in order to enact the tax within a 100 day time frame the proceeds would go to the County instead of benefiting the City. In order to keep those funds in the City rather than have the taxes go to the County and the City not receive any benefit from those taxes, second reading must be next month. Should the County not enact the tax then second reading will not take place and the City will not pursue the enactment of this tax.
Mayor Meier stated that the County potentially must gain $700,000 from unincorporated Kenton County to meet obligations. The 8% tax would tax all of Kenton County and place a burden of between $3 and $5 million in new taxes on Kenton County residents. The reasoning of the County for the tax makes no sense.
Mayor Meier passed out petitions for presentation to the County after signatures have been collected. He urged citizens and Council to attend to the Kenton County Fiscal Court Meeting – Tuesday, February 22, 7:00 P.M., Independence County Building – The Insurance Premium Tax will be discussed.
Mr. Maloney stated that there was no need to levy such an expense on the taxpayer and doing so shows an inability of those in charge to operate the County in an efficient manner.
Several questions ensued with regard to the wording of the Ordinance. Mayor Meier explained that the ordinance must be worded carefully to ensure that it mirrors the County Ordinance, exactly, or some tax benefits could fall to the County instead of the City in error. Mr. Mando, City Attorney, will make sure the wording mirrors the County’s.
Concern was shown whether there is a ceiling by the State on how much tax can be levied on insurance. Mr. Groth stated that the ceiling is 11% or 12% at this time.
David Meier stated that many of the 41017 addresses are being attributed to Covington, perhaps by errors made by the insurance companies. He urged that this situation should be addressed or the taxes being attributed to this 41017 zip code could go to Covington in error.
Mr. Kramer urged citizens to contact their State Representatives to express their opposition to the tax.
Mayor Meier announced that there will be a petition available at the City building if anyone wants to stop by and sign to oppose the tax.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Public Works – Nothing new to report since last month. Mr. Berling, the City Engineer was absent.
Telecommunications – Peggy Sensel, City Representative to the Telecommunication Board of Northern Kentucky (TBNK) reported that the Board has decided on a 5 year window agreement in which to isolate those areas of Northern Kentucky who do not contribute to the TBNK. The Board agreed it was fair and equitable to isolate.
Development & Zoning – Mr. Kramer reported that the Committee did not meet this month. Mayor Meier stated that the proposed biodiesel plant has since been turned down because it did not fit the usage criteria for the IP Zone.
Mr. Kramer thanked the County officials for standing up and not allowing the building of the proposed plant.
Mayor Meier stated that a Jim Hatch column reported that of all the Panera Bread locations, the Crestview Hills location was one of the ten best performers countrywide.
Mr. Groth, City Administrator reported that he met last week with Dennis Gordon, NKAPC and Richard Lonergan regarding the “One-Stop-Shop” option offered by Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission. This includes a Code Enforcement Board, which the City has never had in the past. The Committee agreed to research the matter. Mr. Groth found that the City in Fiscal year 2004 and 3 month of fiscal year 2005 the City has paid close to $6,600 to Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission for licensing, inspections, etc. That cost, with the “One-Stop-Shop” would have been 1/4th or 25% of the cost or around $700 - $800 instead of $6,600 for an 18 month period.
The “One-Stop-Shop” would include plan review as well as zoning/building review. Plans would be delivered directly to Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission. The Commission would report to the City when those plans arrive. The code enforcement board would notify and enforce violators. The process of adoption will require an Interlocal Agreement with NKAPC and several ordinances to adopt the International Property Maintenance Code.
Mr. Groth explained that the Code Enforcement Board would assist with expediting disputes/complaints in a timelier manner than is possible for the City to do to date.
Mr. Laird asked what kind of reporting would this entail. Mayor Meier explained that it would be online via a website and be real-time, thus more immediate.
Mr. Laird suggested that the City make sure the technology is in place as promised by NKAPC before agreeing to join. Mr. Laird stated a case in point being the slow process of the Kenton County claims of access of City Business Tax information via access to their website. He does not want the City to become the fore-runner in the technology process.
Mr. Laird also expressed concern that the Code Enforcement Board would be too forceful and the City could lose its input into various situational issues, thus becoming too disciplinary or harsh to citizens. Mr. Groth stated that Ft. Mitchell and Edgewood had their own Code Enforcement Boards and this was not a problem.
Mr. Laird stated that he did not want to get into anything the City could not opt out of should this service not be suitable.
Mr. Mando explained that there is a 60 day window to cancel.
Mr. Maloney agreed with Mr. Laird that the process could get out of hand or be too harsh. He asked if it were possible for the City to have its own Code Enforcement Board.
Mayor Meier stated that code enforcement may stop incidents such as junk cars, etc. from getting out of hand in the first place and code enforcement would be an asset rather than be forced to take folks to court because a situation has gone on too long.
Mayor Meier stated that he is not interested in hiring an in-house building inspector.
Mayor Meier stated that the Committee had discussed the legality of trying to limit the hours of operation in the Shopping Center Zone. This possibility is being studied. Also, the Committee will discuss the lighting at the Towne Center as to whether lights should be allowed all night especially on the area facing Dixie Highway.
Mr. Kramer inquired whether I-Hop is out the picture as a possible tenant at the Towne Centre. Mayor Meier stated that I-Hop has opted not to go into the development.
Recreation – Mr. David Meier II reported on the following:
1.) The Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for Saturday, March 19, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church from 11:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. There will be two groups of children ages 2-6 years of age and ages 7 years and up. There will be a limit of 10 eggs per child and pictures will be available with the Easter Bunny.
2.) Reds Games tickets have been purchased. Tickets go on sale at the City Building at 9:00 A.M. on March 18th. Due to the popularity of the events, each family or city business will be limited to six tickets per game unless special circumstances exist. The following games are available: Cleveland Indians – Sunday, May 22 @1:15 P.M. – Cost $35 per ticket; Baltimore Orioles – Saturday, June 11 @ 7:05 P.M. – Cost $30 per ticket; Colorado Rockies – Saturday, July 16 @ 7:05 P.M. – Cost $30 per ticket.
All games will be on the party deck.
3.) Clint Brown, owner of the Florence Freedom Baseball Park will be offering Community Night opportunities soon. The committee will pursue the possibility of an outing in future.
4.) Annual City Picnic & Golf Outing will be held at Summit Hills Country Club on Tuesday, August 9th. Included will be golf, swimming, card tournaments, an outdoor dinner buffet. Mr. Meier II will chair the golf-outing.
Communications – Residents can expect another newsletter in February.
Building – Mr. Groth reported that he wants to submit RFQ’s to request architectural interest in building the new City building, which will be due on March 8th.
Motion to Adjourn: Ralph Laird Second: Joe Maloney
Ayes carried.
____________________________ ______________________________
Mayor Paul W. Meier Acting Clerk, Judy R. Cox