CITY OF CRESTVIEW HILLS

MINUTES - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

OCTOBER 11, 2001

 

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 Terri Jameson, David Kramer, Joe Maloney, Ralph Laird, Harold Ries, & Frank Sommerkamp.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA  -    Approved as submitted.  Ayes carried.

Motion: Mr. Ries                                        Second: Mr. Kramer

APPROVAL OF MINUTES -  from the regular meeting of September 13, 2001.   

Motion made to accept as submitted.  Ayes carried.

Motion: Mr. Laird                          Second: Mrs. Jameson

CITIZENS AND GUESTS

Colonel Paul Herbst, Chief of Lakeside Park/Crestview Hills Police Authority, Mrs. Kathleen Corniel, Board Member, Lookout Farm Homeowners Association, and Sarah Kramer were in attendance.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Mr. Celarek reported on the following:

1.      On October 3, 2001, the Board of Adjustment denied a setback variance for a monument sign for Grandview Summit rental condominium complex.   The sign variance requested was 16’ from Rhine Valley Lane and 20’ from Horsebranch Rd.

2.      City administration will ask the Board of Adjustment to rescind the conditional use permits for the Waterford (Triad Senior Living) and Manor Care projects.

3.      Thomas More College will host homecoming activities the week of October 21.  There will be a bonfire the evening of the 26th, with homecoming on the 27th.

4.      City administration is taking extra precautions with mail handling.

5.      A text amendment was submitted to NKAPC today for the allowance of six foot high privacy fences in residential rear yards.  KCMPZC will hear the text amendment in November and that recommendation will come back to council for final approval or rejection.

6.      Gallenstein Corp. has submitted a design for temporary storm water drainage for the building located on Crestview Hills Mall Rd.   The second building of the project has been placed on hold and the need arose for auxiliary drainage.  Barry Burke from the NKAPC has reviewed the site and found the drainage plan to be adequate.  Mr. Berling assisted with the plans and believes it also to be adequate.

7.      The Ft. Mitchell Fire Dept. has collected over $20,000 for the Twin Towers Fund, started by the City of Ft. Mitchell, with collection points at the Ft. Mitchell, Lakeside Park, and Crestview Hills city buildings.  The Fire Dept. collected at area shopping malls and intersections over a three-week period.

8.      NKAPC quarterly meeting will be held October 29 at 6PM at Twin Oaks Golf Course.  Myron Orfield will speak on Cincinnati metropolitan patterns.

 

Mayor Meier informed council that the next Eggs and Issues, sponsored by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, would be held Tuesday, October 16 at 7:15AM.  Crestview Hills based Flottman Printing has been recognized as part of the 2001 emerging 30 as noted by the Cincinnati Business Courier.

 

Mr. Kramer desired revisitation of the minutes.   On page 2, second paragraph, second sentence under PUBLIC UTILITIES, it should read:  The effect of the denial should not be misconstrued as a finding on the merits of the decision makers since these motions to dismiss are rarely granted.  Mr. Kramer motioned approval of the minutes as amended, seconded by Mr. Maloney.  Ayes carried.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

A.     Public Utilities

Mr. Jeff Mando reported that depositions would be scheduled with the cabinet staff for the month of November.  We are responding and exchanging discovery requests as needed. 

 

B.         Finance – Ordinance 2001-9-1

Mr. Laird stated that the tax rate would remain the same upon approval of this ordinance.  The Finance Committee reviewed calculations and the audit report in the meeting of October 8 and voted unanimously to recommend approval of the ordinance as written. 

After reading the header of the ordinance, Mr. Laird made the motion to approve Ordinance 2001-9-1, seconded by Mr. Sommerkamp.  Ayes carried.

 

NEW BUSINESS

A.         Finance

Mayor Meier introduced Jim Sparrow from Rankin, Rankin and Company who gave the audit report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001.  This fiscal year ending marked a very important transformation for the City of Crestview Hills.   The audit report was made GASB34 compliant, which changed the financial reporting format to that more familiar to the private sector.  The audit report would be referred to as a CAFR or Comprehensive Financial Report.  The number of pages in the report went from seventeen pages to fifty-seven pages.  Mr. Sparrow noted that the audit opinion was unqualified, which is the most desirable of the four possible opinions and reviewed the revenues and expenditures for council.  The City of Crestview Hills is in excellent financial shape at this time. 

Mr. Laird noted that Crestview Hills is now the first city in the State of Kentucky to be GASB34 compliant and complimented Linda Chapman, auditor from Rankin, Rankin and Company, and C.R. Wirthlin for their efforts on this major project. 

Mr. Laird moved acceptance of the CAFR, seconded by Mr. Sommerkamp.  Ayes carried.

 

B.     Recreation – Resolution 2001-10-1

Mayor Meier reported that talks began approximately a year ago between the Mayor’s Group and the Judge Executive’s office on the possibility of a skateboard park in Kenton County.  At that time, the focus was on Pioneer Park in Edgewood and the set up for the facility would be movable and changeable.  Passing the resolution does not obligate the City for funding of any kind; it would simply provide support for the idea.  There was discussion on liability, supervision of the park, and maintenance of the park.  At this time those issues are not clearly defined, although those issues would need to be resolved and clearly defined before the park could open for participation.  Mr. Laird made the motion to accept Resolution 2001-10-1 as submitted, seconded by Mr. Ries.  Ayes carried.

 

C.         Recreation

Mayor Meier stated that trick-or-treating hours would run from 6PM to 8PM on October 31.  Motion to accept from Mr. Sommerkamp, seconded by Mrs. Jameson.  Ayes carried.

Mr. Celarek informed all that Halloween goodie bags were available at the City Building during normal business hours.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Public Works –  Mr. Sommerkamp reported on the following:

Ø      The traffic signals at the intersection of Thomas More Parkway, Fraternity Drive, and Turkeyfoot Rd. have been modified by the addition of turn arrows.

Ø      Calumet Court has been resurfaced with asphalt paving.  Construction is complete with the exception of some asphalt sealing along the edge.

Ø      Paul Michels and Sons will be sealing cracks and repairing joints on Thomas More Parkway within the next 60 days.  Most of this work will be done at night to avoid traffic congestion.

Ø      The installation of park-style benches along Thomas More Parkway appears to be well received as a number of people have been observed using them.

Ø      A letter was received from the Northern Kentucky Water District inquiring about street repairs or replacements especially concerning Campus Drive, Fraternity Court, or Druid Lane.  These streets are part of the water district’s replacement or rehabilitation schedule and they would like to coordinate any work done with repairs scheduled by the City.

Finance – Mayor Meier advised council that Thomas More College would make a presentation at November’s meeting asking the City to back 7.5 million in financing bonds to help with construction of the new dormitories.  Mr. Mando told the Mayor his firm would have a letter sent before next council meeting acknowledging there is no financial liability to the City in the backing of these bonds.

Police Authority – Mrs. Jameson noted the Authority meets on a regular basis and told about an Incident Command seminar attended by Chief Herbst, Mrs. Jameson, and Mayor Meier from Crestview Hills with Karen Gamble and Tom Jordan attending from Lakeside Park.  The seminar focused on anti-terrorism measures and featured speakers from Oklahoma City and the FBI.

Economic Development –Mr. Kramer reported that the Committee had met on October 9.  The following items were discussed:

Ø      TGI Fridays wishes to expand the restaurant with the addition of 50 seats.  Parking is the main concern with the expansion.  It is estimated that an additional 14 spaces will be needed and could be obtained by changing traffic flow and eliminating a traffic island.  The eating establishment shares parking with Sableaux Spa.  The matter will be discussed in more depth at next month’s meeting.

Ø      KCMPZC adopted a landscaping ordinance that will be discussed in further detail at a later date.

Ø      Update on the Gallenstein project.  Mr. Gallenstein will not be constructing the second building at this time, however, the storm water system is incomplete.  Mr. Celarek notified Mr. Gallenstein that this must be completed whether or not the second building will be constructed.  There was concern about the condition of the lot.  Currently existing on the unbuilt portion of the lot are construction materials and high weeds among other things.  Thirdly, landscaping on the first building has not yet been completed.  These items were noted to Mr. Gallenstein in a letter from the City on August 8, 2001, stating these items must be addressed by November 1, 2001.  Mr. Berling explained how the temporary berms would carry water from the paved areas to the creek below the facility.  NKAPC will inspect the property at any time at our request.

Ø      A request was made from area car dealers to hold a car show (sell-off) at the Crestview Hills mall. 

Ø      A proposed text amendment in the Crestview Hills Zoning code was submitted today to NKAPC for the allowance of six- foot privacy fences in rear yards only.  The matter would be discussed on Thursday November 1 at 6:15PM at 2332 Royal Drive in Ft. Mitchell. 

Ø      Discussion ensued on the matter of changing zoning codes for particular projects and rescinding the amendment if the project falls through.  For instance, Mr. Maloney recalled the Harris Corp. project from 1996.  The project would have included assembly but wording in the amendment stated manufacturing.   Mr. Maloney was concerned about opening the door in the research park for heavy manufacturers.

Recreation – Mrs. Jameson said that 23 residents would receive awards at the November 10th 50th anniversary dinner/dance.  The menu includes field and turf (steak and chicken) along with many door prizes to be distributed.

Mr. Celarek also noted the holiday tree lighting would be held at the City Building on November 30 from 4PM to 7PM.  Santa and Mrs. Klaus will make an appearance and there will be hors d’ouvres and light entertainment for those present.

Telecommunications – Mr. Meier reported that more information would be sent about the universal ordinance, which various cable companies are seeking.  As that information comes in Council will be notified but no information has been received as of yet.

 

After general discussion, motion to adjourn made by Mr. Laird, seconded by Mr. Maloney at 8:29PM.

 

 

 

 

____________________________                     ______________________________

Mayor Paul W. Meier                                     City Clerk C.R. Wirthlin