October 25, 2008

October 1: Regular Session

Legislation for Second Reading:

Resolution 08-13: Approving the purchase of Cascades Trailer Park and Stone Mill properties, to add the land to Cascades Park. Due to a request by the administration, this resolution was postponed to Oct. 15.

Appropriation Ordinance 08-05: To appropriate money from the Parks Land Acquisition Fund to purchase the Cascades Trailer Park and Stone Mill properties. Due to a request by the administration, this resolution was postponed to Oct. 15.

Ordinance 08-19: To amend Title 15 of the municipal code, “Vehicles and Traffic.” This ordinance would make various changes to traffic regulations, including:

• Increasing the prices of parking garage permits

• Increasing the fines for parking violations from $15 to $25

• Increasing the fees for neighborhood parking permits from $15 to $25

• Adding some 2-hours parking restrictions on certain downtown streets

• Changes the way abandoned vehicles are defined and what the city can do about it

 Due to a request by the administration, this ordinance was withdrawn.

October 8: No meeting, because we had no legislation to discuss.

October 15: Regular Session

Legislation for Second Reading

Resolution 08-13 and Approp. Ordinance 08-05 were adopted.

Legislation for First Reading

Appropriation Ordinance 08-06: To appropriate additional funds from the Risk Management Fund to cover unforeseen workers’ compensation claims

Ordinance 08-19: To amend Title 15 of the municipal code, “Vehicles and Traffic.” Minor changes were made since the ordinance was first introduced in September, clarifying a few definitions and stating that the new rates at all parking garages would be effective 1/1/09.

Amendment 1: I sponsored this amendment to institute a stop sign at the intersection of Henderson St. and Allen St., at the newly re-aligned entrance on the west side of Bryan Park. The stop sign is needed because there is no safe way for pedestrians and cyclists to cross Henderson St. to get into the park. Even with the newly installed crosswalk, speeds on Henderson are too high to cross safely.

Amendment 3: Council member Sturbaum sponsored this amendment to change the on-street parking regulations on the block of W. 4^th St. between Madison and Rogers to accommodate the businesses and residents on the north side of the street. (I don’t know why this is #3 and not #2.)

Ordinance 08-20: To amend the preliminary plan for the Clarizz Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow a 1350 square feet expansion of the Orthopedics of Southern Indiana building.

Ordinance 08-21: To vacate a public parcel, namely the short segment of the Fairview Street right-of-way running just east of the Cook Pharmica property off Patterson Drive.

October 22: No meeting, because we postponed the Committee of the Whole discussion to Oct. 29.

October 29: Committee of the Whole (upcoming)

We will discuss the 4 ordinances that received a First Reading on Oct. 15.

Ordinance 08-19 has the following additional amendments:

Amendment 4: Council member Volan is sponsoring this amendment, which has not been finalized yet. Basically, he would like to require a quarterly audit of downtown parking facilities (garages and on-street parking) to better understand how the available parking is being used.

Amendment 5: Council member Ruff is sponsoring this, which would set the fines for parking violations at $20, and $40 if they are not paid promptly. The ordinance currently sets the fines at $25 and $40 for late payment. The law right now has the fines at $15/$30.

Amendment 6: Sponsored by Mr. Volan, this amendment would increase the price for a 12 hours per day/ 5 days per week (12/5) non-reserved monthly pass from $38 to $46 so that it would match the former price for the 12/5 reserved monthly pass. $38 is the rate proposed in the ordinance, and the actual rate right now is $33.

And it’s possible we will have more amendments. The Traffic Ordinance is very large and complicated!