CITY OF WINDY HILLS

Minutes of Regular Council Meeting

August 13, 2018

The Council and Officers of the City of Windy Hills met at the Sojourn Community Church, 2501 Rudy Lane, at 7:00 P.M.  Mayor Ising called the meeting to order.

ROLL CALL:  The following were present:

MAYOR	COUNCIL MEMBERS	OTHER CITY OFFICIALS
E. James Ising	Helen Davis	Sandy Moore
	Kate Greer	Jim Hodge
	Lou Phillips	Steve Teaford
	Marianne Rademaker
	Mike Skelton
	Suzanne Spencer

 

MINUTES:

Councilwoman Greer moved to approve the minutes of the June 11, 2018 Council meeting; seconded by Councilman Skelton and approved unanimously.

FINANCIAL REPORTS, APPROVAL OF BILLS:

The financial reports for July, 2018 were moved for approval by Councilwoman Rademaker, and seconded by Councilwoman Davis and approved unanimously.

Councilman  Skelton moved to approve the July bills, totaling $39,694.82 and was seconded by Councilwoman Spencer.  The motion passed unanimously.

RESIDENTS’ COMMENTS/CONCERNS:  Resident, Terry Breland thanked the Council for implementing the recycle program.  Resident, Charlie Redmon also thanked the Council for starting a recycle program.  John Roberts, a resident, thanked the Council for the sidewalks that were added years ago.  He would like to suggest adding a few more benches, maybe along Hubbards Lane or on Rudy Lane, closer to Hubbards Lane.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Finance/Ordinances:  No report.

Code Enforcement:  Steve Teaford reported that there are 47 rentals in the City and he is working with our attorney, Jim Hodge on a revised rental ordinance to include short term rentals.

Community Caring/Health & Fitness/Welcome to Windy Hills:   Councilwoman Spencer reported that there are 10 new residents.  She stated that she and Suzanne Ronniger will have signup sheets and handing out information at the Ice Cream Social regarding to a Tai Chi program.

Community Events/Newsletter/Tree Board:   Councilwoman Greer stated the newsletter deadline will be August 17.  She also pointed out that there will be space for all the candidates to have a 75 word bio in the newsletter.  The Ice Cream Social will be on September 23 with multiple events taking place.  There will be Ice Cream, document shredding, the delayed Arbor Day celebration, and recycling information all on September 23.  She also reported that the Tree Board will be meeting later in August.

Public Works:  Councilman Phillips reported the paving will begin the week of August 20. He reported there is a sink hole on Brownsboro and he is reporting it to get it taken care of.  He also stated he is meeting with a Metro official to determine what can be done to improve the markings at the intersection of Rudy Lane and Ambridge Dr.

Police Liaison/Real Estate Signs:  Councilwoman Rademaker read the report she had previously distributed.  She stated that Graymoor/Devondale Police Department patrolled Windy Hills for 102.21 hours. 3.0 hours of radar time was spent on Ambridge, resulting in two citations and five warnings.  Rudy Lane received about 17.0 hours of radar time, resulting in one warning.  There was also a warning issued on Windy Way.  25 minutes of radar time at Brownsboro and Coach Gate, resulting in two citations.  A driver at Westport and Ambridge was warned about texting while driving and there was a traffic violation at Bentwood and Rudy.  House watches were in effect on Highfield, Kingslook, and Copperfield.  Parking citations were given on Clerkenwell and Tottenham/Windhurst and a warning on Highfield.  The department dealt with a malfunctioning burglar alarm on Indian Ridge, an accident at Brownsboro/Antrim, and did business checks at the Brownsboro Center.  A yard sale caused traffic problems on Rudy, and someone hit a tree on Ambridge.  There were numerous suspicious vehicles reported, none of which amounted to any real problems.   Councilwoman Rademaker would like to recommend to Graymoor/Devondale to have them run radar for 10 hours on Rudy Lane and 10 hour on Ambridge.

Windy Hills Green/City Beautification:  Councilman Skelton reported that the tree and bushes on Jonlyn Court have been removed and the stump has been ground up.  All of this has been replaced with gravel.  He also stated that he will have the City’s landscaper/maintenance keeper to remove the fencing and trim the bushes at Foeburn Lane and Westport Road.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Code Enforcement Board participation:  Attorney Hodge stated that a group from Windy Hills needs to attend the next meeting at Graymoor/Devondale and ask to be included in the Code Enforcement Board.  Mayor Ising will contact the Mayor of Graymoor/Devondale to discuss further.

Recycling Update:  Mayor Ising reported that he has received many comments from residents.  Councilman Skelton made a motion to award a Good Neighbor Award to the Recycling Team and was seconded by Councilwoman Davis.  The motion passed unanimously.  Mayor Ising read the Good Neighbor Award and stated they had presented it to the group because one person had to leave early.  It was brought to the Council’s attention that one name had been left off the list of participants and the Mayor stated that Charles Redman would be added to the award.  Discussion ensued regarding how to determine what residents want in relation to recycling…once a week pickup and once a week trash pickup; twice a week trash pickup and once a week recycling, etc.  It was suggested that the Council use “Survey Monkey” to have residents express their opinions.  The subject will be further discussed at the September caucus meeting.

Communications Service Franchise Ordinance, Ord #2, Series 2018-2019:  Attorney Hodge reported that he will have a summary of the Ordinance for 1st reading for the September meeting.  He will invite Attorney Linda Ain to the caucus meeting to further explain the Ordinance.

NEW BUSINESS: 

Donation to Healing Place:  Councilwoman Spencer made a motion to donate $1,250 to the Healing Place and was seconded by Councilwoman Rademaker.  Councilwoman Davis explained that while she likes the Healing Place and the work they do, she is not in favor of donating to them.  She stated that if the City decides to move forward with recycling, it will cost the City an additional $16,000 for weekly collection.  Councilwoman Spencer stated the money for the donations was already budgeted.  Councilman Skelton stated that the City has enough money to do both.  The motion passed with the following 4-2 votes:

Helen Davis – No	Kate Greer – Aye	Lou Phillips – No
Marianne Rademaker – Aye	Mike Skelton – Aye	Suzanne Spencer – Aye

ATTORNEY’S REPORT:  Attorney Hodge reported that he had to refer a rental property client to another attorney due to a conflict of interest.  He also reported that he left a message for the lowest paving bidder who had questioned why the bid was awarded to the middle bidder.

MAYOR’S REPORT:  Mayor Ising thanked Councilman Phillips setting up the storm cleanup.

Comments/Questions to the Council as a Whole:  Charles Redman addressed the Council and stated that if the City decided to do once a week trash pickup and once a week recycle, the City would save money.  He also stated that he disagreed with the City giving tax dollars to charity.  He believes that the resident should receive something in return…paying less for trash/recycle but should get more or like lower taxes, bigger tax discount, etc.  Councilwoman Spencer stated that there is a huge addiction problem and it does affect Windy Hills.  She further stated that the Healing Place needs the donations.  Councilman Skelton pointed out that Windy Hills has the lowest taxes of all Satellite Cities.

Kim Greenrose addressed the Council stating that the fence at Victoria Place had not been painted.  Councilman Phillips stated he will check into it.  She also asked what the process was for paving streets, as she thought Victoria Place needs to be re-paved.

Councilwoman Greer moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 P.M., seconded by Councilwoman Rademaker and the motion passed unanimously.

__­_____          __________________                          ­­­­­_______________________

E. James Ising, Mayor

Sandy Moore, City Clerk