CITY OF WINDY HILLS

Minutes of Regular Council Meeting

March 12, 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 (Absent)	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 February 12, 2018 Council meeting; seconded by Councilman Phillips and approved unanimously.

FINANCIAL REPORTS, APPROVAL OF BILLS:

The financial reports for February, 2018 were moved for approval by Councilman Skelton, and seconded by Councilwoman Rademaker and approved unanimously.

Councilwoman  Spencer moved to approve the February bills, totaling $41,742.53 and was seconded by Councilman Skelton.  The motion passed unanimously.

GRAYMOOR/DEVONDALE POLICE CHIEF THRONEBERRY:  Chief Throneberry was not able to make the meeting.

RESIDENTS’ COMMENTS/CONCERNS:  Resident, Jean Wade addressed the Council with concerns about the City not offering recycling for the residents at no cost.

Resident and previous Tree Board member, Marcia Myers addressed the Council also with her concerns regarding recycling for the City.  She would like the City to support and promote recycling.  She also requested that the City share more recycling information with the residents.  She would like to set up a recycling information table at the Arbor Day Celebration.  She also requested that a survey be sent out to the residents to see how much interest the residents would have in recycling.

Resident, Jodie Mudd also addressed the Council with recycling concerns.  He had prepared and distributed a handout with information he had received from Waste Management.  He stated there is a discrepancy between what people are being charged for recycling when they sign up currently and what they were being charged previously.

The Council addressed their concerns and told them they will contact Waste Management to investigate the discrepancy in the amount being charged for recycling and will discuss the issue at the next caucus meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Finance/Ordinances:  In Councilwoman Davis’s absence, Mayor Ising read her report.  Her report stated that she and the Code Enforcement Officer, Steve Teaford, had met with Chief Grady Throneberry with Graymoor/Devondale Police to discuss the parking situation in the City.  She and Steve will prepare a parking information sheet that will be placed on the cars in violation .  They have asked Graymoor/Devondale Police to immediately issue parking tickets with a minimum fine of $25 and if not paid within 10 days the fine will be increased to $50.  They also are considering joining a multi-city appeals cooperative where the unpaid citations will be further handled.

Code Enforcement:  Steve Teaford stated he has received the final Rental Registry form, stating there are 49 rentals in the City.  He stated the property at Brownsboro and Indian Ridge is not a rental, but a blighted property, which the owners have ignored over $1,000 in Metro fines.  Attorney Hodge stated that the City can start the process with the County Attorney’s office and eventually it will be handed over to them to handle.

Community Caring/Health & Fitness/Welcome to Windy Hills:   Councilwoman Spencer reported that there are 2 new residents.  She had nothing else to report.

Community Events/Newsletter/Tree Board:   Councilwoman Greer reported that the latest newsletter is at the printer and should be delivered by the end of March.  She also stated that the Tree Board had met and they had received a new Tree City designation banner.  She reported that the Arbor Day celebration will include a game to indentify trees and plants and everyone will be receiving seeds.  She included in the newsletter that the City will host a Yard Sale if there are 25 households participating.

Public Works:  Councilman Phillips reported that Rudy the bear has been lighted and Landscape Lighting did a great job with lighting the bear in such a way as creating an image/shadow on the tree behind.

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 98.2 hours.  9.38 hours of radar time was spent on Ambridge, resulting in two citations and six warnings.  Rudy Lane received 3.42 hours of radar time, resulting in one citation and four warnings.  An additional citation was issued at Hubbards Lane and Coachgate.  Three parking citations were issued on Windhurst, one on Clerkenwell and one on Ambridge.  The following warnings were given:  Bonfire 2, Highfield 2, Indian Ridge 2, Windsong Way 1, Antrim 1, and Clerkenwell 1.  An illegally parked vehicle with license plates from a different vehicle was towed on Tottenham.  The owner of this vehicle was arrested on Bonfire due to outstanding warrants.  There were three burglaries in February; a garage on Highfield, a garden shed on Greenbriar and a garage on Windy Way.  Police were on the lookout for open garage doors and issued crime prevention notices on Deerfield, Windhurst, and Ambridge.  A suspicious person was reported on Falgate, a suspicious vehicle on Creighton Hill and suspicious activities on Deerfield.  Police also assisted a motorist with a flat tire at Westport Rd and Ambridge, and an accident on Rudy Ln.  Residences on Indian Ridge and Highfield were on house watch.

Windy Hills Green/City Beautification:  Councilman Skelton reported that fresh mulch had been put down.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Ordinance No. 3, Series 2017/2018 – Providing Compensation of Elected Officials for the City:  Councilman Phillips made a motion to read Ordinance No 3 into record and was seconded by Councilman Skelton.  The motion passed unanimously.  Attorney Hodge read the Ordinance into record, calling for an annual compensation of $12,000 per year for City Council members, which passed with a vote of 5 Ayes (one member was absent) as follows:

Helen Davis (Absent)	Kate Greer – Aye	Lou Phillips – Aye
Marianne Rademaker – Aye	Mike Skelton – Aye	Suzanne Spencer – Aye

 

Encroachment Resolution:  Attorney Hodge reported that he and the Code Enforcement Officer will be meeting with a Metro Engineer.  Councilman Phillips made a motion to Authorize the Mayor/City Clerk/Code Enforcement Office to sign the Encroachment Permits received.  Councilwoman Greer seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Telecommunications Franchise Issues (Charter, Google, AT&T):  Attorney Hodge reported that JCLC is watching Metro’s progress and will receive recommendation after Metro’s decision.

NEW BUSINESS:

Contribution Request from Volunteers of America:  Councilman Skelton made a motion to contribute $3,500 to Volunteers of America and was seconded by Councilwoman Greer.  the motion passed unanimously.

Brightside Sponsorship Westport Road and Watterson:  Councilwoman Rademaker made a motion to continue with the Brightside Sponsorship of the maintenance of our quadrant at Westport Road and Watterson.  The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Spencer and passed unanimously.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT:  Attorney Hodge reported that he is monitoring the Metro suit regarding the local control of waste disposal.  He stated it is in the State Court of Appeal.  He said the League of Cities is involved, but we are not.  Councilman Phillips inquired about the Ed Flint suit and he replied that it was being wrapped up since Mr. Flint has deceased.

MAYOR’S REPORT:  Mayor Ising stated that JCLC is considering Metro’s recycling program and the objective is to have 90 % participation.  He also stated that Brightside Cleanup will be on Saturday April 14 at 9:00 am at Stock Yards Bank parking lot.  He also reported that he will be on vacation from March 23 through April 1.  He shared that he had received a thank you from the Council for Jewish Women for the Family Court donation.

Comments/Questions to the Council as a Whole:  Laura Trachtenberg addressed the Council with a suggestion that possibly the City could offer recycling once a month and that week only have trash pickup once a week.

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

__­_____          __________________                                                ­­­­­_______________________

E. James Ising, Mayor

Sandy Moore, City Clerk