[0:09] We are live.
[0:20] We're live.
[0:23] You were looking.
[0:35] We're going to
[0:36] » [laughter]
[0:37] » Going to go and get started. Um Mayor
[0:39] Allison was unable to uh make it tonight
[0:42] last minute. Um so I do need a motion
[0:44] from council to appoint a temporary
[0:48] very short-term
[0:51] person who does the mayor's duties
[0:53] tonight.
[0:56] » I'll make a motion.
[0:58] I'll allow the mayor for a short time
[1:00] this evening.
[1:01] » Do we have a second?
[1:01] » Second.
[1:02] » All in favor?
[1:04] Any opposed?
[1:06] Okay.
[1:08] » Very short, very short.
[1:12] » While uh
[1:13] » [clears throat]
[1:13] » While I'm getting situated here, I do
[1:15] want to make a
[1:18] acknowledgement of a change of agenda.
[1:21] We did add in a resolution.
[1:23] Um and that is to approve I sent it to
[1:26] council earlier. Um but that was part of
[1:29] our
[1:30] um grant for paving to approve
[1:34] Sadie and Dixie. Uh it's just a
[1:36] resolution to approve the mayor to sign.
[1:39] That was a grant that um I got few
[1:42] months ago for 512,000.
[1:44] Um so that's just an addition.
[1:46] And it's in it all council's packet
[1:48] there in front of you.
[1:51] » 521,000,
[1:52] correct?
[1:54] » What I said?
[1:54] » 512.
[1:56] » 21, yes.
[1:58] I don't maybe I said million or
[1:59] something.
[2:07] » All right, let's get situated here for a
[2:08] second. Melissa, I got to be honest I do
[2:10] not like this. This is the first time I
[2:11] have to see your name on my computer
[2:13] with my packet. Uh
[2:15] No, it says a little harder to find and
[2:17] it's I'm pretty comfortable with you and
[2:19] I will miss you, that's for sure.
[2:21] So,
[2:22] put this stuff down.
[2:29] So, the Pledge of Allegiance, sir?
[2:32] Yes.
[2:37] » I pledge allegiance to the flag
[2:40] of the United States of America
[2:42] and to the republic for which it stands,
[2:44] one nation under God, indivisible, with
[2:48] liberty and justice for all.
[2:56] » All right. Thank you everybody for
[2:57] coming to this council meeting in August
[2:59] of 2026. My name is Adam Blau and
[3:02] I have the fortune of stepping in for
[3:04] Mayor Andy Ellison today. He couldn't
[3:05] make it. He
[3:06] took his kid to college today as I think
[3:08] a lot of people did and it just got a
[3:09] little got a little bogged down for him
[3:11] there so he couldn't make it back in
[3:12] time, unfortunately, but I think Eric
[3:13] will say he took his two kids down
[3:14] today. My brother took his son down
[3:17] today so it's a big day for a lot of
[3:18] parents out there so we wish him all the
[3:20] whole luck in the world.
[3:22] So,
[3:23] uh what's first here?
[3:24] » I'll go ahead and do a roll call.
[3:26] » Okay.
[3:26] » Um
[3:27] Mr. Bezel? Mr. Blau?
[3:30] » Here.
[3:31] » Mr. Kendry?
[3:32] » Here.
[3:32] » Mr. Strange?
[3:33] » Here.
[3:33] » Ms. McIntosh?
[3:34] » Here.
[3:34] » Mr. Pennell?
[3:35] » Here.
[3:41] » We do not have minutes this month so
[3:42] they didn't get them done in time.
[3:44] So, they'll be uh double next month.
[3:54] » Plus I bring too much.
[3:58] So, minutes,
[4:00] visitors now and
[4:01] recognition for
[4:03] loving Melissa. Is that next on the
[4:04] list?
[4:06] Um so, Andy had sent me something and um
[4:09] I just printed out so this is Andy's
[4:11] words, but I can promise you um it is
[4:14] from all of us.
[4:16] So, I've been working with you for like
[4:17] 8 years now and a couple years on
[4:19] finance before you.
[4:20] You're a very welcome member here and I
[4:23] will miss you so only you guys really
[4:24] would.
[4:25] Andy has said here um
[4:27] everybody can hear me.
[4:29] Tonight, we have the privilege of
[4:31] recognizing Melissa Beckett who has
[4:33] given 26 years of dedicated service to
[4:35] our city as our city clerk.
[4:38] 26 represents thousands of hours of
[4:40] work, countless meetings, and more city
[4:42] business than most people will ever see.
[4:45] Through all of it, Melissa has been a
[4:47] steady, dependable, and trusted part of
[4:49] our city government.
[4:51] For 26 years, she has served not only
[4:53] just the office, but the people of the
[4:55] city.
[4:57] She has helped the mayors, council
[4:58] members, employees, residents, and
[5:00] countless others along the way.
[5:02] Her knowledge, professionalism,
[5:03] patience, and dedication have made a
[5:06] lasting difference.
[5:08] On behalf of the city,
[5:10] uh the city council, our employees, and
[5:11] especially the residents, I want to say
[5:13] thank you.
[5:14] Thank you for your loyalty.
[5:15] I know that thank you. You are You
[5:17] definitely are Fort Thomas through and
[5:18] through. Thank you for your hard work.
[5:21] Uh thank you for the many hours that
[5:24] probably went unnoticed, but were so
[5:26] important. And thank you for being
[5:29] someone we can count on year after year.
[5:32] Uh remar- rem- retirement marks the end
[5:34] of one chapter, but it also begins a
[5:37] wonderful new one.
[5:38] After 26 years of serving everyone else,
[5:41] you have certainly earned the
[5:42] opportunity to spend some time doing
[5:43] exactly what you want to do. Uh I'd like
[5:47] everybody to please join me in thanking
[5:48] and congratulating Melissa on 26
[5:50] remarkable years of service and wishing
[5:52] her a very happy and well-deserved
[5:54] retirement.
[5:56] » [applause]
[6:05] [applause]
[6:10] [applause]
[6:16] » I don't If anybody does understand the
[6:18] title separate not her but everybody
[6:19] does here. It's unbelievable.
[6:23] Yeah, everybody
[6:24] Hey, come on in.
[6:26] We're getting you in there. Don't worry
[6:27] about my internet.
[6:30] You see him?
[6:36] No, he's not in there.
[6:37] Can you let him in?
[6:39] Get in there. Yeah.
[6:40] You want to get in there.
[6:42] All right.
[6:55] All right.
[6:58] Thanks.
[7:24] I think next we're going to um
[7:27] highlight the uh parade award winners
[7:29] here.
[7:31] Fantastic slide. Parade is always one of
[7:33] the Wow.
[7:35] I mean every year you outdo yourself. I
[7:36] don't think
[7:37] Melissa puts in a lot of hours yearly
[7:39] man. Linda puts in so many hours to do
[7:41] these parades. We complimented her a
[7:42] couple months ago after it was done. I
[7:44] can't
[7:45] imagine what you have to deal with in
[7:46] order to put this all together in one
[7:47] day just a few hours. You know, I just
[7:49] pray for no rain. It was It was nice day
[7:52] this year, too. It worked out really
[7:54] well. Things seemed to go smoothly, so
[7:56] um so
[8:11] » [clears throat]
[8:12] » Um so we had three categories this
[8:15] month, or I'm sorry, this year, uh for
[8:18] most patriotic, most entertaining, and
[8:20] most represents the theme. So we will
[8:22] start with most patriotic, and that was
[8:24] the VFW 3205 of Alexandria, Kentucky.
[8:28] Terry, come up.
[8:30] » [applause]
[8:58] [laughter]
[9:04] » Thank you.
[9:12] » Our second place is Sharon McKnight.
[9:18] » [applause]
[9:23] [applause]
[9:36] » Oh, thank you.
[9:37] » Thank you. Thank you.
[9:39] » Oh, thank you.
[9:40] » Great. Now you're really getting into
[9:41] it.
[9:42] » [laughter]
[9:43] » This was a joke.
[9:46] This was staged.
[10:05] And the promise here for third place is
[10:07] uh
[10:08] Christ the King Church. [applause]
[10:13] » [applause]
[10:19] » Congratulations. Take a picture.
[10:23] » First year. There you are.
[10:28] » Oh, I get it.
[10:29] » You what?
[10:29] » I don't know. I'll take it.
[10:32] » [laughter]
[10:35] » Thank you very much.
[10:37] » He said
[10:41] » So, the next category is most
[10:43] entertaining.
[10:45] Um and first place is not you.
[10:48] Uh first place is Highlands High School
[10:51] Marching Band.
[10:52] » Is you.
[10:53] » Which is going to be uh
[10:55] » [laughter]
[10:55] » It'll be delivered by Nancy.
[11:00] Okay, nothing to do with it.
[11:02] » Congratulations.
[11:03] » Nothing to do with it.
[11:04] I just Brian told her to say thank you.
[11:06] That's all.
[11:08] » [laughter]
[11:08] » That's the reason. I worked hard.
[11:13] » Uh second place is Bella Dance. Julie
[11:15] here?
[11:19] I will deliver that.
[11:21] And then third place is Groove Center of
[11:24] Greater Cincinnati. Michelle?
[11:26] » No, she's not.
[11:27] » [applause]
[11:28] » And you're
[11:29] » Still.
[11:32] » [applause]
[11:47] » And the last category is most represents
[11:49] the theme.
[11:50] Uh our first place is Sea Urchin Party.
[11:55] » [applause]
[12:00] [applause]
[12:04] [laughter]
[12:23] » Second place is John R. Little VFW 3186
[12:27] Southgate Secondary.
[12:29] » [applause]
[12:33] [applause]
[12:43] [clears throat]
[12:54] » And third place is USS Cincinnati LCS
[12:57] 200 Foundation. Is Noah here?
[13:00] » No.
[13:02] » [applause]
[13:26] » Thank you guys a lot for appreciating
[13:27] it.
[13:34] Thank everyone who attended and everyone
[13:36] who participated. How many folks do we
[13:38] have this year?
[13:39] » 103.
[13:40] » Wow.
[13:41] » Is that around I was I was wondering. I
[13:42] thought it was. Wow, 103 folks.
[13:45] Every year it's just never amazing. It's
[13:47] one of those things to get I get started
[13:50] and it's one of the things that I get
[13:52] more energy as as I walk the further I
[13:54] go. The people on the sides are amazing.
[13:56] So, thank you for bringing that energy
[13:57] to town. It's all it's so moving. So,
[14:00] thank you so much for everything that
[14:01] you do.
[14:15] » [laughter]
[15:06] » Hello Mary Town, council members and
[15:08] staff. I'm Tom Lampe, 37 Clover Place in
[15:11] Fort Thomas. I sat on your side of the
[15:13] table for many years and now I'm your
[15:15] county commissioner. But, I'm here
[15:17] tonight to recognize 26 years of
[15:19] exemplary service and to wish Melissa
[15:22] Kelly Beckett, and Melissa and Kelly
[15:24] Melissa Kelly a fantastic and healthy
[15:26] long retirement.
[15:28] Um she was here before I got here. She
[15:30] stayed here long after I left. She
[15:32] worked with the finest of
[15:34] administrators, Jeff Earlywine,
[15:37] uh
[15:37] Don Martin, Ron Dill,
[15:40] Matt Kramer.
[15:41] I know you learned a lot from them, and
[15:43] I know you did a good job of training
[15:44] them as well.
[15:46] I just want to thank you for your
[15:47] service. You served us well.
[15:50] You were my friend, my confidant. My
[15:52] biggest problem is I don't know who I'm
[15:53] going to call now when I want to know
[15:54] the inside scoop of what's going on at
[15:56] City Hall. So, I do have a little token
[15:59] of my appreciation, a card for you. So,
[16:01] I just want to congratulate you for your
[16:03] years of service and thank you, and wish
[16:05] you well in your retirement.
[16:06] » [applause]
[16:20] [laughter]
[16:20] » You want to hoard me? I I I can't
[16:30] All right, next we'd like to hear from
[16:32] Christine from the Fort Thomas Business
[16:35] Council.
[16:41] Well, congrats to all those great vote
[16:44] winners. It's one of my most favorite uh
[16:47] days of the year, 4th of July in Fort
[16:48] Thomas.
[16:49] Um for some business owners, I told you
[16:51] all last month it is the biggest sales
[16:53] day of the year for us, and so I did
[16:55] send out a survey for better data
[16:58] tracking on you know, things you did
[17:00] different this year, how they worked,
[17:02] how many transactions you processed, and
[17:03] things like that. So,
[17:05] um we are beginning our efforts for
[17:07] better data tracking for wiser business
[17:09] decisions uh collectively moving
[17:11] forward. So, I'll let you know what
[17:14] happens there. Um I did want to let you
[17:16] know cuz Chris was here, he got invited
[17:18] to the WBN fireworks the 50th
[17:20] anniversary this year for Labor Day and
[17:23] he is doing a very special carving for
[17:25] that event. So that's so exciting.
[17:27] Our local Chris Rust at CR Carvings will
[17:29] be doing a great carving then. The
[17:31] former Grassroots and Vine is getting a
[17:33] remodel and a menu redesign to become
[17:36] Travelers Table. They'll be opening at
[17:39] the end of August to offer European
[17:41] tapas and a global wine list. No formal
[17:44] reopening date has been given yet, but
[17:46] they said by the end of August for sure.
[17:49] So watch social media for details. Also,
[17:52] wanted to let you all know that
[17:53] Protected Pets, our local business, won
[17:55] the 2026 Best of Kentucky Regional Pet
[17:59] Sitter. Pet Sitter. They're
[18:02] Protected Pets is a white glove pet
[18:04] service here in town.
[18:06] Inner Vision Pilates is moving and
[18:08] having their grand opening to the public
[18:10] on Saturday, September 12th with classes
[18:12] beginning at 8:00 a.m. at their new 1
[18:14] Highland location and lasting all day
[18:17] long.
[18:18] Um
[18:19] Stop by and see their beautiful new
[18:21] space on that day. Uh
[18:24] The power outage wrap-up. Thank you to
[18:26] our community that helped our businesses
[18:29] during the power outage last week.
[18:31] Neighbors helped restaurants bring up
[18:32] coolers and load their cars. Some of us
[18:34] lost food and one or two day days of
[18:37] business. But we definitely felt the
[18:39] love with people checking in on us in
[18:41] the center of town.
[18:42] It is pretty stressful for restaurants
[18:45] when power goes out. We get 4 hours
[18:47] before we need to start transferring
[18:49] food and then once food goes in the
[18:51] danger zone, you have 2 hours to get it
[18:52] down to temp. Um so you got your plan A,
[18:55] your plan B, your plan C, your plan D,
[18:57] E, and F and on and on
[18:59] for taking care of your refrigerators,
[19:01] your freezers, your deliveries, your new
[19:04] orders that need to go out, your event
[19:05] rentals, your team, your plan if for
[19:07] service depending on when the power
[19:10] comes back on. So that was a busy day
[19:12] for those folks in the center of town
[19:14] that had uh food spoilage on their
[19:16] minds.
[19:17] But, it was just really sweet how the
[19:19] community jumped in and helped everybody
[19:21] out. And so, we appreciate that. Our
[19:23] hearts go out to those residents in town
[19:25] who lost power for two days, three days,
[19:28] into four days.
[19:30] Almost four days. We were grateful that
[19:33] our businesses were charging stations in
[19:35] town. I know my family
[19:37] had lunch at Midway and charged a couple
[19:39] of phones. We had our hair done and
[19:41] charged power blocks
[19:43] because we also did not have power at
[19:45] our house. So, so grateful for that and
[19:47] glad that we could finally be that hub
[19:49] for people as well
[19:51] by Thursday. So, super grateful for the
[19:53] whole team that works on that. I could
[19:56] not believe you may talk about that a
[19:58] little bit, but how much work you all
[20:00] had to do and Duke had to do and the
[20:02] street services. Thank you. You guys are
[20:05] just awesome.
[20:06] Play music on the porch day. It's the
[20:08] last Saturday in August. Some of you all
[20:10] know about this day. It's a worldwide
[20:12] day. And Fort Thomas Coffee is on the
[20:15] map as a participant. Basically, bring
[20:17] an instrument, show up at the coffee
[20:19] shop between noon and 3:00 on the last
[20:21] Saturday in August, and our porch is
[20:23] your stage.
[20:24] It is a day to just bring people
[20:26] together with music and it is all across
[20:28] all around the world. You can go on the
[20:29] website and see who's playing in what
[20:31] countries and who's playing around here.
[20:33] So, if you if you're musical, come on
[20:35] up. You just sign your name on the list
[20:37] and get in line and we play music. So,
[20:39] the last Saturday in August, that's
[20:40] August 29th.
[20:42] And on that music note, business owners
[20:43] are getting together on Wednesday this
[20:45] week to coordinate how we're all showing
[20:46] up in our districts for the Merchants
[20:48] and Music Festival. It's going to be
[20:50] super exciting. The current music lineup
[20:52] is on the Merchants and Music website
[20:54] right now, so you can see who's playing,
[20:56] where they're playing, and what time all
[20:58] throughout town beginning at 10:00.
[21:00] Shoot, is it 10:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.
[21:01] all the way up through the evening to
[21:04] our big headliner, Toad the Wet
[21:05] Sprocket.
[21:06] We're getting together just to plan
[21:08] consistency and energy. I know the
[21:10] Inverness area, they are closing the
[21:12] streets in that area and they're setting
[21:14] up a big stage. I think they've got fun
[21:15] giveaways. I think Midway is doing a
[21:18] special barrel pick, at least they were
[21:20] hoping to for that event. So we'll firm
[21:22] up all those details on Wednesday and
[21:24] you can see what each district is doing.
[21:26] We'll probably advertise that through
[21:27] social pages and such. So stay tuned,
[21:30] but I will see you all before the event.
[21:32] So go out to what is going to be one of
[21:35] the most fun days ever in town. Music
[21:37] all throughout town all day long with
[21:40] one of the biggest acts coming to town.
[21:42] Merchants and Music September 19th is
[21:45] going to be fun. All right, that's all I
[21:46] got.
[21:49] » [applause]
[21:55] » I stepped back there a second ago and
[21:57] grabbed the uh
[21:58] uh the sign sign up sheet. Is there
[22:00] anyone who didn't sign up that would
[22:01] like to speak?
[22:02] Just make sure before I start reading
[22:03] names.
[22:05] All right.
[22:06] Uh first on the list is Jim McCourt.
[22:12] » Uh Jim McCourt, 121 Brentwood in as you
[22:15] guys all know, you know, a bunch of us
[22:16] came up last month.
[22:18] And all I can say is wow, you know.
[22:21] We uh we talked about it. We thought
[22:22] some a lot of us, including me, thought
[22:24] well, we'll come up and we'll complain
[22:25] about it, but probably nothing's going
[22:27] to happen. But damn if I think every
[22:29] single one of you were pretty tight knit
[22:31] uh
[22:32] street and I think one one of us saw
[22:35] each one of you drive down that street
[22:37] at least once living in that house.
[22:39] And the action you're taking this quick
[22:41] is just phenomenal. I mean, that's the
[22:42] way a city council's supposed to work.
[22:44] So we're really impressed. And we
[22:46] noticed there's eight envelopes on that
[22:48] door right now. Are we allowed to ask
[22:50] are those fines or are those just
[22:52] notices?
[22:53] Fines. Can we ask what the fine is or is
[22:55] that too much?
[22:57] » For each one?
[22:58] » Yeah, it's $500.
[23:00] » Wow. And and that bill's 500, 500, 500.
[23:04] Fantastic.
[23:05] Anyway, thanks so much for taking up the
[23:07] meeting and watching. Yeah, no, really,
[23:09] it's great. And not only that, but
[23:10] somebody mentioned, I don't remember who
[23:12] it was, but
[23:13] now you have a plan for if it happens
[23:15] again,
[23:16] you know, in the city.
[23:17] And the only other thing I'll say and
[23:18] then I'll sit down is, man, it is so
[23:20] much safer. I drive 27 every day from,
[23:24] you know, Red Bank on down to 471. And
[23:27] having to go from four lanes down to one
[23:29] lane is unbelievable how much safer that
[23:31] is. I'm going to say with Red Bank
[23:33] and I think that might have been a
[23:34] mistake decision, I don't know.
[23:36] But God has done a phenomenal,
[23:38] phenomenal thing there.
[23:39] And uh the wide sidewalks are great, so
[23:41] as far as I'm concerned, you guys are
[23:43] doing phenomenal.
[23:44] » Thank you.
[23:45] » I yield.
[23:48] » Now, I you know, I'll tell you all these
[23:50] people don't understand that we don't we
[23:52] can't physically fix anything if we
[23:53] don't know about it. You know, we all
[23:55] live in our circle of friends and
[23:57] knowledge. Um you know, we all have
[23:59] different areas of expertise that we
[24:01] bring to the table. Uh but please uh
[24:03] tell your friends anything going on,
[24:04] they can reach out to us, come to a
[24:05] council meeting. Uh unless you we're
[24:07] told directly, sometimes we just don't
[24:09] see it. So, if thank you for bringing
[24:11] that to our attention, so not only does
[24:12] it help you guys out, but it helps us
[24:13] address anything else we can do in the
[24:15] future. Very important for us. We need
[24:17] your eyes. So, thank you for doing that.
[24:21] » All right, next up is uh
[24:23] Shannon Burket.
[24:30] » Good evening. Uh Shannon Burket, I live
[24:33] at 142 Red Bank Place.
[24:35] I will just
[24:36] touch on what Jim said, that the
[24:38] neighbors are very thankful for the
[24:39] action that we've seen at the house in
[24:42] question, so thank you very much for
[24:43] that.
[24:44] But my main purpose for coming here
[24:45] tonight was to just
[24:47] provide some feedback on the proposed
[24:49] bike ordinance.
[24:51] Um I did take an opportunity to read
[24:53] what was posted in the calendar for
[24:56] tonight's meeting.
[24:57] I just want to start by saying I do
[24:59] support the goal behind it. Um and it's
[25:01] definitely a topic that I don't take
[25:03] lightly.
[25:04] But I would also like to ask the council
[25:05] to widen the lens and focus on the
[25:07] safety of both the rider and the
[25:09] pedestrian on the sidewalk.
[25:11] This isn't an abstract discussion for
[25:13] me. I personally know two people who've
[25:15] been hit by cars here in Fort Thomas.
[25:18] And my own family has been directly
[25:19] affected as my son was hit by a car car
[25:22] while riding his bike on the sidewalk in
[25:24] Fort Thomas this summer.
[25:26] And every single day leaving my own
[25:28] street, I'm nearly hit by cars who treat
[25:31] stop signs as optional.
[25:33] And this isn't a rare event. This is a
[25:35] daily occurrence. Happened to me twice
[25:37] today on the way to this meeting and
[25:39] earlier today when I went out to run
[25:40] errands.
[25:42] So, I'm asking the council to consider
[25:43] the physical reality of our streets
[25:45] before
[25:47] restricting where bikes can go.
[25:49] Pushing bikes into narrow,
[25:51] low-visibility streets without
[25:53] addressing the underlying conditions
[25:55] doesn't make anyone safer.
[25:58] If we're serious about the safety of
[26:00] both the rider and the pedestrian, I ask
[26:02] the council to consider things like
[26:04] driver accountability and traffic
[26:05] calming measures at stop sign and
[26:07] four-way intersection.
[26:10] I also would encourage the council to
[26:12] include updating the proposed ordinance
[26:14] to once again include bike helmet
[26:16] requirements for anyone under the age of
[26:18] 18.
[26:20] I would also like the council to
[26:21] consider maybe extending the road diet
[26:24] along the avenue between Grand and
[26:25] Memorial Parkway, using that reclaimed
[26:28] space for a true dedicated bike lane, or
[26:30] to allow us to expand the sidewalks to
[26:33] be a European-style shared sidewalk
[26:35] where there's space for both the
[26:36] pedestrian and and the rider.
[26:39] I know this proposal will raise a lot of
[26:42] concerns about traffic congestion during
[26:43] school drop-off and pick-up, but I like
[26:46] to ask the council to talk to the
[26:47] schools to see if we can address that by
[26:49] adjusting the school start and end
[26:51] times, as other communities have, to
[26:54] address transportation challenges in
[26:55] their community.
[26:57] Again, I support revising the current
[26:59] bike ordinance to address the current
[27:01] challenges that we face, but I also ask
[27:04] the council to consider the safety
[27:05] concerns that will ultimately rise from
[27:08] the ordinance as it is currently
[27:09] written.
[27:10] Thank you.
[27:18] » All right. Next is Sharon McKnight.
[27:36] » Good evening. Sharon McKnight, 62 Miller
[27:38] Lane.
[27:39] Um first I want to thank Linda Sloan and
[27:41] all the volunteers who helped with the
[27:43] 4th of July parade. This is the first
[27:46] year my family participated and everyone
[27:48] did a great job. We had a great time. It
[27:50] was extremely fun and I want to thank
[27:53] everyone who helped and supported our
[27:55] float this year. So, thank you very
[27:56] much.
[27:58] I also want to thank Melissa Beckett,
[28:00] who's already left, for her 26 years of
[28:03] dedicated service as our city clerk. She
[28:06] has helped me tremendously over the
[28:07] years with questions, open records
[28:09] requests, and she is already missed
[28:12] deeply. I also appreciate seeing several
[28:15] important issues listed under old
[28:17] business tonight, including the grow
[28:18] grant discussion and setting the public
[28:21] hearing dates for a flock cameras and a
[28:23] forensic audit.
[28:25] Keeping these matters on the agenda lets
[28:27] the community know that there will be
[28:29] follow-ups, so thank you so much for
[28:31] that. I really appreciate that. Um I do
[28:33] have a few questions though about other
[28:35] important ongoing issues that are not
[28:37] listed under old business, and I hope
[28:40] those matters will also continue to be
[28:42] carried over until they are fully
[28:43] resolved. [clears throat]
[28:45] Um the first one is the HR review. Um,
[28:48] first, what is the status of the one
[28:50] digital HR review that council approved
[28:53] in February?
[28:55] Do you have the status on that?
[28:57] » Uh, the mayor met with the HR people
[29:01] the week I left or the week I was on
[29:03] vacation, so a couple weeks ago. Uh, he
[29:05] was supposed to speak about it tonight
[29:07] and he isn't here, so.
[29:08] » Oh, okay. So, that's going to be carried
[29:10] over to the next Okay, so, all my other
[29:14] like
[29:16] I mean, do you have any information on
[29:18] it? Like, have have the employee surveys
[29:20] and interviews all been completed?
[29:21] » They've been They've been completed.
[29:23] They've um met with the mayor to discuss
[29:25] them.
[29:26] » Okay.
[29:26] » And that's that's where we're at right
[29:28] now.
[29:28] » Okay. And um
[29:30] so, that's where you are. And when the
[29:33] Okay, so, you're next month you're
[29:34] looking at?
[29:36] Okay, thank you. That one was easy.
[29:37] Okay, you're good. Next one, W-2 pension
[29:41] issue. Okay, I'd also like an update on
[29:43] the W-2 and pension issue involving
[29:46] current and former city employees that
[29:48] was discussed last month.
[29:50] Um, from what we heard, um, this is not
[29:53] a small issue or small amount of money
[29:55] and these employees have been dealing
[29:56] with the effects of this for years.
[29:58] Um, the city said last month that it was
[30:00] working on this, so, where does it stand
[30:03] today? Do you have an update on that?
[30:06] » Um, you want this or me?
[30:07] » Well, I'll just talk about the
[30:10] Do you want me to go about the uh
[30:13] » No, I don't want to talk about it.
[30:15] » Uh, so,
[30:16] the main
[30:21] Uh, the main person that was doing the
[30:23] analysis for us uh passed away this
[30:25] month.
[30:25] » Oh my
[30:26] gosh, really? Just
[30:27] » They Yeah, they I've sent two follow-up
[30:30] emails and I haven't gotten any back.
[30:32] Um, so,
[30:33] I'm trying to figure out who the point
[30:35] of contact is to to finish that up. I
[30:37] know they were very close.
[30:38] » And and I think they contacted they it's
[30:41] it's assigned and I think we'll have it
[30:43] probably within the next 30 days.
[30:45] » So, it's not a firm. It's just one
[30:47] individual.
[30:47] » It's a firm.
[30:48] » Oh, so it's not going
[30:49] » So, they had multiple people cuz
[30:51] » That can just pick up where they left
[30:53] off.
[30:53] » They They purposely had multiple people
[30:55] because of this. Um and then I'm just
[30:58] waiting to see who the point of contact
[30:59] is to be able to to be able with them.
[31:02] » Well, I'm just so sorry to hear that,
[31:03] but thank you for the update. Um
[31:06] Does the city know how many current and
[31:07] former employees are affected? Do you
[31:09] have a number?
[31:10] » That's why we had them doing that.
[31:12] » Oh, really? Okay. Um has the city
[31:14] determined the total potential
[31:16] liability? Are we talking hundreds of
[31:18] thousands of dollars, possibly a million
[31:20] dollars? How much
[31:21] » That's what That's what we need to
[31:23] analysis on.
[31:24] » Oh, really?
[31:25] Okay. Um
[31:27] So, you don't have a timeline for
[31:28] resolving this. I mean, that's kind of
[31:30] seems like the most important timeline.
[31:32] It seems like this should have been
[31:33] addressed
[31:33] » For me, the most important timeline is
[31:35] to get the analysis back so we have some
[31:37] actual numbers to discuss with council
[31:40] before we figure out how to pay for it.
[31:41] » So, you're thinking maybe a month?
[31:44] » I'm hoping
[31:45] » I mean, I'm just hoping for the
[31:46] employees' sake that it's sooner rather
[31:47] than
[31:48] » I mean, every Everybody up here is wants
[31:50] the answers. I mean, it's not like we
[31:52] It's a It's a very complicated
[31:54] situation, which is why we hired the
[31:55] group to go ahead and look into it.
[31:57] » And that's And that's why I'm asking if
[31:58] you could just carry that over under old
[32:01] business. That way we know it's going to
[32:03] be followed up. So, thank you. Um and
[32:05] since the growth plan is also being
[32:07] discussed tonight, I have one
[32:09] suggestion. Um my understanding that
[32:14] is available this year because last
[32:16] year's funding was carried over. If
[32:19] those funds can legally be used for
[32:21] another purpose, would it make sense to
[32:22] put that money towards taking care of
[32:24] our own business first like supporting
[32:27] our um so we could put that money that's
[32:29] owed to the employees.
[32:32] Is that Or do you have any thoughts?
[32:34] » Council can do whatever they want with
[32:36] that money. I mean, they they can make
[32:38] the change if they need to. But again,
[32:39] » Okay. Okay. they don't have I mean,
[32:41] council can't even guess um right now
[32:44] anything
[32:44] » Liability's going to be?
[32:46] » And and we have guessed, don't get me
[32:47] wrong. But until we know real numbers,
[32:50] it doesn't, you know, it's just a
[32:51] guessing game.
[32:52] » Okay, well, I mean, cuz it just seems
[32:55] like it would be, you know, if you could
[32:56] pause on that whenever you're until, you
[32:58] know, this all gets resolved and start
[33:00] it once our financial obligations to
[33:02] these employees were taken care of. Uh
[33:05] just a suggestion. Okay, I also have
[33:08] » Karen, just so you know, when the
[33:10] forensic analysis is done and everything
[33:11] is done, we will have the money.
[33:13] Put it on a pause on the funds or
[33:15] » Oh, you do you guys have that budgeted?
[33:17] » We don't have We don't need to budget
[33:19] it, but we have funds available for when
[33:21] that number comes.
[33:22] » Okay.
[33:22] » You do have extra money that you have
[33:24] reserves, you have I mean, there's no
[33:26] There would be no no shortage or no way
[33:28] we would not let that money
[33:30] happen when when we need it. So, just so
[33:33] you know, like
[33:33] » Oh, okay.
[33:34] » I think having a liability having a
[33:35] liability here won't prevent us from
[33:37] » Yeah, I mean, I don't I don't know how
[33:38] much I mean, you got a lot of employees
[33:40] that's expecting, so that's why I
[33:42] brought this up. Okay. Um thank you. I
[33:44] appreciate that. Um also,
[33:47] I have some questions about the finance
[33:49] department. Um how often does the
[33:52] part-time CPA from Matt Banning, Hough,
[33:54] and Lang actually come into the city
[33:55] hall and work directly with the on-site
[33:57] finance staff?
[33:59] Do they come in a couple times a month
[34:01] or
[34:02] » A couple times a week.
[34:03] » A couple times a week? Do you have any
[34:05] hours or
[34:07] » It It It varies depending on what part
[34:09] of the month. At the end of the month,
[34:10] it's a very beginning of the month, it's
[34:12] a little bit more just cuz it's they're
[34:13] balancing,
[34:15] you know, last year's or last month's
[34:17] accounts, so it it just varies.
[34:19] » Um is Lonnie Chapman still serving as
[34:21] the interim finance director?
[34:23] » No.
[34:23] » Okay, so she's not coming in at all?
[34:25] » She is.
[34:26] » How many hours does she come in?
[34:28] » Again, it I mean, this is it all varies
[34:30] on what what's needed.
[34:33] » Okay, so you don't have a set amount?
[34:36] Once you come in with Okay.
[34:38] Um
[34:39] Okay, I I also like clarification on
[34:41] something. Um and I I I just heard this
[34:43] and I just wanted to make sure that if
[34:44] it's true.
[34:46] Um
[34:47] Um
[34:48] is it true that a significant number of
[34:50] city checks did not clear?
[34:52] Because it's some kind of
[34:53] miscommunication.
[34:53] » Yes, ma'am. Yeah, there was a there was
[34:55] an account change
[34:57] um
[34:58] that
[34:59] the new CPA part of the
[35:01] just taking a look at all the accounts,
[35:03] the new CPA was consolidating accounts
[35:06] and and making a change on what account
[35:10] the checks go out um and there was an
[35:11] error released from the bank. The bank
[35:13] still had a do not cash on that account,
[35:16] so.
[35:17] » Um did we get any um overdraft fees on
[35:19] this?
[35:20] » We have one that I know of at the
[35:21] moment.
[35:22] » Do you know how much that was?
[35:23] » It was like $90.
[35:24] » Oh, that's How many checks? I'm sorry.
[35:26] » We had 83.
[35:27] » 83 checks?
[35:28] » I don't know how many
[35:30] I mean, I'm not saying they're all
[35:31] bounced, but that was the batch. So.
[35:36] » The dating game? Well, you know
[35:38] » [laughter]
[35:39] » I'm trying to get answers here, Adam.
[35:42] Okay, so all right.
[35:44] I I mean, it to me that just reinforces
[35:46] I in my opinion that the city needs like
[35:48] a full-time in-house finance director to
[35:51] help with that. Catch that stuff early.
[35:54] Um
[35:55] now I'm to the bike ordinance.
[35:58] Okay, finally under new business,
[36:00] tonight is the first reading of the
[36:02] updated bike ordinance.
[36:05] My biggest concern is the timing. The
[36:07] revised ordinance was not uploaded until
[36:10] around 9:30 p.m. the night before this
[36:12] meeting. That gives residents less than
[36:14] 24 hours to read it. I understand the
[36:17] changes and I know how it may affect
[36:19] them and their children and that's if
[36:21] they even know if it was posted. So,
[36:24] wouldn't it make more sense to here we
[36:25] public meeting where residents can ask
[36:28] questions, raise concerns, and have a
[36:30] real discussion before the ordinance
[36:32] moves forward.
[36:34] » I like to take part of this question.
[36:36] » Okay.
[36:37] » I posted on my personal social media.
[36:39] We've been talking about this ordinance
[36:40] for over a year.
[36:41] » But, you didn't have any actual
[36:42] community input.
[36:43] » We've been talking about this ordinance
[36:44] for well over a year.
[36:46] We had several meetings on it. We had
[36:48] wall labor license meetings on it.
[36:49] » I know. I was there.
[36:49] » When we came here one time, we came here
[36:51] and then Michelle Knight spoke and we
[36:53] met with Cora. And then we met with uh
[36:55] Jason Reese, who's the chair. That was
[36:57] several months ago.
[36:58] » Yeah.
[36:59] » We had several meetings with him. We
[37:00] discussed it thoroughly in the meeting 2
[37:02] months ago. This is the first reading
[37:04] that we have tonight. We have tonight we
[37:05] have 30 days to discuss it. There has
[37:06] been zero chance. As a matter of fact,
[37:08] we put this on social media.
[37:10] Uh Casey didn't put We were discussing
[37:12] this 6 months ago on social media.
[37:14] » I know. I was there.
[37:15] » So, yeah, exactly. So, to say that
[37:17] there's no transparency on this
[37:19] particular issue is actually not being
[37:21] transparent on yourself on how much
[37:23] you've been involved in this.
[37:24] » I'm I'm talking about community input.
[37:26] Because when we sit in these meetings,
[37:28] Well, because
[37:29] what we're not seeing it, Adam. Um as a
[37:32] community member that comes to these
[37:33] meetings, we're sitting there during the
[37:35] wall labor license meeting and no
[37:38] comment is allowed. No public comment is
[37:40] allowed. So, when we get to the next
[37:42] city council meeting,
[37:45] it it's like you guys were confused
[37:47] about it. So, we don't have clarity
[37:49] until we see that ordinance. And that
[37:51] ordinance did not come out. The
[37:53] revisions didn't come out till last
[37:55] night. So, no one really has the time to
[37:58] really research it and have thoughtful
[38:00] input. That's what I'm talking about.
[38:02] Not the people you're meeting with,
[38:04] you know, behind the scenes. I'm talking
[38:06] about public input that everyone can
[38:09] hear everyone else's input.
[38:10] » We've had several meetings on it. I
[38:11] don't know how you guys feel about this,
[38:13] but you know, you keep talking about
[38:15] committees and you want you want
[38:17] committees and top of committees and top
[38:18] of committees, right? You know, but we
[38:19] are a committee elected by the people to
[38:20] make these decisions. And there's not
[38:23] one person I have to respond to an email
[38:24] about or anything about this. And I
[38:26] don't know if we could have met any more
[38:28] times or dragged this out any longer or
[38:31] had any more discussion or brought it up
[38:32] to the public any more than we already
[38:33] have. Sometimes you just have to make a
[38:35] decision and move on or else we If we
[38:37] continue to operate like you want to
[38:39] see, we'd still have dirt roads.
[38:41] » Well, I don't even know what that's
[38:42] supposed to mean. I'm just asking for
[38:43] community input, an open meeting that
[38:46] allows open discussion with the whole
[38:48] community understanding so that they
[38:51] have somewhat understanding of what is
[38:53] in this ordinance. Like
[38:55] I I I read today that the other Northern
[38:57] Kentucky cities are working through
[38:58] these same issues. So, Fort Mitchell,
[39:01] for example, is taking a different
[39:02] approach by distinguishing between the
[39:05] different classes of e-bikes and
[39:07] focusing its proposed sidewalk
[39:09] restrictions on the faster class three
[39:11] e-bikes.
[39:12] Okay?
[39:14] So, maybe our proposed ordinance does
[39:16] not distinguish between class one, class
[39:18] two, and class three e-bikes at all. It
[39:21] uses one general definition for e-bikes
[39:24] and applies the same sidewalk
[39:25] restrictions to all of them while the
[39:28] motor is engaged. I'm not saying Fort
[39:30] Thomas needs to do exactly what Fort
[39:33] Mitchell is doing, but I do think it
[39:35] shows there are other different ways to
[39:37] approach this. That's all. And I do
[39:39] believe community input would be an open
[39:42] community discussion where everyone's
[39:45] hearing their feedback would be
[39:47] tremendously helpful for everybody.
[39:49] Especially that I don't understand this.
[39:50] I mean, I've read through this till 3:00
[39:53] in the morning and I respectfully have
[39:55] more questions about this, but
[39:58] I just thought I think it should just be
[40:00] an open meeting where people can come up
[40:02] and open discuss, you know, their
[40:03] concerns like this that lady ahead of
[40:05] me. It's just like this is our only time
[40:08] and a lot of people don't even know
[40:09] we're discussing this if we're just
[40:11] getting the ordinance the night before.
[40:14] So.
[40:14] » I'm I'm sure that the
[40:16] This is in old business for the last
[40:18] several months if I'm not mistaken.
[40:20] Yeah, and we find the opportunity to
[40:22] have a discussion about it.
[40:23] » Sharon, we did we discussed the multi
[40:25] classes we
[40:27] two three months ago we decided to go
[40:30] get a different direction. This
[40:32] ordinance was posted at the last law
[40:34] labor and license just like this. All
[40:36] the changes that were discussed at the
[40:37] law labor license are what's in here.
[40:39] And I know it didn't get out to the
[40:41] public till
[40:42] till Sunday.
[40:44] » We made all the changes that were
[40:45] discussed in law labor license. The only
[40:48] the only update that wasn't in that was
[40:50] one that been brought up on Sunday.
[40:52] Um and I had them make it the change was
[40:55] we didn't include scooters for lights.
[40:57] But other than that, this is everything
[40:58] that was discussed last month.
[41:01] All the changes and then everything that
[41:02] was discussed the month before. So it's
[41:05] I I get that this took a a lot and even
[41:09] today we made changes but we found I
[41:10] found more stuff but I think we've we've
[41:13] discussed it.
[41:13] » Concerns with it that you want
[41:15] » Yeah, I'll email
[41:16] it to you cuz I have a list that
[41:18] » It's 30 days to get it back.
[41:19] » Meet with me that way we can kind of go
[41:21] through this page by page and I'll I'll
[41:24] kind of give you the back story of what
[41:25] was discussed.
[41:27] » Yeah, that's what I was about to say is
[41:28] that
[41:28] » I think the key to remember is it's the
[41:30] first reading. So once council elects
[41:33] the first reading then you have
[41:34] something that's there. And if they were
[41:37] to choose to change it a major change
[41:39] actually just happened. We'd have to go
[41:41] back. Right. So I think that what I
[41:43] understand what you're saying is I would
[41:45] take the opposite approach when
[41:47] there's 48 suggestions coming in at some
[41:50] point you have to corral it, put it in a
[41:52] document, say here it is,
[41:55] then that's the time for the community
[41:58] engagement because at that point the
[42:01] proposed rules are in place and
[42:03] that's the best time for discussion.
[42:05] What Adam's point to is
[42:08] how we got to get the first
[42:09] » Yeah, we actually did a first reading
[42:11] and then we talked to the town, we
[42:13] talked to the community, brought them
[42:14] into it and put another three months or
[42:16] four months onto it before we actually
[42:18] made a decision. So, we actually did a
[42:19] first reading on my ordinance. Did the
[42:21] exact same thing, took it off the table
[42:23] and came back with this one.
[42:25] So, I mean, we are doing everything
[42:27] you're asking us to do.
[42:28] » Uh and the first reading process is by
[42:31] law
[42:33] for transparency. It's for the public to
[42:35] know because they basically tell
[42:37] government, local government, if you're
[42:39] going to take and enact a law, you got
[42:41] to first give the world notice so the
[42:43] city has notice that you're proposing to
[42:45] change a law. It's not it it's not like
[42:47] somebody just throwing it on here
[42:48] tonight. Uh Mayor Spondin, Jim Smith to
[42:51] planning and zoning board.
[42:52] You know, it's the mercy of you might
[42:55] put it on there that night. Maybe you'll
[42:56] give notice, maybe you won't. When it's
[42:58] an ordinance, it's a specific provision
[43:01] that provides that you have to have a
[43:02] first reading so the world knows, "Hey,
[43:05] there's a chance this council may adopt
[43:07] this legislation."
[43:09] That's when you want to bring in your
[43:11] community and engage them.
[43:12] » Sharon,
[43:13] every time you email me, I responded,
[43:14] right? In detail?
[43:16] » Yeah, but
[43:16] » And every time you've asked me to meet
[43:17] with you, I've met with you. I've met
[43:19] with you at your pool, right? Every
[43:20] single time.
[43:21] » Yeah, but
[43:21] » And then this particular time we had a
[43:22] first reading, we pulled it back off, we
[43:24] did everything you're asking.
[43:26] » But you didn't have a public discussion.
[43:28] You guys have discussions behind the
[43:30] scenes with each other, but we don't see
[43:32] it. We don't see it updated on the the
[43:34] website. We don't see it discussed with
[43:36] us because this is our only chance to
[43:38] talk. And I'm just telling you as a
[43:40] community member, my point of view.
[43:42] That's all I'm giving you. We truly I
[43:44] truly don't understand this
[43:47] uh ordinance clearly and I will email
[43:50] you my questions cuz I do have them. And
[43:52] and some people respond, some don't. So,
[43:55] that's why I get up here and I ask my
[43:56] questions for clarity. That's it. Cuz I
[43:59] want to understand this cuz I have a I
[44:01] have family members that are having kids
[44:03] coming from the South Bend on electric
[44:05] scooters. They're 12 years old. Coming
[44:08] in the middle school now. And and
[44:10] they're not aware of all this going on.
[44:12] I'm just saying the outreach needs to be
[44:13] better. School starting tomorrow and it
[44:16] does affect a lot of people. So
[44:18] » We have we have been discussing it with
[44:20] Zach our SRO several times. Casey's
[44:23] discussed it with him. They're going to
[44:24] do classes for the grade schools more
[44:26] than one time.
[44:26] » Well, I think that's fantastic.
[44:28] » I've been telling them
[44:29] the results in these meetings for the
[44:30] last year and a half.
[44:31] » I've been here, sweetie. I just haven't
[44:33] heard all the open public input. That's
[44:34] all I'm saying. But thanks for your
[44:36] time.
[44:37] » To this point because of the
[44:38] public input.
[44:39] Just so you know.
[44:41] » All right. Thank you. You guys have a
[44:43] good evening.
[44:53] » Melanie Powers, please.
[45:03] » Hello, Melanie Powers. Uh 13 Pearson.
[45:07] Um
[45:08] I hope that I'm not missing something. I
[45:11] tried to read the new bike ordinance
[45:13] last night. I fell asleep.
[45:15] » [clears throat]
[45:15] » So uh
[45:17] What I wanted to
[45:18] » I did to go to sleep last night.
[45:20] » It's It's very um calming.
[45:23] Uh
[45:24] especially if you're not an attorney. Um
[45:26] I wanted to speak though. I asked
[45:28] someone with a medical background cuz I
[45:30] know there's
[45:31] no one on council. I know Jason very
[45:34] well.
[45:36] Um I know Michelle a little bit. Uh
[45:38] they're not medical people either.
[45:40] And that's uh my disappointment that
[45:46] uh
[45:46] helmets were not required.
[45:49] Uh
[45:50] I can tell you that having an accident
[45:53] on a bicycle
[45:55] for a wonderful little child going even
[45:59] 15 let alone 20 miles, against the car
[46:04] is not going to be a good outcome. And
[46:08] traumatic brain injury
[46:11] is a life long thing
[46:13] even if you survive the accident. So,
[46:17] I would very very strongly like all of
[46:20] you to please reconsider that.
[46:23] I know some people are concerned about
[46:25] parental rights, but there are many many
[46:28] other areas in government where we have
[46:31] laws protecting children
[46:34] that
[46:35] one could say goes against the parental
[46:38] right. And I'm old enough to remember
[46:40] when infant seats and putting kids in
[46:43] booster seats caused some controversy on
[46:47] many different
[46:48] levels. People said, "Well, that's
[46:50] unfair. I can't afford it. Yadadadada."
[46:54] You might have heard of those.
[46:56] But now no one thinks anything of it.
[46:59] Um so, I think that it's very important
[47:04] that we do have protection for children.
[47:08] And a helmet is such a simple thing.
[47:10] It's not a big thing. There are even
[47:12] ways that people who truly can't afford
[47:14] it to get helmets.
[47:16] So, I would like you please for the
[47:18] safety of children to reconsider that
[47:21] and have that be part of the ordinance
[47:23] at least up to, you know, it can be 16
[47:26] or 18. I'll leave that to you to hash
[47:28] out. But please reconsider that. Thank
[47:31] you.
[47:32] » I'm a big fan of helmets, you know.
[47:35] » I'm sorry, Adam.
[47:35] » No, no.
[47:37] » I just wanted to comment real quick.
[47:38] Very great comment. This is something we
[47:40] had talked about with the helmets.
[47:42] Um
[47:43] for me at least personally, I'm sure
[47:45] we'll have more conversation between the
[47:47] first reading tonight and 30, you know,
[47:48] next month
[47:50] because it's a huge it's a huge topic.
[47:52] Um what can the city do?
[47:54] You know, I really think um
[47:56] we have to be careful about making this
[47:58] a realistic law so that it can be
[48:00] enforced. And a concern that I had with
[48:02] helmets was
[48:04] let's say that you say that 18 up to 18
[48:07] years old you have to wear a helmet.
[48:10] I can't tell how old some of these
[48:11] children are, um, when they're going
[48:13] down the street or the sidewalk. It's
[48:14] very difficult. That is not to diminish
[48:17] the importance of helmets. I think if
[48:18] the city can, um, support programs that
[48:21] provide helmets, for example, uh, that
[48:24] would be a great opportunity for us. I'm
[48:26] not worried about infringing on parental
[48:28] rights. Uh, in fact, it's kind of the
[48:30] opposite. I feel like
[48:31] as a parent myself, it's there has to be
[48:34] personal responsibility in this. The
[48:35] city
[48:36] we can do the best we can to create laws
[48:39] and pass laws that protect people, but
[48:42] it's not foolproof. And there has to be
[48:44] personal responsibility. I, you know,
[48:47] again, as a parent, I would encourage,
[48:49] if not enforce, that my children wear
[48:51] helmets at all times. And if they don't,
[48:53] they're they're going to pay a price for
[48:54] that. Um, and so we just it needs to be
[48:57] a partnership amongst everybody, whether
[48:58] it's helping with, you know, folks who
[49:01] don't have helmets, finding
[49:02] opportunities for them them to get them,
[49:04] whether it's education like Adam
[49:05] mentioned. Um, there there are smaller
[49:08] alternatives. I think so. Your comments
[49:09] are very very well taken because we we
[49:12] thought about including the helmet
[49:13] language, uh, you know, requiring helmet
[49:15] use, but it's very difficult in in
[49:18] reality to enforce that.
[49:20] Um, so again, I ask for, uh, partnership
[49:22] with the parents and we have it in 99.9
[49:25] even cases probably, but,
[49:28] um,
[49:28] you know, we
[49:29] » Well, I see though, it, um, in living in
[49:33] Taylor Park,
[49:35] you know, you see a lot of kids, plus
[49:37] I'm retired, so I'm out and about. Um,
[49:42] there's a significant number of children
[49:44] that aren't wearing helmets.
[49:46] And I often will just
[49:48] do my old lady privilege
[49:51] and talk to them about it.
[49:53] Um it goes over well sometimes,
[49:55] sometimes not.
[49:57] But they're they're children. They're
[49:59] they're too young. They can't, you know,
[50:02] process information like that. It's the
[50:05] parents.
[50:06] And um I know from doing a little bit of
[50:09] research
[50:10] that
[50:12] most cities do include mandatory helmet
[50:15] use in their ordinance.
[50:17] » You said most cities do?
[50:18] » Yeah.
[50:20] And in fact, where I lived in the Bay
[50:22] Area,
[50:23] prior to e-bikes, just you couldn't even
[50:26] ride a bicycle up to the age of 16
[50:29] without a helmet.
[50:32] And
[50:33] I never thought about enforcement
[50:36] because it was kind of part of the
[50:38] culture there in Palo Alto as well as
[50:40] Los Altos when I lived there.
[50:43] So,
[50:44] I guess um somebody could find that out
[50:47] about how it was enforced. And I think
[50:50] if you want to err on the side of your
[50:53] concern about how old are they,
[50:56] 16 looks pretty young.
[50:58] And I don't think
[51:01] people riding e-bikes the way that we
[51:03] see children doing it around town.
[51:07] I don't think we're going to see many
[51:09] people 18 and older.
[51:11] They're usually on motorcycles.
[51:14] But um
[51:16] I think
[51:18] to err on the side of caution in this
[51:21] situation
[51:23] is imperative.
[51:25] But thank thank you for
[51:27] » Thank you.
[51:27] » You're
[51:28] hearing your time.
[51:29] » Yeah, well, these are the types of
[51:30] comments and feedback that we greatly
[51:31] appreciate. And and as Mr. City Attorney
[51:34] mentioned, it's, you know, we have a
[51:36] first reading and we take these comments
[51:38] and we've got 30 days. We're going to
[51:39] have this conversation between now and
[51:41] the second reading again.
[51:42] » Do you remember when the two two
[51:43] adorable, I want to say little boys, but
[51:46] I think they were in high school.
[51:48] They're little to me. They came in and
[51:49] they were speaking about e-bikes. Do you
[51:52] remember that?
[51:53] » Oh, yeah.
[51:53] » And I remember I if it was you or Lauren
[51:56] someone asked them um how they felt
[51:59] about helmets and they both said, "Oh,
[52:01] yes, we think helmets should be
[52:03] required." And I was so pleased by that
[52:06] that the
[52:07] the kids
[52:09] felt it was important too. But anyway,
[52:12] if you just keep that in mind.
[52:14] » Yeah, I'm a I'm a big
[52:15] » Again, as as a person with medical
[52:17] background.
[52:18] » I'm a I'm a big believer in helmets. I
[52:20] would fall
[52:21] and I
[52:22] when we when it came to this, I mean, I
[52:24] Lauren met with Jason from Cora,
[52:27] um Michelle Knight and there does have
[52:29] to be some parent response to whatever
[52:30] it comes to these types of things, you
[52:31] know.
[52:32] Um I still think we should have helmets.
[52:34] Uh there's six of us up here and we had
[52:36] to take a law that didn't even allow
[52:38] bikes to be on sidewalks in the late
[52:40] '90s and I'm updated. So, this is
[52:42] actually a better version of what it was
[52:43] and um there's a lot of discretion in
[52:45] what we do. So, I know that when uh
[52:47] Shannon spoke earlier um that I don't
[52:50] want people to think that we're going to
[52:51] go out there and be just yanking people
[52:53] off sidewalks, you know what I mean with
[52:54] with it comes to these scooters or
[52:56] e-bikes.
[52:57] » You a question?
[52:58] Not to interrupt, but
[53:00] » Not to interrupt, but let me interrupt.
[53:02] » [laughter]
[53:03] » Well,
[53:05] it's
[53:05] » I I I it's just something that we came
[53:07] to and I think that we were trying to
[53:08] get a base for an ordinance and I think
[53:09] that we can evaluate and and grow from
[53:12] where it is right now. I think we did a
[53:14] very good job of connecting with a lot
[53:15] of people in the community to get to
[53:17] this point. I would prefer helmets. I I
[53:19] mean, I printed up a a USA Today um
[53:22] article that came out on July 29th of
[53:24] this year that says, you know, we're up
[53:26] 671% children and adolescents and most
[53:29] of it is neck and head. So, and
[53:31] motorcycles in the state of Kentucky are
[53:33] um required until you're 20 years old
[53:36] and required to wear a seat belt for
[53:37] that reason. So, I'd like to see it. I
[53:38] do understand um other people's concerns
[53:41] and right now what my concern is to get
[53:43] started on this and move forward so that
[53:45] we can pick a direction and then revisit
[53:47] it if we need to. That's how I feel
[53:49] about it, at least here. I mean, we
[53:50] can't always agree with I think we did a
[53:51] really nice job on this.
[53:52] » Chief Kilgore, can I ask you your
[53:54] opinion?
[53:55] » Sure. I don't want us passing anything
[53:57] that people really don't want to see
[53:59] enforced by police.
[54:01] So, you say helmets are a good idea, and
[54:03] everyone agrees with you they are, but
[54:04] if it's a city ordinance and people
[54:06] aren't doing it, we're going to be
[54:07] called upon to go out and stop children
[54:10] and tell them they have to put on a
[54:11] helmet or else they're going to get a
[54:12] ticket, or be driven home to a parent
[54:14] and the parent will get a ticket. That
[54:16] is a big difference than just education,
[54:18] passing out free helmets, teaching in
[54:20] schools, reminding people it's a good
[54:22] idea.
[54:23] Making it a city ordinance will
[54:24] eventually lead to police having to go
[54:26] out and enforce it. And the other
[54:27] changes that are in here are already
[54:28] going to come back to the police
[54:30] enforcing it in some some manner
[54:32] eventually, so.
[54:35] Do you think police should stop kids on
[54:37] bikes and tell them they have to wear a
[54:38] helmet or get a ticket?
[54:40] That's what we're talking about.
[54:42] » Right. I was Well, you you you're the
[54:45] expert in that, so I was wondering what
[54:47] your opinion I mean, yeah, I I think it
[54:49] should happen in a non-punitive, gradual
[54:53] way.
[54:54] And the point is to not to fine parents
[54:57] money unless it's repetitive.
[55:01] Um,
[55:02] again, I never gave it a whole lot of
[55:04] thought in the cities where I lived when
[55:07] I was raising my children
[55:09] because it was the law, and so people
[55:11] just followed it.
[55:13] Um,
[55:15] I
[55:16] it was rare to to to see a kid without
[55:18] it. It usually would be the kind of
[55:19] thing where it was hanging on the front
[55:20] of their the bike handle, you know.
[55:24] Um, but usually people just did it. So,
[55:26] what happened if a kid didn't have one
[55:29] on? I honestly don't know.
[55:32] And I know that you you have a certain
[55:34] number of officers on duty in the day,
[55:36] and then you have to take them away for
[55:37] that. But, would it really be that big
[55:41] of a hassle after a certain kind of
[55:43] learning curve, you know, big bump up?
[55:46] I don't know. That's why I ask you.
[55:49] » Yeah, I don't know if it's the hassle. I
[55:50] think it's the idea of a police officer
[55:52] showing up,
[55:53] stopping a child on a bike physically,
[55:56] telling them they have to wear a helmet
[55:57] or else they will get a ticket or their
[55:59] parent will.
[56:00] » I think it would make a big impression.
[56:02] » The same that we're going to get into
[56:03] with the other changes that are going to
[56:05] go through that that are impactful. If
[56:06] you read it,
[56:07] there's I think at least three that are
[56:10] going to be a big change for us.
[56:11] » Right. Right.
[56:16] Well,
[56:17] thank you for that.
[56:18] » Sure.
[56:19] » Anyway, um
[56:21] that's all I had to say to you. Any
[56:23] questions?
[56:25] » No, I I agree with you. We had those two
[56:27] younger boys who came up here. It's
[56:28] great to see the youth excited about
[56:30] wearing helmets. I mean, I remember
[56:32] 30-plus years ago when I was a kid and a
[56:34] lot of miles up here. I don't remember
[56:36] me going up and down the street prior on
[56:37] my bike or rollerblades. But, I I had
[56:40] required me to wear a helmet, and just
[56:42] so happened that all my other friends'
[56:43] parents required them to wear a helmet.
[56:45] And we thought it was really cool to get
[56:47] stickers, and whoever had the coolest
[56:49] stickers on their helmet it was a it was
[56:50] a status symbol. It was fun. Um so,
[56:53] that's what you want is for the youth to
[56:56] not just because it's safe and it's the
[56:58] right thing to do, but
[56:59] » It's the culture.
[57:00] » To Yeah, to encourage wearing helmets,
[57:02] right.
[57:04] » And I think um police would be a big
[57:06] help, just like
[57:08] when we first, again, I'm old enough to
[57:10] remember
[57:11] when seatbelts were required, and it
[57:14] wasn't illegal to ride around in your
[57:16] car without them.
[57:18] And then you had to wear seatbelts, and
[57:20] there was that little learning curve,
[57:22] and the police were very helpful about
[57:24] that because they'd stop pull you over.
[57:28] Um and I predict it'll will the same
[57:30] thing with cell phones, you know,
[57:32] hands-free driving.
[57:34] Um
[57:36] So, thanks again, gentlemen. For the
[57:37] record, I'm a
[57:38] » For the record, I'm a fan of helmets as
[57:39] well.
[57:40] Uh however, it was one of the last
[57:41] things we discussed relative to removing
[57:43] that. And I would defer to the chief
[57:46] relative to enforceability on all of it,
[57:48] and he's already met with a lot of
[57:50] challenges here relative to the changes
[57:52] that we're making.
[57:53] And if I felt like he was on board and
[57:57] his entire
[57:58] force was on board with the helmets,
[58:00] then I would absolutely go for it, but
[58:02] we're trying to I think it's imperative
[58:04] that we put a balance in this
[58:08] in this amendment that
[58:10] the chief can enforce and that also is
[58:12] workable for
[58:14] the city as best we can. As Ben said
[58:16] previously, there's no silver bullet on
[58:18] this thing.
[58:18] » I agree.
[58:20] Again, as a medical person, I would just
[58:21] remind you
[58:23] that
[58:25] once traumatic brain injury, or even
[58:28] something less than that, happens,
[58:31] it's permanent.
[58:32] You can't take it away.
[58:35] It's not as if, well, I caught you
[58:37] riding on the sidewalk and you're not
[58:39] supposed to be [clears throat] there.
[58:41] And then, so the person goes back in
[58:45] to the
[58:46] designated lane.
[58:48] Um it's irretrievable.
[58:51] And it's
[58:53] it's called traumatic for a reason.
[58:55] » Thank you very much.
[58:58] All right, um next up
[59:00] » How do you feel about
[59:01] » I'm blessed.
[59:02] » All right, Daddy.
[59:03] Um I I want to revert back to anybody
[59:05] that has any questions about this.
[59:06] Obviously, there was a couple of guys
[59:08] here that have spoken. I have my cards
[59:09] up here. It's our first initial and a
[59:11] last name at forthomas.ftthomas.org.
[59:15] Um so, nothing is set in stone.
[59:18] Um
[59:19] like I said before, this was voted on
[59:20] once. We
[59:21] and then we we pulled it back off
[59:23] because we had concerns, and then had
[59:25] three or four more months of outreach
[59:26] the consumers citizens about this. So,
[59:29] Shannon, if you'd like to reach out
[59:31] again or anybody would like to reach out
[59:32] about this, please reach out to us and
[59:34] we can make adjustments by the time
[59:36] uh if they're not significant, but if
[59:37] they are, we'll
[59:39] do what we need to do. So, thank you.
[59:44] And
[59:45] uh uh reports from officers, fire
[59:46] department chief.
[59:49] » Good evening Mayor and the council. Uh
[59:51] well, in my report is a little bit of
[59:53] recap on the storm that we had last
[59:55] Tuesday.
[59:57] Uh when it came through
[59:58] uh for the next several hours, we had
[1:00:01] about 18 calls for service.
[1:00:03] Uh I would say that by and large, we
[1:00:05] dodged a bullet as far as major property
[1:00:06] damage occurred in the city.
[1:00:09] Uh most of that was two cars. We had a
[1:00:11] couple trees that were blocking the
[1:00:13] cars.
[1:00:14] Uh we're going to tie them over over the
[1:00:15] top of the cars. Uh the power outages
[1:00:18] were a challenge. Um we had crews
[1:00:21] There's four crews that we went out and
[1:00:23] ensured safety of the power lines and
[1:00:24] stuff and things like that. Um I do know
[1:00:27] that we kind of took a little bit of a
[1:00:28] hit on social media saying the fire
[1:00:30] department was doing things watching it
[1:00:32] and we we take a defensive approach on
[1:00:35] live wires and just making sure things
[1:00:37] don't, you know, catch on fire around
[1:00:39] it. So, I just want to clarify that, but
[1:00:41] uh the the fellows were quite busy on
[1:00:43] that, so.
[1:00:45] Uh then that's all I had to add and
[1:00:47] take any questions you might have.
[1:00:50] Any questions?
[1:00:51] » Just Just a big thank you.
[1:00:53] » Big thank you for understanding.
[1:00:55] » Yeah.
[1:00:56] » General services, too.
[1:00:59] » Oh, general services. They did a really
[1:01:01] good job.
[1:01:01] » They did good. Are you going to call
[1:01:02] back in for that, so.
[1:01:06] » Motion to receive file.
[1:01:07] » Somebody
[1:01:08] » Yeah, I'll make a motion to receive
[1:01:09] file.
[1:01:10] » [clears throat]
[1:01:11] » Second.
[1:01:13] » All those in favor?
[1:01:14] » Aye.
[1:01:14] » Aye.
[1:01:14] » Aye.
[1:01:15] » Opposed?
[1:01:17] » All right. Um police chief, your report,
[1:01:19] please.
[1:01:20] » Thank you.
[1:01:21] Uh my additions tonight [clears throat]
[1:01:22] are all personnel. Sergeant Deters
[1:01:24] retired July 31st after 21 years of
[1:01:26] service as a police officer. All 21
[1:01:28] years were here in Fort Thomas.
[1:01:30] Um with him creating the vacancy, we
[1:01:32] still had a list that was active with a
[1:01:34] qualified candidate. We hired Zach Vance
[1:01:37] on August 3rd and he's currently in
[1:01:38] training and doing well. Uh we'll try to
[1:01:41] get him up for an introduction at
[1:01:42] council as soon as we can, uh schedule
[1:01:44] permitting. Uh we also have another
[1:01:47] retirement that is coming up at the end
[1:01:48] of August. Detective Frank Vance is
[1:01:50] retiring from Fort Thomas on August
[1:01:52] 28th. Uh he has 22 and 1/2 years in
[1:01:55] policing with the last six being here in
[1:01:57] Fort Thomas. So, we wish him well in
[1:02:00] whatever comes next for him.
[1:02:01] And the last personnel that we have all
[1:02:03] of our SRO applications, the deadline
[1:02:05] has passed, we have all those apps in
[1:02:07] and we're looking to schedule interviews
[1:02:09] soon to interview the candidates for the
[1:02:11] position.
[1:02:12] That's all I have for my report.
[1:02:15] Questions?
[1:02:18] » Who proceeds following?
[1:02:20] » I can second.
[1:02:23] » All those in favor?
[1:02:24] » I. I.
[1:02:26] » I second.
[1:02:26] » I have a question, too.
[1:02:30] » All right, uh there's no reports from
[1:02:31] any committees at this point and then we
[1:02:33] have old business.
[1:02:34] » You want me to talk?
[1:02:35] » Oh, yeah.
[1:02:36] » I'm really.
[1:02:37] » I'm the fastest.
[1:02:39] » I'm fine with that.
[1:02:39] » I checked the box below and already have
[1:02:41] already ended it.
[1:02:44] » [clears throat]
[1:02:45] » Yeah, so uh just for the projects we
[1:02:47] have going on right now, we do have our
[1:02:49] last year's street program.
[1:02:51] Uh Carmel Manor was milled and repaved
[1:02:55] uh this last week. Hollywood's and
[1:02:57] Pleasant uh have both been milled and
[1:02:59] we're waiting for the weather to improve
[1:03:01] to um
[1:03:03] lay the the asphalt for those and then
[1:03:06] last year's street program will be
[1:03:07] complete. Um the water district is done
[1:03:10] with Sadie, Dixie, and Hartwig, so we
[1:03:12] are moving forward with that.
[1:03:14] Um those are all full full
[1:03:17] reconstruction of those three streets.
[1:03:19] That's a big project.
[1:03:20] Um, Highland Park turnaround is still in
[1:03:23] progress.
[1:03:24] Uh, the tennis courts is still in
[1:03:26] progress. Um, we're again we're waiting
[1:03:28] for weather to be able to
[1:03:30] » [clears throat]
[1:03:31] » Uh paint both the lower and the upper
[1:03:34] uh courts.
[1:03:36] And
[1:03:39] the weather we we talked a little bit
[1:03:40] about the weather. That was a um
[1:03:44] For me it was quick. realize that that
[1:03:45] was happening. Of course I was in a
[1:03:47] meeting um in Covington City building.
[1:03:50] Uh, but luckily we have excellent staff
[1:03:53] here and um
[1:03:55] we had uh
[1:03:57] Chris take over
[1:03:58] and give me updates while I was bunkered
[1:04:01] there um and then, you know, everybody
[1:04:05] got called back in. Public Works was
[1:04:06] just released probably 30 minutes before
[1:04:08] that and Public Works got called back in
[1:04:10] and uh as you can see on a lot of
[1:04:12] Facebook comments they they got to work
[1:04:14] very quickly. So they did a a fantastic
[1:04:16] job. Of course Fire and PD did a great
[1:04:18] job managing that. Um,
[1:04:20] just for for future the city is on does
[1:04:24] have a generator. City building has a
[1:04:25] generator and we rarely lose any power
[1:04:28] from the armory and the mess hall. Um,
[1:04:30] so we did use this building for people
[1:04:32] to come up and some people did some work
[1:04:34] up here, had free Wi-Fi and um were able
[1:04:37] to charge their cell phones. So pass
[1:04:39] that around if that ever happens. We
[1:04:41] even though our
[1:04:43] expensive generator didn't kick on and
[1:04:45] we had to manually start it. Um, Brandon
[1:04:47] is the couple with that. Um, but uh we
[1:04:50] we did have that started. Additionally,
[1:04:53] council approved us to put a separate
[1:04:56] generator on the gas pumps which was not
[1:04:57] included in the project. Um, and that
[1:05:00] was completed um probably 3 6 months ago
[1:05:03] and that worked perfectly. Cuz that was
[1:05:05] the whole point of doing that is when
[1:05:06] you get in these situations we have our
[1:05:08] own pumps and that's one of the
[1:05:09] beautiful things about having our own
[1:05:10] pumps is is we don't have to go find
[1:05:13] another city that has power.
[1:05:15] Um so, that generator worked perfectly.
[1:05:18] Um so, just it was a it was a great team
[1:05:20] effort and it was a good a good um
[1:05:22] training and something else for us, but
[1:05:24] obviously we had a lot of issues with
[1:05:26] people getting power on. Um and I do
[1:05:28] like to remind um the citizens that to
[1:05:31] let us know if you're still without
[1:05:32] power. Um if it's been, you know,
[1:05:34] generally I'd say if it's been over 4
[1:05:36] hours, but I know we had a lot of 24 to
[1:05:39] probably 96 hours uh this week, but um
[1:05:41] don't be afraid. I As soon as that
[1:05:43] happened, I communicate with our
[1:05:45] government rep with Duke, and we give
[1:05:47] them a priority list of what we want
[1:05:49] cleaned up. That was a lot this time. Um
[1:05:51] so, the more information we have,
[1:05:53] especially a couple days later, we may
[1:05:55] already know that that's without power,
[1:05:56] but it's very helpful that that I can
[1:05:58] just reiterate and and help move that
[1:06:00] along. So, um please reach out for that.
[1:06:03] Um
[1:06:04] grant, we did get approved uh at the end
[1:06:07] of last month for the trail grant. So,
[1:06:10] that's $250,000 we got approved. And
[1:06:13] I'll be working through that huge list
[1:06:15] of things I need to do for the next step
[1:06:17] of that. So, I don't have a lot to
[1:06:19] explain to council right now, but I'll
[1:06:21] once I get all this together, I'll I'll
[1:06:23] let you know, but that's something we
[1:06:24] had talked about. We actually pulled
[1:06:25] from the budget the 300,000 from the
[1:06:27] budget until contingent upon that. So,
[1:06:30] once I get the full
[1:06:32] um information on this, I'll I'll send
[1:06:34] it out to council, but that was another
[1:06:36] another good thing that um
[1:06:39] money we got to support the parks.
[1:06:41] » That's a very big deal, man. Thank you.
[1:06:42] » It is. It is. Um so, we do
[1:06:48] I know we'll talk about a couple of
[1:06:49] other meetings. We do have a meeting on
[1:06:51] the 8th of September, just so council
[1:06:53] remembers, that's the past first
[1:06:55] reading. It's a public hearing and first
[1:06:57] reading of next rate.
[1:06:58] Um so, we finished calculating that
[1:07:02] Friday, and um
[1:07:05] I still haven't met with the with the
[1:07:06] mayor to to go over that and then we'll
[1:07:08] we'll have that sent out as our
[1:07:10] ordinance in the public hearing. So just
[1:07:12] so everybody has that on their calendar.
[1:07:14] Pending any of those questions that's
[1:07:15] all I have.
[1:07:17] » On the street resurfacing, are we doing
[1:07:19] borings on all the streets now before we
[1:07:22] resurface them? Are we doing borings?
[1:07:23] » We have not. No.
[1:07:24] » Are we doing borings on streets that we
[1:07:26] think may be compromised with underlying
[1:07:28] issues?
[1:07:28] » Yeah, we talked about that. Um probably
[1:07:30] the reason we didn't do it this year is
[1:07:32] cuz we're doing board construction
[1:07:33] anyway. So that's probably why we didn't
[1:07:35] do it this year. Um but next year's
[1:07:37] program we can talk about that.
[1:07:39] » Is that some of these streets are
[1:07:40] getting resurfaced and then just one or
[1:07:42] two years later they're having
[1:07:43] significant deterioration. My
[1:07:45] understanding is there's underlying
[1:07:47] issues there.
[1:07:50] We got to make sure that
[1:07:51] » We we can um but understanding that
[1:07:54] boring is
[1:07:56] you know, is just one hole every
[1:08:00] you know, 50 ft.
[1:08:02] So we can absolutely do that but again,
[1:08:04] don't I just don't want council to think
[1:08:06] that that's you know, it's not [snorts]
[1:08:07] going to happen still, right? But it is
[1:08:09] there there's value in that and we'll
[1:08:11] talk about that for the next street
[1:08:12] program, for sure.
[1:08:14] » Yeah, I think we really need to address
[1:08:15] that cuz we've got a lot of streets that
[1:08:17] are getting resurfaced that
[1:08:19] » I don't know if we have a lot but
[1:08:21] we have some.
[1:08:22] » A few for sure, right?
[1:08:23] Well, I'm for one and I've also had
[1:08:25] several calls from many others that
[1:08:27] » Yeah.
[1:08:27] » Have all of the same concerns. So
[1:08:29] » Yeah, I agree.
[1:08:29] » To see us be proactive and address them.
[1:08:32] » Okay.
[1:08:35] » Is that it? Mhm. All right. Now we get
[1:08:38] down to the various question committees
[1:08:40] uh and then old business. So uh grow
[1:08:42] grant discussion.
[1:08:45] » So uh we've discussed ad nauseam the
[1:08:49] questions about grow grant and removing
[1:08:50] some items such as HVAC and structural
[1:08:53] improvements. Uh but after last meeting,
[1:08:55] council member Strain suggested an
[1:08:57] alternative approach that I believe is
[1:08:59] worth considering. Rather than
[1:09:00] eliminating those categories entirely,
[1:09:02] we could establish a a mission statement
[1:09:04] for the program program that defines its
[1:09:07] primary purpose as providing assistance
[1:09:09] for facade improvements to local
[1:09:11] businesses, improvements that enhance
[1:09:12] the appearance of individual buildings,
[1:09:14] and ultimately the overall look and
[1:09:16] vitality of our business district.
[1:09:18] Under that approach, HVAC and structural
[1:09:21] improvements could remain eligible in
[1:09:23] unique or compelling circumstances.
[1:09:25] However, in my discussions with
[1:09:27] Councilman Blow, he's not necessarily in
[1:09:29] favor of including deep HVAC and
[1:09:31] structural in there, and I'm certain
[1:09:33] that discussions and sure there are
[1:09:35] others as well. Um
[1:09:36] also, Councilman Blow
[1:09:39] or acting mayor tonight, uh has
[1:09:41] suggested that we consider an
[1:09:42] alternative use of the program as well.
[1:09:45] A percentage of the program, I think he
[1:09:46] said mentioned 20.
[1:09:49] » I'll go.
[1:09:50] » Relative to um
[1:09:52] more of a residential approach that
[1:09:54] would be for uh consideration of removal
[1:09:56] of invasive species such as bamboo and
[1:09:59] honeysuckle and others.
[1:10:01] I would have some concerns logistically
[1:10:03] about how that would work. I'm sure
[1:10:05] you'll offer an explanation for that.
[1:10:07] Hopefully.
[1:10:08] » Just a minor one. Just just to start the
[1:10:10] conversation.
[1:10:11] » Yeah. And also, I would be concerned
[1:10:13] that we would be um
[1:10:15] rewarding
[1:10:17] lax homeowners who are not necessarily
[1:10:20] taking care of their properties and
[1:10:21] maintaining these
[1:10:23] yards, etc. Specifically that. I
[1:10:25] wouldn't want that to be the impression
[1:10:27] we would take. But those are just my
[1:10:28] personal opinions and certainly those
[1:10:30] are discussions and I'm sure I'll
[1:10:31] further you on the issue.
[1:10:33] » Um
[1:10:34] Just First of all, I yeah, I appreciate
[1:10:37] uh Councilman Blow's [clears throat] uh
[1:10:38] I talked to him last week about this uh
[1:10:40] for the first time. I've learned about
[1:10:42] today. I haven't approached it with
[1:10:43] anybody else. Um and the reason um and
[1:10:46] the reason this came up, so everybody
[1:10:47] knows, is that I removed honeysuckle
[1:10:49] from my yard a couple weeks ago, about
[1:10:51] 10 ft wide, about 150 ft long. Um and I
[1:10:55] was just talking to another friend of
[1:10:56] mine about it and I and he mentioned
[1:10:58] that the Campbell County has the
[1:11:01] conservation district out there has a
[1:11:03] local cost share program. So our county
[1:11:06] already has a minor cost share program,
[1:11:07] so they already have this framework for
[1:11:10] something we could do here. And I think
[1:11:11] last month
[1:11:13] when I was discussing this
[1:11:15] about adding an ordinance
[1:11:19] to prevent people from their honeysuckle
[1:11:21] from taking over other people's yard,
[1:11:22] planting bamboo. Bellevue had an
[1:11:25] ordinance I think in January of this
[1:11:26] year
[1:11:28] along those lines of these invasive
[1:11:30] species.
[1:11:32] So So that's residents are responsible
[1:11:35] for these and what they do. I happen to
[1:11:37] visit a friend to make a long story
[1:11:39] short and he showed me his backyard and
[1:11:42] the whole side of his hill with bamboo.
[1:11:44] And I don't know if anybody knows about
[1:11:46] anything about bamboo, but it is it is
[1:11:48] unbelievable and if you cut it down it
[1:11:49] gets mad. And so he's got this whole
[1:11:51] side yard with bamboo and then he's got
[1:11:53] a strings up there trying to work from
[1:11:55] bending over. He's cut it all down and
[1:11:56] it gets angry. The only way to really
[1:11:58] stop it from growing in your yard is a
[1:12:00] 12-in
[1:12:01] like piece of steel or concrete that
[1:12:03] goes along with rather root system from
[1:12:05] growing.
[1:12:06] All right, so if someone here
[1:12:08] residentially allows that to grow in
[1:12:10] their yard and now that we know the
[1:12:11] effects of it,
[1:12:13] we can prevent that from happening so it
[1:12:15] doesn't grow into the yards. I thought,
[1:12:17] well, since we didn't really know a lot
[1:12:18] of that stuff before, maybe we can offer
[1:12:20] some type of grant or assistance program
[1:12:22] and we give businesses grants for
[1:12:24] facades, right? You know what I mean? So
[1:12:27] you know, for to make it look good,
[1:12:28] right? Well, I think you know, Brad had
[1:12:30] mentioned that he doesn't want to get
[1:12:32] into somebody cleaning up somebody
[1:12:33] else's mess, but I think that's exactly
[1:12:35] what we're doing with the program. You
[1:12:36] know what I mean? We're taking
[1:12:38] responsibility of the land owner or the
[1:12:40] business owner and putting it on the tax
[1:12:42] the citizens, right? So to me, the
[1:12:44] citizens pay the majority of the taxes
[1:12:45] in our city.
[1:12:47] So why shouldn't they get some benefit
[1:12:48] in some kind of grant program as well?
[1:12:50] You know, 40% of our money comes in from
[1:12:52] businesses and already 25 or 30% is
[1:12:55] probably 10 businesses in town.
[1:12:57] So, my idea was like, let's give
[1:12:59] something back to them.
[1:13:00] Um, it's not a it's not a perfect
[1:13:02] situation, a perfect scenario, there's
[1:13:03] nothing is. Um, but I talked to uh Terry
[1:13:08] who happened to work for you, I believe,
[1:13:10] uh in your office. Um, she works there
[1:13:13] Mondays and Thursdays now.
[1:13:15] Is that her name, Terry? Is that her
[1:13:16] name?
[1:13:17] » Tammy.
[1:13:17] » Tammy. Tammy, excuse me.
[1:13:19] Yeah, Tammy so Tammy so Tammy does that
[1:13:21] now Mondays and
[1:13:22] Thurs- Mondays and Thursdays. So, she
[1:13:24] worked in your office for how many
[1:13:25] years? 20?
[1:13:26] » 21 years. 22 years.
[1:13:27] » And she was a fantastic wealth of
[1:13:29] knowledge. So, if everybody's looking at
[1:13:31] this program, there's a lot of urban, a
[1:13:32] lot of rural stuff. So, um they do a lot
[1:13:35] of things out there. Uh we wouldn't
[1:13:36] necessarily do them all, but they do
[1:13:37] beekeeping, composting, invasive
[1:13:40] removal, native tree swap, pollinator
[1:13:42] gardens, cool trees, rainwater
[1:13:43] harvesting, raised garden beds.
[1:13:46] Um, and uh the number one
[1:13:50] the basic species honeysuckle, autumn
[1:13:51] olive, burning bushes, bamboo, number
[1:13:53] one is honeysuckle. Um, we listed what
[1:13:57] people go for out there. Um, they I
[1:13:59] can't remember they have a lot of urban
[1:14:01] and then they have a lot of rural stuff
[1:14:02] and a lot of their urban stuff is number
[1:14:04] one on their plate, but
[1:14:05] um
[1:14:07] uh three was rain harvesting, two was
[1:14:08] pollinator gardens garden beds, and then
[1:14:11] uh four was running basic species
[1:14:12] removal on their chart of grants they've
[1:14:14] been doing. So, they've been out there
[1:14:15] for about eight years and uh they've
[1:14:17] been doing this uh for a pretty long
[1:14:19] time and I think they rewarded twice.
[1:14:21] They are funded by the state and by the
[1:14:23] county.
[1:14:24] Um, so um as far as any
[1:14:27] uh I'm not concerned about much real
[1:14:30] responsibility from us,
[1:14:32] but I thought it was so uh village tax,
[1:14:35] I'm not sure what that was, but I went
[1:14:36] out there they do 50% of funding.
[1:14:38] Um, and I talked to her for quite some
[1:14:40] time and I thought it'd be
[1:14:42] nice to introduce another program. And
[1:14:44] so, I met with uh Councilman Finell
[1:14:46] prior to the meeting today to discuss a
[1:14:48] little bit more and I know he's been
[1:14:50] waiting on this
[1:14:52] program for a long time and we have
[1:14:54] $120,000 sitting there.
[1:14:56] I don't want these businesses to wait
[1:14:58] any longer. So, I think we should go
[1:15:00] ahead and approve $60,000
[1:15:03] for this.
[1:15:05] Now, this is just what we we did discuss
[1:15:07] and I have discussed this with him also.
[1:15:09] I'd like to get moving on that and what
[1:15:12] was it I talked about with you? I'm
[1:15:13] sorry, I'm my paperwork here.
[1:15:16] And mind you, too.
[1:15:17] » We wanted to remove HVAC and structural
[1:15:19] and I don't know if you got a consensus
[1:15:21] on that or not.
[1:15:22] » Yeah, if we just move the So, we still
[1:15:24] leave a lot of lot of openings but we
[1:15:26] remove the support mechanisms,
[1:15:27] foundation support beams, columns
[1:15:30] and HVAC, I would be for moving forward
[1:15:32] with $6,000. You still have fire
[1:15:34] suppression, uh building bringing the
[1:15:36] building up to code, you know, more than
[1:15:38] I'm comfortable with but I'd like to get
[1:15:40] something out to them and then visit
[1:15:41] doing something for the citizens so that
[1:15:43] we can
[1:15:44] move forward on that with So, you
[1:15:45] probably have a first reading tonight.
[1:15:47] Eliminate those two things, vote on it
[1:15:49] in September and get the money out to
[1:15:50] them, right?
[1:15:51] » With the changes in it? If it was that
[1:15:52] simple.
[1:15:55] » What?
[1:15:56] Are you talking about changing the
[1:15:58] ordinance?
[1:15:58] » Yeah, just I can't do the first.
[1:16:00] » I don't think I don't want to go first
[1:16:01] reading myself.
[1:16:02] » I'd rather do a first reading.
[1:16:03] » Yeah, so I would
[1:16:04] » Yeah, we could but it's
[1:16:06] » Yeah,
[1:16:07] I wouldn't be a fan of that.
[1:16:08] » Well, it's just something we've already
[1:16:09] had one reading of you know, and that's
[1:16:11] why we have a meeting on September 9th
[1:16:13] or you guys have a meeting together.
[1:16:15] » September we can address that.
[1:16:17] » I'd be interested in just in an effort
[1:16:18] to move it forward, I'd be interested in
[1:16:20] other members' opinions relative to
[1:16:23] either a mission statement or removing
[1:16:25] the HVAC or HVAC and structural or that.
[1:16:29] Again, if we push this forward so we can
[1:16:31] we can get moving
[1:16:33] » What are your
[1:16:34] our thoughts on starting some sort of
[1:16:36] committee still?
[1:16:37] » That would have
[1:16:37] » I think that I thought we were past
[1:16:39] that. I thought know definitely going to
[1:16:40] establish a committee. I think that's
[1:16:42] what we need.
[1:16:43] » A council committee though or is that
[1:16:45] like a third party committee?
[1:16:47] » I think it would be
[1:16:48] more of a collaborative effort relative
[1:16:50] to possibly a council member but then
[1:16:53] certainly some community members as
[1:16:55] well. Disinterested third parties I
[1:16:57] think it would.
[1:16:58] » We have a system set up now and I think
[1:17:00] if we [snorts] continue to talk about
[1:17:02] this and we're not coming down with an
[1:17:03] answer. I thought that's why we could
[1:17:04] really use this answer money. And then
[1:17:06] try to talk about it and
[1:17:08] you know, 90 days when the next cycle
[1:17:11] comes up so we can't get some money to
[1:17:12] them. I keep I don't want to keep going
[1:17:14] every month and dangling the carrot in
[1:17:15] front of the businesses. That's not fair
[1:17:17] either.
[1:17:17] All right, so
[1:17:19] » I I I want to say one point real quick.
[1:17:22] Um
[1:17:23] I mean I you guys have had my opinions
[1:17:25] on this.
[1:17:26] Just to understand the background of the
[1:17:27] support mechanism, the foundation. The
[1:17:30] the whole point of that is to not tear
[1:17:32] down the store buildings, right? To to
[1:17:34] kind of make to kick the pendulum in the
[1:17:36] other direction as opposed to if if the
[1:17:39] city could put a little bit of money in
[1:17:40] to keep the older buildings up, that's
[1:17:43] what that's for. Just just to give back
[1:17:44] to them back. It's not there just uh
[1:17:47] you know,
[1:17:48] just to give money to people but just
[1:17:50] like the flooring on some of these
[1:17:51] buildings, they kept the original
[1:17:53] flooring because they used this program
[1:17:55] instead of just putting new flooring
[1:17:56] over top of that. So for the historical
[1:17:59] nature of it,
[1:18:01] we're adding value by keeping in the
[1:18:03] historical stuff. So that's that's just
[1:18:04] the reason that is in there. Just kind
[1:18:07] of wanted to give it a little bit of
[1:18:08] background on that.
[1:18:09] » Yeah, my without
[1:18:12] speaking to Councilman Strange or uh
[1:18:14] about the
[1:18:16] proposal or firm that you discussed that
[1:18:18] you mentioned, Brad.
[1:18:18] » Yeah.
[1:18:19] » My philosophy on it, I think we're all
[1:18:21] big fans of the program. I'm a huge fan
[1:18:22] of the program.
[1:18:24] Um I I I just I fear what I don't want
[1:18:27] to have happen is that we narrow the
[1:18:28] scope to the point that there are
[1:18:30] opportunities. There's so many unique
[1:18:31] things that happen that you can't
[1:18:33] legislate about. You can't we You come
[1:18:35] up with every single scenario that would
[1:18:37] be a good applicant or poor applicant
[1:18:39] for the program. So, rather than try to
[1:18:41] eliminate HVAC or things like that, I
[1:18:43] really believe that I mean, we've got it
[1:18:45] We do have it narrowed down quite a bit.
[1:18:47] If we can get to a point where we can
[1:18:49] agree on that,
[1:18:50] I really think that the the decision
[1:18:52] making I mean, we decide on, you know,
[1:18:54] what black and white is eligible or not,
[1:18:58] but by allowing, you know, I'm I'm
[1:19:01] personally I'm in favor of allowing more
[1:19:03] to be eligible,
[1:19:05] receive the applications and go from
[1:19:06] there where you can have, you know,
[1:19:08] whether it's community of experts,
[1:19:10] community members, and council working
[1:19:12] together to award the money to certain
[1:19:14] individuals businesses.
[1:19:16] But, I'm a fan of, you know, really
[1:19:18] encouraging people to apply. And of
[1:19:21] course,
[1:19:22] some of them apply for things that
[1:19:23] aren't going to qualify. And and that
[1:19:25] committee or that decision-making body,
[1:19:26] whatever you want to call it,
[1:19:28] that body does that in the city,
[1:19:30] they make that call. And that was the
[1:19:31] point of my
[1:19:33] of what I proposed is to say that if you
[1:19:35] have a clear clearly expressed
[1:19:38] mission statement that
[1:19:39] lays out as clearly as possible the
[1:19:42] purpose and the intent behind the
[1:19:44] program, that internally the committee
[1:19:47] or the process,
[1:19:49] they know exactly what, you know,
[1:19:52] the review and the approval is is for,
[1:19:54] and then externally, if you're going to
[1:19:56] apply, you know,
[1:19:58] you know,
[1:19:59] what it's there for, right? So,
[1:20:01] my understanding is that
[1:20:04] there hasn't been a few abuses in the
[1:20:05] past. I don't know if anybody has
[1:20:07] information to the contrary, there are
[1:20:10] some here, but if we can focus right
[1:20:13] here, businesses that received over
[1:20:14] $50,000, I mean,
[1:20:16] in the last 5 years,
[1:20:18] I would say
[1:20:19] abuse is a is a tough term. It's not
[1:20:21] really necessarily abusing it, though,
[1:20:23] but it's necessarily what the citizen
[1:20:25] should have to pay for for where a
[1:20:27] landlord is responsible for his own
[1:20:29] work. Like the city I agree with that.
[1:20:31] We've We've had that, you know some of
[1:20:33] that discussion. I agree with that. So
[1:20:34] that that would be the sort of abuse
[1:20:37] part of it and I mean by that that
[1:20:39] you're applying for things that go
[1:20:42] outside of the scope of what the the
[1:20:44] clearly expressed
[1:20:45] purpose and intent
[1:20:47] of the program is but there's some
[1:20:49] judgment on the committee there to
[1:20:52] » No, I understand. I think I think we
[1:20:53] should
[1:20:54] » Allow for situations like
[1:20:56] » I think abuse would be someone who could
[1:20:58] afford it and rely on taxpayer dollars
[1:21:00] to fix it.
[1:21:01] You know what I mean? So what you're
[1:21:02] saying George committee would make sure
[1:21:04] that doesn't happen.
[1:21:05] » The problem is I think is that when you
[1:21:06] have something outlawed by law then you
[1:21:08] turn it down
[1:21:10] you're required to if if it says in
[1:21:12] there we can't say, you know what we can
[1:21:14] do anything but we decided you don't
[1:21:16] deserve anything like that.
[1:21:17] » No,
[1:21:17] you you have the authority for example
[1:21:19] let's get that as an example of the
[1:21:21] structure. You know if you have a
[1:21:24] a policy that gives discretion on you
[1:21:28] know
[1:21:28] let's just say tenants. Is this just to
[1:21:31] bail out a landlord or is this something
[1:21:33] that is unique to this building?
[1:21:36] » Let's say I'm a landlord and I'm like I
[1:21:37] don't really care about it I'm going to
[1:21:39] get X amount of rent I'm not going to
[1:21:40] make any repairs.
[1:21:41] » If somebody calls and they want to build
[1:21:43] a thing or something.
[1:21:45] » You know let's say a fancy wine facility
[1:21:47] and they need
[1:21:48] climate HVAC and like yeah the landlord
[1:21:52] won't do that we want to be here but we
[1:21:54] can't afford it because he can rent it
[1:21:57] to this person and get the same rate but
[1:22:00] it won't bring I mean you you can get
[1:22:02] yourself some discretion.
[1:22:04] You just need to have
[1:22:06] you need to have it written how you
[1:22:08] arrive at that. It's when you say
[1:22:11] nothing and you just kind of come and
[1:22:14] tell us your piece and it's just up or
[1:22:15] down with no standard whatsoever but you
[1:22:18] know
[1:22:19] you always had the right I learned this
[1:22:21] when I was a young attorney.
[1:22:23] You know as long as you provide people
[1:22:25] kind of the general framework what the
[1:22:27] rules are and the right to be heard and
[1:22:29] you have the right to be wrong. I mean,
[1:22:31] for example, we heard tonight some
[1:22:32] people don't necessarily like
[1:22:34] ordinances. Some do, some don't.
[1:22:37] But, at the end of the day, still some
[1:22:39] things got to be decided that will fall
[1:22:42] to you all. So, I mean, you do have the
[1:22:44] ability that they
[1:22:45] is the strength that it's coming up with
[1:22:48] language that
[1:22:50] basically makes it clear this isn't a
[1:22:51] bailout landlord situation. This is how
[1:22:54] you are bringing unique businesses to
[1:22:56] your city that maybe can't afford
[1:22:59] uh you know, obviously the storefronts
[1:23:00] are big.
[1:23:01] The side grants are usually big cuz
[1:23:03] they're the things a landlord is not
[1:23:04] going to pay.
[1:23:06] Um
[1:23:07] you know, I I think that if you're going
[1:23:08] to do something like HVAC,
[1:23:10] yeah, it better not be Yeah, they had a
[1:23:12] 24-year-old system and
[1:23:14] you know, whether there's new fancy
[1:23:16] computer
[1:23:17] or systems coming in or just a
[1:23:20] run-of-the-mill office, um
[1:23:22] the landlord needed to buy a new HVAC
[1:23:24] unit. So.
[1:23:27] » I'm just I'm trying to think of ways to
[1:23:28] move forward. Like I said before, I'm
[1:23:29] pretty against HR and I'm pretty against
[1:23:32] um the structural stuff. I do think it's
[1:23:34] a landlord's responsibility. If we have
[1:23:35] a wealthy landlord who comes in here or
[1:23:37] even if they're not wealthy, they should
[1:23:38] know what they're getting into. You know
[1:23:40] what I mean? I don't think
[1:23:41] » That it's historical?
[1:23:42] » Yeah, well, it See, he says historical,
[1:23:44] but it doesn't say anywhere in there
[1:23:45] historical. It just says So, that could
[1:23:47] mean any building. He says that's what
[1:23:49] it's for and then gives us a
[1:23:50] description, but there's nothing that
[1:23:51] defines that part of it. You know what I
[1:23:52] mean? So, and I think if someone buys a
[1:23:54] building in a historical district
[1:23:56] though, they should understand the
[1:23:57] responsibilities they have. You can't
[1:23:58] just tear a building down in a
[1:23:59] historical district. Well, I guess they
[1:24:01] can if they did what they did around One
[1:24:03] Island.
[1:24:04] Um
[1:24:04] » [clears throat]
[1:24:04] » But, you know, typically they can't just
[1:24:06] tear down a building. You know, that's
[1:24:07] not how it works.
[1:24:07] » Would you feel better though if we I
[1:24:09] agree with you on a lot of this like the
[1:24:11] HVAC. I understand where you're coming
[1:24:12] from. I understand where they're coming
[1:24:14] from with the historical part.
[1:24:15] Putting a
[1:24:16] a committee in place would make me I've
[1:24:18] been through the process. So, being on
[1:24:20] the other side of it and applying for
[1:24:22] these grants,
[1:24:23] I would feel better with a committee in
[1:24:26] place, and it's, you know, at least
[1:24:28] three people giving some
[1:24:31] I hope that have some sort of
[1:24:34] I don't know. Just insight to the
[1:24:36] different buildings like Brad would be I
[1:24:38] think Brad would be great on that cuz he
[1:24:39] has some insight to this stuff. But,
[1:24:42] I think that would make me feel better
[1:24:44] » I would I would
[1:24:45] » Having that in place.
[1:24:46] » I I said in here I took some notes of
[1:24:48] what line items I want out, you know
[1:24:49] what I mean? That that we can have a lot
[1:24:50] of discussion if we want another wall
[1:24:52] and license focus simply on this stuff.
[1:24:54] I just want to focus on the bike
[1:24:55] ordinance before the last meeting. But,
[1:24:57] if we have one before the next meeting,
[1:24:59] maybe we can have some more stuff out.
[1:25:00] You know, and with my discussions I said
[1:25:03] three of stop signs for the program that
[1:25:04] maxes out what they can spend in that
[1:25:06] area, you know what I mean? So, that
[1:25:08] it's not eligible for the entire $60,000
[1:25:10] because,
[1:25:11] you know, when you look at some of these
[1:25:12] programs, some of them got, you know,
[1:25:13] 15,900, 5,800.
[1:25:17] Um, you know, $11,589,
[1:25:20] $15,400. You know what I mean? They're
[1:25:22] all over the place. 20,000, 15,000.
[1:25:25] There's rent subsidies in here. There's
[1:25:26] one for 18,000 here and one for 40.
[1:25:29] Um, so, and like I said, so I just
[1:25:32] I don't want it all to be spent on that.
[1:25:34] I think the the whole goal with this was
[1:25:35] the facade. So, if we can get this
[1:25:37] somewhere where it caps it at a certain
[1:25:39] amount,
[1:25:41] you know what I mean? But, I do think we
[1:25:42] need to take a look at what we can do to
[1:25:44] the citizens. It's all about the
[1:25:46] businesses in town. The citizens make up
[1:25:47] our makeup in town. They are who are the
[1:25:49] dollars we're spending.
[1:25:50] Right? And where should they go? So, I'm
[1:25:52] just trying to meet in the middle with
[1:25:54] both. But, I did have that in my notes
[1:25:55] that if we do a max payout in the
[1:25:56] sub-section, I'd feel much better about
[1:25:59] it. I'm still on the boat for the
[1:25:59] infrastructure. I said that from the
[1:26:01] very beginning. When they voted to
[1:26:03] change this four or five years ago, I
[1:26:04] voted no. I'll vote now, probably vote
[1:26:07] again for structural stuff. Um, if we
[1:26:09] carry out if we carve something out for
[1:26:10] historical, maybe.
[1:26:13] Um, with a minimum. Um, but like I said
[1:26:15] before, if I don't vote yes, that's
[1:26:17] fine. It doesn't not It's not going to
[1:26:18] bother me. I'm not going to lose any
[1:26:19] sleep. That's just how I feel about it.
[1:26:21] If you guys want to go ahead and vote, I
[1:26:22] don't want you guys to hold back because
[1:26:24] I'm a no on that. You know what I mean?
[1:26:26] Because I'm trying to move I'm Keep
[1:26:27] having these conversations to try to
[1:26:29] move forward to try to release some of
[1:26:30] the money for
[1:26:31] » Yeah.
[1:26:31] » These funds, right? So, I'm coming up
[1:26:33] with I'm spitballing what I would make.
[1:26:35] You know what I mean? And we can circle
[1:26:36] back around with the other stuff. But if
[1:26:38] you don't feel like that's something
[1:26:39] you're interested in, then move forward
[1:26:41] without me and give these guys some
[1:26:42] money.
[1:26:43] » Well, the other thing you can do is you
[1:26:44] can make them produce. Like for example,
[1:26:46] let's say somebody's
[1:26:48] got an SBA loan
[1:26:49] and they you know, you probably
[1:26:51] guarantee a certain percentage of that
[1:26:53] and maybe they're
[1:26:54] Let me take the rest of this. You got to
[1:26:56] say, "I got my kids got a little ice
[1:26:58] cream." You know, let's say outside and
[1:26:59] they
[1:27:00] they've gotten their SBA, they've
[1:27:02] remodeled everything, but they're short
[1:27:04] X amount, you know, and they're they're
[1:27:06] tapped out. That's all the SBA's going
[1:27:08] to do. Landlords are And And you can
[1:27:10] even ask them, "Let me see your rent."
[1:27:11] You know, does the landlord
[1:27:13] maybe say, "Okay, during your 4 months
[1:27:14] of build-out, I'm going to charge you a
[1:27:17] lot like, you know,
[1:27:19] I think you I don't think you're doing
[1:27:20] anything wrong to make the landlord be
[1:27:22] part of the solution as well. We might
[1:27:24] assist, but you're also not going to get
[1:27:26] full freight rent while, you know,
[1:27:29] government money's being used to get you
[1:27:31] a viable tenant and a business. So, I
[1:27:33] mean, I I do think you can do a lot of
[1:27:35] deep dive to get people who truly need
[1:27:38] the help. Uh because it is
[1:27:41] it What I've noticed, it's getting
[1:27:43] harder right now for
[1:27:45] what banks will lend on, especially when
[1:27:47] you've got brick and mortar. Uh
[1:27:50] you know, they
[1:27:51] you know, there's not a lot of people
[1:27:52] that have hundred thousand dollars
[1:27:54] sitting around to go in and basically on
[1:27:56] a 3-year lease,
[1:27:58] you know, revamp a storefront that may
[1:28:01] or may not work. It's It's tough.
[1:28:04] » Yeah, but it's also it's not their
[1:28:05] storefront, right? So, we're revamping
[1:28:07] it for somebody else.
[1:28:08] » No, that's where you're looking at what
[1:28:09] they're doing because, you know,
[1:28:10] obviously if it's brand new windows.
[1:28:13] Yeah.
[1:28:13] » Exactly.
[1:28:14] » Well, I mean, but it's the whole reason
[1:28:16] for the grant cuz I started Sorry, I was
[1:28:17] a program
[1:28:18] facade grant, you know. So, I just I'd
[1:28:21] be more open for discussion. I was just
[1:28:22] throwing that all out there. I'm just
[1:28:23] trying to get the ball moving. I keep
[1:28:25] saying I said it last time I said it
[1:28:26] before. You don't agree with me, that's
[1:28:27] fine. You know what I mean? Like, move
[1:28:29] on. And let's get them some money one
[1:28:31] way or the other. At least let's have
[1:28:32] the meeting next time. See if we can
[1:28:34] come up with something um prior to the
[1:28:37] next meeting. Talk about it, you know
[1:28:39] what I mean? It's not a special meeting.
[1:28:40] It's a meeting that's But then we could
[1:28:42] maybe finish it up and do a first
[1:28:44] reading and then we'll be back in
[1:28:45] another 2 weeks after that or, you know
[1:28:47] what I mean? For another possible
[1:28:48] reading for them. And the program is
[1:28:49] pretty much all laid out, right? You
[1:28:51] know what I mean? So,
[1:28:52] it'd just be maybe a subsection or
[1:28:54] something along the lines. We can all
[1:28:55] talk and then interrupt and anybody has
[1:28:57] any ideas on it, let us know.
[1:28:59] Obviously, um
[1:29:01] » Would Mayor Allison be the one to kind
[1:29:04] of decide how we want to set up I just
[1:29:06] think that's a good idea.
[1:29:07] » I think it's on us. It's an ordinance,
[1:29:08] so but I mean, obviously, he whatever
[1:29:10] his opinion, obviously,
[1:29:12] his opinion matters, you know what I
[1:29:13] mean? On it. I think
[1:29:15] he's had some great ideas
[1:29:17] um on it, you know, so
[1:29:19] um
[1:29:20] yeah, I didn't mind it going to all of
[1:29:21] our license meeting, you know what I
[1:29:23] mean? So, the committee, you know what I
[1:29:24] mean? I think it's counted city dollars
[1:29:26] we're elected to handle the city
[1:29:27] dollars. I don't want to put that
[1:29:29] pressure on somebody else. I think all
[1:29:31] this pressure we should be falling on
[1:29:32] the sword for the money that is spent
[1:29:34] the majority of time.
[1:29:35] Um that's how That's why we're elected,
[1:29:37] right? So, if we make a bad decision,
[1:29:38] it's kind of falling on us, so
[1:29:40] that doesn't bother me one bit, you know
[1:29:42] what I mean? If that's how it wants to
[1:29:43] be, you know.
[1:29:44] It can come to us
[1:29:45] for all intents and purposes,
[1:29:47] you know.
[1:29:48] I just want to search make sure it's
[1:29:49] carved out and I don't want something in
[1:29:50] there that someone's going to get teased
[1:29:51] at or they don't care about that can't
[1:29:53] be done cuz we decided, you know, never
[1:29:55] mind, we don't feel like you deserve
[1:29:56] this, but these guys deserve it. I think
[1:29:58] that's unfair, too. So, and I like the
[1:30:00] thought of giving something back to the
[1:30:01] citizens. These are native species are
[1:30:03] endangered and stuff. They are. And you
[1:30:05] know, I think some people don't take
[1:30:06] care of it cuz they're older or don't
[1:30:08] have the money. You know what I mean?
[1:30:09] It's I can tell you that as much. I'm
[1:30:11] well over $3,000 and I didn't I cut it
[1:30:13] all down myself. I'm still at $3,000 to
[1:30:16] remove it, come in here, and stump grind
[1:30:18] it and everything else. So, they had to
[1:30:19] chop it up and bring trucks to untake it
[1:30:21] out. It's
[1:30:22] it's a lot.
[1:30:23] So.
[1:30:26] So.
[1:30:27] » Trying to figure out how we're moving
[1:30:28] forward with this.
[1:30:29] » Well, I think we'll meet next time
[1:30:31] » Okay.
[1:30:31] » Beforehand. We'll have a meeting with
[1:30:32] it. We didn't make any decisions today.
[1:30:35] All the highway licenses being prior to
[1:30:36] the next council meeting.
[1:30:37] » So, uh just for the record, I'm not for
[1:30:40] HVAC and structural, either. I've said
[1:30:42] repeatedly that I think it should be
[1:30:43] mainly focused on the facade. But, I am
[1:30:45] intrigued with Eric's idea because there
[1:30:48] can be unique and compelling
[1:30:49] circumstances. If we completely remove
[1:30:51] them, then we know it's absolutely not
[1:30:53] going to happen.
[1:30:54] And I would like to think that this
[1:30:56] committee that we would put together
[1:30:57] would possess the knowledge to and and
[1:31:00] uh
[1:31:01] understand
[1:31:03] the job at hand to make the right
[1:31:04] decision. And in very rare occasions, it
[1:31:06] may be an HVAC or structural
[1:31:08] improvement. But, the focus would be on
[1:31:10] facade. The mission statement would very
[1:31:12] clearly say that, and the committee
[1:31:14] would understand what the mission of the
[1:31:16] program is. And we haven't exhausted the
[1:31:19] program in any year over the past two or
[1:31:21] three years, am I right?
[1:31:22] » No, not the last two.
[1:31:23] » So, that tells me that either the
[1:31:26] application process is too hard
[1:31:28] or
[1:31:30] we're not open to enough
[1:31:32] good ideas.
[1:31:33] » Well, I think it's Yeah, I think that's
[1:31:35] a misnomer. Opening it up is just
[1:31:37] allowing
[1:31:38] businesses or landlords to use taxpayer
[1:31:40] dollars when they should be fixing it
[1:31:42] themselves. So, just because people
[1:31:43] aren't using it
[1:31:45] doesn't mean So, that's just saying,
[1:31:47] "Hey, we should now allow the cab roofs
[1:31:49] or buy a new car." That's not what it's
[1:31:51] about, you know what I mean? And at some
[1:31:52] point, you know what I mean?
[1:31:53] » It would be on
[1:31:54] » Are we going to have all the highway
[1:31:55] licenses discuss all of this?
[1:31:57] » Yes.
[1:31:57] » I guess so.
[1:31:58] » Yeah, let's move.
[1:32:00] Yeah, so.
[1:32:02] You know, that's the thing. I mean, I
[1:32:03] and I'm I I said I'm open to some kind
[1:32:05] of subsection on that but also you have
[1:32:07] to think that there have been like you
[1:32:10] know I always bring up the restaurant
[1:32:11] that was not part of the grant program
[1:32:12] it was something someone needed because
[1:32:14] they felt they needed extra income
[1:32:15] because it was going to cost too much to
[1:32:17] outsource that restaurant, right? So
[1:32:19] these things don't have to be in a
[1:32:21] grant. If someone hits a building in
[1:32:23] town they realize hey look I want to
[1:32:25] sell this building I want to they can
[1:32:26] come to us we can probably work out if
[1:32:29] we felt it was a necessary move they can
[1:32:31] get funding from the city to save that
[1:32:33] building. So it doesn't have to be in
[1:32:34] this grant.
[1:32:35] They've done it before. I was not on
[1:32:37] that last one the last couple but that
[1:32:39] doesn't mean I wouldn't be on the next
[1:32:40] one. I mean salvage a historical
[1:32:41] building. You know what I mean?
[1:32:43] » Let's go to the meeting then and then
[1:32:44] we'll move on. Does that work? Yes.
[1:32:47] » Yeah, let's do it before the next
[1:32:49] meeting and then hopefully we can all
[1:32:51] discuss something beforehand and come up
[1:32:52] with something. I mean I'm I'm open to
[1:32:54] that idea. You know I mean as long as
[1:32:55] it's protected.
[1:32:57] » You know yeah that's the clear language
[1:32:59] that you know that there's a very high
[1:33:00] bar for anything HVAC or structural.
[1:33:03] » High bar and possibly a limit on what
[1:33:06] they can use it for.
[1:33:08] » Schedule it now.
[1:33:10] » Schedule it now.
[1:33:11] » Hey wait I'll give it a schedule it now.
[1:33:12] » Yes
[1:33:13] that's easy.
[1:33:14] » That's today for the next hour.
[1:33:16] » Today.
[1:33:17] » Yeah yeah yeah.
[1:33:19] » Give me a glass of water.
[1:33:21] » [laughter]
[1:33:22] » Um all right thank you. Thank you for
[1:33:23] entertaining that. I'm really interested
[1:33:25] in getting something back there so after
[1:33:27] that sorry I lost my
[1:33:30] program now it's the Flock Camera and
[1:33:33] set public meeting.
[1:33:37] » Yes so I'm trying to get it's been
[1:33:40] challenging with people on vacation in
[1:33:42] the last couple of weeks. I'd like to
[1:33:43] try to do the Flock Camera meeting on
[1:33:47] September the 2nd at 6:00 p.m.
[1:33:50] I think
[1:33:52] everybody is available. I see one
[1:33:55] scratch face so maybe not. Okay.
[1:33:59] Is everybody
[1:34:01] in town?
[1:34:02] » I said it's all me.
[1:34:03] » I know.
[1:34:04] » It's all me.
[1:34:04] » Yeah, I'm good.
[1:34:05] » [laughter]
[1:34:06] » I'm 200 deep in emails, so
[1:34:08] um
[1:34:09] » Just keep in mind when you're checking
[1:34:10] your calendar that you probably need to
[1:34:12] block off from 6:00 p.m. until the early
[1:34:14] morning the next day.
[1:34:16] » So yeah.
[1:34:17] » So um we're going to
[1:34:20] So this Wednesday
[1:34:24] we'll shoot for 6:00 p.m. I'll I'll put
[1:34:26] that out.
[1:34:27] And again, just
[1:34:29] that meeting we we really want to have
[1:34:31] any questions ahead of time from
[1:34:33] citizens to make sure that um the
[1:34:35] questions are covered ahead of time.
[1:34:37] Obviously, any questions from council,
[1:34:39] and then we will open it up to public
[1:34:41] comments.
[1:34:42] Um but what we really want to do is make
[1:34:44] sure that we are having good
[1:34:46] conversations, not
[1:34:48] not things that if you bring up
[1:34:49] something that I'd like to have a source
[1:34:51] cuz there's a lot of mis- misinformation
[1:34:53] that's been put out already that there's
[1:34:55] no justification for right now. Um so
[1:34:58] you know, we can and we can also do the
[1:35:00] what if all day long. So we'll just
[1:35:02] we're going to try to control that just
[1:35:03] to have a good conversation. I've had a
[1:35:06] handful of citizens that are very much
[1:35:07] against block that I've talked to in the
[1:35:09] last week or two. Uh we've had really
[1:35:11] good conversations after the first 5
[1:35:13] minutes, right? It's just cuz I know
[1:35:15] that this does amp people up. Um and
[1:35:18] that's good cuz people are passionate
[1:35:19] about it, but I just once we once we can
[1:35:22] kind of lay it out and and have a good
[1:35:23] conversation, it's just it's a good
[1:35:25] topic to discuss, so that's kind of the
[1:35:27] goal. If anybody has anything ahead of
[1:35:29] time, please send it to us, so um
[1:35:32] that we can make sure that we can make
[1:35:33] sure
[1:35:34] » Somewhere bigger like the mess hall?
[1:35:36] » Um I don't know if we're going to be
[1:35:37] able to have it in the mess hall cuz
[1:35:38] farmers market is that night, so I'll
[1:35:40] double check. It'll most likely be here,
[1:35:42] but we'll we'll see cuz that that'll be
[1:35:45] a clash of
[1:35:47] you know, of everything. So um
[1:35:49] so it'll most likely be in this room.
[1:35:51] » What day of the week is that?
[1:35:54] » It'll be seems easy, but it's not.
[1:35:58] » They They emailed They emailed us last
[1:35:59] week, just so you know, and gave us like
[1:36:00] 10 dates, you know, so I
[1:36:02] I'm out of town on Thursday and the next
[1:36:04] one cuz I scheduled my vacation around
[1:36:06] these meetings, so but I told them to go
[1:36:08] ahead and have it like without me and I
[1:36:09] would catch up, but
[1:36:10] » Yeah. We're trying to get it We're
[1:36:12] trying to get everybody here.
[1:36:16] No, but the parking I I I know that, but
[1:36:19] but being parking and everything else.
[1:36:20] So, I I'm not saying that's a no. I'm
[1:36:22] going to talk to them first, but I'm
[1:36:23] definitely not going to just tell them
[1:36:24] we're doing it. I want to have that
[1:36:25] conversation with them just to
[1:36:27] just to see.
[1:36:32] What's the
[1:36:34] » Maybe the
[1:36:35] back area at the school.
[1:36:36] » Um yeah, I I did think of that. That The
[1:36:39] other issue with the armory or the mess
[1:36:41] hall is just the sound and the audio and
[1:36:43] everything is just not very good there
[1:36:45] compared to here. Um but I have I have
[1:36:48] thought about the auditorium. So, you
[1:36:51] It'll require
[1:36:53] the school to have staff there, but um
[1:36:55] I'm going to
[1:36:56] » Because of the acoustic issue, um and
[1:37:00] we're forced to find another location.
[1:37:01] Can we like at least consider that
[1:37:03] because this is an I I appreciate and
[1:37:04] understand that everybody has schedules
[1:37:06] and things that they have to be doing
[1:37:08] real lives and real jobs, but we've been
[1:37:10] talking about this now for 4 weeks. Um
[1:37:13] the conversation 4 weeks ago, 3 weeks
[1:37:15] ago should have been what dates do we
[1:37:17] have available and how could the
[1:37:19] facility be that within our community
[1:37:21] and they get to such that people within
[1:37:23] the community can actually come. I mean,
[1:37:24] there's a max capacity on this room.
[1:37:27] So, at some point you're going to have
[1:37:28] to turn people away. I don't know if
[1:37:30] that qualifies as an open meeting, but
[1:37:32] I'd be worried about it. Personally. I
[1:37:34] don't think we should be worried about
[1:37:35] the acoustics of the location um when
[1:37:40] it's something that's that important
[1:37:41] that we're talking about.
[1:37:43] » Okay.
[1:37:46] » So, we're setting up date for 9:00
[1:37:47] tonight.
[1:37:47] » So, we're doing it 9:00 2:00 and and
[1:37:49] I'll I'll determine the location.
[1:37:53] » But, you know, I do want to say
[1:37:55] something. I think I I've emailed
[1:37:56] everybody that that asked me about the
[1:37:58] Flock Cameras or that they didn't email
[1:37:59] me.
[1:38:00] You know, I I just want everybody to
[1:38:01] understand like this is obviously this
[1:38:02] is a very serious conversation. People
[1:38:04] have their concerns with them. There
[1:38:06] wasn't any malicious intent by the city
[1:38:07] or Chief Kilgore when they put these in.
[1:38:10] You know, um these have been out for
[1:38:11] since 2018 now. Um you know what I mean?
[1:38:14] And it wasn't until a few weeks prior to
[1:38:16] the last meeting that people really
[1:38:17] started uh gravitating towards some of
[1:38:19] the misuse or mishandling of these um
[1:38:22] type of type of machinery, right? So, we
[1:38:24] all know that cameras have been around
[1:38:25] for a long time, etc., etc. But, Chief
[1:38:27] Kilgore lives here, you know, Matt is a
[1:38:29] former officer, you know what I mean?
[1:38:31] And we can trust in him to keep us safe.
[1:38:33] We're the safest city in Kentucky for a
[1:38:35] reason uh year after year. It's because
[1:38:37] of our police chief and our fire
[1:38:38] department and our administration, our
[1:38:40] executive branch, and our council.
[1:38:42] Uh so, when they brought this to our
[1:38:44] attention, you know, we did ask about
[1:38:46] them, but there wasn't as much concern
[1:38:47] at the time as there is now. So, I would
[1:38:49] ask that people just give him a chance
[1:38:51] to understand what he where he was
[1:38:53] coming from on these. And he's a family,
[1:38:56] he grew up here, and we all want to keep
[1:38:57] him safe. So, there was no malicious
[1:38:59] intent by anybody or or something. Now,
[1:39:01] things could come to light. Obviously,
[1:39:02] we're reviewing those and getting an
[1:39:04] understanding a little bit more
[1:39:05] ourselves.
[1:39:06] » I think it's I mean, I think that you
[1:39:08] should also consider the fact that we're
[1:39:09] talking about civilian people, and there
[1:39:11] wasn't notice about this issue
[1:39:12] particularly. Um that doesn't exactly
[1:39:15] scream transparency, and if we're all
[1:39:17] worried about, you know, how we can
[1:39:19] » Thank Thank you, Allison. You could If
[1:39:20] you wanted to sign up, you could have
[1:39:22] signed up earlier on in this. You know
[1:39:23] what I mean? That's what this podium is
[1:39:25] for. We allow people to talk, and we
[1:39:27] have nice conversations.
[1:39:28] I understand that.
[1:39:30] Um it was in the budget. It was It did
[1:39:32] say Flock Cameras on the budget. I asked
[1:39:35] the question about it in April at the
[1:39:36] budget meeting. I asked, "Can you tell
[1:39:38] me these? I'm not for them." You know
[1:39:40] what I mean? It wasn't like we didn't
[1:39:41] ask, but you also have to understand how
[1:39:43] many line items there are and how much
[1:39:45] stuff we're going to ask. We ask a lot
[1:39:46] of questions and you have to entrust in
[1:39:48] the people that keep us safe.
[1:39:50] Um if you can't do that, then what's the
[1:39:52] point of having them? You know what I
[1:39:53] mean? So, I trust Chief Gilbert and I
[1:39:55] trust Chief O'Malley to give us the
[1:39:57] right decisions to keep us safe and make
[1:39:59] us safe and more safe because of them.
[1:40:01] So, I think that we are having a
[1:40:03] discussion now on them. We're going to
[1:40:04] have it on September 2nd. I'm very happy
[1:40:06] about that that we have it. It's only
[1:40:07] been 30 days since we discussed that and
[1:40:10] then we are putting a bunch of people
[1:40:12] with lives like you said that try to
[1:40:13] gather. And we also want time to gather
[1:40:15] information from you guys with your
[1:40:16] questions. So, it isn't a battle back
[1:40:18] and forth. And you know, like
[1:40:21] City Administrator Kramer said, "Please
[1:40:22] back the information with facts." So, um
[1:40:27] I appreciate I appreciate everybody's
[1:40:28] concern about it. But we wouldn't have
[1:40:29] found out about it if it wasn't for
[1:40:31] everybody, you know.
[1:40:34] You and me and Seth.
[1:40:35] » What's that?
[1:40:36] » You and me and Seth and me and Seth.
[1:40:37] » Yeah, me and Seth. Yeah, me and you. So,
[1:40:40] and here's my card right here. So, if
[1:40:41] anybody wants to ask any questions,
[1:40:43] here's my card, here's my email address.
[1:40:44] Please come grab it. This is the light
[1:40:46] board or anything else and I will relay
[1:40:47] those questions on.
[1:40:49] » You all want before we leave, there's
[1:40:51] only one case out there about Flock.
[1:40:53] It's I think
[1:40:54] it's on appeal before circuit court of
[1:40:55] appeals.
[1:40:57] That's the only one that's concerning
[1:40:58] about Flock.
[1:40:59] The other one is a case the Supreme
[1:41:01] Court came down with
[1:41:02] » Can you write that down?
[1:41:03] » Oh.
[1:41:04] Called Shatry or something and say uh
[1:41:07] it involved using a
[1:41:08] like a Google
[1:41:10] kind of geo fence to find somebody rob
[1:41:13] the bank. And so, when you hear people
[1:41:15] talking about a court case the Supreme
[1:41:16] Court,
[1:41:17] there's a
[1:41:19] argument some may try to extrapolate
[1:41:22] that somehow that reasoning applies. But
[1:41:25] I've heard people post on social media
[1:41:27] quotes that are being said. That's not
[1:41:30] necessarily true. There There's like I
[1:41:31] said, there's only one case that is at
[1:41:34] the court of appeals level.
[1:41:36] That's the only one I'm about Flock
[1:41:38] right now.
[1:41:39] » It's kind of working its way to get a
[1:41:42] a decision from
[1:41:44] a bind. You know, if you have like
[1:41:46] 9th or like 11th appellate courts,
[1:41:49] federal ones are kind of the
[1:41:51] right below the Supreme Court. So, when
[1:41:53] they rule, until they rule, you're not
[1:41:55] really going to have a clear federal
[1:41:56] guidance on that issue.
[1:41:58] » I think this can can we put a pause on
[1:42:00] the use of Flock cameras until we have
[1:42:01] this meeting?
[1:42:05] » If we make a cut down,
[1:42:07] » I mean,
[1:42:08] » [snorts]
[1:42:08] » I mean, I would I would
[1:42:10] I would be for a pause on them.
[1:42:13] » I know Angie and
[1:42:16] Mics, please.
[1:42:17] » Sorry. Sorry.
[1:42:18] » Um um
[1:42:20] just turning them on like if there's an
[1:42:21] animal or a wreck or something in the
[1:42:22] meantime, which I'd be okay with.
[1:42:24] » Yeah. I mean, I'd be okay.
[1:42:25] » There's that way for us to manually
[1:42:27] We'd have to have Flock them out and
[1:42:28] turn them off.
[1:42:31] So, that's the way to do that.
[1:42:32] » Do you anticipate having representation
[1:42:34] from Flock at this meeting?
[1:42:37] » Everybody I've talked to they don't want
[1:42:39] Flock there, um but we haven't
[1:42:42] we haven't figured out where to have
[1:42:43] them there. No, we've discussed that.
[1:42:50] » All right. So, 9th is the 2nd is the
[1:42:51] meeting. All right. Forensic audit.
[1:42:53] » So, the forensic audit I was hoping to
[1:42:55] set a time. Um I have not gotten
[1:42:59] um email or text messages back from from
[1:43:02] them to set it. My goal was to set it
[1:43:05] before that week after um
[1:43:08] September 9th. That's a That's a
[1:43:10] Wednesday as well. I don't know if if
[1:43:12] everybody can check their calendars real
[1:43:13] quick.
[1:43:14] » We'll do it on September 9th if you
[1:43:15] don't mind.
[1:43:16] » Okay.
[1:43:16] » If we're going to have that first
[1:43:17] reading of the tax rate on the 8th,
[1:43:19] » Okay.
[1:43:20] » I think you're right. It's the 8th the
[1:43:21] first reading of the tax.
[1:43:22] » Yes.
[1:43:25] » Um
[1:43:28] » I mean, we are still waiting on a
[1:43:29] report, but I'm I'm What I'd like to do
[1:43:30] is give them some sort of target date
[1:43:32] that they're going to they have to have
[1:43:33] it wrapped up.
[1:43:34] » What about the following?
[1:43:36] » Well, can we do it Yeah, can we just do
[1:43:37] it at the council meeting? Remember our
[1:43:38] scheduled council meeting?
[1:43:39] » I think it's going to be probably
[1:43:41] longer.
[1:43:42] And but the goal for that one as well is
[1:43:45] the auditors will will brief council on
[1:43:47] the whole situation. I want to have our
[1:43:51] our actual auditors there as well to be
[1:43:53] able to put their input. And then once
[1:43:57] that's explained, council will ask their
[1:43:58] question and then we open it up to
[1:44:01] citizens to be able to bring their
[1:44:02] questions while everybody all the
[1:44:04] subject matter experts are there.
[1:44:06] So, I I don't really want to combine it
[1:44:08] with another meeting because
[1:44:10] if we did it today, we would start the
[1:44:11] meeting maybe at 9:00 p.m.
[1:44:14] So, I I want to have a separate meeting
[1:44:16] for that.
[1:44:18] So, I
[1:44:20] if if council can just give me their
[1:44:22] availability, you know, that second,
[1:44:23] third week of September, if if there's
[1:44:26] any that they're out of town type of
[1:44:27] things.
[1:44:28] Uh, or just keep a keep an eye on that.
[1:44:30] I I really want to get
[1:44:32] um, Dean Dorton had given me a bunch of
[1:44:34] dates, but then they they wanted to run
[1:44:37] an additional analysis and they asked
[1:44:40] for a couple more pieces of information.
[1:44:43] Um, but I still want to knock that out.
[1:44:44] So, that by the end of this week I'd
[1:44:45] like to have that date set. So, once I
[1:44:47] talk to them, I'll kick those dates out
[1:44:49] to council so we can try to have it set
[1:44:51] by the end of this week.
[1:44:52] » I'm good the weekend of the 14th.
[1:44:54] » Okay.
[1:44:55] » What's in between the two council
[1:44:56] meetings, correct?
[1:44:57] » Yeah.
[1:44:58] » And I'm able to understand that, but
[1:44:59] once you once the city receives the
[1:45:01] report from the auditors,
[1:45:03] will receive that report ahead of that
[1:45:05] public meeting. We're going to have to
[1:45:06] » Correct.
[1:45:07] » So, do we expect to receive that report
[1:45:10] this week?
[1:45:10] » No, I
[1:45:12] » Not not not us, the city.
[1:45:14] » I don't know. I doubt I doubt it.
[1:45:15] » Okay.
[1:45:16] » I mean, I the last time I talked to him
[1:45:17] was on Friday, maybe Thursday. So,
[1:45:21] uh,
[1:45:22] I'm just trying to get them to to commit
[1:45:23] to some dates for them.
[1:45:26] But we'll shoot for the week of the
[1:45:27] 14th.
[1:45:29] If council can just take a look at their
[1:45:30] dates and see if anybody's out of town.
[1:45:34] That's our week.
[1:45:36] 14th, 15th, 16th.
[1:45:38] » I'm good.
[1:45:40] » Thank you.
[1:45:42] » Look, I don't mean to be a stick in the
[1:45:43] mud. We could do that week prior. Just I
[1:45:46] my only request would be to
[1:45:48] maybe not that Wednesday night. Uh
[1:45:51] » Well, again, just
[1:45:52] I've got to make sure Dean Dorne can be
[1:45:54] there.
[1:45:54] » Yeah.
[1:45:55] » Our auditor
[1:45:56] seven elected officials
[1:45:59] So, it's just
[1:46:00] I I those are the two that are really I
[1:46:02] need to make sure they can get there.
[1:46:04] So, we'll we'll get it we'll get it
[1:46:06] ironed out before the end of the week.
[1:46:09] » I just emailed him that, but I am out of
[1:46:11] town
[1:46:12] 5th to
[1:46:13] But I think I'll be back
[1:46:15] » Okay.
[1:46:20] All right, is that it?
[1:46:22] Uh new business. I did have a request
[1:46:23] from a
[1:46:24] a uh citizen called me last night, and I
[1:46:26] think it's a hard request.
[1:46:28] Um and it's for a shaded area at the
[1:46:31] pickleball courts.
[1:46:32] So, now first I thought they wanted to
[1:46:35] shade the whole pickleball courts. I
[1:46:36] started Googling shaded pickleball
[1:46:37] courts.
[1:46:38] Not that easy.
[1:46:40] Uh but I
[1:46:41] I was like, I don't think we can do
[1:46:42] that. I've never seen tennis courts like
[1:46:43] that, but I do think a couple benches
[1:46:45] and some shade uh would
[1:46:47] » We've added benches. We've added trees.
[1:46:49] It's just going to take about 5 years.
[1:46:52] We We have looked We We I've talked to
[1:46:55] them about it. We've looked at a bunch
[1:46:57] of different options um
[1:46:59] but the triangle shades to be put down
[1:47:01] there.
[1:47:01] » Not on actual courts, but like
[1:47:03] » Right on the on the outside.
[1:47:05] We're
[1:47:06] » So, we're investigating that. Something
[1:47:07] that we believe
[1:47:08] » I know we We've gotten quotes on that.
[1:47:09] It's I know everything you think is
[1:47:11] easy, but it's not.
[1:47:12] » No, that was That was just a
[1:47:13] » Cuz you have grass underneath these
[1:47:15] shades. These shades have to be brought
[1:47:16] down at certain points of the year uh
[1:47:19] and they're not just like the ones you
[1:47:20] use on your deck.
[1:47:21] » Well, I know what's uh sale shades are,
[1:47:23] but there are permanent ones. We have a
[1:47:24] permanent structure at the dog park,
[1:47:26] right? It's four posts and a roof,
[1:47:28] right? And we have shelters everywhere.
[1:47:29] » Right.
[1:47:30] » Everywhere, right? And those don't come
[1:47:31] down.
[1:47:31] » And we can if we do a we can do some
[1:47:33] sort of small shelter down there if
[1:47:35] council wanted that.
[1:47:36] » I think that's not a bad idea. There's a
[1:47:38] lot of people out there a lot of people
[1:47:39] waiting.
[1:47:40] That's the unfortunate thing when you
[1:47:42] add in those type of areas like tennis
[1:47:44] courts are
[1:47:45] it's a wide open space and there's not a
[1:47:46] lot of trees.
[1:47:48] » I think we should consider something.
[1:47:55] » Anybody else disagree with that?
[1:47:56] » I said down here.
[1:47:58] » The top.
[1:48:00] You know, that's the problem, too. The
[1:48:00] sun comes at different angles and
[1:48:02] different directions, so they have to be
[1:48:03] lower cuz if not the sun's going to be
[1:48:05] coming through regardless.
[1:48:06] So, it's all about the orientation of
[1:48:07] it.
[1:48:08] » What about like if you just do lower in?
[1:48:10] » Yes. Okay. I'll get prices for council
[1:48:13] looking.
[1:48:15] » All right. Ordi- ordinances and
[1:48:18] resolutions and orders.
[1:48:20] » You got ordinance 07-07-2026.
[1:48:25] It's the second reading. It's an
[1:48:26] ordinance updating the unified
[1:48:28] development ordinance. That's your text
[1:48:31] amendments changing your UDL.
[1:48:35] And this is the second reading. You'll
[1:48:36] need a motion and a second.
[1:48:39] » Move to approve.
[1:48:40] » Second.
[1:48:44] » Okay, we got a first and a second.
[1:48:46] Any discussion?
[1:48:49] All in favor?
[1:48:50] » All right.
[1:48:50] » Yeah, I'll go by that.
[1:48:53] Eric Strange?
[1:48:54] » Aye.
[1:48:55] » Lauren McIntosh?
[1:48:56] » Aye.
[1:48:56] » Brett Pannel?
[1:48:57] » Aye.
[1:48:58] » Adam Bell?
[1:48:58] » Abstain.
[1:48:59] » Ben Hendry?
[1:49:00] » Aye.
[1:49:01] » Pass.
[1:49:04] » Now you have ordinance 08-
[1:49:07] 2026, an ordinance repealing the bike
[1:49:09] ordinance. And here's the reason for
[1:49:10] this.
[1:49:12] Because essentially we're just repealing
[1:49:14] what you have because what you're
[1:49:15] proposing is
[1:49:18] you really can't change it. You're you
[1:49:19] basically going from traditional bikes
[1:49:21] to now scooters, e-bikes and then now.
[1:49:24] So, it's kind of just scrap that, go
[1:49:27] back to the drawing board. Now,
[1:49:29] should you all decide not to do the
[1:49:31] second reading or change the other one,
[1:49:33] I would suggest your second reading of
[1:49:35] this coincide or else you'd be left
[1:49:37] without anything at that point. So,
[1:49:39] that's all this first reading is
[1:49:41] basically.
[1:49:44] The next one is ordinance 09-2026,
[1:49:48] which is the ordinance adopting a new
[1:49:50] bike ordinance, which I think you
[1:49:51] already discussed earlier tonight.
[1:49:55] I'm closing the orders.
[1:49:58] » They'll be another one in a minute. So,
[1:49:59] both of those.
[1:50:02] » Now, you have a resolution R-02-2026
[1:50:06] is the previous document
[1:50:08] for the CPP grant,
[1:50:11] which is a $521,000
[1:50:15] dollars.
[1:50:16] I don't remember if I went over what it
[1:50:18] is.
[1:50:20] » I need a motion and a second for that
[1:50:22] one.
[1:50:23] Second.
[1:50:25] All in favor?
[1:50:27] Any opposed?
[1:50:29] Thank you.
[1:50:29] » Yes, and your last is executive order
[1:50:31] 03-2026,
[1:50:33] which requires no action by council.
[1:50:34] It's just mayor advising you that he has
[1:50:36] appointed Zach Vance
[1:50:38] as a police officer for Fort Thomas
[1:50:40] city.
[1:50:42] The chief already brought that up in his
[1:50:43] report as well.
[1:50:46] » One thing I wanted to ask you another
[1:50:47] question.
[1:50:49] So, that's kind of crazy.
[1:50:53] Uh so, you guys have any questions or
[1:50:54] comments or anything? So,
[1:50:57] All right. This is the council meeting
[1:50:59] we're ending. So,
[1:51:05] Second.
[1:51:06] » Thanks.
[1:51:07] All in favor?
[1:51:08] All right.