Commission approves resignation, discusses budget

Jun. 16—The Richmond City Commission met to read an ordinance pertaining to the proposed subdivision of a shopping center structure, a budget for the upcoming year, and approved a resignation in the codes department.

The commissioners unanimously voted against ordinance 22-16, which was previously tabled. The ordinance amends the city's development ordinance relating to subdivision of shopping center structures in B-4 zones.

"Whereas the city's existing development ordinance maintains restrictions governing the subdivision of buildings and before zoning districts, whereas the city's Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended that existing shopping center developments and before districts be permitted to be subdivided and sold. And whereas the Board of Commissioners finds it to be in public interest that the recommendations of the Planning and Zoning Commission in these regards be enacted. Now therefore be it ordained that the city's development ordinance and hereby how he is modified in the particulars noted on the attachment to this ordinance and say are incorporated in this ordinance, as though here set forth in this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon enactment following second reading and publication in accordance with the requirements of applicable Kentucky law," the ordinance read.

City Manager Rob Minerich shared several concerns about "breaking up" shopping centers without having an association or a system to ensure that buildings are maintained.

"The representation for this proposal has not given us any kind of association that will be established to take care of the common areas which would be sidewalks, parking lots, roofs," Minerich said.

The second reading of ordinance 22-20, which repeals Kentucky ordinance 07-06 in its entirety, was unanimously signed by commissioners. The ordinance essentially abolishes the Citizens Advisory Board which worked with law enforcement.

"Whereas in 2007, the city adopted Ordinance of 07-06, which established a Citizens Advisory Board in an effort to improve community relations with the police department in regards to sensitive, effective and responsive leads to the citizens. Whereas after review the Richmond City Board of Commissioners believes that ordinance 07-06 has placed an undue burden on the police department and believes it to be in the public interest that the order has been repealed in its entirety. Now therefore be it ordained and enacted by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners that ordinance number 07-06 is repealed in its entirety. This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon us and aqua following second reading, and publication in accordance with the requirements of applicable Kentucky law," the ordinance read.

Commissioners heard the first reading of the fiscal year 2022-23 budget for the city, which includes line items for several new city employees, new playground equipment and new equipment for several city departments. It will have a second reading and be voted on during the next meeting.

"(The budget is) a little more aggressive than previous budgets especially with the two years of the pandemic," Minerich said. "But it puts a good portion of money into our downtown and infrastructure for our future."

Budget specifics include:

Increases revenues by 15% which brings total revenues to approximately $35,828,000. It includes 260 employees with eight new positions and a 5% cost of living adjustment for all full-time employees.With the $1,000 Pandemic Premium Pay, the $4,160 per employee pay increase approved in the FY22 budget amendment; and "this 5% COLA we feel employee's wages have been adjusted to meet current inflation. We also saw a 5.56% increase in Health Insurance Premiums but we chose to absorb that cost instead of passing it on to the employees," the budget summary said.The first reading of ordinance 22-23 focused on establishing a local development area for economic development purposes to be called "Goggins Lane Local Development Area." It will have a second reading and be voted on during the next meeting.

This development area will allow the city to capture all the tax money which comes from that development rather than the money going back into the general fund.

The first reading ordinance 22-24 — which would declare the city's intent to "annex a tract of property into city limits," according to the agenda. It will have a second reading and be voted on during the next meeting.

"Whereas new idea construction and homes LLC on behalf of Arlington farm, the owner of the property described below has consented to the voluntary annexation into the city limits tract hereinafter the property and whereas the property is contiguous to the city's boundaries in this urban and character and whereas no part of the property proposed to the annex is included within the boundary boundary of another incorporated city. And whereas the city of Richmond is capable of dividing city services to the property, and whereas the board commissioners of the city of Richmond Kentucky finds it to be in the public interest that the property be annexed into city limits now therefore be ordained as follows. Section one in accordance with the provisions of chapter 81 A of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, the city of Richmond, Kentucky does hereby express its intent to annex into the city limits those certain tracks and property. Were particularly described as follows: To wit, Arlington farm total 118.65 acres, a certain tract of land located at the northeast intersection of Tates Creek Road and Goggins Lane in Madison County, Richmond, Kentucky," the ordinance read.

Following the second reading, this proposal will go to Planning and Zoning.

"This proposal is for intent to annex. They bring it to the commission for two readings and you all send them to Planning and Zoning for them to recommend somebody to the parcel. Planning and Zoning recommends the zoning and then they send it back to you all (the commission) for approval," Minerich explained.

A first reading of ordinance 22-25 to repeal partitions of chapters 150 and 156 of the Kentucky Code of Ordinances and adopting updated codes. It will have a second reading and be voted on during the next meeting.

The updated codes will be:

Section 150.106 — certificates of occupancy. Certificates of occupancy for unoccupied existing residential structures shall be issued by the director of codes in accordance with the most recent edition of the 2021 International Property Maintenance code.Section 156.21 — abandoned residential properties, definitions dangerous building, any building structure that is in violation of any condition records 2021 International Property Maintenance code.Both of these codes will follow more recent maintenance codes after a second reading in the next meeting.

The first reading of ordinance 22-26 revises the fee schedule set in chapter 150 of Kentucky Code of Ordinances "applicable to the Code Enforcement Department, and further amending the said chapter to reflect current Codes presently in effect in the city," according to the agenda. It will have a second reading and be voted on during the next meeting.

The first reading of ordinance 22-27 which will amend the city's development ordinance relating to appendix A.

"Whereas the city's existing development ordinance contains a checklist for the evaluation of its middle plans and zoning slash codes Department documents and whereas the city's Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended the existing checklist of Appendix A BM in the new poll. And whereas the Board of Commissioners findings in the public interest that the recommendations of the Planning and Zoning Commission in these regards be enacted. Now, therefore, be it ordained that the city's ordinance be and hereby is modified in the particulars noted on the attachments to this ordinance and the same are incorporated in this ordinance, as though here set forth in this ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its enactment following the second reading," the ordinance reads.

The commission also approved order 22-51 approving the CDBG administration services contract with FAHE Consulting for community development block grant for 2021 Richmond Recovery Project.

All commissioners voted in favor, except Commissioner Mike Brewer who left the meeting for a few minutes.

The commission also unanimously approved order 22-52 accepting a resignation by an employee in the codes department. Gordon Lunceford, formerly assistant codes director, recently submitted his letter of resignation.

"We are going to thank him as the order says for his service since 2008," Blythe said.

When Blythe voted he said "certainly yes, with gratitude and regret."

Another order for the hiring of a Museum and Recreational Programmer for the Parks Department was approved by all commissioners except Ed McDaniel who also left the meeting for a few minutes.

Order 22-54 awards a non-exclusive franchise for 10 years for a telecommunications system within Richmond to Open Fiber Kentucky Company, which will provide internet services to people of Richmond.

Another order promoting an employee in the recycle department following a recent resignation of the previous recycle director was approved. Order 22-58 was approved, which appointed a member to the Architectural Review Board. His term will last three years.

The commission also approved an order for an extended lease agreement with Eastern Kentucky University for Crab Street parking lot. The parking revenue goes towards the Irvington house, Minerich said.

Order 22-57 was approved, acknowledging an increase in retirement benefits of police in firefighters that is not covered by the County Employee Retirement System (CERS).

The agenda included an executive session, but Blythe asked for it to be amended since those matters had been resolved, he said.