CITY OF PROSPECT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
August 17, 1998

PRESENT:
Mayor Lonnie Falk; Council Members Sandra Tucci, Lee Zimmerman, Harold Smith, Nan Milliman, Raymond Burse, Alan Simon, City Attorney John Evans; City Administrator Ann R. Simms; Recording Secretary Phyllis A. O’Donnell.

Mayor Falk called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Council Member Smith moved approval of the minutes of the regular City Council Meeting of July 20, 1998; Council Member Burse seconded; passed unanimously.

COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS
State Senator Ernie Harris and State Representative Bob DeWeese spoke to the Council and residents regarding the legislative delegation’s study of merger and future annexation, which is currently beginning A plan should be formed by the next legislative session. Mayor Falk thanked both of Prospect’s legislators not only for their timely report and called the Council’s attention to numerous instances in which both DeWeese and Harris have assisted the City in the past..

William Montfort Helm, developer, Kroger real estate manager Bob Wagner and Helm’s attorney and engineers presented a new plan for the proposed Prospect Village shopping center to be located on U. S. 42 across from The Landings. This new plan is for a larger “state of the art” Kroger store, additional buffering from the highway, additional parking behind some of the stores to mitigate as much as possible an “asphalt look,” additional plantings within the parking lots, a horse fence across the front of the development, a sidewalk in front of the development, non-internally lit signs for most shops and other items.

Wagner stated that although a wide variety of uses is permitted in the zoning where the shopping center is to be located, Kroger’s lease with Helm prohibits a number of businesses the City might find objectionable. Helm said his new plan included a higher-quality brick, and that the center would be entirely of brick; that “street-type” lights would be used in the center, that a walk-though will be constructed to tie in future residential development in back of the property, lights in the parking lot will be constructed to illuminate the lot itself but not “bleed” off into surrounding areas and that all of this is new to the new plan.

Helm would like the City to support the larger Kroger store, which would require a change in the development plan for the center and a temporary use permit for some of the parking.

There was extensive discussion about the proposals from all Council Members. Concerns expressed included drainage and sewer concerns, traffic problems, particularly along Carslaw Court, and landscaping the berm along U.S. 42. The Council said it would consider Helm’s request.

FINANCIAL REPORT
There was no financial report available due to the transition of the City’s bookkeeping system to a CPA firm, Chilton and Medley, which is in the process of setting up accounts and computerizing the process.

POLICE REPORT
Mayor Falk presented the monthly Police Report for July 1998. The Mayor announced the retirement of Chief Lewis Nugent after 20 years of dedicated service to the City, 15 of them as chief. Mayor Falk has appointed Lt. R. Michael Day to be Acting Chief of Police and the City will conduct an extensive search for a new Chief. 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There was no unfinished business.

NEW BUSINESS
Council Member Milliman gave FIRST READING TO ORDINANCE NO. 381, SERIES 1998: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 113 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PROSPECT RELATING TO INSURANCE COMPANY LICENSE FEES.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council Member Burse moved the Council meet in Executive Session to discuss litigation; Council Member Smith seconded. The Council met in Executive Session from 8:50 p.m. until 10:10 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT
Council Member Simon moved adjournment; Council Member Milliman seconded; passed unanimously. Mayor Falk declared the meeting adjourned at 10:11 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Phyllis A. O’Donnell
Recording Secretary

Approved:
Lawrence C. Falk
Mayor