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Covington: Sen. McDaniel gives legislative updates, neighborhood parking to be a priority for authority


By Ryan Clark
NKYTribune reporter

Mayor Joseph Meyer had previously called for “brevity” for Tuesday night’s regularly scheduled legislative commissioners meeting, being that it was also Election Day in the state, and city staff may have had their attentions on some of the races.

So, when State Sen. Chris McDaniel (R-Taylor Mill), dropped by Tuesday night, he acknowledged as much, but still made a brief report to the commission regarding the recent legislative session.

McDaniel wanted to talk about three things in his report. First, he noted the passing of House Bill 373, which will allow local governments to choose not to release police body camera footage if it includes, among other things, interiors of private homes, dead or nude bodies, or children.

Second, he mentioned – briefly – the passing of House Bill 362, which caps the increase in pension costs for local governments to 12 percent over the next 10 years.

Third, he brought up the ongoing improvements that are scheduled for (or are already being worked on) during the next fiscal year, including:

  • $30 million for the Brent Spence Bridge
  • $19 million for improvements to I-275
  • $1.2 million for the Roebling Bridge
  • $8 million for the reconstruction of Hands Pike

“We think we struck the best balance possible,” McDaniel told the commissioners.

Meyer and the commission then thanked him for the update, as well as everything he’s done for the region.

Also Tuesday:

  • Well, the residents of the Mutter Gottes neighborhood should at least be happy with this: they made their voices heard. Earlier in the month, Commissioner Bill Wells presented a temporary residential parking plan for the neighborhood to city staff, asking for signage and hours to limit parking availability for all but neighborhood residents from May 1 to Oct. 31. But City Manager David Johnston reminded commissioners that by ordinance, parking plans must go through the newly-formed Parking Authority. However, due to other projects, Johnston said the Authority would not be able to consider such a proposal until at least three or four months from now. Mayor Meyer noted that this was an important issue, but he also said the city needs parking structures built first, before an overall residential parking plan. The plan went nowhere from there, and residents showed up two weeks ago to voice their concerns. Last week, Wells asked for the Parking Authority to prioritize the neighborhood’s recommendations. “We are supporting moving forward with this,” he said. Commissioners agreed with the sentiment, and Michelle Williams wondered if the proposal could be expanded for all residential neighborhoods. Tuesday, the idea made it on to the city’s agenda, as commissioners unanimously approved an order “encouraging the Covington Motor Vehicle Parking Authority to work on a neighborhood parking program as a priority within its work program for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.”
  • Commissioners approved an order promoting Lonnie Johnson to the position of full-time light equipment operator in the Devou Park division of the Public Works Department.
  • Commissioners approved an order to move forward with a bid publication for the Caroline Avenue retaining wall repair, budgeted for $150,000.
  • Commissioners approved an order to hire a revenue/collections manager in the finance department.
  • Commissioners approved an order authorizing the mayor to execute and agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for grant funds in the amount of $707,800 in reimbursable federal funds for the Johnson Street/Rivercenter Boulevard Project.
  • Commissioners approved an order authorizing the mayor to execute and agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for grant funds in the amount of $1,280,508 in reimbursable federal funds for the Sixth Street Project.
  • Commissioners approved an order appointing Rick Davis and Bill Matteoli to OKI’s Intermodal Coordinating Committee for a one-year term, effective July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.
  • Commissioners approved an order accepting Contractworks for a work contract management system for $6,000 annually. The system will allow for the uploading of documents, and will help make all city contracts accessible, which is required by state law, City Manager Johnston said.
  • Commissioners approved an order appointing Steven Hill and David Custer to the Covington Urban Forestry Board for three-year terms effective May 23, 2018 through May 22, 2021.
  • Commissioners approved an order designating a section of Randolph Park the “Eastside Urban Orchard.”

The next Covington Commission meeting will be a caucus meeting held at 6 p.m., June 5, at the Covington City Hall at 20 West Pike St. (There will be no meeting next Tuesday, as there are no meetings on the fifth Tuesday of the month).

Contact the Northern Kentucky Tribune at news@nkytrib.com


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