[00:00:09]
>> I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER FOR THE CARMEL CITY COUNCIL FOR AUGUST 19TH, 2024. HAVE A QUORUM TONIGHT.
[2. AGENDA APPROVAL]
EVERYONE HAS SEEN THE PUBLIC AGENDA. DO I HAVE A MOTION?>> SOME MOVED. >> SECOND-PERIOD
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AND A SECOND, ANY
[3. INVOCATION]
DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE. THE AGENDA IS APPROVED, 8-0. NEXT, WE MOVE ON TO THE INVOCATION. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME PASTOR NATE FROM MERCY ROAD TO GIVE THE INVOCATION.>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT. I AM EXCITED TO LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM AND SEE ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL FACES HERE AND DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES . I AM A NATIVE OF -- ORIGINALLY. IT IS A JOY TO BE NOW A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND ITS DIVERSITY AND RICH CULTURE WE GET TO BE A PART OF. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT. THERE IS A THEOLOGY AND AT PHILOSOPHER WAS BORN IN THE LATE 1800S BY THE NAME OF PAUL TILLAGE, ONE SAID THESE WORDS, THAT RESONATE WITH ME. HE SAID, THE FIRST DUTY OF LOVE IS TO LISTEN. AND IT REMINDED ME OF WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS IN JAMES ONE WHICH IS, MY BELOVED BROTHERS, LET EVERY PERSON BE QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK AND SLOW TO ANGER. SOMETHING I'M LEARNING RECENTLY A LOT IS WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT IS SO DIVIDED. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS NOBODY IS LISTING. WE ARE OFTENTIMES VERY QUICK TO SPEECH -- SPEAK AND SLOW TO LISTEN. LISTENING EQUALS LOVING WELL.
OUR DUTY IT -- AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, ONE OF THE BEST WAYS WE CAN ONE NONLEATHER -- ONE ANOTHER WITH SO MANY THINGS DIVIDING US, IS TO SIMPLY LEARN TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE WELL. AND AS WE LISTEN TO PEOPLE WELL, THAT IS HOW WE WILL LOVE PEOPLE TOO. I HOPE THAT IS ENCOURAGED THAT THE ENCOURAGEMENT YOU.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR TONIGHT, AND EACH AND EVERY PERSON HERE. ALL OF THE AMAZING AND UNIQUE WAYS YOU HAVE UNIQUELY CREATED EVERY SINGLE PERSON. EACH OF THEIR STORIES AND BACKGROUND. AND WE ALL GET TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THE AMAZING BLESSINGS WE GET TO ENJOY BEING A PART OF THIS AMAZING COMMUNITY. I WANT TO PRAY YOUR BLESSING UPON TONIGHT'S MEETING. I PREFER THE CITY COUNCIL, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM WISDOM . AND AS WE HEARD FROM THE SCRIPTURE , TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THE EAR AND HEART TO LISTEN WELL TO DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT ARE BROUGHT IN FRONT OF THEM. AND AS THEY LISTEN WELL, THEY WILL LOVE PEOPLE WELL AND LEAD OUT OF THE OVERFLOW OF THAT PLACE OF LORD -- LOVING OTHERS. WE
[4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
PRAY YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO BLESS AND PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY. ALL OF THE THINGS HAPPENING IN THIS WONDERFUL CITY. WE PRAY YOUR BLESSING UPON IN JESUS AS PART NAME,AMEN. >> IF EVERYONE COULD STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. STEWART BELL'S, A SIXTH GRADER FROM CARMEL MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE LEAD US.
>>TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[5. RECOGNITION OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUTSTANDING CITIZENS]
>> GOOD JOB, THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM FOUR ON THE AGENDA.
RECOGNITION OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUTSTANDING CITIZENS. I HAVE BEEN ON THIS COUNSEL, THIS IS MY THIRD TERM. I CAN HONESTLY SAY, WE'VE NEVER HAD A GOLD MEDAL -- GOLD MEDALISTS HERE BEFORE. I WOULD LIKE TO PASS IT OVER TO THE MAYOR.
>> THE MORNING, TONIGHT WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST -- IN LIEU OF A COUNCIL REPORT. HE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THE GUEST YOU. ARE YOU READY?
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS STUART BALES, A SIXTH GRADER WITH THE CLAIM MIDDLE SCHOOL. IT'S MY EXTREME PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE YOU, -- HE'S A 1999 CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE. HE IS AN INDIANA STATE TENNIS CHAMPION,A SIX-TIME U.S. OPEN CHAMPION, TWO-TIME ATP CHAMPION, AND WAS RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OCTOBER, 2022. MOST RECENTLY, HE AND HIS PARTNER, -- WHEN HE WON HIS SECOND
[00:05:03]
SILVER MEDAL , REPRESENTING CARMEL IN OLYMPIC GAMES. FOR DECADES, HE HAS REPRESENTED CARMEL AND THE U.S. BY PLAYING TENNIS AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS. TONIGHT, MAYOR FINKAM AND THE CARMEL CITY COUNCIL ARE PROUD TO PROVIDE HIM WITH THE SIGN THAT HUNG ON OUR STREETS WHILE HE PLAYED IN THE OLYMPICS. WE ARE VERY PROUD. ALLOW ME TO WELCOME HOME -->> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> IS THAT WORKING?
>> THAT WAS AN UNBELIEVABLE INTRODUCTION, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE. IT WAS MY HONOR TO REPRESENT THE CITY . WE CAME A LITTLE SHORT OF THE GOAL, UNFORTUNATELY. WE DO HAVE A GOLD MEDALISTS, I BELIEVE.
ALEX, SHE WON A GOLD MEDAL IN SWIMMING. WHICH IS AWESOME.
ANYWAY, IT IS A TRUE HONOR FOR ME TO REPRESENT THIS COMMUNITY.
I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE I WAS 12 YEARS OLD. I LOVE IT AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE HOME FOR ME. I WANT TO TIE IN A LITTLE THING, I KNOW ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE THE -- ON THEIR WRIST. IT A COOL THING WE SIGNIFY IN THE INDIAN COMMUNITY, A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC, SISTERS DUE TO BROTHERS. IS CIVILIZED PROTECTION, FAMILY, THOSE VALUES. IS A WONDERFUL THING FOR OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY TO EMBRACE THAT. WHETHER IT'S OUR CULTURE AS INDIANS, OR ANY OTHER CULTURE, IT IS A COOL THING TO DO AND PRACTICE. I AM PROUD TO HAVE IT ALL, AND I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO OTHER SPECIAL CITIZENS, PUBLIC CITIZENS. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE LIEUTENANT -- WHO HAS SOME SPECIAL GUESTS WITH US AS WELL.
>> WE ARE THRILLED TO FOLLOW AN OLYMPIAN. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO TOP THAT. I PREVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN HERE IN FRONT OF COUNSEL INTRODUCING OUR CRISIS INTERVENTION UNIT, TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY DO. I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT ANOTHER UNIT WITH OUR AGENCY THAT CONTRIBUTES SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE SAFETY OF OUR OFFICERS AND THE CARMEL COMMUNITY. ALL THEY ASK FOR IN RETURN IS TREATS, ATTENTION AND A TENNIS BALL.
YOU HAVE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO MEET MACY, OUR THERAPY K-9. I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE OTHER FOUR-LEGGED OFFICERS AT CARMEL PD, AND THEIR HANDLERS, WHO LITERALLY TAKE THEIR WORK HOME WITH THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY. THERE IS ARCHIE, TRYING TO STEAL THE SHOW. A K-9 HANDLER ESPECIALLY POSITIONS THAT OFFICERS APPLY FOR. THESE TEAMS WORK HARD EVERYTHING OKAY TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THEIR SKILL. SO FAR JUST THIS YEAR, THEY HAVE ACCUMULATED OVER 280 HOURS OF TRAINING , AND THEY ARE PARTICIPATING ON SOME UPCOMING COURSES LIKE K-9 LEGAL UPDATE. THEY ARE UPDATED ON THE RECENT CASELOADS. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED CENTRAL INDIANA K-9 ASSOCIATION, WE ARE HOSTING A K-9 CASUALTY CARE CLASS , WHERE THE HANDLERS CAN LEARN WHAT TO DO SHOULD THERE K-9 PARTNER SUFFER A TRAUMATIC INJURY. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. THE FIRST TEAM I WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO IS OFFICER BRANDON OWENS AND K-9 JAX . K-9 JAX IS WHAT WE CALL A DUAL PURPOSE K-9. THAT MEANS HE TRACKING, BUILDING AN AREA , - SEARCH AND APPREHENSION. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OFFICER ALWAYS, HE'S BEEN WITH CPD SINCE 2020, WHEN HE LATERAL FROM THE NOON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. JACKSON IS A DUTCH -- FROM HOLLAND. HE BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH CPD IN JUNE, 2022 AFTER GRADUATING A NINE WEEK
[00:10:02]
COURSE AT HOUSTON K-9 ACADEMY. HE WILL BE FOUR YEARS OLD IN OCTOBER. JAX HAS DONE A TON OF DEPLOYMENTS FOR US. RESULTED IN A SEIZURE OF NARCOTICS, ILLEGAL GUNS . ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT JACK HAS HAD WAS VERY RECENT. THERE WAS THE SUBJECT INVOLVED IN A HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT WHERE THE SUBJECT WAS INTOXICATED AND HAD RUN AWAY FROM THE SCENE. WE USED HIM TO LOCATE THE INDIVIDUAL. HE WAS IN A WOODED AREA, AND HAD SIGNIFICANT HEAD TRAUMA. AND AS SOON AS THEY LOCATED HIM, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HIM THE IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION HE NEEDED. IF IT WAS NOT FOR OFFICER OWENS AND K-9 JAX, WE DON'T KNOW IF WE WOULD'VE HAD THE SAME OUTCOME. IF YOU WANT TO GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OFFICER OWN ENDS -- OFFICER OWENS AND K-9 JAX .>> PASSING THE BATON OVER TO K-9 ARCHIE. ARCHIE IS IN THAT SO A NARCOTICS ATTENTION K-9. HE IS HANDLED BY JAMIE REYNOLDS, WHO IS BEEN WITH CPD SINCE 2016. THIS IS JAMIE SECOND K-9. SHE ALSO HANDLED K-9 AXLE , AND WHEN HE PASSED AWAY UNEXPECTEDLY SHORTLY THEREAFTER, -- ARCHIE WAS SELECTED. HE WAS THE FIRST SPRINGER SPANIEL IN THE CPD HISTORY, HE IS A YEAR AND A HALF OLD. HE HIT THE ROAD WITH JAMIE AND FEBRUARY, 2024, AFTER GRADUATING A FOUR WEEK COURSE.
WHERE HE ALSO RECEIVED THE TOP DOG AWARD FOR HIS NARCOTICS DETECTION SKILLS. EVEN THOUGH ARCHIE HAD ONLY BEEN WITH US FOR SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, HE IS ALREADY SEIZED OVER TWO POUNDS OF NARCOTICS. JUST THIS PAST FRIDAY WAS PIVOTAL IN LOCATING A STOLEN HANDGUN. ARCHIE IS DOING A GREAT JOB. IF EVERYONE WANTS TO GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO ARCHIE.
] >> WE HAVE THESE TWO GREAT TEAMS ALREADY. AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ADDING TWO MORE DOGS. WE WILL HAVE TWO MORE DUAL-PURPOSE DOGS, SIMILAR TO JAX, EACH SHIFT WILL HAVE THIS VALUABLE ASSET. I SERVED AS A DUAL PURPOSE K-9 HANDLER FOR 13 YEARS, NOW I'M DOING THE THERAPY DOG HANDLING FOR ALMOST A YEAR. I'VE BEEN GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IS THE,K9 UNIT -- BY CHIEF STERLING, IT'S SOMETHING I'M VERY PROUD OF. I AM VERY PROUD OF THIS UNIT. I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT THESE DOCS HAVE ON THE OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY. THEIR MERE PRESENCE CAN BREAK DOWN ANY BARRIERS. I HAVE DONE NARCOTICS SEARCHES WITH MY K-9S , AND EVEN THOUGH A PERSON IS PUT IN HANDCUFFS, BECAUSE WHAT THAT DOG HAS FOUND, THEY WILL INEVITABLY LOOK AT ME AND GO, WHAT KIND OF DOG IS THAT? I WANT TO THANK CHIEF STERLING FOR HIS SUPPORT AND WITH THESE AMAZING DOCS. I WANT TO THANK CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE OFFICERS, TO AN FOUR-LEGGED, AND ALLOWED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
[6. RECOGNITION OF PERSONS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL]
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM SIX, RECOGNITION OF PERSONS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL . WE HAVE FOUR CARDS. AS A CALL THE NAME, IF YOU COULD COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE HERE WE SAW LIEUTENANT MALLOY. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. AS YOU SPEAK, YOU WILL SEE THE LIGHTS COME ON. THE GREEN, YELLOW AND RED LIGHTS. THE GREEN LIGHT WILL GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES. WILL GO TO THE YELLOW LIGHT WITH 30 SECONDS AGO. WHEN THE RED LIGHT IS ON, PLEASE FINISH UP YOUR STATEMENT.
FIRST, WE WILL CALL UP JAYESH PATEL . IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONE HERE. THE LIGHT IS ALREADY ON. WHENEVER
YOU ARE READY. >> OKAY. TO CARMEL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM JAYESH PATEL. I'M A RESIDENT OF CARMEL CITY IS 2018. AS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE INDO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY REPRESENTING HINDUS. WHO CALL THIS NATION HOME. OUR DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND TRADITIONS HAVE NOT ONLY ENRICHED OUR LIVES, BUT ALSO HAS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED IN THE CULTURE AND INTELLECTUAL FABRIC OF AMERICA.
[00:15:01]
I AND MY FELLOW HINDU AMERICANS WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE LARGE-SCALE VIOLENCE -- BANGLADESH IN EARLY AUGUST. WAS STARTED AS A POLITICAL PROTEST RAPIDLY ESCALATED INTO A LARGE-SCALE VIOLENCE, FORCING THE PRIME MINISTER TO FLEE THE COUNTRY. THE POLITICAL TURMOIL -- OF GOVERNANCE HAVE LED TO INAUDIBLE ] HATE AND TURMOIL, LARGE -- ATTACK HINDUS AND MINORITIES SUCH AS MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS.VIOLENCE AGAINST MINORITIES, PARTICULARLY AGAINST HINDUS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES IN BANGLADESH. 20% IN 1941 , IT IS COME DOWN TO 8.5% IN 2011 . AND MUCH LOWER NOW. BANGLADESH EARLIER CALLED EAST PAKISTAN WAS LIBERATED AGAINST -- THE U.S. CONGRESS RECOGNIZE THE GENOCIDE OF 1971 IN 2021. 51 YEARS AFTER IT HAPPENED. AS THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN ENSURING OUR CITY REMAINS A SAFE AND INCLUSIVE PLACE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. YOUR COMPLETE STANCE IN A STATEMENT -- ATROCITIES AGAINST HINDUS AND OTHER MINORITIES, LIKE CHRISTIANS AND BUDDHISTS IN BANGLADESH, WHICH WILL KEEP -- NEED MUCH-NEEDED ATTENTION. BY ADDRESSING THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION, IT CAN RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE AMERICAN -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT PERSON, I WILL TRY TO PRONOUNCE THE NAME PROPERLY. -- SORRY. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY UP HERE. THANK YOU. AND IF YOU COULD PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME CORRECTLY.
>> DEAR CARMEL CITY COUNCIL. NAMASTE. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF MY FAVORITE CITY. MY NAME IS -- MY FAMILY HAS LIVED HERE FOR OVER A DECADE. WE ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATED OF THE GOVERNANCE, INCLUSIVE CULTURE AND LEADERSHIP THAT IS MADE CARMEL A THRIVING COMMUNITY, ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY.
HOWEVER, TODAY I COME BEFORE YOU WITH A HEAVY HEART TO ADDRESS A GREAT ISSUE THAT I WISH I DID NOT HAVE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION. THERE IS AN ONGOING GENOCIDE OF HINDUS IN BANGLADESH AT THE HANDS OF VIOLENT ISLAMIC MOBS. SADLY, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME SUCH ATROCITIES HAVE OCCURRED IN BANGLADESH. AND IT WILL NOT BE THE LAST, UNLESS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INTERVENES TO ESTABLISH CONSEQUENCES. BANGLADESH -- TO THE EAST OF INDIA OF ABOUT 170 MILLION PEOPLE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, FOLLOWING A VIOLENT STREET UPRISING, -- THE ELECTED GOVERNMENT WITH THE ACQUIESCENCE OF THEIR MILITARY. ONE OF THE TRAGIC AND PREDICTABLE OUTCOMES OF THIS GOVERNMENTAL BREAKDOWN HAS BEEN THE WIDESPREAD TARGETING OF PEACEFUL HINDUS , FOR FIRST CONVERSION, MURDER, AND THE DESCRIPTION -- DESCRIPTION .
OUR WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN SHARPLEY'S SILENT. ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF HUMAN RIGHTS, 45 OF BANGLADESH IS 65 DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY WITNESSED LARGE ATTACKS AGAINST HINDU HOMES, BUSINESSES AND TEMPLES IN THE PAST WEEK. AND MANY HAVE BEEN KILLED, WOMEN HAVE BEEN , AND THEIR BODIES DISPLAYED IN PUBLIC. THE LIFE SAVINGS OF MANY HINDU FAMILIES HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT IN ACTS OF ARSON AND VIOLENCE. JAYESH ALREADY MENTIONED TO YOU THE ALARMING DEMOGRAPHIC DECLINE OF BANGLADESHI HINDUS IN 1941, TO LISTEN 80S THAT A PERCENT TODAY. THAT'S A CLEAR SIGN OF THE ONGOING VIOLENCE -- WE AS INTERNATIONAL CITIZENS LIVING IN A DIVERSE COMMUNITY HAS TO RAISE. AND MAKE SURE OUR WHITE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL RAISE THEIR VOICE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. ON
[00:20:05]
BEHALF OF THE HINDU COMMUNITY, I WOULD URGE THE CITY OF CARMEL TO PASS A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THIS GENOCIDE, AS WELL AS URGING OUR WHITE HOUSE TO TAKE ACTION. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU. NEXT PERSON -- ANAYA .
>> CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM ANAYA -- I AM HINDU. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE HOLIDAY -- IT TRANSLATES TO THE BOTTOM OF PROTECTION, IS A TRADITIONAL HINDU FESTIVAL THAT SYMBOLIZE COMMITMENT TO'S CONTACT AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER. A DAY TO REMIND OURSELVES OF OUR DUTY TO SAFEGUARD NOT JUST OUR FAMILIES, BUT ALSO THE MORE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN OUR SOCIETY. THE ESSENCE OF -- EXTENDS FAR BEYOND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. ENCOMPASSING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TURNED -- TOWARDS OUR COMMUNITY, NATION AND WORLD. IT'S A CALL TO ACTION TO FOSTER GLOBAL PEACE, HARMONY AND PROSPERITY. TODAY, WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO APPRECIATE AND VALUE THE TIRELESS WORK OF OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS , FIRST RESPONDERS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS. THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF RAKSHA BANDHAN THROUGH THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ENSURING OUR SAFETY, HAPPINESS AND WELL-BEING. THEY PROTECT AND SUPPORT US. OFTEN AT GREAT PERSONAL RISK. AND THEIR VALUE WILL -- VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE RECOGNIZED DURING THE STAY. AND CELEBRATING RAKSHA BANDHAN, WE WILL REAFFIRM OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO UPHOLD THESE VALUES. LET US COME TOGETHER AND PROTECT AND NURTURE EACH OTHER. TO PROMOTE PEACE AND HARMONY. AND TO WORK TOWARDS A PROSPEROUS FUTURE. BECAUSE OF THIS, WE HAVE TIED A PROTECTION THREAD AROUND YOUR WRIST. AS A RECOGNITION TO YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THE LAST BLUE CARD, NANCY TATUM .
>> HELLO, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. FIRST OF ALL, I AM NOT ANTI-GROWTH. FOR THE CITY OF CARMEL. BUT I DID HEAR ON THE NEWS LAST NIGHT THERE IS AN OVERABUNDANCE OF APARTMENTS CAUSING SOME LEASING OFFICES TO OFFER INCENTIVES SUCH AS LOWER RENT OR THREE MONTHS . WITH THAT BEING SAID, CARMEL'S PLAN TO BUILD EVEN MORE APARTMENTS SOUNDS LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER THIS AND VOTE FOR LESS DENSITY, OR VOTE, NO, ALTOGETHER. WHAT SEEMS REASONABLE IS CONTROLLED GROWTH. NOT OVERDOING DENSITY AND AVOIDING RECKLESS DEVELOPMENT. PLEASE DO NOT PAVE OVER CARMEL . I AM REQUESTING THAT CRC, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE BOARD OF ZONING COME TOGETHER AND AGREE TO GROW CARMEL SCREEN SPACE AND PARKS, BY KEEPING OUR REMAINING FORESTS . WHEN A PROPERTY IS PURCHASED BY A DEVELOPER, THE COUNCIL HAS NOT AGREED TO PLANS THAT ARE CLEAR-CUT AND REPLACE THEM WITH EIGHT-FOOT TALL TREES. AGAIN, I AM GOING TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT A PLANET TO ACQUIRE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF TREES THAT NEED TO BE LEFT INTACT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO CONSIDER DOING WITH THE ENTIRE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL VOTED FOR IN FAVOR OF, THAT IS TO PURCHASE PRIVATELY OWNED FORESTS. THIS COULD ALSO BE DONE IN CARMEL. PLEASE USE SOME OF THE MONEY FOR GREEN PLACES AND NATURAL PARKS. NOT ON MORE
ART. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THAT IS IT FOR
[7. COUNCIL AND MAYORAL COMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS]
BLUE CARDS. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, COUNCIL AND MAYORAL OBSERVATION. WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE MAYOR. ANY COMMENTS OR OBSERVATIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? MOVING ON TO ITEM[8. CONSENT AGENDA]
EIGHT, CONSENT AGENDA. APPROVAL MINUTES FOR AUGUST 5TH, 2024[00:25:07]
REGULAR MEETINGS FOR A PAYROLL FOR $3,775,341.40. JULY 26, 2024. AND $3,672,295.25 FOR GENERAL CLAIMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,441,692.24 AND -- FIVE. -- FIVE -- AND FOR WIRE TRANSFERS, -- SEVEN -- ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ACCEPTED BY A VOTE OF 8-0 . ITEM EIGHT, ACTION ON MAYORAL[10. COMMITTEE REPORTS]
VETOES . THERE ARE NONE. MOVING TO NINE -- 10. COMMITTEE REPORTS FROM THE FINANCE, UTILITIES AND RULES COMMITTEE.COUNSELOR LOCKE. >> THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MET ON AUGUST 13TH TO DISCUSS ORDINANCE -- TIF BOND IN 19 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT. THE COMMITTEE RETURNED TO COUNCIL NIGHT WITH A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION VOTED 4-0.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ONTO LAND-USE AND SPECIAL STUDIES.
OFFICER SNYDER . >> LAND-USE MET FOLLOWING THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. DISCUSSION CONTINUED ON THE UTO REVIEW, SPECIFICALLY SECTION 7. OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, AND TWO DAYS. IT'S AT THE LIBRARY, 5:30. THE FOLLOWING MEETING WILL BE ON A THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2024 , WILL BE THE SEPTEMBER COUNCIL MEETING , AND LAND-USE MEETING, THERE IS A BIT OF A GAP BETWEEN SCHEDULING. THAT WILL BE 6:00 P.M. AT THE LIBRARY. OUR NEXT ONE WILL BE THIS COMING
[11. OTHER REPORTS]
WEDNESDAY AT 5:30 AT THE LIBRARY.>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO ITEM 11 . I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO STAY ON OUR ACCOUNT. IF YOU WANT TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING. IF YOU WOULD LIKE, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND LEAVE AT THIS TIME. AS MICHAEL GETS READY FOR HIS CARMEL REPORT AND GETS HIS SLIDES UP IN WRITING.
>> GOOD EVENING, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. I WAS PLEASED TO COME TO THE COUNCIL TO PROVIDE MY THIRD QUARTER REPORT. IS HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT EVEN THOUGH IT IS AUGUST, SUMMER IS OVER EFFECTIVELY FOR PARKS, BECAUSE MUCH OF OUR SUMMER PROGRAMMING HAS CONCLUDED WITH THE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL. WE HAD ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL CAP SERIES WITH 7271 ENROLLED CAMPERS IN OUR SUMMER CAMPS. ALL OF OUR CAMPS RAN THIS YEAR, WHICH HAS BEEN A RECURRING THEME. NO CANCELLATIONS. 80% OF OUR CAMPS WRATHFUL ENROLLMENT FOR THE VARIOUS WEEKS. BASICALLY, THE WEEK OF THE FOURTH OF JULY IS ALSO A LOW CAP WE, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DOING OTHER THINGS.
BUT WE CONTINUED GREAT PARTICIPATION. QUITE FRANKLY, YOU WILL HEAR ME TALK ABOUT STAFFING BEING AN ISSUE IN MANY AREAS, BUT SUMMER CAMP IS NOT ONE. WE COULD ACTUALLY ACCOMMODATE MORE PEOPLE. BECAUSE WE CAN GIVE COLLEGE STUDENTS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO HELP WITH OUR CAMPS. BUT WE ARE AT CAPACITY ISSUE WITH REGARD TO OUR FACILITIES. THE MORE FACILITIES WE HAVE, THE MORE CAMPS WE COULD OFFER. USUALLY YOU DO NOT SAY THAT. ANOTHER THING THAT IS GREAT, OUR CAMPS ARE RENOWNED FOR HAVING A VARIETY OF FIELD TRIPS TO GO TO PLACES RELATED TO TYPES OF CAMPS THEY HAVE LIKE THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, OR AN INDIANS GAME. ANOTHER POPULAR VISIT FOR OUR CAMPERS IS THE WATERPARK. EVERY WEEK, ALL OF OUR CAMPERS, OR AT LEAST ONCE, GO TO THE WATERPARK, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO THE REVENUE. WE CHARGE THE CATS.
WHICH IS BAKED INTO THE ENROLLMENT FEES. WE HAD 116 TOTAL FIELD TRIPS TO THE WATERPARK THIS YEAR. ONE THING
[00:30:02]
I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING WITH THE CAMPS WE DO, WE HAVE OUR IMPACT CAMP, WHICH IS GEARED TOWARD PRETEENS, EARLY TEENS , IT BECOMES A COUNSELOR IN TRAINING PROGRAM. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR IMPACT CAMPERS DID WAS COLLECT 2004 AND 18 SCHOOL SUPPLIES DONATED TO SCHOOLS IN HAMILTON COUNTY THAT HAVE SOME ECONOMIC CHALLENGES. AS I MENTIONED SUMMER CAMPS, NOT SO MUCH A STAFFING CHALLENGE. BUT NOW WE ARE IN THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM. IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO ENJOYS WORKING WITH KIDS, THIS MUCH ADDITIONAL TIME TO SAY, WE HAVE JOBS. PLEASE VISIT US AT -- YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. THE MORE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE EMPLOYED IN THE PROGRAM, THE MORE KIDS WE CAN SERVE. THE WATERPARK SEASON CONCLUDED ON AUGUST 4TH OF THIS YEAR. SUMMER IS OVER FOR US IN MANY EFFECTIVE WAYS. THE WATERPARK CLOSE . HISTORICALLY, WE TRY TO STAY OPEN UNTIL LABOR DAY, SORT OF A MIDWEST TRADITION. BUT THE REALITY IS, WITH SCHOOLS GOING INTO SESSION EARLIER AND EARLIER, IT BECOMES A STAFFING CHALLENGE. MOST OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE HIGH SCHOOLERS WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OF COLLEGE STUDENTS. THIS YEAR SCHOOL IN CARMEL STARTED AUGUST 5TH. AND WE SEEN A PROGRESSION, AS RECENT AS SEVEN YEARS AGO , IT WAS MID AUGUST WHEN KIDS WERE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL IN CARMEL. NOW WE ARE ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF AUGUST. THAT CERTAINLY HURTS US A LOT. I UNDERSTAND WHY THE SCHOOLS DO IT. IF I HAD A MAGIC WAND, IT WOULD BE THE MONTH OF JULY AND AUGUST. BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE WARMER MONTHS. JUNE TYPICALLY TENDS TO BE A LITTLE COOLER. THAT IS MY WISH . I KNOW WILL NOT COME TRUE, BUT I HAVE TO SAY IT EVERY YEAR.ADDITIONALLY, THIS YEAR WAS ONE OF OUR BEST SEASON. WE HAD A LITTLE OVER 800 VISITS IN THE WATERPARK IN TWO MONTHS. WE ARE CLOSE TO BEING ON PAR WITH 2019, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR HIGH WATER YEARS. WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING A HUGE REBOUND SINCE COVID IN 2020. LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS A LITTLE CLOSER IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND COMPARING IT TO THE HIGH WATER MARK OF 2019, OUR AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST IT IS BEEN. -- COMPARED TO 2019, WHEN IT WAS A LITTLE OVER 1400. A PART OF THAT IS RELATED TO MORE COMPACTED SEASON. BUT WE DEFINITELY ARE VERY POPULAR WHEN WE ARE OPEN.
IT WAS OUR HIGH WATER MARK FOR REVENUE GENERATION, OVER $1.4 MILLION GENERATED. WHICH IS CRITICAL FOR COST RECOVERY OBJECTIVES FOR THE MOHAWK COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH WORKS AS A UNIT WITH THE WATERPARK. IT ALSO WAS OUR HIGHEST AVERAGE REVENUE FOR VISITORS . OVER $30 PER VISITOR, ALL THINGS IMPORTANT TO US. I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE CARMEL POLICE DEPARTMENT. FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, THE CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION APPROVED FUNDING FOR A PARK RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM, WHICH WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FORMULATING. WE DON'T HAVE THE OFFICERS YET. WE HOPE TO GET THEM HIRED IN 2025. WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY ON DEVELOPING THE PARK OFFICER PROGRAM. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WERE HELPFUL -- ALL THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THIS SUMMER. THEY WERE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. THEY WERE NOT ONLY AT THE WATER PARK, BUT THEY VISITED ALL OF OUR PARKS. WHICH GAVE THEM ICE ON THE GROUND, AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT PRESENT THEMSELVES AS THEY WERE CLOSELY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE GOT GREAT IDEAS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM THEM. WE WILL FINALIZE THE PARK RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM, WHICH WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADAPT WANT TO GET GOING. SUPER EXCITED. OUR GOAL, IS TO NOT EXPLODE -- NOT NECESSARILY BE A HARD -- BUT TO HELP WELCOME TO THE PARK, AND HELP THEM BE PROPER VISITORS CAN. AND HAVE THE PROACTIVE, EDUCATIONAL NATURE. MAYBE NOT IN THE -- BUT MORE IN TUNE TO THAT AND WHAT PEOPLE TYPICALLY PERCEIVE POLICE OFFICERS TO BE. AGAIN, THANKS TO THE SROS FOR BEING A PART OF OUR SUMMER SUCCESS. SOME PROJECTS WE HAVE WORKED ON THIS YEAR, CENTRAL PARK , ONE OF THE THINGS I
[00:35:06]
THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY IS THE PLAYGROUND IN -- IS A HUGELY POPULAR PLAYGROUND. WE HAVE BETWEEN 400 TO 500,000 VISITORS IN THIS PLAYGROUND AND SPLASH PAD AREA. ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR AMENITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF CARMEL. WITH THAT, THERE'S A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR. -- TYPICALLY HAS A 15 YEAR TIMEFRAME. THE PLAYGROUND WAS ACTUALLY INSTALLED IN 2016 IN CELEBRATION OF OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY PARK SYSTEM. I THINK I'VE TOLD SOME PEOPLE NINE YEARS, IT WAS EIGHT YEARS.WE GOT EIGHT YEARS INSTEAD OF 15 YEARS OUT OF IT. WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC WE HAVE AT THIS PARK, DR. JOSIE SUMMED IT UP REALLY WELL WHEN I WAS TALKING WITH HER. WE BASICALLY HAVE 15 YEARS OF TRAFFIC IN EIGHT. THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC MEANT WE HAD TO REINVEST. WE WENT OUT TO BID AND COMPLETELY DID THE RESURFACING WITHIN THE PLAYGROUND. HERE, THIS WAS LAST FALL. YOU CAN SEE THE PAINTING AND SAFETY SURFACING AND SPLASH PAD IN THE ENTIRE. WE UPDATED EVERY TWO TO THREE YEARS. THIS SURFACING SHOWS THE WEAR AND TEAR WE HAD ON THAT. AND THE SPRING, YOU CAN TELL IT LOOKS VERY NICE AND NEW. ADDITIONALLY, WE ADDED ARTIFICIAL TURF, JUST LIKE WE HAD CHALLENGES AT MIDTOWN PLAZA, HERE IN THE CENTRAL CORE, WHERE YOU HAD SO MANY PEOPLE USING A VERY INTENSE AREA, WE EFFECTIVELY HAD THE SAME ISSUE BY THE PLAYGROUND. BETWEEN AT THIS SHELTER AND THE PLAYGROUND, YOU CAN SEE THE TURF WAS LOVED TO DEATH. WE DECIDED TO MAKE IT A MORE INVITING SPACE. AND WE ADDED ARTIFICIAL TURF THERE, WHICH HAS EXPANDED THE PLAYGROUND.
AND YOU SEE PEOPLE GATHER THEIR AND PLAY AND EXTENDED PLAY EXPERIENCE IN THAT SPACE. AND IT HAS BECOME A USABLE SPACE, INSTEAD OF SOMETHING TO GO THROUGH TO GET TO THE PLAYGROUND. WE ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THE PART OF THE ACTUAL CONTRACT FOR THE RESURFACING -- WE ALSO ADDED FENCING. THERE WAS SOME FENCING IN THE HIGHER AREAS, BUT WE HAVE EFFECTIVELY ENCLOSED THIS PLAY EXPERIENCE. THE ONLY OPENINGS ARE RIGHT HERE, AND AS YOU COME IN NEXT TO THE RESTROOM AND MAIN SHELTER FACILITY. IF YOU HAVE KIDS, IT'S A LOT EASIER TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON THEM AND THEY ARE IN THIS HUGE PLAYSPACE. ZOOMING UP A LITTLE BIT, THE PHOTOS ON THE LEFT ARE BEFORE. YOU CAN SEE THE -- BLACK UC WAS IN GOOD CONSTRUCTION VENEER OFF AND PUT A NEW SHINY COAT OVER A. IT LOOKS JUST LIKE NEW. AND IT WELCOMES PEOPLE TO THAT. IT SPEAKS TO OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED AS A PARK SYSTEM, WE DO NOT JUST BUILD THEM, WE HAVE A LIFE CYCLE ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN, WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING THEM CLOSELY. AND WAS THINKING TO BE REPAIRED, WE ARE REPLACING THEM, WE ARE SHOWING THE PUBLIC WE ARE GOOD TO WORDS OF THESE PUBLIC SPACES. STAYING IN CENTRAL PARK, WE ALSO HAD A WONDERFUL ART INSTALLATION CALLED -- WHICH WAS SCULPTED BY DOMINIQUE -- HE IS AN INCREDIBLE SCULPTURE FROM ZIMBABWE. HE ALSO DID THE SWING THE HIGHER SCULPTURE ON MAIN STREET. JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROM MULDOON'S. IT WAS INTRODUCED ME BY THE FORMER MAYOR JIM BRAINARD . AS WELL AS DOUG CALLAHAN, WHO ENCOURAGED US TO CONTINUE PURSUING WHAT WAS PART OF OUR CENTRAL PARK MASTER PLAN, ARTWORK AROUND THE CENTRAL PARK LAGOON. -- WANTED ME TO DO A ZEBRA. BUT IN CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PARK BOARD, WE ARE NOT ABOUT EXOTIC ANIMALS THAT ARE NOT NATIVE TO INDIANA. SO WE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH DOMINIQUE AND LANDED ON THE AMERICAN BISON. WHILE THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF FREE-ROAMING BISON, THERE ARE SOME IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE STATE AND WE INTRODUCE. IT IS PART OF OUR CULTURAL HISTORY. THEY WERE ONCE NATIVE AND INDIANA. THERE ON THE STATE SEAL, WAS ALSO IN ALL MARCH TO THAT. HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS TOO, THE IDEA WAS TO HAVE PLAYFUL ART AROUND THE CENTRAL PARK LAGOON TRAILS.
[00:40:08]
WHILE A SCULPTURE COULD BE INTERESTING, A BISON IS NOT SOMETHING YOU NECESSARILY SEE EVERY DAY. EITHER IN A SCULPTURE OTHERWISE. WHAT MAKES IT MORE ENTICING TO KIDS THAN A BABY, SO WE DID BOTH THE MOTHER BISON AND THE CALF. WHICH IS TRULY DELIGHTFUL. IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE -- I WILL HELP YOU ORIENT WHERE IT IS. COLLEGE AVENUE. WESTERMEIER COMMONS -- THE LAGOON IS RIGHT IN THIS LOCATION HERE. IN BETWEEN TRAILED THE PARALLEL COLLEGE AVENUE AND THE LAGUNA TRAILED DOWN HERE. WE ALSO WANTED TO DO WITH PLACE IT IN AN AREA WHERE IF YOU ARE PLAYING ON THIS PLAYGROUND, THERE IS AN OVERLOOK THAT OVERLOOKS THE LAGOON. AS WELL AS IF YOU ARE VISITING THE SPLASH PAD. THE SCULPTURE IS VERY VISIBLE. WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS ENTICE THE KIDS TO SEE THIS MAGICAL SCULPTURE AND HOPEFULLY GET THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES OR GUARDIANS TO COME OUT AND GET ON THE TRAILS. WHICH IS ALSO HEALTHY EXERCISE FOR THEM. AND TO GO EXPLORE THIS. WE ARE PUTTING A RUBBER SURFACING. IT WILL HELP DRESS UP THE AREA A LITTLE BIT. I SORT OF ENVISION THIS BEING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO HAVE THEIR FAMILIES. WE HAVE DESIGNED IT TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. WE ARE NOT ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO CLIMB IT, BUT WE DO KNOW PEOPLE WANT THEIR PHOTOS TAKEN. HOPEFULLY THAT BECOMES A CARMEL TRADITION. THERE WAS AN ARTICLE POSTED TODAY ONLINE TALKING ABOUT THIS. WORKING CLOSELY WITH DR. -- AS WELL AS -- WHO IS A CARMEL RESIDENT AND THIRD-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT AT GEORGETOWN. HE INTRODUCED THIS IDEA OF MAKING SURE -- IMPACT MELANOMA. MAKING SURE THERE ARE FREE STATIONS WHEN PEOPLE ARE VISITING, THEY CAN GET SUNTAN.PARENTS MAY FORGET TO PUT SUNTAN ON THE KIDDOS. BASED ON --'S IDEA THAT WAS SHARED WITH US, WE INTRODUCE THIS AND WESTERMEIER COMMONS . WE ALSO INTRODUCE IT AT LAWRENCE W , OUR GOAL IS TO EXPAND THIS TO OTHER PARKS. I ALSO WANT TO INAUDIBLE ] DERMATOLOGY, WHICH SPONSORED THE FIRST TWO STATIONS . WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR THAT SPONSORSHIP.
MOVING OUT TO RIVER HERITAGE PARK, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ANNOUNCED NOT TOO LONG AGO. WE HAVE INTRODUCED A COMMUNICATION BOARD. RIVER HERITAGE PARK HAS A STRONG HISTORY OF BEING A PLACE THAT IS INCLUSIVE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. ALL OF OUR PARK EMBRACE UNIVERSAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES. BUT THIS WAS OUR FIRST PLAYGROUND THAT MET A.D.A. STANDARDS. IT HAS A LONG HISTORY OF BEING A PLACE THAT IS WELCOMING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. BASED ON SOME FEEDBACK WE HAD FROM OUR INCLUSION SUPERVISOR, AS WELL AS ARTICLES I WAS READING, I SAW THIS THING ABOUT COMMUNICATION BOARDS. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE KIDDOS, BUT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. NOT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO VERBALIZE THINGS. AND NOT EVERYONE KNOWS ASL. THESE COMMUNICATION BOARDS ARE HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE THAT MAYBE CANNOT VERBALIZE WHAT THEY ARE WANTING CAN GO TO IT AND SAY WHAT THEY ARE FEELING OR WHERE THEY WANT TO GO. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE PLAN TO INTRODUCE TO ALL OF OUR PLAYGROUND. THERE IS ALSO A QR CODE ON THE BOARD. NOT ALL OF THE PLAY EXPERIENCE IS AT THE MAIN PLAYGROUND. SOME IS ALONG THE TRAIL. SO YOU CAN SNAP A QR CODE AND STILL HAVE THE COMMUNICATION BOARD WITH YOU. IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE MOBILE, IF YOU WILL. WE ALSO ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A VARIETY OF INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE THAT WE PUT ALONG THE NATURE TRAIL. AND A LOT OF THOSE WILL HAVE TACTILE COMPONENTS. THEY WILL HAVE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE ON IT. WE WILL BE INTRODUCING THOSE SHORTLY. NOW THEY JUST NEED TO BE INSTALLED ONCE THEY ARE FINISHED BEING MANUFACTURED. THAT SHOULD HAPPEN LATER THIS
[00:45:01]
SUMMER. HOPEFULLY I CAN REPORT THAT THE FOURTH QUARTER REPORT.AND I ALSO HAVE TO SAY, TOMORROW IS PARKS AND RECREATION 34TH BIRTHDAY. WE WERE ESTABLISHED ON THE FIRST ON LOCAL AGREEMENT ON AUGUST 20TH, 1991. I TRIED TO DRAG THIS OUT TO THE ACTUAL BIRTHDAY, BUT WE WILL BE A DATE EARLY. SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE 33 YEARS OF PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF CARMEL, AND VISITORS AS WELL. WITH THAT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MICHAEL? COUNSELOR SNYDER ?
>> MICHAEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. FOR MANY YEARS, WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN HEARD YOUR REPORTS. GOING BACK YOUR FIRST SUBJECT, THE CAMPS. THIS YEAR, I KNOW THREE OF US -- IT HITS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. IT IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY YOU OFFER THAT I DON'T THINK ANY WHERE ELSE CAN DO. THE WAY YOU GUYS DO IT. AS A USER, I APPRECIATE YOU. AND AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF CARMEL, I GREATLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE, AND HOW EXPENSIVE . WHAT AN OPERATION.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNSELOR SNYDER.
IT IS MY TEAM THAT MAKES THE MAGIC HAPPEN.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I WILL ECHO THAT. IN THE AFTERSCHOOL CARE. EVEN IF YOU JUST USE IT TO AVOID THE PICKUP LINE. IT IS WORTH THE MONEY JUST FOR THAT. WE LOVE
EVERYTHING YOU DO. >> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WATER UTILITY BOND RESTRUCTURING
FINANCING SUMMARY REPORT. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. BACK IN APRIL, THE COUNCIL PASSED A BOND ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWED US TO REFINANCE, REFUND AND RESTRUCTURE OUTSTANDING WATER UTILITY DEBT. THE ORDINANCE GAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY AS TO HOW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
PRETTY COMPLEX . SO I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TELL YOU IT HAS BEEN DONE. IT IS CLOSED. I THINK WE HAVE HAD A FAVORABLE RESULT.
THE MAYOR THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO COME BACK AND EXPLAIN TO YOU EXACTLY WHAT WAS DONE, THE TRANSACTION AND WHAT THE RESULTS WERE. WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO SCOTT
MILLER. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. GOOD TO BE BACK BEFORE YOU AGAIN. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL POP UP HERE IN A SECOND. MAYBE . THERE WE GO. AS JOHN SAID, WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS OF THE TRANSACTION, AND HOW THINGS ULTIMATELY WORKED OUT. WHAT BEGAN TO BE A BOLD AND AUDACIOUS PROJECT IN THE 2000 REALLY BECAME A CREE DRIVER -- KEY DRIVER IN THE CITY'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AT THAT TIME, TAKING OVER TO UTILITY AND SOUTHERN HAMILTON COUNTY, EFFECTIVELY. AND BUILDING A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW INFRASTRUCTURE TO ULTIMATELY SERVE A DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS EXPECTED TO COME BUT WAS NOT THERE YET. BUT THEY NEED TO HAVE THE RESOURCES IN PLACE. IT WAS A PRETTY BOLD GOAL . IT TOOK US 20 YEARS TO GET TO THIS POINT TO ALLOW THAT GROWTH TO TAKE PLACE, AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ALLOW THE GROWTH TO TAKE PLACE. AND TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT DID NOT BANKRUPT EVERYBODY , AND CAUSE A RIFT TO BE OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH
[00:50:02]
AND STABLE THAT GROSS -- GROWTH. IT ALLOWS US TO MATCH UP TO A LOT OF THE GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND SET THE UTILITY UP FOR A SUCCESSFUL FINANCIAL FUTURE. JUST TO REMIND YOU WHERE WE WERE BACK AT THE START OF THIS PROCESS EARLIER IN THE YEAR, WE HAD SOME OVERARCHING GOALS AS WE WENT INTO THIS PROCESS. NUMBER ONE WAS TO TRY TO ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR ANY FUTURE LARGE WATER RATE INCREASE IT. WE HAD AN INCREASE IN DECEMBER. WE HAD THE SMALLER INCREASES GOING FORWARD. WE WANTED TO MAKE THAT ONE LARGER INCREASE IN DECEMBER ALL WE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND GET THE UTILITY INTO A GOOD FINANCIAL SPOT. WE HAD JUST UNDER $18 MILLION IN INTERIM NOTES THAT WERE OUTSTANDING THAT WE USED TO FIND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SYSTEM OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. BOTH CAME DUE JULY 1ST, AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT ON A LONG-TERM BASIS. WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE IN THE SYSTEM TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT ALL OF THE UTILITY CUSTOMERS HAVE COME TO EXPECT. WE NEEDED TO GENERATE FUNDS FOR THAT. AS I MENTIONED, THIS WORK STARTED 20 YEARS AGO. IT WILL GO FORWARD BECAUSE OF THE ASSETS THAT WERE BUILT AND PUT IN PLACE WILL LASTFOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 30 TO 50 YEARS. WE ARE TRYING TO MATCH UP AS BEST AS POSSIBLE THE REPAYMENT OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE PEOPLE ULTIMATELY GOING TO USE THEM. WE HAVE ALL PAID RATES OVER THE YEARS. SOMEONE THAT CONNECTS FIVE YEARS FROM NOW IS GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PAY FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE SERVING THEM AS WELL. LASTLY, WE WANTED TO IMPROVE THE UTILITY'S BOND RATING. WHERE WERE WE BACK IN APRIL, I THINK IT WAS. THIS IS WHAT THINGS LOOK LIKE AT THE TIME. THE BARS REPRESENT THE OUTSTANDING DEBT OF THE WATER UTILITY AT THAT POINT. THE DARK BLUE AND ORANGE WERE THE SENIOR LIVING DEBT THAT GO BACK TO THAT ERA 20 YEARS AGO. THAT WAS USED TO CONSTRUCT THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE STILL USE TODAY. THE DOT IN THE TOP LEFT REPRESENTS THE BOND ANTICIPATION AND THE SHORT-TERM FINANCING WE NEEDED TO RESTRUCTURE. AND THEN THE GREEN LINE REPRESENTS THE REVENUES THAT THE UTILITY WAS EXPECTED TO GENERATE BEFORE THE RATE INCREASE WENT INTO EFFECT AT THE START OF THIS YEAR. YOU CAN SEE REVENUES WERE GOING TO BE NOWHERE SUFFICIENT TO MAKE THE UPCOMING DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS AS THEY BECAME DUE. THE INCREASE FOR CARMEL WAS A DECENT SIZE INCREASE. WE DID NOT WANT TO HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN. THE GOAL WAS TO RESTRUCTURE THAT DEBT IN A WAY TO AVOID THAT SITUATION FROM TAKING PLACE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE AT NOW. WE'VE GOT ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE THAT IS RIGHT AROUND $10.1 MILLION PER YEAR , OUT TO 2053. THIS SHOWS YOU THE OUTSTANDING DEBT SERVICE AS THINGS EXIST TODAY. WE STILL HAVE A BOND ISSUE FROM 2017, A SMALL AND -- BOND ISSUE FROM 2021. EVERYTHING ELSE WAS RESTRUCTURED TO 2024, A, B AND C . AS WE PROJECT FORWARD, WE ESTIMATE , OR ARE FORECASTING $29-$30 MILLION OF REVENUE THIS YEAR. WE'VE GOT ABOUT 14 OR $15 MILLION OF EXPENSE. WE WILL HAVE THE 10.1 MILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT SERVICE . THE REMAINING AMOUNT WILL BE FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SYSTEM. SEPARATE FROM THE BOND PROCEEDS. BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO BE DONE. AND THEN TO BUILD UP THE CASH BALANCES IN THE UTILITIES SO WE CAN IMPROVE THAT BOND RATING I MENTIONED. JUST A QUICK SUMMARY ON THE THREE NEW BOND ISSUES. SERIES A BOND REFUNDED WHAT ARE CALLED THE SERIAL BONDS FROM 2008. THEY WERE RESTRUCTURED IN 2016 AS WELL. IT WAS KIND OF THE NORMAL BOND ISSUE THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE BACK AT THAT TIME TO FIND IMPROVEMENTS. THIS WAS PRIVATELY PLACED WITH CAPITAL ONE PRIVATE FUNDING. IT IS SET UP IN A SECOND ROUTE STRUCTURE.WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF WHAT WE WERE REFUNDING, WE COULD NOT DO THIS FINANCING ON A TAX-EXEMPT BASIS TODAY. WE HAD TO DO IT ON A TAXABLE BASIS. BUT CAPITAL ONE WAS WILLING TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT THAT TWO YEARS FROM NOW WE HAVE THE OPTION TO
[00:55:04]
CONVERT THAT TO A TAX-EXEMPT RATE. RIGHT NOW, THE INTEREST RATE IS 6.56%. TWO YEARS FROM NOW, I DO NOT KNOW WHY WE WOULD NOT, WE WILL CONVERT THAT TO A 4.97% TAX-EXEMPT RATE. WE WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL THOSE BONDS IN 2033 OR 2034 , DEPENDING ON WHAT OPTIONS CAPITAL ONE CHOOSES.THERE IS A POSSIBILITY DEPENDING ON WHERE THE MARKET IS -- ON A NET BASIS, TAKING IN THE TAXABLE -- 5.18 PERCENT INTEREST RATE. THAT TOOK CARE OF ONE PART OF THE SENIOR DEBT.
THE NEXT ONE WAS THE SERIES B BOND. THIS TOOK OUT AND REPLACE THE CAPITAL APPRECIATION BOND. THAT WILL BE KEY TO ALLOWING US TO GET OUT TO THIS POINT AND PAY FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY FOR IT 20 YEARS AGO WE DID NOT HAVE AS MANY CUSTOMERS. THESE WERE DONE ON A TAXABLE BASIS. $57 MILLION INTEREST RATE ON A TAXABLE BASIS, 5.72%. THE INTERESTING THING IS, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO REFUNDED THIS AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, IN 2033 IF INTEREST RATES GO DOWN.
THAT IS NOT VERY COMMON, AT LEAST YET. IT IS STARTING TO CHANGE. BUT IS NOT VERY COMMON FOR BOND ISSUES. SO THAT IS ANOTHER PERK, WE HAVE THE OPTION OF POTENTIALLY USING THAT INTEREST RATE MORE DOWN THE ROAD. THE LAST SERIES , SERIES C, THIS REFUNDED THE UTILITIES OUTSTANDING BONDS.
AND THEN IT GENERATED $20 MILLION OF MONEY FOR THE NEW PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE IN THE SYSTEM. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. IT WAS A PUBLIC SALE ON JULY 18. ALL THREE OF THESE CLOSE ON JULY 29TH. EVERYTHING IS CLOSE. ALL OF THE ESCROW ACCOUNT ARE FULLY FUNDED. BACK TO THIS ONE, THESE WERE DONE ON TAX-EXEMPT RATES. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION ON THIS ONE IN 2033. THE PAR INTEREST RATE WAS 4.66%. THIS ONE REALLY IS THE ONE THAT GENERATES REVENUE AND MONEY. IT CLEANS UP THE TWO MOST RECENT BONDS . ALL OF THAT TOGETHER GETS US ON A PATH TO THIS NEXT PHASE OF THE UTILITIES LIFE CYCLE. WE NEED SEVERAL YEARS OF SMALL CASH FLOW GROWTH TO BRING CASH BALANCES TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE FREE UTILITY OF THIS SIZE.
WE HAVE THE $20 MILLION FOR IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF THIS PROCESS. THE SERIES C AND B BONDS -- WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE FROM A TRIPLE B TO TRIPLE B+. WE ALSO HAVE A NEGATIVE WATCH IN PLACE MOVED. WE EXPECT NEXT YEAR WHEN S& P COME TO DO THEIR ANNUAL REVIEW, WE WILL EXPECT TO SEE THE READING STARTS TO IMPROVE. S&P IS PRETTY CONSERVATIVE. I DO NOT KNOW THAT WE WILL SEE LEAPS AND BOUNDS . BUT WE SHOULD START TO SEE A STEADY INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR IN THAT BOND RATING. AS WE GO FORWARD, SOME OF THE OTHER GOALS MOVING FORWARD, THE RATES SHOULD BE SET TO GENERATE THE SERVICE COVERAGE OF ABOUT 172 ABOUT 175%. AND S&P'S WORLD, BETTER VIEWED AS EXTREMELY STRONG. I MENTIONED GROWING THE CASH BALANCES. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS, AT A MINIMUM, WE HAVE $5 MILLION IN THE BANK AVAILABLE FUNDS THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY NEEDED TO PAY THE BILL OR ANYTHING. THAT IT IS JUST THERE FOR LIQUIDITY PURPOSES. OVER TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT GROW EVEN MORE, GIVEN THE SIZE OF THIS UTILITY. BUT AT LEAST A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF $5 MILLION. THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER , COVERAGE AND LIQUIDITY, WILL HELP US TO DRIVE THE RATING UP. ALL OF THE DEBT SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS -- REMOVED FROM CASH FUNDED RESERVES. THOSE ARE FUNDED WITH THE SURETY POLICIES. THOSE ARE IN PLACE AND HELPS US IN THAT PROCESS.
AND KIND OF GIVES BACK TO THE SOLUTIONS THAT WERE DEVELOPED FOR THIS WHOLE SITUATION. TAKING THE DEBT WE HAD, RESTRUCTURING AND EXTENDING THAT TERM TO MATCH THE GENERATIONAL EQUITY MEANS THAT WE HAVE, AND GETTING THE RIGHT
[01:00:02]
PEOPLE TO BE FOR -- TO PAY FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS. AND THE $20 MILLION FOR IMPROVING THE READINGS. AS JOHN MENTIONED, THIS WAS NOT EASY. AND I MENTIONED TO COUNSELOR TAYLOR BEFORE THE MEETING, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YEARS FROM NOW WHEN I LOOK BACK ON MY CAREER, I WILL BE PROUD OF THIS. IT GETS US IN A PLACE WHERE I THINK THE UTILITY IS SET UP TO REALLY SUCCEED FINANCIALLY. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. OBVIOUSLY, I DID NOT GO INTO THE NITTY-GRITTY DETAILS. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO GET INTO THAT, AT SOME POINT, WE CAN DO THAT. OVERALL, VERY PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS OF THESE TRANSACTIONS.>> THANK YOU. JUST ONE QUESTION. A LOT OF GOOD -- ON THE TRAJECTORY. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN RESTRUCTURED TO PUT US IN A STRONG STANDPOINT. WAS THAT CONTEMPLATED WHEN THE STRUCTURE WAS ORIGINALLY SET UP AS A POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCE? WHERE OUR BOND RATING IS GOING TO GET KILLED?
>> FIRST OFF, I WAS NOT THERE AT THE TIME. I DO NOT KNOW THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE HAD. AS I LOOK BACK AND LOOK OVER WHAT WAS DONE, THERE WERE TWO OUTCOMES. YOU EITHER GROW SO FAST THAT YOU GROW INTO , AND ARE ABLE TO PAY OFF THE TABS WITHOUT DOING WHAT WE DID. OR YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE AT. WE YOU GET TO THIS POINT AND YOU NEED TO RESTRUCTURE AND REALLY EXTEND THE REPAYMENT TIME TO BETTER MATCH THE USE OF THE FACILITIES AND THE LIFE OF THE FACILITIES. WE HAD, AS A CITY, ENORMOUS GROWTH OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS. CERTAINLY, ALL OF THAT GROWTH, THE AVAILABILITY FEES COLLECTED, THE ADDITIONAL REVENUES, THEY ALL HELPED. IF YOU REMEMBER, WE DID NOT HAVE HARDLY ANY RATE INCREASES, OR MAJOR INCREASES FROM THAT TIME. I THINK WE HAD ONE IN 2016.
FROM THAT POINT ON, WE HAD THE ANNUAL SMALL 3% INCREASES.
BEFORE 2016, I DON'T THINK WE HAD LARGE ADJUSTMENTS. WE HAVE ALL BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY HAVING EXTREMELY LOW RATES. EVEN AFTER THIS YEAR'S INCREASE OUR LOW. I DON'T KNOW, JOHN, IF YOU HAVE MORE INSIGHT YOU WANT TO OFFER. YOU TRY TO MATCH UP THE TOOLS THAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE AS BEST YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IN THE END, IT WORKED OUT REALLY
>> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. AND GREAT WORK, MR. DUFFY. I HAD A COUPLE OF GENERAL QUESTIONS. IS OUR GOAL IS 150 DAYS CASH ON HAND, WHERE ARE WE CURRENTLY AT?
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. ONE THAT I DID NOT PREPARE FOR.
WE ARE CERTAINLY NOT AT 150 DAYS OUT. I WILL EMAIL YOU.
>> WE WERE ABLE TO ISSUE THESE BONDS WITHOUT THE DEBT SERVICE CASH DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. WE FREED UP THE CASH. THE CASH DEBT SERVICE WE HAD WAS FREED UP, PUT INTO THE TRANSACTION TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE BORROWINGS. ALL OF THAT WAS REPLACED WITH -- WE ALSO FREED UP MONEY SITTING AT THE TRUSTEE FROM INTEREST EARNINGS AND EXCESS TRANSFERS FOR DEBT PAYMENT. WE WERE ABLE TO FREE THAT UP AND GIVE IT BACK TO UTILITIES. THE RESERVES
ARE NOW -- >> THAT IS GREAT. THAT ALSO PROBABLY LED TO SIGNIFICANTLY MORE NET PROCEEDS FROM THE $20
MILLION ISSUE FOR PROJECTS. >> YES. WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE TO FIND THAT RESERVE. ORDINARILY, WE WILL FIND THAT AFTER FIVE YEARS. WE DO NOT HAVE TO DO THAT. IT'S ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF. THE DOLLARS THAT ARE GENERATED OVER AND ABOVE FOR WHAT WE NEED FOR OPERATIONS CAN GO BACK INTO BUILDING CASH AND ANY OTHER IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE NEED.
>> SO THE CINDERELLA STRUCTURE -- THEY HAD THE TAX-EXEMPT
[01:05:01]
CONVERSION OPTION. FOR THE 4.9 TAX-EXEMPT RATE. THAT IS FIXED NOW. IT WILL NOT BE WITH THE TAX-EXEMPT RATE WOULD BE MAY1ST, 2026? >> THAT IS CORRECT. THE RATES WERE LOCKED IN BACK ON JUNE 26TH. THAT IS WHAT IT WILL BE.
AND THEN IN EITHER 2033 OR 2034, WE WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE REFUNDED. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO MAYBE REHASH SOME OF THESE PREVIOUS ACTIONS. I KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE NEW TO SOME OF THIS. I KNOW YOU WERE STAYING YOU WERE NOT THERE, WE HAD A DIFFERENT MAYOR, DIFFERENT COUNCIL . BUT THIS PRESENTATION IS GREAT . A PART OF ME WISHES I HAD SOME OF THIS INFORMATION YEARS AGO, BEFORE WE DID A RATE INCREASE. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WOULD CHANGE THE ACTIONS. I CANNOT GO BACK IN TIME AND SAY IT WOULD DUDE -- DO DIFFERENTLY. HAVING THAT INFORMATION TO KNOW, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING ON A WATCH HERE. WE HAVE A PLAN ON THESE THINGS. AND UPDATING THE COUNCIL ON THAT, I THINK IT IS GREAT NOW. I WISH IN THE PREVIOUS TERM WE WOULD HAVE DONE SOME MORE OF THAT. THAT BEING SAID, I DO WANT TO GET SOME KUDOS TO JOHN DUFFY AND HIS LEADERSHIP WITH CARMEL UTILITIES. I AM GLAD IT'S NOT TOO SOON. I AM GLAD WE HAVE YOU IN THE 2025 -- HE HAS DONE A LOT TO OVERHAUL OUR UTILITIES. AS YOU TALK ABOUT THE GROWTH, A LOT OF THAT GROWTH WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT MODERNIZING OUR UTILITIES AND REALLY PLANNING FOR THE GROWTH THERE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE, I AM GLAD WE STILL
HAPPY FOR QUITE SOME TIME. >> I WOULD ECHO THAT. JOHN AND HIS TEAM, MIKE AND TED, WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT THEM. I WOULD ALSO ADD, ZACH JACKSON IN THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE AS WELL. THIS WAS A HUGE LIFT. THEY REALLY HELPED US OUT WITH DOCUMENT REVIEW. AND MOVING THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS , WE GOT A GREAT STAFF.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE SOLUTIONS MET THE GOALS OF WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. I APPRECIATE THAT, PREVENTING THE LARGE WATERY INCREASES WE SAW. ARE WE LOOKING AT A USUAL 3%? IS THAT WE ARE ESTIMATING? I AM NOT HOLDING ANYBODY FEET TO THE
FIRE. >> THE ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW HAS AUTOMATIC PROGRAM, 3% AT THE END OF EACH JANUARY 1ST.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE HEADING AT THIS POINT, UNLESS SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT WE DO NOT FORESEE RIGHT NOW. WE SHOULD BE IN
[12. OLD BUSINESS]
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 12, OLD BUSINESS. FIRST ITEM, ORDINANCE D-2696-23. AND ORDINANCE OF TOWN COUNCIL, THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA. ADDING CHAPTER 8, ARTICLE FOUR SECTION 8 THROUGH 44 TO THIS CARMEL CITY CODE. THIS REMAINS TO THE FINANCE, UTILITIES AND RULES COMMITTEE. MOVING ON TO THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE, D-2719-24. AND ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAX INCREMENT REVENUE BONDS TO SUPPORT THE PERSON THE M3 PROJECT, -- PROSCENIUM III PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING OTHER ACTIONS IN RESPECT THERETO -- COUNSELOR LOCKE, DO YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE?
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. WE MET ON AUGUST 13TH TO DISCUSS , IS COMING BACK WITH A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION, A VOTE OF 4-0.
THERE WAS A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SHAPE OF THE FINANCING. LOTS OF CONVERSATION, LOTS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE WAY THESE PROJECTS COME TOGETHER, AND HOW THEY ARE SHAPED. AND VETTED BY THE CITY AND BROUGHT BACK TO US. I WOULD LOVE TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR MR. HENRY MESTETSKY TO DISCUSS. AND I WOULD ASK ANY COUNCILMEMBERS WHO WERE NOT AT THE COMMITTEE TO WEIGH IN WITH THOUGHTS.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAD A ROBUST CONVERSATION AT COMMITTEE, WE
[01:10:08]
ALSO HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE COME TO SPEAK AT THE COMMITTEE.ONE OF THEM WAS JACK RUSSELL SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF -- OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ONE'S OWN PROVIDED A LETTER WHERE THEY SPOKE WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT. WE ALSO HAD KAREN RADCLIFFE, THE INTERIM CEO OF -- THAT SAID THESE HOTEL ROOMS WOULD BE QUICKLY ABSORBED INTO THE MARKET. AND THAT THIS LEVEL OF HOTEL DOES THE BEST . AND IN THE TOURNAMENT -- TOURISM IS ALL FOR THESE -- AND WILL BE ADDITIVE TO WE HAVE .
>> COUNCILOR AASEN? >> I WILL SAY THIS NOW. I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ON THIS PROJECT. I THINK COUNSELOR TAYLOR RAY SOME REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRO FORMA, AND WHO -- ABSORBED. AS COUNSELOR LOCKE SAID, WE HAD A ROBUST DISCUSSION TALK TO SOME OF THE COUNSELORS WHO WERE NOT AT THE MEETING. HEARING SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT MAYBE TRAFFIC.
AND PARKING. I AM A SUPPORTER OF THIS PROJECT. BUT BASED ON THE CONVERSATION TONIGHT, I WILL BE OPEN TO MAKING A MOTION TO TABLE THIS TO GIVE SOME COUNSELORS TIME TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS . I KNOW -- SENT AN EMAIL. MAYBE HAVING HIM AT A MEETING SO THE COUNCIL COULD ASK HIM ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS MEETING. I WILL LEAVE IT OPEN TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. BASED ON THE CONVERSATION, I WOULD BE OPEN TO MAKING THE MOTION LATER IF NO ONE OBJECTS.
>> IF IT IS OKAY, I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND DO SOME ADDITIONAL CALCULATIONS AND PROVIDE THAT TO THE COUNCIL AFTER THIS. TO HOPEFULLY INFORM THE CONVERSATION.
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT, THANKS.
>> I DON'T THINK A MOTION WILL BE NECESSARY. I CAN KEEP IT ON
THE DAIS . COUNSELOR SNYDER ? >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS. AND I STATED IT AT THE LAST MEETING, GENERALLY, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT. THE MORE I HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND THE MORE I LOOK AT IT, I STILL CANNOT FULLY WRAP MY HEAD AROUND PUTTING -- RIGHT ON CITY HALL. THAT IS A PERSONAL THING, AND THAT'S GIVING FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO US. THE PRIMARY DRIVER IS YOUR PARKING NUMBERS , 508 SPACES TOTAL. I GUESS I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHEN OUR OWN REQUIREMENTS , THIS PROJECT WOULD NEED 774 SPACES, JUST TO FACILITATE THE USERS. SO TO SAY YOU HAVE 508 SPACES AND ONLY 20% ARE RESERVED FOR USAGE AND THE REST OF FOR THE PUBLIC, THE MASS DID NOT COME CLOSE TO DRIVING WITH ME. EITHER ALL OF OUR PARKING REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY WRONG , WE ARE HOLDING OTHER PEOPLE TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD, OR THIS WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY. SOME OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT OTHER THINGS, BUT FRANKLY, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS PROJECT . 42% OF THOSE PARKING SPACES ARE BECAUSE OF THE APARTMENTS. IF I HAD MY WAY, IT WOULD BE THE OFFICE SPACE IN THE HOTEL. THAT YOU JUST SAID, HOTELS WOULD BE ABSORBED IMMEDIATELY. AND WHAT YOU SAID IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE CARMICHAEL, IT WAS HARD TO BREAK PROFIT WITH LESS THAN 150 ROOMS. AND THIS HAS 125. I WOULD THINK EXPANDING IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR WHATEVER GENERATION. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PROJECT . I WOULD BE 100% IN SUPPORT IF WE COULD DO THE RETAIL, HOTEL. AND NOT DO THE GARAGE. WE COULD DO SURFACE PARKING FOR SHORT-TERM AS A LAUNCHPAD FOR A FUTURE PROJECT THAT FIT THE NEEDS AND WANTS OF THE COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY. MR. LOCKE AND I BROUGHT UP THIS CONCERN TO THE MAYOR TOGETHER. SHE STARTED TALKING ABOUT ALL
[01:15:04]
OF THE GREAT IDEAS SHE HAS AROUND THIS AREA. I JUST DO NOT THINK THERE IS A COHESIVE PLAN YET TO BUILD SOMETHING RIGHT ON THE DOORSTEPS OF CITY HALL WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT IS COMING.IN MY PERFECT WORLD, IT WOULD BECOME ALL GREEN SPACE. WITHOUT THAT, -- I SEEING THE TIF BEING REDUCED DRASTICALLY . I SEE SOME COOL THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE WITH THAT PARCEL. AND REAL PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. AGAIN, I THINK IT IS A DECENT PROJECT.
I DON'T THINK THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PARKING DRIVE AT ALL -- I WOULD RATHER NOT SEE APARTMENTS OVERLOOKING CITY HALL.
>> HENRY, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE PARKING , NOT AS TECHNICAL AS COUNSELOR SNYDER. I THINK YOU SAID YOU WILL LOOK INTO THAT AND GET BACK TO US. ON THE POINT THAT COUNSELOR SNYDER SAID, I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT OR TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE POSSIBILITIES OF TAKING A LOOK AT THE PARKING AND REMOVING SOME OF THOSE ITEMS FROM THE
PROPOSAL . >> I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK WITH SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARKING.
THIS PROJECT ONLY WORKS BECAUSE YOU HAVE DIFFERENT USERS PARKING IN THE SAME PARKING SPACES AT DIFFERENT TIMES. AND THIS PROJECT IS DELIVERING A LARGE PARKING GARAGE ESSENTIALLY FREE TO USE FOR THE PUBLIC ADJACENT . I THINK IF YOU TAKE OUT ANY OF THESE USES, THE PROJECT BREAKS APART AND DOES NOT WORK. YOU CANNOT TAKE HALF OF IT OFF AND EXPECT -- IT IS EITHER WHAT IT IS OR THERE IS NO PROJECT. I OWE YOU A LOT ON THE PARKING -- I WOULD LIKE A MOMENT TO WORK THROUGH THAT
AND PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APARTMENT. AS AN URBAN PLANNER, IS IT COMMON TO PUT APARTMENT BUILDINGS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE
STREET FROM OUR CITY HALL? >> YES.
>> NEXT, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND OUR JUDICIAL HOLDINGS.
THERE ARE NO RESIDENTIAL PARTICULARLY CLOSE. I WAS WONDERING IF THAT WAS THE SITUATION THAT HAPPENS OFTEN.
ALSO, I JUST WONDER WHAT SECURITY RISK THAT PROPOSES, HAVING PEOPLE LIVING DIRECTLY ACROSS. IT SEEMS SILLY. BUT TO ME, IT DOES NOT SEEM SILLY. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WHAT WOULD THE PROJECT LOOK LIKE. YOU TOUCHED ON IT. IF IT DID NOT HAVE THE APARTMENTS WITHOUT A PARKING GARAGE. I KIND OF FEEL THE SAME WAY AS MATT DOES .
>> COUNCILOR AASEN, I WANTED TO KNOW, THE PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE IS A BOND FOR THE PARKING GARAGE. IF THERE IS NO PARKING GARAGE, THERE IS NO BOND. WE ARE VOTING ON A BOND FOR THE
PARKING GARAGE. >> I WOULD SAY, RESPECTFULLY, WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE WATER LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU PUT A BIG BUILDING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BIG PARKING LOT. WE HAVE THAT ALL ALONG U.S. 31. AND WE HAVE ALSO SEEN WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU HIDE THE PARKING AND PUT DIFFERENT USES ON TOP OF THAT PARKING. THE VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC EFFECTS CREATED ARE WORLDS APART. WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN BUILDING OUR CENTRAL CORE WITH WORKABILITY. AND YOU DO NOT GET WORKABILITY BY PUTTING APARTMENT BUILDINS OR OFFICE BUILDINGS IN GIANT PARKING LOT. YOU GET THEM BY FLEXING USES AND UTILIZING THE TIF FOR THE DIFFERENT USES TO BUILD IN FREE PARKING FOR THE PUBLIC THAT IS HIDDEN AND OUT OF THE WAY. IF THE PROJECT IS NOT APARTMENT , OFFICE AND HOTELS ABOVE THE PARKING GARAGE, THE WHOLE THING FALLS APART.
>> COUNSELOR SNYDER? >> A, I DISAGREE. WHEN YOU SAY
[01:20:05]
THINGS , WITHOUT DOING IT MY WAY, THERE IS NO PROJECT, AND THERE IS NO PROJECT FOR ME. I DO NOT LIKE THAT. THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY TO WORK THROUGH THINGS. WHEN GIVEN THE ULTIMATUM, TO DO IT THIS WAY, OR NO PROJECT AT ALL, I GUESS IN MY PERSPECTIVE, THERE IS NO PROJECT AT ALL IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO WORK THROUGH IT. WE ARE TELLING YOU WHAT CONSTITUENTS SAY. WE ARE TELLING YOU WHAT WE HAVE HEARD AND WHAT THE DESIRE IS. THE DESIRE IS NOT TO HAVE APARTMENT ON CITY HALL. THERE IS A DIFFERENT WAY WE CAN DO IT.THERE ARE COST SAVINGS ON NO PARKING IMPACT FEES, AND THE TEST SHOULD DRASTICALLY REDUCE WITHOUT IT. OR LEAVE THE TIF IN -- FOR SOME GREEN SPACE THAT IS NOT APARTMENTS. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO DO THIS. YOU SAYING WITHOUT THIS WAY, THERE IS NO PROJECT, YOU JUST SOLD ME ON --
>> I WILL ALSO INFORM. WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM JEREMY CASHMAN ABOUT TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION . WE WANT TO TAKE TIME TO GO THROUGH HIS RESPONSE AND SEE IF WE CAN GET HIM HERE AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING TO TALK THROUGH SOME OF THE TRAFFIC ISSUES.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, HENRY. I WILL KEEP THIS ON THE DAIS . WE WILL DISCUSS IT AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
[13. NEW BUSINESS]
MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS. FIRST READING, ORDINANCE D-2726-24, AND ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING A THIRD AMENDMENT TO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. COUNSELOR SNYDER AND COUNSELOR TAYLOR.CAN I GET A MOTION TO INTRODUCE?
>> SECOND . >> COUNSELOR TAYLOR, IF YOU
COULD READ THE SYNOPSIS? >> THIS IS A THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CARMEL AND CLAY TOWNSHIP REGARDING PARKS AND RECREATION.
IT CURRENTLY EXTENDS THE TERMINATION DATE OF THE AGREEMENT. UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST, 2026. TO GIVE US MORE TIME TO EVALUATE WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND THE TOWNSHIP LONG-TERM CAPITAL ASSET FUNDING AND MAINTENANCE FOR THE CARMEL
-- RECREATION. >> WE WERE PLANNING ON SENDING THIS TO LAND-USE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
>> WHAT HAPPENED WITH LAND-USE WITH THIS ORDINANCE?
>> THIS IS BEEN SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR OVER A DECADE. I HAVE HEARD EVERYBODY SAY THAT WE WILL DEAL WITH IT NEXT YEAR, WE WILL DEAL WITH IT NEXT YEAR. HERE WE ARE WITH FIVE MONTHS LEFT TO DEAL WITH IT. AND WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. IN LAND-USE, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING EVERYTHING WITH THE ORDINANCE. WE WILL ALSO BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT EXISTS SOLELY ON THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT? WHAT ARE THE COMMUNITIES WANTS AND DESIRES? DO THEY WANT TO KEEP IT AS IT IS? DO THEY THINK IT NEEDS CHANGES. WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LONG-TERM FUNDING ISSUES , AND HOW AS IT PERTAINS TO THE INTERLOCAL CAN WE SOLVE SOME OF THIS. AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO SO WERE THIS ORDINANCE EXTENDS THE LIFE OF THE INTERLOCAL. AS A PERSONAL NOTE, I THINK WOULD BE A SHAME TO SCRUB ONE OF THE GREATEST ASSETS CARMEL HAS.
THAT IS WHAT WILL BE DISCUSSING.
>> THANK YOU. I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS THAT COUNSELOR SNYDER SAID. I WOULD LIKE A COUPLE OF YEARS , FOR THE NEW MAYOR AND PARKS TO COME UP WITH PLAN TO FIGURE HOW TO MAKE A PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT IS CONTINULLY SUCCESSFUL. AND LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO FIND THINGS FOR A GROWING
[01:25:03]
POPULATION. AND SUSTAIN THE THINGS WE ALREADY HAVE. IT IS LIKE TO TAKE SOME PARTNERSHIP.>> COUNSELOR TAYLOR, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING?
>> I DID WANT TO MENTION AND REITERATE WHAT COUNSELOR SNYDER HAS SAID. AS PRESIDENT, I HAVE WATCHED THE PREVIOUS COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATIONS IN THE TOWNSHIP KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. TO IDENTIFY AND SOLVE LONG-TERM FUNDING FOR CARMEL -- PARKS AND RECREATION. I WOULD BE VERY UPSET IF IT TOOK THE ENTIRE TWO YEARS TO FIGURE THIS OUT. BUT I AM IMPLORING MY HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS AND MAYOR FINKAM , TRUSTEE AND TOWNSHIP BOARD, ALONG WITH THE PARK -- LET SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT SO WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE BEST PARK SYSTEM IN THE NATION.
>> COUNSELOR SNYDER? >> COUNSELOR TAYLOR YOU TOUCHED ON SOMETHING. ONE THING THAT IS VERY UNIQUE ABOUT THE SPECIFIC ORDINANCE IS THAT IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE EXECUTED, IT NEEDS THE EXECUTION OF ALL OF OUR SIGNATURES , THE TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE SIGNATURE, SIGNATURES OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND THE SIGNATURE OF THE MAYOR IN ORDER FOR THIS DOCUMENT TO GET EXECUTED. WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT THAT REQUIRES SUCH COOPERATION. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, HOPEFULLY IN LAND-USE, TO HAVE SOME TOWNSHIP REPRESENTATION. I WILL HAND IT TO THE TOWNSHIP REPRESENTING THAT IS HERE TONIGHT. TO TALK
TO SOME OF THIS. >> ANYTHING ELSE? THIS WILL BE GOING TO LAND-USE . MOVING ONTO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE D-2727-24. AND ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA, REPEALING ORDINANCE D-293 . AS AMENDED AND REMOVING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE TWO, SECTION 21 FROM THE CARMEL CITY CODE. COUNSELOR SNYDER IS THE SPONSOR. CAN YOU READ THE SYNOPSIS PLEASE?
>> THIS ORDINANCE AMENDS -- REMOVING CABLE AND TELCO MEDICATIONS , ANNUAL REPORTS . TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
>> AND I GET A MOTION TO INTRODUCE?
>> HEARING THE SYNOPSIS, THE TELL COMMISSION THAT COULD HELP MEDICATION BORED, I CAN REMEMBER WHAT WAS RELEVANT AND POWERFUL. IT WAS ABLE TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUENTS VERY WELL. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- HAVE STRICT -- FROM NEARLY ALL AUTHORITY WE HAVE. IT'S BECOME VERY FRUSTRATING FOR THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS MISSION TO RECEIVE PHONE CALLS WITH CONCERNS AND IT'S EFFECTIVELY POWERLESS AND DEFUNCT. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS GOOD PRACTICE TO HAVE A COMMISSION WITH ABSOLUTELY ZERO AUTHORITY ANYMORE, GIVING PEOPLE A FALSE SENSE OF HOPE.
>> BENJAMIN, IF YOU CAN COME UP . YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED ON THE LONG-TERM NECESSITY OF
CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS. >> CITY ATTORNEY. THE -- AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND ALSO THE STATE GOVERNMENT DEREGULATION FOR CABLE AND TELCO MEDICATIONS ARE SUCH THAT THE COMMISSION DOES NOT HOLD THE LEVEL OF POWER IT DID BACK IN 1981. WHAT IS PROPOSED IS TO REPEAL AND REMOVE THE COMMISSION AND ALSO COMPANION ORDINANCE AS WELL. IT ALSO THEN TAKES IT AWAY FROM THE AGENDA . SO YOU ARE AWARE, THEY ARE THE ONLY OTHER COMMITTEE THAT RECEIVES FUNDING.
WITH THE CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE.
THE CITY WAS PAYING FOR THIS. AS WELL IS THE DEDICATION AND SERVICE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE COMING AND PARTICIPATING. BUT NOT HAVING THE POWER THAT IT ONCE HAD TO
[01:30:03]
BE ABLE TO ASSIST IN THE WAY IT ONCE.>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTION FOR BENJAMIN?
>> COUNSELOR LOCKE, ANY QUESTION ?
>> NO. -- HAS DONE SOME EXTREMELY COOL THINGS OVER THE
YEAR. BACK IN 1981. >> OH, COME ON.
>> EASY. >> AS A CITY, WHEN THINGS ARE TURNED OFF LIKE THIS, IT IS A SIGN OF SOME SORT OF PROGRESS.
WHETHER IT'S FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT MOVING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. CONCEPTUALLY, IT MIGHT BE FUN TO GO TO THE RECORDS TO SEE IF THERE ARE WINS OR THINK BACK THERE. NOT THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING. JUST A PARCEL OF TIME FOR ALL OF US TO THINK ABOUT.
>> EXCELLENT POINT. COUNSELOR SNYDER?
>> MR. LOCKE. I WAS ALSO BORN AFTER 1981. IN KNOWING MANY OF THE FOLKS ACERBIC COMMISSION SO WELL, WE HAD A SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT -- MAKE A POINT TO SHOW UP . ALL OF THE EXECUTIVES FROM THESE WORLDWIDE COMPANIES THAT SHOW UP . TO YOUR POINT, I DO NOT WANT TO RATTLE OFF NAMES. I'M SURE I WILL FORGET IMPORTANT ONE. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE ONE LAST BRIEF REPORT THAT GOES THROUGH SOME OF THE CORE MILESTONES THAT THIS COMMISSION DID DO AS A SIGN OFF. THIS IS AN END OF AN ERA, AND I WOULD NOT HEARING A -- MIND HEARING A BRIEF FROM 43 YEARS. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE COOL THINGS? I DO NOTHING AS A COMMUNITY WE SHOULD FORGET THESE THINGS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. AS A PROUD, ARCHAIC MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION, TO YOUR POINT, WINSTON LONG, THE LONGEST SERVING COMMISSIONER , I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO THANK HIM FOR THE HOURS AND DEDICATION HE SPENT SERVING THIS COMMUNITY AND THE COMMISSION WAS ON HER. AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT WAS A REAL HONOR TO SERVE WITH ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, MATTHEW. AND
RYAN. >> I LIKE THE IDEA . IF WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THE COMMISSION GIVE ONE LAST REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT LET'S SAY THE NEXT MEETING, GOING AHEAD AND SUSPENDING THE RULES AND VOTING ON THIS TONIGHT. AND THEN HOLD OFF ON THE OTHER ORDINANCE TO KEEP IT ON THE AGENDA. WOULD
THAT BE DOABLE? >> YOU COULD DO THAT. BUT IN EFFECT, YOU HAVE REMOVED THE COMMISSION AS A BODY. BUT IT COULD DO ITS FINAL REPORT BASED ON THE -- THE LAST TIME REPORTED WOULD'VE BEEN APRIL. THERE IS ACTIVITY THAT WOULD
HAVE OCCURRED. >> LOOKING FOR A MOTION ON THIS
ORDINANCE? >> I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES.
>> SECOND . >> DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE. ALL RIGHT. THE RULES, 8-0, AS FAR AS APPROVING THE SUSPENSION.
LOOKING FOR ANOTHER MOTION . >> MOVED TO APPROVE.
>> WHAT WE DID NOT SUSPEND THE RULING JUST ACTED ON IT AT THE NEXT MEETING? INTRODUCE THE BILL TONIGHT AND VOTE ON THE
NEXT MEETING? >> EITHER WAY, I THINK WE CAN VOTE ON THIS ORDINANCE AND HOLD OFF ON THE SECOND ORDINANCE.
>> PLEASE NOTE. PLEASE VOTE . THE ORDINANCE HAS BEEN
APPROVED, 8-0. MOVING ON. >> I DID NOT VOTE, SORRY.
>> MOVING ONTO THE NEXT ITEM. FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE
[01:35:05]
D-2728-24. AND ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA. AMENDING CHAPTER THREE, ARTICLE ONE, DIVISION TWO, SECTION 3 THROUGH 30 OF THE CARMEL CITY CODE. THE SPONSOR IS COUNSELOR SNYDER. CAN I HAVE A MOTION TOINTRODUCE? >> MOVED TO INTRODUCE.
>> SECOND-PERIOD >> COUNSELOR SNYDER, READ THE
SYNOPSIS, PLEASE? >> THIS ORDINANCE AND THEN THE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE CARMEL COMMON COUNCIL AGENDA BY REMOVING THE CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION'S ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE AGENDA.
>> WE HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS. WE WILL HOLD ONTO THIS UNTIL THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL AND REQUEST -- TO GIVE ONE LAST REPORT. MOVING ONTO THE NEXT ITEM, AGENDA ADD-ON ITEMS. THERE ARE NONE. MOVING ONTO 15, OTHER BUSINESS. ANY COUNSELORS HAVE ANY OTHER BUSINESS? NO . ANNOUNCEMENTS? COUNSELOR
[16. ANNOUNCEMENTS]
TAYLOR? >> JUST A REMINDER, THANK YOU, JESSICA. FOR THE ADVISORY -- THAT FIRST MEETING IS AUGUST
28TH AT 5:30 P.M. >> ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS?
>> I WANTED TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THE DEDICATION -- IT WAS A PHENOMENAL TURNOUT. I THANK THE TOWNSHIP FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE LION SHARE OF THE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE GIANT COMMUNITY PARTY AS WELL CITY COUNCIL. IT WAS AN AMAZING EVENT. AN AMAZING FACILITY. IF ANYBODY DID NOT GET TO MAKE IT, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ANY OF US AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO FACILITATE THAT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.