Jan 06, 2025 City Council Meeting

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:07]

>>> I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE JANUARY 6,

[2. AGENDA APPROVAL]

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> ALL RIGHT, PLEASE VOTE . THE

[3. INVOCATION]

>> EVERY GREETINGS FROM THE NEAR 4000 DISCIPLES LOCATED AT MAIN STREET AND GRAY. I WOULD ASK YOU TO PRAY WITH ME. GOOD AND GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER WE COME TO YOU TONIGHT TO SEEK YOUR BLESSING, FIRST OF ALL I ASK YOUR BLESSING ON ALL THOSE THAT ARE WORKING NOW TO KEEP OUR CITY STREETS SAFE, LORD BE WITH ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE WORKING FOR OUR GOOD, THAT YOU KEEP THEM SAFE AND GIVE THEM STRENGTH DURING THIS TIME. I PRAY YOUR BLESSING ON THIS MEETING ON THE SERVANTS OF YOURS THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT, THAT THE CHOICES WOULD BRING PEACE AND JUSTICE TO OUR GREAT CITY OF CARMEL. WE ASK THIS IN THE NAME OF OUR SAVIOR JESUS, AMEN.

[4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

>> OKAY THANK YOU, NEXT IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. IF EVERYONE CAN STAND AND RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

[5. RECOGNITION OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUTSTANDING CITIZENS]

>> THANK YOU, NEXT UP RECOGNITION OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUTSTANDING CITIZENS. NOTHING ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT

[6. RECOGNITION OF PERSONS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL]

PUSH THE MICROPHONE. NORMALLY YOU GET THREE MINUTES, I WILL BE A LITTLE LENIENT, BUT WE WILL LET YOU KNOW IT WILL GO RED WHEN THREE MINUTES ARE UP AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS JUST KIND OF WRAP IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> IS THIS ON ALREADY? OKAY. DEAR MEMBERS OF THE CARMEL CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M HONORED TO ADDRESS YOU GUYS TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE PAPERWORK OF THE HHS USA AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE DETAILS ABOUT THE UPCOMING EVENT AT THE 18TH ANNUAL YOKE OF HER HEALTH, HEALTH FOR HUMANITY YOGA MARATHON. ALSO KNOWN AS S AND Y, THE PROGRAM RUNS FROM JANUARY 18 TO FEBRUARY 2 AND IT IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO FOSTERING COMMUNITY, SELFLESS SERVICE AND HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN COMMUNITIES. OUR INITIATIVES AIMED TO PROMOTE CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND OVERALL WELL-BEING, THE SN Y IS A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF OUR EFFORTS, A UNIQUE EVENT INVOLVING A SEQUENCE OF YOGA POSTURES SYNCHRONIZE WITH A RHYTHMIC PATTERN OF BREATH, PAYING HOMAGE TO THE LIFE-SUSTAINING ENERGY OF THE SUN. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR MANY, CONTRIBUTING TO PHYSICAL FITNESS, MENTAL WELL-BEING AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2007 PARTICIPANTS FROM 43 STATES HAVE ACTIVELY TAKEN PART IN THIS YOGA MARATHON THROW YOGA CENTERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF FAITH AND BELIEF PARTICIPANTS HAVE PERFORMED OVER FOR MILLIONS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THIS SHOWCASES THE SUCCESS OF THE YOGA-THON IN ACHIEVING DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION NATIONWIDE WHILE PROMOTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. IN THE SPIRIT OF INCLUSIVITY WE ARE THRILLED TO EXTEND INVITATION TO THE CARMEL COMMUNITY TO JOIN US IN THIS YEAR'S ON FEBRUARY 2 IN 2025.

THE OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE AND WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS EVENT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ACHIEVING THAT. NOTABLY THE CITY OF CARMEL HAS PROCLAIMED JANUARY 28 AS THE HEALTH FOR HUMANITY YOGA-THON DAY FOR THE

[00:05:05]

[7. COUNCIL AND MAYORAL COMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP IS COUNCIL AND MAYORAL COMMENTS

AND OBSERVATIONS. MAYOR. >> GOOD EVENING, ALL I WANT TO SAY IS WELCOME BACK, WELCOME TO 25 . THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID, LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AGAIN THIS YEAR. HAVE A BUSY YEAR WITH A LOT OF STUFF PLANNED AND I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE STREET DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS WHO ARE OUT AND ABOUT IN THE LAST 24 TO 36 HOURS MAKING SURE WE ARE SAFE ON THE ROADS LOOK GREAT. THEY ARE STILL AT WORK SO GOOD STUFF FOR CARMEL. THAT'S IT, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, I HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE I GO TO THE REST OF COUNCIL FOR COMMENTS OR OBSERVATIONS. FOR 2025 OUR CHAPLAIN FOR THE YEAR WILL BE A COUNSELOR AND -- AYERS AND PARLIAMENTARIAN WILL BE COUNSELOR GREEN. AS ANNOUNCED COUNSELOR TAYLOR WILL LEAD THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND VICE PRESIDENT SNYDER WILL LEAD LAND-USE AND SPECIAL USE COMMITTEE. I WILL ALSO BE ANNOUNCING A NEW COMMITTEE THAT I AM FORMING CALLED THE COUNCIL NOMINATING COMMITTEE. COUNSELOR GREEN WILL LEAD THIS AND ON THIS COMMITTEE WILL BE COUNSELOR JOSHI AND SNYDER, THE POINT OF THIS COMMITTEE WILL BE TO SOLICIT APPLICATIONS FOR VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT CITY COUNCIL APPOINTS, MOST IS FOR 2026. AND THEN BE ABLE TO EITHER GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS OR NARROW THEM DOWN FOR A COUNCIL VOTE ON NOMINATIONS. IN THE PAST WE HAVE NOT HAD A PROCESS FOR HOW WOULD YOU OPENINGS ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS SO THIS COMMITTEE WILL HELP DEVELOP THAT PROCESS IN CONSULTATION WITH CITY LEGAL. IT IS MY HOPE WE WILL HAVE AN APPLICATION ON WEBSITE FOR SOME OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE TO APPLY AND SHOW INTEREST IN SERVING THE CITY IN A DIFFERENT WAY. I'M SURE WE WILL HAVE MORE DETAILS ON THAT IN THE FUTURE, BUT I WILL BE EMPOWERING THE CHAIR, COUNSELOR GREEN TO KIND OF LEAD THIS EFFORT AND DEVELOPING THIS PROCESS. ANY COUNSELORS WITH COMMENTS OR OBSERVATIONS? JOSHI?

>> I AM PLEASED TO SEE WE WILL ESTABLISH A NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE HAVE A TRANSPARENT AND OPEN PROCESS ALLOWING THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST TO COME FORWARD. WE HAVE TALENTED PEOPLE IN THE CITY THAT WOULD LIKE TO GIVE BACK AND SERVE IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES AND THIS WILL GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE ONE OF THE AGENDA ITEMS YOU WILL SEE AT THE END IS RELATED TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY. IN FACT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO PRESENTED THEMSELVES AS A NOMINEE FOR THAT COMMITTEE, DR.

WILLIAM BENNETT WHO HAPPENS TO BE HERE TONIGHT. A PEDIATRIC G.I. SPECIALIST WHO HAS SERVED ON NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEES RELATED TO DISABILITY AUTISM. HE IS THE FATHER OF A DAUGHTER WITH A RARE GENETIC DISORDER WHICH HAS CAUSED NEUROLOGIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES SO HE HAS BEEN A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR HIS DAUGHTER AND FOR MANY CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY WHO STRUGGLE WITH THESE ISSUES. SO

[8. CONSENT AGENDA]

>> COUNCIL COMMENTS OR OBSERVATIONS? WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. DECEMBER 30, 2024 SPECIAL MEETING AND CLAIMS, GENERAL CLAIMS IN THE AMOUNT OF 939,000 AND CLAIMS, GENERAL CLAIMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $939,334.29. DO I HAVE A MOTION? ALL RIGHT, PLEASE VOTE.

JESSICA, I PASSED. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS ACTION ON

[10.a. Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee]

>> THANK YOU. FINANCE COMMITTEE MET PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL MEETING THIS EVENING AND WE REVIEWED ORDINANCE IN PARTICULAR PASSING BACK TO FULL COUNCIL WITH POSITIVE

[00:10:11]

ORDINANCE 2741-24 , THERE WAS GUIDANCE PROVIDED TO OUR CFO ZACH JACKSON ON CHANGES THE COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON THAT PRAYER TO IT BEING RETURNED BACK TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW SO THAT REMAINS IN FINANCE COMMITTEE.

ORDINANCE 27-53-24 ORDINANCE OF COMMON COUNCIL AMENDING PTO POLICY AND LEAVE POLICY PASSING WITH POSITIVE UNANIMOUS POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION TO BRING BACK TO THE FULL COUNCIL WITH THE INCLUSION WITH AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE SECTION D

[10.b. Land Use and Special Studies Committee]

PRESENTED TODAY IN THE MEETING. >> ALL RIGHT THANK YOU.

LAND-USE AND SPECIAL

STUDIES COMMITTEE. >> THANK YOU, SIR. OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8. WHERE WE WILL CONTINUE DISCUSSING , HALF OF THE MEETING WILL BE ON THAT, THANKS TO SHANNON FOR ORGANIZING AND SPEARHEADING, SHE HAS HAD A COUPLE MEETINGS TO REMIND THE PROCESS SO WE CAN BRING SOME BACK TO THE COUNCIL THAT'S TANGIBLE. WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THE OTHER HALF OF THE MEETING, THE DEVELOPMENT OF 146 AND THAT WILL BE AT 5:30 IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE ANYBODY THERE THAT'S INTERESTED.

[11.a. Carmel Redevelopment Commission (Monthly)]

>> THANK YOU, OTHER REPORTS, FIRST THE CARMEL REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MONTHLY REPORT.

>> GOOD EVENING COUNSELORS AND MAYOR. CARMEL REDEVELOPING DIRECTOR AND I LIKE TO UPDATE ON LAST MONTHS REDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.

CITY CENTER CONTINUES CONSTRUCTION AS IT'S ALMOST DONE. THAT'S THE WINDSOR, IN DECEMBER MORNING ON SQUARE NORTH CLOSED ON ITS LAND AND ON ITS FINANCING, SO CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE STARTING EARLY THIS QUARTER. FIRST ON MAIN CONTINUES TO BUILD OUT CONDOS. EVERYTHING ELSE IS DONE, MAGNOLIA IS DOING BUILDINGS THREE AND FOUR NOW WHICH IS REALLY GREAT. I KNOW THAT I OWE YOU SOME INFORMATION ABOUT RETAIL, I REACHED OUT, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS ANSWERING THEIR EMAILS FROM THE LAST TWO WEEKS. CERTAINLY NOT SIGNING LEASES SO I WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION AS SOON AS I CAN. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENED AT THE END OF DECEMBER IS THE DEVELOPER FROM THE CIVIC SQUARE CONDOS CLOSED ON THIS LOAN, SO FINANCING IS A FULL GO, CLOSING ON THE LAND, SO THAT PROJECT SHOULD START CONSTRUCTION AGAIN EARLY FIRST QUARTER. THAT'S AN EXCITING TO BE FILLED OUT, THE CROSSING IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND IT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH A LOT OF THIS YEAR. ONE OF THE IMAGES THAT OUR CARMEL POLICE DEPARTMENT POSTED ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE YESTERDAY WAS A PICTURE OF ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES IN FRONT OF THIS BUILDING AND IT WAS A MESSAGE ABOUT STAYING SAFE. IF YOU CAUGHT THE FACEBOOK PICTURE WHAT WAS REALLY CLEAR IS BEHIND THE POLICE VEHICLE THERE WAS A PUBLIC PARKING SIGN POINTING PEOPLE TO FREE PARKING. SO WE GOT THE MESSAGE ABOUT SAFETY AND THE MESSAGE ABOUT A LOT OF FREE PUBLIC PARKING AVAILABLE IN THE CITY. 11 SOUTH RANGELINE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. WE SHOULD SEE 1933 OPENING IN THE FIRST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS , I WILL LOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. ICON ON MAIN WILL CONTINUE TO BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION THROUGH THE ENTIRETY OF THIS YEAR WITH THE PUBLIC PLAZA OPENING UP IN EARLY 26. AT&T SITE CONTINUES ITS REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, A LOT OF PROGRESS BEING MADE THERE. ONE OF THE PROJECTS AT THE PLAZA HAS MADE ITS WAY

[00:15:02]

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN POSSIBLY SAY AFTER THAT, PRESIDENT AASEN ASKED ME TO STOP BY AND REINTRODUCE MYSELF IF YOU WILL AND I REALLY WANTED TO SAY I AM AVAILABLE, I WILL BE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND TO MEET INDIVIDUALLY , I AM RETIRED NOW SO PEOPLE USE TO STOP BY MY OFFICE. IF THEY HAD QUESTIONS, GIVE ME A CALL. EVERYONE'S GOT MY CONTACT INFORMATION. IF YOU DON'T, I KNOW PRESIDENT AASEN HAS IT.

LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING SOME INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE UTILITY REPORT IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL I AM ONE OF THOSE NERDS THAT REACH THE DETAILS. SO IF YOU HAVE NOT GONE THERE , I CAN PROBABLY HELP YOU WITH THAT.

PROJECTS WE'RE WORKING ON CERTAINLY TO DISCUSS AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO BE AT OTHER MEETINGS WHEN I AM IN TOWN, I CAN CERTAINLY BE HERE WHEN NECESSARY. SO, JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT UPDATE. ANY QUESTIONS OR ME AT THIS POINT? OR MOVING

FORWARD. >> COUNCILOR SNYDER YOUR QUESTION? OKAY. QUESTION FOR HENRY. COUNCILOR SNYDER.

>> CAN YOU PLEASE REACH OUT TO JEREMY AND SET UP A MEETING TO COORDINATE INTEGRATION OF THE VETERANS TRAIL INTO THE BACKSIDE OF ICON ON MAIN SO WE CAN START SEEING WHAT THAT'S

GOING TO LOOK LIKE? >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.

>> BY THE WAY, THE REPORT THAT DAVE MENTIONED WAS THE 2024 END COMPILED BY BAKER TILLY AND THEY PRESENTED AT THE FINAL MEETING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION EVERY YEAR.

OVERLAPPING TAX UNIT GETS INVITED. FOR ANYONE WATCHING YOU ARE ALSO WELCOME TO WATCH THE PRESENTATION OF THE REPORT BY MUNICIPAL ADVISORS AT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ON THE CITY YOUTUBE PAGE, ON THE CITY FACEBOOK PAGE, VERY INFORMATIVE STUFF AND PAINTS A GREAT PICTURE OF OUR FINANCES. HAPPY

TO DISCUSS THAT. >> AND ALEXA PUBLIC DOCUMENT, CAN YOU EMAIL IT TO THE COUNCIL SO WE HAVE A COPY?

>> I WILL EMAIL THE COUNCIL THE REPORT AND IT WILL ALSO EMAIL THE PRESENTATION THAT BAKER TILLY PUT TOGETHER WITH THE

[00:20:02]

>> COUNCILOR TAYLOR. >> I HAVE A COMMENT RELATED TO THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STUDIO IN PARTICULAR AND THE DIRECTOR AND ALSO COUNCILOR MINNAAR REPRESENTED AND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE. YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORS CONTACTED ME AND OTHERS ON THE COUNCIL. HAD SOME CHANGES THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE TO THE PROJECT. STAFF, THE , THE ARCHITECT, STUDIO M AND THANK YOU TO ADAM AND SHANNON FOR ADVOCATING FOR THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. I THINK IT MADE THE PROJECT EVEN GREATER THAN WHAT IT WAS BEFORE AND REALLY ACCOMMODATED SOME OF THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE NEXT DOOR TO THE PROJECT. SO, THANK YOU FOR THE PROCESS YOU GUYS WENT THROUGH TWO THAT THE BEST

PROJECT IT CAN BE. >> OH, AND DIRECTOR YOU MENTION THE MUSIC. I THINK I DROVE BY AND SAW THE SIGN IT WAS JAPANESE SUSHI OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> THERE WAS A SUSHI PLACE COMING. I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S PUBLIC. THERE'S A SUSHI PLACE COMING EVERYONE.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR MINNAAR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT, THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR TAYLOR FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND HOUSING TASK FORCE GURU. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP WITH ALL OF THAT AS WELL.

>> COUNCILOR LOCKE. >> THANK YOU, MR. BOWERS FOR BEING HERE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. A BUNCH OF US LOVE TO NERD OUT ON STUFF SO I AM DOWN TO NERD OUT WHENEVER

[11.b. Carmel Historic Preservation Commission (Quarterly – January, April, July, October)]

YOU ARE DOWN TO NERD OUT. >> ALL RIGHT ANYTHING ELSE? NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE CARMEL HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION. WE GOT A NOTE FROM MARK THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE

[11.j. Housing Task Force]

I INVITE THEM UP TO THE MICROPHONE.

>> GOOD EVENING COUNSELOS AND MAYOR. FOR THE RECORD I AM NAME ] , I SERVED AS CHAIR OF THE CARMEL HOUSING TASK FORCE AND I AM DOING THIS EVENINGBY CHRIS PRYOR WHO SERVED AS VICE CHAIR AND SERVICES. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ON THE WORK OF THE HOUSING TASK FORCE AND RESULTING RECOMMENDATIONS AND ALSO A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO PRESIDENT AASEN, FOR HIS PARTICIPATION ON THE TASK FORCE AND ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS HE MADE. OUR AGENDA TONIGHT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS A AND WILL START OFF BY GIVING YOU JUST A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE TOPICS THAT WERE COVERED DURING THE WORKING SESSIONS AND THEN CHRIS WILL SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE DATA AND THE FACTS THAT WE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY AND I WILL DO A QUICK REVIEW OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. AFTER THAT WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER I DO WANT TO OFFER A GENERAL OBSERVATION IN THAT THIS WHOLE HOUSING TASK FORCE PROCESS TURNED OUT TO BE REALLY A VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. ADMITTEDLY WHEN I WAS ASKED IF I COULD SERVE ON THE HOUSING TASK FORCE, I WAS NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT I WAS VOLUNTEERING FOR. BECAUSE THIS WAS AFTER ALL THE VERY FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD A HOUSING TASK FORCE. SO, ANYTIME , ARE WE HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES? THANK YOU. WELL OKAY. I WILL KEEP GOING AND WE'LL FIX THIS IN A MINUTE.

ANYTHING NEW THERE ALWAYS UNKNOWNS. THIS TURNS OUT TO BE A FANTASTIC PROCESS. THE MOST OBVIOUS BENEFIT WAS THIS GREAT EDUCATION THAT WE GOT. WE SPEND MONTHS HEARING FROM HOUSING INDUSTRY EXPERTS. WE READ A LOT OF REPORTS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS AND WE HEARD ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH HOUSING IN CARMEL AND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND WE HAD FANTASTIC DIALOGUE TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND IN THE END THE HOUSING TASK FORCE DID ISSUE 13 REALLY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WHEN TAKEN

[00:25:02]

YOURS. >> GOOD EVENING, ADRIAN KEELING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES. I WANT TO ECHO CHRISTINE'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT NONE OF US REALLY KNEW WHAT WE WERE EMBARKING UPON IN FEBRUARY WHEN THIS ALL STARTED. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE APPROACHED OUR DEPARTMENT AS PART OF KIND OF THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND THE ELEVATE CARMEL PLAN. AFTER HEARING FROM MANY OF YOU ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOUSING, APARTMENTS, HOW DO I DOWNSIZE? WHERE IS THE CITY GOING? SO AGAIN WE DID NOT KNOW WHERE THIS WAS GOING TO TAKE US, BUT CONVERSATION AND HAD A LOT OF Y- CANDID, CANDID DISCUSSION BY A NUMBER OF PANELISTS AS WELL AS OUR TASK FORCE MEMBERS IN THE PUBLIC. SO, I WON'T GO THROUGH EVERY BIT OF EVERY MEETING, BUT , OVER THE COURSE FROM FEBRUARY THROUGH SEPTEMBER THE TASK FORCE MET NINE TIMES. AND, I WILL TAKE YOU TO THE WEBSITE BECAUSE , EVERYTHING , EVERYTHING RELATED TO THE TASK FORCE IS ON THE WEBSITE AND ANYONE WHO FOLLOWED THE TASK FORCE IS PROBABLY TIRED OF ME SHOWING WHERE THE WEBSITE IS AND HOW TO NAVIGATE IT BUT ON THE CITY WEBSITE, GO TO DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES PAGE. THERE IS A SHORTCUT TO OUR DEPARTMENT BY GOING , BUT I AM NAVIGATING A LONG WAY. WANT TO GET TO THE DEPARTMENT PAGE ALONG THE LEFT SIDE, THERE IS A MENU AND , WHERE? I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE PRESENTATION WENT. YEAH. MORE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.

>> OKAY, THAT'S OKAY. IF YOU'RE IN THE CITY WEBSITE, HOVER OVER GOVERNMENT AND GO TO DEPARTMENTS AND SERVICES AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. TO GET TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES. THERE IS A SHORTCUT WEBSITE, ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAGE THERE IS A HOUSING TASK FORCE LINK RIGHT HERE. AND FROM THERE, YOU CAN GET TO EVERYTHING CARMEL HOUSING TASK FORCE RELATED. IT INCLUDES ALL OF THE MEETINGS WITH AGENDAS, PRESENTATION MATERIALS, AS WELL AS MEETING VIDEOS THEY ARE ALL LIVE STREAMED ON YOUTUBE AND I BELIEVE THE CITY'S FACEBOOK PAGE. AND THEN , WE PRESENTED THE FINAL REPORT ON SEPTEMBER 12, SO YOU CAN SEE THE FINAL REPORT HERE UNDER FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT. YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE A HARD COPY OF THAT AS WELL. IT WAS IN YOUR PAPERLESS PACKETS. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP. WHEN WE STARTED THIS ENDEAVOR, WE WERE BRAINSTORMING TRYING TO GET A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERTISE AND REPRESENTATION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, ADAM, PRESIDENT AASEN, REPRESENTATIVE OF CITY COUNCIL,

[00:30:03]

HE REPRESENTED THE CARMEL REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

NAME ] REPRESENTED THE CARMEL PLANNING COMMISSION. WE ALSO WANTED TO INVOLVE CARMEL PLAY SCHOOLS, SOMEONE FROM THE BANKING AND FINANCE INDUSTRY. CHRIS PRYOR REPRESENTED , JACK RUSSELL FROM ONE ZONE. A LETTER SANDERS, BOARD MEMBER OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NONPROFIT HERE IN HAMILTON COUNTY. AND THEN BARBARA EDEN IS A CARAMEL -- CARMEL RESIDENT. BARBARA IS THE ONLY ONE WHOSE TITLE MENTIONS CARMEL RESIDENT, BUT EIGHT OF THE NINE MEMBERS ARE ALL CARMEL RESIDENCE. JACK RUSSELL SEARCHED TO LIVE HERE A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS SEARCHING FOR HOUSES, BUT CERTAINLY HIS PARTICIPATION AS PART OF ONE ZONE AND REPRESENTATION OF CARMEL BUSINESSES WAS INVALUABLE, AS WELL. BEFORE I GO INTO THE MEETING TOPICS, I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS ON THE WEBSITE. THERE IS A WHOLE LINK TO STUDIES AND REPORTS AND ARTICLES THAT IS AVAILABLE. ALL OF THE PUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE WE RECEIVED IS ALSO AVAILABLE. AND ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE HOUSING TASK FORCE IS AVAILABLE ON THIS WEBSITE. WE WANT TO GO BACK TO THE POWERPOINT AND HOPEFULLY THIS CONNECTION HOLDS. OKAY. SO, AGAIN THE WEBSITE , IF YOU NEED TO GO BACK LATER AND NAVIGATE THAT, IT SHOWS THERE IS A SCREENSHOT. THE MEETING TOPICS, I MENTIONED WE HAD NINE MEETINGS, THE FIRST SIX OF THEM I WOULD CATEGORIZE AS INFORMATION GATHERING. EVERYTHING ABOUT THE TASK FORCE IS INFORMATION GATHERING, BUT WE STARTED AND WENT TOPIC BY TOPIC . WE STARTED IN FEBRUARY AND WE HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT TO TRY TO GET A HANDLE ON CARMEL ECONOMIC POSITION IN THE REGION BECAUSE WE KNEW WE WERE EMBARKING ON THE US 31 STUDY AND HOMEPLACE SO SOME OF THAT INFORMATION FROM THAT REPORT WAS HELPFUL TO GET US STARTED WITH THE DISCUSSION. WE ALSO KNEW THAT THE INDIANAPOLIS NPO HAD A HOUSING STUDY RECENTLY COMPLETED FOR THE CENTRAL INDIANA REGION AND A RECENT CONSUMER HOUSING PREFERENCES SURVEY AND REPORT. SO WE BROUGHT IN SPEAKERS, CHRIS PRYOR WAS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS TALKING ABOUT HOUSING , FOR SALE HOUSING AND WE HAD SOMEONE FROM THE NPO TALK ABOUT CENTRAL INDIANA HOUSING. IN APRIL WE BROUGHT IN THREE BUILDERS IN THE SINGLE-FAMILY INDUSTRY TO HAVE A CANDID CONVERSATION ABOUT , THERE WERE QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT WHY IS IT SO EXPENSIVE? WHY EVERYTHING? SO WE APPRECIATED ALL PANELISTS COMING FORTH WITH CANDID TOPICS AND ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS.

SIMILARLY WE HAD THREE MULTI FAMILY SPEAKERS, PANELISTS. ONE FROM THE GENERAL MULTIFAMILY REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY WITH A LOT OF DATA ABOUT APARTMENTS AND MULTIFAMILY AROUND CARMEL AND THE REGION AS WELL AS TWO MULTI FAMILY BUILDERS AND MANAGERS.

ONCE WE COVERED SINGLE-FAMILY AND MULTIFAMILY WE DOVE INTO THE , WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INDUSTRY. ANDREA DAVIS FROM HAND INC. TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THEIR PROJECTS AND FUNDING MODELS. WE MADE ANOTHER HOUSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILDER TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT CREDIT , TAX CREDIT MODELS. ALSO BECAUSE HOUSING IS INEXPLICABLY , YOU

[00:35:02]

TRANSPORTATION IS ANOTHER TOPIC BUT WE BROUGHT IN MIKE THIBODEAU FROM INVEST HAMILTON COUNTY. TALK ABOUT A DATA GUY, HE IS DOWN TO NERD OUT WITH ANYONE, AS WELL. HE BROUGHT A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE ECONOMIC AND LABOR MARKET FORECAST WITH A COUNTYWIDE LABOR MARKET REPORT THAT THE COUNTY HAD JUST COMPLETED. AND THEN AFTER ALL OF THAT THOSE FIVE MEETINGS , WHICH ALL HAD SOME TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE MEETINGS HAD LITTLE TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT BECAUSE THEY WERE SO INFORMATION PACKED, THE JULY MEETING WAS DEDICATED ENTIRELY TO PUBLIC INPUT. AND WE HAD COME I BELIEVE 17 OR 18 SPEAKERS THAT CAME THAT PARTICULAR MORNING, BUT OVERALL, OVER THE COURSE OF ALL THE MEETINGS, WE HAD , I THINK 29 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COME TO A MEETING AND SPEAK. AND OVER 50 LETTERS AND CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED TO US THAT WE MADE SURE TO SEND OUT TO THE TASK FORCE. THEN ONCE WE GOT THAT INFORMATION, THERE WERE TWO AUGUST MEETINGS. THE TASK FORCE REALLY FELT LIKE THEY NEEDED TO DELIBERATE AND UNDERSTAND A LOT OF WHAT THEY HEARD OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. AND TAKE SOME TIME TO IDENTIFY EXACTLY WHAT CHALLENGES , NOT EXACTLY, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S A SCIENCE AND A ART. BUT IDENTIFY SOME CHALLENGES AND WORK TOWARD SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. WE TOOK A COUPLE MEETINGS IN AUGUST TO DELIBERATE ON CHALLENGES AND IN SEPTEMBER WE PRESENTED THE FINAL REPORT. SO, CHRIS PRYOR IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND KEY DATA AND THEN TO FORESHADOW THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION, CHRISTINE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS. SO THESE WERE THE CHALLENGES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE PROCESS. LACK OF SUPPLY, INCREASE IN SHIFTING DEMAND, DENSITY AND GROWTH, FOR ABILITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THERE WERE A FEW OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE LUMPED INTO ONE CATEGORY. YOU WILL FIND THESE ICONS, THE GRAPHIC ICONS IN THE REPORT TO HELP ORGANIZE SOME THINGS. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CHRIS TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE KEY

FINDINGS AND DATA. >> THANK YOU, ADRIAN. GOOD EVENING, CHRIS PRYOR WITH THE MY BOARD REALTOR ASSOCIATION AND LIFELONG CARMEL RESIDENT . AS MENTIONED I WILL DIG INTO THE KEY FINDINGS. THE BIGGEST BULK OF THE WORK OVER SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS WAS LOOKING INTO THE DATA, GATHERING INPUT FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND RESIDENTS TO HEAR WHAT THEIR CONCERNS WERE AND FIND OUT WHAT THE FACTS ARE ABOUT HOUSING. BEFORE WE GET TO RECOMMENDATIONS. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS THAT DROVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS. TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE FIRST CHALLENGES, LACK OF SUPPLY, LACK OF SUPPLY IS A REAL ISSUE. YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS A LOT IN THE NEWS MEDIA. WE ARE EXPERIENCING HOUSING SHORTAGES NATIONALLY , HERE ACROSS THE STATE AND LOCALLY. SO KIND OF ZOOMING IN ON CARMEL. LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH SUPPLY.

THIS IS THE INVENTORY OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN CARMEL FOR SALE GOING BACK TO ABOUT 2017, 2018. YOU CAN SEE BACK PRE-PANDEMIC TIMES, 2017 OR 2018 IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE 500 HOMES FOR SALE AT ANY GIVEN TIME IN THE MARKETPLACE.

AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT WE HAD 78 HOMES FOR SALE AND I KNOW THIS IS HARD TO BELIEVE , ALMOST ONE YEAR SINCE WE DID THE FIRST INITIAL REPORT. SO I LOOKED UP WHERE WE WERE TODAY AND TODAY WE WERE SITTING AT 72 HOMES ON THE MARKETPLACE. WE HAVE LESS THAN A MONTH SUPPLY OF HOUSING. SO IF NOTHING NEW CAME ONTO THE MARKET TODAY, WE WOULD SELL OUT ALL AVAILABLE INVENTORY IN LESS THAN A MONTH. SO OVERLY THAT PUTS SOME PERSPECTIVE INTO WHERE WE ARE AND THE PRESSURE, THE LACK OF

[00:40:02]

THIS WAS A RECENT SURVEY THAT WE DID WITH THE NPL LOOKING AT QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN HAMILTON COUNTY AND 95% OF FOLKS RATED VERY OR SOMEWHAT SATISFIED. A VERY HIGH RANKING AND NO SURPRISE TO ANYBODY BUT THAT'S PUTTING PRESSURE ON HOUSING AND DRIVING UP PRICES. WE'VE ALSO SEEN FROM THE SAME SURVEY THAT THERE IS A HUGE INTEREST IN PEOPLE LOOKING FOR WALKABLE URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS IS SOMETHING CARMEL IS PROBABLY LEADING ON IN MANY CATEGORIES WITH SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS IN RECENT YEARS. YOU CAN SEE THAT OUTWEIGHS PEOPLE PREFERRING SINGLE-FAMILY TYPE OF NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOU HAVE TO DRIVE TO THINGS WITH A HIGHER PREFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN A WALKABLE URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD YOU CAN WALK TO SHOPS AND AMENITIES CLOSE TO YOUR . ONE BIG REASON TO POINT THIS OUT AS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF WHAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN IN THE BLUE CATEGORY. WE HAVE NOT BUILT ENOUGH TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND THAT'S ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE. SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE GO FORWARD. WE HAVE ALSO SEEN A HUGE INTEREST IN LOOKING AT SMALLER HOMES AND OPTIONS, YOU'LL SEE FROM THE GRAPHIC ON THE LEFT THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO POINT OUT EARLY ON IN THE CONVERSATION IS HOUSING NEEDS CHANGE THROUGHOUT PEOPLE'S LIFETIME. HOUSING NEEDS MAY START WITH A STARTER HOME AND THEY NEED SOMETHING LARGER WITH A GROWING FAMILY, AT SOME POINT THEY WANT TO DOWNSIZE. SO PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT OPTIONS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE CYCLE AND WE FIND WE ARE MISSING SOME OF THE SMALLER OPTIONS FOR FOLKS. WE SEE TREMENDOUS CHANGE IN HOUSEHOLD FORMATION TODAY. MOST HOUSING HAS BEEN DEVELOPED LOOKING AT FAMILY STRUCTURES FROM THE 1950S AND 1960S WHERE YOU HAD MOSTLY MARRIED COUPLES WITH TWO KIDS. THAT HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY TODAY. WE HAVE FEWER PEOPLE MARRIED WITH YOUR KIDS. WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF SINGLE PERSON HOUSEHOLDS. ONE

[00:45:03]

SO AGAIN THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A FOUR OR FIVE BEDROOM OPTION. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT SO WE NEED TO LOOK TO DIVERSIFY THAT OPTION. WHISTLE HAVE AN AGING POPULATION LOOKING FOR FEWER BEDROOMS, LESS SQUARE FOOTAGE, SMALLER YARD. THIS IS A HUGE FACTOR , WE FIND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY STUCK IN FOUR OR FIVE BEDROOM HOME THAT THEY RAISED THEIR FAMILY IN AND THEY'RE NOT FINDING OPTIONS TO DOWNSIZE. IN FACT WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW RESIDENTS THAT HAVE LEFT AND MOVED TO FISHERS WHERE THEY ARE FINDING OPTIONS FOR SMALLER UNITS. SO SOMETHING WE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND GOING FORWARD. ONE QUICK STATS, PRETTY INTERESTING. TODAY 39.3% OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS 60 OR OLDER AND THAT IS UP FROM 27.7% IN 2010. YOU CAN SEE IN A SHORT TIME THE AGING POPULATION HAS INCREASED SO THERE IS A GROWING DEMAND FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING OPTIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WILL SEE OR HEAR IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOMETHING THAT CAME UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN THE PRESENTATION WAS A TOPIC OF MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING. REAL QUICKLY, MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IS HOUSING ANYTHING IN BETWEEN SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED PRODUCT THAT WE HAVE A TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND LARGE APARTMENTS. THESE ARE TYPICALLY MULTIUNIT TYPES OF HOUSING OPTIONS THAT ARE BUILT TO SCALE THAT FIT IN WITH TRADITIONAL SINGLE-FAMILY ONLY TYPE OF NEIGHBORHOODS. MAYBE A DUPLEX, MAYBE A TOWNHOME, SMALL APARTMENT OR COTTAGE COURTS. THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN. THERE ARE SEVERAL BENEFITS TO THIS. I MENTIONED A COUPLE, SMALLER UNIT SIZES, MORE HOUSING CHOICES, THEY BLEND WITH EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS. THESE ARE TYPICALLY PRODUCTS THAT EXISTED YEARS AGO IN MOST OF THE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS AND OLDER DOWNTOWNS. OVER THE YEARS, ZONING HAS CHANGED TO BECOME SINGLE-FAMILY ONLY SO WE HAVE ELIMINATED THOSE. IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU DRIVE DOWN IN EVERETT STREET AND YOU'LL PASS A DUPLEX , SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, SMALL APARTMENT, EVERYTHING IS BUILT TO SCALE SO IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE YOU'RE PASSING DIFFERENT PRODUCTS. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S ALL HOUSING. THAT'S ONE OPTION THAT MISSING MIDDLE HAS TO OFFER. ALSO SOMETIMES IT IS ABLE TO BRING AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE YOU ARE BUILDING ON A SMALLER FOOTPRINT AS WELL. DENSITY AND GROWTH. TOUCHING ON THIS QUICKLY. THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAD A LOT OF RESONANT FEEDBACK ON. I'M SURE IT COMES NO SURPRISE CARMEL POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN A UPWARD TRAJECTORY. OUTPACING THE STATE AND MANY AREAS NATIONALLY. SO THAT INCREASED POPULATION GROWTH WILL ONLY CREATE GREATER DEMANDS ON HOUSING . MORE PRESSURE ON PRICES WITH MORE COMPETITION.

SO WE HEARD A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS THIS IS WHERE WE HEARD THE MOST. A LOT OF CONCERNS EXPRESSED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND HOW THAT IMPACTS DENSITY, TRAFFIC, LESS GREEN SPACE AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. THOSE ARE THINGS WE HAD RESONATE FROM RESIDENTS AND THERE WAS CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT PROTECTING THE VITALITY OF EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES. SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE. WE ALSO TOUCHED ON AFFORDABILITY IS A BIG CHALLENGE. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES BECAUSE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT FORCES, THE LACK OF SCARCITY OF LAND, COMPETITION FOR HOUSING, LACK OF SUPPLY, ALL CREATING UPWARD PRESSURE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE SINGLE-FAMILY HOME WE ARE AT ABOUT 634,000 , TO GIVE YOU PERSPECTIVE IN 2018 WE WERE 370,000. SO IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE SEEN THOSE PRICES ELEVATE SUBSTANTIALLY MAKING THINGS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE INCOMES ARE

[00:50:02]

THAT LEAVES A LOT OF ROOM JUST TO REACH THE AVERAGE SINGLE-FAMILY PRICE OF 634,000. SO THERE IS A BIG LEAP TO GET TO THERE. WHERE WE REALLY FIND THE PRESSURE IS PEOPLE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THIS WHICH ARE PRIMARILY YOUNGER FOLKS AND SOME SENIORS. 'S WE ARE MAKING IT MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE TO FIND HOUSING OPTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY SO IF WE ARE INTERESTED IN LEGACY RESIDENCE, PEOPLE WANT KIDS TO COME BACK TO LIVE IN CARMEL , THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO. THIS SHOWS A QUICK BREAKDOWN OF THE PRICE POINTS OF HOUSING. EACH GRAPH IS 100,000 , DOLLAR STEP IN HOUSING AND YOU'LL SEE PREDOMINANTLY ALMOST EVERYTHING OR THE HUGE MAJORITY IS 400,000 AND UP. I ALSO MENTIONED THE LAND COST MAKING THINGS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS, DRIVING UP THE COST. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS ANOTHER AREA WE SPENT SOME TIME FOCUSING ON BECAUSE HOUSING IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WE FIND SEVERAL CHALLENGES. DOING A GREAT JOB CREATING JOBS HERE. MIKE THIBODEAU IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK INVESTING WITH THE COUNTY IS DOING. WE ARE CREATING MORE JOBS THAN EMPLOYED RESIDENTS IN CARMEL.

SO THE GAP IS CREATING TREMENDOUS PRESSURE FOR FOLKS LOOKING FOR HOUSING OPTIONS. WE ARE NOT KEEPING PACE WITH HOUSING, NOT PRODUCING ENOUGH HOUSING FOR THE NEW JOBS CREATED. ALL OF THAT IS CREATING ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON HOUSING AND DRIVING UP PRICES. THAT ALSO CREATES AS WAS MENTIONED , NEW PRESSURE ON COMMUTING. THIS IS A HOUSING TASK FORCE. WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE IMPACTS OF HOUSING CHALLENGES CREATING FOR COMMUTING , AS WELL AND THE FACT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING HERE IN THE TOWN TO KEEP PACE WITH THE NUMBER OF JOBS MEANS PEOPLE HAVE TO COMMUTE IN. THE NUMBER OF COMMUTERS IS INCREASING SO THAT DOES GREAT CHALLENGES FOR EVERYBODY. NOT ONLY FOR INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES WHO MAY HAVE TO COMMUTE, BUT IT CREATES ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES FOR EMPLOYERS WHO MAY HAVE FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION OR HAVE TO MAKE A LONG COMMUTE IN AND OUT EVERY SINGLE DAY. FINALLY WANTED TO MENTION A FEW OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WE LOOKED AT ALONG THE WAY CREATING SOME CHALLENGES. ZONING AND DESIGN STANDARDS LIMITING OPTIONS AND DRIVING UP COST. WE SPENT TIME EXAMINING THE BUILDER AND DEVELOPER FOLKS PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC OPINION CAN IMPACT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND OUTCOMES FOR THOSE PROPOSALS. CAPITAL MARKET CONDITIONS AND FINANCING TOOLS IMPACT WHAT'S BEING DEVELOPED. YOU WILL OFTEN HEAR DEVELOPERS TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET FINANCING FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF PROJECTS. OR FINANCING MAY BE MORE AVAILABLE FOR THINGS THEY ARE DOING. FINALLY, HOUSING IS A REGIONAL ISSUE. THIS IS SOMETHING WE KNOW AGAIN, THESE CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING ARE NOT UNIQUE TO CARMEL, BUT TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO REACH OUT TO NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND SHARE SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS HOUSING AND HOPEFULLY THOSE COMMUNITIES WILL ALSO BE LOOKING AT THE SAME CHALLENGES AND HOW SOME OF THE THINGS THEY CAN DO CAN ALSO HELP WITH HOUSING NEEDS FOR FOLKS THAT

[00:55:02]

>> CHRISTINE SO I CAN LEAVE SOME TIME FOR QUESTIONS, YOU CAN JUST HIT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.

>> I'M GOING TO DO THAT. FOR THE SAKE OF TIME I WILL BRIEFLY HIT SOME OF THE BIG ONES AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER. YOU WILL SEE NO REPORT ALL 13 RECOMMENDATIONS ARE LISTED IN FAIRLY GOOD DETAIL. WE HAVE ASSIGNED A RESPONSIBLE PARTY AND SUGGESTED TIMELINE, THE TIMELINE IS JUST A SUGGESTION. THEY CAME OUT AS A RESULT OF MONTHS OF STUDIES AND CONVERSATIONS WITH CARMEL RESIDENCE. ONE OF THE ONES I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE FIRST, TO CONTINUE THE CARMEL HOUSING TASK FORCE EFFORT. THERE'S NO WAY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WE CAN LOOK AT ALL ISSUES AND SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS AND PLAN FOR EVERYTHING, BUT WE MADE A GREAT START AND WE FEEL WE ARE THE LAUNCHING PAD AND THE EFFORT SHOULD CONTINUE. WE RECOMMEND FORMATION OF A PERMANENT HOUSING COMMISSION AND THIS COMMISSION CAN SERVE TWO ROLES.

CERTAIN TASKS CAN BE ASSIGNED WITH RESOURCES AND TIME TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THESE HOUSING ISSUES. SECONDLY, THINGS CHANGE. WE LOOKED AT A SNAPSHOT IN TIME, HOUSING AND 2024 WITH MARKET FORCES CHANGE, DEMOGRAPHICS CHANGE, HAVING A PERMANENT HOUSING CONVENTION THAT CAN STAY ON TOP OF THESE CHANGES WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IN KEEPING THIS CURRENT AND ASSESSING WHETHER PRIOR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IMPLEMENT IT. DID THEY WORK OR DO THEY NOT WORK OR ARE THE NUANCE NEEDED? THE SECOND, DEVELOP A HOUSING STRATEGY DIVISION PLAN GOES WITH NUMBER FOUR. BUILT UPON A CONFERENCE OF PLAN. THIS IS BE MORE PROACTIVE SUPPLANT FOR THE KIND OF HOUSING WE NEED AND THAT WE WANT. WE HAVE BEEN VERY VISIONARY IN SO MANY ASPECTS OF THE CITY AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING TAKING THE SAME APPROACH TOWARD HOUSING. THE THIRD ONE PROTECT EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS. WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS FROM OUR CARMEL CITIZENS AND WE HEAR ABOUT THIS A LOT AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION LEVEL AND CITY COUNCIL. SO THE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION IS TO BE PROACTIVE AND TO ADOPT RESIDENTIAL AND BUILD GUIDELINES TO HELP GUIDE NEW CONSTRUCTION WHEN THEY COME THROUGH ON SOME OF THESE PARCELS. TO HELP ENTER THEY DO FIT IN WITH THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

MOVING ON TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING, CHRIS TOUCHED ON THAT ONE WILL GO TO NUMBER SIX, ADOPT A DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.

APARTMENTS , AS YOU WOULD EXPECT IS PROBABLY THE MOST FREQUENTLY BROUGHT UP TOPIC BY OUR RESIDENTS AND WE HEARD RESIDENCE, EVERYTHING FROM , THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYMORE APARTMENTS AT ALL, TO THE LOVE APARTMENTS BUT THEY WISHED THE RENT WOULD NOT GO UP TO LOTS OF PROS AND CONS . THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION. WHEN WE HEARD ALL OF THIS DIALOGUE AND LOOKED AT THE DATA, WE FELT THAT WE DO NEED, AT THIS POINT, WE NEED TO ADOPT A MINDFUL APPROACH TO NEW APARTMENT CONSTRUCTION. SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ONE PARTICULAR TYPE OF HOUSING THAT'S OVERBUILT. OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO ADOPT A STRATEGY THAT CONSIDERS THE AMOUNT, THE LOCATION, THE DESIGN AND THEY SHOULD BE COMPLEMENT TREE TO MIXED-USE PROJECT , RATHER THAN HAVING A SINGLE STANDALONE PROJECT. THAT'S WHERE WE LANDED ON THAT TOPIC. THE NEXT ONE IS ACQUISITION OF GREEN SPACE. THIS IS SPECIFIC TO THE CENTRAL CORE. WE WERE HEARING A LOT FROM RESIDENTS THAT AS THE POPULATION GROWS SO DOES THE NEED FOR OPEN GATHERING SPACE. WE ARE ALL AWARE ANYBODY WHO GOES OUT HERE IN THE SUMMER , FOR THE SUMMER GAZEBO CONCERT SERIES, WE START RUNNING OUT OF ROOM. YOU WILL NOTICE THE TIMELINE IS ONGOING BECAUSE WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE, WHEN A PERSON BECOMES AVAILABLE AND FINANCING IS AVAILABLE THERE IS A REQUEST FOR MORE GREEN SPACE IN THE CENTRAL CORE. THERE'S A NOTE ABOUT THE TREE PRESERVATION AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS PLANTING TREES. THE REQUEST IS A TREE CANOPY AND I AM NOT A ARBORIST, BUT IT IS PLANTING TREES IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE ROOTS AND THE TREE THEMSELVES HAS ENOUGH ROOM TO GROW AND PROVIDE SHADE.

WE HEARD FROM YOUNG RESIDENT TALKING ABOUT GOING FROM HIS APARTMENT TO THE GROCERY STORE IN THE SUMMER AND THE SUN BEATING DOWN AND HOW GREAT IT WOULD BE TO HAVE A TREE CANOPY.

[01:00:01]

THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THAT IT IS LOOKING AT ZONING THROUGH THE LENS OF HOUSING. THIS GOES TO THE THEME OF WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE, UNDERSTAND WHERE THE GAPS ARE SO WE CAN DESIGN WHERE WE NEED TO GO MOVING FORWARD. NUMBER NINE OKAY ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE TO EXPLORE APPROACHES RELATED TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS. THIS WAS TALKED ABOUT A LOT AND WE DO NOT HAVE CONSENSUS ON THE HOUSING TASK FORCE AS FAR AS A SPECIFIC APPROACH TO TAKE THAT THERE WAS CONSENSUS THAT THERE'S PROBABLY TIME TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE CURRENTLY IN OUR CITY WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A PATCHWORK QUILT AROUND THE CITY. WE HAVE SOME AREAS LIKE OLDTOWN WHERE THEY ARE PERMITTED BY RIGHT AND A LOT OF NEW COMMUNITIES DO PERMIT BY RIGHT. SOME ERRORS THEY ARE PROHIBITED WITH A LOT OF HOA'S PROHIBITING THE ATU AND SOME AREAS IT IS NOT EXPRESSLY PERMITTED BUT THEY DON'T HAVE HOA SO IT'S NOT PROHIBITED. IN THAT CASE INTO SOMEONE COULD BUILD BUT THERE IS A LOT OF HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH INCLUDING A VARIANCE.

SO WE CAN DECIDE THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THIS, THE PLANNING COMMISSION SO NOT TO MAKE MORE WORK FOR YOU ALL.

WHATEVER COMES OUT WILL END UP HERE, TOO. NUMBER 10 IS ASSIGNED TO THE DOCS, DOING INVENTORY AND CREATING MAPS, GOING BACK TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE HAVE NOW SO WE KNOW WHERE WE NEED TO GO MOVING FORWARD. NUMBER 11 IS ESTABLISHING HOUSING REPAIR PROGRAM. THIS IS GOING TO, A LOT OF PEOPLE FALL ON HARD TIMES FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS AND WE SAW THIS IN THE PANDEMIC PEOPLE WERE LAID OFF, STUCK AT HOME THERE ARE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE NEED HELP. THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO ESTABLISH A REPAIR HOME PROGRAM BECAUSE I CAN HELP SOMEONE STAY SAFE AND COMFORTABLE IN THEIR HOME.

THERE ARE RESOURCES IN OUR COUNTY THAT OFFER SUCH A THING, BUT THIS WOULD BE MORE HELP COORDINATING THOSE RESOURCES SO THERE IS THAT RECOMMENDATION. NUMBER 12. PRIORITIZE THE CONVERSION FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF UNDERUTILIZED COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AND PARKING AREAS. WE WERE PRIMARILY THINKING OF THE U.S. 31 CORRIDOR AND THERE HAS BEEN CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT AND THERE IS A SUB AREA PLAN FOR U.S. 31 AS WELL AS FOR ONE PLACE. THAT'S GOT TO GO BACK TO THE PRIOR ONE, AND THE LAST ONE IS ACTIVELY SEEK NEW COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES AND THAT IS SPELLED OUT IN GREAT DETAIL IN THE REPORT, BUT ALSO THERE'S A LIMIT TO WHAT WE ON OUR OWN CAN DO. WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR COUNTY, FELLOW COUNTY , CITIES, WITH THE STATE EVEN LOCALLY WITH ABOUT HOUSING TASK FORCE THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP WITH THE SENIOR COMMISSION ON LIVING AND TEAM BOUNCE BACK THERE IS A LOT WE CAN DO TOGETHER. SO WE CAN ACCOMPLISH MORE, WORKING TOGETHER RATHER THAN IN A SILO.

THAT WAS A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THERE'S A LOT MORE DETAIL IN THE REPORT, BUT IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS, ALL THREE OF US ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY.

>> THANK YOU. JUST TO KEEP THE MEETING MOVING WE WILL GO, I WOULD ASK MAYBE ONE BITE AT THE APPLE SO WE CAN KEEP , I DON'T WANT TO STIFLE CONVERSATION BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT ON THE AGENDA. MAYOR, DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE

ABOUT THE HOUSING TASK FORCE? >> THANK YOU, I WAS JUST EXTREMELY PLEASED AND PROUD OF THE TASK FORCE TACKLING A BIG BEAST TRYING TO ORGANIZE DATA, PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE AND SPAN OF THESE ISSUES AND I THOUGHT THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE LEVELHEADED AND RESPONSIBLE. WE ARE MOVING FORWARD CREATING A COMMISSION MOVING FROM A TASK FORCE TO HOUSING COMMISSION AND SO WE WERE FINALIZING SOME OF THE APPOINTMENTS TODAY. SO THEY CAN START PICKING UP RECOMMENDATIONS AND MOVING FORWARD AND ENGAGING THE COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION ON THOSE AS APPROPRIATE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO ALLOW THE COMMUNITY. IF THEY DO NOT CATCH BEFORE IN 2024, TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT THE TASK FORCE DID. A LOT OF WORK IN EIGHT MONTHS OR SO. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO

PRESENT THIS DATA. >> ANYONE IF YOU HAVE ANY

QUESTIONS. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR

[01:05:02]

>> THANK YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO APPRECIATION FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. MY ISSUE WOULD BE HOW TO USE THIS GOING FORWARD? WE ALREADY HAVE PROJECTS COMING TO US WHERE THE DEVELOPERS ARE CLAIMING THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD TO DO. WE HAVE ANOTHER PROJECT IN DIRECT, THAT WILL COME BEFORE US, THEY STARTED REACHING OUT TO COUNSELORS , THAT IS IN DIRECT VIOLATION, NOT VIOLATION, BUT DIRECT CONTRADICTION TO ONE OF THE , ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. SO AS A CITY COUNSELOR, I'M GOING TO WANT TO KNOW AND MAYBE I SHOULD ADDRESS TO THE MAYOR WHAT IS THE PLAN, HOW DOES THIS GET CODIFIED, WHAT DOES THE ADMINISTRATION WANT? WHAT IS THE COMMISSION GOALS? AS FAR AS MAKING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS?

SOMETHING TO RELY ON AND USE. >> I WILL LET THE MAYOR ANSWER, BUT THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR AND SOME ARE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. SOME OF THEM, THERE'S A TIMELINE AND RESPONSIBLE PARTY SO SOME OF THEM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ALONG THE WAY AND IT IS FANTASTIC TO HAVE A PERMANENT HOUSING COMMISSION. SO THAT SOMEONE DEFINITELY BEING IMPLEMENTED. I WILL LET YOU CHIME IN IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING.

>> REAL QUICK, THE WHOLE POINT IS TO BE PROACTIVE HAVING A DOCUMENT THAT SAYS THIS IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN AGREED-UPON THAT CAN PROVIDE UNDERSTANDING THE VISION AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WITH THE PROJECT. WHETHER MIXED-USE OR SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL. SO THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT TO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY.

>> COUNCILOR TAYLOR COMMENTS? >> YES SIR. I WILL ASK ONE QUESTION THAT INCLUDES TWO. YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY HIT ON IT A LITTLE BIT. FROM THE 50 LETTERS HE RECEIVED AND PUBLIC COMMENTS, WAS THERE A OVERARCHING THEME OR CONSENSUS ON THEIR CONCERN? WHAT WAS THE MAIN THEME AND THE SECOND ONE, WHEN WE LOOKED AT MANY OF THE FINDINGS IN THIS REPORT, IT SEEMS A LOT ARE MACRO VERSUS MICRO. SO IS THERE A WAY FOR THE REPORT TO REFLECT. I'M IN A THAT IDEA WITH MY BACKGROUND, BUT WHICH OF THESE ISSUES ARE REALLY A CURRENT STATE OF THE UNITED STATES ISSUE VERSUS CARMEL HAMILTON COUNTY THAT WE CAN AFFECT CHANGE WITH THE FED POLICY RATES WHERE THEY ARE AND FEDERAL SPENDING, CREATING INFLATION. TO UNDERSTAND WHICH OF THESE CAN BE IMPACTED BY US , REALISTICALLY. SO WHAT IS MACRO AND WHAT'S SPECIFIC TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WOULD BE

HELPFUL FOR ME. >> SURE. IF YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE CHALLENGES, A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES ARE NOT UNIQUE TO CARMEL. LACK OF SUPPLY, FOR ABILITY, FINANCING, COST, CONSTRUCTION. INCOME, THOSE ARE NOT. THOSE ARE NOT ISSUES UNIQUE TO CARMEL. THOSE ARE REGIONAL STATEWIDE NATIONAL ISSUES. ON THE LARGE NATIONAL SCALE THERE'S LITTLE WE CAN DO BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT DIFFERENCE CAN WE MAKE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WILL LET CHRIS CHIME IN. WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW MUCH CAN WE DO AND THAT IS WHY THE LAST RECOMMENDATION WAS WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH LOCALLY COME OUR COUNTY, REGIONALLY WITH THE STATE TO WORK ON DIFFERENT INITIATIVES , YOU NAME IT POLICIES THAT CAN HELP IN DIFFERENT WAYS BECAUSE THERE'S A LIMIT TO WHAT WE CAN DO ON

OUR OWN. >> I WOULD SAY THERE SEVERAL MICRO PIECES THAT ARE WITHIN THE WORK THE COMMUNITY DID.

CURIOUS IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC THINGS TO LOOK AT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO POINT THOSE OUT OR GIVE THOSE TO YOU. WE HAVE LOOKED AT SOME OF THOSE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO NAME THEM NOW.

YOUR OTHER QUESTION ABOUT THINGS THAT STOOD OUT FROM

[01:10:02]

>> I LOVE IN THE RAPPORT AS A PARK SKY, IT LOOKS LIKE THE THIRD HIGHEST RANKED SATISFACTION FEATURE OF HAMILTON COUNTY PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS AND TRAILS. THAT

MATCHES. >> QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

>> I WILL ECHO WHAT COUNCILOR WORRELL SAID A LITTLE BIT.

USING THIS GOING FORWARD YOU BEEN A TWO MEETINGS WITH THIS HAS BEEN DONE BY THE DEVELOPER THIS IS WHAT THE TASK FORCE HAS. IT IS NOT OUR TASK FORCE, IT IS THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE.

IT'S NOT A VOTED ON DOCUMENT. IS A GREAT DOCUMENT, BUT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US? AND THEN, IN THIS HE PROBABLY DID A LOT OF REGIONAL DATA WITH NATIONAL STATISTICS. I'M INTERESTED IN HOW THOSE JIVE TOGETHER AND WE CAN TALK SPECIFICS LATER. PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO WESTFIELD FISHERS.

THAT SUCKS I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO LEAVE CARMEL. BUT THAT'S A PERSONAL DECISION AND WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING FOR EVERYBODY. CARMEL CAN KEEPING CARMEL , THE GREATEST COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY. IF THERE ARE THINGS , WE CAN RELY ON FELLOW COMMUNITIES , SO BROADENING THAT. FUNDING OF ALL OF THIS WHAT IS IT WE WANT TO DIAL IN AND REALLY WANT TO DO HERE? BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S GREAT, THE MAYOR WILL ESTABLISH A PERMANENT ONE. AND STILL IT IS THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION. BUT I DO NOT APPRECIATE WHEN DEVELOPERS

DEBATES OUR COMMENTS . >> ALONG THAT ONE THING THE COMMISSION CAN LOOK AT WOULD BE MAYBE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE, HOW DO WE BRIDGE THAT? THROWING IT OUT AS SOMETHING THAT WHEN THE COMMISSION IS FORMED WE CAN HAVE THE BUY-IN FROM THE COUNCIL AND LAND-USE COMMITTEE

TWO RECOMMENDATION. >> IS THE PRESIDENT THE FIRST COMMISSION WILL HAVE TO SET UP THE CHARTER. FIRST PLACE TO START IS LOOKING AT THE RECOMMENDATION. IF IT SOMETHING ELSE THE DEVELOPERS ARE BRINGING TO MAKE THEIR CASE, I THINK WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THERE IS A LOT OF LOCAL DATA.

IF YOU GO ON THE WEBSITE. SO I THINK THEY HAD EIGHT MONTHS OF WORK IN HALF AN HOUR SO THERE'S A LOT OF LOCAL DATA THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. WE CAN'T BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY BUT WE HAVE TO REFLECT CHANGING TRENDS IN THE COMMUNITY. IS A LOT OF COMPELLING INFORMATION THAT THE COUNCIL OR THE COMMISSION WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS WORKING WITH PLANNING COMMISSION AND COUNCIL, WHEN THEY RESENT FRIENDS AND THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE RIGHT THING

FOR US. >> I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND NEGATIVE , I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR THE EXPECTATIONS FROM US WHAT THEY ARE. ESPECIALLY IF WE DISAGREE WITH

SOMETHING. >> THAT'S THE NEXT STEP.

SPECIFIC ASK OF THE HOUSING TASK FORCE WAS TO LOOK AT THE DATA, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES HOW ARE WE POSITIONED TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS MOVING FORWARD AND CONTINUING PRODUCTIVITY AND TO CODIFY WHAT'S NEEDED. MAYBE IT IS JUST AN UNDERSTANDING OF

A VISION DOCUMENT. >> NOT EVERYONE ON THE

COMMISSION AGREED. >> THAT'S TRUE. AS YOU ALL DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON THE TASK FORCE WE DO NOT AGREE. THAT'S WHY SOME OF THESE LOOKING AT THE 80 YOU WE AGREE TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT IT. WE DO NOT HAVE CONSENSUS ON WHAT THE ORDINANCE SHOULD BE. WE DO NOT HAVE CONSENSUS ON EVERYTHING AND PART OF IT IS REACHING COMPROMISE. THAT WAS THE SAME WHEN WE WENT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I CHAIRED THAT COMMITTEE AS WELL AND WE DID NOT HAVE CONSENSUS ON EVERYTHING EITHER. IT'S NOT A VISION DOCUMENT FOR ONE PERSON,

[01:15:04]

FITS. >> COUNCILOR AYERS , COUNCILOR

LOCKE, COUNCILOR MINNAAR? >> NOTHING EXCEPT A GREAT THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU IN THE COMMISSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES UP ABOUT YOU VERY MUCH WE APPRECIATE BEING HERE AND PRESENTING THE REPORT.

[12.a. Sixth Reading of Ordinance D-2740-24; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Amending Chapter 2, Article 1, Sections 2-1, 2-3, 2-6, 2-10, 2-12, 2-13 and 2-14 of the Carmel City Code; Sponsor(s): Councilor(s) Green and Aasen. Sent to the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee.]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH WE APPRECIATE IT. MOVING ON. NEXT UP IS OLD BUSINESS, RATING OF ORDINANCE 2740 24 ORDINANCE OF COMMON COUNCIL CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA AMENDING CHAPTER 2 ARTICLE 1 SECTION 2.1, 2.3, 2.6, 210 , 212, 213 AND 214 OF THE CARMEL CITY COAT. COUNSELORS GREEN AND AUSTIN THIS RETURN FROM THE FINANCE UTILITY RULES COMMITTEE.

COUNCILOR TAYLOR. >> YES PRESIDENT AASEN. THERE WAS A LOT OF CHANGES TO THIS ORDINANCE. SO DID TAKE US A WHILE TO REVIEW. TODAY WE WENT THROUGH IT WITH ZACH AND UNDERSTOOD IT'S JUST MAKING CHANGES TO REFLECT THE WAY THAT THE CITY OPERATES NOW THAT WE ARE A SECOND-CLASS CITY, NO LONGER WITH A ELECTED CLERK TREASURER WHO SERVES AS THE DE FACTO FISCAL BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT. SO WITH SOME MINOR CHANGES THIS DID PASS UNANIMOUSLY FOR POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION. FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TODAY.

>> ALL RIGHT TO HAVE A MOTION OR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> OKAY, READY TO VOTE?

[12.b. Sixth Reading of Ordinance D-2741-24; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Amending Chapter 2, Article 6, Sections 2-301, 2-302 and 2-303, of the Carmel City Code; Sponsor(s): Councilor(s) Green and Aasen. Sent to the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee.]

>> THIS PASSES NINE OF ZERO. SIX READING ORDINANCE 2741 24 ORDINANCE OF COMMON COUNCIL CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA AMENDING CHAPTER 2 ARTICLE 6 SECTIONS 3 TO ONE, THREE 203 OF THE CITY COAT SPONSORS ARE COUNSELORS GREEN AND AUSTIN

[12.c. Second Reading of Ordinance Z-694-24; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Establishing The Towne 146 Planned Unit Development District; Sponsor: Councilor Minnaar. Sent to the Land Use and Special Studies Committee.]

[12.d. Second Reading of Ordinance D-2753-24; An Ordinance of the Common Council of Carmel, Indiana, Amending Chapter 2, Article 3, Sections 2-51, 2-52, 2-54 and 2-55 of the Carmel City Code; Sponsor(s): Councilor(s) Green and Taylor. Sent to the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee.]

>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT AASEN. THIS WAS REVIEWED TODAY IN FINANCE COMMITTEE. WE HAVE HAD IT PRESENTED TO US RIGHT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. WE REVIEWED THIS WITH ZACH . WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS DEPARTMENTS WERE NOT , DEPARTMENT HEADS HAD DIFFERENT WAYS HOW THEY HANDLED CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF PTO AND LEAVE POLICY. THIS SORT OF CREATES A EVEN PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS, THIS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY FOR POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL WITH AMENDMENT TO ADD SECTION D . WHICH I THINK SINCE , I DON'T COME I DO NOT SEE IF

THAT WAS IN THE PACKET. >> DO WE NEED TO VOTE AT THAT

[01:20:04]

SUFFICIENT? >> I'M ASSUMING WE DON'T HAVE TO AMEND BECAUSE IT WAS AMENDED IN FINANCE.

>> I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> MOVED TO AMEND.

>> SECOND. >> STATE WHAT THE AMENDMENT IS.

>> ADDING SECTION D ORDINANCE 2573-24.

>> BEFORE WE VOTE CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE AMENDMENT?

>> OKAY. >> THERE YOU GO IF YOU WANT TO

PULL IT UP. >> IF WE CANNOT PULL IT UP TO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT? THAT'S PROBABLY

SUFFICIENT. >> HAPPY TO TALK THROUGH THE LARGER PIECE OR JUST THE AMENDMENT. THE AMENDMENT REPLACES SECTION D WITH A REWRITTEN VERSION BASICALLY KIND OF SPELLING OUT EACH CATEGORY OF EMPLOYEE, WHETHER WE ARE TALKING EXEMPT VERSUS NONEXEMPT AND FULL-TIME VERSUS PART-TIME TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW HOLIDAY PAY WOULD WORK FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO WORK ON THOSE DAYS. ESSENTIALLY JUST WALKING THROUGH THOSE THREE SCENARIOS.

THE FULL-TIME NONEXEMPT EMPLOYEE MEANING THE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME, THEY ARE WORKING, IF THERE REQUIRED TO WORK ON THE CITY HOLIDAY, ONE, EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE WOULD RECEIVE HOLIDAY PAY FOR THE DAY. SO THEY ARE ALREADY GETTING PAID FOR THE DAY. IF THEY ACTUALLY WORK ON THAT DAY THEY WILL BE PAID REGULARLY HOURLY RATE FOR THE HOURS WORKED, PLUS THERE IS PREMIUM PAY A $15 AN HOUR IN THE SALARY ORDINANCE. FOR FULL-TIME NONEXEMPT, IF THEY ARE PART-TIME NONEXEMPT, THEY DON'T RECEIVE HOLIDAY PAY.

THEY BASICALLY GET THE HOURS WORKED PLUS THE PREMIUM PAY FOR THE HOURS WORKED. IF IT IS EXEMPT FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE MEANING NOT ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME, AND THERE REQUIRED TO WORK ON HOLIDAY, ONE, THEY WILL GET HOLIDAY PAY BECAUSE THEY ARE A FULL-TIME CITY EMPLOYEE. INSTEAD OF BEING PAID ADDITIONAL FOR WORKING THAT DAY, THEY WOULD ESSENTIALLY GET COMP TIME AS PART OF THE NORMAL COMP TIME POLICY IF THEY ARE WORKING ON A HOLIDAY. THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT AMENDMENT

SPELLS OUT. >> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE WE VOTE? PLEASE VOTE.

>> OKAY WE'RE WORKING WITH THE AMENDED VERSION OF ORDINANCE 27 5324. ANY OTHER COUNCIL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

COUNCILOR GREEN. >> FOR THE FULL COUNCIL A COUPLE OF US WERE NOT HERE AND FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT TUNE IN FOR THE FINANCE. CAN YOU GIVE THE ELEVATOR SPEECH ESPECIALLY

FOCUSING ON THE HOLIDAY PTO. >> SO TODAY, THE PTO METHODOLOGY FOR CITY EMPLOYEES IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE ACCRUING PTO, THAT IS TO BE COVERING ANY HOLIDAY PAY, ANY VACATION PAY AS WELL AS ANY SICK LEAVE. ESSENTIALLY, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS CARVE OUT HOLIDAY PAY FROM THAT TO MAKE ITS OWN CATEGORY.

THE TAKE AWAY IS AND I WILL USE MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE IS A FAIRLY NEW CITY EMPLOYEE WHERE CURRENTLY I HAVE A COMMITTED OR ACCRUED 9 1/2 HOURS OF PTO PER PAY PERIOD. THAT WOULD BE REDUCED TO 6.5. WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATIONS DEPENDING ON YEARS OF SERVICE. HOW MUCH YOU ACCRUE. WE ARE REDUCING THOSE BY THREE HOURS PER PAY PERIOD. IN EXCHANGE WHAT EMPLOYEES PICK UP HIS 10 PAID HOLIDAYS, PLUS TWO FLOATING PAID HOLIDAYS. THE FLOATING HOLIDAYS ALLOW US TO GIVE OUR EMPLOYEES A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME OFF, IN TOTAL 1.6

[01:25:04]

>> COUNCILOR WORRELL. >> I GUESS HAVING YOU LOOK AT THIS AND GET IT UP TO DATE AND GET EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE , REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I APPLAUD THE ADMINISTRATION FOR ALL THE CHANGES WE ARE SEEING. FOR ME, A BIG TAKE AWAY WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN HOURS AND SHIFTS AND HOW WE HAVE FIREFIGHTERS PUTTING IN A 24 HOUR SHIFT THAT'S COUNTED THE SAME AS AN EMPLOYEE WORKING 7 1/2 HOURS.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS GREAT TO GET THAT CORRECTED AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE POINT YOU JUST MADE THAT THIS IS AN ADDITION.

SO THE CHANGES WE ARE MAKING IS GRANTING EMPLOYEES ANOTHER DAY AND A HALF OR A LITTLE MORE THAN A DAY AND A HALF OF PTO TIME. SO I DON'T THINK THAT CAN BE REPEATED ENOUGH AND SHOULD NOT GO UNNOTICED. ANYWAY, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

>> COUNCILOR SNYDER. >> ALL THE CHANGES ARE GREAT.

SOMEWHERE AND I CANNOT FIND IT NOW, BUT IT SAID WORKING ON HOLIDAY WILL BE AT THE DISCRETION OF MANAGEMENT. HOW DO YOU DEFINE THAT? YOU HAVE SAID MANAGEMENT CURRENT IS KIND OF ODD. WHO ULTIMATELY SAYS YOU'RE WORKING?

>> THE INTENT WOULD BE FOR THE DEPARTMENT HEAD TO MAKE THAT DECISION. FOR THE MOST PART WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STREET DEPARTMENT PLEASE COME UTILITY EMPLOYEES. FRONT-LINE EMPLOYEES . IT SNOWS DURING THE HOLIDAY AND IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK.

THE MAIN REASON. I THINK IN THE PAST, EMPLOYEES WERE OFTEN PICKING UP NONMANDATORY OVERTIME OR NONMANDATORY TIME ON , THEY WERE WORKING ON A HOLIDAY WITHOUT BEING REQUIRED.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT. SO IT'S REALLY THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR AND HE WILL BE TAKING THOSE INTO ACCOUNT.

WHETHER IT IS NEEDED AND ALSO, I CAN SURE IT'S A FAIR PLAYING

FIELD. >> WE DESIRE TO HAVE A GREAT WORKLIFE BALANCE FOR EMPLOYEES AND WE WANT EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO TAKE HOLIDAYS OFF EXCEPT FOR, HAD TODAY BEEN A HOLIDAY WE WOULD'VE NEEDED ALL HANDS ON DECK.

>> SO BASED ON THE 2024 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE TERM TH WOULD BE SAME DEPARTMENT HEAD. I DON'T THINK IT'S WORTH

HOLDING THIS UP. >> THANK YU.

>> COUNCILOR GREEN. >> THANK YOU AND YOU WOULD SAY EMPLOYEES WILL GET A 1.6 EXTRA ADDITIONAL DAYS, OVERALL THE

FISCAL IMPACT MINIMUM. >> IT IS TO THE EXTENT THAT WITH THE 1.6 EXTRA DAYS, TO THE EXTENT THAT A DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR DOES NOT NEED TO CALL IN SOMEBODY TO COVER THE DAY BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE IS OBSERVING A HOLIDAY. OTHERWISE, I EXPECT MOST DIRECTORS WILL BE ABLE TO MANAGE THAT SO THERE'S

NOT A IMPAC. >> THE CHANGE, THE NEW PROPOSAL TAKES US MORE IN LINE, MAKES US MORE SIMILAR TO EXISTING

DISABILITIES. >> THAT'S RIGHT. WE HAVE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH RIGHT NOW WITH OUR PTO WHICH DOES NOT FIT ALL. TO USE THAT FOR HOLIDAY, VACATION AND SICK ,

[01:30:01]

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE EMOTION. I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION WE APPROVE THE AMENDED VERSION OF D 275 -324.

>> SECOND. >> ANY CONVERSATION? PLEASE

[Portions of this meeting are not available]

[01:35:20]

>> CREATING ESSENTIALLY WAS BJ WAREHOUSES. THE COUNTY HAS HELD

[14.a. First Reading of Ordinance D-2754-25; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Approving and Adopting an Interlocal Agreement; Sponsor: Councilor Aasen.]

ALLOCATION AREA CREATION IS A FOUR STEP PROCESS.

REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, PLANNING COMMISSION, THE COUNCIL.

>> WE ARE STILL RECORDING AND STILL ON MIC FOR ANYONE IN THE ROOM. JUST SO YOU KNOW.

[01:45:41]

[01:45:49]

>> CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION ON THIS? WE HAVE HAD THE BENEFIT OF REVIEWING THIS AND I THINK THE DEAL STRUCTURE IS FANTASTIC. I HAVE A QUESTION AND IT IS NOT MAKE IT ANY LESS FANTASTIC BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY SO OTHERS DO, TOO. WHEN YOU SAY 95% IS AVAILABLE FOR US IF A DEVELOPER COMES TO US , NORMAL ONE OF YOUR DEALS.

WE WILL GIVE THEM WAY TO MUCH >> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> SAY THEY WANTED 80%, THAT'S 80% 95%?

>> CORRECT, ESSENTIALLY THE 95% MAXIMUM BECOMES THE 100% OF WHAT WE COULD DO AND THEN IT'S ABOUT STRIKING THE BEST DEAL.

>> I DO WANT TO SAY IF YOU WANT TO GET IN THE WEEDS THAT'S FINE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF UPSIDE SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE MAYOR AND YOU AND THE COUNTY HAS DONE BECAUSE I THINK WHILE WE MAY DISAGREE ON WHAT ENDS UP GOING, I THINK IT OPENS UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN OTHERWISE UNDERUTILIZED SPACE.

>> IF I COULD I WANT TO POINT OUT ONE LAST PART WHICH IS THE TIF ARE IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE $109,000 A YEAR AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE, BASED ON ASSESSMENTS OUR ASSESSMENTS OR ESTIMATE OF DJS ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON THE BJ'S BUILT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE SAME BUILDING. BUILT AND ASSESSED BY THE SAME ASSESSOR , THAT'S THE ONE NEXT TO EMBASSY SUITES. I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD COMP FOR THE 109,000 ANNUALLY THAT BJ'S WILL PRODUCE. REMEMBER THE BOND FOR THE COUNTY IS WHAT THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO PAY THE LAST KIND OF THE AREA THEY NEED TO BE SECURE DURING. RIGHT NOW THE COUNTY SITS WITH ON COVERAGE AND 107 UP TO 113% EVERY YEAR BETWEEN THOSE FIVE YEARS. SO THE LAST PART OF THIS IS THE CRC GUARANTEES $25,000 FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OF THAT 109. THE CHANCES OF THAT HAPPENING ARE SLIM TO NONE. MEANING SOMETHING IF IT HAPPENED TO THE BUILDING OR THE ASSESSED VALUE DROP FROM 109, AND THAT WOULD ONLY TRIGGER , IF SOMEHOW THE COUNTY'S COVERAGE DROPS BELOW 100% AND RIGHT NOW IT IS 107% AND IN FIVE YEARS THE RETIREMENT GOES UP. WE BELIEVE THERE IS A ABSOLUTE CLOSE TO ZERO CHANCE OF THAT EVER BEING TRIGGERED. THE SAME TIME WE GET TO HELP PROTECT THE COVERAGE OF THE BOND FOR PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY SO THAT HELPS LEAD TO THE EFFORT HERE.

>> OKAY TO FIELD SOME COUNCIL QUESTIONS NOW? COUNCILOR TAYLOR

AND THEN COUNCILOR GREEN. >> A QUESTION RELATED TO BJ'S.

THAT BASIS WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED BASED ON, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE BAR THAT USED TO BE THERE THAT BECAME THE SUSHI PLACE. THE FOX AND HOUND , SO THE BASIS FOR THE TIF FOR THAT SPECIFIC ALLOCATION AREA IS BASED OFF NOT THE BJ'S COME ABOUT THE BASIS IS BASED OFF THE FOX AND HOUND BUILT THERE IN 2000 AND IT WAS HERE WHEN I MOVED IN 2005.

>> I WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE

[01:50:04]

BASED ON FLAT GROUND. >> SO EVEN GETTING THE ALLOCATION AREA THIS LATE BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN

ASSESSED . >> BECAUSE THE CRC VOTED TO BEGIN LAST YEAR IT DATES BACK TO JANUARY 1 OF LAST YEAR.

WHICH IS WHY WE CAPTURE ALL OF IT. BY THE WAY WE HAVE RICHARD STARKEY HERE WHO HAS BEEN SITTING HERE PATIENTLY FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF GETTING PAID A LOT OF MONEY AND HE CAN COME INTO THE SAME QUESTIONS, THE SAME WAY I AM ANSWERING NOW IF

YOU WOULD LIKE. >> SO REALLY, THE DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE DO NOT EVEN CONTEMPLATE THE 109?

>> EXCEPT THAT THE LAND IS ALSO ONE OF THEIR BASIS. BY CUTTING

IT OUT, HE DROPS BELOW. >> ALL THEY ACCOUNTED FOR WAS THE PREVIOUS BASIS ESTABLISHED, THE ESTABLISHED THE COUNTY

ALLOCATION. >> THEY TAKE A HIT ON BOTH

PARCELS CUTTING OUT THE AREA. >> OKAY I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE RISK. THE AMOUNT OF RISK WE ARE TAKING IS BARELY OVER THE ONE-YEAR PROJECTED TIF GENERATED FROM THE SITE.

>> IT IS TINY AND IN ADDITION, BJ'S IS A HUGE COMPANY, NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF A TORNADO HITTING THEM AND NOT REBUILDING, THE STORE WAS BUILT IN LESS THAN A YEAR. IF A TORNADO TAKES THE ROLE THAT WILL REBUILD AND AT MOST WE LOSE ONE YEAR AND THAT'S IT. SO THE RISK OF ANYTHING HAPPENING IS SO SMALL IT'S ALMOST.

>> AS LONG AS THEY DON'T TRY TO DARK BOX THE ASSESSED VALUE.

>> EVEN IF THEY DARK BOX, THE VALUE WILL BE ABOVE 25,000 A

YEAR. >> COUNCILOR GREEN AND

COUNCILOR LOCKE. >> OF A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, IF THIS IS GOING TO COMMITTEE UPHOLD QUESTION UNTIL IT GOES

TO THE COMMITTEE. >> THAT IS UP TO THE COUNCIL.

>> WHILE I CAN BE AS LONG AS WE WANT BECAUSE I HAVE A NUMBER OF

QUESTIONS. >> GO AHEAD AND ASK THE

QUESTIONS. >> SO THE ORIGINAL TIF WERE SET UP IN 2000? SO THEY ARE 30 YEARS?

>> AT SOME POINT THE COUNTY RE-UP THE BOND TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE TIF RIGHT NOW RUNNING THROUGH 2030.

>> 2030. IF WE PEEL OFF THE DJ PARCEL IN THE TERRACE PARCEL

THAT STARTS A NEW TIF? >> THE NEW TIF STARTS WHEN A FUTURE CLAY TERRACE PROJECT ISSUES THEIR BOND.

>> THAT WILL BE 20 YEARS? >> 25 YEARS ASSUMING COUNCIL

APPROVES THE FUTURE PROJECT. >> I DO LIKE THE WHOLE AGREEMENT HERE. SO, FOR THE BJ PARCEL AND LET'S SAY THE BJ PARCEL, FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, YOU KNOW, SO I UNDERSTAND THE TIMING, FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WE WILL STILL

BE GIVING. >> BJ'S FLOWS TO THE COUNTY FOR ALL 25 YEARS. OUR GUARANTEE WILL LAST FOR FIVE YEARS UNTIL

THE 2030 DEADLINE. >> YES, SO THE MATH, THAT MAKES SENSE , MORE SENSE RIGHT NOW. OKAY ALL RIGHT.

>> WE CAN COME BACK IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS. COUNCILOR

LOCKE. >> MINE IS MORE PROCEDURAL. THE MONEY IN THE TIF AREA IN THE COUNTY IS USED ON 146TH ST., JUST WONDERING AS WE LOOK AT THIS NON-ROUNDABOUT MORE SPAGHETTI BASED IF YOU BUILD THE STREET PROCESS IS A DUMPSTER FIRE. OF A PROCESS. IT IS A JOY IF YOU HAD AN ADVOCATE AND YOU CAN CUT THE FAR LEFT LANE AND SCOOT AROUND TRAFFIC , IF YOU FIGURE IT OUT IT'S GREAT. WONDERING BASED ON THIS CONTRACT AGREEMENT UNDER LOCAL WHAT GUARANTEES DO WE HAVE , THAT THE SPENDING BY THE COUNTY ON 146TH ST. WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE AREA IN CARMEL AND IN WESTFIELD AS OPPOSED TO SOMEONE ELSE ON THE HUGE THOROUGH FURTHER TAKING TO THE COUNTY.

HOW DO WE ENSURE? >> THAT IS A 2 1/2 PART ANSWER.

THE AGREEMENT SAYS IT HAS TO BE USED ON 146 STREET IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS CARMEL. NUMBER TWO . NEVERMIND WHAT IS IN ANY

[01:55:06]

THAT'S TWO PARTS ON HOW WE WILL STAY INVOLVED. THE OPPOSITE, NOT THE OPPOSITE BUT A POINT TO KEEP IN MIND. IF BOTH PROJECTS IF CLAY TERRACE HAPPENS IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE GOING OUT DOING A $4 MILLION BOND FOR A ROAD PROJECT. THEY ARE PROBABLY DOING A MUCH LARGER BOND FOR A BUNCH OF PROJECTS , PUTTING OTHER BACKUPS BEHIND IT SO THIS WILL BE A SMALL PORTION OF THE FUTURE MONEY THEY WILL SPEND WHEN THAT HAPPENS. THIS DOES SAY IN THE AGREEMENT IT HAS TO BE SPENT ON 146 STREET WORKING TOGETHER. I THINK WE HAVE A LONG-STANDING TRUST RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY

AND THAT WILL CONTINUE. >> COUNCILOR SNYDER.

>> CAN OF A FOLLOW-UP THINKING STRATEGICALLY, THE SUBSECTION LOOKING AT THE DOCUMENT IF YOU'RE BORED AND A NERD, SECTION 5 SUBSECTION C SERVING OR FITTING THE AREA DEFINED AS THIS AREA WHERE THE TIF IS. THE COUNTY SHALL DETERMINE SOLE DISCRETION AS COUNTY IMPROVEMENT. THINKING LONGITUDINALLY STRATEGICALLY IF WE TAKE THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF WEST CLAY ENTERED INTO SOMETHING THE SOUTHERN EXIT ONLY GOES DOWN TO RANCH LINE DOES NOT CONNECT TO CONTRIBUTE 31, THE NEXT TO THE 146 STREET BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THOROUGH FIRST OFF THERE. THINKING FROM THE DISTRICT STANDPOINT FROM THE WESTERN SIDE OF CARMEL. ENTERING AS WE WORK WITH THE COUNTY IF THIS MOVES, TO CREATE BETTER FLOW FOR THE POTENTIAL FUTURE RESIDENTS AND/OR THE HOTEL AND PEOPLE TRYING TO GET TO AND FROM U.S. 31, IT'S MASSIVE.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE COUNTY OR JEREMY CASHMAN, BUT BETWEEN CASHMAN AND I THERE IS A GOOD GUESS THIS MONEY WILL GO TOWARD WHEN THE COUNTY DOES LIKE GRAY ROAD AND 146. THERE WILL BE A NEXT ROUNDABOUT NOT SOME BIG CHANGE TODAY ON WHERE YOU'RE TALKING.

>> COUNCILOR SNYDER. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE. I CAN GO BACK, I REMEMBER WHEN 146 STREET OPENED WHEN THERE WERE NO STOPLIGHTS ANOTHER STOPLIGHTS EVERYWHERE AND NEVER LOVE TO GET RID OF ALL THE STOPLIGHTS. SUPPORTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE , THE VEHICULAR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WHATEVER'S GOING TO BE BUILT HERE IS MORE CRITICAL THAN PUTTING MONEY IN THE ROAD THAT THEY WOULD DO OTHERWISE WHETHER THE PLAN WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OR NOT. SO I GUESS , SO YOU KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING EYES WIDE OPEN WHATEVER SHOULD GET PROPOSED ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS IS WHAT THE RESEARCHER GOING TO LOOK LIKE? TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE BASIS OF THE QUESTION. WAS THAT PLATTED? WAS IT ALWAYS ONE PARCEL? I THOUGHT IT WAS TWO PARCELS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE LOWE'S PARKING LOT.

>> IT'S POSSIBLE. >> IN THE ORANGE ON THE WEST SIDE IS A NEW ALLOCATION AREA. WHEN THE PROJECT EVENTUALLY HAPPENS , THEY WILL BE PARCELING EVERYTHING ANYWAYS WHAT MODELS FOR US -- WHAT MATTERS FOR US

IS THE ALLOCATION. >> TO ANSWER TAYLOR'S QUESTION

IS -- BUT I THINK IT WAS TWO. >> THE BASE IS JUST FLTLAND.

>> YOU MENTIONED, DOES THE EJ'S ALLOCATION AREA, YOU SAY WILL BE USED FOR CLAY TERRACE , DOES IT HAVE TO?

>> THE BJ IS ESSENTIALLY BEING USED TO COVER THE DEBT SERVICE, TO PAY -- AND THEN 1/46 STREET, TO BENEFIT CARMEL , HONESTLY.

THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO USE FOR IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS US AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE WERE, BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH MONEY THIS IS RELATIVE TO WHEN THE COUNTY IS GOING TO DO WITH HER BOND FOR LOT OF -- IS JUST NOT GOING BE A LARGE PART OF IT.

[02:00:03]

>> I'M SURE YOU DID. THANK YOU.

>> COUNSELOR GREEN? YES, EXACTLY.

>> ONE QUESTION. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON THIS?

>> A YEAR AND A HALF? >> THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILOR GREEN? >> GOOD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EV AGAIN. SO NOW THE , TO CLARIFY THE QUESTION THAT -- WHAT IS

THE BASE OF THE BJ'S PARCEL? >> I GUESS --

>> THE BASE AV. FOR THE PURPOSES OF US, THE CITY, IT'S NOTHING. AND IT WASN'T OURS TO BEGIN WITH. IT WAS ALWAYS IN THE COUNTY'S TIF SO THAT MONEY ALWAYS FLOATS THE COUNTY. SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF US, THE CITY, FORMING A NEW ALLOCATION AREA, WE GET TO CAPTURE ALL OF BJ'S ESSENTIALLY. THE LAND VALUE IS THE BASIS FOR WHERE WE GET TO START WITH BUT WE GET TO

CAPTURE -- >> IT'S AT THE LAND BASIS

WITHOUT BJ'S. >> I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT NUMBER IS BUT THE INCREMENTAL VALUE EVERY YEAR IS $109,000.

>> OKAY. SAME QUESTION FOR THE WEST SIDE THERE, THE CLAY

TERRACE . >> IT COMES IN AS BASICALLY I BELIEVE THE LAND HAS A BASIS BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS STARTING FROM SCRATCH BECAUSE THERE'S MORE AREAS TO BEGIN WITH. IT HAPPENS ON A COUNTY LEVEL. THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO MAKE UP SOME OF THAT SHORTFALL FOR THEM BUT FOR US, WE ARE STARTING

FROM SCRATCH. >> EVEN THOUGH THE ORIGINAL TIF

IS EXTINGUISHED . >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> YOU DON'T RE-ESTABLISH THE ASSESSED VALUE.

>> WE ESTABLISH, THE INCREMENTAL , WE BASICALLY TAKE OUT THE VALUE OF LAND FOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT GIVE US ALL

THE NEW AV. >> OKAY. AND THEN KIND OF A SIDE QUESTION. THE REST OF CLAY TERRACE, IS THAT ALL PART OF

STILL THE COUNTY TIFF? >> EXACTLY.

>> OKAY SO THAT WILL ESTABLISH AND THAT WILL HIT THE GENERAL TAX ROLLS AND THEN WE WILL HAVE FUN TIMES WITH ALL THAT NEW AV COMING BUT YOU COULD ALSO THINK ABOUT -- IS THAT NEW AV COMING ON IN A FULLY VIBRANT CLAY TERRACE OR IS THAT COMING ON FIVE YEARS AND THEY HAVE DEMOLISHED CLAY TERRACE?

>> AND THEN WE ARE BACK TO POTENTIALLY --

>> SAVE IT AGAIN BUT RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S CORRECT.

>> THAT'S THE BRILLIANT PART OF THE STRATEGY, TO BE ABLE TO MOVE IT FROM THIS ALLOCATION AREA ESTABLISHING THE CITY WHERE WHICH WE RECEIVE 95% OF THE INCREMENT OF, IN PERPETUITY, UNTIL WE , UNTIL THERE'S A DEVELOPER BACKED BOND ISSUED AGAINST INCREMENT , WE CAN SET THAT CASH FLOW AND THEN WE WILL STILL RECEIVE IT FOR ANOTHER 25 YEARS. ONLY HAVING TO GIVE 5% OF THAT TAX REVENUE TO THE COUNTY FOR WHICH WE ARE RECEIVING ZERO OF THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FROM ANYWHERE IN THESE ALLOCATION AREAS NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL

WITHIN THE COUNTY. >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT AND TO PUT A CHERRY ON TOP , IT MEANS THAT IT WILL SIT EMPTY FOR FIVE YEARS LOOKING LIKE, AS

MY KIDS WOULD SAY, TRAN15. >> I BELIEVE MOST OF THIS HAS GONE BY -- I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN APPROVED. I KNOW THERE'S SOME PLANS ABOUT GROWTH IN THIS AREA AND NONE OF THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN UNLESS WE KICK IT OFF AT THE CATALYST PROJECT.

>> TO GET TO THAT POINT, CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE APPROVAL BECAUSE OF ANY BOND THAT COMES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT OF THE ORANGE AREA. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, THIS ISN'T C-2 ZONING. IT HAS TO -- OR IF THERE ARE AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD GO THROUGH THE PLANNED COMMISSION AND BACK TO THE

COUNCIL AGAIN. >> COUNSEL GETS TO SEE THIS MANY, MANY MORE TIMES. THE HILTON HAS BEEN APPROVED. IT'S JUST PART OF THE PUD BUT MY BELIEF IS THE HILTON IS WAITING AND SEEING WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE REST OF THE PROPERTY.

[02:05:01]

>> BUT IF YOU OFFERED UP ANYTHING.

>> KNOW. THE TIF FROM THE NEW HOTEL BEING HERE WOULD JUST GO OVER TO BENEFIT THE LARGER PROJECT. LIKE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NOW THIS ONE -- IS AN ORDINANCE SO I

WOULD ENTERTAIN A -- >> SUSPEND THE RULES INTO

ACTION . >> SECOND.

>> SECOND. LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON WHETHER TO SPEND THE RULES FOR THIS EVENING. THAT PASSES UNIVERSALLY. NOW WE CAN ACT ON

IT THIS EVENING. >> I MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> SECOND. >> ANY LAST CONVERSATION?

>> A YEAR AND A HALF WELL SPENT. THIS IS A GREAT DEAL.

>> THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE. SORRY, IT PASSES 9-0. AND I THINK YOU CAN KIND OF STAY UP HERE , IF I'M CORRECT. WELL,

[14.b. First Reading of Ordinance D-2755-25; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Amending Chapter 3, Article 1, Division II, Section 3-30 of the Carmel City Code; Sponsor(s): Councilors Aasen and Taylor.]

>> I WOULD INTRODUCE. >> ALL RIGHT, -- READ THE ORDINANCE ON -- IMMENSE THE ORDINANCE OF BUSINESS FOR THE COMMON COUNCIL AGENDA BY ADDING THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT BUDGET

QUARTERLY. >> OKAY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I PROPOSED IN THE COUNCIL , HAVING A QUARTERLY BUDGET UPDATE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING THE PROCESS OF SOME OF THE TRANSFERS AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND THEN OTHER THINGS WE WANT TO LOOK AT GOING INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS. I AM GOING TO ASK THAT THIS GOES TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE SO THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE CAN WORK WITH ZACH JACKSON TO DECIDE WHAT WILL BE IN THIS QUARTERLY REPORT. JUST TO CLARIFY, I HOPE THIS IS A WRITTEN REPORT WITH , YOU KNOW, SOME COUNCIL QUESTIONS, BUT NOT A LONG PRESENTATION ON THIS. SO ANY QUESTIONS TONIGHT, I KNOW WE

[14.c. Resolution CC-01-06-25-01; A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Approving Certain Matters in Connection with the Old Town Economic Development Area (Main and 4th Avenue Allocation Area); Sponsor(s): Councilors Aasen and Minnaar.]

HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE? >> I MOVED TO INTRODUCE.

>> SECOND. >> THIS RESOLUTION APPROVES ONE, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CARMEL REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CREATING A NEW FOURTH AVENUE ALLOCATION AEA WITHIN THE OLDTOWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AREA. INCLUDING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN SUPPLEMENT AND NUMBER TWO, A RELATED EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME CITY OF CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION

. >> IS IT , SURROGATE, WE'VE GOT THREE ALLOCATION AREAS IN A ROW EVEN BEFORE WE INTRODUCE

THE OTHER TWO. OKAY. >> TV, PLEASE. OKAY . BEFORE I INTRODUCE ALL THREE, I WANT TO SPEND JUST ONE SECOND TALKING ABOUT ALLOCATION AREAS BECAUSE I'M UP HERE A LOT AND I THINK FOR PEOPLE WATCHING I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY DISCUSS GENERALLY, BIG TIF PROJECTS HAVE TIF BOND VOTES. THESE ARE USUALLY THE BIG POLITICAL QUESTIONS, THESE ARE USUALLY THE ONES THAT HAVE YOU KNOW, VERY THOROUGH REVIEW NEWSPAPER STORIES WRITTEN ABOUT THEM . THIS IS USUALLY WHAT MAKES NEWS. ALLOCATION AREAS BY THEMSELVES WITHOUT ACCOMPANYING BONDS ARE MORE ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE. I MEAN SOMETIMES THESE GET HIM A THERE'S A CUMBERSOME PROCESS AGAIN, I TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER, PLAN COMMISSION COUNSEL WE LITERALLY CAN CHANGE PARCELS DURING THIS TIME. WE BRING ALLOCATION AREAS STRATEGICALLY BASED ON WHEN IT MAKES SENSE TO BRING THEM, SOMETIMES IT'S BEFORE A TIF BOND VOTE, SOMETIMES IT'S AFTER, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT RELATED TO A TIF BOND AT ALL. AND ALLOCATION AREAS OFTEN TIMES THE COUNCILS JUST VOTING ON THOSE AT THE TIME THEY ARE BROUGHT THERE ARE THREE ALLOCATION AREAS IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. I WILL TALK ABOUT ALL THREE, IF THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE ME TO DO. THERE'S ADDITIONAL THREE AREAS , BY THE WAY. RELATED TO LEGACY AND THEN TWO RELATED TO, AND THEN ANOTHER ONE RELATED TO CLAY TERRACE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY BUT ON THIS AGENDA, THERE ARE THREE ALLOCATIN AREAS. THE THIRST OF THESE FIRST IS THE MAIN AND FORTH.

THIS WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER TODAY. IT'S IN THE OLDTOWN

[02:10:08]

AND, WITH THAT, AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ONE OR ANY OF

THESE AREAS OR ALLOCATION AREAS >> BE PREPARED TO GO BACKWARDS IF YOU NEED TO. I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ANY OF THESE? ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILOR

TAYLOR? >> IF THE COUNCIL REMEMBERS LOOKING BACK TO THE DEBT STUDY THAT WAS PERFORMED BY OUR CONSULTANT ONE OF THE KEY FINDINGS WAS THE NUMBER OF EXPIRING ALLOCATION AREAS AND REDUCTION OF TIF REVENUE WITH THE CONSOLIDATED TIF EXPIRING IN 28. IS THAT RIGHT? --

>> NOT ALL OF IT BUT A SEGMENT OF IT IS, YES.

>> AND THE FACT THAT A NUMBER OF THE ALLOCATION AREAS, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED ARE TYPICALLY SINGLE SITE ALLOCATION AREAS FOR WHICH THE DEVELOPER RECEIVED OR ISSUED , RECEIVED A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE TIF TO COVER THE DEVELOPER BACK BOND. I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE CREATION OF THESE THREE ALLOCATION AREAS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT USING THE TIF TO INCENTIVIZE THE DEVELOPMENT. AND WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE INCREASE THIS TYPE OF REVENUE FOR OUR CITY.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY AS ALBERT ALLOCATION AREAS EXPIRE IN THAT ASSESSED VALUE COMES ONTO OUR TAX ROLLS. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT AND REMIND PEOPLE OF THAT FINDING IN THE DEBT STUDY.

>> COUNCILOR SNYDER? >> WITH COUNCILOR TAYLOR SANG.

THE INCOME IS GREAT AS LONG AS WE CAN KEEP IT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE STUDIED THAT YOU ARE REFERENCING IS WE NEED A FEW PROJECTS THAT AREN'T 90% TIF. WE NEED THE 10 OR 15 PROJECTS WERE IT'S A MINOR INCENTIVE TO TAP , CASH FLOW TAP STAYS FLOWING AND IT'S NOT JUST A TINY TRICKLE AND YOU MENTION THAT WE DO SOME OF THIS FOR SOME PARKING IMPROVEMENTS.

IS JUSTIFIED AND THAT'S FINE BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT, DO YOU

KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE WISE. >> IS STILL BEING NEGOTIATED.

>> BUT IT CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BE --

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> SO THERE SO THAT CASH FLOW AND I A SECOND WOULD SAY, WE NEED WE NEED THE CASH WITH THE WAY THE STATE HAS HAMSTRUNG US. IT'S CRITICAL AND FOR THOSE REASONS. BASICALLY, MOST LOOK BASED ON THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY WE'VE DONE. NOT THE CITY IS ANY FINANCIAL SITUATION. IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE A BETTER FLOW OF CASH COMING IN.

>> AND THE OTHER POINT IS, YOU KNOW, THESE ULTIMATELY CREATE EXCESS TIF FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH AND BE IN CHARGE OF. SO THE NEXT TIME WE ARE DOING A PROJECT EITHER LIT, WHICH IS PEOPLE'S INCOME TAXES OR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES OR THEY CAN COME OUT OF ESSENTIALLY CORPORATE ALLOCATION AREAS THAT IS OUR CORPORATE CITIZENS PAYING FOR GREAT THINGS IN THE CITY THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO OTHERWISE AND IT'S A GREAT USE OF FUNDS AND IT'S HOW WE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL

SO FAR. >> ANY OVERALL QUESTIONS ABOUT ALLOCATION AREAS? IF SO, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SPECIFIC WE ARE WORKING WITH FOUR MAIN AND FORTH ? RESOLUTION TO ENTERTAIN

[02:15:02]

A MOTION. >> SECOND?

>> OKAY. THESE VOTE. ALL RIGHT. THIS PASSES, 9-0. NEXT UP IS

[14.d. Resolution CC-01-06-25-02; A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Approving Certain Matters in Connection with the North Illinois Street Economic Development Area (Frontage Road Hotel Allocation Area); Sponsor(s): Councilors Aasen and Minnaar.]

SYNOPSIS? >> YES, THANK YOU. THIS RESOLUTION APPROVES A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CARMEL REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CREATING A NEW FRONTAGE ROAD WITHIN THE NORTH ILLINOIS STREET INCLUDING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN, SUPPLEMENT, AND NUMBER TWO, A RELATED CITY OF CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION RESOLUTION .

>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ONE? COUNCILOR SNYDER?

>> AND THIS IS GLOBAL, MAYBE FOR YOU, MAYOR BUT IT SEEMS TO ME, AND I COULD BE WRONG , BUT AND I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A WHILE, TOO BUT WITH THE INNKEEPERS TAX, IT SEEMS LIKE CARMEL KEEPS BUILDING HOTELS AND NOT GETTING ITS SHARE OF CARMEL TAX. ARE WE FIGHTING FOR THAT? I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE COMMENTED ON THE BUT THERE'S BEEN THREE TONIGHT AND IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN BE DOING? I'M TIRED OF THE TAX

MONEY NOT BEING SPENT HERE. >> SEEMS TO BE LITTLE BIT MORE OF A POLITICAL ANSWER. I WILL TAKE THAT AND GIVE HENRY A BREAK. I THINK THAT'S A OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT VISIT HAMILTON COUNTY BUT THERE'S SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AND HOW DOLLARS ARE DISTRIBUTED. MORE DOLLARS ARE COMING IN BECAUSE THE TAXES ARE HIGHER WE HAVE TWO LESS APPOINTEES ON THE BOARD AND THREE I THINK THERE IS SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION IN HOW THE DOLLARS ARE DISTRIBUTED AND MAYBE SOME MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR TRANSPARENCY IN THAT REGARD, AS WELL. I BELIEVE IT WILL ALL BE HEALTHY AND MOST CONVERSATIONS BUT WHICH IS KIND OF STARTED MARCHING ON THE PATH. ALTHOUGH GETTING INTRODUCED TO THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT AND CEO, I'M PROBABLY SAYING HIS TITLE WRONG BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK AT DISTRIBUTION BASED ON HOTEL ROOMS I DO THINK IT'S NOT PURE IN THAT WE DO GET A LOT OF VISITORS FROM WESTFIELD, GRANT PARK AND WE ALSO GENERATE A SIGNIFICANT SHARE MONEY THROUGH THURSDAY WITH OUR BUSINESS TRAFFIC. BASED ON SOME OF THE STUFF WE SAW TODAY WITH OUR EMPLOYMENT . I DO THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE ENGAGEMENT IN THAT

FRONT. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND AS INSPECTED, ADVOCATING FOR CARMEL, MUCH APPRECIATED.

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THE QUESTION PUBLICLY. ANY OTHER

QUESTIONS ON THIS RESOLUTION? >> I ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> I MOVED TO APPROVE >> ALL RIGHT, MOVING AND SECOND, PLEASE VOTE. THIS PASSES, 9-0. NEXT UP IS

[14.e. Resolution CC-01-06-25-03; A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Approving Certain Matters in Connection with the North Illinois Street Economic Development Area (Meridian Hotel Allocation Area); Sponsor(s): Councilors Aasen and Minnaar. ]

MINNAAR. >> I MOVED TO REDUCE.

>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THIS RESOLUTION PROVES -- THE CITY OF CARMEL REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CRATING A NEW MERIDIAN HOTEL ALLOCATION AREA WITHIN THE NORTH ILLINOIS STREET ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AREA, INCLUDING AN ECONOMIC -- AND A RELATED CITY OF CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION .

>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ONE? IF NOT, I WOULD

ENTERTAIN A MOTION >> SECOND.

>> MOVING, SECOND. ANY CONVERSATION? PLEASE VOTE.

[15. AGENDA ADD-ON ITEMS]

PASSES, 9-0. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. MOVING ONTO AGENDA ITEMS. WE HAVE ONE ITEM TONIGHT. COUNSEL SHOULD RECEIVE THIS MEMORANDUM. I'M GOING TO READ IT INTO THE RECORD BEFORE WE CHOOSE TO ACT OR NOT ACT ON IT. DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR APPROVAL IN ADDING MAYOR FINK COMES APPOINTMENTS TO THE HISTORIC

[02:20:02]

>> MR. PRESIDENT. >> YES.

>> IT WOULD BE MY REQUEST THAT YOU DO -- AT LEAST IF YOU HAVE ANY CONSERVATION ABOUT NEW AND THAT'S ONE THING. BUT AT LEAST ON NICK AND BILL, BEING REAPPOINTED, FIRST OF ALL, MY APOLOGY IF ANYONE HAS -- IN THE PAST. I DESPISE AT ON SO I HATED EVEN BRING IT UP BUT THEY HAVE A BOARD MEETING COMING UP AND I WAS UNAWARE THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPROVE THESE APPOINTMENTS SO WE ARE JUST -- A LITTLE MARY PAT ABOUT REAPPOINTING THEM OURSELVES AND WE DIDN'T REALIZE THEY HAD TO COME TO COUNSEL. WE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS ON FRIDAY. BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A QUORUM WITH THIS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION. THEY CAN CANCEL THE MEETING AND NOT HAVE IT. I WOULD LIKE TO AVOID IT IF POSSIBLE.

>> AND THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER ONE COMING FROM YOU LATER, TOO.

>> WE HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AND WE ARE JUST TRYING TO CREATE HIS COUNTER WITH THOSE CONVERSATIONS SO SHE CAN MAKE SURE SHE HAS AN ADEQUATE TIME TO BE AN ACTIVE, ENGAGED MEMBER. THAT WILL COME TO YOU IN FEBRUARY.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL?

>> MR. PRESIDENT , I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GIVE A REFERENCE FORMAT SINCE HE IS, WE JUST GOT HIS RESUME, THE FAMILY IS VERY INVOLVED IN CARMEL. EXCELLENT CITIZEN, GREAT CHOICE. I JUST

HOPE WE CAN GO AHEAD AND -- >> HIS FAMILY BUT THE HOUSE HISTORIC HOME WITHIN THE SUBDIVISION. THAT'S WHY I FELT HE WOULD BE A VALUABLE ADDITION TO THIS COMMISSION. HE'S FINANCIALLY AND PERSONALLY INVESTED IN THIS DIRECT

RESTORATION. >> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

COUNCILOR SNYDER? >> JUST A POINT CLEAR VOCATION, WE ARE NOT REALLY APPROVING THE APPOINTMENTS, IT'S MORE OF A CONCURRENCE? IS THERE STILL AN A MOTION TO APPROVE?

>> I ASKED HIM ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID THAT THE COUNCIL HAD TO APPROVE THEM SO IF YOU APPROVE THEM, SO APPROVAL, I WOULD WELCOME, SOUNDS LIKE THE COMMISSION, WHATEVER WORDING

YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ENTERTAIN A MOTION? ALL RIGHT, JUST TO BE CLEAR, ALL THREE ? OKAY. SO, VOTE FOR ALL THREE ALL RIGHT, THAT'S

[16.a. City Council Appointments]

BEEN APPROVED, 9-0. >> THANK YOU, COUNSEL. OTHER BUSINESS. WE HAVE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS ON DISABILITY AND UNLESS THERE IS A MOTION ON THE COUNCIL TO ACT OF THIS EVENING , WE WOULD PROBABLY SEND THESE TO THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR RECOMMENDATION. ANY THOUGHTS, COUNSEL? OKAY, I WILL SEND

THIS, COUNCILOR SNYDER? >> I DO HAVE SOMEBODY HERE THIS EVENING, WHO HAS SAID VERY PATIENTLY THROUGH THIS ENTIRE MEETING AND SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE DR. BENNETT FOR SPENDING HIS TIME AND BRINGING HIS LOVELY WIFE ON A PROBABLY NOT SO EXCITING DATE NIGHT.

>> WILL BE SENDING THIS TO THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE. WE'VE RECEIVED THREE RESUMES AND THERE ARE TWO APPOINTMENTS SO WE WILL SEND THE NOMINEE COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER RESUMES

[17. ANNOUNCEMENTS]

QUESTIONS? >> I JUST --

>> SORRY. >> ONE OTHER ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MODERATE A FORUM ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 16TH. FROM 6:30 TO 8:00 P.M. AT THE INDIANA WAR MEMOIAL SO IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN, I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AN

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.