Dec 18, 2023 City Council Meeting 12-18-2023

[00:00:09]

THE CARMEL COUNCIL IS CALLED TO ORDER. IT IS MONDAY, DECEMBER 18 AND WE HAVE A QUORUM. I WELCOME EVERYONE, ALL OF OUR

[2. AGENDA APPROVAL]

>> SO MOVED. >> ALL RIGHT, PLEASE VOTE.

[3. INVOCATION]

INVOCATION. >> WELCOME TO THE SEASON OF GOODWILL AND HOPE. ON THIS OCCASION OF CHANGES FOR OUR CITY AND IN THE SPIRIT OF APPRECIATION WE CALL YOUR BLESSING ON OUR ELECTED SERVANTS. THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR TERM OF SERVICE ON MAYOR JIM BRAINARD FOR HIS VISION, COURAGE AND COMPASSION, OR HIS LEADERSHIP AND SENSE OF HOPE YEAR-ROUND. ON COUNSELOR SUE FINKAM AND MILES NELSON AND LAURA CAMPBELL, TIM HANNON, AND CLERK SUE WOLFGANG FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND INSIGHT IN YOUR BLESSING ON THOSE WHO CONTINUE IN OFFICE ON COUNSELOR JEFF WARDELL, COUNSELOR TERESA AYRES, ON COUNSELOR TONY GREENE AND POINDEXTER FOR THEIR CONSISTENCY AND INTEGRITY. WE ASK YOU FOR THINGS ON ALL OF THESE NOT JUST FOR THEIR HOURS OF WORK IN THEIR DEEDS BUT ALSO FOR EACH OF THEM AS FELLOW CITIZENS AND FOR THEIR SPIRIT OF PUBLIC SERVICE. WE ARE GREAT GOAL FOR DEFINING FOR ALL OF US. PUBLIC SERVICE IS NOT A CLICH? BUT AND IT ACTIVE ENDEAVOR THAT TRULY HELPS US TO HAVE A COMMUNITY OF SUCCESS, OF ACCEPTANCE AND OF JUSTICE. WE OFFER OUR APPRECIATION MINDFUL THAT YOU ARE EVER PRESENT WITH EACH OF US THIS DAY AND ALL

[4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

DAYS TO COME, AMEN. >> THANK YOU, REVEREND DAVIS AND NOW IF EVERYONE WILL PLEASE RISE FOR OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, COUNSELOR AYRES WILL LEAD US.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, UNDER ONE NATION, UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR

ALL. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD NOW ASK

[5. RECOGNITION OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUTSTANDING CITIZENS]

>> THANK YOU COUNSEL GOOD EVENING JIM FARWELL CHIEF OF POLICE I AM HAPPY TO PRESENT TO YOU THREE NEW OFFICERS. THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH A RIGOROUS PROGRAM AND EXCELLED. THEY STARTED AND ARE GETTING READY TO IN THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY TO GO OFF TO THE POLICE ACADEMY. SO, AUSTIN COULD YOU STEP FORWARD? AUSTIN GUERRETTAZ COMES FROM INDIANAPOLIS WHERE HE HAS A BACHELORS DEGREE IN FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS FROM IEP WHY. HE COMES FROM CHASE BANK, ALEX GRANT, AND THEN SHELDON ROBINSON WHO COMES TO US FROM HIM KALE MANAGEMENT AND HE IS A BACHELORS DEGREE IN STUDIES FROM INDIANA BIBLE COLLEGE. AND MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND

SWEARING THEM IN? >> PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, STATE YOUR NAME, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF INDIANA AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE MY DUTIES AS A POLICE OFFICER OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA. ACCORDING TO THE LAW AND TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]

[00:06:12]

[APPLAUSE] >> AT THIS TIME I WOULD ASK IF REVEREND DAVIS WAS STILL HERE? PLEASE COME FORWARD. GOOD

[7. COUNCIL AND MAYORAL COMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS]

AND I, MAYOR BRAINARD OF CARMEL ENTITLE HIM TO TITLE OF PIONEER AND I RAISE MY HAND TO THE CITY OF CARMEL THIS 18TH DAY OF DECEMBER IN THE YEAR 2023. [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU ALL, I AM A LUCKY GUY. AND PROBABLY THE ONE GUY

[00:10:05]

I AM PROUD TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH AND TO BE A PART OF THIS GREAT CITY AND THAT IS PROBABLY ALL YOU NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU NOW. ANYWAY, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. [APPLAUSE] MAYOR AND REVEREND DAVIS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU COME UP FRONT.

>> CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR KEVIN RIDER.

>> MY MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS FORMING MY FAITH IN WHAT I WAS DOING THAT YOU ARE MY PASTOR SO I THINK YOU FOR THAT.

>> IF YOU COULD COME UP FRONT FOR A PICTURE WITH THE COUNCIL,

PLEASE. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE SUPPORT OF THE CARMEL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EVERYONE WHO IS HERE TO WITNESS THE SWEARING IN. WE WILL LET YOU TAKE OFF BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT . I AM GOING TO MOVE ON WITH OUR AGENDA. SERVING ON THE COUNCIL REQUIRES A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF EFFORT AND COURAGE TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. SO, IT IS MY HONOR AS PRESIDENT OF THE PCOUNCIL TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND RECOGNIZE THE COUNSELORS WHO ARE RETIRING TONIGHT. AND ARE MOVING ON WITH THEIR LIFE AND WILL NOT BE WITH US. I WANTED TO POINT OUT REALLY QUICK THAT ON THE WALL IS A PLAQUE THAT WAS STARTED IN 1976. THAT PLAQUE HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH EACH OF YOUR TERMS OF SERVICE AS WELL AS IT NOW ALSO LIST THE COUNSELORS WHO WILL BE JOINING IN THE YEAR 2024. THAT PLAQUE IS A GREAT TRADITION AND REMINDER AND WILL BE HERE HOPEFULLY AS LONG AS THIS BUILDING STANDS. THAT IS A LASTING TRIBUTE. AS A SMALL TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION AS A COMMUNITY, FOR YOUR SERVICE, I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE COME DOWN HERE WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME FOR A SMALL TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION. COUNCILOR LAURA CAMPBELL. [APPLAUSE] COUNCILOR SUE FINKAM. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WALK AS FAR. [APPLAUSE] COUNCILOR TIM HANNON.

[APPLAUSE] COUNCILOR MILES NELSON. [APPLAUSE] AND, COUNCILOR KEVIN RIDER. [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE]

[00:15:07]

[APPLAUSE] >> WE ARE GOING TO GATHER TONIGHT AS A FINAL CELEBRATION OF A GREAT GROUP THAT WORKED TOGETHER VERY WELL AND I BELIEVE WE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.

YOU WILL BE MISSED. ALL RIGHT WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO RECOGNITION OF ANY PERSONS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. I HAVE NO BLUE CARDS SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO COUNSEL AND MAYORAL

[8. CONSENT AGENDA]

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> OKAY CAN I PLEASE ASK YOU TO VOTE? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT . BEFORE WE MOVE ON I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON WHO IS HERE TONIGHT. THIS IS ALSO HIS LAST MEETING AS I'M NOT SURE HOW TO REFER TO YOU JACOB AS THE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL. HE IS NOW AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE AND JACOB WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND. JACOB QUINN HAS BEEN WITH US FROM THE PBEGINNING. HE IS AMAZING AND HE KEEPS EVERYTHING RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND HE REMEMBERS THE DETAILS AND JACOB I'M GREAT ROLE FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO HELP ME AND EVERY OTHER PRESENT ON THE COUNCIL. GOOD LUCK TO YOU IN YOUR NEW ROLE. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT WE HAVE NO

[10. COMMITTEE REPORTS]

NATIONAL STUDIES. >> MR. PRESIDENT WE HAVE THREE ITEMS RETURNING WITH FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATIONS AND I CAN TALK ABOUT THEM WHEN YOU GET TO EACH OF THEM ON THE AGENDA.

>> GREAT, THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS?

[12. OLD BUSINESS]

>> THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. >> IS THERE A MOTION?

>> MOVED TO APPROVE? >> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE. OKAY THAT CARRIES VERY GOOD. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THIRD READING OF ORDINANCE Z-685-23; AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA, REZONING 988 3RD AVENUE SW TO THE C1/CITY CENTER DISTRICT; SPONSOR: COUNCILLOR AASEN. RETURNING FROM THE LAND USE AND SPECIAL STUDIESOMMITTEE. COUNCILOR CAMPBELL?

>> MR. PRESIDENT THIS COMES BACK WITH A UNANIMOUS FAVORABLE

RECOMMENDATION. >> VERY GOOD.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> THANK YOU ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE. THAT CARRIES.

VERY GOOD. >>> THIRD READING OF ORDINANCE D-2688-23; AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAX INCREMENT REVENUE BONDS TO SUPPORT THE GRAMERCY PROJECT, AND AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING OTHER ACTIONS IN RESPECT THERETO; SPONSOR: COUNCILLOR WORRELL. TABLED UNTIL JANUARY 8, 2024 THIS IS TABLED. ITEM D, THIRD READING OF ORDINANCE D-2690-23; AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAX INCREMENT REVENUE BONDS TO SUPPORT THE VALENTINA PROJECT, AND AUTHORIZING AND 3 APPROVING OTHER ACTIONS IN RESPECT THERETO; THE SPONSOR IS JEFF WORRELL AND THIS IS TABLED UNTIL JANUARY 8, 2024. MOVING ON THIRD READING OF ORDINANCE D-2691-23; AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA, DESIGNATING THE CAPERTON-CARTER HOUSE HISTORIC DISTRICT LOCATED AT 35 AND 39 MAPLECREST DRIVE; SPONSOR: COUNCILLOR AASEN.

RETURNING FROM THE LAND USE AND SPECIAL STUDIES COMMITTEE.

COUNCILOR CAMPBELL? >> MR. PRESIDENT THIS ALSO RETURNS WITH A UNANIMOUS FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION.

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> OKAY, ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE

[00:20:03]

[13. PUBLIC HEARINGS]

THIS WILL BE THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE D-2692-23. AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA, AMENDING CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE 2, DIVISION IV, SECTION 9-55 AND RESTATING THE SCHEDULE OF RATES AND CHARGES COLLECTED BY THE WATER UTILITY; SPONSOR(S): COUNCILOR(S) WORRELL AND FINKAM. SENT TO THE FINANCE, UTILITIES AND RULES COMMITTEE ND IT COMES OUT. WHAT I THOUGHT WE WOULD DO I THOUGHT WE HAD AN HOUR AND A HALF MEETING I APPRECIATED EVERYONE WHO WAS THERE. WE STARTED OUT WITH A VERY DETAILED HISTORY AND CONTEXT OF HOW THIS ALL CAME TO BE. I THOUGHT I MIGHT GIVE A QUICK SUMMARY. THERE IS A DETAILED VIDEO OF THIS THAT YOU CAN WATCH ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND WITH ANYONE WHO IS WATCHING CAN GET INTO THE DETAILS. IN 2001 OVER THREE DIFFERENT WATER COMPANIES AND THEY WERE PROVIDING SERVICES TO CARMEL WITH ONLY ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES BEING OWNED BY THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS. FOR THAT REASON IT WAS DETERMINED THAT AN EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO CONSOLIDATE AND TRY TO PURCHASE THE OTHER TWO COMPANIES AND PROVIDE A UNIFORM PAYMENT SERVICE OF WATER TO THE RESIDENCE OF CARMEL THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. IN 2000 TO THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF THOSE LINES. IT ACTUALLY TOOK UNTIL 2005 TO ACTUALLY GET THE PURCHASE OF THE WATER LINES FROM INDIANAPOLIS DONE. THAT MEANT IN 2006 THERE WERE 8300 CUSTOMERS FROM INDIANAPOLIS AND ANOTHER 2300 FROM THE WILFONG SERVICE THAT HAD TO BE ADDED IN. THOSE LINES WERE REALLY NOT SUFFICIENT WITHOUT DOING RATES. IN 2008 THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED $85 MILLION DEBT TO BUILD A NEW WATER PLANT, INSTALL NEW WELLS AND PUT IN NEW LARGER MEANS AND THAT WAS DONE THROUGH A $35 MILLION BOND ANTICIPATION NOTE AND A $50 MILLION TRADITIONAL BOND FOR A TOTAL OF 85 MILLION. THE GOALS AS STATED BY DIRECTOR DUFFY WAS THAT ONCE THEY GOT CONTROL OF THE WATER LINE FOR ALL CARMEL RESIDENTS THEY WANTED TO KEEP THE RATE LOW.

THEY HAD BEEN PAYING OR WERE THE LOWEST FROM ANY SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AS WELL AS UPGRADE THE SERVICE WHICH WAS DEFINITELY NEEDED. HIS STATEMENT TO US AT COMMITTEE WAS THAT THE CURRENT PLAN IS NOW OR WILL SERVE THE ENTIRE CITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. IT'S A 2 HOUR SUMMARY ANYTHING WE MISSED? WE ALSO GOT THE FINANCE THING WHICH WAS DONE.

MANY OF US HAVE REALIZED IS THAT WHEN THE COUNCIL VOTED IN 2008 THERE WAS NO PAYMENT MADE ON THE $35 MILLION AND WE ENDED UP WITH 20.5 MILLION TO WORK WITH AND THAT WAS DONE BECAUSE THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME FELT THAT BY ALLOWING THE SYSTEM TIME TO CATCH UP WITH RATE PAYERS WHO WOULD ACTUALLY BE USING THE NEW FACILITIES WHEN THEY WERE ALLOWED TO PAY FOR IT WOULD BE A FAIR WAY MAYBE NOT IN THEIR WORDS BUT A BETTER WAY TO RAISE THE RATE OTHERWISE THE RATE WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO UP DRASTICALLY. RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT A 35 PERCENT INCREASE IN WATER. HAVING SAID THAT THAT'S THE SUMMARY FROM

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. >> GOOD EVENING COUNSEL, SCOTT

[00:25:22]

PHASE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL BEFORE I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING?

>> DON'T GO AWAY. >> KEVIN RIDER?

>> 35 PERCENT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT IS A BIG NUMBER. CAN YOU GIVE US WHAT THE AVERAGE USER IN CARMEL WHAT DOLLAR AMOUNT

THAT WOULD TRANSLATE INTO? >> I CAN AND THAT IS A GOOD POINT. THE INCREASES ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE STARTING OUT WITH EXTREMELY LOW RATE CONTENT TO BE MISLEADING. AS THE PRESIDENT JEFF WORRELL INDICATED THE INTENT AT THE TIME OF EXPANDING THE TREATMENT PLANT WAS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RECENT CHARGES FOR CARMEL RESIDENTS REMAINED AT OR BELOW SURROUNDING UTILITIES AND SO RIGHT NOW IN CARMEL AN AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER USING 4000 GALLONS OF WATER PRATE IS $28.08 PER MONTH.

AFTER THE INCREASE THAT WOULD GO UP TO $37.35 FOR WATER.

THAT STILL LEAVES US RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF OTHER SURROUNDING UTILITIES. SO WE ARE STILL, WHEN WE LOOK AT OTHER UTILITIES IN OUR AREA THEY ARE STILL BETTER OFF THAN WESTFIELD,

LEBANON, LAUREN. >> COUNCILOR GREEN?

>> I WANT TO DO COMMENTS. YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM THE GATED COMMUNITIES IT'S FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOMES WHERE 7 DOLLARS, 8 DOLLARS, $10 MATTERS TO THEM.

I AM SYMPATHETIC TO THEIR CONCERNS BUT, IT IS WHAT IT IS,

SO THANKS. >> IN 30 YEARS I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH A BETTER ANSWER TO THAT BECAUSE IT WILL ALWAYS HURT SOME PEOPLE MORE THAN OTHERS.

>> ALL RIGHT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THIS UP IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING SO IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS RATE CHANGE WOULD YOU PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM? AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN AT 6:28. ALL RIGHT I AM SEEING NO MOVEMENT. I AM GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:28 AND LOOK FOR A MOTION.

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION TO APPROVE THE RATE CHANGE TO THE WATER UTILITY AS PRESENTED? PLEASE VOTE. OKAY. THAT IS A UNANIMOUS VOTE AND IF THAT PASSES WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE SECOND READING OF D-26 93 S 23 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA, AMENDING CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE 2, DIVISION II, SECTION 9-44, CHAPTER 9 ARTICLE 2, DIVISION III SECTIONS 9-45, 9-51 AND 9-52 AND CHAPTER 9 ARTICLE 2, DIVISION IV, SECTIONS 9-58, 9-62, AND 9-75 OF THE CARMEL CITY CODE; SPONSOR(S): COUNCILOR(S) WORRELL AND FINKAM. SENT TO THE FINANCE, UTILITIES AND RULES COMMITTEE . IT CAME OUT OF FINANCE AND WE EVALUATED THE EXISTING RATE AND LOOKED AT HOW IT COMPARES TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND THIS CAME OUT OF COMMITTEE WITH A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION 3-0. IT WAS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

[00:30:03]

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE. OKAY, THAT CARRIES. AND WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE D-2694-23; AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA, AMENDING CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE 3, DIVISION IV, SECTION 9-171 OF THE CARMEL CITY CODE; SPONSOR(S): COUNCILOR(S) WORRELL AND FINKAM. SENT TO THE FINANCE, UTILITIES AND RULES COMMITTEE THIS IS COMING OUT WITH A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION 3-0. THIS ONE IS A LITTLE BIT EASIER THAN THE WATER. THIS IS NOW FOR SEWER AND WASTEWATER. WE DID GET A FULL CONTEXT AND HISTORY. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WROTE DOWN AS KEY FROM THE MEETING IS THAT THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS FINE. CURRENT DEVELOP HAS NOT OVERBURDEN THE SYSTEM BUT MR. DUFFY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND STATING THAT FUTURE NEEDS WILL REQUIRE AN EXPANSION OF THE SYSTEM TO INCLUDE INSTALLATION OF A LARGER KEYSTONE INTERCEPT AS WELL AS SOME OTHER EXPANSIONS THAT BE DONE. THE LINE IS FINE TODAY BUT WITH FUTURE GROWTH TRYING TO TIME ANY KIND OF EXPANSION WITH POSSIBLE ROAD IMPROVEMENT ON CARMEL DRIVE AND ROUNDABOUTS IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO TEAR UP A ROAD ONCE AND THEN DO IT AGAIN. THEY'RE SOMEWHAT OF A NEED TO MOVE NOW ON THE WASTEWATER. SO THE INTENT IS TO RAISE THOSE RATES 20 PERCENT THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR FUTURE IMPROVEMENT AS THE DEPARTMENT HAS IDENTIFIED. RIGHT NOW THERE IS CURRENTLY 2.6 MILLION DEBT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND THE NUMBER DROPS DOWN TO 2.5 MILLION AND THE ADJUSTMENT AND RATE WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF $14 MILLION PLUS REMOVING THE $10.5 MILLION BAN THAT WAS DONE EARLIER THIS YEAR. THAT'S MY SUMMARY FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING WASTEWATER? IN

COUNCILOR ADAM AASEN? >> THANK YOU, THIS MIGHT BE FOR JOHN. WHEN WE DO THE EXPANSION I WANTED TO CONFIRM FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT HAVE THIS QUESTION. TO DO THE EXPANSION PWE TALKED ABOUT WOULD REQUIRE BOND AND WHEN WE HAVE INCREASED GROWTH RINGING IN MORE OF THESE FEES THAT SHOULD COVER ANY FUTURE BOND, CONCEIVABLY THERE.

>> AS DEVELOPMENT OCCURS AND WE COLLECT THE FEES WHAT MIGHT DO IS REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF BOND WE HAVE TO ISSUE. FOR EXAMPLE IF WE HAD TO ISSUE A $10 MILLION BOND OR $2 MILLION IN FEES TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF BOND WE BEEN ISSUED.

>> PAYING OFF THE BONDS WOULD BE UNDER A CURRENT STRUCTURE?

IT IS ALL SET, RIGHT? >> YES. WHAT WERE TRYING TO DO IS ALLOW US TO ISSUE THE DEBT WITHOUT RAISING RATE

AGAIN. >> CONFIRMING WE ARE GOOD.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ABOUT WASTEWATER? WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:33 ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST WITH THE WATER SEWAGE READ CHANGE PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM. SEEING NO MOTION WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:34.

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. AL

>> ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE. THE

[14. NEW BUSINESS]

COUNCILLOR WORRELL. >> MOVED TO INTRODUCE.

>> IS THERE A SECOND? >> THANK YOU. KEVIN RIDER

PLEASE REMOVE THE SYNOPSIS. >> SETS THE MONTHLY RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE REMOVAL AND RECYCLING RATE FOR THE CITY OF CARMEL FROM JANUARY 1, 2024 TO

DECEMBER 31, 2030. >> VERY GOOD. I AM GOING TO HAVE DIRECTOR DUFFY TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND FILL US IN ON

THIS. >> THANK YOU COUNCILOR JEFF

[00:35:01]

THE PROGRAM REQUIRED THE THE COUNCIL ADOPT A NEW RATE SO AS THE ORDINANCE THAT IS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. I WILL SAY WITH REGARDS TO REPUBLIC THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PERFECT. TRASH BUSINESS IS A TOUGH BUSINESS BUT THEY HAVE BEEN A GOOD PARTNER, I THINK. I DON'T SEE ANY REASON THAT WOULD NOT CONTINUE. THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN RESPONSIVE TO PROBLEMS. I THINK OVERALL THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN A SUCCESS. AS FAR AS RATES WERE CONCERNED. THE OTHER THING THAT WAS OCCURRING PRIOR TO 2012 IS ON MANY DAYS THERE WERE TWO IF NOT THREE DIFFERENT TRASH COMPANIES WHICH WAS AN IMPACT TO THE ROADS.

I'M READY TO MOVE ON AND DO ANOTHER SEVEN-YEAR CONTRACT WITH REPUBLIC AND KEEP IT GOING.

>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I DID ALERT THE COUNCIL THAT WE WOULD DO THE WORK FROM THE DAIS AND IT WOULD NOT GO TO COMMITTEE.

NOW IS YOUR TIME TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. COUNCILOR

TONY GREEN? >> COULD YOU GO THROUGH THE

DIFFERENCE IN THE RATE? >> SURE.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL YOU CAN SEE THAT BUT FOR YEAR ONE REPUBLIC WAS $14.45 PER MONTH AND THIS IS THERE BID AMOUNT.

PRIORITY WASTE INTO ZIONSVILLE WERE AT $16.85 IN BASELINE WAS THAT $1.75. IN YEAR TWO ALL THE WAY THROUGH YEAR SEVEN REPUBLIC HAS A 4.5 PERCENT ESCALATOR. YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAY OUT TO YOUR SEVEN THEY WERE THE CHEAPEST OF THE THREE BIDS.

IT'S $13.33 AND THAT INCLUDES I DIDN'T SAY EARLIER BUT THAT INCLUDES $0.25 FOR THE UTILITY. REPUBLIC PRICE IS ACTUALLY

$13.06 BUT WE ADDED ON $0.25. >> OKAY, COUNCILOR TIM HANNON?

>> AGAIN THANK YOU FOR THE STUDY AND ONE THING WE DISCUSSED AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE WATER DISCUSSION WAS A LOT OF THE PORTSIDE AND ULTIMATELY CONSOLIDATING ALL THE UTILITIES TO BE WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.

AND SO, CONGRATS TO BOTH THE MAYOR AND COUNCILOR FOR DOING THAT AND FOR DIRECTOR DUFFY. I THINK ON THIS AS WELL I KNOW ON A LOT OF OTHER CITIES THERE'S A RAGTAG BUNCH OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT AS HE SAID TRASH TRUCKS ON THE CITY AT ANY GIVEN TIME SO NOT ONLY IS IT LOWER BY IDIOT LIKE THIS IT'S JUST LESS TRAFFIC OUT THERE. THE ONLY THING I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE CITY DEPARTMENTS TO DO IS I THINK THE ISSUE ON RECYCLING IS NOT A REPUBLIC ISSUE IT IS REALLY AN EDUCATIONAL THING CONSUMERS. IT'S VERY CONVENIENT TO HAVE MIXED RECYCLING BUT ALSO VERY EFFICIENT OR INEFFICIENT SO I THINK BETTER EDUCATION BY THE UTILITIES AND OTHER MECHANISMS AS WELL AS HOW WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT IN TERMS OF THE RECYCLING PERCENTAGE. AND AGAIN I AM AS GUILTY AS ANYONE

[00:40:02]

>> I WILL AGREE AND ADDING TO REPUBLIC'S CONTRACT THEY HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO BETTER EDUCATION. THEIR NEXT CONTRACT WILL BE $10,000 PER YEAR. THE INTENT IS TO THE EDUCATION FOR RECYCLING FOR SURE. WE WILL PARTICIPATE AS A UTILITY BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR A PART OF THAT.

>> COUNCILOR ADAM AASEN. >> THANK YOU. I REMEMBER SEVEN YEARS AGO WASN'T ON THE COUNCIL BUT I WAS A REPORTER AND WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF PEOPLE HAVING TO CHANGE THIS SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE THE END OF THE WORLD THEY DIDN'T GET TO KEEP THEIR TRASH COMPANY. I REMEMBER THE CALLS AND EMAILS THE WAY THEY THOUGHT WOULD BASICALLY THROW TRASH ON THEIR LAWN IT WAS GOING TO BE SO TERRIBLE. SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE I REMEMBER ASKING THEM YEARS LATER HOW IS REPUBLIC? THEY BEGRUDGINGLY SAID REPUBLIC IS PRETTY GOOD. SO WE DON'T HEAR THE COMPLAINTS FROM THE SAME PEOPLE. I THINK IT A PROGRAM THAT HAS WORKED AND NOT ONLY HAS SAVED TAXPAYERS MONEY BUT REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES ON THE STREET, THE NUMBER OF NOISE WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO SLEEP IN ONE DAY AND CARBON EMISSIONS. THERE ARE SO MANY BENEFITS. I DO HAVE A CONFIRMATION THIS RATE IS THE SAME SERVICE THAT THE HOUSEHOLD

RECEIVED RIGHT NOW, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT IT'S

ESSENTIALLY THE SAME PROGRAM. >> OKAY. ASK ANYONE ELSE? I'M GOING TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO CONFIRM AND I PROMISE OUR SENIORS I WOULD DO IT ON CAMERA THERE IS THE ABILITY FOR REPUBLIC TO PULL A DUMPSTER TO THE CURB FOR SOME OF OUR SENIORS WHO I THINK ARRANGE FOR THAT IN ADVANCE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO BROADCAST THAT WERE NOT BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL RESIDENT WHO REACHED OUT TO ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THEY CALL THE UTILITY

DIRECTLY. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. AND ALSO TO THE FORETHOUGHT, COUNCILOR SUE FINKAM KNOWS ALL ABOUT THIS BUT THE FORETHOUGHT OF TRYING TO REACH THE CARMEL ACTION PLAN AS WELL AS WORKING ON THE ENVIRONMENT THERE WAS A SECONDARY BID THAT WENT OUT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRUCKS AND RIGHT NOW REPUBLIC IS USING ALL COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS THAT'S BETTER THAN DIESEL BUT I THINK YOU DETERMINED AND OTHER DETERMINED THAT DID NOT MAKE SENSE. IT MAY HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE BUT IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE RIGHT NOW.

>> CORRECT. WE DID ASK FOR THE RESPECTIVE DEBTORS TO SUBMIT THEIR PROPOSAL TO GO TO EV AND REPUBLIC WAS THE ONLY COMPANY THAT DID THAT. REPUBLIC DOES HAVE A COMPANYWIDE THEY ARE LOOKING TO GO TO EV BUT THEY ARE NOT THERE YET. THE PRICE WOULD HAVE BEEN IT WAS $4.73 MORE PER MONTH AND WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE UNTIL 2028. 2026 2028. IT WOULD'VE STARTED IN 2026 BUT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED UNTIL 28.

THE THOUGHT WAS THAT WHILE WE SUPPORT EV IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE OF A COST THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD RIGHT AWAY.

>> RIGHTFULLY SO. I REMEMBER MAYOR ELECT INCOME AGREED WITH THAT AND AGREED IT WAS NOT RIGHT TO DO THAT TO RATEPAYERS AND I AGREE WITH THAT. THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO DECAY POINT THAT I BELIEVE EVERY MUNICIPALITY IN HAMILTON COUNTY HAS A UNIFIED TRASH SERVICE OR AT LEAST HAS I THINK FISHERS IS STILL WORKING ON THEIRS. THAT TO ME SOLIDIFIES THE WISDOM OF MAKING THIS ALL HAPPEN IN 2012.

>> I THINK WE HAVE WATER, SEWER UTILITY AND A BUILDING OPERATION AND IT MADE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE TO DO THAT FOR THE

CITY IN A LOT OF WAYS. >> OKAY ARE THERE ANY OTHER

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. >> MR. PRESIDENT? MAY WE

[00:45:03]

>> SECOND. >> VERY GOOD IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON SUSPENDING THE RULES? PLEASE VOTE. THAT

MOTION CARRIES. >> MOVED TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? PLEASE VOTE. OKAY THAT MOTION ALSO CARRIES AND THERE ARE NO ADD-ON ITEMS. IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE BODY?

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.