[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[2. AGENDA APPROVAL]
[00:00:18]
THE CARMEL CITY COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY 19, 2024. TO ORDER.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA?
>> REPORTER: MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT. DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE. WE HAVE A VOTE OF 9-0 ACCEPTING THE AGENDA. MOVE ON. INVOCATION . CAN I ASK PASTOR BEN SNYDER FROM THE, FRIENDS AND CHURCH TO TAKE THE PODIUM ? PLEASE LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION.
>> THANK YOUFOR HAVING ME. PLEASE JOIN ME IN ASSUMING AN ATTITUDE OF PRAYER. I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE CARMEL CITY COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 1920 23 -- LORD AS WE GATHER TODAY WE PRAY YOU WOULD BE MINDFUL OF OUR SPIRIT IN YOUR MIDST. HELP US TO LOOK TO YOUR WORD, TO SEE YOUR EXAMPLE AND EVERYTHING WE DO IN OUR LIVES. HELP US TO DO JUSTICE, TO LOVE MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOU. WE PRAY A SPECIAL BLESSING FOR THOSE WHO SERVE THE CITY, PROTECT US AND TAKE CARE OF US AND SEE TO OUR NEEDS. KEEP US MINDFUL OF THOSE NOT IN OUR MIDST, THOSE WERE LESS FORTUNATE. FOR THIS AND ALL THINGS WE GIVE YOU PRAISE AND ASK IT IN YOUR HOLY NAME, AMEN.
HAVE A GREAT MEETING. >> THANK YOU, PASTOR. NOW COULD EVERYONE PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? MIRA WILL
BE LEADING THAT FOR US. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER FIVE
[5. RECOGNITION OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUTSTANDING CITIZENS]
ON THE AGENDA, RECOGNITION OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUTSTANDING CITIZENS. TONIGHT, WE ARE HERE TO HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO TOSWEAR IN FIVE NEW. >> GOOD EVENING. I AM EXCITED TO BELIEVE FIGHT -- BRING FIVE NEW POLICE OFFICERS TO YOU.
THERE ARE VERY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO BRING A LOT OF GOOD ENERGY AND DO A GREAT JOB OF POLICE WORK AND BEFORE I INTRODUCE THEM I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS TONIGHT FOR THEIR HELP IN GIVING THEIR TIME TO HELP US MAKE THIS PROCESS OF HIRING GOOD PEOPLE EASIER FOR US SO IF YOU JUST RAISE YOUR HANDS OR STAND UP . AS I MENTION YOUR NAME PLEASE CONDENSED -- COME AND STAND UP FRONT HERE FOR ME. I HAVE JOHN MITCHELL. JOHN HAS A BACHELORS DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND POLITICAL JUSTICE FROM INDIANA UNIVERSITY. CAYSON ELKIN COMES TO US FROM THE AVON POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE IS A SERGEANT IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD WITH A DEGREE IN CRIMINOLOGY FROM BALL STATE UNIVERSITY. SARAH PETERS COMES TO US FROM FIND A PERFORMANCE MARKETING WITH A BACHELORS DEGREE IN PUBLIC RELATIONS AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS TO PURDUE UNIVERSITY. CARSON JONES. CARSON COMES TO US FROM INDIANA IMPACT SOCCER CLUB. HE GRADUATED FROM GREENFIELD CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AND ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY WHERE HE SERVED UNTIL 2023, AND LANDON KENNEDY.
LANDON COMES TO US FROM DANVILLE, ILLINOIS. HE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN ILLINOIS AND SERVED IN THE 173RD AIRBORNE.
[00:07:11]
OFFICERS AND POLICE FAMILIES WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE, FEEL FREE TO GO AHEAD AND LEAVE, UNLESS YOU GUYS WANT TO STAY BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO LOCK THE DOORS FOR THE NEXT THREE HOURS.[6. RECOGNITION OF PERSONS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL]
, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX, RECOGNITION OF PERSONS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BLUE CARD HERE. A FIRST, ERIC GONZALEZ, IF YOU COULD GO TO THE PODIUM THEN ON DECK, IF WE COULD HAVE RUN OGLE OFF TO THE SIDE, AND WE HAVE SOME SLIDES THAT WERE SENT. AS HER NAME IS CALLED, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM. WE WILL LET YOU GET SET UP BEFORE WE START THE THREE MINUTES. MAKE SURE THE RED LIGHT IS ON, JUST LIKE IT IS. THAT IS TO HELP EVERYONE HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, ESPECIALLY AT HOME OR ON THE RECORDING. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. YOU SEE THE LIGHTS NEXT TO THE PODIUM THERE. THE GREEN, YELLOW, AND RED. THAT WILL START OFF GREEN THEN GO THROUGH THE SEQUENCE TO READ. WHEN YOU GET TO THE RED THAT IS THE END OF THE THREE MINUTES.I'LL LET YOU FINISH YOUR SENTENCE BUT ANYTHING MORE THAN A SENTENCE I WILL SIGNAL TO JESSICA TO GET RID OF THAT RED LIGHT WHICH MEANS NO ONE WILL HEAR YOU, SO WE TRY TO GIVE EVERYONE EQUALLY THREE MINUTES AND I THINK WE ARE READY TO GO. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING. AND ERIC BAYLESS, 71. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF CARMEL SINCE 2010.
WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF I WERE TO TELL YOU WE HAVE SEVERAL ROUNDABOUTS IN THE CITY WHERE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE A LEFT-HANDED TURN. ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE
[00:10:17]
ROUNDABOUTS ON HAZEL DELL PARKWAY, MAIN STREET ON 126. TAKE A LOOK AT THE STRONG IMAGERY AND THINK IF YOU ARE PROCEEDING NORTH ON HAZEL PARKWAY HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A LEGAL LEFT TURN, AND WHEN YOU DO SO, TAKE A LOOK AT THE SOLID WHITE LINE, THE DASHED WHITE LINE ON THE HOOK INSIDE THE ROUNDABOUT. HERE'S WHAT THE BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES MANUAL SAYS ABOUT MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN . NUMBER ONE, DO NOT CROSS THE SOLID WHITE LINE. YOU CAN CROSS THE DASHED WHITE LINE BUT YOU NEED TO SIGNAL BEFORE DOING SO. YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT LANE YOU NEED TO BE IN PRIOR TO ENTERING THE ROUNDABOUT, AND FINALLY, FOLLOW THE APPROPRIATE SIGNS AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS. I REACH OUT TO A NUMBER OF EXPERTS ON THIS QUESTION TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY SAID AND HERE'S WHAT THEY TOLD ME. THE MANAGER AT THE BMV IN CARMEL SET I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO DO THAT. THE CARMEL ENGINEERING WAS VERY GREAT WITH ME. THEY SENT ME THIS DIAGRAM AND THEY SAID HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT. YOU'RE GOING TO PROCEED NORTH ON HAZEL DELL PARKWAY LEFT LANE AND BLUE AND WHEN YOU GET TO THE TOP YOU'RE GOING TO SPIRAL OVER SO YOU ARE SAFELY TO THE WEST AND I SAID ISN'T THAT A LANE CHANGE AND THEY SAID NO. I SAID I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE SO I WINCHED UP TO SEVERAL MEMBERS OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.HERE'S WHAT THEY TOLD ME. THEY SAID FORGET ABOUT THAT SPIRALING THING. WE WANT YOU TO GO NORTHBOUND IN THE LEFT LANE, LAY NUMBER TWO AND HAZEL DELL PARKWAY. HUG THE INSIDE AND SAFELY EXIT THROUGH THE ROUNDABOUT. I SAID WHAT ABOUT THAT HOOK PAVEMENT SIGN? I WAS TOLD IGNORE THAT, SO I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED. SO MY RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT IN SUMMARY, I THINK THERE IS CONFUSION ON HOW TO NEGOTIATE THESE ROUNDABOUTS. SHOULD THERE BE SOME TERRIBLE ACCIDENT I FEAR THERE COULD BE A LARGE LEGAL LIABILITY FOR THE CITY.
MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE FOR THE COUNCIL TO MAKE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS CARMEL ENGINEERING, MEMBERS OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, CONCERNED CITIZENS, HAPPY TO VOLUNTEER TO COME UP WITH SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND A PATH FORWARD AND THAT IS IT, THANK
YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. PLEASE KEEP THE -- NO PUBLIC DISPLAY OF NOISE.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. YEAH, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IWAS GOING WITH THAT, BUT -- THAT'S ALL RIGHT. RUN OGLE AND THEN ON DECK WILL BE NICK KOESTER OR KETTNER.
>> I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 2003 AND LOVE THE ROUNDABOUTS BY THE WAY, BUT I DO HAVE A ROUNDABOUT QUESTION. YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE 20-MILE-PER-HOUR THING COMING UP HERE FOR MY NEW ORDINANCE, AND MY QUESTION IS, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ENFORCE IT? I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY WAY TO ENFORCE IT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP WHEN YOU USE A RADAR GUN YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET THE TRUE SPEED BECAUSE YOU ARE AT AN ANGLE. ALWAYS GOING AROUND THE CIRCLE, SO THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS SPEND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO TELL THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CHANGE SOME SIGNS FROM YELLOW TO WHITE AND THERE'S NO REASON FOR THIS CHANGE SO I THINK YOU'RE JUST GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY FOR NO REASON. WHICH DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. THE OTHER THING IS, YOU ARE BE -- GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS THING CALLED ANDREW PUD COMING UP HERE. I THINK IT'S 31 UNITS OFF OF 106 STREET. THEY ARE GOING TO BRING THIS IN AND CHARGE BETWEEN 707 HUNDRED AND $50,000 FOR HOUSE BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MATERIALS THEY'RE GOING TO USE, TO ME, THEY ARE INFERIOR. MOST OF THE SINGLE -- SENIORS WANT TO MOVE TO A SINGLE UNIT. WE ARE TALKING VINYL SIDING, VINYL WINDOWS. TO ME, THIS IS CHEAP. I'M NOT FAULTING POULTRY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE MONEY BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD ENFORCE THE STANDARDS WE USE FOR CARMEL AND REQUIRE GOOD QUALITY WORKMANSHIP. I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT A HOUSE MYSELF FOR DOING THIS STUFF. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HEARD OF NET ZERO HOUSES BUT BASICALLY ZERO DOLLARS FOR UTILITIES, AND THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK WOULD BE BETTER OF CARMEL IS TO PUSH TOWARD WOOD HOUSING, HOUSING USING LIKE TO BUY SIXES FOR WALLS, BETTER INSULATION, LESS COST, USING ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES, ENERGY STAR WINDOWS AND THINGS INSTEAD OF GOING CHEAP. THAT IS ALL I SEE IS THAT THIS IS GOING CHEAP AND WHEN YOU GO TO THE HOUSING ADDITION BEHIND IT THAT YOU'E GOING TO CONNECT TO, TOTALLY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS
[00:15:02]
GOOD QUALITY, CARMEL HOUSING YOU'RE GOING TO CONNECT TO AND THE STAFF HERE IS JUST NOT GOOD. NOT GOOD FOR CARMEL, NOT GOOD FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS. THEY'RE GOING TO SELL THEIR HOUSE FOR $700,000 AND BUY A NEW HOUSE FOR $700,000. VINYL WINDOWS. IN 15 YEARS THOSETHINGS WON'T EVEN WORK SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> NEXT UP , NICK KOESTER , AND IF YOU COULD, SAY YOUR NAME. I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID THAT ORIGINALLY BUT PLEASE STATE
YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU GO. >> OKAY, NICK KESSLER. LONG TIME RESIDENT OF CARMEL. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS EVENING. I SERVED ON THE PLAIN COMMISSION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND TWICE I VOTED FOR THE ARC IMPACT FEE THINKING THAT THE MONEY WAS GOING TO GO TO PARKS AND NOT TO THE CRC. SO, I APPLAUD THE COUNSEL FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE SO FAR IN MAKING THE FUNDS MORE TRANSPARENT. AND, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR PARKS. THE COUNCIL HAS NOT SUPPORTED PARKS WILL STRONGLY IN THE AST. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT. AS A REMINDER , IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE TOWNSHIP MONEY, WE WOULD NOT HAVE MANY PARKS AT ALL. IT IS NOT THE CITY. IT HAS BEEN THE TOWNSHIPS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY ME MORE -- BE MORE INVOLVED IN THIS. AGAIN THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HARD WORK. >> THANK YOU. MARK WESTERMEYER
UP PLEASE, THEN BEST MYERS, YOU WILL BE ON DECK. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HARD WORK YOU DID ON THE ORDINANCE CC 01282401 AND I'M HERE TO FULLY SUPPORT THAT AND I ALSO RECOGNIZE MANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WERE INVOLVED IN THAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. I HOPE IT GETS PASSED TONIGHT. I THINK IT IS SOMETHING SORELY NEEDED. ONE ADDITIONAL ITEM WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS ON AND OFF IS LONG-TERM FUNDING OF THE CARMEL PARKS DEPARTMENT. IMPACT FEES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THE PLAN, AND IT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL AS WE HAVE BUILT OUT THE PARK SYSTEM OVER THE YEARS, BUT WE NEED A LOT MORE. WITH TOWNSHIP MONEY GOING AWAY, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE TOWNSHIP IN THE PARKS BOARD WORK TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A GOOD PLAN THAT SUPPORTS THE SYSTEM FOR THE FUTURE. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU ALL.
>> HI, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS BETH MEYERS. I AM A MEMBER OF THE CARMEL PARKS FOUNDATION BUT TODAY, I AM SPEAKING TO ON A PERSONAL LEVEL REGARDING THE PARK IMPACT FEE. FIRST OF ALL, I KNOW OUR NEW MAYOR HAS TRANSPARENCY IN HER NEW ADMINISTRATION. I THINK THIS IMPACT FEE FALLS UNDER THAT CATEGORY AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE CHECKS AND BALANCES AS FAR AS THAT GOES. ALSO, I HAVE LIVED IN DOWNTOWN CARMEL FOR 10 YEARS. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. I LOVE ALL OF THE AMENITIES. I USE ALL OF THE PARKS. THEY ARE WONDERFUL. WE HAVE SO MANY OF THEM AND THEY ARE HIDDEN GEMS, BUT IN THAT REGARD, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY NOT TWO SEPARATE FUNDS, BUT IS -- I THINK ABOUT THE ONLY PERSON WHO USES ALL OF THE PARKS AMENITIES. I DON'T THINK WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE TWO SEPARATE ACCOUNTS FOR URBAN VERSUS SUBURBAN. ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I
APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK. >> THANKS. PAM DUTCHER IS UP.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I AM DAN DUTCHER, 11583 SUTTON PLACE DRIVE EAST IN CARMEL. I AM AN ADDITIONAL FORMER PARKS BOARD AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER CURRENTLY SERVING WITH THE PARKS FOUNDATION. APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES WITH THAT GROUP
[00:20:05]
SHOWING UP TONIGHT. I ALSO NOTE THE ETHICS BOARD IS REPORTING ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT. I'M A FORMER CHAIR OF THAT GROUP, TOO, SO GOOD TO SEE THEY ARE STILL IN BUSINESS. I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION YOU ARE CONSIDERING TONIGHT RELATED TO THE PARKS IMPACT FEE . I WAS REALLY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOTH OF THE MEETINGS , THE LAND-USE AND SPECIAL STUDIES COMMITTEE. I WANT TO COMPLEMENT THE MEMBERS OF THAT GROUP. THOSE FOLKS REALLY DUG IN , ASKED HARD QUESTIONS, I THINK BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO GET ALL DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. THEY EVEN ALLOWED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK. I DON'T THINK THAT WAS NECESSARY BUT IT WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED. I THINK THE RESOLUTION THAT CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING IS A GREAT RESPONSE TO WHAT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE IS A COMPLICATED AND CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE . THERE ARE TWO REASONS WHY I SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME. I THINK THE FIRST IS THAT THE RESOLUTION CALLS FOR GREATER COOPERATIONS BETWEEN THE FOLKS AT CRC AND CLAY PARKS. THAT MAY SEEM LIKE LOW HANGING FRUIT BUT IT SEEMS REASONABLE . THE SECOND REASON WHY I FEEL THE RESOLUTION IS A GREAT RECOMMENDATION IS BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, IT PUTS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO APPROVE THE USE OF IMPACT FEES WITH YOU, THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. ULTIMATELY, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE RESOURCES. SOMETIMES VERY SCARCE RESOURCES THAT THE CITY HAS, AND TO ASSURE THAT THOSE ARE USED IN THE INTEREST OF THE GREATER COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT IS YOUR ROLE AND I THINK YOU TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND WHAT I SEE WITH THIS RESOLUTION IS A COMMITMENT TO DOING THAT WHEN IT COMES TO HOW PARK IMPACT FEES ULTIMATELY WILL BE USED. WE ALL KNOW PARK RESOURCES ARE POPULAR. THERE IS A DEMAND FOR MORE BUT ULTIMATELY THOSE RESOURCES ARE SCARCE AND HOW THAT MONEY IS DIVIDED IS AND ALWAYS GOING TO BE EASY, BUT I THINK THE RESOLUTION, PUTTING THE ULTIMATE SAY INTO YOUR HANDS, I THINK IS A GREAT APPROACH TO TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IN MOVING FORWARD. AGAIN I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANKS FOR TAKING ON THIS ISSUE AND THANKS FOR THECONSIDERATIONOF THE RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT, IT MIGHT BE A FAMILY THING. WE HAVE BABETTE AND ANNIKA , SO WHOEVER WANTS TO GO FIRST.
>> I AM A LONG-TERM RESIDENT OF CARMEL, OVER A DECADE AT THIS POINT, AND I AM HERE TO CONVEY MY APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT FOR THE RESOLUTION 01082401 AND ITS IMPACT ON INCREASED TRANSPARENCY FOR COLLECTING AND SPENDING IMPACT FEES. I HAVE SERVED ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR DEER CREEK PARK AS WELL AS WESTPARK IN THE PAST. I'VE HELD ORGANIZED STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS FOR MOTHERS, STUDENTS, AND OTHER MULTILINGUAL, MULTICULTURAL GROUPS LIVING IN NORTHWEST CARMEL AS PART OF THAT PROCESS. OUR FAMILY IS CLOSE TO WESTPARK AND BEAR CREEK PARK AND WE HAVE BEEN DELIGHTED AT HOW OUR INPUT WAS TAKEN AND USED FOR WESTPARK AND WE ARE EAGER FOR THAT SAME THING TO HAPPEN FOR BEAR CREEK PARK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE OBVIOUSLY ENJOY ALL THE GREAT AMENITIES PARKS AND RECREATION'S HAVE TO OFFER INCLUDING COMMUNITY CENTER, WESTON MY PLAYGROUND, WESTPARK AND SO MANY OTHERS BUT WITH THE GROWING POPULATION ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE CITY, WE REALLY NEED BEAR CREEK PARK. IT IS A KEY COMPONENT OF ENSURING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO FULFILL THOSE UNMET NEEDS FOR THAT PART OF THE CITY. AS A LONGTIME RESIDENT, USER AND SUPPORTER OF CARMEL CREEK PARKS AND REC SAY URGE THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION AND ASSURE THE IMPACT FEES THAT ARE COLLECTED ARE SOLELY USED FOR PARKS AND RACKS, WHICH IS REALLY ONE OF THE GREATEST ASSETS OF THE CITY. WE LOVE THE CITY, WE LOVE THE STAFF, WE LOVE THE CURRENT OFFERINGS. THERE IS A REASON THEY HAVE BEEN GOLD-MEDAL WINNERS TWICE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE THAT HIGH QUALITY OF OFFERINGS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS IN OUR FUTURE
GENERATION HAS SOMETHING TO SAY. >> MY NAME IS LIVE IN NORTHWEST CARMEL AND I HAVE LOTS OF FUN HERE. CAN YOU PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE MONEY COLLECTED GOES TO THE PARK . WE HAVE LOTS OF IDEAS FOR THE PARK AND I WANT TO SEE
[00:25:06]
THEM HAPPEN. WE NEED MORE PARKS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO NUMBER SEVEN,[7. COUNCIL AND MAYORAL COMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS]
COUNCIL AND MAYORAL COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. WE HAVE THE HONOR OF HOSTING CUB SCOUT TROOPS, PACK 123 TODAY , AND MOST OF THEM ARE LEFT. WE DO HAVE ONE, JAKE. HE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS, ONE ABOUT I SEE A LOT OF APARTMENTS COMING AROUND AND WHAT IS THAT GOING TO MEAN FOR THE SCHOOLS? THESE ARE TOUGH QUESTIONS COMING FROM FIFTH-GRADERS. I THINK MY FAVORITE QUESTION THEY ASKED TODAY WAS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO STOP FRAUD, ABUSE, AND WASTE IN OUR CITY SO THE NEXT GENERATION IS IN GOOD HANDS. THEY'RE ASKING US TOUGH QUESTIONS. THANKS TO COUNCILMAN TAYLOR MINARD AND JOE SCHIEFFER HELPING ME ANSWER THE QUESTIONS TODAY. I APPRECIATE YOU STICKING AROUND.
HAVE TWO CIVILITY EVENTS COMING UP. WE HAD A GREAT EVENT IN JANUARY AT THE CARMEL CLAY LIBRARY. THE NEXT ONE WILL BE ON THE WEST SIDE OF CARMEL . THE VILLAGE OF WEST CLAY, MARCH 6, 6:00 IN THE MEETINGHOUSE. WE WILL BE THERE. ALEXANDER HUDSON, WHO WAS WITH US FOR THE FIRST EVENT, WILL COME BACK THEN WE HAVE A SECOND EVENT IN FISHER. FISHER, INDIANA HAS NOW DECIDED THEY ARE GOING TO FOLLOW OUR LEAD, AND THEY ARE CREATING THEIR OWN CIVILITY MOVEMENT AND THAT WILL BE ON THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY, SO MARCH 13TH AT THE KNOWLEDGE CENTER, WHICH IS THE OLD MARSH HEADQUARTERS THERE RIGHT OFF OF 69, SO YOU WILL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT THIS IN EMAILS AND NOTICES THAT WILL BE COMING UP SOON BUT MARCH 6 AT THE VILLAGE
OF WEST CLAY. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR OBSERVATIONS?
>> ONE THING THE COUNCIL IS TRYING TO DO IS EVERY TIME WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT, TO INTRODUCE THE PERSON WE APPOINT. LAST TIME, A MEMBER WE APPOINTED WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE BUT TONIGHT SHE IS. SIERRA WALDRON, CAN YOU STAND? THIS WAS OUR APPOINTEE TO THE CITY COUNCIL TAKING THE DEMOCRAT POSITION. SHE IS AN INSURANCE ATTORNEY AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR SERVICE, THANK YOU. MAYOR.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MIRA AND I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AT TRACE ELEMENTARY AND I WILL BE GIVING THE MAYORS UPDATE TONIGHT. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TWO NEW TEAM MEMBERS.
CHRISTIAN CHAMBERLAIN IS OUR NEW DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF. IT COMES TO CARMEL AFTER SERVING IN THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNMENT -- GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR MANY YEARS. ALSO, MARY JO ROSEN BUSH JOINS US TODAY AS AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IN THE MAYORS OFFICE. SHE WILL SUPPORT OUR ENTIRE EXECUTIVE TEAM AND HELP THE OFFICE BE BOTH EFFICIENT AND RESPONSIVE. SHE SERVED A SIMILAR ROLE IN LAWRENCE FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THEM BOTH. ALSO, AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, WE HIRED CAPTAIN DRAKE STIRLING FROM ZIONSVILLE IS OUR NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR MARCH 12 SWEARING-IN AT 6:30 P.M. LASTLY, WE WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY TO COMPLETE OUR COMMUNITY SURVEY. IF ANYONE NEEDS A PRINTED COPY TO COMPLETE, PLEASE CONTACT THE MAYORS OFFICE. THANK YOU.
>> YOU DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB. YOU ARE HIRED. I JUST WANTED TO ADD A SPECIAL NOTE OF THANKS FOR WORKING THROUGH THE PARK IMPACT USE IT DISCUSSION. I THINK IT'S COME TO EAT GOOD RESOLUTION SO FAR, SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT AND ALSO, I HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING OUR FIFTH GRADE REPORTS BECAUSE I THINK THE KIDS ARE REALLY, AS YOU CAN SEE, AS ADAM MENTIONED, OUR FUTURE IS IN GREAT HANDS. THE KIDS ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB AND HOPEFULLY THEY'RE GOOD TO GO BACK TO THE CLASSROOM AND SAY WHAT A GREAT TIME THEY HAD AND ALL THE PEOPLE THEY GET TO MEET. THANK YOU FOR BEING TONIGHT HERE, YOU DID A
[8. CONSENT AGENDA]
WONDERFUL JOB. >> THANK YOU. >> MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER
[00:30:04]
EIGHT , CONSENT AGENDA. THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 5TH, 2024, REGULAR MEETING AND CLAIMS FOR PAYROLL IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,870,519.67, GENERAL CLAIMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,539,889.93. RETIREMENT IS $110,204.16 AND FOR WIRE TRANSFERS, SEVEN THAT MILLION-- $7,000,497.44. >> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> ANY DISCUSSION?
>> PLEASE VOTE. ALL RIGHT, BUT THE VOTE IS 9-0. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER NINE, ACTION ON
[10. COMMITTEE REPORTS]
MAYORAL VETOES. THERE ARE NONE. ITEM NUMBER 10, COMMITTEE REPORTS, FINANCE, UTILITIES,AND RULES. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE DID REARDING THE FIRST ITEM THAT WAS ON OUR AGENDA, AND THAT WAS THE SPEED LIMIT ORDINANCE WITH FINANCE COMMITTEE. WE MET ON FEBRUARY 8TH, AND WERE LOOKING AT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN ROUNDABOUTS. THE CURRENT AND CARMEL DID AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE TO TRY TO EXPLAIN IT AND I'M GLAD MR. OGLE IS HERE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO SPEND A MINUTE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE ARRIVED AT FROM THE COMMITTEE STANDPOINT, BECAUSE YOU ARE CORRECT. CONTROLLING SPEED IN A ROUNDABOUT DOES NOT MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE. WHAT WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS THE ENTRY IN THE EXIT ZONES WHICH WERE ABOUT 250 FEET GOING IN AND 250 FEET GOING OUT. THOSE ARE AREAS WHERE THE CROSSWALK EXISTS FAIRLY CLOSE TO THE ROUNDABOUT, AND WHERE, AS WE FOUND OUT IN A SURVEY THAT WE DISCUSSED, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO FEEL UNSAFE IN THOSE AREAS. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON. WE DID REVIEW THE SURVEY THAT WAS TAKEN FROM 1300 RESIDENTS THAT PARTICIPATED. WE HEARD FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING ENFORCEMENT, FINDING THAT THEY CAN ENFORCE THAT STRAIGHTAWAY ZONE. CITY ENGINEERING, WITH THEIR THOUGHTS. WE HEARD FROM OUR CARMEL TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATOR. WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE SAFETY LEADER FOR THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AND WE TOOK PUBLIC COMMENT AND WERE PRESENTED WITH THREE RING DOORBELL VIDEOS FROM SOMEONE WHO LIVES NEAR A ROUNDABOUT AND SEE SOME INTERESTING THINGS. SO, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW IS FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT OUR MEETING WE ORIGINALLY HAD SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 12, I'M GOING TO POSTPONE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE MUCH BIGGER FISH TO FRY THAT NIGHT, AS THE MAYOR WILL BE SWEARING IN OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF, SO I'M GOING TO POSTPONE THAT, BUT WE ARE LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK ON THE FOLLOWING PROPOSAL, AND THAT IS TO GRANT TO THE CITY ENGINEER THE AUTHORITY, WHEN A COUNSELOR OR CITIZENS REPORT THAT THERE IS A ROUNDABOUT THAT THEY THINK NEEDS SOME KIND OF SPEED CONTROL, THE CIT ENGINEER WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY THE ROUNDABOUT, TO LOOK AT IT AND DETERMINE, AS WE DO IN TWO OTHER AREAS, WE WOULD BE USING THE SAME MECHANISM . THE WAY WE CONTROL PARKING AROUND THE HIGH SCHOOL , THE CITY ENGINEER'S DEEMED IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO DO THAT, THEY WOULD THEN PETITION THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORK FOR THE FUNDING AND PERMISSION TO ACTUALLY SIGN IT. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS IS A PHASED APPROACH WHERE IT IS NOT JUST SPEED. SPEED IS ONE TOOL. IT IS ACTUALLY THE LEAST EXPENSIVE, MAYBE THE LEAST EFFECTIVE. WE ARE HEARING TESTIMONY IN BOTH SIDES OF THAT ISSUE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE RIGHT AWAY IN THIS VERY SPECIFIC METHOD WHERE WE WOULD JUST PICK THE ROUNDABOUTS WHERE THERE ARE ISSUES, NOT TO THE ENTIRE CITY. BUT ALSO, LOOKING AT RAISED CROSSWALKS WHICH THE CITY ENGINEER ALREADY HAS THE RIGHT TO INSTALL THOSE IN RAPID FLASHING BEACONS, WHICH WE KNOW EXIST AROUND CARMEL AND ARE EFFECTIVE. THOSE TWO ITEMS COST $50,000 EACH PER ROUNDABOUT.
THE SIGNAGE IN THE SPEED CONTROL IS $1500, SO THERE IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL WE ARE
[00:35:01]
CONSIDERING AS A COMMITTEE TO PUT IN OUR CITY ENGINEER'S TOOLBOX IN ORDER TO ADDRESS PEOPLE WHO FEEL UNSAFE TRYING TO GET ACROSS EVEN THE ROUNDABOUT THAT WE SAW EARLIER TODAY, LIKE MAINE AND HAZEL DELL. I THINK THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE CAME OUT. IF YOU COULD LET THE COMMITTEE KNOW OR ANY OF YOUR CITY COUNCIL IS KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT, WE ARE HOPING IT WILL PROBABLY BE AFTER MARCH 12TH KNOW THAT WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER MEETING. I'VE ALREADY TOSSED OUT A COUPLE OF DATES SO IF ANYTHING, IT MAY END UP BEING IN APRIL AND I WILL REPORT ON THE OTHER ITEM WHEN IT COMES UP ON YOURAGENDA. >> THANK YOU. LAND-USE AND SPECIAL STUDIES, COUNCILMAN
SNYDER. >> LAND-USE AND SPECIAL STUDIES MET ON WEDNESDAY, THE SEVENTH, TO DISCUSS THE PARKS ORDINANCE MANY PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THIS EVENING. IT WAS AN EXCELLENT MEETING. PLENTY OF PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC,
[11. OTHER REPORTS]
COMMITTEE. WE WILL DISCUSS MORE WHEN WE GET TO THE BUSINESS. >> MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 11. OTHER REPORTS. FIRST WE WILL HAVE THE LIBRARY BOARD AND MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO THE
PODIUM. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW WHO I AM, MY NAME IS CHAO YUAN. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING TO THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES. THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR OF SERVICE AND I MUST SAY, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS , AS A BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEMBER THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR IS OVERSIGHT OF THE LIBRARY, AND THAT JOB HAS BEEN MADE INCREDIBLY EASY. WE HAVE A WORLD-CLASS INSTITUTION IN THE CARMEL CLAY PUBLIC LIBRARY. CURRENTLY, WE ARE LOOKING THROUGH SOME PUNCHLESS ITEMS THAT ARE STILL LINGERING, WORKING THROUGH CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW LIBRARY. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE CONDUCTED RECENTLY, A COMPENSATION STUDY THAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING TO ENSURE THAT OUR CARMEL CLAY PUBLIC LIBRARY EMPLOYEES ARE COMPENSATED NOT JUST FAIRLY BUT IN A WAY THAT IS COMPETITIVE TO THE MARKET AND ADDITIONALLY, ALLOWS US TO RETAIN THOSE EMPLOYEES. ADDITIONALLY, TONIGHT, WE HAVE ELIZABETH HAMILTON, WHO SERVES AS THE CCP ALL FOUNDATION DIRECTOR. BOTH HER AND BOB WORKED DILIGENTLY AND TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A WORLD-CLASS LIBRARY. I CAN GO AHEAD AND SORT THROUGH EVERYTHING ON BOB'S SLIDE BUT I THINK IT PROBABLY COMES BETTER FROM BOB, AND BEFORE I
STEP OFF, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER? >> ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU. >> OKAY, GOOD EVENING. I'M GOING TO GET A PRESENTATION PREPARED HERE. I HAVE SOME VIDEO I AM HOPING SHARE . THANKS TO THE I.T. DEPARTMENT, WHO WAS TROUBLESHOOTING WITH ME EARLIER BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT REALLY WHAT A SUCCESS THE RENOVATED LIBRARY HAS BEEN. 2023 WAS OUR FIRST FULL YEAR OF OPERATION. EVER SINCE WE RENOVATED -- IT WAS A $40 MILLION RENOVATION AND KNOW THAT WE ARE ALMOST ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT, WE ACTUALLY SPENT JUST UNDER $40 MILLION, SO WE STAYED ON BUDGET. I'M PROUD OF THAT. WE ACHIEVED EVERYTHING WE SET OUT TO ACHIEVE IN THE PROJECT, AND I SHOULD THINK FORMER MAYOR BRAINARD WAS ALREADY -- ALWAYS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE LIBRARY. OUR CURRENT MAYOR WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE AS A COUNCILMEMBER OF THE , COUNSEL AND REALLY HELP THE LIBRARY NAVIGATE SOME OF THE WATERS WE NEEDED TO TO MOVE THIS PROJECT ALONG SO I WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR THAT AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR POINTING CHAO YUAN HERE. HE IS A GREAT BOARD MEMBER AND HE HAS BEEN AN ASSET TO THE BOARD AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT HE IS REPRESENTING THIS CARMEL APPOINTMENT VERY WELL. THE RENOVATED LIBRARY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE RECEIVED SOME NATIONAL RECOGNITION AND I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE WORTH SHARING WITH YOU. THE LIBRARY JOURNAL IS A NATIONAL
[00:40:01]
PUBLICATION YOU WILL FIND IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY LIBRARY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. EVERY YEAR, THEY DO A DESIGN SPOTLIGHT AND CARMEL CLAY PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS FEATURED IN THAT DESIGN SPOTLIGHT IN 2023 AND I HAVE UP ON THE SLIDE WHAT THEY PRINTED, AND THAT IS THE PICTURE THEY RAN, SO CREDIT TO OUR DESIGN PARTNER, THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM OF RATIO. WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION IN AMERICAN LIBRARIES AND OTHER NATIONAL PUBLIC -- PUBLICATIONS YOU WILL FIND IN ALL LIBRARIES. ONE OF THE BIG DRIVERS FOR THE RENOVATED LIBRARY IS WE KNEW WE NEEDED A LARGER TEEN AREA. WHAT WE HAD WAS WHAT YOU DESCRIBE AS A BASIC RESIDENTIAL LIVING ROOM, CLEARLY INADEQUATE FOR BEING ESSENTIALLY ON THE SAME CAMPUS IS CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL. SO, WE HAVE A NEW TEEN AREA THAT IS APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES THE SIZE OF WHAT WE HAD BEFORE BUT NOT JUST THAT IT IS LARGER. IT HAS MORE FEATURES TO IT THAN WE HAD BEFORE, INCLUDING DEDICATED STUDY ROOMS FOR TEENS. SOME OF THOSE ARE SOUNDPROOF, SO WE HAVE TEENS THAT CAN COME IN AND PRACTICE ON AN INSTRUMENT. WE HAVE A DEDICATED PROGRAM ROOM, WHICH REACTIVATE MOST DAYS AFTER SCHOOL AND WE CREATED THIS ART STUDIO SPACE AND TEENS HAVE TO APPLY FOR THAT AND WE CAN HOST TWO TO THREE ARTISTS A SEMESTER AND THIS YOUNG WOMAN WAS THE FIRST SEMESTER THAT WE HOSTED. SHE DESIGNS HER OWN CLOTHES. SHE FABRICATED THEM. SHE SCREENPRINTED ON THEM AND THEN SHE WENT TO THE DIGITAL MEDIA LAB AND DID SOME PROFESSIONAL MODELING OF DESIGNING CLOTHES THAT SHE CREATED. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING -- AMAZING. THAT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. EVERY SEMESTER THEY ARE WORKING IN DIFFERENT MEDIUMS AND THERE WAS AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND THEY HAVE A CULMINATING EXPERIENCE THAT INVOLVES THE PUBLIC, SO THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE. I DO HAVE A VIDEO, AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S GOING TO WORK. WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH I.T., WE WERE NOT SURE IF IT WAS GOING TO WORK, BUT IT IS SOME TEENS SPEAKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE ON THE TEEN LIBRARY COUNSEL. WE HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF TEEN VOLUNTEERS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE TEEN LIBRARY COUNSEL AND THAT AGAIN IS SOMETHING THAT A TEEN HAS TO APPLY FOR. THEY HAVE A JOB LIKE INTERVIEW TO BE ON THAT COUNSEL. THEY GET TO HELP THE LIBRARY MAKE COLLECTION DECISIONS, PROGRAMMING DECISIONS AND THEY HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE, SO I HAVE A VIDEO HERE OF SOME TEENS TALKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE. HOPEFULLY IT PLAYS BUT IF NOT,MAYBE I CAN EMAIL IT TO YOU LATER. >> PLC WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST COMMUNITIES I STARTED TO GET TO BE A PART OF IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, SO IT WAS A PLACE I FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAD SOME INTERESTS AS ME.
>> IT HAS BEEN A GOOD SPACE FOR ME TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY BECAUSE CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL IS SO BIG. THIS IS BEEN A GOOD PLACE I CAN CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR INTEREST, MEET SOME PEOPLE THROUGH THE LIBRARY AND ELSEWHERE, AND IT HAS BEEN A GOOD PLACE FOR ME TO
CONNECT WITH NEW BOOKS AND HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH PEOPLE. >> TLC HAS MET AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY CONNECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR INTEREST, BUT IT HAS ALSO BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN MY MIND TO THEIR NEW IDEAS. EVENTS LIKE THE GREEN GIFT SHOP AND THE CULTURE FAIR AND YOU KNOW, I GOT TO MEET SOME REALLY GOOD PEOPLE. CHELSEA HAS MEANT A LOT
TO ME AND THE CONNECTIONS I'VE MADE IN CARMEL. >> OKAY, WE ALSO DO SEE A LOT OF TEENS IN OUR NEW DIGITAL MEDIA LAB SPACE, WHICH HAS JUST REALLY TAKEN OFF. IT WAS ALREADY SUCCESSFUL, WE FELT, WHEN IT WAS A SATELLITE IN DOWNTOWN,, BUT NOW THAT IT IS INCORPORATED BACK INTO THE LIBRARY, AND HAS A LOT MORE FEATURES. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START THIS VIDEO, AND THIS IS MOSTLY JUST VISUAL BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO IT. WE HAVE MORE 3-D PRINTERS. WE HAVE MORE COMMUTER -- COMPUTER STATIONS. WE HAVE TWO DEDICATED RECORDING ROOMS AND IN 2022 WE ROLLED OUT A VIDEO RECORDING ROOM, WHICH IS GOING REALLY WELL. THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS WE PUT ON LAST YEAR. PEOPLE BROUGHT THEIR DOGS TO THE LIBRARY AND GOT A PROFESSIONAL PORTRAIT OF THE DOG , AND OUR DIGITAL MEDIA LAB STAFF HELPED WITH THAT. THAT IS REALLY THE KEY TO WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT THAT SPACE. THE TECH IS REALLY COOL, BUT HOW DO YOU USE IT? WELL, WE HAVE STAFF THERE THAT WILL SIT WITH YOU, TROUBLESHOOT WITH YOU, EXPLAIN HOW TO USE IT. WE OCCASIONALLY DO CLASSES , ALL KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT. COMING UP, I BELIEVE ON MARCH 9, WILL BE OUR 2024 3-D
[00:45:05]
PRINTING EXPO . I HAVE A LITTLE VIDEO RUNNING HERE OF THE 2023 EXPO AND I JUST LOVE THIS VIDEO. YOU CAN SEE HOW INTERGENERATIONAL IT IS WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE OF ALL STRIPES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS AND SOME PEOPLE ARE LEARNING. SOME PEOPLE ARE ALREADY IMMERSED INTO THIS AND AGAIN, OUR STAFF, WE ARE THERE TO HELP YOU LEARN, HELP TROUBLESHOOT, AND THAT REALLY SETS US APART. IT IS NOT A DO-IT-YOURSELF SPACE. WE DO HAVE STAFF THAT CAN BE THERE TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE WHATEVER IT IS YOU CAN DO CREATIVELY IN THAT SPACE, AND 3-D EXPO IS A LOT OF FUN. MARCH 9, CHECK OUT OUR CALENDAR AND SWING BY AND TAKE A LOOK.AGAIN, ALL WALKS OF LIFE THERE, JUST REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE PEOPLE ARE INTERACTING WITH THIS. I HAVE A LATER SLIDE THAT WILL SHOW YOU JUST HOW VISITS TO THE DIGITAL MEDIA LAB REALLY EXPLODED ONCE WE MOVED BACK INTO THE BUILDING. IN AN AVERAGE YEAR, WE MIGHT HAVE SEEN THREE OR 4000 VIDEO VISITS AND NOW IT'S UP IN THE 10,000S. OKAY, I'M GOING TO MOVE ON FROM THAT AND I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THE CHILDREN'S AREA. WHEN WE RENOVATED THAT, THIS IS JUST A PICTURE THAT I ASKED THE STAFF MEMBER, CAN YOU WALK DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE A FEW WEEKS AGO. IT'S AN AVERAGE DAY. IT'S A DESTINATION PART AND IT TOOK SOME ADJUSTING ON OUR PART TO GET USED TO THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE, FAMILIES, IN DROVES EVERY DAY WITH THEIR KIDS, AND THEY ENJOY THE PLAY SPOTS. THEY'RE COMING TO THE STORY TIME AND I SEE A LOT OF MOMS, DADS, CAREGIVERS, GRANDPARENTS SOCIALIZING WITH EACH OTHER. IS JUST THE PLACE TO BE AND IT'S ALWAYS BUSY. IT'S ALWAYS FULL. IT'S ALWAYS FULL OF LIFE AND , WE HAVE THAT TOP DISPLAY SHELF. HONESTLY, OUR ARCHITECTS BUT THAT IN AND I THOUGHT, WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THAT UP THERE, BUT WE'VE REALLY BEEN HAVING SOME JUST INCREDIBLE DISPLAYS . SO, WHEN YOU ARE THERE, JUST CHECK THAT OUT. THERE HAS GENERALLY BEEN A DIFFERENT SIFT SISTER CITY ON DISPLAY AND WHAT WE HAVE NOW MIGHT BE THE ITALIAN CITY. I THINK THIS IS JUST A GREAT CHANGE THAT THE LIBRARY HAS HAD. ONLY SINCE THIS RENOVATION COULD OUTSIDE GROUPS USE THE LIBRARY SPACES. BEFORE, LARGELY DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS, THE LIBRARY WAS ONLY FOR THE LIBRARY TO USE. NOW, WE HAVE OPENED IT UP TO BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS. THERE IS A CHARGE FOR BUSINESSES. WE DON'T CHARGE FOR NONPROFITS. YOU CAN SEE IN 2023 WE DID NOT REALLY ADVERTISE THIS BUT WE HAD 58 BUSINESS RESERVATIONS, 260 NONPROFIT RESERVATIONS AND WE ARE GENERATING SOME REVENUE FROM THE BUSINESS SIDE AND I WENT AND CHECKED IN ON SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES AND SOME OF THEM TOLD ME THIS IS GREAT. THE LOCATION IS GREAT. WE WANT TO COME BACK. THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO HAVE OUR TRAINING FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'S JUST GREAT ON AN AVERAGE DAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FOUR MEDIUM-SIZED SPACES ON THE SECOND FLOOR, AS WELL. ON THE AVERAGE DAY, YOU CAN WALK THROUGH THE LIBRARY AND YOU WILL SEE THE LIBRARY DOING SOMETHING. MAYBE A BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP, MAYBE YOU WILL SEE A BUSINESS DOING TRAINING. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AARP DOING TAX HELP IN ONE OF THE ROOMS. IT IS BUSTLING. IT IS BUSY AND IT IS BEING USED. PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, WE HAVE REALLY STRONG PROGRAMMING NUMBERS , PARTICULARLY THAT TOP LINE ONE FOR ADULTS. AGAIN, WE DID NOT REALLY HAVE SPACE TO DO A LOT OF ADULT PROGRAMMING AND NOW WE DO, AND SO WERE LIBRARIANS OF REALLY TAKEN OFF OF THAT, SO I FEEL LIKE THESE ARE REALLY STRONG NUMBERS , AND MOST OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HOLD , INCLUDING THE CIVILITY PROGRAM THAT COUNCILMEMBER WORRELL PUT ON AT THE LIBRARY, IS EXTREMELY WELL ATTENDED. AND, I SHOULD MENTION THAT WE DO HAVE A HOMEBOUND SERVICE SO IF WE HAVE RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO VISIT THE LIBRARY, THEY CANNOT GET OUT OF THEIR HOME, WE WILL COME TO THEM. WE COME TO THEM AND BRING THEM MATERIALS AND WORK WITH THEM WITH MATERIALS THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ACCESS TO. THIS BLOWS ME AWAY. WE DID ADD ADDITIONAL
[00:50:02]
STUDY ROOMS. THEY HAVE ALREADY ALWAYS BEEN POPULAR. YOU TOTAL THOSE, WE HAVE OVER 30,000 RESERVATIONS FOR STUDY ROOMS IN 2023. THAT IS AMAZING, AND THE CHANGE THAT WE MADE , IT HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER TO GET A STUDY ROOM. YOU CAN GO ON OUR WEBSITE WITH YOUR LIBRARY CARD, RESERVE A ROOM, CHOOSE YOUR TIME, CHOOSE YOUR ROOM. YOU'LL GET A CODE. THERE IS A KEYPAD ON THE DOOR FOR ALL OF THESE STUDY ROOMS. YOU ENTER YOUR CODING YOU ARE GOOD TO GO. IN THE MOST CASES, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ABLE TO ACCESS THESE ROOMS WITH NO STAFF INTERVENTION. SOME OTHER INDICATIONS OF HOW BUSY WE ARE, OVER 70,000 REFERENCE QUESTIONS, OVER 80,000 DIRECTIONAL. A STAY IS FINALS WEEK AT CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN BUSY WITH THAT, BUT NOT LIKE THIS. AND, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS STILL HERE. I DON'T THINK THEY WERE ALL IN THE BUILDING AT THE SAME TIME, BUT THAT IS A LOT OF KIDS THAT CAME THROUGH ON THOSE THREE DAYS, AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO REGULAR SCHEDULE, SO THAT IS CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE FOR THE LIBRARY TO KEEP UP WITH BUT WE DO OUR BEST, AND THIS NEW LIBRARY HAS DEFINITELY BEEN EMBRACED BY MORE TEENS. JUST SOME QUICK ILLUSTRATIONS, AND THIS IS PART OF THE GROUP . I THINK IT IS CLEAR THAT THE COMMUNITY LIKES THIS VERSION OF THE LIBRARY. IN 2023, OVER 5080 RECORDED VISITS TO THE LIBRARY. THAT IS DEFINITELY A RECORD. WE'VE NEVER SEEN THAT MANY VISITS TO THE LIBRARY BEFORE. THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS AT THE MAIN LIBRARY AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE DIGITAL MEDIA LAB, AND 2021, BEFORE THEY WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE MAIN LIBRARY, JUST MUCH LESS, IT'S INCREDIBLE, THE TRAFFIC THEY ARE GETTING. THEIR NUMBER, BY THE WAY, IS NOT COUNTED IN OUR 2023 TOTAL. I THINK ALSO THIS IS VERY INTERESTING FOR ME TO SEE, AND I WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU. ON THE RIGHT, THE BAR GRAPHS , THE RED IS 2023. THAT IS FOR THE JOYCE WINTER WEST BRANCH. IT RECEIVED OVER 50,000 VISITS IN 2023 . THE ORANGE IN THE MIDDLE IS 2022 , AND IN THE MID 40S . THEN THE BLUE BAR ON THE LEFT, THAT IS NOT THE BRANCH. THAT IS 2019. THE BRANCH OPENED IN 2020. THAT IS THE OLD MOBILE LIBRARY, AND THE NUMBER OF VISITS THAT RECEIVED IN A GIVEN YEAR, SO TO ME, THAT REALLY PROVED WHEN WE BUILT THIS BRANCH, THE COMMUNITY REALLY RESPONDED, AND WE ARE REACHING A LOT MORE PEOPLE, AND JUST ANOTHER POINT ON THAT AS I FELT LIKE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL THINGS THE MOBILE LIBRARY DID, THAT VERSION OF IT , WAS IT WOULD GO TO SENIOR CENTERS AND DO WHAT WE CALLED LOBBIES STOPS, BRINGING THE LIBRARY SET UP IN THE LOBBY AND LET PEOPLE MAKE SELECTIONS FROM THERE. WE ARE STILL DOING THAT. WE STILL HAVE A VAN FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF TRANSPORTING MATERIALS. IT GOES BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE MAIN LIBRARY IN THE WEST BRANCH EVERY DAY, BUT WE HAVE FOUR SENIOR CENTERS THAT ARE REGULAR LOBBIES STOPS , AND WILL PROBABLY ADD MORE AS WE GO ALONG, SO WE KEPT THE BEST OF WHAT WAS THE MOBILE LIBRARY, AND REALLY IMPROVED ON IT WITH THE BRANCH. HERE, CIRCULATION FROM 2020 TO 2023. I THINK YOU CAN SEE IN 2023, WE ARE FINALLY BACK TO WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER A NORMAL LEVEL BEFORE WE WENT INTO THE RENOVATION FOR THE PANDEMIC, SO PRETTY CLOSE TO 2.1 MILLION AND WHEN I WAS DIVING INTO THE NUMBERS , I SAW THAT PRINT BOOKS WERE ACTUALLY DOING EVEN A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN 2019.THIS COMMUNITY, PEOPLE LIKE BOOKS. PEOPLE LIKE TRADITIONAL BOOKS. PEOPLE LIKE BOOKS OF ALL KINDS. WE CHECK OUT A LOT OF E-BOOKS, A LOT OF DIGITAL, BUT OUR PRINT COLLECTION IS HOLDING STRONG. WHAT IS FALLING OFF A CLIFF ARE , YOU CAN PROBABLY GUESS THIS, AUDIO CDS. WE POLL THE PEOPLE HERE, A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY SAY THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A PLAYER SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE A PLAYER. IT'S GETTING TO BE AN OUTDATED MEDIUM SO WE ARE SAYING A QUICK SHIFT FROM THAT PHYSICAL MEDIA TO DIGITAL DOWNLOADS, BUT THAT IS STILL, OVER 2 MILLION, THAT IS A LOT OF MATERIAL. HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT? I HAVE A QUICK VIDEO TO EXPLAIN. WE HAVE ONE
[00:55:05]
OF OUR MOST SOPHISTICATED PIECES OF MACHINERY IN THE BUILDING. WE CALL IT THE AMH.WE HAVE A VIDEO EXPLAINING HOW THAT WORKS IF YOU CAN JUST INDULGE FOR A FEW MINUTES.
>> HERE AT THE CARMEL CLAY PUBLIC LIBRARY, WE ARE ON TRACK TO SORT 2 MILLION CHECKOUTS JUST THIS YEAR. OVER 2500 ITEMS PER DAY. TO FACE THE CHALLENGE OF TODAY, WE USE AUTOMATION.
MEET IN AMH MACHINE. AUTOMATED MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEM. OBSERVE. SIMPLY RETURN YOUR ITEM TO ONE OF OUR RETURNS SLOT RECEPTACLES BY THE LIBRARY MAIN ENTRANCE OR DRIVE-THROUGH.
AND, LET AUTOMATION DO THE REST, SORTING YOUR ORDER TO THE CORRECT PROBABLY THAT WILL TAKE YOUR ITEM BACK TO ITS LOVELY LAYER, SNUG CABIN IN THE WOODS, COZY CASTLE CUDDLED IN THE ALPS, LIKE A SONGBIRD RETURNING TO ITS NEST IN SPRINGTIME. AND THUS, YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY HAS
THE TOOLS TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF TODAY , WITH AUTOMATION. >> JUST A LITTLE SCIENCE.
AGAIN, I WAS REALLY STRUCK BY THIS. IN PRE-PANDEMIC YEARS, WE WOULD AVERAGE FOUR TO 5000 NEW LIBRARY CARDS PER YEAR. ON THE LEFT IS 2018 AND 2019. 2019, A LITTLE UNDER 5000. LAST YEAR IN 2023, WE CERTAINLY BROKE A BIG RECORD, OVER 10,000 NEW LIBRARY CARDS REGISTERED.
ANOTHER BIG SIGN. YOU PUT THAT WITH THE VISITATION WE ARE SEEING IN THE DEMAND THAT WE ARE SEEING FOR PEOPLE COMING IN AND GETTING NEW LIBRARY CARDS , AND I'VE BEEN WORKING AT FRONT DESK A FEW EVENINGS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND EVERY TIME I GO OUT THERE, I AM MEETING SOMEONE AND SIGNING THEM UP FOR A NEW LIBRARY CARD. JUST AMAZING. SO, THIS IS ANOTHER NICE AMENITY THAT WE ADDED. WE HAVE A HOLDS PICKUP LOCKER IN OUR PARKING GARAGE. IT IS IN THE LOUNGE AREA ON THE FIRST FLOOR. WHAT IS WONDERFUL ABOUT THIS IS THAT OUR PATRONS CAN CHOOSE TO PICK UP AT THIS LOCKER AND THEN YOU ARE UNTETHERED FROM LIBRARY OPERATING HOURS. YOU CAN COME PICK UP IN THE LOCKER WHENEVER YOU WANT TO AND YOU JUST WALK UP TO IT AND SCAN YOUR LIBRARY CARD. YOUR LOCKER WILL POP OPEN. WHEN YOU TAKE IT OUT OF THE LOCKER, IT IS CHECKED OUT. PRETTY EASY, AND IT'S GOING SO WELL THAT WE ARE ALREADY MAKING PLANS. WE ARE UNDERWAY AND EXPANDING THESE LOCKERS. WE ALREADY NEED MORE. SO, I ALWAYS LIKE TO TOUCH ON THIS JUST BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SOME SUPER FANS, PROBABLY SOME SUPER FANS IN THE ROOM HERE, BUT ALSO A STORY THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT BE HEARING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE HAVE GENERAL COLLECTION. THERE IS A LOT YOU CAN DO WITH A LIBRARY CARD, SO MOST PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THIS COLLECTION THROUGH THE LIBBY APP, WHICH YOU CAN DOWNLOAD ON YOUR PHONE FOR DOWNLOADABLE AUDIOBOOKS, E-BOOKS , AND THIS COLLECTION WORKS VERY MUCH THE SAME WAY AS OUR PRINT COLLECTION. OUR LIBRARIANS MAKE SELECTIONS. WE PURCHASE BOOKS. THERE IS THE SAME KIND OF -- IT'S DIGITAL, BUT THE SAME KIND OF FRICTION IS A PHYSICAL BOOK IS DUPLICATED SO IF WE BUY ONE COPY AND EVERYONE IN THE COUNCIL HAS TO READ IT, WHOEVER GETS TO IT FIRST HAS TO READ IT FIRST AND THEN YOU WILL QUEUE UP AND WAIT ON IT. ALTHOUGH, IF I SEE THAT THE WHOLE COUNCIL IS WAITING ON A BOOK I WILL PROBABLY ORDER ANOTHER COPY OR TWO. AS A MATTER FACT, IF WE SEE MORE THAN FIVE PEOPLE ARE WAITING, WE ARE LIKELY TO ORDER ANOTHER COPY JUST TO KEEP THE WAITLIST DOWN, BUT THAT IS HOW THAT WORKS AND IT IS A LO OF PEOPLE'S PREFERRED READING METHOD. I WANTED TO SHARE SOMETHING. I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF OUR PATRONS BY EMAIL, AND WE WERE HAVING A LITTLE BACK-AND-FORTH AND SHE SHARED SOMETHING WITH ME. I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE HER NAME. THIS IS A LIBRARY PATRON THAT WAS HERE IN, AND IS A BIG FAN OF THE LIBBY APP AND SHE SAID , I HAVE -- AND SHE GAVE ME PERMISSION TO SHARE THIS -- SHE SAYS I HAVE ALS AND I AM PARALYZED. I READ VIA MY EYE GAZE DEVICE IN THE KINDLE APP. THE LIBBY SERVICE HAS BEEN A HUGE BLESSING IN MY LIFE. I'M ABLE TO UTILIZE THE SERVICE INDEPENDENTLY, FREEING MY HUSBAND AND OTHER CARETAKERS OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANUALLY DOWNLOADING BOOKS FOR ME.
WELL, IT GOES TO SHOW HOW IMPORTANT SOME OF THESE RESOURCES ARE TO PEOPLE. JUST
[01:00:17]
TO BACK UP AND JUST TO LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS, EVERY YEAR IS LIKE THIS WHEN I REPORT ON THIS. THIS IS THE EIGHTH YEAR THAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO REPORT TO THE CARMEL COUNCIL AND EVERY YEAR, THIS GROWS ABOUT AT THIS RATE, UP 17% IN CHECKOUT, 37% INCREASE IN NEW PATRONS USING THE SERVICE ON LIBBY, AND WE HAVE HOOPLA , AND HOOPLA IS GROWING A LOT, TOO.NOT AS MANY USERS AS THE LIBBY APP , BUT IT IS GROWING AT A VERY QUICK PACE. ALWAYS RECOMMEND IF YOU DON'T FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ON LIBBY, BE SURE TO BROWSE ON HOOPLA BECAUSE IT IS ALSO DOWNLOADABLE AUDIO AND E-BOOKS AND OTHER THINGS IN THE DIFFERENCES, THAT IS NOT A COLLECTION THAT IS CURATED BY OUR LIBRARIANS. IT'S ALWAYS AVAILABLE SO IF YOU FIND IT ON HOOPLA, YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT IMEDIATELY. YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT, SO IT IS A BIG BENEFIT TO THAT ONE. CANOPY IS A STREAMING VIDEO SERVICE. GET WITH YOUR LIBRARY CARD, GO TO KANOPY.COM AND WATCH IT JUST LIKE YOU WOULD ANY OTHER STREAMING SERVICE BUT WITH YOUR LIBRARY CARD YOU CAN SEE WHEN YOU'RE LOCKED IN THAT YOU WILL HAVE 15 TICKETS, AND YOU CAN SPEND THOSE TICKETS ON MOVIES OR DOCUMENTARIES. IT'S GREAT FOR HAVING A CATALOG OF DIFFERENT CONTENT. FOREIGN FILMS, INDEPENDENT FILMS, DOCUMENTARIES. TUTOR.COM. I WAS WANT TO MENTION THIS, TOO BECAUSE AT THE LIBRARY WE CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT OF KIDS BEING TUTORED, BUT TUTOR.COM IS A SERVICE. IT IS AN ONLINE RESOURCE THAT HAS LICENSED TUTORS AND IT IS FREE WITH A LIBRARY CARD, SO ANY KID IN CARMEL THAT NEEDS A TUTOR CAN HAVE ACCESS TO ONE THROUGH TUTOR.COM. WE DID CELEBRATE THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW LIBRARY IN OCTOBER, AND MAYOR BRAINARD WAS KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN ME. HE HAD TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHERE TO STAND, HOW TO HOLD THE SCISSORS, AND WE DID A RIBBON-CUTTING FOR THE SOLAR PANEL ARRAY THAT WENT LIVE AROUND THE SAME TIME, AND SO I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO REPORT ON THAT, ALTHOUGH I WILL BE KEEPING MY EYE ON T THIS YEAR, BUT WE ARE ESTIMATING IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE 20 TO 30% OF THE LIBRARY'S POWER NEEDS.
COME BY AND SEE ME IF YOU WANT TO GO UP ON THE ROOF AND TAKE A LOOK. WE CAN DO THAT. HERE ARE JUST A FEW MORE THINGS ON THE WEST BRANCH. THIS WAS A REALLY GREAT YEAR FOR THE BRANCH. THIS IS -- 2023 WAS THE YEAR FOR THE BRANCH THAT I WANTED TO HAVE IN 2020, AND THAT JUST DID NOT WORK OUT. A LOT OF THINGS DIDN'T WORK OUT IN 2020, BUT WE ARE NOW SEEING THE IMPACT THAT THE BRANCH IS HAVING, AND IT IS IMPRESSIVE AND BECAUSE THE SPACE IS SO SMALL, IF I COULD ADD ONE MORE THING TO IT, IT WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE SPACE, BUT THAT IS WHY WE MAKE AND TAKE KIDS ARE SO IMPORTANT, SINCE WE REALLY DON'T HAVE PROGRAMMING SPACE. THE CONCEPT THERE IS CHECK THOSE KIDS OUT, TAKE IT HOME. YOU HAVE A PROGRAM YOU CAN DO AT HOME. LIZ HAMILTON IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT, AND SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CARMEL CLAY PEBBLE LIBRARY FOUNDATION AND IT IS EXCEPTIONAL IN SUPPORT OF OUR ORGANIZATION, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW LIZ, YOU KNOW WHY IT IS EXCEPTIONAL, BECAUSE SHE DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB MANAGING THE FOUNDATION. THEY EXIST TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY, AND I THINK IT IS JUST ANOTHER TANGIBLE MANIFESTATION OF THE HIGH LEVEL OF LOVE AND SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY HAS FOR THE LIBRARY. LIZ HAS AN INCREDIBLE ARRAY OF VOLUNTEERS THROUGH THE FOUNDATION AND ALSO MANAGES FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY. SHE HAS A GUILD THAT HELPS HER WITH THE BOOKS AND AUTHOR LUNCHEON. INCREDIBLE SUPPORT, AND ALL OF THE PROGRAMMING THAT THE LIBRARY PROVIDES IS SPONSORED BY THE FOUNDATION, AND WE ARE DOING A LOT MORE PROGRAMMING SINCE WE HAVE A LISTENING VERSION OF THE LIBRARY, SO THEIR CHALLENGE INCREASED AND OF COURSE, THEY HAVE RISEN TO MEET THE CHALLENGE. JUST A COUPLE OF THEIR SIGNATURE EVENTS I WANTED TO MENTION. I WON'T DO AS GOOD A JOB OF SELLING THIS IS LIZ COULD, BUT LIBRARY AFTER DARK .
[01:05:07]
THIS WILL BE THE SECOND EVENT WE ARE DOING THIS IN THE NEWLY RENOVATED LIBRARY. IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE BLAST LAST YEAR. WE HAD SOME KARAOKE IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM. WE WERE PLAYING GOLF IN THE LIBRARY, AND IT'S A REAL FUN ATMOSPHERE TO BE IN THE LIBRARY AFTER HOURS, SO HOPE TO SEE SOME OF YOU THERE AND THEN , OF COURSE, THE SIGNATURE BOOK AND AUTHOR EVENTS. SINCE WE RENOVATED THE LIBRARY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE EVENING EVENT IN THE LIBRARY, WHICH HAS BEEN GREAT. THE LUNCHEON EVENT IS AT THE RITZ CHARLES . IT IS TOO BIG TO BE IN THE LIBRARY, BUT WHAT IS REALLY NOTEWORTHY ABOUT THIS IS , WE ARE ON THE MAP, NATIONALLY. THESE AUTHORS ARE VERY AWARE OF THIS. LIZ HAS A GREAT RAPPORT WITH PUBLISHERS AND AUTHORS , AND IT IS GETTING -- IT IS A LOT OF WORK, BUT IT IS GETTING EASIER IN TERMS OF AUTHORS BEING AWARE OF THIS. YOU'VE DONE THAT. IT HAS REALLY TAKEN ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN AND IT IS AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM UNTO ITSELF. IT IS AN AMAZING WAY TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY. AND, WE USED TO HAVE TWO SEPARATE NONPROFIT SUPPORT ARMS. THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY USED TO BE ALSO A 501(C)(3) SUPPORT ARM. THE FOUNDATION ABSORBED FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY. THEY STILL EXIST, BUT THEY ARE A COMMITTEE UNDER THE LARGER UMBRELLA OF THE FOUNDATION. IF YOU HAVE NOT VISITED THE BOOKSTORE AT THE LIBRARY, IT IS AMAZING. IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND WE STILL HAVE SPRING AND FALL BOOK SALES. I HAVE TALKED TO PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN THE REASON THAT THEY VISIT THE LIBRARY IS TO GO TO THE BOOKSTORE. AND SO HERE IS ANOTHER -- JUST ENDING ON THIS QUOTE FROM ONE OF OUR PATRONS, WHICH I GET LOVELY MESSAGES LIKE THIS FROM PEOPLE ALL THE TIME. IT HAS JUST REALLY BEEN GRATIFYING TO SEE THAT WHAT WE CREATED, WHAT WE BUILT REALLY RESONATED WITH THE COMMUNITY. PEOPLE FEEL OWNERSHIP. THIS IS -- THIS LIBRARY BELONGS TO EVERYONE IN CARMEL. THANK YOU.>> ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE LIBRARY? >> ACTUALLY, NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION AS IT IS A COMMENT. I HAD MY HUSBAND'S FAMILY HERE FROM SOUTH AFRICA OVER THE HOLIDAYS FOR THREE WEEKS, AND THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS, WHO ARE IN THEIR 20S, WANTED TO SEE OUR LIBRARY, AND THAT WAS LITERALLY THE BIGGEST HIT OF THEIR ENTIRE TRIP, WAS OUR, LIBRARY, SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE TO MAKE IT SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE FOR ANYBODY TO VISIT, AND SHE LOVE THE LOCKERS, BY THE WAY. SHE RAN THROUGH SO MANY BOOKS WHILE THEY WERE HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> COUNCILMAN SNYDER. >> APRIL 20TH, AS LIZ 20 TOLD ME, APRIL 20TH, LIBRARY AFTER DARK WAS AN AMAZING EVENT LAST YEAR. IT WAS SO WELL DONE AND TONS OF FUN, SO I LOOK FORWARD
TO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR. >> DR. JOSHI. >> I WILL SAY THAT I HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE TO COUNSELOR MINNAAR, BUT IT WAS MY SEVEN-YEAR-OLD AND 10-YEAR-OLD NIECE AND NEPHEW WHO CAME FROM BOSTON TO VISIT. BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARIES, AS YOU KNOW, IS THE THIRD LARGEST LIBRARY IN THE COUNTRY. THEY CAME HERE AND THEY WERE LIKE, WE WANT TO MOVE TO CARMEL BECAUSE WE CAN GO TO THIS LIBRARY IF WE LIVE HERE, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEM COME LIVE HERE.
>> COUNSELOR TAYLOR. >> I HAD A COMMENT AND THEN A QUESTION. COMMENT , THE LIBRARY AFTER DARK EVENT SELLS OUT VERY QUICKLY, STEVE GOT TO GET IN EARLY. IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY THAT MAY HELP YOU. I'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING FOR THE GUILD AND LEAF BOOK AUTHOR LUNCHEON AND IT'S A GREAT EVENT. LIZ, YOU DO AN AMAZING JOB. BOB, YOU'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM. ONE THING I WANTED TO ADD, AND ALSO TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, AND EVEN FOR THOSE WHO DON'T LIVE IN CARMEL, THEY CAN ALSO GET A, LIBRARY CARD. I WONDER HOW MUCH THE RECIPROCAL BAHRAIN AGREEMENT HAS INCREASED RECIPROCAL VISITORS TO THE LIBRARY BECAUSE OF WHAT
A GEM IT IS. >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT UP FOR ME. ANY RESIDENT AT HAMILTON COUNTY CAN REGISTER THEIR HOME LIBRARY CARD AT, LIBRARY AND USE IT AS A CARMEL CARD. FOR EXAMPLE , FISHER, NOBLESVILLE, WESTFIELD. TAKE YOUR WESTFIELD CARD AND BRING IT WAS A, LIBRARY AND WE WILL REGISTER IT AND YOU ARE GOOD TO GO. YOU CAN USE THAT CARD AT OUR LIBRARY. IT ALSO WORKS IN REVERSE, SO ANYONE WHO LIVES
[01:10:05]
IN CARMEL, YOU CAN TAKE YOUR CARMEL CARD AND GO TO WESTFIELD OR FISHERS OR ANY LIBRARY IN HAMILTON COUNTY. WE HAVE A RECIPROCAL BARRING AGREEMENT. YOU CAN REGISTER YOUR CARDTHERE AND USE THAT CARD THERE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, BOB, FOR THE ANNUAL
LIBRARY REPORT. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE ETHICS BOARD. BENJAMIN.
NEAR AS GLAMOROUS AS YOU HAVE JUST BEEN PRESENTED WITH. THE ETHICS BOARD IN 2023 DID NOT MEET, DID NOT RECEIVE ANY COMPLAINTS . NO MATTERS BEEN RELATED TO THE LEFT BEEN REPORTED TO YOU. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER VERY BRIEFLY WHAT THE ETHICS BOARD IS IN THE ROLE THAT THEY PLAY, BECAUSE THE GOA HERE IS THAT THEY DO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE, BUT THEY ARE A REACTIONARY BOARD, SO THEY ARE A BOARD THAT WENDY'S INEQUITIES UNDER CITY CODE 2184, IF ANYONE WANTS TO LOOK IT UP, UNDER THAT CODE SECTION OR OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY ARE SUBJECT TO ETHICAL REPORTING AS A STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEREST. THAT IS A REQUIREMENT FOR IF THERE IS A CONCERN RELATED TO WHAT I WOULD CALL NEPOTISM, A FAMILY RELATIONSHIP ON A DECISION WHERE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OR AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE IS MAKING A DECISION IF THEY HAVE AN ECONOMIC INTEREST AS WELL AND THAT, THAT THEY WOULD DISQUALIFY THEMSELVES FROM IT. THERE IS ALSO, IN THE DECISION-MAKING ASPECT, THERE ARE ALSO ISSUES RELATED TO THE RECEIVING OF GIFTS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS FROM PARTICIPATION. THAT IS WHAT THE ETHICS BOARD IS THEREFORE PAID IF THERE ARE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE RECEIVED FOR POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF THAT, THE BOARD WILL THEN MEET PURSUANT TO THE STANDARD SET FORTH UNDER THE CITY CODE TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS. THEY NEEDS TO ISSUE ADVISORY THAT - OPINIONS, SO IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT ARE PRESENTED TO THEM IN ADVANCE, THEY CAN ALSO MEET TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE RELATED TO THAT, AS WELL. THEY ALSO SERVE EACH YEAR, PURSUANT TO THE SAME CITY CODE SECTION. ELECTED OFFICIALS, CITY OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED, IF THERE IS AN ECONOMIC INTEREST, TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEREST AND SO THEY PLAY A ROLE IN THAT, AS WELL. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS , OUT OF THE OFFICE OF CORPORATION COUNSEL, SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THE BOARD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE MEET TOGETHER TO PROVIDE SOME LEVEL EDUCATION AND REASSESS THE RULES THAT GOVERN IT, AND THE FORMATION AND THAT WILL BE HAPPENING SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE BUT AGAIN, IT IS A REACTIONARY BOARD BUT IT IS A BOARD THAT SERVES, AND I WANTED TO -- I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT YES, THEY LOOK AT COMPLAINTS BUT THE ADVISORY PORTION IS SOMETHING EMPLOYEES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OFFICERS SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
>> THANK YOU, BENJAMIN. AS I THINK WE HAVE SAID IN THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING, ONCE THE NEW CORPORATION COUNSEL COMES IN AND THAT PERSON ACTS AS THE MAIN PRIMARY ADVISER TO THE CARMEL TEXT BOARD, WE WILL WORK WITH THE CORPORATION COUNSEL IN THE LEGAL TEAM TO HELP CLARIFY THE ETHICS, BECAUSE AS YOU STATED, NORMALLY THE CORPORATION COUNSEL HAS BEEN GIVEN THE REPORT FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS OR SO IN THE ETHICS BOARD IS SUPPOSED TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT, AND THE CORPORATION COUNSEL IS SUPPOSED TO ACT MORE AS AN ADVISER, SO WE WILL WORK THROUGH AND CLARIFY THOSE ROLES GOING FORWARD SO EVERYBODY HAS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING, BUT THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, BENJAMIN. NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA IS A REPORT FROM THE PARKS BOARD. THANK YOU.
[01:15:42]
RECREATION'S. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE OUR FIRST QUARTER REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF CARMEL. I WANT TO BEGIN WITH A FEW LIE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2023. WE HAVE SOME RECOGNITIONS WE DID RECEIVE. FIRST FROM THE INDIANA CENTER FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AWARDED US FOR OUR EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY WITH EXTENDED SCHOOL ENRICHMENT AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS, A PROGRAM THAT INVOLVES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TRAINING FOR OUR STAFF TO ENSURE WE ARE ABLE TO PROACTIVELY IDENTIFY ISSUES AND WORK WITH REPORTING AUTHORITIES AS APPROPRIATE. WE ALSO RECEIVED FROM THE INDIANA PARK AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION, THE INCLUSION PROGRAM OF EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR OUR DRAMA THERAPY PROGRAM , SPECIFICALLY, OR MURDER MYSTERY PROGRAM BY OUR GROUP OF ADAPTIVE PROGRAMMERS. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT RECOGNITION. WE HAD SEVERAL TRAIL EXPANSIONS, INCLUDING IN CENTRAL PARK WHERE WE COMPLETED THE LOOP AROUND THE LAGOON SO YOU NOW CAN WALK AROUND THE CENTRAL PARK LAGOON WITHOUT EVER ACTUALLY HAVING TO GO INTO A PARKING LOT OR ANYTHING SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY AND WE EXTENDED THE PERIMETER TRAIL ALONG WEST PARK SO THAT IT CONNECTS TO THE EXISTING NETWORKS, TRULY CONNECTING THE PARK TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE NOW UP TO 10 SAFE STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, FOUR IN THE PARKS INCLUDING COMMENTS, WEST PARK INMAN PARK AS WELL AS MEADOWLARK PARK AND WE ADDED 10 ADDITIONAL CABANAS TO THE WATERPARK, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE WATER PARK DURING THE SUMMER SEASON. WE HAD ALMOST 6900 VISITORS .ALMOST 138,000 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. MANY OF THOSE IN OUR GROUP FITNESS PROGRAMS AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER BUT ALSO IN OUR RECREATION PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER AT THE MCC AS WELL AS SOME OF THE FACILITIES. WE AWARDED ALMOST $111,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WITH ECONOMIC CHALLENGES ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AS WELL AS PROGRAMMING AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. A LITTLE OVER 7200 COUNT PARTICIPANTS IN THE SUMMER CAMPS THIS YEAR AS WELL AS 2800 PARTICIPANTS IN THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM. WE HAVE A NEED FOR MORE AFTERSCHOOL PARTICIPANTS TO SERVE IN THE PROGRAM. OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE, IS FINDING ENOUGH STAFF FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING BUT THE MORE STUFF WE GET, THE MORE PEOPLE WE WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE SO IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH CHILDREN, GIVE US A CALL. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU. WE ARE ALSO VERY THANKFUL FOR ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS IN THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM SUMMER CAMPS. LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR FINANCIAL METRICS, WE HAVE FULLY REBOUNDED FROM THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19. WE ECLIPSED OUR, AND HAD THE GREATEST REVENUE YEAR EVER, FOR THE PARKS SYSTEM. 13 MILLION FOR ENTERPRISE OPERATIONS WHICH INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY CENTER, WATERPARK, AND THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AND SUMMER CAMPS AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR RECREATION PROGRAMMING. YOU CAN SEE THAT 2019, THE FIRST YEAR BEFORE COVID, WE WERE AT ABOUT 11.4.
NOW WE ARE AT 13 MILLION. WE'VE BEEN ABOVE 100% COST RECOVERY AND AFTER USING SOME OF OUR CASH RESERVES, BECAUSE OF COVID IN 2020 AND A LITTLE BIT IN 2021, WE REBOUNDED LOOKING AT OUR TOTAL EXPENSES FROM LAST YEAR DIVIDING BY THE AMONTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND OF VARIOUS ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR-END CASH RESERVES, OUR TARGET IS TO BE BETWEEN ALWAYS 60 AND 65%,
[01:20:09]
WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT ABOVE STANDARDS FOR NOT FOR PROFITS BUT BECAUSE OF OUR CYCLICAL CYCLE, WE FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE. IT PROVED WELL BECAUSE DURING COVID WE DID NOT HAVE TO COME TO THE COUNCIL FOR ANY SUBSIDIES. WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD IN HOUSE. WHEN WE GROW THOSE ABOUT THAT 67% WE START LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES FOR REINVESTMENT SO THE FUNDS WE GENERATED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY CENTER WILL BE REINVESTE IN THE PLAYGROUND THAT IS CURRENTLY IN DESIGN AND WILL START CONSTRUCTION THIS YEAR.OVER HALF OF OUR BUDGET WAS EARNED INCOME FROM VARIOUS PROGRAMMING'S. $13.6 MILLION.
THE CITY OF CARMEL CONTRIBUTED $5.9 MILLION WHICH WAS PREDOMINATELY FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS FOR NONREVENUE OPERATIONS, GENERAL ADMINISTRATION, AS WELL AS GENERAL MAINTENANCE OF THE PARKS. WE RECEIVED $1.8 MILLION IN IMPACT FEES LAST YEAR AND ALMOST $5 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM CLAY TOWNSHIP. LOOKING AT OUR EXPENDITURES, ABOUT 1.89 MILLION FROM PERSONNEL. THIS IS FROM OUR VARIOUS FUNDS. THIS IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE OUR HIGHEST PERCENTAGE AS FAR AS EXPENDITURES. 6 MILLION IN CAPITAL PROJECTS, 5.2 AND SERVICES. EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT SOME PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED BY THE PARK BOARD AT THE LAST MEETING. WE TALKED ABOUT RIVER GREENWAY. NORTH EXTENSION IS NOW A REALITY THANKS TO A $4 MILLION READY GRANT AS WELL AS FUNDING FROM IMPACT FEES. WE WILL BE DOING A 1 1/3 MILE EXTENSION OF THE TRAIL ACROSS FROM TALL TIMBERS RUN ALL THE WAY UP TO 146TH STREET WITH AN EASEMENT FROM CONNER PRAIRIE GOING ACROSS THE PROPERTY FOR HALF THE DISTANCE. IT ALSO INCLUDES A TRAILHEAD WITH PARKING JUST A LITTLE BIT SOUTH OF THE SCHOOL, AND AN OVERLOOK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE PREVIOUS MEETINGS. CONSTRUCTION WILL BE STARTING THIS YEAR. ANTICIPATE THE WRAP UP NEXT YEAR. ALSO, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT ANOTHER PROJECT THAT IS BEEN TALKED ABOUT SINCE BEFORE I WAS HIRED ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO. A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS US TO FISHERS. THIS WILL BE NEAR 106 THREE ALIGNMENT AND CONNECTS OUR HAZEL LENDING PARK TO FISHERS HERITAGE PARK. IT ALSO INCLUDES A NEW PAVED TRAIL THAT WILL GO OUT ALONG THE NORTH SHORE OR NORTH BANK, I SHOULD SAY, OF THE BLUE CREEK -- WOODS CREEK, EXCUSE ME. SO, YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE SOME OF THE CREEK AS YOU ARE WALKING FROM HAZEL DELL PARKWAY TOWARD THE BRIDGE INTO THE PARK. THERE WILL BE A PARKING LOT, AS WELL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE PARK. I WISH WE COULD ALSO IMPROVE THE ROADWAY THAT GOES TO THE EXISTING PARKING LOT AND HAZEL DELL PARK OR HAZEL LENDING PARK, BUT THAT IS RIGHT ABOVE A MAJOR PIPELINE, AND THERE IS NOT ENOUGH DISTANCE BETWEEN WHERE THE ROAD IS AND WHERE WE NEED THE ASPHALT TO BE ABLE TO TO GO OVER THE PIPELINE.
ANYWAY, THE PARK BOARD HAS COMMITTED $3 MILLION TO THIS PROJECT BEEN FUNDED PREDOMINATELY BLACK CLAY TOWNSHIP . FOR OUR FUNDING, ABOUT HALF OF IT IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRAIL AND PARKING LOT AND WE ARE CONTRIBUTING $1.5 MILLION TOWARD THE BRIDGE. WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS LIKE I SAID, IT CONNECTS OUR TWO COMMUNITIES USING EXISTING PERIMETER TRAILS ALONG 106TH STREET. BOTH CARMEL AND FISHER HAVE EFFECTIVELY CREATED A CONNECTION BETWEEN MONA GREENWAY AS WELL AS FROM ZIONSVILLE TO CARMEL TO FISHER SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE CONTINUE TO MOVE TOWARD THE COMPLETION OF THE 2024 THROUGH 2028 PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN. THIS GUIDES THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK SYSTEM FOR AT LEAST A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD. WE'VE FINALIZED CONDITIONS, CORE SERVICES ASSESSMENT. WE HAVE DRAFTS OF THE PRIORITIES, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN REVIEWED WITH THE PARK BOARD. ONE OF OUR NEXT STEPS IS TO REVIEW WITH THE COUNCIL AND TWO ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, THE MAYOR AND TRUSTEES TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FUNDING AND OUTFLOW. THIS IS THE IMPROVEMENT PLAN MORE SPECIFICALLY TIED TO IMPACT FEES AS WELL AS BUSINESS PLANS FOR OPERATIONS. I'VE SHARED THIS INFORMATION BEFORE BUT I DON'T THINK IT HURTS TO REVIEW. 86% OF OUR RESIDENTS
[01:25:25]
VIEW PARKS AND RECREATION WITHIN CARMEL AS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE QUALITY THAT INCREASE FROM 73% LAST TIME WE DID IT IN 2018. 99% OF OUR RESIDENTS SAY THAT PARKS AND RECREATION SPACE IS IMPORTANT. ALSO, THE OVERALL CONDITION OF OUR PARK SYSTEM, 70% EXCELLENT COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 27%, SO CERTAINLY FLYING WELL ABOVE THOSE NATIONAL TRENDS. 98% OF OUR RESIDENTS SAY THAT OUR PARK SYSTEM CONDITIONS ARE EXCELLENT OR GOOD, WHICH AGAIN IS WELL ABOVE NATIONAL AVERAGES. ALSO LOOKING AT THE STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY, WHICH WAS SUPPLEMENTED AND CONFIRMED BY THE FOCUS GROUPS AND OTHER MEETINGS WE HAD TOP PRIORITY FOR THE PARK SYSTEM OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, TRAILS ARE ALWAYS ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME, NATURE TRAILS AND BOARDWALKS WERE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. NUMBER THREE WAS NATURE TRAILS. TRAILS AGAIN ARE ALWAYS USUALLY AT THE TOP FOUR. MOVING UP THIS YEAR, WHICH WAS A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING APPRECIATION OF THE WHITE RIVER, SO COMMUNITY KAYAKING AND THE ABILITY TO DO SO AS WELL, THROUGH RENTALS, CAME UP IN THE TOP FOUR. FITNESS AND WELLNESS, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND SENIOR PROGRAMMING WERE IN THE TOP THREE. OUTDOOR ADVENTURE IN NATURE, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, ALSO WAS IN THAT TOP PRIORITY . IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ALWAYS REALIZE THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARILY CRITICAL FOR CARMEL CLAY PARKS AND RECREATION TO BE THE ONLY SOURCE TO PROVIDE THESE. THERE ARE OTHER SOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDE THINGS.THE LIBRARY, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE COMPUTER LABS IN THE 3-D PRINTERS AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED WITH THAT, THERE'S NO REASON FOR THAT BECAUSE LIBRARIES ARE ALREADY DOING IT.
FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH PARTNERS LIKE THE LIBRARY AND PRIME LIFE WHERE WE ARE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT THEY ARE WELL INFORMED AND SUPPORTING TO THE AGREEMENT. ALSO, AS PART OF THE OVERALL MASTER PLANNING, WE LOOKED AT NOT ONLY WHERE OUR PARKS ARE BUT ALSO THINGS THAT SERVE LIKE PARKS, SCHOOL GROUNDS, WHEN THEY ARE NOT BEING USED, HAVE PLAYGROUNDS THAT SERVE AS PARKS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AMENITIES NOT WITHIN PARKS PRESENTLY SERVING PARKS AND RECREATION'S NEEDS AND I KNOW IT'S HARD TO SEE ON THIS PARTICULAR MAP , BUT WE HAVE MAPPED OUT USING THE TRAILS AND SIDEWALKS, 10 MINUTE WALK FROM THESE DIFFERENT AMENITIES AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY IS THAT THE INSIDER PRETTY WELL SERVED. MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS ON THE EAST AND CENTRAL PORTIONS OF TOWN ARE CLOSE DISTANCE TO A PARK THAT THEY CAN WALK TO , OR PARKLIKE AMENITIES. WE HAVE GOT SOME WORK TO DO ON THE WEST SIDE AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT EVEN THE NORTHWEST CORNER WE'VE ALREADY PUT IN THE 10 MINUTE WALKS TO BEAR CREEK PARK BUT OF COURSE THAT DOES NOT DO MUCH GOOD SO THOSE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT IN OUR PRIORITIES AS WE LOOK AT THE NEW MASTER PLAN. AS WE TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE LIKE I SAID, ONE OF OUR NEXT STEPS, I WILL BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE COUNCIL AND THE PARK BOARD AS WELL AS THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND COMING OUT OF ALL THIS INFORMATION, ONE OF THE CRITICAL THINGS IS THE FUNDING STRATEGIES. SOME OF THE COMMENTERS EARLY TODAY TALKED ABOUT IMPACT FEES AND BIG PICTURE FUNDING AND FOR THAT COMES IN IS 331 DAYS FROM TODAY, THE CENTRAL PARK BOND WILL BE PAID OFF AND WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT, IS IT IS TIED VERY MUCH TO THE INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT WE HAVE BETWEEN THE CITY AND TOWNSHIP AND WHEN THAT BOND IS PAID OFF, THE TOWNSHIPS FUNDING OBLIGATIONS TO THE PARKS SYSTEM AND AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT, ALMOST $5 MILLION THIS LAST YEAR CAME FROM THE TOWNSHIP SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION HOW WE ENSURE THAT WE ARE RECEIVING THOSE DOLLARS, ALL OF WHICH ARE USED FOR CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PARK SYSTEM, SO THAT BECOMES A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR MASTER PLAN AND DISCUSSIONS WE NEED TO HAVE WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS. WITH THAT, I WILL BE
HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU, MICHAEL. ANY
QUESTIONS? COUNSELOR LOCKE? >> QUESTION ABOUT THE BRIDGE ACROSS THE WHITE RIVER. I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY INFORMATION THE PUBLIC OR WE COULD SEE ON THE COST SPLIT,
SEE HOW FISHERS IS PLAYING INTO THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. I KNOW THE
[01:30:10]
CURRENT DID A WONDERFUL JOB REPORTING THAT. THEY PUT THOSE NUMBERS OUT BUT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT ON OUR WEBSITE, IT HAS THAT INFORMATION BUT ROUGHLY 5 MILLION FROM CLAY TOWNSHIP, 3 MILLION FROM US . I THINK IT IS 1.36 MILLION FROM HAMILTON COUNTY AND 400,000FROM CITY OFFICIALS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MICHAEL. MOVING ON TO THE
[12. OLD BUSINESS]
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, 12, OLD BUSINESS. READING OF ORDINANCE D-2696-23, AND ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA ADDING CHAPTER 8, ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION 8-442 THE CARMEL CITY CODE. SPONSORS ARE COUNSELORS WORRELL AND AASEN. MOVING ON TO RESOLUTION CC-01-08-24-01 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA RECOMMENDING CONSIDERATION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY AND REFERRING TO THE SAME, PLAN COMMISSION FOR RECOMMENDED .>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GREEN. LAND-USE COMMITTEE MET ON FEBRUARY 7TH. I FELT THAT WE HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OUTSIDE INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. WE ACTIVELY ENCOURAGED EVERYBODY TO SPEAK AT OUR FIRST MEETING . THAT WAS ABOUT TWO HOURS AND SEVEN MINUTES IN THE LION'S SHARE OF THAT WAS HEARING FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC. WE WERE ALSO VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT LETTING OUT EVERY IDEA THAT WAS SENT TO US VIA CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLIC, EMAIL, OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF COMMUNICATION WE WOULD'VE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL ITEMS AND SUGGESTIONS AND FEEDBACK WERE OPEN AND AVAILABLE AT THOSE MEETINGS.
NOT ONLY WERE THEY AVAILABLE, THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IT, AND WE PRINTED EVERYTHING OFF. WE HAD EVERY DOCUMENT THAT WE, THE COMMITTEE, COULD SEE, WAS ALSO SITTING ON THE TABLE AT THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS SO THAT ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC COULD SEE THE EXACT SAME THING. I REALLY FELT LIKE OUR COMMITTEE DID A GREAT JOB IN SAYING THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE TRANSPARENT AND THEN ACTUALLY BEING ĆTRANS' WHAT WE COULD'VE DONE TO ENHANCE IT EVEN MORE OR ENGAGE ANYBODY MORE. WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION . CLEARLY THERE WERE A COUPLE OF SIDES TO THE ISSUE. THERE WAS VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK WE CUT THROUGH AND GOT TO WITH THE CONSTITUENCY AND THE PUBLIC REALLY WANTED, AND THAT IS A DOCUMENT TO VOTE ON TO SEND BACK TO COUNSEL. WITHIN THAT, THERE WAS SOME COMPROMISE. THE CRC OFFERED UP CONSTANTLY EVOLVING IDEAS, AND THEIR FINAL SUBMISSION TO US, THERE WERE SOME THINGS IN THERE THAT WE FELT PRUDENT. I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH A FEW OF THE MAJOR CHANGES IN THIS. ON THE DOCUMENT , AND I'M GOING TO SAY THIS JUST FOR THE RECORD, I DON'T EXPECT ANYBODY TO HAVE THIS PULLED OUT, BUT F 1B WAS A CONSENT ON OVERRUN, SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I GOT TODAY IN AN EMAIL WAS WHY IS THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS STILL INVOLVED IF THE POINT WAS TO REMOVE THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS? WELL, WE ALLOWED, AS PART OF A COMPROMISE, A CONSENT ON OVERRUNS, SO WHEN THE CRC, AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WOULD COME TO THE COUNCIL WITH AN IDEA FOR A PROJECT THAT WOULD GIVE PARK IMPACT FEE CREDITS TO A DEVELOPER, AT THAT TIME, THEY WOULD ALSO ESTABLISH A PERCENTAGE VARIANCE , SO IF IT IS A VERY SMALL AMOUNT, $50,000 OR SO , THAT VARIANCE COULD BE 10, 20%, AND THAT IS WHAT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS CAN PLAY WITH IN CASE THERE IS AN OVERRUN, UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES OR WHATEVER. IF IT IS A LARGE DOLLAR AMOUNT LIKE MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RANGE, THEN NOT TO TELL CRC WHAT TO DO, BUT IT WOULD BE RECOMMENDED THEY COME WITH A MUCH SMALLER PERCENTAGE REQUEST, MAYBE THE TWO OR 3% RANGE, BUT THAT ALLOWS THEM TO MAKE QUICK DECISIONS WITHOUT COMING TO THE FULL COUNCIL WITH A PRE-ESTABLISHED VARIANCE ON THAT AMOUNT . ANY OF THOSE VARIANCES THAT ARE NOT USED THEN WOULD GO BACK TO THE
[01:35:09]
NON-REVERTING FUND, WHICH I WILL GET TO IN A MOMENT. SECTION F 3 B TAKES AWAY AUTHORITY FROM THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS TO OVERRIDE ANY OF THOSE VARIANCES THAT ARE APPROVED BY THE FULL COUNCIL AS A BODY. SECTION F 6 IS THE AUDIT LANGUAGE AND WHAT THAT DOES IS REALLY BOLSTERS, AND THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER LOCKE, WHO WORKED WITH US IN WRITING SOME OF THAT, AS WELL, AS OUR CORPORATION COUNSEL. IT GIVES THE CITY COUNCIL THE ABILITY TO AUDIT AND REQUEST UNLIMITED AND UNRESTRICTED FINANCIAL DATA FROM ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE CRC, PARKS DEPARTMENT , AND PARK IMPACT FEES OR CREDITS. THAT IS SOMETHING WE ALL FELT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS . WE SHOULD NOT BE JUMPING THROUGH A BUNCH OF HOOPS TO TRY TO GATHER THOSE DOCUMENTS. THAT IS EVERYTHING FROM WHAT IS THE MONEY BEING SPENT ON, ALTHOUGH NOW WE SHOULD ALL KNOW, AND FOR THAT MONEY IS GOING, LOOKING AT RECEIPTS, HOLDING IT ACCOUNTABLE, LIKE ANYBODY SHOULD DO AS STEWARDS OF YOUR MONEY. SECTION K ESTABLISHES A NON-REVERTING FUND. CURRENTLY, PARK IMPACT FEES COLLECTED, OR CREDITS, OR IN LIEU OFS ARE SPLIT BETWEEN URBAN PARKS IN THE PARK IMPACT FUND 106.THIS ESTABLISHES A NEW NONE REVERTING FUND ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO RETRACT ALL DOLLARS. THAT WAY, NOTHING LEAVES THAT ACCOUNT WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL. THAT WAS AGREED UPON BY BOTH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION , AND FINALLY, SECTION L GIVES THE COUNCIL APPROVAL. THAT WAS REALLY THE BIG THING. IT TAKES THE DECISION-MAKING ON WHETHER A PARK IMPACT FEE CREDIT IS GOING TO BE ISSUED AWAY FROM THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND PUTS IT IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL. THE INTENT OF THIS IS, WE HAVE GOT ONE OF THE GREATEST REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONERS IN THE UNITED STATES. WE'VE GOT THE GREATEST PARK STRICTER IN THE UNITED STATES. THERE'S NO REASON THEY CAN'T WORK TOGETHER TO OUTLINE THEIR LONG-RANGE FORECASTING , AND A GREAT TOGETHER BEFORE COMING TO THE COUNCIL AND HOPEFULLY, THE COUNCIL'S FIRST QUESTION WHEN THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WITH THE PARKS COMES AND SAYS, I WANT TO USE THIS MONEY, WOULD BE, WHAT DOES YOUR COUNTERPART SAY ABOUT THAT? BECAUSE WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO HEAR WAS THEM WORKING TOGETHER . MANY PEOPLE, RIGHT OR WRONG, STILL BELIEVE THAT THIS PARK IMPACT FEE WAS CREATED SOLELY TO SUPPORT THE PARKS . THAT CAN BE DEBATED ALL DAY LONG. WHAT WE FEEL WE HAVE HERE IS A DOCUMENT THAT COMPROMISES THE USE OF PARK IMPACT FEES FOR BOTH THE IMPACT PARKS AS THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SEES THEM, AND PARKS IN GENERAL, AS THE GENERAL POPULATION SEES THEM. SO, WITH ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FOR THE COUNCIL TO SEND THIS RESOLUTION IS PRESENTED TO PLAN COMMISSION.
>> SECOND. >> TWO MOTIONS. DISCUSSION? >> MR. PRESIDENT. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY I WILL VOTE FOR THIS, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE DID . I WATCHED ONE OF THE MEETINGS BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF TOWN, AND I DID GO TO THE OTHER ONE, SO A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THIS. I AM SAD THAT TWO PARTNER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES ARE IN LAWSUIT, SO I WILL CAST MY VOTE TONIGHT WITH THE HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND RESOLVE THE ISSUES, AND SERVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF CARMEL, SO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? >> I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE LAST -- LAND-USE COMMITTEE. I WATCHED THE LAST ONE ATTENDED THE FIRST ONE. GREAT DISCUSSION. ONE THING I WILL WANT TO NOTE. THIS PROCESS DOES NOT END HERE. IT GOES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THEY WILL CONSIDER IT AGAIN AND THEN IT WILL COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THAT IS WHEN WE HAVE A REAL ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF US, SO IF ANYTHING HAPPENS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, WHERE WE FIND OUT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE, I AM
[01:40:01]
PRETTY HAPPY WITH THIS LANGUAGE, BUT WE ALWAYS -- THIS WILL COME BACK TO US IN CASE WE DO NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING AND I WILL BE VOTING YES TONIGHT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MAYOR FINKAM. SHE CAME UP WITH A LOT OF THIS LANGUAGE SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS AGO AND FOR REASONS THAT NEVER CAME FORWARD SO WE APPRECIATE HER WORK AS A COUNSELOR AS WELL AS A MAYOR, FOR HER SUPPORT. WITH THAT, GO AHEAD AND VOTE. ALL RIGHT, THE VOTE IS 9-0 . IT IS APPROVED[13. PUBLIC HEARINGS]
AND WILL BE HEADING TO THE PLAN COMMISSION. THAT'S IT FOR OLD BUSINESS. MOVING ON TO PUBLIC HEARINGS, AGENDA ITEM 13. THE FIRST ORDINANCE D-2700-24, AND ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FROM THE OPERATING BALANCE OF THE GENERAL FUND TO THE 2024 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES BUDGET . THE SPONSOR IS COUNSELOR WORRELL. CAN I GET A MOTION?>> MOVE TO INTRODUCE. >> ALL RIGHT. COUNSELOR WORRELL, IF YOU COULD READ THE
SYNOPSIS. >> THIS ORDINANCE APPROPRIATES FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE HAMILTON COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE FOR LIEN PAYMENTS THAT WERE DEPOSITED INTO THE GENERAL FUND INTO THE 2024 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES BUDGET. THIS AMOUNT IS $3361. THERE IS $361 GOING INTO ONE FUND, WHICH IS FOR RECORDING FEES AND A STRAIGHT $3000 GOING INTO OTHER SERVICES. THIS IS JUST A MATTER OF MOVING DOLLARS, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE EXPERTS HERE TO
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS . >> THE PROCESS IS I WILL LET EVERYONE ELSE QUESTIONS IF THEY HAVE THEM, THEN WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS WHAT TO DO AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR COUNSELOR WORRELL OR ANY OF THE OTHER SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS? ALL RIGHT. WAS THAT , I WILL GO AHEAD -- I HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING THE CLOCK BECAUSE OF THE REFLECTION THERE. SO, AT 7:42, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC HEARING FOR D-2700-24. IF ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO SAY, THEY CAN MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE PODIUM. I'LL JUST KEEP AN AWKWARD PAUSE FOR A WHILE. ALL RIGHT, I DON'T SEE ANY MOVEMENT. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:43, AND WITH THE CLOSING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING , THERE ARE NO COMMENTS. I LOOK FOR A MOTION, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO MAKE A
MOTION. >> I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. -- EXCUSE ME, SUSPEND
THE RULES AND VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT. >> AND I THINK WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL RIGHT, DISCUSSION. PLEASE VOTE. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A 9-0 VOTE SUSPENDING THE
RULES. WITH THAT, I WILL LOOK FOR ANOTHER MOTION. >> MOVED TO APPROVE.
>> SECOND. >> DISCUSSION. PLEASE VOTE. VOTE 9-0, UNANIMOUS APPROVAL MOVING THIS ORDINANCE ON. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM. FOR PUBLIC HEARING. FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE Z-687-24, AND ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA ESTABLISHING THE ANDREWS PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. THE SPONSOR IS
COUNSELOR MINNAAR. >> MOVED TO INTRODUCE. >> SECOND.
>> COUNSELOR MINNAAR, PLEASE READ THE SYNOPSIS. >> THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISHES THE ANDREW'S PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT ORDINANCE, THE ANDREWS POND. THE ORDINANCE WOULD REZONE FROM R-ONE DIG RESIDENTIAL TO A PLANNED UNIT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT LAID OUT IN THE STYLE AND CHARACTER IS DEPICTED ON THE ATTACHED CONCEPT PLAN WHICH INCLUDES SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
>> ALL RIGHT, ANYTHING GOING TO THE PRESENTATION? >> I'M NOT SURE IF I'M SUPPOSED TO SAY THIS OR NOT GET, BUT I DO HAVE THIS, WHEN YOU ARE ADDRESSED, MR.
[01:45:07]
PRESIDENT, WITH THE BLUE CARDS, ARE YOU ALLOWED TO RESPOND TO,? >> OKAY. JOHN, DO YOU WANT TO
GO? >> ME. I'M ASKING. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF I WAS ALLOWED TO
MAKE A COMMENT. >> OH, YEAH. GO AHEAD. YOU CAN START THE PRESENTATION.
>> OKAY. I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS CAME OUT OF PLANNING COMMISSION WITH A 6-0
FAVORABLE. YES. >> RECOMMENDATION. YOU'RE GOOD.
>> THANK YOU AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT I ENJOYED WORKING VERY MUCH WITH THE PETITIONERS. THEY TOOK A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS AROUND GREAT OAKS COMMUNITY ,
AND SO WITH THAT, I WILL LEAVE IT TO YOU GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE CAN USE THE
DOCUMENT CAM FOR THE SCREENS, PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOHN. I'M A LAND-USE PROFESSIONAL AND WE REPRESENT THE PETITIONER, SCHAFER DEVELOPMENT LLC, DAVID COMPTON ARE ALSO PRESENT. THE SUBJECT REQUEST FOR A PLANNING UNIT DEVELOPMENT IS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP AN EMPTY NESTOR ACTIVE ADULT FOR SALE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY. THIS EVENING, WE ARE INTRODUCING THE ZONING REQUEST TO CITY COUNCIL AND WE WILL RETURN TO A FUTURE MEETING FOR ADOPTION AND CONSIDERATION. ONE ITEM I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT CAME UP THIS AFTERNOON WAS WITH REGARD TO THE NOTICE. THERE WAS A TYPO IN THE NOTICE. THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT EFFECTIVE, BUT WE HAVE AGREED, OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION TO THE TREASURER TO SEND OUT A NEW NOTICE THAT IT WOULD BE IN THE NEWSPAPERS. THIS IS NOT A MAIL NOTICE. IT WOULD JUST BE A NEWSPAPER NOTICE, THAT IDENTIFIED THE ANDREWS PUD.
THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO THE ORDINANCE IN THAT SECTION OF THE NOTIFICATION SO THE PUBLIC
THE CURRENT SO WE ARE OFFERING OPPORTUNITY THIS EVENING. >> JOHN, CAN I JUST INTERRUPT YOU REAL QUICK? CITY COUNCIL LOOKED AT IT AND THOUGHT -- I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON YOUR BEHALF, BUT CAN YOU JUMP UP , AND YOU SAW THE NOTIFICATION , AND TELL US YOUR LEGAL OPINION.
TITLE. OTHERWISE, IT CONTAINED ALL THE NECESSARY SUFFICIENT INFORMATION REQUIRED TO PUT THE PUBLIC ON NOTICE AS TO WHAT WAS OCCURRING HERE TODAY. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS MATERIAL.
NEVERTHELESS, OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT AND ALSO AGAIN, AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED, AT ANOTHER MEETING HAS TO ALLEVIATE ANY CONCERNS ANYONE MAY HAVE BUT WE DON'T HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE AERO BECAUSE
WE DO NOT BELIEVE IT WAS MATERIAL. >> THANKS, BENJAMIN. SORRY,
JOHN, I WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP AND MOVE ON. >> TO CONTINUE, THE REAL ESTATE IS APPROXIMATELY 14 ACRE IN SIZE. IT IS LOCATED SOUTH OF AND ADJACENT TO EAST 146TH STREET, ABOUT 1/8 MILE WEST OF GRAY ROAD. SURROUNDING USES TO THE SUBJECT INCLUDE SALISBURY BROTHERS TO OUR WEST, THE GREAT OAKS NEIGHBORHOOD TO OURSELVES, RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL USES TO OUR YEAST IN THE -- EAST AND RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES . THE PLAN FOR LAST YEAR WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION INCLUDED APPROXIMATELY 60 DWELLINGS. THOSE BOTH HAVE DUPLEXES AND TOWNHOME DWELLINGS. AFTER SIGNIFICANT REVIEW AND PUBLIC COMMENT, THE CONSIDERATION AND ADJUSTMENTS BY THE APPLICANT RESULTED IN THE AMENDED PLAN WE ARE PRESENTING YOU THIS EVENING, WHICH INCLUDES EXCLUSIVELY FOR SALE SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED HOMES BY THE NUMBER O 30, SO THOSE CHANGES WERE MADE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. WE FILED LAST JANUARY AT A PUBLIC HEARING IN MAY THEN WENT THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS WITH THE PLAN COMMISSION COMMITTEE. I THINK WE MET FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES BY COMMITTEE BEFORE WE CAME BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AS COUNCILMEMBER MINNAAR INDICATED, A VOTE OF 6-0 FOR CONSIDERATION BY COUNSEL. THIS IS THE REVISED CONCEPT PLAN AND IT ILLUSTRATES THE 30 SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED HOMES SITE . FOR THE A KILLER CIRCULATION AND ACCESS, PLANNED OPEN-SPACE AND LANDSCAPE AREAS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN ZOOM OUT JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THAT.
THANK YOU, FOLKS IN THE BOOTH. PROPOSED AMENITIES INCLUDE A DOG PARK AND COMMUNITY GARDENS
[01:50:16]
TO BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMON AREAS. REQUIREMENTS FOR PERIMETER BUFFERING IN PARTICULAR ALONG THE SOUTH AND EAST PERIMETER REAL ESTATE ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL ARE IDENTIFIED ON THE PLANS. FAULTY HOMES IS THE BUILDER AND ANTICIPATES AN AVERAGE SALE PRICE OF 700,000. IN ADDITION, NONE OF THE STANDARDS PROPOSED WITHIN THE PUD RESULT IN ANY MODIFICATION TO THE CITY'S BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS OR SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. THOSE ARE ALL MEANT BY CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE CITY OF CARMEL. THE STANDARDS AND MATERIALS TO BE USED LIKE MASONRY. THEY DO NOT MODIFY STANDARDS THE CITY HAS IN PLACE WITH CODE REQUIREMENTS . AS I INDICATED, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS TO THE PLAN THAT OCCURRED OVER TIME. THESE ARE ALL INCLUDED IN DETAIL PER YOUR INFORMATIONAL SUBMITTAL WE MADE LAST WEEK. THE ADDITION OF A STUB STREET LOCATED HERE TO THE EAST WAS ADDED. THE STREET CONNECTION WAS PREVIOUSLY A STRAIGHT SHOT NORTH AND SOUTH AND THAT WAS REVISED INTERNAL TO THE SITE TO CREATE ANOTHER STOP LOCATION THAT WOULD HELP SLOW TRAFFIC, THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE VERY MUCH TRAFFIC BUT NONETHELESS THAT WAS A CONCERN THAT PULTE AND THE SHAVERS WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS YOUR DESIGN MODIFICATIONS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, A SPEEDBUMP IS PROPOSED AT THIS LOCATION BETWEEN THE THE GRAY OAKS AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WE ARE REVIEWING WITH YOU THIS EVENING. AS INDICATED, MASONRY REQUIREMENTS WERE ADDED FOR ALL HOME DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDING RARE SIDES AND DWELLINGS. THESE ELEVATIONS AND OTHER ARCHITECTURAL ENHANCEMENTS ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE ATTACHED ORDINANCE AND BROCHURES WE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION. OPEN-SPACE PLANNED AREAS WERE ENHANCED INTERNAL TO THE SITE. IN ADDITION TO OTHER LOCATIONS, IN ADDITION TO THE DOG PARK AND COMMUNITY GARDENS AND UPON OVERLOOK HERE AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE SITE, AS I INDICATED, ENHANCED BUFFER YARDS AND LANDSCAPING WERE PROVIDED ALONG THAT TOP PERIMETER FOR THE UDO DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY BUFFER YARD TRANSITIONING'S WITH TWO NEIGHBORHOODS WITH SINGLE FAMILIES IN THE. THE 30 FOOT BUFFER IS THE AREA SHOWN IN DARK GREEN AS WELL AS A 50 FOOT SETBACK FOR TYPICALLY A 20 FOOT SETBACK IS REQUIRED.CONSTRUCTION SIGNAGE AND CONSTRUCTION BARRICADING REQUIREMENTS WERE ADDED TO THE PUD. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ONE IN SITUATIONS WHERE NEIGHBORHOODS CAN ACT OVER A WHERE THERE ARE HORIZONTAL IMPROVEMENT SUCH AS THE IMPROVEMENTS OF THE ROADS AS WELL AS INFRASTRUCTURE. IT WILL BE BLOCKED OFF WITH THE BARRICADE SEPARATING THE TWO NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT CONSTRUCTION IS LIMITED TO ACCESS FROM HUNDRED AND 46TH STREET AND ONCE VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION BEGINS, THERE WOULD BE SIGNAGE PROPOSED AT THE ENTRANCE ALONG THE ROAD TO GRAY OAKS AS WELL AS ON HUNDRED AND 46TH STREET THAT SPEAKS TO CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC AND LIMITING THAT TRAFFIC WITH THE VENDORS THE BUILDER HAS TO COME OFF 146 STREET. THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST. THERE ARE ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS IDENTIFIED UNDER TAB ONE OF THE BROCHURE WE SUBMITTED DIGITALLY AND THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO PLANNING COMMISSION . IN CONCLUSION, THE REQUEST HAS BEEN VOTED ON BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. IT WAS A 6-0 VOTE WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION FOR ADOPTION CONSIDERATION OR APPROVAL BY THE COUNCIL. TONIGHT, WE ARE REQUESTING THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH LAND-USE AND SPECIAL STUDIES REVIEW, AND AS WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, THE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THAT WOULD OCCUR ON OR AFTER MARCH 18. MARCH 18 WOULD BE THE WEDDING NIGHT FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT. WITH THAT, I WILL CONCLUDE AND GLAD
TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS. >> I WILL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS. THIS WILL BE GOING
TO LAND-USE AND SPECIAL STUDIES. COUNSELOR MINNAAR. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, JOHN. ONE THING I DID WANT TO CLARIFY, ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN IN THE PUBLIC HEARING
[01:55:01]
EARLIER MENTIONED VINYL SIDING, WHICH IN EXHIBIT D, THE ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS IN THE PUD STATES IN SECTION 2.A THAT VINYL IS PROHIBITED. SO I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.>> THAT IS A MATERIAL PERMITTED UNDER THE CITIES YOU DIO. IT IS A MATERIAL WE HAVE EXCLUDED THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ENHANCEMENTS.
>> I JUST WANTED THAT ON RECORD SO THE GENTLEMAN NEW THAT IS WHAT YOU HAD DONE.
>> COUNSELOR AASEN. >> THIS WAS INTRODUCED WHEN I WAS FIRST ON PLANNING COMMISSION AND I REMEMBER WHEN IT FIRST CAME THROUGH, IT LOOKED NOTHING LIKE THIS, AND YOU KNOW, SINCE MY TIME ON COUNCIL ON FIVE YEARS PRIOR TO THAT WHEN I WAS WRITING ABOUT COUNCILS REPORTER, I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN A PROJECT CHANGES MUCH FROM THE INITIAL -- THERE MY BE A COUPLE OTHERS BUT THERE IS AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE THAT HAVE LISTENED TO THE NEIGHBORS AND SEEN THAT REDUCTION MORE THAN ALMOST ANY PROJECT I'VE EVER SEEN SO I WANT TO MAKE A NOTE OF THAT. THIS IS SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES FROM WHAT WAS INTRODUCED
ORIGINALLY. >> COUNSELOR SNYDER. >> FOR ALL INTERESTED PARTIES, THIS WILL BE IN TWO DAYS. THIS COMING WEDNESDAY , SO FOR ANY INTERESTED PARTIES, THIS WILL
BE IN LAND-USE THIS COMING WEDNESDAY. >> FEBRUARY 21ST.
>> COUNSEL WORRELL. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SPEED BUMPS. WHERE OTHERS GOING AGAIN, AND IS THIS SOMETHING THE
PETITIONER WANTS OR IS THIS A COMMITMENT TO THE NEIGHBORS >> IT WAS AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE THAT WAS OFFERED UP TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN THAT WAS MENTIONED REGARDING THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC THROUGH THAT SPACE. SO, BUT THAT WAS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD?
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE RESIDENTS, THOSE EXISTING IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE SOUTH AS WELL AS THIS COMMUNITY. >> OKAY. IF THERE WERE NO
NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH, WOULD YOU STILL PUT IN A SPEEDBUMP? >> IF IT WAS NOT AN ITEM THAT WAS REQUESTED AND DISCUSSED, IT IS AN ITEM THAT LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN OFFERED UP.
>> THANK YOU. >> COUNSELOR TAYLOR. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAD A LADY CRYING AT MY DINNER TABLE ONE AFTERNOON LAST YEAR PRIOR TO ME EVEN BEING ELECTED, ABOUT THIS PROJECT, THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, AND I WANT TO COMMEND THE PETITIONER AND PULTE FOR MAKING A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO ADDRESS NEIGHBORS' CONCERNS RELATED TO THIS PROJECT. I AM VERY PLEASED. I KNOW THE SPEEDBUMP DOES HELP ALL RESIDENTS. IT WILL ALSO HELP THEM SO TRAFFIC DOES NOT SPEED NORTH TO EXIT ON 146 STREET. THE INCLUSION OF THE DOG PARK, THE SETBACKS, YOU HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS PROJECT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING FEEDBACK FROM THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE, SO I
APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNSELOR MINNAAR.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I SAY THIS AT, AS WELL. THIS IS MY FIRST PROJECT ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO WATCH HOW THE NEIGHBORS AND THE PETITIONER WORK TOGETHER. I JUST REALLY WANT TO APPLAUD YOU , THE NEIGHBORS, AND THE PETITIONERS FOR WORKING SO HARD TOGETHER AND COMING TO SOME AGREEMENTS. THAT IS NOT ALWAYS
THE CASE, SO THANK YOU. >> WITH THAT, WE'LL START THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:59. IF YOU COULD, MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO THE PODIUM. AND IF YOU WERE HERE FOR THE BLUE CAR -- CARD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND ONCE YOU GET UP HERE, GREEN, YELLOW, RED LIGHT. PLEASE STATE
YOUR NAME. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JANE CATES. I'M ONE OF THOSE SENIOR RESIDENTS FROM THE GRAY OAKS SUBDIVISION TO THE SOUTH, AND I HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS ALL ALONG. I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT I AM PRO-RESPONSIBLE GROWTH IN
[02:00:12]
CARMEL. I'M ALSO PRO PROPERTY RIGHTS, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT, THE RIGHT TO DEVELOP YOUR PROPERTY, AND I ALSO SUPPORT HOMEOWNER EXPECTATIONS AROUND ZONING PROTECTION. I HAVE PROVIDED SEVERAL OF THE 55 LETTERS INTO THE DOCKET DURING THIS PROCESS, AND TONIGHT, I HAVE NO NEW INFORMATION. HOWEVER, I DID THINK THAT DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU SHOULD HAVE SOMEBODY THAT IS HEARD, AND I GUESS I DREW THE SHORT STRAW FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE HEARD TONIGHT, AND I WILL REITERATE WHAT IS BEEN SAID ALREADY, THAT THIS IS THE EXHIBIT SHOWN BEFORE, TREMENDOUSLY BETTER THAN WHAT WE STARTED WITH, AND I THINK GENERALLY, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS PLEASED WITH THAT, BUT TO GO ON, I DID WANT TO SUMMARIZE SOME OF THE INPUT WE HAD PUT FORWARD, OR NEIGHBORS AND MYSELF. THE FIRST YEAR, AND I CAN GIVE A COPY OF THIS, OF WHAT YOU SEE HERE, THE THREE COLUMNS, R-ONE DIG, R-2, R-3 COLUMNS AND THE LAST ONE IS WITH THE EMBERS PD REPRESENTS AND YOU CAN SEE AND VERY FEW WAYS DOES THIS ACTUALLY MEET THE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF R-WANTED ZONING AND I THINK THAT IS JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY THAT WE CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT HOW THIS HAS COME ABOUT AND WHERE IT IS NOW, BUT IT IS NOT REALLY R-ONE DIGIT ZONING AND AS WELL, THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS, THE NUMBER OF FLOORPLANS. THERE IS AT LEAST THREE FLOOR PLANS IN THE ORDINANCE ACCESS WOULD REALLY BE OUR ISSUE. ALTHOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE THIS ACREAGE COULD BE DEVELOPED IN ANY OTHER WAY WITHOUT THE ACCESS THROUGH GREAT ARKS COURT, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THAT OTHER THAN DON'T DEVELOP THE ACREAGE. GIVEN THAT CONNECTION TO GRAY OAKS COURT, THE MANAGEMENT OF TRAFFIC BECOMES THE REAL FOCUS. THE STUB STREET PROVIDED TO THE EAST GIVES AN OUTLET FOR THAT IN THE FUTURE IF THERE IS A DEVELOPMENT THAT CONNECTS INTO GRAY ROAD, OR IF THE COUNTY GOES THROUGH WITH THEIR PLAN TO IMPROVE THAT INTERSECTION AND CONNECT TO THAT HOWEVER, THERE WON'T BE ANY FUNDS TO DO THAT AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER WILL PROBABLY BE LONG GONE BY THEN. THE OTHER THING, THE SPEEDBUMP THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED , READING THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE CITY CODE FOR SPEED BUMPS, I REALLY DOUBT THAT IT WILL EVER BE APPROVED. I THINK WHAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN STATUS WHEN THE STREET IS BUILT ,SPEED TABLE SHOULD BE BUILT, PEDESTRIAN CROSSLY. >> THANK YOU. AND ALSO, AS COUNSELOR SNYDER SAID, THIS WILL BE GOING TO LAND-USE, SO THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK MORE AT THE LAND-USE AND THEN WE WILL BE HAVING A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, AS WELL. ALL RIGHT, MR. OGLE. NORMALLY YOU ONLY GET ONE BITE AT THE APPLE BUT YOUR CAR DID SAY 20-MILE-PER-HOUR ROUNDABOUT, SO. WE WILL TALK LATER BUT NORMALLY YOU GET ONE. YOU GET
ONE COMMENT, SO GO AHEAD. >> SORRY ABOUT THE VINYL SIDING BUT THE FINAL WENDY'S -- WINDOWS ARE DEFINITELY THERE. VINYL WINDOWS LAST 20 YEARS, THAT'S IT. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO PLAN ON LIVING THERE THE REST OF THEIR LIVES PROBABLY. YOU ARE PUTTING IN INFERIOR HOMES. WHEN THEY MOVE INTO THESE, THESE ARE NOT HOMES THAT ARE CARMEL ASK, IF YOU WILL. THESE ARE HOMES THAT ARE CHEAP AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE DONE CHEAPLY. WE SHOULD BE STRIVING TO DO BETTER. NET ZERO HOUSES FOR SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES.
NOT BASICALLY SELL YOUR HOUSE AND BUY A NEW HOUSE IS GOING TO FALL APART IN 15 YEARS. NOT A GOOD IDEA. THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO MAKE OUT OUR PULTE. PULTE IS GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY IN THE HANDS. THE EXPENSES $750,000 , THAT SEEMS ABOUT THE AVERAGE IN CARMEL. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SELL THEIR HOUSE, BUY ANOTHER HOUSE THAT IS A SINGLE FAMILY. SMALLER THAN THEIR HOUSE, LESS GOOD , AND FALL
[02:05:01]
APART IN 15 YEARS, HAVE TO REPLACE THE WINDOWS. WHY WOULD WE DO THAT? IT SEEMS STUPID TOME. THANKS. >> IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS, I WILL END PUBLIC HEARING AT 8:05. WITH THAT, THIS WILL BE GOING TO LAND-USE AND SPECIAL STUDIES, AND AS
[14. NEW BUSINESS]
COUNSELOR SNYDER SAID, THEY WILL BE MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST. THAT IS IT FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS. MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM 14, NEW BUSINESS. RESOLUTION CC-02-19-24-01 , A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA ASSIGNING A SPECIAL STUDY OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE TO THE LAND-USE AND SPECIAL STUDIES COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW. SPONSOR IS COUNSELOR SNYDER, COUNSELOR AASEN, COUNSELOR AYERS, ANDCOUNSELOR GREEN. >> MOVED TO INTRODUCE. >> COUNSELOR SNYDER.
>> THIS CAME ABOUT FROM SEVERAL YEARS OF PEOPLE ASKING ABOUT IT, AND THEN THE COUNCIL COMING TOGETHER , OR THE COMMITTEE TALKING ABOUT IT AS WE WENT THROUGH THE LAST REVIEW. WE SAW THERE WERE LOTS OF -- IT IS A VERY DATED DOCUMENT, SO BY NO MEANS IS THIS AN ATTEMPT TO JUST ABANDON THE UTE OH, BUT IT HAD AMENDMENTS MADE IN 2017, I BELIEVE, AND BEFORE THAT , IT HAS BEEN OUT ON AFTER ADD ON AND THERE HAS BEEN NO REVIEW OF IT SINCE, BECAME A SECOND-CLASS CITY, AND SO THERE IS A NUMBER OF REFERENCES IN THERE TO INCLUDE A TREASURER, WHICH THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE ANY MORE. THERE IS AT LEAST ONE INDIANA STATE CODE THAT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE THAT IS REFERENCED IN THERE, SO I THINK THIS GIVES THE COUNCIL OR THE COMMITTEE AND THE COUNCIL JOINTLY , THE ABILITY TO GO FROM COVER TO COVER , AND REALLY REVIEW TO ENSURE THAT WHAT IS IN THIS DOCUMENT HAS KEPT UP WITH THE TIME OF CHANGE. THERE IS NOTHING -- THERE IS NO INTENT THE SAYS THINGS ARE BAD. IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH AND REVIEW IT. I WOULD FORESEE THIS REVIEW TAKING AN EXCEPTIONALLY LONG TIME BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY PROMINENT DOCUMENT IN CARMEL THAT AFFECTS A LOT OF PEOPLE. I WOULD SAY AT A MINIMUM, WE ARE LOOKING AT EIGHT MONTHS, TWO MEETINGS PER MONTH, AND THE COMMITTEE WILL BE WORKING ON THE AGENDA OF THOSE SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS AFTER WEDNESDAY, BUT I ANTICIPATE LOTS OF FEEDBACK. I ANTICIPATE THE FIRST COUPLE OF MEETINGS JUST A HOMEWORK REVIEW. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TICTAC ERRORS, NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE KIND OF LEGAL COMB THROUGH IT. THEN THERE WILL BE THE LION'S SHARE OF THE MEETINGS WITH DOCS ' INVOLVEMENT, BECAUSE WHILE WE CAN LOOK AT THE PROCESSES, AND NOBODY KNOWS THIS DOCUMENT BETTER THAN DOCS DOES, SO THEIR INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND INPUT WILL BE VERY VALUED AND THEN OUTSIDE INDIVIDUALS, PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY. JANE IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE THAT TRULY UNDERSTAND THAT, AND WHILE NOT INHERENTLY OPPOSED, CAN USE SOME OF THOSE LESSONS THAT HAVE BEEN LEARNED. IT IS NOT R-ONE DIG ZONING SO IS THERE SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE SOON DOING THERE TO MAKE IT MORE TRANSPARENT SO OWNERS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE VARYING FROM WHAT WE HAVE, MAKING SURE WHAT WE HAVE IS WHAT, WANTS AND NEEDS TO BE RUNNING EFFICIENTLY. THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE THE INTENT OF THE COMMITTEE WAS , WHO ALSO PROBABLY SHOULD'VE BEEN ADDED AS SPONSORS TO THIS BUT THAT IS ALL I HAVE. THAT IS THE INTENT. WE JUST FEEL THAT AFTER SO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED, IT'S TIME FOR A COVER TO COVER REBOOT.
>> AGAIN THANK YOU. AGAIN AHEAD OF MYSELF. >> THIS RESOLUTION ASSIGNS A SPECIAL STUDY OF THE CARMEL UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE TO THE LAND-USE AND SPECIAL
STUDIES COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS. >> THANK YOU. AS COUNSELOR
[02:10:05]
SNYDER SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG PROCESS TO GET THE BALL ROLLING. DOCS WILL BE HEAVILY INVOLVED AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC AND OUTSIDE EXPERTS, SO. IN THE --COUNSELOR AASEN? >> I THINK THIS IS WELL OVERDUE. COUNSELOR SNYDER DID A GOOD JOB LEADING THIS BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS IN THE LAST MEETING. WORST CASE SCENARIO AS WE LEAVE THIS BECOMING EXPERTS IN THE EDO, WHICH IS NOT GOING TO HURT US WHEN WE CONSIDER MATTERS IN THE FUTURE. I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THINGS AND ASK, WHY DO WE DO IT, AND IF THE ANSWER IS, WELL, WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT THAT WAY, THAT'S NOT A GOOD ENOUGH ANSWER, SO IT WILL HELP US. IT WILL HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS MASSIVE DOCUMENT THAT REALLY
GUIDES EVERYTHING IN OUR CITY SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS. >> COUNSELOR WORRELL.
>> YES, AS FAR AS THINKING THROUGH HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK , WILL YOU BE COMING BACK TO US WITH A BUDGET ? YOU JUST MENTIONED OUTSIDE EXPERTS, SO HOW DO YOU PUT IT BACK TOGETHER? DO YOU COME BACK WITH PROPOSALS AND COST AND THEN PUT IT BACK WOULD YOU JUST
PROCEED? I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WILL WORK. >> EXCUSE ME. I ANTICIPATE BY OUTSIDE EXPERTS AS FAR AS IN THE FIELD OF DEVELOPERS AND ZONING AND PEOPLE, THAT THEY EDO DIRECTLY AFFECTS, THAT IF THEY WANT THEIR VOICE TO BE HEARD EAGLE REVIEW THAT WILL BE THROUGH CORPORATION COUNSELOR INDEPENDENT COUNSEL THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL FEE BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE RUN UP SEPARATELY BEFORE ANY CHARGES, AS A WHOLE BODY BEFORE ANY COSTS WERE INCURRED IN THAT AREA.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING ABOUT, SO IT WILL COME BACK TO US BEFORE WE DECIDE ON ENGAGING
PRIVATE COUNSEL? >> ANY APPROVAL, ANY REQUEST TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL WILL DEFINITELY COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS AND GET APPROVAL BEFORE WE HIRE
ANYBODY. >> GOOD, THANK YOU. >> AND THIS IS -- WE ARE SLIGHTLY DEVIATING FROM SOME OF THE PROCESSES THAT HAVE OCCURRED BEFORE. OFTEN WITH DOCS TAKING THE LEAD, GOING TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL PARTICIPATING ON THE BACK END, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNSEL IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. WE WANT TO BE PROACTIVE AND WE
WANT TO HELP SHAPE THINGS ON THE FRONT AND AS WELL AS MAKE >> COUNSELOR MINNAAR.
>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PROCESS AND I AGREE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO REVISIT ANYTIME YOU HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR THIS LENGTH OF TIME, IT DESERVES A LOOK OVER AND ESPECIALLY THE FACT THAT ALL OF US HAVE COME ON WITH THE DESIRE TO REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENTS, I THINK TO UNDERSTAND THIS DOCUMENT BACKWARDS, FORWARDS AND INSIDE AND OUT IS GOING TO JUST HELP US TO BE MUCH BETTER AT DOING THAT, SO I THINK THAT IS WHY THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT AGAIN FEEDS INTO THIS NARRATIVE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING OVER AND OVER AGAIN ABOUT OUR DESIRE IN THE MAYOR'S DESIRE TO HAVE MORE
TRANSPARENCY IN THE PROCESS FOR EVERYONE, SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNSELOR
MINNAAR. >> I WILL ECHO DR. JOSHI. I BELIEVE THIS DOCUMENT IS -- I HAVE READ IT. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME. I HAVE A FASCINATION WITH READING STATUTES. I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT 18 PAIRS OF EYES ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND TAKE A STAB AT IT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNSELOR
TAYLOR. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I THINK EVEN MISS GATES HAD SENT US AN EMAIL PREVIOUSLY OUTLINING SOME IMPORTANT PROCESSES AND POINTS RELATED TO TRANSPARENCY. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS, AS WELL. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT BEST PRACTICES, LOOK AT HOW WE REALLY WANT TO SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY, AND LIKE YOU SAID,
[02:15:01]
JUST BECAUSE IT IS THE WAY WE ALWAYS DID IT DOES NOT MEAN IT IS THE WAY WE ALWAYS HAVE TO DO IT SO WE ARE CARMEL. WE ALWAYS WANT TO DO THINGS THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY AND BE LEADERS IN THE WAY THAT WE APPROACH THINGS LIKE THIS, SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AND COUSEL'SEFFORT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ON THE FRONT END. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, THIS WILL BE GOING TO LND-USE AND SPECIAL STUDIES COMMITTEE. . FEBRUARY 21ST,
THIS WEDNESDAY. >> I MOVED TO APPROVE THIS EVENING.
>> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE. APPROVED 9-0.
THIS WILL BE GOING TO LAND-USE AND SPECIAL STUDIES TO BEGIN DISCUSSION. COUNSELOR SNYDER.
BE A VERY LITTLE SUBSTANCE AS IT PERTAINS TO THE UTO. IT WILL BE MORE TALKING ABOUT THE AGENDA SO IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS, THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY IN MANY MEETINGS TO COME. THIS THE FIRST MEETING, YOU ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND BUT IS GOING TO BE MOSTLY AGENDA SETTING SO THERE WON'T BE MUCH TIME SPENT ON IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 14 B FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE D-2701-24, AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA AMENDING SUBSECTION 49 TO CHAPTER 8,
ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION 8-47A OF THE, CITY CODE. >> MOVED TO INTRODUCE.
>> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. COUNSELOR AASEN.
>> THIS ORDINANCE A MAN'S PARKING PROHIBITION ON A SECTION A SOUTHBOUND THIRD AVENUE SOUTHWEST NEAR THE INTERSECTION WITH CITY CENTER DRIVE. IF YOU WANT TO PRESENT, OR I HAVE AN EMAIL FROM SERGEI I CAN KIND OF EXPLAIN SOME OF IT. WHAT WOULD YOU PREFER?
OKAY, JUST MAKING SURE. >> BENJAMIN, CORPORATION COUNSEL. PREVIOUSLY UNDER A 40 7A 49, WE HAD THE REGULATION PROHIBITING PARKING THAT WAS ON THE WEST SIDE, AND SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE IS DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE ROUNDABOUTS AROUND THE PALLADIUM ON THE WEST SIDE OF THAT STREET THERE, THE PARKING HAS MOVED TO THE OTHER SIDE, SO IT IS BASICALLY -- WE WANT TO PROHIBIT THE PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE BUT PARKING IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEST SIDE. IT IS SIMPLE CLEANUP BASED ON CHANGES WITHIN CONSTRUCTION AND
ROAD DESIGN. >> I WILL ADD, THE PALLADIUM , THE CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS WAS CONSULTED HERE. THEY SET ALONG WITH STREET DEPARTMENT, CPD, ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS, THEY ALL SAID IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO PARK ON THE EAST SIDE ANYMORE FOR THE CENTER IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE VALET PARKING. THEY HAVE TRUCKS THAT COME IN AND IT JUST BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT FOR CARS TO PARK THERE, AND THE PARKING ON THE WEST, WHICH WAS NOT APPROPRIATE AT ONE POINT NOW IS. SO, WE ARE SWITCHING ONE WORD FROM EAST TO WEST IN THE ORDINANCE, AND THAT
IS OUR ONLY CHANGE. >> ANY QUESTIONS? COUNSELOR AASEN.
>> ALL RIGHT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION OR WE CAN HAVE THIS GO TO COMMITTEE.
>> WHILE WE SUSPEND THE RULES AND ACT ON THIS THIS EVENING. >> SECOND.
>> DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE. ALL RIGHT, THE VOTE IS 9-0 TO SUSPEND THE ROLES. LOOKING FOR
ANOTHER MOTION. >> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.
>> DISCUSSION. PLEASE VOTE. IT PASSES 9-0. MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS ITEM 14 C . FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE D-2703-24 , AND ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDANA AMENDING CHAPTER THREE ARTICLE ONE DIVISION TWO SECTION 3-30 OFTHE, CITY CODE.
THE SPONSOR IS COUNSELOR LOCKE. >> MOVED TO INTRODUCE.
[02:20:07]
>> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. COUNSELOR LOCKE. >> THIS ORDINANCE IMMENSELY ORDINANCE OF BUSINESS FOR THE CARMEL COMMON COUNCIL AGENDA BY ADDING THE CLIMATE ACTION
ADVISORY COMMITTEES QUARTERLY REPORTS. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> THIS AMENDS THE CARMEL COUNCIL AGENDA BY ADDING THE CLIMATE ACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO OUR ORDER OF BUSINESS. THE GOAL HERE, THIS IS A COMMITTEE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND HAS NOT BEEN ADDED TO HER AGENDA BUT HAS A REGULAR QUARTERLY REPORTING REQUIREMENT, SO TO ELEVATE THIS ISSUE TO THE STATUS OF BEING ON OUR AGENDA EVERY TIME, NOT ONLY IF IT IS HIGHLIGHTED, WE KNOW WE WILL HAVE A PARTICIPANT FROM THAT COMMITTEE COMING IN AND EXPLAINING WHAT'S GOING ON. WE WILL BE REMINDED EVERY TIME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CARES ABOUT WHEN WELOOK
AT OUR AGENDA. >> CAN YOU JUST SAY ON THE RECORD, OUR NEXT MEETING DATE?
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER LOCKE? LOOKING FOR A MOTION.
>> MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES. >> SECOND. >> DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE.
ALL RIGHT, 9-0. LOOKING FOR ANOTHER MOTION. >> MOVED TO APPROVE.
>> SECOND. >> DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE. THAT IS APPROVED 9-0. THAT CONCLUDES NEW BUSINESS . MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM 15, ADD ON ITEMS. THERE ARE NONE. MOVING
[16. OTHER BUSINESS]
ON TO 16, OTHER BUSINESS. FIRST UP, REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF CRC PURCHASE 331 WEST MAIN STREET.THIS RETURNS FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE . >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. WE DID DISCUSS THIS. THIS IS THE CRC ASKING PERMISSION TO UTILIZE 2021 BOND FUNDS TO FUND FUNDS IN ORDER TO BUY FOR A PURCHASE AT 331 WEST MAIN STREET. THEY'VE ALREADY CLOSED ON IT AND FOR VARIOUS REASONS, THE COMMITTEE RETURNS IT WITH POSITIVE
RECOMMENDATION 3-0. >> ALL RIGHT. HENRY, IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND PRESENT.
OR CLARIFY. >> AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OF THE COUNCIL WANTS
ME TO. I DON'T WANT TO ADD ANY MORE TIME TO THE MEETING. >> ANY QUESTIONS TO THE RIGHT?
ACTUALLY I DON'T THINK WE NEED A MOTION. >> UNDER THE ORDINANCE THAT
NEEDS TO BE AN AFFIRMATIVE. >> ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD, COUNSELOR WORRELL.
>> I WOULD MOVE THAT WE AFFIRM THIS PURCHASE . >> SECOND.
>> DISCUSSION? >> THE WAY I READ IT IS THAT IT WOULD BE SPENT OUT OF THE
BONDS? >> THAT'S RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, DISCUSSION. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND VOTE TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD. PLEASE VOTE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES 16 A. MOVING ON TO 16 B, UPDATE FROM THE CRC REGARDING THE REPUBLIC
HEADQUARTERS PROJECT. >> I WILL TAKE THE SCREEN, PLEASE. I RECOGNIZE THIS IS THE LAST THING BETWEEN GOING HOME, SO. ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TOGETHER WITH OUR FRIENDS AT KITE AND REPUBLIC BROUGHT THIS PROJECT, WHICH REALLY ON THE SCREEN, THE BOTTOM RIGHT IS PROBABLY THE BEST THING TO LOOK AT, A MASSIVE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT INCLUDES THE HOME OF REPUBLIC AIRWAYS, WHICH IS A HUGE COMPANY MAKING A HUGE INVESTMENT IN THE CITY. AT THE TIME, THIS WAS THE IMAGERY SHOWN TO THE CITY COUNCIL . FOR REFERENCE, THIS IS THEIR
[02:25:05]
ESSENTIALLY CAPTIVE HOTEL. THIS IS THEIR TRAINING CENTER THE SOME OF YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT. THIS IS THE PARKING GARAGE. THIS IS THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS. THIS IS A FUTURE PHASE. AT THE TIME THIS WAS PRESENTED, IT WAS PRESENTED AS A PARKING GARAGE WRAPPED WITH MULTIFAMILY TO HELP CREATE A NIGHTTIME DAYTIME VIBRANT ENVIRONMENT. THE REQUEST HERE IS GENERALLY WE HAVE PROJECT AGREEMENTS WHERE WE SAY WELL, IF THIS IS WHAT WE SAID YOU WERE GOING TO BUILD, THEN UNDER THREAT OF REMOVING TIFF, WE WILL HOLD YOU TO THIS. THE SITUATION WE HAVE NOW IS THAT REPUBLIC HEADQUARTERS WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD. OBVIOUSLY THE HEADQUARTERS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF REPUBLIC AS A COMPANY . THE WRAPAROUND GARAGE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF KITE, OR WHATEVER DEVELOPER ENDS UP DOING THAT. REPUBLIC WANTS TO GO NOW, SO THEY ARE REQUESTING TO ESSENTIALLY UNTETHERED THE NEED FOR THE MULTIFAMILY TO HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME AS THE HEADQUARTERS ITSELF , MEANING THE MULTIFAMILY COULD COME BACK LATER, OR THERE COULD BE A PROPOSAL TO WRAP THAT GARAGE WITH ATTRACTIVE , ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT BRICK SKIN WITHOUT MORE UNITS . IN A NORMAL SITUATION, ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE THERE TOGETHER BUT HERE BECAUSE HEADQUARTERS WANTS TO MOVE FASTER THAN MULTIFAMILY IS READY TO GO, THERE DOES NOT NEED TO BE ANY CHANGE TO ANY DOCUMENTS THAT ARE APPROVED. THE BOND DOCUMENTS ARE FINE BUT BECAUSE THOSE REPRESENTATIONS WERE MADE IN A PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING, I DON'T WANT ANYONE THINKING THAT PREVIOUSLY PRESENT REPRESENTATIONS WERE MADE THAT THE MULTIFAMILY WOULD BE WRAPPED IN GOAL AT THE SAME TIME SO THIS IS SIMPLY A REQUEST TO UNTETHERED THOSE TWO THINGS FROM EACH OTHER SO HEADQUARTERS COULD START CONSTRUCTION WHILE GIVING THE DEVELOPER A COUPLE OF YEARS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE FACADE. THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WILL KEEP A REQUIREMENT THAT WHATEVER THE GARAGE IS WRAPPED WITH HAS TO BE ATTRACTIVE, SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO JUST LEAVE IT AS IS. IT JUST GIVES A LITTLE MORE TIME WHILE WE WANT THE HEADQUARTERS TO START BUILDING. THERE IS A REPRESENTATIVE IN THE AUDIENCE , MR. BRADLEY WRIGHT FROM BOSE WHO REPRESENTS THE PUBLIC, IF YOU WOULD LIKE HIM TO COME UP AND SAY ANYTHING ELSE. OTHERWISE, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY IT. THERE IS NOT A CHANGE TO ANY DOCUMENT, MORE OF AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT ON THE RECORD THAT WE ARE IN TETHERING TWOTHINGS ON THIS PROJECT. >> SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NOTHING FOR US TO REALLY DO. IT IS MORE OF HENRY PUTTING ON RECORD THAT WHAT WAS ALREADY APPROVED MIGHT JUST BE SEPARATING IT. IT IS NOT THAT IT WILL CONTINUE DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING, UST A
DIFFERENT ORDER, DIFFERENT PRIORITY, DIFFERENT PROCESS. >> I WILL SHARE, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW. USUALLY WE HAVE ONE DEVELOPER, SINGLE DEVELOPER THAT GETS THE BENEFIT OF THE TIF BOND FOR THE ENTIRE SITE SO YOU MIGHT HAVE AN OFFICE COMPONENT IN THE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT LIKE IF YOU THINK ABOUT PRESENTING HIM , THE DEVELOPER BUILT THE GARAGE AND THE BOND BENEFITED THE DEVELOPER ABOUT THE GARAGE. WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO GET GOING . MULTIFAMILY OR WHATEVER WRAP ON THE GARAGE, WE WILL GET IT FIGURED OUT IN THE
NEXT FEW YEARS. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I THOUGHT WHAT I ORIGINALLY HEARD ON THIS IS THAT WE WERE JUST DECOUPLING TIMING, BUT NOW WHAT I THINK I'M HEARING, AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, THAT BY DECOUPLING THE MULTIFAMILY OR THE RESIDENTIAL, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY IT COULD BE SOMETHING JUST PRETTY, AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT ASSESSED VALUE? HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE FINANCIALS OF THE PROJECT? AND, HOW MANY
UNITS WERE THERE TO BE? >> I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER ON NUMBER OF UNITS. IT WAS MORE OF WE KNEW THE GARAGE WOULD BE WRAPPED ON THREE OF THE SIDES WITH UNITS. LET'S ASSUME IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 160 AND 215. THAT'S PROBABLY AN ACCURATE ASSUMPTION. WHAT IT DOES IS, ASSUMING NO MULTIFAMILY EVER GETS BUILT, THEY ARE JUST I MEAN HONESTLY, THE WAY THEY DO THIS IS THEY DO TRANCHES OF THE BOND. THEY HAVE ONE BOND, MULTIPLE
[02:30:01]
TRANCHES, SO THE FIRST BOND COULD GET SOLD BASED ON HEADQUARTERS THAN THE SECONDARY COULD GET GOING WHEN THEY FIGURE OUT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO A MULTIFAMILY WRAP AND IF THEY DON'T OVERDO THE MULTIFAMILY WRAP, JUST PAY FOR A NICE BRICK SKIN THAN THE SECOND TRANCHES LESS VALUABLE. FOR THE CITY, YES, WE HAVE LESS ASSESSED VALUE IF THERE IS NO MULTIFAMILY WRAPPING IT. I THINK THE INTENTION IS TO DO IT IN THE FUTURE , BUT IF YOU REMEMBER, THIS IS A 100% TIF PROJECT, SO THERE IS NOT A HIT TO A TIF SPLIT, AND ULTIMATELY WE ARE HERE TO MAKE SURE REPUBLIC BUILDS THEIR HEADQUARTERS HERE. THIS MAKESTHAT MORE LIKELY. >> THE ONLY COMMENT I WOULD MAKE, ALL RIGHT, MAYBE NO RISK ON THE TIF SPLIT IN THE BOND, BUT WHEN WE DO A PROJECT LIKE THIS, AND THE WHOLE REASON WE ARE PUTTING IN THE MULTIFAMILY IS FOR THOSE SALARIES THAT ARE COMING IN, SO WE WOULD NOT RECEIVE SO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A HIT HERE. I JUST WANT, IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, I'M NOT SAYING NO BUT I AM SAYING THERE ARE PUTS AND TAKES HERE.
>> YOU ARE CORRECT ON ALL THAT. THERE IS A HIT TO THE INCOME TAXES PAID BY THE RESIDENTS.
>> COUNSEL AASEN THEN COUNSELOR SNYDER THAN COUNSELOR TAYLOR. >> SO, WE ARE REMOVING
APARTMENTS FROM THIS PROJECT . THEY ARE RENTAL, RIGHT? >> THE REQUEST IS NOT
NECESSARILY FOR THE REMOVAL. >> IT WOULD PROCEED WHETHER THAT HAPPENS OR NOT.
>> YES, IT IS IN TETHERING TO GET THEM DONE AT THIS TIME. THEY MAY BE HAPPENING LATER OR IT MAY NEED A PRETTY SKIN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BUT IT IS NOT A COMPLETE REMOVAL, JUST AT ME, SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WOULD YOU COME BACK TO US ? IF IT DEVIATED FROM THE PLAN
SIGNIFICANTLY? >> I CAN. WHATEVER COUNSEL DESIRES. ULTIMATELY, WHATEVER HAPPENS THERE IS SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT DOES . I CAN SEE A CASE WHERE THEY COME BACK AND WRAP IT WITH MULTIFAMILY. I DOUBT ANYONE IS GOING TO WRAP THIS WITH FOR SALE. THAT IS NOT FEASIBLE, HONESTLY, AND THE HEADQUARTERS DEPENDS ON THE PARKING SO YOU CAN START TO DO TWO PARKING SPOTS PER UNIT WITH A FOR SALE PROJECT HERE. I CAN SEE A CONCEPT FOR COMMERCIAL COMES BACK IN AND THEN PRETTY BRICK ON TOP OF THAT OR I COULD SEE THE WHOLE THING BEING BRICK. THAT'S ONE OF THE OPTIONS. I WAS GOING TO WORK THAT THROUGH JUST THE STANDARD PLANNING ZONING PROCESS IF YOU WANT, AS SOON AS THERE IS AN
UPDATE, I CAN COME BACK. >> THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY COUNCIL ACTION?
>> NO. DOCUMENTS ARE BROAD ENOUGH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M NEVER
MISREPRESENTING SOMETHING. >> THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNICATION. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THIS. >> COUNSELOR SNYDER. >> MAYBE THE DOCUMENT SHOULD NOT BE SO BROAD BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS DOES NOT CHANGE THINGS BECAUSE THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD IT AS PRESENTED THROUGH CORRESPONDENCE WAS ILLUMINATION, THEN I WRAPPED MY HEAD AROUND IN TETHERING THE TWO TOGETHER, BUT THESE PUD'S SHOULD NOT HAVE AN UNLIMITED -- MAYBE THEY DO NOW, BUT THEY HAVE A SHELF LIFE, SO IN 20 YEARS, MAYBE SOMETHING MIGHT BE BUILT THAT IS PRETTY . I MEAN, WHAT YOU JUST SAID WAS MAYBE SOMETHING WILL BE BUILT, AND THAT DOES NOT CONFORM WITH THE INTENT OF A PUD AT ALL, SO I WOULD EXPECT THAT ANYTHING DONE IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU ARE ASKING THIS TO BE UNTETHERED, AND AS OF TODAY, NOTHING IS BEING BUILT, THEN PUTTING ANYTHING BACK SHOULD COME BACK TO COUNSEL BECAUSE TIMES HAVE CHANGED FROM THE INITIAL APPROVAL.
>> I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTION. FIRST, THIS IS NOT A PUD . THIS IS C ZONING. WHEN PROJECTS HAPPEN IN C ZONING, THERE IS A THOROUGH PROJECT AGREEMENT TO MAKE SURE THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION GETS EXACTLY WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL.
THE LEVERAGE WE HAVE IS TIF, THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO PULL TIF IF SOMETHING DOES NOT GET BUILT EXACTLY AS PRESENTE, SO UNLIKE A PUD , THERE ARE ADDITIONAL CHECKS AND BALANCES HERE. THE CRD'S RIGHT TO WITHHOLD TIF IS GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE NEED GETS DONE. I ALSO DID NOT MEAN TO INSINUATE THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE 20 YEARS TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT. REALISTICALLY, BY THE TIME THE HEADQUARTERS IS DONE, SAY TWO YEARS FROM NOW, AT THAT POINT, THEY WILL KNOW IF THEY ARE STARTING UNITS OR IF THEY ARE JUST ROUGHING IT WITH SKIN, SO WE WOULD WORK ON A THREE-YEAR TIMELINE, ESSENTIALLY, FOR THEM TO KNOW THE TIME OF COMPLETION OF THE HEADQUARTERS, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. I WILL JUST GO THROUGH
[02:35:03]
HOWEVER COUNSEL WANTS. I CAN PRESENT WHAT THAT THING IS IN TWO YEARS, THAT SOLUTION, OR WE CAN WORK THAT YOUR STANDARD PLANNING AND ZONING TO MAKE SURE THAT LOOKS GOOD. THERE IS NEVER THOUGH ANY INSTANCE WHERE SOMETHING PRESENTED AT COUNSEL IS NOT -- THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT GETS CARRIED OUT UNDER THE PROJECT AGREEMENTS WORKED OUT BY THE CRC.>> THANK YOU. I JUST THINK 260 UNITS VERSUS A NICELY WRAPPED GARAGE ARE MILES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THERE IS ANY WAY TO EXPLAIN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED AND I'M NOT SAYING I CARE EITHER WAY BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THAT UNDER C-2 ZONING , THAT IS A CHASM , AND TO COUNSEL WORRELL'S POINT, FOR ANYBODY FORECASTING NUMBERS, THAT DOES CHANGE THINGS. MY FINAL THING CALMLY BEFORE YOU PULLED THAT SCREEN UP, YOU HAD A PICTURE OF THE PRESENIUM AND IN THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING , I GIVE YOU A HARD TIME ABOUT THE PRESENIUM. I STAND BY EVERY COMMENT I MADE. WHAT I DID NOT REALIZE IS THAT WHEN THAT DEAL WAS NEGOTIATED, YOU HAD NOT BEEN HIRED YET SO YOU UNFAIRLY TOOK THE BRUNT OF MY FRUSTRATION, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY I'M SORRY.
>> ALL RIGHT. CAN WE RECORD THAT RIGHT THERE? I APPRECIATE THAT, THOUGH. ALL RIGHT.
COUNSELOR TAYLOR. >> WHAT WAS THE STRUCTURE THE TIF FINANCING ? DEVELOPER BACK?
>> YES, DEVELOPER BACK, NO SPLIT TO THE PROJECT. >> YOU, AND MINIMUM TAXPAYER
AGREEMENT OR NO? >> I MEAN, THE CITY NEVER FORCES ONE. I COULD TELL YOU THAT REALLY WHAT HAPPENS THESE DAYS IS THE BUYER OF THE BOND USUALLY MAKES HIM PUT A TAXPAYER AGREEMENT ON THERE ANYWAYS. BUT THAT'S NOT TO DO WITH US.
>> AND SO, INCREMENT FINANCING HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED ON THIS TRENCH RELATED TO THE
APARTMENTS? >> KNOW BOND IS BEEN ISSUED YET.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> IS THAT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS IN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF THEY WILL SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE ECONOMY AND INTEREST RATES AND SEE IF THEY WANT TO MOVE IT FORWARD THEN, BUT WE WANT THEM TO START NOW.
>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THE FINANCING STRUCTURE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND KEEPING THE COUNCIL UP TO DATE.
>> IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THIS SOME SORT OF ACTION, OKAY. IF THIS IS JUST IN THE AMENDMENTS,
THAT'S PROBABLY GOOD ENOUGH. I JUST WANT TO NOTE SURPRISES. >> ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION IS IN THE BOND ORDINANCE THAT WAS APPROVED, IF AN ADDITIONAL TIF BOND WOULD NEED TO BE ISSUED, IT WOULD NOT REQUIRE YOU TO COME BACK FOR THAT ADDITIONAL --
>> NO. WHAT WAS APPROVED WAS AN ABILITY TO ISSUE A SERIES OF BONDS TO PUT DIFFERENT TRANCHES ON BONDS. COUNSELOR SNYDER, TO YOUR QUESTION, THE DOCUMENTS ARE GENERAL BECAUSE THE DOCUMENTS SAY A PROJECT WITH MULTIFAMILY, COMMERCIAL OFFICE BUT IT IS MEANT TO BE GENERAL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT STAFF IS ACTUALLY WORKING ON THE DETAILS. THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE TO BUILD SOMETHING DIFFERENT. >> THANK YOU.
>> LAST CALL FOR HENRY. NO? ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE ON. NEXT ITEM, 17, ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[17. ANNOUNCEMENTS]
ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS TO THE RIGHT? ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS TO THE LEFT? JUST ONE QUICK ITEM, AND I WILL REPEAT THIS WHEN WE GET CLOSER. IT IS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CHARACTERS -- CARRIERS LARGEST SINGLE DAY, FOOD DRIVE ON FEBRUARY ANNOUNCE MORE WHEN WE GET CLOSER.