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Home My WebLink About03.02.20 CC Meeting Minutes1 COMMON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 – 6:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS/CITY HALL/ONE CIVIC SQUARE MEETING CALLED TO ORDER Council President Laura Campbell; Council Members: Adam Aasen, Kevin D. Rider, Sue Finkam, Anthony Green, Tim Hannon, H. Bruce Kimball, Miles Nelson, Jeff Worrell and Deputy Clerk Jacob Quinn were present. Council President Campbell called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. AGENDA APPROVAL Agenda was approved unanimously. INVOCATION Chaplain George Davis, Carmel Fire Department, delivered the Invocation. Councilor Aasen led the Pledge of Allegiance. RECOGNITION OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUTSTANDING CITIZENS There were none. RECOGNITION OF PERSONS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL Dr. Hillary Hushower commented that Henry Mestetsky, Executive Director of the Carmel Redevelopment Commission, has been extremely helpful to her business since she moved to Carmel. John Accetturo addressed Council and commented that cost overruns are not a new thing for projects in Carmel. He stated that with a 46% overrun, people need to be held responsible. Jack Dearth commented that he and his neighbors believe there is an accountability issue with the Hotel Carmichael overrun. He also advocated for an outside audit. Chuck Ford stated that he believed it was time for an outside audit to investigate the 46% cost overrun. Ed Shaughnessy commented that someone knew something about the cost overrun but didn’t share that with the Council. He advocated for an outside audit of the Hotel Carmichael process. DocuSign Envelope ID: 6CE0A5ED-AA37-497E-AB20-0979E2BDC649 2 Steve Immel addressed Council and stated that at the meeting on October 21st , Ron Carter asked Henry if everything was on schedule and on budget. Henry replied that it was. He also noted that other projects in the City have had issues. Cheryl Smolecki stated that cost overruns and lack of transparency has been an issue for a while. She asked if the City had ever considered having an internal audit committee? Linda Kops, Serendipity labs, thanked the City of Carmel for Hotel Carmichael. Many of their members are very excited to be able to offer the hotel to clients, customer base, employees and future employees all within walking distance. Rod McComas stated that he is a registered engineer in 45 states, and he said most projects they work on run over budget by the time they are completed. Prices have risen across the United States and there is a labor shortage in the construction industry. It would be hard to estimate the true cost 3-4 years in advance. Christine Pauley stated that she sat in CRC executive meetings and the cost overruns were never brought up. She went on to advocate for a thorough and objective external forensic audit of the CRC and Hotel Carmichael. Caleb McCormick addressed Council and stated that there are some animal shelters that are not safe for animals. He supports D-2511-20. Alison Brown stated that it was interested that the cost overrun for Hotel Carmichael had been known for 2 years, but that had not been shared by citizens. She also stated the confidence of the citizenry would be shaken without an external audit. Michelle Cannon explained to Council that as an architect, she has seen these types of overages across the country as we’ve seen with Hotel Carmichael. Arron Stanton addressed Council and stated as a small business owner, he is very excited about the direction of the City and thinks having a Autograph brand hotel in Carmel is a big win for the city. COUNCIL AND MAYORAL COMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS Councilor Green stated that he would like to hear a breakdown of how House Bill 1013, dealing with local government finance, will impact Carmel Council President Campbell announced that March is national disability awareness month and talked about events citizens can participate in. CONSENT AGENDA Councilor Kimball moved to approve the consent agenda. Councilor Finkam seconded. There was no Council discussion. Council President Campbell called for the vote. The motion was approved 9-0. a. Approval of Minutes 1. February 17, 2020 Regular Meeting DocuSign Envelope ID: 6CE0A5ED-AA37-497E-AB20-0979E2BDC649 3 b. Claims 1. Payroll $3,371,895.67 2. General Claims $2,052,543.47 ACTION ON MAYORAL VETOES There were none. COMMITTEE REPORTS Councilor Finkam reported that the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee had met. D-2488-19 remains in committee, D-2511-20 remains in Committee, the City Engineer gave an update on bonds that were funded, and the economic impact development tool was discussed and will be put in ordinance form at the next meeting. Councilor Green reported that the Land Use and Special Studies Committee had met and Ordinance Z- 650-20 is returning with a positive 4-0 recommendation. OTHER REPORTS – (at the first meeting of the month specified below): Henry Mestetsky, Executive Director of the Carmel Redevelopment Commission, gave the monthly report. With regard to the hotel, it was noted that overage isn’t the correct word. The CRC approached Council with an estimate on how much a hotel would cost in 2017 and that cost was based on general estimates. This was done before a hotel was drawn or designed. There was discussion between Council and Mr. Mestetsky regarding him sharing a proforma publicly. The CRC views the hotel as a private entity and a proforma would include trade secrets. OLD BUSINESS Councilor President Campbell announced the Ninth Reading of Ordinance D-2488-19; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Amending Chapter 8, Article 6, Sections 8-56(d) and 8-58(a). Item remains in the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee. . Councilor President Campbell announced the Second Reading of Ordinance Z-650-20; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Rezoning 7 Parcels Located at the Southeast Corner of Meridian Street and Carmel Drive from the MC/Meridian Corridor District to the C2/Mixed Use District; Sponsor. Councilor Green announced that the item is returning from the Land Use and Special Studies Committee with a positive 4-0 recommendation. Adrienne Keeling, Department of Community Services, presented on the item. Councilor Rider moved to approve Ordinance Z-650-20. Councilor Finkam seconded. There was no Council discussion. Council President Campbell called for the vote. Ordinance Z-650-20 was approved 9-0 Councilor President Campbell announced the Second Reading of Ordinance D-2511-20; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Amending Chapter 6, Article 5, Division III, Section 6-99 and Adding Chapter 6, Article 5, Division III, Section 6-102 to the Carmel City Code; Sponsor(s): Councilor(s) Aasen, Campbell, Kimball, Nelson, Finkam, Rider and Worrell. Item remains in the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee. DocuSign Envelope ID: 6CE0A5ED-AA37-497E-AB20-0979E2BDC649 4 PUBLIC HEARINGS There were none. NEW BUSINESS Councilor President Campbell announced the First Reading of Ordinance D-2512-20; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Authorizing the Acquisition, Construction and Installation of Certain Improvements for the Sewage Works System of the City of Carmel, Indiana, the Issuance of Revenue Bonds to Provide the Cost Thereof, the Collection, Segregation and Distribution of the Revenues of Such System, the Safeguarding of the Interests of the Owners of Such Revenue Bonds and Other Matters Connected Therewith, Including the Issuance of Notes in Anticipation of Such Bonds, and Repealing Ordinances Inconsistent Herewith. Councilor Worrell moved to introduce the item into business. Councilor Rider seconded. John Duffy, Utilities Director, presented the item to Council. Council President Campbell refered the item to the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee. Councilor President Campbell announced Resolution CC 03-02-20-01; A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Seeking a Review of Hotel Carmichael Funding. Councilor Rider moved to introduce the item into business. Councilor Worrell seconded. Councilor Finkam introduced the item to Council. Councilor Hannon moved to amend Resolution CC-03-02-20-01by striking authorizes and directs its Finance Committee on line 44 and inserting creates a Special Committee-of-the-Whole. Additionally, by striking Council Finance Committee on line 48, Council Finance Chair on line 50 and Finance Committee on line 52 and inserting Special Committee in each instance. Councilor Nelson seconded the motion. There was extensive Council discussion. Council President Campbell called for the vote. The motion failed 3-6 (Hannon, Green and Nelson voting in favor). Councilor Finkam moved to approve Resolution CC-03-02-20-01. Councilor Rider seconded. There was no Council discussion. Council President Campbell called for the vote. Resolution CC-03-02-20-01 was approved 9-0 AGENDA ADD-ON ITEMS There were none. OTHER BUSINESS Notice of Cancellation of Outstanding Warrants for Fiscal Year 2017 - $1,054.39 (Acknowledgement Only). Outstanding Warrants acknowledged. ANNOUNCEMENTS There were none. EXECUTION OF DOCUMENT ADJOURNMENT Council President Worrell adjourned the meeting at 7:32 p.m. Respectfully submitted, DocuSign Envelope ID: 6CE0A5ED-AA37-497E-AB20-0979E2BDC649 5 ____________________________________ Sue Wolfgang, Clerk Approved, ____________________________________ Laura Campbell, Council President ATTEST: __________________________________ Sue Wolfgang, Clerk DocuSign Envelope ID: 6CE0A5ED-AA37-497E-AB20-0979E2BDC649