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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.21.23 CC Meeting Minutes1 COMMON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2023 – 6:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS/CITY HALL/ONE CIVIC SQUARE MEETING CALLED TO ORDER Council President Jeff Worrell; Council Members: Laura Campbell, Sue Finkam, Kevin D. Rider, Adam Aasen, Anthony Green, Miles Nelson, Teresa Ayers and Deputy Clerk Jacob Quinn were present. Councilor Timothy Hannon was not present. Council President Worrell called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. AGENDA APPROVAL The agenda was approved unanimously. INVOCATION Pastor Ben Snyder, Carmel Friends Church, delivered the Invocation Councilor Nelson led the Pledge of Allegiance. RECOGNITION OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUTSTANDING CITIZENS Council President Worrell and Chief Jim Barlow welcomed Police Officers from Jelgava, Latvia. Boy Scout Evan Manders was recognized for being the Highest Earner in Popcorn Sales in the Carmel Community Council President Worrell recognized the Carmel Fire Department Auxiliary for a Achieving a World Record for most people wearing red plastic fire helmets at once. RECOGNITION OF PERSONS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL Darin Johnson, who’s running for Mayor in Carmel, asked Council to provide the dates land was purchased by the CRC, the total price paid for each parcel, the assessed value at time of purchase, source of public funds used to make the purchases, and finally the sale for price DocuSign Envelope ID: 83224C1D-FA15-4AD7-90F6-DD7EAE45B718 2 which parcel was purchased after it was transferred to a developer. The CRC is tax exempt so when the CRC buys a parcel, it’s no longer taxable. COUNCIL AND MAYORAL COMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS There were none. CONSENT AGENDA Councilor Rider moved to approve the consent agenda. Councilor Finkam seconded. There was no Council discussion. Council President Worrell called for the vote. The motion was approved 8-0. a. Approval of Minutes 1. August 7, 2023 Regular Meeting b. Claims 1. Payroll $3,540,480.08 2. General Claims $3,684,645.94 3. Retirement $107,695.97 4. Wire Transfers $6,121,420.99 ACTION ON MAYORAL VETOES There were none. COMMITTEE REPORTS Council President Worrell reported that the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee had not met. Councilor Campbell stated that the Land Use and Special Studies had not met. OTHER REPORTS – (at the first meeting of the month specified below): There were none. OLD BUSINESS PUBLIC HEARINGS Councilor President Worrell announced the First Reading of Ordinance Z-683-23; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Establishing the Conner Prairie Innovation District Planned Unit Development District. Councilor Aasen moved to introduce the item into business. Councilor Nelson seconded. Councilor Aasen introduced the item to Council. Andrew Bradford, Vice- President and Chief Advancement Office for DocuSign Envelope ID: 83224C1D-FA15-4AD7-90F6-DD7EAE45B718 3 Conner Prairie, presented the item to Council. Councilor Finkam asked the petitioner to be prepared to present in committee how this project will truly benefit residents. Ken Alexander, Site Master Plan Project Manager, stated that this project will be built out over 25 years, with some aspects moving quicker. Mr. Bradford stated that the Food, Farm and Energy will come to life in the next 5 years. The White River Education and Ecology Center will come online in the next 5 years as well as the trails that would be in partnership with Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation. He did not have a timeline for the office building proposed as it’s relative to partners coming on board. The office building would be done by land lease. Everything except the Ecology Center and Food Farm and Energy will likely be a land lease. Councilor Finkam asked for the sq footage, the usage and the number of employees daily for the office building to be presented at committee. Mr. Alexander stated that they will work with the City and an arborist to exceed or at least provide areas of proper plantings along River Road. Councilor Finkam stated she wanted to talk about what kind of events they are planning to have and what kind of growth they are expecting from visitors. Councilor Finkam stated the building is too large and 300 employees everyday is too many. She will be a “no vote” if the office building remains at this scope. Councilor Campbell asked to see the studies that were cited that indicate a 20% increase to nearby property value. The American Alliance of Museum Study was where that number came from. If and when the bridge does get finished, shuttling across the campuses is something they would want to explore. Council President Worrell opened the public hearing at 7:01 p.m. Brenda Myers, Hamilton County Tourism, spoke in favor of the project because of equity, economy and environment. Steve Baughman, resident of the Overlook at the Legacy, stated he is not opposed to the project, but he believes the 15% max coverage is misleading. His biggest objection is the 3- story office building. Paul Zale, resident of the Overlook at the Legacy, thanked Conner Prairie for taking a lot of the comments to heart. Building height in Zone 2 is the biggest objection. Right now, in the PUD, Conner Prairie can subdivide without Council approval. In Zone 1, the windmill looks like it could be up to 125 ft. Jim Roehrdanz, resident of the Overlook at the Legacy and the 2023 President of the HOA, stated they need more of a buffer at the Cherry Creek Blvd roundabout. Matt Rummel, Carmel resident, works in the water resource business and believes they have done a nice job putting it together; it’s environmentally sound. Russ Jones, resident of the Overlook at the Legacy, stated they appreciate Conner Prairie’s work so far, but they need more of a buffer. Mike Hannigan, resident of the Overlook at the Legacy, says it has been a pleasure watching the city grow since he moved here 40 years ago. He asked Council to make sure they keep an eye on the details and ensure it’s a beautiful project. Chrstine Altman, Hamilton County Commissioner, sits on the board of Conner Prairie and is a Clay Township resident, stated that she is excited to bring Conner Prairie to our side of DocuSign Envelope ID: 83224C1D-FA15-4AD7-90F6-DD7EAE45B718 4 the river. Carmel has been successful because we are thoughtful about placemaking, and this offers opportunities for Conner Prairie to be successful. Karen Arland, Carmel resident, is excited about the recreation opportunities this project provides for her grandchildren. Jack Russell, President of OneZone on behalf of the Business Issues Committee of OneZone, spoke in favor of the proposal. They believe this will be a transformational asset to the community. Reggie Henderson, Carmel resident, President of the Board of Directors for Conner Prairie, and employed by Telamon Energy, stated Conner Prairie is approaching this as a partner and he’s been impressed with how well Conner Prairie has worked with residents. He spoke in favor of the project. Mike Cloud, resident of the Overlook at the Legacy, is supportive of the conservative and educational aspects of the project. He is concerned about the proximity of the hotel to the nearby elementary school and is also concerned about the traffic this project will bring. Seeing no one else who wished to address Council, Council President Worrell closed the public hearing at 7:26 p.m. Jon Dobosiewicz, Nelson and Frankenberger, stated that they have added additional buffering to the PUD. He said they met on the site with a group of Plan Commissioners and he believed it was helpful for them. He invited Council to come out as well. C Council President Worrell referred the item to the Land Use and Special Studies Committee. NEW BUSINESS AGENDA ADD-ON ITEMS OTHER BUSINESS City Council Appointments Carmel Advisory Committee on Disability (Completing a Term that Expires on 12/31/23); One appointment. Jim Probst was appointed by Council unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Council President Worrell adjourned the meeting at 7:36 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ____________________________________ Sue Wolfgang, Clerk DocuSign Envelope ID: 83224C1D-FA15-4AD7-90F6-DD7EAE45B718 5 Approved, ____________________________________ Jeff Worrell, Council President ATTEST: __________________________________ Sue Wolfgang, Clerk DocuSign Envelope ID: 83224C1D-FA15-4AD7-90F6-DD7EAE45B718