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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.05.24 CC Meeting Minutes 1 COMMON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 – 6:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS/CITY HALL/ONE CIVIC SQUARE MEETING CALLED TO ORDER Council President Anthony Green; Council Vice-President Adam Aasen; Council Members: Jeff Worrell, Ryan Locke, Rich Taylor, Teresa Ayers, Matthew Snyder, Anita Joshi, Shannon Minnaar and Deputy Clerk Jessica Komp were present. Council President Green called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. AGENDA APPROVAL The agenda was approved unanimously. INVOCATION Pastor Greg Strand, Mercy Road Church, delivered the Invocation. Jonathan led the pledge of allegiance. RECOGNITION OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUSTANDING CITIZENS The Creekside Middle School Tech-nically LEGO Robotics Team was recognized for their achievement of winning the State Championship with their patent-pending innovation to make art masterpieces more accessible to visually impaired persons. Team Coaches Nirav Shah and Priyesh Kheradia shared that the team of 7th and 8th graders will be headed to the World Championship in Houston, Texas in April. Carmel Fire Department Chief David Haboush recognized Captain Scott Tierney upon his retirement for his 37 years of service to the City of Carmel. Captain Tierney started his career with Carmel as a 911 dispatcher, and two years later joined the Carmel Fire Department where he served with dignity for the last 35 years. Captain Tierney has served every rank as a firefighter, and has led with a servant’s heart. He has served as the Rescue Task Force Coordinator for CFD and has served with Task Force One since 2008. He is currently the House Captain at Fire Station 346. Captain Tierney has been deployed nationally on various hurricanes, federal water rescues, and more recently, the Hawaii wildfires and the Surfside Condominium collapse in Miami Beach. Chief Haboush presented Captain Tierney with a commemorative axe, and thanked him for his years of dedicated service. DocuSign Envelope ID: 0DEB65AC-E149-4A41-AEE8-1A1D66FF2D76 2 RECOGNITION OF PERSONS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL There were none. COUNCIL AND MAYORAL COMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS Mayor Sue Finkam introduced Coram Deo Academy Fifth Grader, Jonathan Poer, to give the Mayor’s update to City Council. There have been accepted job offers for an Executive Assistant, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Chief Financial Officer. Recruiting continues for the Chief of Police and two other roles. The Mayor has had very good discussions with the Director of Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation regarding park impact fees. The Mayor thanks the City Councilors for attending the all-team meetings. The Mayor also announced that the community survey will be launching the week of February 12th. CONSENT AGENDA Councilor Aasen moved to approve the consent agenda. Councilor Minnaar seconded. There was no Council discussion. Council President Green called for the vote. The motion was approved 9-0. a. Approval of Minutes 1. January 8, 2024 Regular Meeting 2. January 25, 2024 Claims Meeting b. Claims 1. General Claims - $1,276,700.29 ACTION ON MAYORAL VETOES There were none. COMMITTEE REPORTS Councilor Worrell reported that the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee had not met, but that they do have two items on their agenda and will meet on Thursday, February 8th, 2024. Councilor Snyder reported that the Land Use and Special Studies Committee had met on January 19th, 2024 and had a very productive discussion regarding park impact fees. The committee will meet again on Wednesday, February 7th, 2024. OTHER REPORTS – (at the first meeting of the month specified below): Henry Mestetsky, Executive Director of the Carmel Redevelopment Commission, presented the monthly Redevelopment Commission report. Councilors Taylor and Snyder asked about the Tavern on the Green at the Proscenium, and whether the park impact fund would be receiving the revenue from the Tavern. Director Mestetsky answered no, because the Tavern is privately DocuSign Envelope ID: 0DEB65AC-E149-4A41-AEE8-1A1D66FF2D76 3 owned. The park impact fee credits went to the green grass in front of the Tavern, and not the Tavern itself, which was always planned to be there. The green is open to the public. Councilor Snyder stated that the public is having a hard time with the green’s $865,000.00 price. Jeff Maurer gave the report from the Economic Development Commission. This is the first report since February of 2023. There was a tour of the new Republic Headquarters on July 10, 2023. The EDC met once, on December 7, 2023. The President is Ed Bukovac, Vice President is Jeff Maurer, and the Secretary is Nikki Felix. The EDC voted to approve the Valentina project and the Gramercy project. The EDC typically meets in the fall, but there are not currently any scheduled meetings for 2024. The Ethics Board has not met in the past year, as they typically only meet when there is an ethics complaint to be addressed. The Ethics Board will present a written report at the February 19th Council meeting. Kelvin Okamoto gave a report to Council on behalf of the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Human Relations. The Commission hosted “Celebration of Cultural Diversity” at the Carmel International Arts Festival in September 2023. Groups that participated included the African Council of Indiana, the Burmese American Community Institute, the Carmel-Cortona (Italy) Sister City Committee, the Carmel Sister Cities representing the relationship with Kawachinagano/Osaka/Japan, the Carmel-Jelgava (Latvia) Sister City Committee, the Carmel- Visakhapatnam (India) Sister City Committee, the Carmel-Xiangyang (China) Sister City Committee, the Indiana Association of Chinese Americans, the Indianapolis Chinese Community Center, the Indianapolis Chinese Performing Arts, The Multicultural School of Indiana, The Romain Society from Indiana, and The Ukrainian Society of Indiana. OLD BUSINESS Council President Green announced the Fifth Reading of Ordinance D-2696-23; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Adding Chapter 8, Article 4, Section 8- 44 to the Carmel City Code; Sponsor(s): Councilor(s) Worrell and Aasen. This remains in the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee (2/8/24 Meeting Date). Council President Green read 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 the Same to the Carmel Plan Commission for Recommendation. Sponsor(s): Councilor(s) Aasen, Snyder and Taylor. This remains in the Land Use and Special Studies Committee (2/7/24 Meeting Date). PUBLIC HEARINGS There were none. NEW BUSINESS Council President Green announced Resolution CC-02-05-24-01; A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Authorizing the Investment of Public Funds Pursuant to DocuSign Envelope ID: 0DEB65AC-E149-4A41-AEE8-1A1D66FF2D76 4 IC 5-13-9-5; Sponsor(s): Councilor(s) Worrell, Snyder, Aasen and Joshi. Councilor Aasen moved to introduce. Councilor Ayers seconded. Councilor Aasen introduced the item to Council. Interim Corporation Counsel, Benjamin Legge, explained that this resolution will come to the Council on an annual basis, as it is required by statute, it authorizes the City Controller to solicit quotes for, and investment in, certificates of insurance, which will be banked in the State of Indiana. Councilor Minnaar moved to approve. Councilor Aasen seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Green called for the vote. Resolution approved 9-0. Council President Green announced Resolution CC-02-05-24-02; A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Approving a Transfer of Funds from the Grant Fund (Fund #900) into the General Fund (Fund #101); Sponsor(s): Councilor(s) Worrell, Aasen and Joshi. Councilor Worrell moved to introduce. Councilor Minnaar seconded. Councilor Worrell introduced the item to Council. Benjamin Legge explained that this is simple transfer of $2,000.00 grant funds into the General Fund, which must happen in order for the funds to be used. This was for a reimbursement from the Indiana Arts Commission. Councilor Joshi asked what these funds were used for. Ann Bingman, City Controller, explained that these were two $1,000.00 grants from 2021, one for a mural, and one for post-Covid communications for the city. There were delays in being able to spend the grant money, so the expenditures occurred in 2022, and were finally reimbursed in 2023. This resolution is a request to transfer that reimbursement into the General Fund. Councilor Aasen moved to approve. Councilor Minnaar seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Green called for the vote. Resolution approved 9-0. AGENDA ADD-ON ITEMS There were none. OTHER BUSINESS Council President Green announced the Request for Approval of CRC Purchase of 331 W Main Street. This remains in the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee (2/8/24 Meeting Date). Council President Green announced 2023 Encumbrances in 2024, in the amount of $15,905,211.84. Councilor Aasen made a motion to acknowledge. Councilor Joshi seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Green called for the vote. Encumbrances acknowledged 9-0. City Council Appointments Carmel Cable & Telecommunications Commission (Term expires 3/31/2026, two-year term); One appointment. Councilor Minnaar moved to nominate Sarah Spencer. Councilor Aasen seconded. Councilor Minnaar moved to close nominations. Councilor Aasen seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Green called for the vote. Appointment approved 9-0. Carmel Ethics Board (Term expires 1/1/2026, two-year term); One Democratic appointment. Councilor Joshi moved to nominate Sarah Ogren. Councilor Minnaar seconded. Councilor Joshi DocuSign Envelope ID: 0DEB65AC-E149-4A41-AEE8-1A1D66FF2D76 5 moved to close nominations. Councilor Aasen seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Green called for the vote. Appointment approved 9-0. Carmel City Center Community Development Corporation (Term expires 12/31/2024, one-year term); One appointment. Councilor Aasen moved to nominate Cheryl Wessel. Councilor Taylor seconded. Councilor Minnaar moved to close nominations. Councilor Aasen seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Green called for the vote. Appointment approved 9-0. Carmel Public Art Advisory Committee (Terms expire 1/1/2026, two-year terms); Nine appointments. Council President Green announced that no Council appointments will be made to this committee until the new administration has decided how this committee will be restructured. This will require an ordinance, which is still forthcoming. ANNOUNCEMENTS ADJOURNMENT Council President Green adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, _______________________________ Jacob Quinn, Clerk Approved, _______________________________ Anthony Green, Council President ATTEST: _______________________________ Jacob Quinn, Clerk DocuSign Envelope ID: 0DEB65AC-E149-4A41-AEE8-1A1D66FF2D76