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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.01.24 CC Meeting Minutes1 COMMON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, JULY 1, 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: Ryan Locke, Rich Taylor, Teresa Ayers, Matthew Snyder, Anita Joshi, Shannon Minnaar and Deputy Clerk Jessica Komp were present. Councilor Jeff Worrell was not present. Council President Green called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. AGENDA APPROVAL The agenda was approved unanimously. INVOCATION Imam Anisse Adni, Al Salam Foundation, delivered the Invocation. Mohawk Trails 5th grader Ben Falkenstein led the pledge of allegiance. RECOGNITION OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUTSTANDING CITIZENS There were none. RECOGNITION OF PERSONS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL Jill Meisenheimer spoke about the proposed DORA ordinance. Ms. Meisenheimer voiced her desire to have a public hearing to let the citizens express their concerns or support for this. She would like to know how having a designated outdoor refreshment area would benefit the public, and the specifics as to how it would work. Wade Tharp also expressed his concern with the proposed DORA. He shared that he has talked to several police officers, and at least five stated that having a DORA would make their job more difficult. Mr. Tharp believes that this will only benefit the businesses, not the citizens. He does not understand why this is being considered, after all of the issues with public intoxication that have happened along the Monon, specifically at The GOAT. COUNCIL AND MAYORAL COMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS Ben Falkenstein gave the Mayor’s update to Council. The Mayor reports that three swimmers, one tennis player and one swim coach will be representing Carmel at the Olympic games in Paris, France. We will be changing the street names in Midtown Plaza in our Olympians’ honor. The Mayor also reported that the Leadership Team is working on many initiatives, including changing our budget to be zero-based, finalizing our first transparency portal, doing a salary study, updating all benefits, reviewing all non-profit Docusign Envelope ID: 241E1090-F57C-4818-A95B-D28E0D0A0FA5 2 agreements, completing three urban planning studies, initiating a 311 program, rebranding our city, partnering with Council on the DORA program, supporting the UDO and Bond reviews, working on several new developments, and hiring three executive leaders. Mayor Finkam expressed her gratitude for the work that the city’s leaders are doing to support all of these new initiatives. CONSENT AGENDA Councilor Minnaar moved to approve the consent agenda. Councilor Aasen seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Green called for the vote. The consent agenda was approved 8-0. a. Approval of Minutes 1. June 17, 2024 Executive Session 2. June 17, 2024 Regular Meeting b. Claims 1. General Claims - $3,647,511.82 and $18,271.69 (Purchase Card) 2. Retirement - $110,204.16 ACTION ON MAYORAL VETOES There were none. COMMITTEE REPORTS Councilor Locke reported that the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee had not met since the last Council meeting. The committee currently has one item on its agenda, Ordinance D-2696-23, the “roundabout speed limit” ordinance, which will be discussed at the next committee meeting, date to be determined. Councilor Snyder reported that the Land Use and Special Studies Committee met on June 26th at the Carmel Clay Public Library. Discussion of the UDO continued, and there was also discussion of the short-term non-dwelling rental ordinance, as well as a general discussion on the merits of a DORA. OTHER REPORTS There were no reports given. The Carmel Redevelopment Commission’s monthly report will be given during the July 15th Council meeting. OLD BUSINESS Council President Green announced the thirteenth 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. Council President Green announced the second reading of Ordinance Z-690-24; An Ordinance establishing Non-Dwelling Short Term Rental Use-Specific Standards and Definitions in the Unified Development Ordinance; Sponsor(s): Councilor(s) Worrell and Minnaar. Adrienne Keeling, Planning Administrator for the Department of Community Services, explained that this ordinance proposes a new definition, standards Docusign Envelope ID: 241E1090-F57C-4818-A95B-D28E0D0A0FA5 3 and approval process for non-dwelling short-term rentals. Councilor Aasen asked Councilor Snyder if this was fully supported without any objections in the Land Use and Special Studies Committee, and Councilor Snyder replied that it was. However, Councilor Snyder then asked if non-profits would be exempt from this, because there are instances where large estates rent out accessory buildings for the betterment of the community, and we need to make sure these events can still happen. Councilor Locke concurred that there might be an issue because those types of events would exceed the maximum number of guests proposed by this ordinance. In light of these new concerns, Ordinance Z-690-24 was sent back to the Land Use and Special Studies Committee for further review. NEW BUSINESS Council President Green announced the first reading of Ordinance D-2715-24; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Amending Chapter 2, Article 2, Section 2-4 of the Carmel City Code; Sponsor: Aasen. Councilor Aasen moved to introduce the item into business. Councilor Minnaar seconded. Councilor Aasen presented the item to Council. Samantha Karn, Corporation Counsel, explained that this ordinance would designate a person to attend Board of Public Works meetings in the Mayor’s stead. Councilor Aasen moved to suspend the rules and act on this tonight. Councilor Taylor seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Green called for the vote. Motion to Suspend the Rules approved 8-0. Councilor Aasen then moved to approve the ordinance. Councilor Minnaar seconded. There was no discussion. Council President Green called for the vote. Ordinance D-2715-24 approved 7-1. (Locke opposed.) Council President Green announced the first reading of Ordinance D-2718-24; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, establishing a designated outdoor refreshment area; Sponsor(s): Worrell, Snyder and Aasen. Councilor Minnaar moved to introduce the item into business. Councilor Snyder seconded. Councilor Snyder presented the item to Council. Councilor Taylor stated that the Ordinance’s sponsor must move to introduce the item into business. Councilor Aasen then moved to introduce the item. Samantha Karn explained that this was something that has worked successfully in other cities. She stated that there are items in this ordinance that will need to be worked out in committee, such as signage, the actual cups to be used, and the times and dates for the DORA. Councilor Taylor stated that this has worked in other cities by using a printed label that is affixed to the beverage container which shows the date it was purchased. Councilor Minnaar asked if there would be a cap on the number of businesses that could apply to be part of the DORA. Ms. Karn replied that there was not a maximum number. Councilor Aasen said that this process would help those businesses that have already invested in our community to be involved in the festivals going on in the district, instead of only allowing those privileges to outside vendors. Councilor Snyder stated that this process will make the area safer, by containing the area within which alcoholic beverages can be publicly consumed. Councilor Joshi asked that this item be sent to committee, as a number of issues have been identified to be vetted out. Council President Green sent Ordinance D-2718-24 to the Land Use and Special Studies Committee. Council President Green announced the first reading of Ordinance D-2716-24; An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, Amending Chapter 5, Article 1, Section 5-3(b)(2) of the Carmel City Code; Sponsor(s): Worrell, Snyder and Aasen. Councilor Snyder moved to introduce. Councilor Aasen seconded. Councilor Snyder presented the item to Council. Samantha Karn explained that this ordinance works in conjunction with Ordinance D-2718-24, to amend alcohol prohibition on certain sections of the Monon Greenway, and that both ordinances would need to go into effect at the same time. Council President Green sent Ordinance D-2716-24 to the Land Use and Special Studies Committee. Docusign Envelope ID: 241E1090-F57C-4818-A95B-D28E0D0A0FA5 4 AGENDA ADD-ONS There were none. OTHER BUSINESS a. Petition to Hamilton County Drainage Board for Vernon Asher Drain Councilor Taylor explained that six of the drainage inlets for the 111th Street Multi-Use Path that is being constructed will flow into the Vernon Asher Drain. The Hamilton County Drainage Board drafted this petition, which will allow those inlet connections to be made, and will make the Hamilton County Drainage Board responsible to maintain those inlets. Councilor Taylor moved to execute the petition as presented. Councilor Aasen seconded the motion. There was no discussion. Council President Green called for the vote. Petition to Hamilton County Drainage Board for Vernon Asher Drain approved 8-0. ANNOUNCEMENTS There were none. ADJOURNMENT Council President Green adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, _______________________________ Jacob Quinn, Clerk Approved, _______________________________ ATTEST: Anthony Green, Council President _______________________________ Jacob Quinn, Clerk Docusign Envelope ID: 241E1090-F57C-4818-A95B-D28E0D0A0FA5