City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL DECEMBER 9, 2013 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on December 9, 2013 in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Michael Opinker presided. City Clerk Robert J. Golec facilitated. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker ABSENT: None TOTAL: 9 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes of November 18, 2013 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved to accept the claims from November 13, 2013 through December 4, 2013. Claim #5678 through claim #6044, inclusive. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved to amend in claim: #6045 Councilman Anthony Higgs City Council $126.44 ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 CLAIMS AMENDED ROLL CALL VOTE (approval) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 CLAIMS APPROVED (as amended) 1 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL DECEMBER 9, 2013 PUBLIC HEARINGS 13-54 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Hammond, Indiana Designating Certain Areas within the City as Economic Revitalization Areas for Purposes of Residential Real Property Tax Abatement Citywide Housing Infill Program (CHIP) No one spoke. COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Higgs read a letter to himself thanking him for his nomination to the Hammond Sports Hall of Fame. Councilman Higgs read letter from the Ophelia Steen Center who are in desperate need of a computer. COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole – Councilman Kalwinski – Brought out 13-52 and 13-54. ORDINANCE 3RD READING – FINAL PASSAGE 13-52 An Ordinance Authorizing the City Controller to Transfer from One Line Item to Another within Various City 2013 Budgets Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9238 PASSED 13-54 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Hammond, Indiana Designating Certain Areas within the City as Economic Revitalization Areas for Purposes of Residential Real Property Tax Abatement Citywide Housing Infill Program (CHIP) Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final passage. Councilman Kalwinski – This ordinance is an update to the original ordinance that is ten plus years old and in order to add new addresses to the ordinance for the C.H.I.P. Infill program we have to put them in and list them into the ordinances and so that’s what we’re doing this for today. 2 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL DECEMBER 9, 2013 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9239 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 13-55 An Ordinance Authorizing the City Controller to Transfer from One Line Item to Another Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved that the proposed ordinance go to 1st and 2nd reading by title. Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to amend 13-55. Under reduce, under the first one, General Services, from $24,780 to $22,000. The next one, $7,000, strike that out. Under total for $30,525. Councilman Markovich – We had discussion in caucus and the reason for this change is there seems to be $9,300 that might have got lost from last year to this year and we’re in the process of trying to find out what happened to that. So that’s why there’s this reduction. Our bookkeeper, our secretary, Debbie Jimenez, had the figures and so forth and all of that but all of a sudden now there’s a difference of $9,300. So that’s why we’re making the reduction. This is basically going for the Promotional Account where a lot of people in Hammond are in need at the time, it’s Christmas time, and that’s where this money is going. But, we’re looking into the fact that what happened to the $9,300 from last year that for some reason didn’t get transferred or encumbered or whatever. So that’s what we’re doing here tonight. Council President Opinker – All those in favor? All opposed? AYES: ALL ROLL CALL VOTE (1st & 2nd reading & amendment) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 PASSED ON 1ST & 2ND READING AMENDMENT ADOPTED Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to suspend the rules to consider 13-55 for final passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (suspend rules) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RULES SUSPENDED 3 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL DECEMBER 9, 2013 SUSPENSION OF RULES Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for final passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9240 PASSED (as amended) Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to return to the regular order of business. AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS 13R-38 Opposing the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority’s Decision to Divert Lake County Tax Dollars to outside its Jurisdiction Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved for final adoption. Councilman Higgs asked to be added as a sponsor. Councilman Higgs – I feel as though that it’s very much needed that this particular event remain in our area, Lake County. I don’t feel it’s fair that it would be removed from this area. There are a number of businesses, not just in my district but throughout the city that participate and hire people to work these particular events and I feel it’s totally unfair to the taxpayers as well as the residents of my great city to divert this and take it to another county. And I applaud the mayor’s effort in speaking to this particular issue. Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to add the entire council as sponsors. AYES: ALL Councilwoman Venecz – I do agree with Councilman Higgs that the Air Show should be however in Lake County, not just Hammond. It needs to be in Lake County. The dollars generated that support the South Shore Convention and Visitor’s Authority are generated in Lake County. If we do not support and cheer for Lake County, who is going to? I really think that the South Shore Convention & Visitor’s Bureau should focus on Lake County. As of late there were funds that were given to support events outside of Lake County. As I said before, if we don’t cheer for Lake County nobody else is, so I am in full support of this resolution. Council President Opinker asked the Clerk to read 13R-38. City Clerk Golec reads the resolution in its entirety. 4 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL DECEMBER 9, 2013 RESOLUTIONS cont. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION R38 ADOPTED 13R-39 Preliminary Economic Revitalization Area Resolution for the Citywide Housing Infill Program (CHIP) Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for adoption. Councilman Kalwinski – This resolution and the next one coming are part of the process to complete the ordinance that we approved earlier today regarding the C.H.I.P. Infill Program. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION R39 ADOPTED 13R-40 Confirmatory Economic Revitalization Area Resolution for the Citywide Housing Infill Program (CHIP) Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for adoption. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION R40 ADOPTED 13R-41 Reappoint Gregory Myricks to the Hammond Redevelopment Commission Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved for adoption. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION R41 ADOPTED 5 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL DECEMBER 9, 2013 RESOLUTIONS cont. 13R-42 Reappoint Miriam Soto Pressley to the Hammond Redevelopment Commission ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION R42 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilwoman Venecz – As I do at every meeting, I’d like to read a list of the upcoming Community and Crime Watch Meetings. Thur., Dec. 12 Whiting/Robertsdale C.W. Calumet College 6:30 pm Mon., Dec. 16 Columbia C.W. Columbia School 6:30 pm Tues, Dec. 17 East Ham’d Pullman C.W. Ophelia Steen Center 6:30 pm Wed., Dec. 18 Lafayette Neighborhood Watch Lafayette School 6:30 p.m. That is how change happens, one person, one gesture, one moment at a time. Councilman Emerson – Just want to take a moment to thank everybody who came out to the Hammond Holiday Parade. I want to thank Michelle Turchany, she did a great job. It was a little chilly but everybody seemed to have a good time. I had plenty of candy left over and wish everyone Happy Holidays. Thank you. Councilman Higgs – I would be remiss if I didn’t send my condolences to our judge, he lost his sister over a week ago I think it was and I didn’t get the news until after the services but I certainly want to send my condolences to his family. As well as to the Andrews family, where minister Andrews passed away this past weekend and he’s gonna be funeralized on Thursday. So I send my condolences to those two families. Councilman Opinker, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved to send a letter to Speros Batestatos requesting a copy of their budget and salaries. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: DECEMBER 10, 2013 Council President Opinker – On behalf of myself and the whole City Council I’d like to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Safe New Year. Councilman Markovich – Just a reminder, we are not meeting December 23rd. That meeting has been cancelled. In case some people want to show up, that meeting’s been cancelled for December 23rd. 6 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL DECEMBER 9, 2013 PUBLIC EXPRESSION Alvin Cheeks – This has been a tough year. We’ve had 32 funerals including my mother’s. Everyone enjoy your holidays. Attended a U.S. Marshal’s conference and they said if we just increase our city lights to 250 watts that would deter crime by 4%. Relocating the Air Show will hurt the local vendors. Likes the economic development going on in North Hammond. Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL ________________________ Michael Opinker, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: ___________________________ Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Minutes approved at the Common Council meeting of January 13, 2014. Time: 6:35 pm cb 7 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk