City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL APRIL 28, 2014 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on April 28, 2014 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, Uylaki, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker ABSENT: Kalwinski, Higgs TOTAL: 7 PRESENTATION OF COUNCIL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Ms. Myricks - I just want to review a little bit about the Hammond Common Council Scholarships. I once again thank you on behalf of the kids of Hammond for supporting this endeavor. The Hammond Common Council Scholarships Fund was actually established back in 2000, so fourteen years ago the Hammond Council members worked with the School City of Hammond Administrators and the Legacy Foundation to set up the program after the Council received a $300 thousand endowment donation from Whiteco Industries. This money was donated as part of the sale of the Optimist Park. The endowment, which is managed by the Legacy Foundation uses only the interest to fund the scholarships. The number of scholarships may vary from year to year depending on interest rates. The Council’s intent is to encourage Hammond students to go to college and reach their goals. High school seniors attending Hammond high schools have the opportunity to receive a $1 thousand scholarship using the following criteria. The student must enroll in a college or university of a students choice as a full time student. The student must enter into a two or four year degree program and they must keep a minimum GPA of C or above. The scholarship winners will be drawn this evening and we will recognize them at a later date. This year we have added H.A.S.T. to the schools that are receiving scholarships and I’m pleased to announce this evening that we have 114 students who actually applied for these scholarships. Bishop Noll H.A.S.T. Clark H.S. Marquis Tarver/ Winner Piage Rybicki/ Winner Anais Picazzo/ Winner Anthony Esparza/ Alt. 1 Amy Michelin/ Alt. 1 Laura Moreno/ Winner Krystal Patterson/ Alt. 2 Elizabeth Gomez/ Alt. 2 Jacob Villalpando/ Winner Daniel Leon/ Alt. 1 Vanessa Almanza/ Alt. 2 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 PRESENTATION OF COUNCIL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS cont. Gavit H.S. Hammond H.S. Morton H.S. Kaela Cousins/ Winner Osiris Morales/ Winner Jamila Musa/ Winner Lawrenzo Howell/ Winner Eric Schrieber, Jr./ Winner Shelby Rodriguez/ Winner Luis Ruiz/ Winner Shenetha Shepherd/ Winner Celina Torres/ Winner Gabriela Rodriguez/ Alt. 1 Precious Perkins/ Alt. 1 Christan Torres/ Winner Samantha Paloma/ Alt. 2 India Johnson/ Alt. 2 DaJanea Terverbaugh/ Alt. 1 Priscilla Pulido/ Alt. 2 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved to accept the minutes of April 14, 2014 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved to approve the claims from April 9, 2014 through April 23, 2014. Claim #2231 through claim #2408, inclusive. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to amend in claim: #2409 Hammond F.O.P. Common Council $100.00 ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Uylaki, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Kalwinski, Higgs Motion carried 7/0/2 AMENDMENT ADOPTED ROLL CALL VOTE (as amended) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Uylaki, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Kalwinski, Higgs Motion carried 7/0/2 CLAIMS APPROVED (as amended) Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 PUBLIC HEARINGS 14-12 An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 8514, Being: an Ordinance Establishing a Zoning Plan for the City of Hammond in Order to Provide for Orderly Growth and Development Within the City, All in Accordance with the Comprehensive/land Use Plan; for Purposes of Amending Various Titles to Incorporate Provisions for the Regulation of Restaurant Open Air Seating and Restaurant Outdoor Seating No one Spoke. COMMUNICATIONS None COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole - Councilman Hinojosa - Brought out 14-10 and 14-12. ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 14-10 An Ordinance Amending Ord. 4673, Amended Ord. 4994, Amended Ord. 6035, Amended Ord. 7657, Amended Ord. 8435, also known as Section 94.091 of the Hammond Municipal Code as it Pertains to Cutting and Cleaning Properties in Hammond Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final passage. Councilwoman Venecz - This ordinance will allow the City Inspection Department to give ten day notice to managing or controlling property owners for tall grass or vegetation. This is in regard to abandoned, bank owned, and neglected properties. If the property owner fails to clean the property they would be charged $200 in administrative costs and in addition to the cost of the clean up. The amount will be placed on the tax bill. The Inspections Department will than have the discretion to issue a continuous abatement for those who think they can clean the property once and not again. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Uylaki, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Kalwinski, Higgs Motion carried 7/0/2 ORDINANCE NO. 9249 PASSED Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. 14-12 An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 8514, Being: an Ordinance Establishing a Zoning Plan for the City of Hammond in Order to Provide for Orderly Growth and Development Within the City, All in Accordance with the Comprehensive/land Use Plan; for Purposes of Amending Various Titles to Incorporate Provisions for the Regulation of Restaurant Open Air Seating and Restaurant Outdoor Seating Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved for final passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Uylaki, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Kalwinski, Higgs Motion carried 7/0/2 ORDINANCE NO. 9250 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 14-13 Authorizing the City to Issue its Taxable Economic Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2014 (Gateway Area Project) Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading by title and referred it to the Finance Committee. AYES: ALL 14-14 Amending Ord. No.’s 8754 and 8755, Creating and now Extending the College Bound Scholarship Program Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading by title and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee. AYES: ALL Councilwoman Venecz - This ordinance is in regard to the extension of the College Bound Program going through the school year of 2025 and 2026. The College Bound will be funded with the proceeds from the Illinois water. 14-15 Reclassifying Certain Lands in the City of Hammond for Zoning Purposes for Thirteen Properties Commonly known as All Parcels from Approx. 2450 to 2720 Sheffield Avenue and 2410 to 2640 Calumet Avenue in and around Wolf Lake Memorial Park Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading by title and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee. AYES: ALL Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES cont. 14-16 Designating a Certain Area within the City as an Economic Development Target Area for purposes of Real Property (10) Year Tax Abatement at 2848 Carlson Drive, Oxbow Landing, Lot 1 Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading by title, referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee with a Public hearing set for June 9, 2014. AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS 14R-11 Resolution for Common Council and School Board to Meet on Different Days Councilman Higgs is now present. City Clerk Golec reads the proposed resolution in its entirety. Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for passage. Councilman Hinojosa - The reason I brought this out is I believe it’s been about somewhere around five years since the council and the school board have met on different days. I believe the School Board was the last one to move their day to the same day as the council. So, hopefully this resolution will get to the board members from the School Board and we can get them to move their day this time to back to the first and third Monday so that the Council could go to some of the meetings. I know I’d be interested in going and especially right not that it came out in the newspaper that 20 schools from the city of Hammond received D’s and F’s. Councilwoman Venecz - First of all it was in, I believe, January of 2012 that we changed our time from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. so more residents would be able to attend the meetings. Many people work. To stay up past 10 o’clock in a lot of cases was a burden to some people. So some residents requested that we change the time, which we did. That ordinance passed with a vote of eight to one. So all of us agreed, with the exception of one councilman, and I believe that was Councilman Markovich to change our time from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. With regard to the line in the ordinance that says, I’m sorry, the resolution, “that each deals with issues affecting matters under the jurisdiction of the other”, I don’t know what they are. As far as I know, we have no authority, or no power, or no control over what goes on at the School Board meetings. There have been school board meetings that were at different times that I’ve gone. I haven’t seen anybody else there. With regard to the grades that our schools are getting. It’s no secret in the State of Indiana that the grading system for our schools is a mess. To sit up here and say that, you know, our schools are getting failing grades is just not an accurate description of what’s going on in our schools. I go to our schools. I see the dedication of our teachers. I have, as all of you know, I announce at every Council meeting, the Crime Watch meetings which I will at the end of this one. One of the schools that I go to is Irving Elementary School. The grade that that school received is not reflective of the hard work that they do over there. I see it going on. So, that’s all I have to say. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 RESOLUTIONS cont. Councilman Higgs - First and foremost let me say this, as it relates to being a elected official in the City of Hammond, schools are very important to me. One of the programs that we tried to implement in Maywood Elementary was Brainware, Safari Brainware after school tutoring program. Which we have had very much difficulty in getting that to move forward in the elementary school system. It was utilized for one year and funding was set aside through redevelopment for the second year and for whatever reason the Superintendent as well as the principal has not implemented that program in the Maywood Elementary School system. Secondly, what’s being discussed in this particular ordinance, or resolution should I say, excuse me, is that to schedule a meeting so this accommodates so that those that are interested in participating and being a part of the School Board meeting so that there’s availability so that we can attend the meeting. So I think that’s the purpose of the resolution. I don’t see any problem with it because, as for me, I’m actively involved and have been involved for a number of years in the school system as well as being in the Civil City. We know there’s two separate entities, Civil City and School City. School City is just as important to me and the kids being provided a ability to achieve what’s necessary to be productive citizens in our United States of America is a phenomenal thing in my respect. That was one of the reasons why it was very important for me to step up to the plate and make sure the library wasn’t dissolved. Because I felt as though it was needed in our city. So, in regards to this particular resolution I think it’s important that we be able to attend and that there’s flexibility so that we can attend. It makes no sense for both of the meetings to be set aside on the same day as our Council meeting. It’s a conflict and it’s very difficult if there are issues that are pertaining to our school system we can’t get there and express our opinion because, guess what, we’re in a Council meeting. So I certainly understand Councilman Hinojosa’s plight in regards to this particular resolution in trying to utilize his ability to assist in whatever endeavors there may be as it relates to the School System. It only makes sense to me, and again, as I stated previously, and the director of Redevelopment is here, the funding was set aside for Safari Brainware for this year and it was not implemented, and that’s a program that was funded, the first year, out of private money. Then we worked extremely hard to get the funding, with the help of Owana, applying for Community Block Grant Funds, to provide for these students and the program was not even implemented. Yes, our students, it’s no secret, you read the paper, the schools are failing in Hammond. We need to do whatever we can to assist. Although we are not on the School Board, we have the ability to also what? Get out there and select those individuals that may be elected. But that’s neither here or there. The reality of it is that it’s just as important as the Civil City, as it relates to this particular issue and I feel it’s important that we have the flexibility to get to the meetings. Councilman Markovich - I believe the School Board meetings used to be on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month whereas the City Council is on the 2nd and the 4th Monday of the month. So it never used to be a problem and from what I understand the reason why they changed it because one of the School Board members had a night class on a certain night so that’s why they changed it. Well, I don’t know how long ago that was, maybe four or five years ago and I don’t know if they’re still going to night school or that class is still being offered where they were going for school. Now, as far as changing our time from 8 o’clock to 6 o’clock, yeah, I was the only one that voted against it and the reason being proofs in the pudding. We’ve got eleven people here tonight. Five of them are department heads. A couple are here because election’s coming up next year. Then the rest, three of them, are citizens. So that’s what’s going on. And I just checked with the internet and there’s only nine people right now watching on the internet. Where as when we had them at 8 o’clock, you know, we had anywhere from Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 6 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 RESOLUTIONS cont. Councilman Markovich cont. - thirty to forty people here depending on what kind of issue was coming up or whatever, and you’d have 100 to 150, 200 people watching at 8 o’clock at night. Nobody’s home from work yet at 6 o'clock. How many people have computers in their kitchens where they’re gonna sit there and watch the computer in the Council meeting and try and cook dinner and eat dinner at the same time? Whereas before, when it was on cable television with Comcast, you at least had a t.v. set in your kitchen and if you wanted to eat late, enjoy some libations and everything else, and in some cases, depending on what happened at the council meeting, people got so ticked off they came down here and they made sure they got to talk under public expression. So, the other thing is, like Councilman Higgs mentioned about election. This is the first time that the School Board election’s gonna be in the fall. So you don’t have to worry about declaring yourself as a democrat in the primary because now the School Board election is gonna be in the fall and you can just go there and say, “Hey, I want to vote.” Whether you vote democrat or republican or School Board there’s no reason for not coming out to vote for the School Board. So that’s another good thing that’s happened. But I would suggest that we make contact with the School Board and see if they can go back to their 1st and 3rd meeting, 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, and see if we can come to some kind of compromise. Our meetings are set by ordinance. There’s was just at the whim of one Board member that was taking a night class and it was interfered with the School Board meeting, so. But I think if we work together and contact them that maybe some kind of resolution, well this is what we’re passing here tonight, but we can’t tell them what to do but I’ll tell you what, the councilman brought up some good issues as far as grades and so forth. There’s an election this year so I’m sure it’s probably gonna get pretty heated and controversial and they’ll probably be a lot of people running. Councilman Hinojosa - I think what it all boils down to with twenty schools being D’s and F’s, what it boils down to is the city of Hammond as a whole failed. We all failed and we need to take the right steps of the right direction and this would be the right direction by passing this resolution and having different days for the School Board and the Hammond City Council. I believe I heard from somebody from the police department that said we don’t even have D.A.R.E. Program anymore. Police Department doesn’t even have D.A.R.E. anymore. You remember D.A.R.E.? I mean they were all involved with the schools and we don’t even have that anymore. Of course, you go out walking, you go out talking to all the people out there, the number one reason why they move out of Hammond is because of the schools. The grade schools are great. Right now I got grand kids going to the grade schools. I got one at Scott School and the big reasons why they don’t sent their kids to the Hammond Public Schools is the middle schools and the high schools. I mean but even thought they’re there and we got to support them and that’s why I want to pass this resolution, and I want to be there to support the School Board. I’d like to go these meetings. I’d like to be a little more .... talk to these board members a little more and at least by being there at their meetings, afterwards we can talk to them. We can be vocal at these meetings. Bob made a good point there, that before, in fact it was just three days ago, I was talking to a lady and she told me why don’t they have the Council meetings on cable television anymore. I answered with my opinion, they don’t want it on cable television. It’s a fact right here that you only have nine people viewing on the internet but if you had it on cable television I’d bet you’d have 50-60 people or more watching these council meetings and I think we should go back to it. I know me and Bob and Higgs have tried but just went around in circles because there’s people out there don’t want it on television. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 7 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 RESOLUTIONS cont. Councilman Higgs - I think the reality of it is that what the resolution is stating, changing the meeting, but Chico you have to be more clear in clarifying exactly what you’re requesting in this particular resolution because our meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Monday, even if we should pass this resolution there’s no guarantee as to whether or not the School Board is gone up here to this particular resolution. Councilman Hinojosa - I believe we can start by passing this resolution and then under New and Unfinished Business say that we just passed this resolution.... I think we’ll wait til it’s signed by all parties and then we can send a letter to the School Board requesting that they change their meeting and then hopefully we can get somewhere. Councilwoman Venecz - First of all, and I’ll make this brief, the reason that the council meetings are not on cable is because the FCC told the cable companies that they no longer had to supply a Public Access Television. So Comcast was under no obligation to supply the forum for the Council meetings to be broadcast. That’s number one. Number two, and when the Council meetings were on Comcast you had to sit there from 8 o’clock to whenever to watch them. Now we do have the capability on gohammond.tv. There may be only a few viewers now but go back and check and look at some of the meetings and look at how many viewers have revisited some of the Council meetings and you’ll be able to see how many really interested people there are. It’s on demand viewing with gohammond.tv. Lastly, I am on the H.A.S.T. School Board. Never saw anybody else there. A couple of concerned parents. Never seen any Council members there. Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to amend out of this resolution, “each deals with issues affecting matters under the jurisdiction of the other”. Councilman Higgs - What are we particularly amending out of this particular ordinance as it relates, I’m sorry, resolution, as it relates to this particular resolution? What section are we taking out of it? Councilwoman Venecz - The second line, “are both elected by the voters of the city of Hammond and each deals with the issues affecting matters under the jurisdiction of the other”. Councilman Higgs - Well, in reality that’s true. I mean. Councilwoman Venecz - We do not have any authority, or control, or power over the School Board and vice versa. Councilman Hinojosa - If we can get some comments from Council Atty. Bob Berger. How would this affect or not affect the resolution? Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 8 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 RESOLUTIONS cont. ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Spitale, Venecz, Uylaki, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: Markovich, Higgs, Hinojosa ABSENT: Kalwinski Motion carried 5/3/1 AMENDMENT ADOPTED Councilman Markovich - Some of the comments that Councilwoman Venecz made about Comcast, yes they did change the FCC but several councilmen wanted to come up with the money to go ahead and still have that cable where we could have these meetings on cable television and this other council or the administration would not allow it. It was probably about $75 to $80 thousand to put in a new signal or new line or whatever so these meetings could be on Comcast cable. That was voted down and that’s where we we’re at. Granted, that you have to be there to watch it from 8 to 10 o’clock or whatever the meeting lasted but more people were home from work during that time. Not seeing and not knowing exactly when you go to gohammond.com, but I’ve heard several comments and I don’t know if there’s a time frame listed for when they do the replays or if the entire Council meeting is played on gohammond.com but I’ve heard several people say that they’ve watched these Council meetings live now on the internet and when they told their friends about it and went to go watch it that these Council meetings were being edited. In other words all the information and issues that were coming up at the council meeting, all of them were not on the version on demand for when they went ahead for the replays and several people have told me that. So I don’t know if it’s because of time restraints that there’s not enough time for the replay or if there was certain issues that were controversial and didn’t want to get replayed or whatever reason, you can guess. So that’s the information that I have. We still have the cameras and equipment sitting in cabinets back there from Comcast, it’s just that it’s never been played forward or the money was not wanted to be appropriated for that. Councilwoman Venecz - The equipment that Comcast had was outdated. We’re in a digital age now. The computers are the way to go. It would have cost us a lot of money to continually upgrade that equipment. With the computer you use the internet, boom there it is. With regard to the meetings being edited, I beg to differ. I’ve gone back and I’ve watched some of those meetings and there has not been anything cut out, believe me. So whoever is accusing that the .... Jake, do you know anything? There’s nothing edited out. Of course not. There’s the Board of Works, there were College Bound meetings, there’s all sorts of meetings that are on gohammond.tv that if someone is not able to make the event or the meeting or whatever they can go back and revisit those meetings and see exactly what was said. There is no editing there. Councilman Emerson - If I could just add to what Councilwoman Venecz said earlier before this statement. The School Board meetings themselves are on the School City website and they go back at least two years, I believe. I’m pretty sure they back all of this year and last year. So you can see in it’s entirety the School Board meeting which the resolution is referring to if it’s about input that you may not read in the paper, whatever. Councilman Hinojosa - I believe Councilwoman Janet Venecz said maybe a figure of $75 thousand to update them once in a while. I think that’s kind of peanuts compared to the 911 system that the Police Department is gonna get where they’re gonna have to get radios, program radios or something, that are gonna cost $2 million. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 9 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 RESOLUTIONS cont. Councilman Hinojosa cont. - $75 thousand is nothin compared to $2 million. Everything needs to be upgraded. Even Jake’s equipment there. I bet that needs to be new equipment all the time. Everything needs to be updated and brought up. Councilman Higgs - The reality of it is that everybody doesn’t have a computer or internet access, especially in my community. There are a number of people just struggling to keep food on the table. More less, a computer or pay for internet service. Some people don’t even have cable. I mean, the reality of it is everybody doesn’t have the ability to see these meetings. I think, personally, and I don’t have a problem with saying it, the reason why the meetings were taken away is because there were some issues that were brought up and for the other side of the people that felt that it wasn’t feasible to be seen, it was taken away. That’s what happened. The issues and the complaints and the voices were being heard and they seen it live and certainly a number of people came up to me on a several occasions saying what a wonderful job the Council is doing or we seen you on the internet or the cable, or whatnot, on channel whatever it was, in regards to the Council meeting and we really appreciate what you’re doing. So, you know, the reality of it is that a number of people just don’t have the ability to afford the internet service and I wish that it was more accessible to the community and the to the city so that people could view our Council meetings. Whatever is necessary. But when it was taken away, you know, I heard more people saying I was watching the telecast than they do now. So, for whatever reason. But it doesn’t take away the fact that they should be here present at the meeting. I won’t take that away either. Because in order for you to actually know what’s going on you need to be visible and I feel that anyone that feels that it’s important and is committed to the community should take the time to at least some to the Council meetings. So that’s my whole point in it all. I mean the reality of it is they should come out and not just when you have a disagreement but when it’s something going on whether it for the your benefit or if it’s for the city’s benefit, you need to be visible and you need to be vigilant and you need to show your face. Bottom line. Councilwoman Venecz - I would just like to point out that the FCC decision to not ... that the cable companies did not have to supply the Local Access Station, Federal mandate. Councilman Hinojosa referred to E911, State mandate. No control, we don’t have any control there. Councilman Higgs - Certainly if we can spend $572 thousand for a tennis court we can certainly afford to pay for some internet service and cable for the citizens of this great city. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption as amended) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Higgs, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Kalwinski Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION R11 ADOPTED (as amended) Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 10 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 RESOLUTIONS cont. 14R-12 Preliminary Economic Development Target Area Resolution for Ten (10) Year Tax Abatement at 2842 Carlson Drive, Oxbow Landing, Lot 1 Councilman Spitale - There’s a public hearing set for June 9, 2014 on this resolution. Councilman Higgs - It’s a resolution and you need to make a motion. Councilman Spitale - For final passage? Councilman Higgs - Yes. Council President Opinker - You have to make the motion. Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved for passage ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Higgs, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Kalwinski Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION R12 ADOPTED Councilman Higgs - Just for clarification, I’m just wondering why a public hearing is on resolutions. Because I’ve never seen ..... I’m just kind of wondering why we.... Councilman Spitale - We discussed that in caucus, unfortunately, Councilman, you weren’t here. But I think either one of the gentlemen out there can... either Brian of Phil might be able to enlighten you what happened in that caucus. Councilman Higgs - If someone could enlighten me if you would please. I’m sorry I was a little late, I had death in the family and so I got a lot going on right now. Phil Taillon, Executive Director of Economic Development - I know that both resolutions, one is preliminary and one is final, has to pass. But I was not aware of the public hearing on June 9th, so I’m not sure why that’s written on this specific resolution. Councilman Spitale - It’s also on the other one too, you know that? Council President Opinker - I think that public hearing is a mis-print because there shouldn’t be a public hearing on a resolution. Councilman Higgs - If we could have Atty. Bergers’ opinion on this particular resolution. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 11 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 RESOLUTIONS cont. Council Atty. Berger - I find these procedures confusing too but I think this is what we usually done although it’s been a while since we’ve done it, two resolutions and the ordinance. Now the public hearing is on the ordinance too so I don’t see that there’s any harm in having the public hearing as to both of them at the same time. I think that’s safer than not having a public hearing. Council President Opinker - That makes sense. 14R-13 Final Economic Development Target Area Resolution for Ten (10) Year Tax Abatement at 2842 Carlson Drive, Oxbow Landing, Lot 1 Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved for final passage with a public hearing set for June 9th. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Higgs, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Kalwinski Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION R13 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to send a letter to the police chief in regards to the recent shooting on Highland, on the 1000 block. Some of our residents homes bullets went through them. I’d like to beef up the patrol in the east Hammond neighborhood as it relates to the outbreak of shootings. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: APRIL 29, 2014 Councilman Higgs moved to have a letter sent to Streets & San in regards to the alleys. A number of the alleys that I went through especially the 800 block of Carroll Street, in the alley there is a lot of debris and boxes and whatnot that’s been laying there. I don’t know if they pick up the garbage and it falls out and they don’t pick it back up and put it in the garbage. I am just requesting that they inspect that as well as the 7-Eleven on Hohman Avenue. The residents just adjacent to that property are complaining that a lot of debris is coming on their property. I am requesting that an inspection be done at 7-Eleven on Hohman and also that they inspect, Streets & San, the supervisor that’s put in place for inspecting my district to inspect the alleys and have them cleaned up. LETTER SENT: APRIL 29, 2014 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 12 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilwoman Venecz - I would like to read a list of the Crime Watch meetings coming up for those who are interested in what is going on in their neighborhood and would like to do good in their community. Tues., April 29 Pulaski Park N.A. American Legion 6:30 p.m. Fri., May 2 Irving Community Irving School 9:15 a.m. Wed., April 30 Jefferson C.W. Jefferson School 6:30 p.m. Wed., May 7 Edison C.W. Edison School 6:30 p.m. Thurs., May 8 Whiting/Robertsdale Calumet College 6:30 p.m. Councilman Higgs - I certainly want to send condolences to the Alexander family. Mama Grace passed away and she’ll be funeralized at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1047 Kenwood tomorrow. Mama Grace was 102 years old and a pillar in the community and she will be missed. Councilwoman Venecz - The last couple of meetings I have requested a letter to Mr. Bob Alderman who is the Acting Deputy Commissioner for INDOT in the Laporte District with regard to the condition of Calumet Avenue from particularly 165th to Sibley and Indianapolis Blvd. going north of the expressway. I did have an opportunity, I just wanted for public knowledge, I did have an opportunity to speak with Mr. Alderman at a meeting that I attended this past Friday and his story is no different than any others here in the state of Indiana. You’re on the list. We don’t have the funding. So, just as a point of information, something that he did say that was kind of interesting he asked each of us how much do we spend on a cell phone each month, eh, $100. How much do we spend on cable t.v. each month, eh, somewhere around $100. He said how much do you think you contribute to the gasoline tax here in the state of Indiana, which is what funds the repairs of our roads. Each individual is $108 per year. So, just as a point of information. Councilman Emerson - Well, Hammond, if you read it in the paper is getting a Veteren’s Day Parade this year. I’d like to thank.... it’ll be Saturday, Nov. 8th, tentatively, but I think that’s the date. Not exactly on Veteran’s day in Downtown Hammond. I want to thank the Mayor, Michelle Turchany from Parks, Gary Gleason, Mark McLaughlin attended some of the meetings, and the whole committee. A lot of veteran’s involved and you know it’s high time. The wars keep rolling on and I won’t even get into all of them. You all know where they are and hopefully we’re not getting involved in another one as we speak. But I think it’s great for the city and nothing else is going on out here. I know periodically Chicago has honored veteran’s in the past. So, excited about it. Just wanted to get that in New and Unfinished. Councilman Higgs - I just had a question for Councilman Emerson. How many years did you do in the service? Councilman Emerson - How many years? I was drafted for two years. Councilman Hinojosa - I’d like to talk about some letters that were sent. These are dated March 25th and if the Clerk can write down what they’re titled and who they go to. I’m gonna have to resubmit them. The first one was for Finance Reports to Mr. Moore. Second one, Finance Reports, to Controller Lendi. This one I’m gonna want it sent as “/Replacement”. Number three, Police Officers Pay, “Dear Chief Miller”, this time I’m gonna put Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 13 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Hinojosa - on there, “Dear Chief Doughty”. Number four, Police Officers Pay, almost the same thing but this time to “Dear Controller Lendi/ Replacement”. I’d like to resubmit these letters. I so move. Councilman Higgs seconds. AYES: ALL LETTERS RESENT: APRIL 29, 2014 Councilman Higgs - I do see our City Controller, soon to be moving on to another position, Bobby Lendi here. Bobby, if you could please tell me when is your last day? City Controller Lendi - Wednesday. Councilman Higgs - And has the Mayor selected a replacement? City Controller Lendi - Not yet. Council President Opinker - Again Bobby, when I first started the meeting you weren’t in here and I wanted to congratulate you for all your works with the city of Hammond and I wish you the best in your future endeavors. Thanks again, Bobby. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Dale Parrish - Giving an update on Bethany Childcare & Development. Last time I was here there were a few things that needed repairing. I was told they would stop the demolition if those things were done and if the interested buyer would come to the city of Hammond and state their intent. As of today both of those things have happened. We are now asking that the building be taken off the demolition list so that we can sell the building and get it back on the tax rolls. Carlotta Blake-King - Here to support Dale Parrish and the Bethany Childcare & Development issue. 3rd District councilman is in support. Encourages the Council members at large to involve themselves in the issue as well. When will the residents of Hammond be able to engage in the feasability study of the South Shore Extension? Otherwise what was the point of spending the money if we’re not able to provide our own input. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 14 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 28, 2014 PUBLIC EXPRESSION cont. Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL Michael Opinker, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Minuted approved at the Common Council Meeting of May 12, 2014. Time: 7:20 pm cb Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 15