City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL JULY 28, 2014 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on July 28, 2014 in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Michael Opinker presided. Council Coordinator Carmen I. Balboa facilitated. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all. Invocation by Councilman Higgs. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Opinker ABSENT: Hinojosa TOTAL: 8 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to accept the minutes of July 14, 2014 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to approve the claims from July 9, 2014 through July 23, 2014. Claim # 3622 through claim #3872, inclusive. ROLL CALL VOTE (claims) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Hinojosa Motion carried 8/0/1 CLAIMS APPROVED PUBLIC HEARINGS None COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Higgs thanked Councilman Markovich for attending his Picnic in the Park. Councilman Higgs read correspondence regarding Brainware Software. COMMITTEE REPORTS None ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE None Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 28, 2014 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 14-23 Appropriation - $39,709.33 - Hotel/Motel Fund 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 with a public hearing set for August 25, 2014. AYES: ALL 14-24 Amending Ord. 4497, 4923, and 7630, also known as Sec. 72.012 as it applies to Towing Fees Councilman Uylaki, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading by title and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee. AYES: ALL 14-25 Zoning - Amendment to a Preliminary Plan of PUD for Douglas Pointe and a Planned Unit Development District Ordinance for Parcel E located at the Northwest Corner of Hyles Blvd. and Sohl Avenue Councilman Higgs, 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 with an Intent to Consider scheduled for August 11, 2014. AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS 14R-20 A Resolution of the Hammond Common Council To Dedicate an Honorary Street Designation in Honor of Fr. John Kalicky Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for adoption. Councilman Markovich read the resolution in its entirety. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Hinojosa Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION NO. R20 ADOPTED 14R-21 A Resolution of the Hammond Common Council Amending the Development Agreement Among the City of Hammond, Indiana, Hammond Redevelopment Commission, City of Hammond Economic Development Commission, and Marina District Development, LLC regarding the Marina District Development Project Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for adoption. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 28, 2014 RESOLUTIONS cont. Councilman Kalwinski - The Hammond City Council and Redevelopment and the Economic Development Commission all passed this agreement at least a year ago. Now the agreement has come to its expiration to its terms of agreement and with that there also are some changes. One of them being that now the developer will actually pursue the bonds. So the agreement had to be rewritten and again approved by Redevelopment, Economic Development and the Council. Thank you. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Hinojosa Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION NO. R21 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Higgs read correspondence from the Department of Planning and Development regarding Charter Fitness at the old Stardust Bowling Alley. Councilman Higgs - There was a shooting on the 900 block of Morris yesterday while I was in church. For whatever reason some young lady from Addison was in not only my district but my precinct and for whatever reason her kids were injured as well as her. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved to send a letter. I am requesting that we have more police presence within that area of the 900, 1000 and 1100 block of Morris and that officers patrol that area on a regular basis. Because for this incident to be called a cell phone it puzzles me because I know, and I was born last night but not late at night, and I know it just couldn’t have been no cell phone that she came from Addison to buy. She could have passed at least about 1400 to 1500 cell phone companies. So I am requesting that the chief put more officers in that vicinity so that they patrol the area and address this issue as quickly as possible so that nothing like this happens in the future. LETTER SENT: JULY 29, 2014 Councilman Higgs - The 13th Annual Back to School Giveaway will be held August 23rd, Saturday, at the Martin Luther King Pavilion from 12 to 2. Sponsored by yours truly, Councilman Higgs of the 3rd District. Any kids interested in receiving school supplies feel free to come out. It doesn’t exclude anyone in the city or any community and it’s for thirteen years strong so I ask that you all come out and support this event. Councilwoman Venecz - I would like to once again announce that National Night Out, it’s a crime and drug prevention event, will be held on Tuesday, August 5th at the Wolf Lake Splash Pad from 5 to 8 p.m. This event is a national event that is designed to increase crime and drug prevention awareness and develop camaraderie between our neighborhoods and police and fire departments. Given the activities over this past weekend I encourage everyone to come out to this event. There will be a lot of safety information that will be disseminated Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 28, 2014 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilwoman Venecz cont. - to all of the attendees. That’s the serious side of it. The fun side of it for the kids is they will be able to play in the splash pad. There will be games for the children. Door prizes for adults and the children will have a D.J., Ronald McDonald will be there. All of this plays into making our young people aware of how to keep themselves and their neighborhoods safe. So I encourage everyone to come out. You will get a free hot dog, chips, and pop with a donation of a cleaning supply that will go to the Sabaitis Educational Institution. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved to send a letter. 817 Becker Street, I guess the people moved out of the property and so the grass is growing high. I am requesting that we have a Cut and Clean; as well as the 900 block of Kenwood and Tapper on the corner where the fire hydrant is covered with weeds. If there was a potential fire in that area I would be surprised if the firemen would be even able to locate the fire hydrant. So I’m requesting a Cut and Clean for those two properties. LETTER SENT: JULY 29, 2014 Councilwoman Venecz - I would like to announce, and it is summer, it is winding down, we only have one community meeting scheduled between now and our next Council Meeting so for those who wish to do good in their community, for those who wish to be informed about what’s going on in your neighborhood. The Pulaski Park Neighborhood Association will meet Tuesday, July 29th at the American Legion on Gostlin. That begins at 6:30. And that is how change happens, one gesture, one person, one moment at a time. Councilman Higgs - I would like to personally thank the developers whose plan to do a assisted living housing project in my district, a $18 million project, for selecting my district for this huge endeavor. And I certainly hope that all the funding resources come available. And thank you so much for choosing the 3rd District of the City of Hammond to come and invest in. Councilwoman Venecz - Over the past year you’ve heard me talk about Edison Community Watch and their efforts to collect plastic bottle caps. The people at the meetings and in the neighborhoods collected plastic bottle caps for a program that was offered by the Lake County Solid Waste District. If one collected 400 pounds of plastic bottle caps they qualified for a park bench made out of recycled plastic bottle caps. The Golden Manor Senior Apartment Building on the corner of 175th and Columbia was the first in Lake County to qualify for one of those benches and it’s really increased the recycling awareness in our community and also amongst our seniors. So in my ventures around the city and visiting some places, I was over at the Mt. Zion Pleasant View Plaza a couple of weeks ago and I asked them if they would be interested in collecting bottle caps so they could get benches for their courtyard and they were excited. Multi-unit buildings are not required to recycle so this is a great way to not only get the multi-unit buildings involved but also the seniors. It gives them something to look forward to. So I contacted Pastor Collins at Mt. Zion Church and they are making announcements and collecting the bottle caps. So once again, 400 pounds of plastic bottle caps qualifies you for a park bench made of recycled plastic bottle caps that the benches are offered through the Lake County Solid Waste District. Numerous times I come home and there are bags of bottle caps hanging on my back door. So please continue to collect the bottle caps. Drop them off at my house. Drop them off at Mt. Zion. And let’s work towards getting the seniors some benches in their courtyard. Thank you. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 28, 2014 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to send a letter. Last weekend we had the Festival of the Lakes and I just want to comment, possibly have a letter sent, that Chief Doughty and the whole police department, that as far as we know there wasn’t anything of situations where people were arrested or so forth. Everything was minor. And it was due to the police presence that the Hammond Police Department had there and you know the training they have where it made it safe and people were glad to come there and they had a good time without any incidents. Thank you. LETTER SENT: JULY 29, 2014 Councilwoman Venecz - I would like to comment on the police officers requesting to check i.d.’s. They asked to check mine, so I thank you. PUBLIC EXPRESSION No one spoke. Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Higgs, 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 August 11, 2014. Time: 6:30 pm cb Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5