City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MAY 11, 2015 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on May 11, 2015 in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Michael Opinker presided. City Clerk Robert J. Golec facilitated. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all. Invocation by Councilwoman Venecz. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker ABSENT: Uylaki TOTAL: 8 DISTRIBUTION OF COUNCIL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Presentation by Mrs. Mayerik. Clark H.S Bishop Noll H.S. Represented by Assistant Principal Dave Verta Represented by Principal Craig Stafford Katelyn Genardo 1st Winner Christian Campos 1st Winner Lizette Munoz 2nd Winner Mireya Vega 3rd Winner H.A.S.T. Monica Llanes 1st Winner Gavit H.S. Represented by Principal Michelle Ondas Morton H.S. Amber Earl 1st Winner Represented by Principal Greg Easton Alan Pecor 2nd Winner Brandon Grash 1st Winner Marqui Glinsey 3rd Winner Isabella Torres 2nd Winner Maria Espinoza 3rd Winner Hammond H.S. Teresa Espinoza 4th Winner Represented by Principal Mescha Lammy Jennifer Castaneda 5th Winner Jacquawon Akins 1st Winner Marquis Davis 2nd Winner READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Kalwinski, moved to accept the minutes of April 27, 2015 and place on file. AYES: ALL Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 11, 2015 APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to approve the claims from April 22, 2015 through May 6, 2015. Claim #2522 through claim #2830, inclusive. ROLL CALL VOTE (claim approval) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Uylaki Motion carried 8/0/1 CLAIMS APPROVED PUBLIC HEARINGS None COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Higgs read correspondence to the Hammond City Council from Ball State University regarding a Charter School in the area. Councilman Higgs read correspondence from the Department of Planning & Development regarding vacant properties. Councilman Higgs read correspondence regarding demo’s on certain properties. COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole Committee - Councilman Emerson - Brought out 15-17 & 15-18. Community & Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz announced upcoming meetings: Columbia Crime Watch; May 12; 5:30 p.m.; Columbia School East Ham’d Pullman Crime Watch; May 19; 6:30 p.m.; Ophelia Steen Center Hessville Crime Watch; May 21; 7:00 p.m.; Jean Shepherd Center Jefferson Crime Watch; May 27; Jefferson School; 6:30 p.m. Lafayette Neighborhood Watch; May 20; Lafayette School; 6:30 p.m. Pulaski Park Neighborhood; May 26; 6:30 p.m.; American Legion Whiting/Robertsdale Crime Watch; May 14; Calumet College; 6:30 p.m. ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 15-17 An ordinance to establish the 7300-7400 block Flagstone Drive between 174th Place and Wilson Place a one-way street going north and repealing any ordinances in conflict Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final passage. ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 11, 2015 Councilman Emerson - The purpose of this ordinance is for more efficient traffic flow with the new building and reconfiguration of Columbia Center and Flagstone Drive. We’ll make it easier for traffic flow when the project is complete. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Uylaki Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE NO. 9294 PASSED 15-18 An ordinance to permit angle parking at location east side of 7300-7400 block of Flagstone Drive between 174th Place and Wilson Place Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final passage. Councilman Emerson - The ordinance basically is for the residents parking in the new addition that they will be building to make the parking... there won’t be any parking available at the units so this is necessary so the residents have a place to park. Councilman Higgs - Councilman Emerson, you said the parking is going to be placed where? On the side of the homes or behind it? Is that what you saying? Councilman Emerson - The east side of the 7300-7400 block of Flagstone Drive between 174th Place and Wilson Place. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Uylaki Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE NO. 9295 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 15-19 Vacating a 300 foot Length of Circle Court Perpendicular to Flagstone Drive Sponsored by Bill Emerson & Petitioned by the Hammond Housing Authority Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading by title, referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee with a public hearing June 8, 2015. AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS None NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Higgs read a thank you from Fred Houston Nickels. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 11, 2015 Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved to have an Intent to Consider on 15-16 for May 21, 2015. AYES: ALL Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved to cancel the meeting of May 25, 2015 due to the Memorial Day Holiday. AYES: ALL Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to reschedule that meeting on May 21, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. AYES: ALL Councilman Emerson - I would like to announce, I’m sure a lot of you have heard about this, but I thought we would mention it again, there is going to be a blood drive sort of competition in honor of Nancy Snyder. She was named the elementary school principal of the year. She lost a courageous battle with brain cancer in May, 2014. But that did not prevent her from continuing to fight for a cure for future patients. The American Red Cross Memorial Challenge blood drive will take place over two days, Monday, May 11th at the Hobart Community Center on Old Ridge Road and again tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12th, at the Jean Shepherd Community Center. Hours are from 1 to 7 p.m. on both days. The Hobart connection was Nancy was raised there and her Hammond connection is her work in the public schools in Hammond. I had the opportunity to work with her at Columbia School where she was principal, then again at Hess Elementary, and then with the Title 1 Program. She was a great person and this is a little competition between the city of Hobart and Hammond and by the sheer numbers we should win but we have to go out and give blood to do that. So that’s in honor of Nancy Snyder. Thank you. Councilman Higgs - I’d just like to wish everybody a happy Memorial Day. I know usually in my family what we do is memorialize the family members that have passed away and gone on. So, certainly, I would like to wish everybody a happy Memorial Day. Councilwoman Venecz - Since we’re on the Memorial Day topic, the Hammond Mohawks will have their annual Memorial Day Parade kicking off from the Cavalier Inn at 10 a.m. and that is on Memorial Day. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Anne Herbert - Asked the City Council to pass an ordinance regarding municipal political yard signs. Every city in Lake County except for Hammond has an ordinance regarding the placement of political signs. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 11, 2015 Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL Michael Opinker, President ATTEST: Hammond Common Council Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Time: 6:35 pm cb Minutes approved at Common Council Meeting of May 21, 2015. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5