City Council

Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL JANUARY 25, 2016 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on January 25, 2016 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 Councilman Higgs. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker ABSENT: None TOTAL: 9 PRESENTATION BY Brian Hitchcock, Executive Director of Lake County 911 Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, suspended the rules to allow for questions. AYES: ALL The following had questions and discussion: Councilwoman Venecz Councilman Higgs Councilman Markovich Fire Chief Smith Police Chief Doughty George Stoya Councilman Spitale Councilman Emerson Ruth Mores Councilman Kalwinski Councilman Torres Alberto Ochoa Ola Smith Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to return to the regular order of business. AYES: ALL READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes of January 11, 2016 and place on file. AYES: ALL MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JANUARY 25, 2016 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to approve the claims from January 6, 2016 through January 20, 2016. Claim #342 through claim #600, inclusive. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved to amend in: Claim #601 The Bank of New York Mellon CDBG $31,081.50 ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 AMENDMENT ADOPTED ROLL CALL VOTE (as amended) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 CLAIMS APPROVED (as amended) PUBLIC HEARINGS None COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Higgs announces the Point in Time Count homeless count in Hammond and Lake County, Indiana to determine the needs and services that are required to address housing issues in the area. The survey will be January 27, 2016 from 4 am to 11:59 am. Volunteers will explain and assist with survey completion. Donations will be accepted at Hammond City Hall, Community Development. COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Brought out 16-01 & 16-02. Community & Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz announced the following meetings: Columbia C.W.; Wed., Jan. 27; 5:30 p.m.; Columbia School Edison Community Watch; Wed., Feb. 3; 6:30 p.m.; Edison School Edison on the Road; Thur., Feb. 4; 1 p.m.; Golden Manor Irving Community Watch; Fri., Feb. 5; 9:15 a.m.; Irving School Jefferson C.W.; Wed., Jan. 27; 6:30 p.m.; Jefferson School Pulaski Park Neighborhood Assoc.; Tues., Jan. 26; 6:30 p.m.; American Legion ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 16-01 An Ordinance Amending Ordinance Number 9315 also known as the Salary and Wage Ordinance for all City Officials and Employees of the City of Hammond, Indiana other than those Fixed by Statute or by Ordinance Heretofore Enacted, and Fixing the Effective Date Thereof Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9330 PASSED 16-02 An Ordinance Amending Ordinance Number 9316 also known as the Salary and Wage Ordinance for Police Officers and Fire Fighters in the City of Hammond Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved for passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9331 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 16-04 An Ordinance Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of the City of Hammond, Indiana, Economic Development Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2016 (Hammond Urban Academy, Inc. Project) for the Purpose of Refunding the City’s Outstanding Economic Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2010a (Hammond Urban Academy, Inc. Project), and Approving and Authorizing other actions in respect thereto Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading by title and referred it to the Finance Committee. AYES: ALL Councilwoman Venecz - This ordinance will give the approval for the refinancing of the bonds for the Hammond Urban Academy, also known as HAST. It will realize the savings of $180 thousand a year. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES cont. 16-05 An Ordinance Reclassifying Certain Lands in the City of Hammond for Zoning Purposes and Amending Ordinance No. 8514 (An Ordinance Establishing A Zoning Plan for the City of Hammond including the Regulations and Maps to Administer the Zoning Plan in order to Provide For Orderly Growth and Development within the City, all in accordance with the Comprehensive/Land Use Plan, as Amended) for property commonly known as 10953 and 11001 Indianapolis Boulevard, Hammond, Indiana Councilman Kalwinski, 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 RESOLUTIONS 16R-01 Authorizing the Hammond Fire Department to Apply for Assistance to Firefighter (AFG) Grant Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved for adoption. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION NO. R01 ADOPTED Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved that resolution 16R-02 through 16R-08 be read by title only and then vote on all at the same time. 16R-02 Appointment - Board of Zoning Appeals - Dennis Radowski 16R-03 Appointment - College Bound Scholarship Oversight and Exceptions Committee - Dr. Gary Jones 16R-04 Appointment - Economic Development Commission - Victor Franco 16R-05 Appointment - Historic Preservation Commission - Anne T. Anderson 16R-06 Appointment - Historic Preservation Commission - Chelsea Button 16R-07 Appointment - Historic Preservation Commission - Joyce K. Koch 16R-08 Appointment - Human Relations Commission - Alberto Ochoa RESOLUTIONS cont. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved for adoption of 16R-02 through 16R-08. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTIONS NO. R02 THROUGH R08 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Higgs moved to send a letter to Owana Miller and Code Enforcement in regards to the fence on Columbia Avenue that’s broken down. I think a covenant was initially implemented when they originally built the fence and it’s torn down and so it’s been torn down for quite some time and the neighbors are complaining to get it repaired. So whoever’s responsible, whether it be the neighbor or Redevelopment, it needs to be taken care of. It’s about the 6400 block. The white fence. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: JANUARY 26, 2016 Councilman Higgs - There was a home that was torn down on 164th and Rev. Burns Drive where they tore the house down last year but they left the trees. Councilman Higgs moved that a letter be sent to whoever is responsible for demoing the property, that they tear down the trees that’s been left on the property so that it’s leveled down and all the residents are not complaining that they just took the home and didn’t take the trees. It was actually the 1100 block of 164th and Rev. Burns Drive on the corner. I so move. Council President Opinker - Who do you want to send the letter to Councilman? Councilman Higgs - Code Enforcement & Board of Works. Whoever’s responsible. They normally bid those projects out for the demo. When they demo’d the property they should have actually leveled it and cut all the trees down. Council President Opinker - All those in favor? All opposed? AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: JANUARY 26, 2016 Councilman Higgs - I see our new Engineer is in the audience. So I just want to wish him well in his new adventures. Council President Opinker - Welcome. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilwoman Venecz announced that this Wednesday is the first Mayor’s Night Out of 2016. If you have any questions or concerns in your neighborhood or in the city that’s your opportunity to get everyone who can get things done for you all in one spot. So that is Wednesday, January 27th at the Hammond Housing Authority Building at 1402 173rd Street. Councilman Kalwinski - Today there was a notice from Wolf Lake Terminals, Inc. with Cor that appeared in the Northwest Indiana Times. Copy of notice attached to minutes. Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to send a letter to Wolf Lake Terminals, Inc. AYES: ALL Copy of letter attached to minutes. Councilman Markovich - I think a copy of that legal notice should be attached to it. Also, probably, a copy of that should be sent to the Sanitary District for water discharge, along with the Engineer, and also a copy of that with Ron Novak from Environmental. Councilman Kalwinski - Second, thank you. LETTER SENT: JANUARY 26, 2016 Councilman Markovich - Earlier we spent an hour on this 911 and, you know, people came up with different reasons for and what happened and incidents and all of that. Sometimes people create their own problems. The last summer, summer before, we had a drowning at Wolf Lake where the lady wasn’t watching the kids and it was a 8 or 9 year old boy. Even though there were signs posted no swimming or no lifeguard on duty, the boy drowned. And yet they’re trying to blame the city of Hammond or the Park Department. One of the things brought up tonight was about a dog drowning. I’d like to point out that we have an ordinance, 99.31, Section B, “No person owning, being a custodian of, or having control of any animal shall cause or permit the animal to at large in any park or park street. A dog may be brought into the park or park street provided the dog is continuously restrained by leash and not exceeding 6 foot in length.” So whether we’re trying to get sued by someone that lost their dog or whatever, they violated a city ordinance by letting the dog run around free. It also says, “Any animal found at large may be seized, impounded, or disposed of pursuant to this code or the laws of the ordinance of the city or the state in relation to the disposal of stray animals.” Which it would have been because I’m assuming that it wasn’t on a leash. “On the highways or other public places.” So sometimes, you know, people are their own worst enemies. They make the mistake. It’s unfortunate the person lost their animal. To some people it’s a loved one. Seeing the animal as their loved. But I just pointed out, we had a human being drown out there because people violating the ordinances. They didn’t read the signs. People didn’t watch their kids what they were doing. And I’m assuming that if this dog took off after a rabbit, if that’s what they said, that he wasn’t on a leash. I get calls and complaints all the time about stray dogs. People actually walk their dogs out there now during the winter time and you have coyotes, foxes, running around and they’re worried about their NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Markovich cont. - dogs being attacked. Whiting has an ordinance that says no dogs are allowed in their park at all whatsoever but yet people bring them there. The only ones that would probably be an exception there would be emergency or seeing eye dog or something to that effect. So, I’m sorry I didn’t bring that sooner with all the policemen and the guys from the 911 because it’s being made a big issue about a dog drowning but yet that own person violated a city ordinance and it was their own fault that they lost that animal. Just for point of information. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Ruth Mores - Is taking the situation in South Hammond with the illegal activity on the vacant lot in the Monon area to the Board of Works and will be going there Thursday and address that again with them. Mildred M. - Is concerned with how things being done in the neighborhoods are making it convenient for crime. There are too many liquor stores in her neighborhood within walking distance. They should be in business districts not neighborhoods. Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Markovich, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL ________________________ Michael Opinker, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: ________________________ Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Minutes approved at the Common Council meeting on February 8, 2016. Time: 7:45 pm cb