City Council

Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL JUNE 27, 2016 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on June 27, 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 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes of June 13, 2016 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved to approve the claims from June 8, 2016 through June 22, 2016. Claim #3667 through claim #4011, inclusive AND THE RESUBMISSION OF CLAIM #3429. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to amend in claim: #4012 United Neighborhoods, Inc. Controller $22,136.00 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 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 27, 2016 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Higgs received communication from New Zion Temple regarding their School Youth and planning various events to raise money to support Sunday School activities. The activities include educational programs, after school homework, and tutoring and various field trips. The youth are planning their first annual 3 and 5 mile walkathon, which will be held at Wicker Park walking track in Highland, IN on August 27, 2016. Would you please support the walkathon with a monetary donation? Councilman Higgs thanked Councilman Spitale and Councilman Markovich for their participation in the 12th Annual Who’s Got Game which was held on Saturday where we were able to give at least 20 bikes out to kids throughout the community. Councilman Markovich read a letter from Don Popravak from the Whiting Oilmen, Northwest Indiana Oilmen announcing that on July 4th the United States Military All Star Baseball Team will be returning to Northwest Indiana to play the Region’s Team, the Oilmen, in an exhibition game at Oil City Stadium, Downtown Whiting, to raise funds for our veteran’s. All seats are only $10 each. Tickets proceeds benefit the Northwest Indiana Veteran’s Action Council. The Military All Stars are comprised of all active duty servicemen representing every branch of the services. Many of these players have served on multiple deployments under the worst conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is their 26th year in existence with helping to raise awareness for veteran’s causes and their wounded brothers and sisters in arms. They are looking forward to entertaining everyone with their own special brand of baseball that will lift everyone’s patriotic spirit. The gates will open at 12 noon for a pre- game country concert featuring the band High Noon from the Region who just signed a national contract with a special guest appearance by Billy Wayne, himself a veteran. We couldn’t be more excited for a great day to show our American spirit and love of our country. You get both concert and baseball game for $10. Now that’s a great deal. In order for this event to be successful we need your support. Please spread the word. COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole Committee - Councilman Kalwinski - Brought out 16-18 and 16-19. Community & Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Announced upcoming meeting: Pulaski Park Neighborhood Assoc.; June 28; American Legion National Night Out is coming up on August 2nd. We found a new home at the Wolf Lake Splash Pad. It will be from 5 to 8 p.m. We will have plenty of entertainment for adults and children alike. Door prizes. A lot of our emergency vehicles form the police and fire departments and we’ve got a couple of surprises in the works. ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 16-18 An Ordinance Appropriating Funds from Local Pretrial Diversion and Deferral Fund within the Hammond City Court 2016 Budget to Fund Part Time Salaries Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for passage. Councilwoman Venecz - As Clerk Golec said, these are funds that will be transferred from the Local Infraction Deferral Program in the amount of $50 thousand to fund Part Time Salaries in the amount of $46 thousand and FICA and Medicare in the amount of $4 thousand. 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. 9346 PASSED (as amended) 16-19 An Ordinance Amending Ordinance #7102, Being Entitled “An Ordinance Establishing a Department of Environmental Management with an Air Pollution Control Division and a Solid Waste, Water and Noise Pollution Division in the City of Hammond, Indiana” Passed by the Common Council on the 19th Day of December 1988 and Approved by the Mayor on the 21st Day of December 1988, and Establishing an Annual Environmental Monitoring Fee for Persons Operating a Centralized Waste Treatment Facility Pursuant to Title 327 of the Indiana Administrative Code, Article 5, Rule 18, Section 10 (327 Iac 5-18-10), Which Incorporates Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 437 (40 Cfr 437), or Have Been Issued a Permit by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to Store And/or Treat, Wastewater from a Sewage Disposal System under the Authority of Title 327 of the Indiana Administrative Code, Article 7.1 (327 Iac 7.1) Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for passage. Councilman Kalwinski - It’s really just setting up a process where there’s a monitoring fee paid by the business to the city so the city can monitor them 24/7 regarding their operations. 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. 9347 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES None RESOLUTIONS 16R-20 A Resolution Opposing Wheel Tax Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Markovich, moved for adoption. Clerk Golec read the resolution in its entirety. 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. R20 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Higgs - I see one of the Board Members from the Park Dept. is here and I just wanted to acknowledge them. Also I just wanted to make it aware to my constituents in the 3rd District that we are working with the Park Dept. in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office to do some renovations to Memorial Park. So hopefully that will get started shortly here in getting some playground equipment and some upgraded stuff at Memorial Park. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Mary Ellen Slaczyk - Complained about the cutting down of trees in the parkways. Is concerned with the little bunch of trees at the corner of Lewis and Blaine. There were several trees there, including a crab apple tree. It was all chopped down last week. There also was milkweed plants there, they attract Monarchs. That was all wiped out along with other plants. We need the shade. I wish there was more discretion as to what gets trimmed and cut down. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL Minutes approved at the Common Council meeting on July 11, 2016. ________________________ Michael Opinker, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: ________________________ Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Time: 6:20 pm cb