City Council

Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL JULY 25, 2016 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on July 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 Councilwoman Venecz. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker ABSENT: Higgs TOTAL: 8 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes of July 11, 2016 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved to approve the claims from July 6, 2016 through July 20, 2016. Claim #4279 through claim #4653, inclusive. ROLL CALL VOTE (claims) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs Motion carried 8/0/1 CLAIMS APPROVED PUBLIC HEARINGS None COMMUNICATIONS None COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Brought out 16-21 for passage. Community and Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz : Tues., July 26; Pulaski Park Neighborhood Assoc.; American Legion Edison Community Watch on the Road; Thur., Aug. 4; 1 p.m.; Golden Manor Senior Apartments MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 25, 2016 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk COMMITTEE REPORTS cont. Councilwoman Venecz cont. - The Community and Crime Watch have continued our effort to post blue ribbons around town in support of our Hammond Police Department. As I’ve said many times they allow us to sleep at night knowing that they’re there to protect us and this is just a way of saying thank you and we appreciate the job that you do in keeping our community safe. So if you do have a blue ribbon, please tie it around your mailbox or tree or on a light post and bring a smile to the police officers as they pass by. Also, coming up next Tuesday, which is August 2nd, National Night Out will be celebrated here in Hammond at the Wolf Lake Splash Pad from 5 to 8 p.m. thanks to the generosity of Mayor McDermott and the city of Hammond and the cooperation of the community and crime watch groups this is the 8th year that we will be hosting this event here in Hammond. We have a host of events planned for the evening. The Mayor will be there. The Pop Whiting Train from Whiting will give anyone, kids and adults alike, a ride around the splash pad park. We will have police and fire department vehicles for anyone to view. We will have finger printing for the children. Drunk driving simulator. Hammond Canine Officer. The Lake County Sheriffs helicopter will be there. Face painting for children. Vendors. Door prizes for children and adults alike. And the musical selections of DJ Suave. Who happens to be one of our Public Works employees. You will receive a free hot dog, chips and pop with a donation of dry dog or cat food, non-clumping cat litter, blankets, bleach, laundry soap, flea treatments or pet treats. ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 16-21 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Hammond, Indiana Amending Ordinance No. 9328 Authorizing and Approving a Pilot Agreement for the Sohl Avenue Residential Care Project for the Purpose of Correcting a Date contained therein Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final passage. Councilman Rakos, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved to amend in Section 3, on page 2, to read, “Developer shall pay all filing and recording costs.” ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs Motion carried 8/0/1 AMENDMENT ADOPTED ROLL CALL VOTE (as amended) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE NO. 9349 PASSED  (as amended) INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES None RESOLUTIONS 16R-21 Expressing Hammond’s Support for the Indiana State Senate Resolution No. 12, regarding the Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Programs in Lake and Porter Counties Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Kalwinski, moved for adoption. Councilman Markovich asked that the entire council be added as sponsors. Councilwoman Venecz - I just wanted to explain what this resolution is. This resolution expresses our support for the Indiana State Senate Resolution 12 that was passed back in January urging the Environmental Protection Agency to revise or eliminate the requirements for motor vehicle inspection and maintenance programs here in Lake County. Their contention was, the EPA, was that the ground level ozone was caused by vehicles that are in Lake County when in fact we have many vehicles who travel across our highways who contribute to the ozone levels in addition to the industry in the area. So my request is that we pass this resolution in support of the State Senate Resolution No. 12. Councilman Emerson - I agree with the councilwoman and I agree with the resolution out of the senate. This thing is long overdue in my opinion. We have always, it seemed like Lake and Porter was always singled out and I know back in the day we had the steel mills and everything. But, you know, a friend of mine, he had a vehicle that did not pass the test five times. He went in there, it happened to be a Ford Bronco, and they told him after five times, and they had a list of places you could go, those of you who remember, and you could only go there if your car didn’t pass. So, they said, “Well, you could just get a truck plate.” So he had to pay more but how is that helping the environment. So his vehicle that wouldn’t pass, you know, with the truck plate he could drive it for another year. And not only that, what councilwoman addressed and it’s in the resolution. The amount of truck traffic that goes down 80/94 and we don’t know if they’re tested. We don’t know where they’re from, whatever, so I think it’s long overdue. I don’t think it’s ever been fair let alone to Lake County so I’ll be glad to support it. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION NO. R21 ADOPTED 16R-22 Opposing the Enactment of Harmful Federal Trade Agreements Councilman Rakos, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved for adoption. Councilman Spitale asked that the entire council be added as sponsors. RESOLUTIONS cont. Councilman Rakos read 16R-22 in its entirety. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION NO. R22 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilwoman Venecz - I would like to announce that on Saturday, August 20th at 3 p.m. at Memorial Park the city of Hammond and the East Side Community Council will be hosting an All Horse Rodeo. I did go to it last year. It was really quite interesting and it was kind of neat for kids in our neighborhoods to be able to see horses up close and personal. It is a free event. Memorial Park is just behind the Ophelia Steen Center. Councilwoman Venecz - I wanted to say thank you to our police department for their visibility and their interaction with the attendees at the Festival of the Lakes. Their presence certainly made me feel safe and I understand it we didn’t have any incidents other than those who over imbibed. All the city employees who worked so tirelessly tp make the festival a huge success. It was a very nice event so thank you to all. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Benjamin Cherry - Complaint about the Sanitation Dept. Stays on Mason Street. There are garbage bags from State Line to Hohman Avenue. I’ve been here 19 years. I’ve complained and ain’t nothing getting done. The truck is out at 6 am and I ask them if something could be done about it and ain’t nothing getting done. Mayor’s Office said I couldn’t see the Mayor. Michael Atchison - Complaint against police. Tenant accidently called 911. Has video cameras on all vehicles and property. Officers broke my door trying to get in. I filed a complaint. Now I have to fix it or have Code Enforcement cite me. Councilman Rakos, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL ________________________ Michael Opinker, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: ________________________ Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Time: 6:25 pm cb Minutes approved at the Common Council meeting of August 8, 2016.