City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL NOVEMBER 13, 2017 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on November 13, 2017 in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Janet Venecz presided. City Clerk Robert J. Golec facilitated. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all. Invocation by Councilwoman Venecz. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz ABSENT: Markovich, Higgs TOTAL: 7 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to approve the minutes of October 23, 2017 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to accept the claims from 10/20/17 and ending with claims dated 11/8/17. Claim # 6357 through claim #6750, inclusive. Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to amend in claims: #6751 Sam Townline Development Engineer/Citywide $155,000.00 #6752 Indiana Dept. Of Transportation Engineer/Citywide $ 14,104.84 ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich, Higgs Motion carried 7/0/2 AMENDMENT ADOPTED ROLL CALL VOTE (as amended) AYES: Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich, Higgs Motion carried 7/0/2 CLAIMS APPROVED (as amended) Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. NOVEMBER 13, 2017 PUBLIC HEARINGS 17-31 An Ordinance to Appropriate Funds within the Hammond Police Department Grant Fund for 2018 No one spoke. COMMUNICATIONS None COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance Committee - Councilman Woerpel - Brought out 17-30 & 17-31. Community & Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Announced upcoming meetings: Tues., Nov. 21; East Ham’d Pullman C.W.; Ophelia Steen Center; 6:30 p.m. Hessville C.W.; Thur., Nov. 16; Jean Shepherd Center; 7:00 p.m. Lafayette Neighborhood Watch; Wed., Nov. 15; Lafayette School; 6:30 p.m. S. Ham’d C.W.; Thur., Nov. 16; Ham’d Housing Authority; 7:00 p.m. Wed., Nov. 15; 4:30 p.m.; Douglas Pointe Fri., Nov. 17; 2:00 p.m.; Silver Birch Building ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 17-30 2018 Elected Officials Salary Ordinance Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved for passage. Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved to amend the Judge’s salary from $85,993 to $84,238 to bring her in line with the 2% raise increase from the 2017 salary. Councilman Woerpel - This isn’t any sort of .... it was just an error from making sure .... it came out as a 4% raise when it should have been a 2% because she didn’t get the 2% last year. ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich, Higgs Motion carried 7/0/2 AMENDMENT ADOPTED ROLL CALL VOTE (as amended) AYES: Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich, Higgs Motion carried 7/0/2 ORDINANCE NO. 9393 PASSED (as amended) Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. NOVEMBER 13, 2017 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. 17-31 An Ordinance to Appropriate Funds within the Hammond Police Department Grant Fund for 2018 Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved for passage. Councilman Spitale - Indiana Criminal Justice Institute has awarded the city of Hammond, Police Department, $93,500 from Operation Pullover Grant and $12,500 for Pedestrian Bicycle Safety Grant. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich, Higgs Motion carried 7/0/2 ORDINANCE NO. 9394 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 17-32 Creating a New Non Reverting Fund (Fund #205) for Park Department Donations Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee. AYES: ALL 17-33 Creating a New Fund (Fund #256) for the City of Hammond Police Department for DUI Task Force Funds Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Finance Committee. AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS 17R-34 Authorizing the Hammond Fire Department to Apply for the 2017 Assistance to Firefighter (AFG) Grant for MDT’s Councilman Rakos, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved for adoption. Councilman Rakos - This is a ... the Fire Department is applying for a grant to get mobile data terminals in their units. It’s something that the police have used for many years and it would be very helpful to them. They’ll be able to, especially with the Lake County dispatch system, they’ll be able to get all the information in the rigs while they’re responding and make it a safer situation. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. NOVEMBER 13, 2017 RESOLUTIONS cont. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich, Higgs Motion carried 7/0/2 RESOLUTION NO. R34 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved to suspend the rules to bring out 17R-35 for consideration. ROLL CALL VOTE (suspend rules) AYES: Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich, Higgs Motion carried 7/0/2 RULES SUSPENDED 17R-35 A Resolution to Re-appoint Miriam Soto-Pressley to the Hammond Redevelopment Commission Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for adoption. Councilman Kalwinski - As most of us know, Ms. Pressley has been on the Redevelopment Commission for five or better years now and has been doing a good job and has been re-appointed annually for that amount of time. So we’re looking for another annual reappointment for the position for 2018. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich, Higgs Motion carried 7/0/2 RESOLUTION NO. R35 ADOPTED Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved to return to the regular order of business. AYES: ALL Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved to cancel the December 11th and December 25th meetings and reschedule for December 18th. AYES: ALL Councilman Torres - A couple of weeks a go I was in a meeting with the residents of the Renaissance and before that a meeting across the street with the Hammond elderly and both times I was confronted by the seniors there about the needs of busses in our city. I know this is a sour topic in our city at this time but all I could tell them Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. NOVEMBER 13, 2017 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Torres cont. - was if it ever came up in council business I would gladly vote for them but there’s a lot of seniors that just don’t have cars and they have trouble doing their shopping, getting to doctor appointments, and just regular normal business. They don’t have the luxury of affording a car either financially or because of their age they are unable to drive. So, I believe Teresa Torres is going to address this later on. I just wanted to say it so I don’t have to address it later on. But that’s how I stand on it for the record. There are certain pockets of our city that the seniors just don’t have no way of getting around. Councilman Woerpel - I believe I heard the Mayor on his radio program on Friday state that he committed $50 thousand to a project, and Councilman Hamm, from the County Council, is in the audience if he’d like to speak on what he knows about it. If he would please. Dave Hamm - Yes, I’d be happy to. I represent Whiting, Hammond and Munster on the County Council. In the most previous budget session we just committed $150 thousand to Gary Public Transit System that not only will include the routes that are currently in effect but will actually add to them. I heard the same thing, Councilman, that the Mayor had committed. The Council President and I had a brief discussion on that. The Mayor has committed $50 thousand so it’s... I know what we did, it’s already been passed and adopted. We will not only have the existing routes but they will be expanded. I’m happy to answer any questions for you. Councilman Spitale - When will that start? Dave Hamm - The money was committed to January 1st of 2018. We go through our budget cycle very similar to you, Councilman. So, we just adopted that about a month ago and those dollars are committed to being spent January 1st of 2018, in a month and a half. Councilman Woerpel - Those aren’t the circle routes, as I think I heard the Mayor refer to it, to where they’re just going around in a circle. Does that give service throughout... Dave Hamm - Actually, throughout the County. As we were discussing the issue on the County Council floor, I saw two of the Gary Public Transits System busses going by the County Building. They go as far south as the County Building. So whatever routes exist, they are going to be expanded and they go as far as Crown Point. I do know that. Now, if they go any further south than that, I’m not sure. But, the existing routes will stay in effect and they will be expanded upon. Councilman Torres, I know that’s a great concern to you. I’ve also talked to the Congressman, whatever South Shore Stations exist or are built, those will be included in the bus stops. So, we’re gonna have busses and trains, and we’ll have expanded routes. Councilman Torres - Okay, I haven’t heard the discussion on it, the dialogue. Is that going to be an every day service? Dave Hamm - Yes. Councilman Torres - Okay, $50 thousand is a start, but is that enough? Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. NOVEMBER 13, 2017 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Dave Hamm - $50 thousand from the Mayor, Councilman, $150 thousand from the County. And prior to that we had given nothing. But, because of the dire straights they were in we sat down and talked to Mr. Price. $150 thousand, he said that would keep the existing routes plus add. Since that time the Mayor of Hammond has added $50 thousand. So, we’re gonna have more routes than we currently have. Councilman Torres - Okay, I need to talk to the Mayor on it then. Dave Hamm - Councilman, I know you’ve got my number, call me anytime and I’ll also share with you what the Congressman told me about the South Shore Stations and making them routes. If you have a stop that you would suggest, let me know and I’ll get that through to Gary Public Transit. Councilman Torres - Thank you. Dave Hamm - You’re more than welcome. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Cindy Miller - Here regarding the Gary bus. Was told the #24 stop was in jeopardy of stopping on December the 31st if it didn’t get enough money. Went to meeting at the Hammond Library and has a petition to keep the #24 going through South Hammond, Highland and Munster with over 300 signatures. Herlinda Oniedo - Is a senior and can’t drive because of health reasons. Likes the sense of independence that the busses give. It allows her to shop and go to the festivals. The Purdue students also use the busses. Teresa Torres - Director of Everybody Counts - Thanked Councilman Torres for his recognition of the importance of public transportation. There is a need for public transportation, and there have been some developments. The County Council has allocated money. We understand that the Mayor has also committed money. The problem is that’s a one time shot and it’s a band-aid. Until the city makes a commitment to the citizens there is no solution. It is temporary. Hammond needs to invest and recognize it is necessary. Dave Hamm - The $150 thousand from the County Council was plugged in from the general fund and it’s not a one time thing. It’s not gonna be taken away anymore than a raise would be taken away from an employee. It’s built into our budget and that will remain there. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 6 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. NOVEMBER 13, 2017 PUBLIC EXPRESSION cont. Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL Janet Venecz, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Time: 6:40 pm cb Minutes approved at the Common Council meeting of November 27, 2017. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 7