City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL NOVEMBER 27, 2017 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on November 27, 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. Moment of Silence was observed. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz ABSENT: Higgs TOTAL: 8 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes from November 13, 2017 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to accept the claims from November 8, 2017 through November 21, 2017. Claim #6753 through claim #7077, inclusive. ROLL CALL VOTE (claims) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs Motion carried 8/0/1 CLAIMS APPROVED COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Rakos announced that the HC3 Beatification Committee Special Events invites the community to join them for the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the new public spaces at Martha and Kennedy, and Hessville Park. The ribbon cutting will be at the Martha and Kennedy location with a reception following at one of our community establishments. Food and refreshments will be served. It will be on December 7th at 2:30 P.M. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. NOVEMBER 27, 2017 COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole Committee - Councilman Woerpel - Brought out 17-32. Finance Committee - Councilman Spitale - Brought out 17-33. Community & Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Announced upcoming meetings: E. Ham’d Pullman C.W.; Tues., Dec. 12; Ophelia Steen Center; 6:30 p.m. Edison C.W.; Wed., Dec. 6; 6:30 p.m.; Edison School Edison on the Road; Mon., Dec. 4; 4:00 p.m.; Golden Manor Senior Apt. (O’Bannon School Choir) Harrison Park C.W.; Tues., Dec. 5; 6:30 p.m.; VFW Irving C.W.; Fri., Dec. 1; 9:15 a.m.; Irving School Pulaski Park N.A.; Tues., Nov. 28; 6:30 p.m.; American Legion Whiting/Robertsdale C.W.; Thur., Dec. 14; 6:30 p.m.; Calumet College New Meeting on Wed., Dec. 13; 2:30 p.m.; Mount Zion Pleasant View Plaza ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 17-32 An Ordinance Creating a New Non Reverting Fund (Fund #205) for Park Department Donations Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE NO. 9395 PASSED 17-33 An Ordinance 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 for passage. Councilman Spitale - Until this year, the Hammond Police Department have used their General Overtime Account to pay for the officers. This grant for the DUI Task Force Funds will have its own account. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE NO. 9396 PASSED Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. NOVEMBER 27, 2017 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 17-34 Authorizing the City Controller to Transfer Funds from One Line Item to Another within Various City 2017 Budgets Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Finance Committee. AYES: ALL 17-35 Creating a Rainy Day Fund (#245) for the City of Hammond Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Finance Committee. AYES: ALL 17-36 Creating a New Fund (Fund #255) for the City of Hammond, for purposes of Receipt and Disbursement of FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Councilman Rakos, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Finance Committee. AYES: ALL 17-37 Reclassifying Certain Lands in the City of Hammond for Zoning Purposes and Amending Ord. No. 8514 for Property Commonly Known as 121 142nd Street Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Building & Zoning Committee with the Intent to Consider on December 18, 2017. AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS None NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Woerpel - Earlier, or later, this year, Councilman Emerson and I put together some gaming funds to fix 173rd from Chestnut, the part we share, Columbia to Chestnut, and then I had some left over funds and it was scheduled to be from Chestnut to White Oak. They came out, they put a curb in which was needed and because of the weather, which I totally get, they had to patch it up and leave it until the spring because of the fact that the pavement can’t be as guaranteed when the temperature goes below 45 when they lay it. So, Councilman Emerson and I agreed that it would be better to wait til the spring and for them to finish the blacktopping job and no we haven’t lost out mind. We’re not leaving the street like that. I just wanted to make that point clear because I have been questioned on it a couple of times. If that was all we were doing was putting in that curb and leaving the street like that and to that question is no. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. NOVEMBER 27, 2017 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Torres, supported by Councilman Markovich, moved to send a letter to the City Engineer to research what would be the cost of establishing a quiet zone at 5100 Sohl at Michigan Central Railroad. I understand there’s got to be structural improvements and whatever else is needed. I would like to know what the cost of that would be. There’s at least four senior buildings there, two in the Renaissance, the Humphry, and the Hammond Elderly, plus the other residents and they’re kind of fed up with the tooting of the horns at 2 and 5 o’clock in the morning. I believe I heard sums that have been as much as $250 thousand. I don’t know if that’s gone up or not but I would just like to know what the figures are. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: NOVEMBER 28, 2017 Councilman Torres - I’d also like to comment on the improvements at Columbia Park. I know today they are pouring asphalt on that. But I too am concerned about, they started about mid-October and I’m concerned about the weather. At this time of year it is unpredictable. Councilman Torres, supported by Councilman Markovich, moved to send a letter to the City Engineer to see what the progress is at Columbia Park. LETTER SENT: NOVEMBER 28, 2017 PUBLIC EXPRESSION Carl Wolf - Here to urge the council to consider and pass the deferred action for childhood arrivals for DACA resolution that has been presented to the council members by e-mail and he also brought copies. Believes it is a good opportunity for the council to condemn President Trump’s recision of DACA. It is important that the residents of this city see that their first line of elected representatives stand with them. Carlotta Blake-King - Now that we’ve passed the School City of Hammond Referendum, one of the biggest items that folks were afraid of is the influx of the Illinois folks coming into our city and utilizing our schools. Major concern is that we’re building schools for Illinois parents. What are we gonna do about it? Perhaps we can explore an ordinance stating that a parent or guardian sign a document stating that they are a Hammond resident and make them subject to a penalty if they are not. As legislators, I am asking you to protect our investment. Rocharda Moore-Morris - Here on same issue. This is citywide. It was at all the schools that the parents began to talk about the residents from Chicago being registered at their schools. They are using addresses of people who live in the city of Hammond. It is very obvious that this is having an impact. We ask that you and the School Board of Trustees work together. This is impacting the entire city. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. NOVEMBER 27, 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: 6:30 pm cb Minutes approved at the Hammond Common Council Meeting of December 18, 2017. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5