City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL DECEMBER 18, 2017 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on December 19, 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: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz ABSENT: None TOTAL: 9 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes from November 27, 2017 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to approve the claims from November 22, 2017 through December 13, 2017. Claim #7078 through claim #7562, inclusive. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to amend in claims: #7563 Mike Albert Leasing Cedit Fund $38,389.98 #7564 H.A.S.T. Common Council $ 500.00 ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 AMENDMENT ADOPTED ROLL CALL VOTE (as amended) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 CLAIMS APPROVED (as amended) Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. DECEMBER 18, 2017 PUBLIC HEARINGS None COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Higgs thanked the Mayor for his assistance with the annual thanksgiving dinner that was held for the residents of the Mount Zion Pleasant View Plaza. It was a huge success. I’ve been doing it for about seventeen years and the residents really appreciate it, and I appreciate his help in assisting me with that this year. COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance Committee - Councilman Woerpel - Brought out 17-34, 17-35 and 17-36. Building & Zoning Committee - Councilman Kalwinski - Brought out 17-37. Community & Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz announced upcoming meetings: Tues., Dec. 19; East Ham’d Pullman C.W.; Ophelia Steen Center; 6:30 p.m. Thur., Dec. 21; South Ham’d C.W.; Ham’d Housing Authority; 7 p.m. ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 17-34 An Ordinance Authorizing the City Controller to Transfer Funds from One Line Item to Another within Various City 2017 Budgets Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9397 PASSED 17-35 An Ordinance Creating a Rainy Day Fund (#245) for the City of Hammond Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved for passage. Councilman Higgs - I just needed some clarity on that particular ordinance, in terms of rainy day. City Controller Garay - This ordinance is authorizing us to open a rainy day fund for the city. It’s regulated by state statute. It dictates what funding sources can be used and what expenses are allowable under this fund. We’ve outlined those specific uses within our ordinance that are specific to the city itself. In the 2018 budget we anticipate using this fund to collect the savings from the guaranteed energy saving project that is currently going on throughout the city and some of those dollars will be used to pay the debt service payments in order to Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. DECEMBER 18, 2017 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. City Controller Garay cont. - implement that project. Going forward we hope to accumulate savings there that can be used for other purposes, potentially reducing line items or other capital projects. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9398 PASSED 17-36 An Ordinance 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 Higgs, moved for passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9399 PASSED 17-37 An Ordinance Reclassifying Certain Lands in the City of Hammond for Zoning Purposes and Amending Ord. 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 121 142nd Street Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for passage. Councilman Kalwinski - This is taking an I-2 and S-1 zoning and creating one zoning parcel of S-1, west of the Babe Ruth Field at Hermits Park. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9400 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES None Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. DECEMBER 18, 2017 RESOLUTIONS 17R-36 A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Hammond, Indiana Approving the Issuance of Bonds by the Hammond Sanitary District to Refund Certain Outstanding Bonds and Pay the Costs of Issuing the Bonds Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved for adoption. Councilman Markovich - This is for the Sanitary District and the refinancing of the bonds to look for lower rates and then not to exceed 6% interest rate. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION NO. R36 ADOPTED 17R-37 A Resolution Reappointing Janet Venecz to the Board of the Hammond Urban Academy (HAST) Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for adoption. Councilman Spitale - Councilwoman Venecz has been on the board for six years. If re-appointed, she’ll hold the position until December 31, 2020. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION NO. R37 ADOPTED 17R-38 Resolution to Reappoint Gregory Myricks to the Hammond Redevelopment Committee Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for adoption. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION NO. R38 ADOPTED Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. DECEMBER 18, 2017 RESOLUTIONS cont. 17R-39 A Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Kristen Hill as a Commissioner of the Hammond Human Relations Commission of the City of Hammond, Indiana Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved for adoption. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION NO. R39 ADOPTED 17R-40 A Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Ivonne Rocha as a Commissioner of the Hammond Human Relations Commission of the City of Hammond, Indiana Councilman Torres, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved for adoption. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION NO. R40 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Council President Venecz - Regarding the Intent to Consider, by virtue of passing 17-37 earlier this evening, the Intent to Consider also passes. Councilman Higgs moved to send a letter to Public Works to have the tree removed on Bauer and Rhode, in the 900 block and also the tree removed in the 900 block of Fields. They’ve been in the open lots and their dead and they’re just an eyesore in the community and I would hope that they would get them cut down and removed as quickly as possible. Councilman Markovich - Second, for discussion. Councilman Markovich - He keeps saying a lot, a lot. If it’s private property we can’t go on there and cut these trees down. Councilman Higgs - Not true, Councilman Markovich. If they cite the property owner, they can remove the tree and put a lien on the property. They just need to do their job and get the tree removed. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. DECEMBER 18, 2017 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Torres - It’s my understanding that the Park Department is removing trees now, Mark Heintz, not Public Works. Council President Venecz - Would you like to have the letter sent to the Park Department as well, Councilman? Councilman Higgs - That’s fine, thank you. Councilman Markovich - I’d like to have a copy of that letter sent to the Law Department to see if that’s legal what they’re planning on doing. Councilman Higgs - I’m pretty sure no one’s gonna go on private property and cut a tree down without knowing what the law says, Councilman Markovich. But, however, if that’s where you want it to go that’s fine with me. Council President Venecz - All those in favor? Opposed? AYES: ALL LETTERS SENT: DECEMBER 19, 2017 Councilman Higgs - Ms. Pearline Jenkins’ house has been vacant for about fifteen years at 936 Conkey Street. The windows are busted out and I’d like a letter sent to Code Enforcement in regards to having that house demo’d. Councilman Torres - Second. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: DECEMBER 19, 2017 Council President Venecz - I would like to announce that Wednesday, Dec. 20, beginning at 6 p.m. at Hammond High, the East Side Community Council is once again partnering with the Hammond Police Department for their annual toy giveaway. Any child up to the age of 18, not including 18, but up to 18, will receive a toy. They are also raffling off hams and other items so I encourage everyone who might know someone whose family might not receive a gift this Christmas to go to Hammond High and participate in this wonderful event. Councilman Woerpel -I guess I’ll say it, I just wanted to wish everybody a Merry Christmas out there. If it’s anything like my house, I got kids crawling all over my house like ants right now. I do like the idea of the toy drive. Merry Christmas. Council President Venecz - Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy and prosperous new year to all. I also wanted to wish a happy birthday to our very own Jake Jacobs, happy birthday Jake. Also, our City Clerk, Bob Golec, happy birthday. Judge Julie Cantrell also has her birthday today. And today happens to be my wedding anniversary, so happy anniversary sweetheart, I know you’re watching. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 6 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. DECEMBER 18, 2017 PUBLIC EXPRESSION George Stoya - There was a report by ABC concerning the Federal bust of Columbia Liquors for bootlegging. The charge is they are selling Indiana liquor out of the backdoor wholesale to liquor stores in Illinois. The charge is they are intentionally depriving Illinois of excise taxes. I think there should be a letter going out from this council to the effect that, where does it stop? What about the gasoline station guys? The cigarette guys? Maybe the council’s attorney or the Mayor’s Office should look into this. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Torres, moved to return to New and Unfinished Business. ROLL CALL VOTE (return to New and Unfinished Business) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 MOTION CARRIED Councilman Higgs - I also seen that on the news as well and it’s Columbia Liquors, but the thing is the person that actually was selling the liquor store was selling to the liquor stores that he owns in Illinois. Not only is Indiana losing revenue, Illinois is as well. Unfortunately, until they crack down on these guys that are doing it. I guess it’s gonna continue to happen. But, they had a sting and I guess they caught the guy selling it out the back door and in the trunk and he asked the guy on the news did he think it was right, he said he didn’t have anything to do with where it goes. Very interesting. But he actually owned the liquor stores that he was selling to. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved to return to the regular order of business. AYES: ALL Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, 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 Common Council meeting of January 8, 2018. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 7