City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL JANUARY 22, 2018 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on January 22, 2018 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, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz ABSENT: Torres TOTAL: 8 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes of January 8, 2018 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to approve the claims from January 3, 2018 through January 17, 2018. Claim #238 through claim #529, inclusive. ROLL CALL VOTE (claims) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Torres Motion carried 8/0/1 CLAIMS APPROVED PUBLIC HEARINGS None COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Higgs - Just to inform the public, I have decided, since the Federal Government is shut down, to table my resolution of 18R-05 to the next meeting. So just for clarity in everyone’s minds. But you’re still welcome to speak under public expression in regards to this particular resolution. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JANUARY 22, 2018 COMMITTEE REPORTS Community & Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Upcoming meetings: Wed., Feb. 7; Edison Community Watch; Edison School; 6:30 p.m. Edison on the Road; Golden Manor Senior Apt.’s; Fri., Feb. 9; 1:00 p.m. Harrison Park C.W. has been cancelled for the month of February Irving Community Watch; Fri., Feb. 2; 9:15 a.m.; Irving School Pulaski Park Neighborhood Assoc.; Tues., Jan. 30; American Legion; 6:30 p.m. The Hammond F.O.P. is inviting everyone and their family to attend a screening of Fallen 2017. Hosted by the Hammond Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #51. This documentary directed by Thomas Marchese dives deep into the emotional response and effect of peers and family of line of duty police deaths. This special screening will be held in the Morton High School auditorium, 6915 Grand Avenue in Hammond on Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. Following the special event there will be a short discussion and review of the documentary. If you are interested in attending this event, you can e-mail hammondfop@gmail.com. ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE None INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 18-01 Amending Ord. 6066 and Ord. 8435 also known as Section 150.070 of the Hammond Municipal Code as it pertains to Emergency Board Ups in Hammond 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 Councilman Woerpel - This basically just expands the ordinance that allows board ups to include more than fire board ups. It includes weather related issues, cars hitting buildings, whatever. It’s not included in the ordinance that we currently have. Councilman Higgs - I guess my question would be to Councilman Woerpel, is the fees gonna increase in regards to these particular items? Councilman Woerpel - Not pertaining to this ordinance, no. 18-02 Creating a New Section of Title III, Chapter 32, pertaining to the Use of Confidential Funds by the Hammond Police Department Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Kalwinski, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee. AYES: ALL Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JANUARY 22, 2018 RESOLUTIONS 18R-04 Approving a Written Order of the Hammond Plan Commission as it pertains to Plan Commission Res. No. 2018-01 that Approved Amending Declaratory Resolution No. 08-2017 of the Hammond Redevelopment Commission Amending the Redevelopment Plan for the Hammond Central Redevelopment Area Expanding the Existing Redevelopment Area and related Allocation Area, and further Consolidating the Depot Allocation Area with the Hammond Central Allocation Area Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for adoption. Councilman Woerpel - Basically what the Clerk said, it kind of speaks for itself. It creates a redevelopment, or expanding a redevelopment area on Indy Blvd. from 165th to the Borman, on Summer Street from Indy to 165th. Councilman Higgs - I guess my question would be to Councilman Woerpel, can he give me some kind of clarity as to what kind of expansion is supposed to occur there? Councilman Woerpel - It’s the expansion of the TIF District. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Torres Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION NO. R04 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Higgs - I just want to identify there was a community forum in my district and I just want to thank those individuals that came out. Hopefully, in the near future we can get some things resolved as it relates to the 3rd District and my constituents. As I state previously, there is some opposition in regards to the pool but we certainly want to make sure that it’s not just a hole sitting in the park and we want to do some renovations. So I would hope that the residents of my district voice their concerns to the Mayor’s Office in regards to this particular ordinance. Councilman Higgs - I know there was a correspondence in regards to that particular issue and the Mayor wrote some notes and notations and I did put it in your boxes identifying all the letters that were submitted to the churches within my district and my community so that you all are informed that they were notified of every or each incident or occurrence when they related to any issue affecting the 3rd District of the city of Hammond. Councilman Emerson - I’d just like to announce, for those who haven’t heard, there’s a Mayor’s Night Out this Wednesday at Edison Elementary School, Madison, roughly, Madison and 171st off Calumet right there, you can’t miss it. It starts at 6:30. It’s a chance to ask anyone, department heads, questions and if they can’t answer it they’ll get back to you. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JANUARY 22, 2018 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Higgs - I certainly want to send my condolences to Rev. Cato Brooks family in the loss of him as a minister and pioneer in the city of Gary. My condolences to his family. Council President Venecz - And ours as well, thank you. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Cindy Miller - Presented petition to keep the Gary busses running in Hammond. Lorrell Kilpatrick - Project Coordinator of Everybody Counts North - Supporting the continued availability of the bus service into Hammond, IN by the Gary Public Transit. Herlinda Oviedo - In support of the busses running in Hammond. Max Wolf & Xavier Cervantes - Students at Gavit High School - Here to advocate for the DACA Program and the support of it by the city. Asked that Hammond be made a Safe Zone where no Dreamers or their families be subjected to a fate not of their own making. Terry Steagall - Member of Steelworkers Local #1010 - Local #1010 unanimously passed a DACA Resolution similar to the one that Lake County Council passed. They are trying to get the cities and towns in the area to do likewise. We need to have a proactive citizenship because of the way things are ran in Washington. They are out to destruct government and they’re doing a pretty good job of it. Louis Sharp - HUD funding has been cancelled in East Chicago due to not following through properly with the applications for grants. Is anything going to be done in Hammond concerning its pollution needs because there are indicators in the trees and water. We need to pursue these grants here in Hammond. Rocharda Moore-Morris - Has been a swimmer since she was 2½ years old. Swimming is a life skill. It is the only sport in which you can save your life. It is more important than anything else we can do in relation to recreation in this community. There is a nationwide effort to get parents to encourage their children to swim. Would not let her 12 year old ride his bike to the pool in this day and age. We need at least one other pool. Carlotta Blake-King - Thanked Councilman Higgs for the Town Hall Meeting. There is no concept on how the kids from the South side and Central are going to get to the far North side of the city of Hammond. There have been no renderings, time table or details of what is being proposed. If there is a splash pad what type of supervision will there be? What data was used to make the decision to have only one swimming pool in a city of this size? Knows that the Mayor really didn’t mean it when he said our babies could ride there on their bicycles. I would hope he would retract that statement. It is insulting to parents. George Stoya - Show us the money. These pools were losing $200 thousand a year. He is all for a pool but can we afford it is the question. Afraid the city is going to overspend itself. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JANUARY 22, 2018 PUBLIC EXPRESSION cont. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Markovich, moved to return to New and Unfinished Business. ROLL CALL VOTE AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Venecz NAYS: Rakos ABSENT: Torres Motion carried 7/1/1 MOTION CARRIED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Higgs - Just so all minds and hearts are clear, initially when this proposal came about in regards to the pool, petitions were submitted to all the churches in my district and throughout the community lobbying them to come out and voice their concerns prior to the $8.7 million bond issue to renovate the parks. In this particular language it states that Pulaski Park will be the pool that remains open versus all the other pools in Hammond. I’m certainly in favor of keeping the pool. I stated before and I’ll state it again now, I’m willing to use my casino dollars that are allocated to my district to do whatever is necessary to keep Maywood Pool open. Thank you. Councilman Rakos, supported by Councilman Emerson, 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: 6:45 p.m. cb Approved at the Common Council Meeting of February 12, 2018. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5