City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL FEBRUARY 26, 2018 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on February 26, 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, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz ABSENT: Higgs TOTAL: 8 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes of February 12, 2018 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to approve the claims from February 7, 2018 through February 21, 2018. Claim #1008 through claim #1308, inclusive. ROLL CALL VOTE (approval) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs Motion carried 8/0/1 CLAIMS APPROVED PUBLIC HEARINGS None COMMUNICATIONS None COMMITTEE REPORTS Community & Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Upcoming meetings: Edison C.W.; Wed., Mar. 7; 6:30 p.m.; Edison School Edison C.W. on the Road; Fri., Mar. 9; 1 p.m.; Golden Manor Senior Apart. Irving C.W.; Fri., Mar. 2; 9:15 a.m.; Irving School Pulaski Park N.A.; Tues., Feb. 27; American Legion; 6:30 p.m. Whiting-Robertsdale C.W.; Calumet College; Thur., Mar. 8; 6:30 p.m. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 26, 2018 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE None INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 18-04 An Ordinance Reclassifying Certain Lands in the City of Hammond for Zoning Purposes and Amending Ordinance No. 8514 for Property Commonly known as 7527 Kennedy Avenue Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading, referred it to the Building & Zoning Committee with the Intent to Consider on March 12, 2018. AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS 18R-10 A Resolution of the Hammond Common Council Approving the Development Agreement among the City of Hammond, Indiana, the City of Hammond Redevelopment Commission, and Calumet College of Saint Joseph Inc. Regarding Development of a Student Housing Facility for Students at Calumet College of St. Joseph Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final adoption. Councilman Kalwinski - This resolution is an amendment that will give the college more time to obtain financing to pursue dormitories for the college for their expansion and stabilization. Councilman Markovich asked to be added as a sponsor. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION NO. R10 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilwoman Venecz - I would like to announce that Mayor’s Night Out is coming up this Wednesday, February 28th at Purdue Northwest Alumni Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone who has any questions about what is going on in our city. You can ask our Mayor and any of the department heads directly your concerns or questions. I would also like to announce that on Saturday, March 17th, the Prom Genie will be hosting its 5th Annual Boutique Day. It will be at the Jean Shepherd Center. This is an opportunity for high school girls to get shoes, prom dresses, accessories, make overs, hair styles, all free of charge. It is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Councilman Woerpel - I’ve been questioned on it, if you’re going east on 173rd Street and you get by the college there, you would turn left to go in all the way down the parking lot where the new buildings go and I believe it’s on the 3rd floor. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 26, 2018 PUBLIC EXPRESSION Terry Steagall - Steelworkers Local 1010 - Has adopted a resolution supporting DACA and is asking the council to support a DACA resolution also. Being Black History month, recognized Echol Cole and Robert Walker. Two sanitation workers who were killed in an accident in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. This led to a strike of 1300 black workers who refused the unsafe conditions. Dr. Martin Luther King attended a rally dignifying the representation of the dignity of all labor. Later there was another march and a 16 year old boy was killed by the police. Dr. King went back and led a peaceful march. Dr. King was assassinated shortly after. These are things that need to be recognized as to what kind of country we want to have and how we want to move forward as a country and create an atmosphere to where everybody is welcome. That leads into this DACA situation. These folks are under a lot of duress right now and really need our support. They’ve established themselves in the community as far as employment. They are part of our economy, our schools. The whole aspect of it is overwhelming to these people and they’re scared. It is important that we support the resolution on DACA. Alvin Cheeks - Here on behalf of the Bally Casino Las Vegas to thank the Golec family for all the stuff that they’ve done. Has gifts from the Blackhawks. Clayton Potter Foundation is going to continue the things that she done during the summer and make sure all the kids in the community receive all the things that they should. One of the hardest things I had to do was tell my son about Mrs. Golec. Steve Winn sent his love. I’m gonna make sure that her love and her grace continue in our community. George Stoya - I come to you with a heavy heart because I don’t really want to say what I’m gonna say. I’m all for DACA . I think the people that are subjected to it under the Trump administration are under an enormous amount of stress. The problem is I don’t believe idealism about it is the answer. I mean it makes for great tragedy and idealism and political martyrdom but it requires a political solution. We’re getting a lot of pressure from idealists, purists, that think because the cause is just that it’s a winner. It just doesn’t play out that way in the politics of the U.S. or I dare say, anyplace. If we’re talking about immediate results I ask that you guys take heed of what the Mayor here has spoken about. The idea of putting a target on us. How we’re outgunned as a Democratic bastian here in Hammond. You’ve got to fight strategically. You just can’t go in there and become political cannon fodder. I just caution you guys. Mayor McDermott - I just wanted to go on the record, because I know you guys are taking a lot of heat for the DACA issue and where we stand as a city. And I just want to say where I stand. I think that we’re wise in keeping out of this debate. Because there’s a lot of problems in American currently. There’s a problem with guns. There’s a problem with immigration. I think we have a general problem of getting along and working together like we used to do in the old days. But the gun problem is obviously glaring at us right now because of the tragedy that happened on Valentines’s day. The DACA issue is hugely important to many people in our city, we acknowledge that. But the city of Hammond has so many challenges on it’s plate and so much reliance upon Federal Government’s money. And I’d like to point out the score, State of Indiana has over b super majority in the General Assembly. They have 41 out of 50 votes in the Indiana Senate. They have 71 out of 100 votes in the Indiana House and our Republican Governor is a close ally of the President and the Vice President. Congress of the United States is solidly republican. The President of the United States is a solid Republican. Cities like Hammond in Indiana are a rarity and they’re trying to get rid of us, Democratic areas. We rely on millions of dollars of Federal funds every year. Every year the General Assembly could take our gaming money and we’re Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 26, 2018 PUBLIC EXPRESSION cont. Mayor McDermott cont. - fighting to keep it. Every year the General Assembly is trying to take more of our money. We lost $800 thousand on Special Legislation that was acknowledged by the Indiana Court of Appeals as Special Legislation just to punish us just a couple years ago. We lost $800 thousand. And I feel horrible about what’s going on. One of the great things about our city is we are diverse. I love our diversity. But if we start putting a target on our back, next year I don’t know where the immigration’s gonna be but we’re gonna be in the General Assembly wondering what they’re gonna take, and that’s the way they work. That’s how it works. We put a target on our back if we get involved in issues like this. We couldn’t affect the debate even if we wanted to. If we pass a DACA resolution, we’re gonna send a letter, according to our resolution, to the President of the United States, the Indiana Senate, the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, the Indiana Senate, Indiana House, and the Governor. Giving them a big stiff middle finger. You think that’s not gonna come back and haunt us? It will. I’m on the record, I try to keep my politics separate from my policy. We run the city of Hammond. You guys and me, run the city of Hammond. We have bigger responsibilities that we have to think about. That’s where I’m coming from. Do I personally support the DACA resolution? Absolutely. Do I think what’s going on with the Dreamers is abhorrent? Absolutely, it’s horrible what’s going on. But I have a city to run and millions of dollars at stake every single year at the Indiana General Assembly, and they will take it from us. They’ve done it before and they will do it again. So I don’t want anybody in this audience to think I’m shirking my responsibility because the Council is taking all the heat right now. I stand with you. And if we’re gonna start taking positions on National issues, I beg to say let’s talk about guns then too, because that’s a glaring problem in our society as well and that will alienate people just as much as a DACA resolution. We could talk about abortion next. We could talk about a lot of things that we have no control over. We have no control over the DACA debate. All this energy that’s going into attending the Hammond City Council meetings and intimidate us should be going towards Congressman Visclosky and Senator Tod Young, and you know, focusing on where they could actually make a difference, or Senator Joe Donnelly who I know supports the Dreamers. Because that’s where the focus should be, not on the Hammond City Council. Not on the Hammond Mayor. We stand with you but we have a city to run. That’s my number one responsibility when I took the oath. That’s where I’m coming from. I want people to know I sympathize. I think it’s horrible what’s going on but I think the Hammond Council made the wise decision two weeks ago and you made the wise decision today and I appreciate it as your Mayor. 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 p.m. cb Minutes approved at the Common Council meeting of March 12, 2018. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4