City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL APRIL 23, 2018 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on April 23, 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 Council President Venecz. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz ABSENT: None TOTAL: 9 COMMON COUNCIL SCHOLARSHIP DRAWING Presentation by Mrs. Terry Mayerik Clark H.S. Bishop Noll H.S. st Erika Patino 1 Winner Justine Winfrey 1st Winner Jacqueline Vega 2nd Winner Erika Guerrero 1st Alternate Miguel Padilla 1st Alternate Monica Magallanes 2nd Alternate Ana Alvarez 2nd Alternate H.A.S.T. Gavit H.S. Alana Boykin 1st Winner Chloe Barnes 1st Winner Derrick Swart 1st Alternate Ciara Bolden 2nd Winner Skylar Cruz 2nd Alternate Iris Ramirez 3rd Winner Madison Moreland 1st Alternate Morton H.S. Gisselle Padilla 2nd Alternate Aislinn Gonzalez 1st Winner Brooklynn Mejia 2nd Winner Hammond H.S. Abel Cervantes 3rd Winner Khaliysia Sykes 1st Winner Autumn Macartney 4th Winner Christina Villanueva 2nd Winner Matthew Bandy 5th Winner Miriam Villagomez 3rd Winner Stephany Talavera 1st Alternate Tre’Sean Neal 1st Alternate Zion Gates 2nd Alternate Jennifer Corral 2nd Alternate Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 23, 2018 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Kalwinski, moved to approve the minutes of April 9, 2018 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to approve the claims from April 4, 2018 through April 18, 2018. Claim #2227 through claim #2507. ROLL CALL VOTE (claims) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 CLAIMS APPROVED PUBLIC HEARINGS 18-05 Appropriate Monies into the 2018 Gaming Fund 18-06 Appropriate Funds in the Hotel/Motel Innkeepers Tax Fund for Economic Development Purposes 18-08 Appropriating the Proceeds of the Annual Action Plan and Dealing with other Matters Pertaining to the Expenditure of Plan Proceeds for Program Year 2018 No one spoke. COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Rakos announced that HC3, also know as Hessville Commerce and Community Creative, was meeting tomorrow at 5p.m. at Freddy’s Steakhouse. Mayor McDermott will be the guest speaker. COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance Committee - Councilman Woerpel - Brought out 18-05, 18-06 and 18-08. Community & Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Upcoming meetings: Wed., May 2; Edison C.W; Edison School; 6:30 p.m. Edison of the Road; Fri., May 11; Golden Manor Senior Building; 1 p.m. Harrison Park C.W.; Tues., May 1; 6:30 p.m.; VFW on Hohman Irving C.W.; Fri., May 4; 9:15 a.m.; Irving School Pulaski Park N.A,; Tues., April 24; 6:30 p.m.; American Legion on Gostlin Whiting/Robertsdale C.W.; Thur., May 10; 6:30 p.m.; Calumet College Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 23, 2018 COMMITTEE REPORTS cont. Coffee with a Cop this Wed., April 25 at 5:00 p.m. at Schoop’s on the Boulevard. Coming up is the 2018 Hammond Security Light Program, homeowners can apply for dawn to dusk security lights beginning June 4th through June 8 at Cityhall in room 115. Supplies are limited. ORDINANCE 3rd READING - FINAL PASSAGE 18-05 Appropriate Monies into the 2018 Gaming Fund Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for passage. Councilman Higgs - Can the City Controller come up to the podium. I have a question about 2017, 3rd District, $151,028.26, account number 18-240-43902-0550. Which particular project is that designated for in my district? City Controller Garay - Under the Appropriate from, just is the general 3rd District, the 151, is that what you said? Councilman Higgs - Yes. City Controller Garay - That is your general unencumbered gaming dollars. So that’s from your general fund, when you get the annual budget, the amount that you’re allowed to spend on park or engineering projects in your district. You did not spend $151 thousand of that and so it will just be rolled over into your general gaming dollars for 2018. So whereas underneath the park designation or the engineering designation, those are dollars that you appropriated to your park district funds or your engineering district funds to be used either for the sidewalk program or park expenses. So this is general dollars that have not been used in any way yet. Councilman Higgs - What about the other one for $56 thousand? Where does that come from? City Controller Garay - So those were projects that you had designated throughout the year that you wanted to commit dollars to and we would set a purchase order and bill against those contract for the purchase order and the budget either came in under budget or there was a project that you decided not to move forward with throughout the year. So we worked very hard to make sure we’re closing out the P.O.’s timely so that we can reallocate those funds to the district and allow you to spend those dollars on your projects. Councilman Higgs - So, currently, what is the total amount allocated for 2018 for my district? City Controller Garay - I could not tell you that number because I do not have your current to date cash balance in front of me today. These numbers will all be transferred over to the appropriate accounts and will be added to your cash balance as of today. If you would like for me to provide you with that number we can update it and send it up to the council office. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 23, 2018 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. Councilman Higgs - I would appreciate that. One other question I have for you, in terms of the Festival of the Lakes, are the district councilmen allowed to make donations for this event? City Controller Garay - Yes. Councilman Higgs - Is there a certain sponsorship? City Controller Garay - You will need to contact Donna Muta, the Special Events Coordinator. She handles all the sponsorships. I don’t get involved in that part but she can tell you what is offered to any of our ... any sponsorship opportunities out there for the council or any other local vendors. 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. 9406 PASSED 18-06 Appropriate Funds in the Hotel/Motel Innkeepers Tax Fund for Economic Development Purposes Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved for passage. Councilman Spitale - This comes before us every year. The Hammond Economic Development Department is requesting an appropriation of $6,229.19 for training, advertisement material and promotional events. 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. 9407 PASSED 18-08 Appropriating the Proceeds of the Annual Action Plan and Dealing with other Matters Pertaining to the Expenditure of Plan Proceeds for Program Year 2018 Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved for passage. Councilman Spitale - This ordinance is to appropriate funds for 2018 Plan Grant for the CDBG, ESG and Homefront. Councilman Higgs - If I can have Owana step to the podium and give me some ideas of any programs that are gonna be affected, as it relates to the citizens of this great city. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 23, 2018 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. Owana Miller, Community Development Director - Councilman, currently in our budget, under our CDBG budget, we have housing rehabs, we have public services. Under ESG we have homeless services. Under our home dollars we partner with United Neighborhoods, Inc. under the CHDO Program. Currently there is $1.9 million that we’re talking about for CDBG. Home dollars is about $560 thousand and our ESG dollars is $174 thousand. We have not received our allocations for 2018 as of today. Our fiscal year started April 1st. Last year, 2017, we didn’t receive our funds until January of this year. So we definitely have to be mindful of what’s going on in Washington. I have a meeting tomorrow in Indianapolis to possibly discuss when those allocations will come. But as of right now, what you’re approving is based on our last years numbers. Councilman Higgs - So you don’t have any particular programs that you can identify that will be cut? Director Miller - It really affects all of our budget, the whole budget. Depending on what they’re gonna do. I really don’t know. Under public services we have child care, we deal with seniors, we do mentoring programs. Our ESG dollars service our three shelters in the city. We have Greater Hammond, takes care of our rapid rehousing program. Our ramp program, emergency. So it’s just across the board. We really just don’t know. 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. 9408 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 18-11 An Ordinance Amending Ord. No. 8514 for Purposes of Amending Various Titles to Incorporate Provisions for the Regulation of a Data Center Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee with an Intent to Consider for May 14, 2018. AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS 18R-16 A Resolution Related to Certain Waterworks Revenue Bonds Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for adoption. Councilman Kalwinski - This is a bond initiated by the Water Department, approved by their board for $7.5 million with better than $5 million of those dollars going into upgrading electrical equipment at the waterfront filtration plant, as well as engineering costs, as well as painting of two of the water towers; one at Harrison and the other at Sohl and Michigan. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 23, 2018 RESOLUTIONS cont. Councilman Higgs - I think it was discussed in caucus and one of the questions that was opposed to our superintendent of waters was that whether or not there was gonna be an increase in our water bill and he said it would not be an increase. 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. R16 ADOPTED 18R-17 A Declaratory Resolution of the Hammond City Council Designating that a Certain Area of the City of Hammond be Established as the Oxbow No. 1 Economic Revitalization Area to which Deductions from Assessed Value may be Requested by an Applicant to the Common Council of the City of Hammond Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved for adoption. Councilman Woerpel - This is just the standard declaratory resolution for a tax abatement for the hotel at Oxbow Landing. Councilman Higgs - As I stated previously, I wish I could afford to own some of that property over there. That land is very beautiful and if you could just drive down 80/94 and look off the expressway, what a pleasure to look at something that was once vacant that now houses restaurants as well as hotels and also offices and law firms. 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. R17 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Higgs - I received a correspondence from Dean Button and it says, “This is in response to your letter we received on 4/17/18 regarding the status of Cleveland. We currently have no status to update. If this project you would like to visit in the near future, we are more than happy to help. Currently we are focused on two reconstruction designs on 164th from McCook to Kennedy and Erie from Carroll to Eaton. 164th will be builded out this year with an estimate of $900 thousand with a possibility of finishing construction in the spring of 2019. Erie is a little further out with a possible of bidding and constructing in 2019. If funding is available with an estimated $1 million. Thank you and always please contact us, the Engineering Department with any questions or concerns.” Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 6 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 23, 2018 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Torres, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to have a letter sent to the City Engineer, Mr. Button, and also to the Mayor’s Office to initiate the design engineering and whatever cost there is in making “No Train Horn” or “Silence Zone”, as to they refer to it, at Michigan Central Tracks at 5100 Sohl, just north of Willow Court. I believe I can find the money for that if I can just have the study. If it can be done this year I’d appreciate it. Councilman Higgs - I guess my question would be, although he is sending a letter, how do you propose arriving or getting this to be executed in terms of silencing, I guess from the trains from blowing their horns because in all due respect you want to kind of save lives and if you don’t blow the horn and somehow or another it’s not blowing and it may become a problem. If you can give me a little clarity, Councilman Torres, as to what you’re requesting a little more clear I can understand it. Councilman Torres - Silent zones, they prepare that right of way in a way that it is hard for traffic to get through and the pedestrian sidewalks. It is done in other cities. I believe Griffith, Schererville, Highland, have done it. Whiting. That’s why I would like a study to see what it takes. Also, I would be interested in what the safety consequences are. For example, if there had been any accidents involving pedestrians or traffic and the location of where these silence zones have been established. That’s what I’m looking for as part of the study and design. I get a lot of calls from the Renaissance that they’ve been promised that in the past and I believe we can get it started now. AYES: ALL LETTERS SENT: 4/27/18 Councilman Higgs - I did receive a correspondence in regards to Cleveland, from Kennedy Avenue to McCook. In regards, I guess the street is narrow and that was one of my reasons for requesting and seeing what we can do to have that reconstructed over there by Kennedy Avenue because Cleveland is so narrow that the residents are parking, actually, across their curbside and I guess they were getting some tickets. At least one resident called me and said he was getting tickets. So I was trying to come up with a solution but unfortunately that street has to be designed in order for it to even be constructed. We don’t even know what the cost would be at the present time but that is something that I am certainly looking into. There are a number of streets over there that I have had the opportunity to having developed. One was Clerk Golec’s street where his parents live, as well as some lighting and we’re working on 164th, so we’re trying to get some streets done over there, as many as possible. Hopefully we can get that done. Councilman Woerpel - I just wanted to say that last Friday I noticed a project that the 5th District and the 4th District is doing there on 173rd Street. If they do nothing else, the street looks better already. But it will be paved in the next day or two. It’s stripped down. Councilman Higgs - Hammond’s 14th Cinco de Mayor McDermott will be Saturday, May 5th , 2018 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Hammond Civic Center, 5825 Sohl Avenue, Hammond, IN, 46320. Entertainment will be provided and tickets are $15. If you’re interested in purchasing a ticket feel free to call 219-853-6378. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 7 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. APRIL 23, 2018 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Kalwinski - The City of Hammond, Mayor McDermott, are in partnership with Region Racing Power by Strack and Van Til to bring back the Region Riot Criterium Bike Race to the city of Hammond on Saturday, May 12th, 2018 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for more information or to register go to goregionriot.com. Councilman Higgs - I would be remiss if I didn’t say thank you Carson Pirie Scott for your longevity and your contributions to the city of Hammond. You will surely be missed. It is unfortunate that you had to file bankruptcy and close but it’s a sore that I remember for a number of years and what can you say, it’s not gonna be the same going down Indianapolis Blvd. and not seeing Carson’s but certainly we thank you for your contributions to our city. Councilwoman Venecz - At this time I would like to extend an invitation. The Hammond Education Foundation invites you to celebrate Blueprint which is a program Mrs. Mayerik made reference to before with regard to the seniors at all of our high schools. Blueprint 2018, college sign in day is Thursday, May 3rd from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. There is a program and a reception at the Hammond Area Career Center at 5727 Sohl. They would like for you to R.S.V.P., the number is 933-2400 at ext. 1044. There will be free professional photography provided at this event. Anyone looking to go to college and looking for some direction with the application process and more, I urge everyone to attend this. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Jim Tufford - Hammond Sanitary District’s prices are all over the range. They are also discriminatory against multi-unit buildings. Indiana Code says the fees are supposed to be just and equitable but for something that is at least twice as much is not just and equitable. The reason that we are paying more is because theoretically we were told we’re sluffing off, we’re not financing the thing, the district, like we are supposed to. Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL Janet Venecz, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Time: 6:55 p.m. cb Minutes approved at the Common Council Meeting of May 14, 2018. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 8