City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MAY 14, 2018 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on May 14, 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 Janet Venecz. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz ABSENT: Higgs, Emerson TOTAL: 7 DISTRIBUTION OF COUNCIL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Presentation by Theresa Mayerik, Assistant Superintendent of the School City of Hammond. Speakers: Carolyn Saxton, President of the Legacy Foundation Esther Goods, Executive Director of Secondary Academic Services of the School City of Hammond Clark H.S. Bishop Noll H.S. Erika Patino 1st Winner Justine Winfrey 1st Winner Jacqueline Vega 2nd Winner Erika Guerrero 1st Alternate Gavit H.S. H.A.S.T. st Chloe Barnes 1 Winner Alana Boykin 1st Winner Ciara Bolden 2nd Winner Iris Ramirez 3rd Winner Morton H.S. Aislinn Gonzalez 1st Winner Hammond H.S. Brooklynn Mejia 2nd Winner Khaliysia Sykes 1st Winner Abel Cervantes 3rd Winner Christina Villanueva 2nd Winner Autumn Macartney 4th Winner Miriam Villagomez 3rd Winner Matthew Bandy 5th Winner Councilman Higgs is now present. READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Kalwinski, moved to accept the minutes of April 23, 2018 and place on file AYES: ALL Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 14, 2018 APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to approve the claims from April 18, 2018 through May 9, 2018. Claim #2508 through claim #2928, inclusive. ROLL CALL VOTE (claims) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Emerson Motion carried 8/0/1 CLAIMS APPROVED PUBLIC HEARINGS 18-09 An Ordinance to Appropriate Funds within the Hammond Police Department Grant Fund for 2018 18-10 An Ordinance Authorizing the City of Hammond, to Issue its Economic Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2018 (Gateway Projects) and Approving other Actions in Respect thereto Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to allow the City Controller or someone from Planning and Development to come forth and explain what this is about. ROLL CALL VOTE (come forth to explain) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Higgs, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: Woerpel ABSENT: Emerson Motion carried 7/1/1 MOTION CARRIED City Controller Garay - Good evening. So, 18-09 is an ordinance to appropriate the funds for the Hammond Police Department Grant Fund for 2018. It is the Summer Impaired Driving Grant, formerly referred to as the Centipede, Operation Centipede, the name has been changed to Operation SIDE-P. We get this grant on an annual basis. It goes towards the grant objectives of reducing impaired driving during the summer and we have been awarded $52,092 to this program. Councilman Markovich - It’s free money, correct? City Controller Garay - Well, I wouldn’t call it free money. But it is not money that is put into the budget. It is in a separate fund. All of the wages and benefits related to it have to be calculated. So w are making sure that it’s not costing our budgets any additional dollars. Councilman Spitale - Starting time and ending time on that? Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 14, 2018 PUBLIC HEARINGS cont. City Controller Garay - I could not tell you that. I believe Captain Vicari was here previously to discuss this. It’s the summer one, so I think that it’s coming up soon. And then on item 18-10, this is the ordinance to issue Economic Development Bonds within the Gateway Area. This is for the financing of the incentive packages for the ATG Development and also the project Ice Cube, the ice rink development within the Gateway Allocation Area. This particular ordinance is set at a not to exceed amount of $4.8 million with an interest rate not to exceed 6%. We will be coming to you later in this meeting to do a 1st and 2nd reading on a supplemental ordinance that will somewhat affect this particular one because we feel that we can get a better interest rate and deal with coverage issues on the bond. This particular one though is just to pass the authorization to allow us to bond for up to a $4.8 million amount for the incentive packages in this area. George Stoya - Addressing 18-10. I don’t know enough to really oppose it or anything or make any critical comments. What I am worried about though is the impacts on future budgets, with respect to this particular bond. I’m always worried about the 2020 deadline. I wish there was more said, maybe something more can be said, with respect to this bond. There may not be any increase. Bob tells me that a lot of these things just roll over and things remain constant with respect to what the city is paying out on some of these bonds, not all. But, I just wanted to know how it will impact the future, future budgets, and especially if it’s still relevant come 2020. Councilman Woerpel - This is a TIF Bond. It’s a bond issued by the TIF District. It’s a bond issued by the TIF District. It has no effect on our general fund, more or less. COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Higgs announced his annual cleanup in the 3rd District. He will be distributing bags and gloves throughout the district. The entire council is welcome to join in. We will be accepting of any bags or gloves or anything that you can give in regards to that. He started distributing yesterday and will distribute as supplies last. Councilman Higgs read his agreement regarding the park improvements. Councilman Rakos announced there was a Hessville Spring Clean Up last Saturday and thanked HC3 and everybody that came out, including the Hess Elementary students, the Spring Girls on the Run Team, coaches and teachers from Scott Middle School, Assistant Principal, the students, Morton Athletic Girls Softball, Track and Football teams, and all the local residents and business owners that came out. It was very successful and we thank everybody that came out. Councilman Higgs announced that although the dumpsters are not in existence now, previously one of the things being on the council was getting dumpsters for clean-up and the response I get from the residents when I give them bags and gloves throughout the district is whether or not the dumpsters are gonna be placed throughout the city or in my district for the cleanup. So certainly I would hope that my colleagues at some point would revisit this issue and try to get this re-directed in the city so that people could utilize dumpsters for clean- up week. Because it’s a great program and that was the reason for me implementing that as a councilman so that people would have an opportunity to clean up and have dumpsters for that week. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 14, 2018 COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance Committee - Councilman Woerpel - Brought out 18-10. Council as a Whole Committee - Councilman Spitale - Brought out 18-09. Council as a Whole Committee - Councilman Kalwinski - Brought out 18-11. Community and Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Announced upcoming meetings: Tues, May 15; East Ham’d Pullman C.W.; 6:30 p.m.; Ophelia Steen Center Thur.; May 17; Hessville C.W.; 7 p.m.; Jean Shepherd Center Lafayette N.W.; Wed., May 16; 6:30 p.m.; Lafayette School S. Ham’d C.W.; Thur., May 17; 7 p.m.; Hammond Housing Authority Bldg. Fri., May 18th at the Hammond Police Department is the Annual Police Memorial. May 31st from 5-7 p.m. there will be Coffee with a Cop at Johnel’s Restaurant. The 2018 City of Hammond Security Light Program will begin accepting applications on Monday, June 4th through June 8th, Room 115 on the 1st Floor of City hall. ORDINANCE 3rd READING - FINAL PASSAGE 18-09 An Ordinance to Appropriate Funds within the Hammond Police Department Grant Fund for 2018 Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Emerson Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE NO. 9409 PASSED 18-10 An Ordinance Authorizing the City of Hammond, to Issue its Economic Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2018 (Gateway Projects) and Approving other Actions in Respect thereto Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for passage. Councilman Woerpel - I think Heather covered everything when the question was asked. It’s a TIF Bond for those districts. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Emerson Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE NO. 9410 PASSED Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 14, 2018 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. 18-11 Amend the text of the Zoning Ordinance #8514 to Provide For and Add a New Permitted Use and Provisions for a Data Center Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for passage. Councilman Kalwinski - This ordinance is an amendment to the city’s Zoning Ordinance so that it will include data centers from this point forward and for specifically the site in the 1st District where a data center is now planned. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Emerson Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE NO. 9411 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 18-12 Amending Various Ordinances also known as Ch. 35 of the Hammond Municipal Code as Pertains to the Hammond City Court and the Orderly Transition of Cases Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee. Councilman Higgs - What about the public hearing that’s supposed to be scheduled on June 11? Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved to amend out on page 2, under “Further be it ordained”, we amend out the words “after public hearing hearon and”. Councilman Woerpel - This is an ordinance that extends the life of the court for another year so we can clear our case file of about 30 thousand cases. There is no public hearing needed on this. It’s just an ordinance that extends the closure of the court to clear that case file out so we don’t have to transfer all them existing cases to the county level. Council President Venecz - On the motion by Councilman Woerpel to amend out the public hearing. All in favor? All opposed? AYES: ALL Council President Venecz - Now on 1st and 2nd reading and referring to Council as a Whole. All in favor? All opposed? AYES: ALL Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 14, 2018 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES cont. 18-13 A Supplemental Ordinance Authorizing the City of Hammond to Refund its Taxable Economic Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2015A (Gateway Projects) and Approving other Actions in Respect thereto Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Finance Committee. Councilman Woerpel - It’s not gonna cost the taxpayers anything as far as this ordinance goes. It’s still part of the TIF Bond and what it does, it allows us to transfer over the 2015 TIF Bond and refinancing of it helps us to meet the coverage requirements that are required for the new bond. Council President Venecz - All those in favor? Opposed? AYES: ALL 18-14 To Create a New Section of Title VII, Chapter 72, to Prohibit Booting of Motor Vehicles Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee. AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS 18R-19 Re-Appointing Jorge Bautista to the Electrical Contractors Board 18R-20 Re-Appointing Robert Garcia to the HVAC Contractors Board 18R-21 Re-Appointing Ron Kotso to the HVAC Contractors Board Sponsored by Janet Venecz 18R-22 Re-Appointing Ron Lubas to the Electrical Contractors Board Sponsored by Janet Venecz 18R-23 Re-Appointing Richard Spitale to the Building Contractors Board Sponsored by Janet Venecz Councilman Rakos, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved to adopt 18R-19, 18R-20, 18R-21, 18R-22 and 18R-23. Councilman Higgs - Are any of these appointments here? Council President Venecz - No they are not. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 6 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 14, 2018 RESOLUTIONS cont. Councilman Higgs - Well, out of all due respect, I mean, I personally don’t know any of these individuals but it would be nice to meet them. I guess I could try to make arrangements to try to meet them since they’re serving in this capacity (unclear). But it would be nice if they would have been present. I mean. Councilman Markovich asked to be added as a sponsor on each of the appointments. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Emerson Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION NO.’S R19, R20, R21, R22 AND R23 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS 18-11 INTENT TO CONSIDER: CP-18-08; Amend the text of the Zoning Ordinance #8514 to Provide For and Add a New Permitted Use and Provisions for a Data Center Council President Venecz - On the agenda is the Intent to Consider for 18-11. By virtue of that passing earlier this evening we do not need to address this. Councilman Higgs - I would like to announce “Who’s Got Game?” will be sponsored by Councilman Higgs, yours truly, on July 7th because we’re gonna have Hammond Day on June 30th at MLK Park. Hopefully with the redesigning and the reconstruction of the park we can get this all accomplished. But certainly I look forward to seeing the kids and giving away bikes to the children throughout the city of Hammond for this great event. Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved that since the meeting on the 28th falls on Memorial Day that we move that meeting to May 29th at 6 p.m. Just the following day. AYES: ALL Councilman Markovich - Driving throughout the city and everybody sees a lot of hiring signs, but one of the most interesting ones that I’ve noticed is in front of every Post Office they are hiring. So anybody looking for a position to work for the Federal Government, the Post Office is hiring so you can go in and put in your application. Councilman Torres - I’d like to announce that the Mayor’s Night Out is May 23rd, a week from this coming Wed. at Irving School from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. I’d like to invite the city residents, especially the 2nd District. There’s a lot going on in the 2nd District so you can ask about it and we’ll gladly tell you what’s going on. A major building burned down in my district, I was hoping the Chief of Staff would catch us up on that. I was hoping to get an update on that. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 7 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 14, 2018 PUBLIC EXPRESSION George Stoya - Not so much commentary as, maybe, query. We do a lot of TIFing in the city of Hammond and my understanding is that the land that’s TIFed, or the properties within the TIF District, are no longer on the tax rolls. My question is I’m trying to figure out an approach to is there a point, or have we reached that point, or will we reach that point in the coming future where tipping point where we’re TIFing too much and it impacts how much money we’re bring in? I know there has to be development, all that. I know we have to have inducements and all that. I’m just saying. I don’t think real estate trendings can make up for whatever is being TIFed or otherwise these different tricks to get back, claw back, money that’s been lost through the property tax reformation. But, I just wonder about Hammond’s viability in the coming future. Again, I reiterate, 2020, I don’t know, for some reason it’s really on my mind and I don’t know enough about it yet to argue or venture forth any contention. I just wondered is there was a point that the Council members might be aware of when have we TIFed too much. Maybe Heather is a better source for that. But, nonetheless, I think the public should know. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Torres, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL Janet Venecz, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Time: 7:00 p.m. cb Minutes approved at the Common Council meeting of May 29, 2018. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 8