City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL JULY 23, 2018 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on July 23, 2018 in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Janet Venecz presided. Council Coordinator Carmen Balboa facilitated. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all. A Moment of Silence was observed. 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 approve the minutes of July 9, 2018 and place them on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to approve the claims from July 3, 2018 through July 18, 2018. Claim #4060 through claim #4340, inclusive. ROLL CALL VOTE 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 - I wanted to personally thank two of my constituents, or one of the lives in my district, is Kendall Warner, as well as Mac Dog, as we call him, for helping me distribute fans throughout my district. There were a couple of hot days in the past couple of weeks and one of my constituents had fell out so I was able to stop by her house and she didn’t have an air conditioner working so I purchased, with the help of Greater Hammond, we purchased twenty (20) fans an distributed them throughout the district and I plan to distribute some additional fans to my constituents within my district. So I wanted to personally thank Kendall Warner as Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 23, 2018 COMMUNICATIONS cont. Councilman Higgs cont. - well as Mac Dog. I have pictures of some of the constituents and they are not just African American but White, Hispanic, throughout the entire district. Wherever God led me to that’s where I distributed them. Councilman Higgs - Columbia Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of park improvements will be on July 31, 2018 at 2 p.m. Please join Mayor Tom McDermott, Jr., Councilman Torres and city officials. Improvements include a pathway with park benches, additional playground equipment, shelter updating, basketball court, soccer field re- grading and workout equipment. Councilman Higgs - I wanted to let some of my constituents know, those that are watching, I normally have a Back to School Giveaway and I plan to schedule that this week. It’s just a matter of setting a date before school starts. To distribute supplies to the needy or those that are less fortunate throughout the city of Hammond. That’s been going on for about thirteen (13) years. I plan on scheduling it a week before school starts. Anyone that’s interested in donating, feel free to do so. Council President Venecz - I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who called and e-mailed and wrote and personally gave me their words of encouragement and support after the last two Council Meetings. I so much appreciate the reassurances. COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole and Finance Committees - Councilman Woerpel - Brought out 18-15. Community and Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Announced upcoming meetings: Tues., July 31; Pulaski Park N.A.; 6:30 p.m.; American Legion Thur., Aug. 9.; Whiting-Robertsdale C.W.; 6:30 p.m.; Calumet College Coming up on August 7th is National Night Out. It’s a crime and drug prevention event. It is Tues., Aug. 7th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Wolf Lake Splash Pad. Get to know your neighbors, learn about crime prevention and emergency preparedness and develop community partnerships. For a donation of a baby product you will receive a free hot dog, chips and pop. Those baby items will be donated to the Haven House. There will be many events, raffles, vendors, photographers and music. ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 18-15 Ordinance Authorizing the City of Hammond, Indiana, to Issue its Economic Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2018B (Lear Seating Project) and Approving other Actions in respect thereto Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved for passage. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 23, 2018 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. Councilman Higgs - I’d like to have Atty. Kevin Smith step to the podium and explain what the amendment is to this great financial economic development project in the city of Hammond, if he could. Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved to amend in 18-15A in its entirety. Atty. Kevin Smith - Thank you. 18-15A has to do with the Lear Seating Bonds Project. The Lear Seating Project and specifically it’s a bond ordinance. What 18-15A does is amend in language to allow Lear Seating to use part of the funds that it will receive from the bond proceeds towards training. Why this is important is that the training of both new employees and employees that are going to be shifted from other Lear Seating Facilities is important so that Lear Seating could get up and running and continue to produce seats for the Ford Explorer and other big Ford vehicles on the South Side of Chicago. So, allowing them to use part of these proceeds for that purpose is both supported by the Planning & Development Department and I believe it’s consistent with the resolution that was passed by this body on July 9th, namely the Amended Development Agreement which also added in training so what we’re trying to do is make the bond ordinance with the Development Agreement. Councilman Woerpel - Just to make clear, now this doesn’t add any monies to what they’ve already got in their bond, correct? Atty. Smith - Councilman, that is correct. The incentive remains the same, which is $4 million. Councilman Higgs - Atty. Smith, if you could tell me approximately how many jobs that will be added to the city of Hammond. Atty. Smith - Yes, luckily Anne Anderson from Economic Development provided this handy dandy summery sheet which when completed, approximately 862 people will be employed at the new Lear Seating Plant. Currently their employees are 612. So it’s adding approximately 240-250 jobs which include 20 additional salary jobs and 230 new hourly jobs. Currently the average wage is $65 per hour. All good news. ROLL CALL VOTE (Amend with 18-15A) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Torres Motion carried 8/0/1 AMENDMENT ADOPTED ROLL CALL VOTE (Passage as amended) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Torres Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE NO. 9415 PASSED (as amended) Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 23, 2018 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES None RESOLUTIONS 18R-34 A Resolution appointing Angel Ojeda to the HVAC Contractors Board Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved for adoption. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Torres Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION NO. R34 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Higgs - At our last meeting I was very observant of some of the things that took place under Public Expression. I feel as a Councilman, and my fellow colleagues should feel the same way, that each person should be allowed three minutes and certain people shouldn’t be allowed to speak beyond those three minutes. To me, that’s abuse of power and it’s very disrespectful to allow something of that magnitude to take place. So, I would hope in the future that you would use some respect and dignity, in respect to all of us, in regards to all of us, by allowing each person the limited time and not telling certain people that they can not continue to speak when public expression is supposed to be three minutes and only three minutes. Councilwoman Venecz - I would like to announce that the fundraiser that we had for our Council Secretary who has some real health challenges was a huge success. The employees and the residents of the city of Hammond came out in force to support this gal at 5 Guys. The total sales was $3,469, and Debbie Jimenez and her family will receive $790.86. Thanks to the generosity of all of our employees and the residents of the city of Hammond. Way to go Hammond. Councilman Higgs - I want to send my condolences to Alvin Cheeks in the loss of his sister. They will be funeralizing her on Saturday and certainly if there’s anything I can do in regards to assisting your family feel free to give Councilman Higgs a call. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Kimberly Dabis - There is an ongoing problem with the geese on Calumet Avenue all the way from Lake George all the way to Wolf Lake and Forsythe Park. Asking for signs on Calumet for geese crossing so that people will be more aware. People are intentionally running them over and beating them. Maybe is they see the signs they will think twice before killing them. That’s animal cruelty and children are seeing this. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 23, 2018 PUBLIC EXPRESSION cont. Cherie Roberts - Is there a way that regular citizens can see the ordinance that you are talking about. Are they online or is there a way to get a better explanation of what’s going on? Rita Jackson - Wanted to thank her councilman, Councilman Torres. Was here about a month ago and mentioned the dip in Michigan Avenue. It is completed and smooth. Thank you, Councilman Torres. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, 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 RULES SUSPENDED Councilman Higgs - Just for clarity to the young lady that spoke. In regards to that particular ordinance, it’s for Lear Seating. It’s an economic development project where they’re building a new facility within the 3rd District. However, this particular ordinance is for additional jobs and the training that it provides. It’s a bond that’s being floated for this particular Lear Facility. Currently we have one on 165th, they’re building a new facility with more jobs and they’re coming to Hammond. Councilman Markovich - Maybe the Clerk’s employees can give us some help that if and when ordinances are listed online or whatever, in that respect. Council Coordinator Balboa - Ordinances are available to be viewed Thursday afternoon in the Clerk’s Office. They are kept in our office at all times. You can come here to the Clerk’s Office Ordinance Division on the 2nd Floor and you can view anything that’s going to be .... Cherie Roberts - Can they be viewed online? Council Coordinator Balboa - They are put online after they are passed. Councilman Woerpel - Like Councilman Higgs said, if it’s pertaining to this ordinance and every other ordinance we’ve had, we always have a committee meeting that is advertised where we discuss the ordinances and that’s where most of the information comes from is during that committee hearing. It’s public notice, unless I’m wrong, right? That when we schedule a committee meeting, and that’s where any questions about the ordinance are asked and answered and it’s usually before, well, almost always before a council meeting. Councilman Markovich - Just like the ordinance that we passed tonight for Lear Seating, it’s roughly almost 100 pages. It’s for bonds and it’s mostly legal descriptions and so forth and what can and is being done and so forth. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 23, 2018 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Markovich, moved to send a letter to the Public Works Department so I can schedule a date when the sign will be ready for the unveiling for Ms. Pearline Jenkins who was honored and the 900 block is designated as an Honorary Pearline Jenkins Street. So I would just like a letter sent over to find out when the signs are gonna be ready so me and the Mayor can do our unveiling of it. LETTER SENT: JULY 24, 2018 I want to personally thank the staff from the city of Hammond, as well as Councilman Woerpel for a job well done with the festival. I had an opportunity to attend two of the days at the festival and I think it’s a great enjoyment and it gives the residents of our city an opportunity to see some artists that they probably wouldn’t normally be able to afford or pay for to see. So, I know it’s a lot of work and it’s quite intense and a lot of people are pulling you from different directions for tickets but, all in all, I think it’s a great event for the city and I think it does well. And of course, Councilman Kalwinski, it was in your district so I was very supportive of it and I hope your constituents are proud of what’s going on and what’s happening in the 1st District. Councilman Woerpel - Just to say what he said, I was so tempted to get in that dunk tank yesterday and just heckle people for five hours. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved to return to the regular order of business. AYES: ALL Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL Janet Venecz, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Time: 6:35 p.m. cb Minutes were approved at the Common Council meeting of August 13, 2018. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 6