City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 24, 2019 PUBLIC HEARINGS 19-11 An Ordinance to Create Fund 242 and to Appropriate Funds within the Hammond Police Department Grant Fund for 2019 19-13 An Ordinance Appropriating the Proceeds of the Annual Action Plan and Dealing with Other Matters Pertaining to the Expenditure of Plan Proceeds for Program Year 2019 19-15 An Ordinance to Approve Additional Appropriations 19-16 An Ordinance to Appropriate New Funds to the Operating Balance for the Hammond Sanitary Districts Special Sanitary Debt Services Fund (8280) and Special Sanitary General Fund (8201) Councilman Woerpel - C and D, 19-15 and 19-16, are getting introduced tonight. These were advertised and because of the amount of time that they have to be advertised because they pertain to the DLGF, is why we're having a public hearing on, it hasn't been introduced yet, but these will be introduced tonight and explained. If you want an explanation now, basically, 19-15 is an ordinance that restores $7,464,438.00 to the General Fund and $193,308.00 is restored to the Park's b~dget to the levels we approved when we passed the budget. What happens is the DLGF, after the budget gets submitted, goes in and makes cuts based on estimates they make at the time and those estimates constantly change. There is no additional tax to the residents on this. Basically, all we're doing is we're restoring what the DLGF said we had to cut. Because when the estimates came in it came back that the budget that we approved meets the requirements of the Department of Local Government and Finance. On 19-16 it's the same thing with the Sanitary District, basically. It's a cash balance that .... the estimated cash balance was at Owhen we prepared the 2019 budget and the actual cash balance was $1,577,396.00 so we're just restoring what they said was zero. The DLGF estimated the circuit breaker credit at $1,585,485.00 and the actual payment was $1,054,281.00, so we're restoring $531,204.00 which we budgeted for but the DLGF, at the time we passed the budget, said it had to be cut. It happens pretty much through County Government all the time. It's the same thing. They base what our budget should be based on estimates, sometimes eighteen months out. But it came back that we don't have to cut this, and we're just restoring it. Councilman Higgs - I guess my question would be to the Controller, in regards to restoring the budget, was there a shortfall in any of these? City Controller Garay - Was there a shortfall? I'm sorry, I'm not understanding what you mean by that. Councilman Higgs - In regards to the money that was allocated additionally, was there a shortfall? Because they're saying that ... Councilman Woerpel says it's being restored to what the numbers were. City Controller Garay - A lot of this had to do with the original estimates for the circuit breakers. The one the DLGF certified our budget, they used much higher numbers built in based upon the projections at the time. Those go through a certification process. The updated numbers were released in May, and so basically, instead Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 24, 2019 PUBLIC HEARINGS cont. City Controller Garay cont. - of losing those dollars to circuit breaker losses, we can apply them to the budget. So we're just bringing it back to the levels that you all approved last fall. They moved up their budget calendar last year so hopefully some of these timing issues will be sorted out for this year's budget. I know it really did affect the estimates and the numbers we were receiving. Councilman Higgs - So, for 2020, when is the budget expected to be finalized. City Controller Garay - Our budget time frame is still the same time line. They just adjusted what the County has to do and some of the numbers they have to give us requires quite a bit of work that goes into it. So coordinating that to get all of those, the different entities and their circuit breaker estimates together, hopefully they'll have that information in time for us to go through our normal budget cycle. We typically, it has to be approved by November 1st of every year, we typically try to get it done earlier than that. So last year we were in October. So typically, we're aiming for a September adoption date. We're already getting started on some of the internal process that we have to go through before we even come to the council. Councilman Woerpel - I think this council will recall, an correct me ifl'm wrong, I don't remember if it was after January or just before it, we did a $1 million budget reduction. City Controller Garay - It was before. So that was a part of this issue as well. There's a certain date when we do budget reductions, they have to be approved by the DLGF by a certain date in the year. We did that timely, however, due to the new budget calendar they certified our budget order before they accepted our budget reduction. So those numbers didn't get placed into the budget, so that was part of the amount of money you see here to restore. Because we know we cut that money so it was cash balance available to be used for the next years budget. Councilman Woerpel - But basically, the budget reduction was to meet DLGF estimates, correct? City Controller Garay - That budget reduction was in order to support a fully balanced budget for 2019. So we knew that we were going to come in a little bit lower than originally budgeted for our insurance program, specifically. We have to be kind of cautious there but we were hopeful that we could reduce it. We were. So we wanted to be able to apply those funds to the 2019 budget so we didn't have to ask for additional transfer dollars of gaming revenue. We really tried to keep it at the 12.5 number that we discussed during the budget process. COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Woerpel - We received a communications that Dr. Jones resigned from the College Bound Exemption Board. That is a council appointment, so I guess, are we open for suggestions for who our council appointment would be? Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 24, 2019 COMMUNICATIONS cont. Councilman Higgs - In my tenure of being on the council I've never seen it actually being announced on the council floor, so what's the big issue tonight. That's something that could be dealt with later. If someone is interested, of course, but I don't see a need for announcing it at this point. It hasn't been done in sixteen years. Councilman Woerpel - It was a communication we received and on my agenda it says we're on Communications. Councilman Higgs - I have suggestions but I'll just keep it to myself tonight. Moving right along. COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole Committee - Councilman Woerpel - Brought out 19-11 and 19-13. Community and Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz -Announced upcoming meetings: Tues., June 25 1\ Pulaski Park N.A.; American Legion; 6:30 p.m. Tues., July 2nd ; Harrison Park C.W.; VFW; 6:30 p.m. ORDINANCE 3RDREADING - FINAL PASSAGE 19-11 An Ordinance to Create Fund 242 and to Appropriate Funds within the Hammond Police Department Grant Fund for 2019 Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for passage. Councilman Spitale - This is for the Hammond Police Department. It's called Stop Arm Violation Enforcement. We've all seen it on t.v. where a bus puts the arm down and some people have gone around and actually killed some people. This is a grant that the Hammond Police Department is asking for $8 thousand to work through this. It's the first time they've had the opportunity to get this grant. Councilman Higgs - Seeing that this is the first time that this grant is being implemented in our city, I think it's a great idea and certainly I applaud the efforts of the Hammond Police Department. Seeing the Times is not here, the Post is, could you please make sure you put that in the paper as well. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) A YES: Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Markovich NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9442 PASSED Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 24, 2019 ORDINANCE 3RDREADING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. 19-13 An Ordinance Appropriating the Proceeds of the Annual Action Plan and Dealing with Other Matters Pertaining to the Expenditure of Plan Proceeds for Program Year 2019 Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for passage. Councilman Spitale - This is the CDBG funds. There was an addition to the Youth Basketball Program that was still in existence but was turned over to Jim Taillon for the Hessville Hoops. Mr. And Mrs. have been in charge of this for nineteen years. There's been four hundred to five hundred youths, maybe some of you out there participated in it, ages five to fifteen. 90% of it are Hammond children, but also too Robertsdale and Whiting don't have this program so they're also involved with it also. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Markovich NAYS:None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9443 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 19-15 An Ordinance to Approve Additional Appropriations Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee. A YES: ALL 19-16 An Ordinance to Appropriate New Funds to the Operating Balance for the Hammond Sanitary Districts Special Sanitary Debt Services Fund (8280) and Special Sanitary General Fund (8201) Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee. AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS 19R-16 A Resolution of the Hammond City Council Approving Certain Form CF-ls as Filed with the Common Council of the City Hammond as the Designating Body by Applicants previously Approved for Economic Revitalization area Deductions from Assessed Value, Pursuant to Indiana Code 6-1.1-12.1 Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved for adoption. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 24, 2019 RESOLUTIONS cont. Anne Anderson, Director of Economic Development - Good evening, Council, thank you. As you know, tax abatements are one of the tools that Hammond has to incentivize projects and companies looking to relocate and expand in Hammond. This evening is their annual compliance of Statement of Benefits that need review and approval by the council. We have five of the companies here and representatives; I'd like to ask them to come on up. If they could state their name, the name of the company and what their company does in Hammond. Korellis Roofing - Brian Enright, Chief Financial Officer - We are a roofing contractor here in Hammond. Munster Steel - Jeanne Robbins, President - We fabricates structural steel for buildings and bridges in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin for the most part, but we do work all over the country. Krosan Development - Donald Santacaterina, Principal - We are the developers and operators of the project just on the south side of the highway between Kennedy and Cline. American Stair Corporation - Peter Fitzsimmons, Vice President - We manufacture steel stairs and railing. Anne Anderson - These are examples of projects that would not have been able to locate in Hammond if it not for these tax abatements. Korellis Roofing had expanded beyond their boundaries and they would not have been able to expand in Hammond without this tax abatement. They would have had to move. Councilman Higgs - I want to personally say thank you for investing in our city and continuing to make our city a better place for the residents. I really appreciate your efforts in being a part of the city of Hammond. Councilman Kalwinski - I'd like to ask American Stair a couple questions. How many shifts are you running right now? American Stair Corp. - We just started our third shift, so we are running twenty four hours a day now. Councilman Kalwinski - I know you had a sign out for about a month regarding new hiring for all positions, what came of that? American Stair Corp. - Actually, we were pretty successful. We had quite a bit of walk up traffic in general. But where we struggled a little bit was we were trying to find some qualified welders. We have since reached out to local trade schools in the area and started working with them to get new graduates in directly from their teaching facilities. But it's been surprisingly efficient. Just having a sign out in front. The traffic on Calumet Avenue must be heavy enough that it's brought in quite a few people. Councilman Kalwinski - Along that corridor you have the ditch where the water travels and that's pretty much in my district and I'm asking companies to help with keeping the vegetation down along the ditch line. It makes your business more presentable, it makes the whole street look more presentable. So, I'm just asking everybody to take a hand in that. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 6 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 24, 2019 RESOLUTIONS CONT. American Stair Corp. - I'm sure that's something we can do. Councilman Kalwinski - Munster Steel, how are you doing over there? Munster Steel Co. - We just renegotiated our union contract. We have another three year contract. We actually switched to four tens, so our extra overtime is now on Friday. So that everybody can still have a two day weekend. Councilman Kalwinski - How many shifts are you right now? Munster Steel Co. - We are running one full shift and then we have a skeleton crew for a second shift. Councilman Kalwinski - Do you know what the number is when you were in Munster versus the numbers you have now in Hammond? Munster Steel Co. - I believe we've added five new employees since we've moved. Councilman Torres - We're having a problem with not having guardrails on the overpasses on Hohman Avenue and Calumet. Do you guys do that? Munster Steel Co. - Guardrail work, no, that's more of a miscellaneous fabricator type work. But we'd be happy to look at it if you had plans. Councilman Torres - I understand the State is in charge of these bridges but they seem to put the guard rails everywhere else except over the Hammond overpasses and the one on Hohman A venue, there are a lot of senior citizens that go by there and some of them are terrified because of the incoming traffic. I'm gonna look into that and I may be talking to you in the future. Councilman Woerpel - Korellis Roofing, I just want to say that I'm so glad they stayed there. They've got a university there, I understand, for roofers and everything. As far as keeping up with their commitments to the city, I think they've done a fantastic job. They donated materials and time to the Viper's program in the building they do and I think they've gone above and beyond what their agreement is. As far as the other one in my district, the Hammond Hospitality, I get people tell me all the time what a great job I did on that development over there and I say, "Thank you." So thanks for being in the district. I had nothing to do with it. Councilman Higgs - Korellis Roofing, how many years have you been in Hammond total? It's like a household name here. Korellis Roofing - Yeah, sixty one years now. Council President Markovich - And John Marinello? Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 7 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 24, 2019 RESOLUTIONS cont. Krosan Development - He is in the Krosan Business Park and I'm representing him. He has the Iris Company that is there. They employ about thirty-five people. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Markovich NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION RI 6 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved to suspend the rules to consider 19R-17. AYES: ALL Councilwoman Venecz - This is for final passage of this resolution. The resolution does need to be passed this evening. Failure to pass this resolution would allow the Governor to appoint someone to serve on this board. Councilman Higgs asked that the title be read. 19R-17 A Resolution Re-appointing Raymundo Garcia to the Lake County South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Woerpel, moved for adoption. Councilwoman Venecz - He has already served two terms and this term would begin July 1st going through June 30th of 2022. Councilman Woerpel read the resolution in its entirety. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Markovich NAYS:None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION Rl 7 ADOPTED Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Kalwinski, moved to return to the regular order of business. AYES: ALL Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 8 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 24, 2019 PUBLIC EXPRESSION Daniel Leon - Has lived at 4520 Torrence for twenty-three years with no repairs ever having been done to the street. Presented photos to the Council of his block. Lack of proper drains has done much damage to the street and curbs which is causing damage to the cars that park there. There is only one lamp post which faces Gostlin Street. Mother is permanently disabled and had to have a front light fixture installed because of the darkness. Cars are being broken into. The street is so narrow hit and runs have occurred. Water builds up on the sidewalks and street and doesn't drain because the only drain there is above the street line. There are plans for a bike path on this street. We have been trying to get in touch with our Councilman whose voice mail box has been full for the last two months. There is no acknowledgment or sympathy for the constituents. Please come out and inspect the street and respond to your constituents. George Stoya - Has misgiving about the case he cited on the radio regarding Boy Scout Road. Hammond may be exposed to some risk and liability in respect to Luke Oil. There could be the argument that the substantial economic effect of shutting down that road is enough to justify the application of Federal law over that road. Would hope that this council would instruct its attorney to do some serious research on this. Paul Marciniak - Called four councilmen and got calls back and appreciated this. A tree was cut down in front of his house. Many mature trees were cut down. It never went before the council. Some neighbors don't want the bike path. When he heard of the project he didn't think it would be a big deal, not many bicycles went that way. Not many use it other than to speed down. Money is going to an over engineered bike path instead of fixing this guys street. Count on the council to make sure the city doesn't do dumb stuff and the money is spent appropriately. Who are these people that the Mayor is getting special money from to do these projects? Councilman Higgs moved to return to New and Unfinished Business. Motion died for lack of second. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL WMarl\o~ W~ Robert A. Markovich, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: /Wud~~➔ Robert J. Golec, City Clerk . Time: 7:00 p.m. cb Minutes approved at the Common Council meeting of July 8, 2019 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 9