City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MARCH 9, 2020 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on March 9, 2020 in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Dave W oerpel presided. Council Coordinator Carmen Balboa facilitated. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all. Invocation by Councilwoman Alexander. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel ABSENT: None TOTAL: 9 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes of February 24, 2020 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Rakos, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved to accept the claims from February 21s1,2020 through March 41\ 2020. Claim #1060 through Claim #1378, inclusive. ROLL CALL VOTE AYES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS:None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 CLAIMS APPROVED PUBLIC HEARINGS None COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Tyler - I would like to announce that the Hammond City Council is providing fifteen (15) $1,000.00 scholarships to Hammond, Indiana high school seniors graduating in May or June of 2020. Applications can be picked up now and need to be completed by March 31st,2020. HC3 is hosting it's Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 14, 2020 at noon and it goes down Kennedy Avenue, after that American Legion Victory Post #168 is offering a dinner from 5 p.m. till close. Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce is having their annual evening of awards. That will be Saturday, March 14, 2020 at the Venue at Horseshoe Casino. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MARCH 9, 2020 COMMUNICATIONS cont. Councilman Tyler cont. - On Thursday, March 26, the Mayor is hosting his 34th annual Disability Awards Breakfast at Dynasty Banquets. Councilman Kalwinski- This past weekend was the State Ice Hockey Tournament in St. John, Indiana, at Midwest Ice Arena, and Hammond School Bishop Noll Institute played in the final game. Bishop Noll won the State Title this weekend .2 to 1. I'm proud that they're Hammond, and proud of all the kids and the coaching staffthafdid a great job. I just wanted to let that be known, thank you. Councilman Tyler- This past Saturday, the Hammond High Boys basketball team won there 3rd sectional championship in a row. They're moving on to the Regionals, playoff games which will be this Saturday, at South Bend Hammond Highs first game is at Noon, against Western, and if they win that then they play at 8 p.m. against the winner over Hanover Central, and Marion. COMMITTEE REPORTS Community & Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Announced upcoming meetings: Fri., Mar. 20; C.W. at Silver Birch; 2 p.m. E. Ham'd Pullman C.W.; Tues., Mar. 17; Ophelia Steen Center; 6:30 p.m. Edison Community Watch on the Road; Fri., Mar. 13; 1 p.m.; Golden Manor Senior Apartments Thur., Mar. 19, Hessville Crime Watch; Jean Shepard; 7:00 p.m. Thur., Mar. 19, South Hammond Crime Watch; Hammond Housing Authority; 7 p.m. Whiting/Robertsdale C.W.; Thur., Mar. 13; 6:30 p.m.; Calumet College On Wednesday, March 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Schoops, 7235 Indianapolis Blvd., that is Coffee with a Cop, join your neighbors and Police Officers for coffee and a conversation. No agenda or speeches just a chance to ask questions, and voice concerns and get to know the officers in your neighborhoods. Food and beverage will be available for purchase. And if you're so inclined you can buy a hamburger for a cop instead of a doughnut. ORDINANCE 3RDREADING-FINAL PASSAGE None INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 20-07 An Ordinance to Appropriate Monies into the 2020 Gaming Fund Councilman Tyler, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee with a meeting on 03/23/2020 at 5:30 p.m., with a public hearing set for 04/13/2020. AYES: ALL Councilman Tyler - This Ordinance ... the City Council pretty much approves every single year, it is a way to ... once funds are reconciled from all of the appropriate accounts to move money from the 2019 accounts to the 2020 accounts so, it's just a way for us to move left over funds from one year to the next. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MARCH 9, 2020 RESOLUTIONS None NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS 20-08 BZA- Z-20-03 Petition of Bridges Career Academy LLC for Variance of Use from Zoning Ordinance to Allow a Business/Trade School in a C-1 Local Commercial District Located at 3831 Hohman Avenue, within the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved for passage. Councilman Kalwinski- This is coming to Council because it requires a Variance of Use, and this is the final step in that process. Initially, this was a C-1, Dr. Foreit Medical Center was zoned C-1, and to get this new use which is to be able to start a school at this site that will train people to be home health aides and certified nursing aides. And consequently, that is in a C-3, so we're needing a Variance for the use of that in a C-1, of the Douglas Park Medical Center, and that's why they're here before us today. The BZA gave a favorable recommendation to this project. This will benefit the neighborhood, and will also take a building that's been vacated recently and put it to use. A use, I think, the neighborhood could use. We also have the person who's interested in doing this who will create the school, and teach at the school, Ms. Christiano, can you stand so people can see you just in case they have any questions after the meeting? Looking forward to an approval here today so this school can move forward. The State comes in to certify the location, and then they will be looking for people of various ages that will be looking to train as health aides or CNA's. Thank you. ROLL CALL (passage) A YES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 VARIANCE OF USE Z-20-03 APPROVED Councilwoman Venecz- I would like to let everyone know that Animal Tags are due by March 31st . So be sure to bring all your information to City Hall to get your tags. And also if you are a landlord in the City of Hammond, you must register your rental property by April 15, 2020. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MARCH 9, 2020 PUBLIC EXPRESSION Mike Fair- What I've experienced is a broken system in the City of Hammond, I applied December 20, 2019 for a Business License. I just need to be pointed in the right direction in order to obtain a Business Licensee in the City of Hammond. Councilwoman Alexander, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to Adjourn AYES: ALL 1).4:p Dave,Woerpel,Pre~ Hammond Common Council ATTEST: Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Time: 6:23 p.m. dw Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4