City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on September 28, 2020 in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Dave Woerpel presided. Council Coordinator Carmen I. 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 Councilwoman Venecz, moved to accept the minutes of September 14, 2020 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Rakos, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved to approve the claims from September 9, 2020 through September 23, 2020. Claim #4244 through claim #4615, inclusive. Councilman Rakos, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to amend in claim: #4616 Nelson, William Selfinsurance $4,000.00 Councilman Kalwinski - What was the claim for? I know the money but where is it going? Councilman Rakos - It's a partial settlement payment that's paid out of the self insurance fund to an individual. ROLL CALL VOTE (amend in #4616) A YES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 CLAIMS AMENDED ROLL CALL VOTE (passage as amended) A YES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS:None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 CLAIMS APPROVED (as amended) Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 PUBLIC HEARINGS 20-16 An Ordinance Vacating a 20 Foot Portion of an Alley Lying Northwesterly of Lot 1 and Southwesterly of Lots 1 through 9 in Belaj's Addition to the City of Hammond No one spoke. COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Emerson - The Lake County Solid Waste Mgt. District will be sponsoring a secure document shred event for the residents of Lake County. Residents may bring up to four paper grocery bags of residential material including secure documents. Plastic bags will not be accepted. This will be on Saturday, October 24th from 9 am to 1 pm at 601 Conkey Street in Hammond. Councilwoman Alexander - We want to continue to remind everyone that the 30th is the last day to fill out the census. We want to remind everyone to get that census in. Councilwoman Venecz - Actually the census has been extended to the end of October. A judge ruled against the early deadline of September 30th . As everybody knows, the census is required by the constitution. There's approximately $1.5 trillion in federal funding that's distributed for health care and schools and roads and other public services in communities. So it's very important that we all complete our census. You can visit 2020census.gov and it will only take about five minutes to complete your census and it could help Northwest Indiana immensely. COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole Committee - Councilman Torres - Brought out 20-16. Council as a Whole Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Brought out 20-13, 20-14, 20-15 and 20-17. Community & Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Because of the pandemic, we are facing challenges with getting places to meet. So we're still continuing with the virtual crime watch meeting and the next one will be on October 6, at 6 pm and you can go to the Hammond, Indiana Police Department Facebook page to participate. The Whiting-Robertsdale Crime Watch has been able to begin meeting at Calumet College and they will meet the second Thursday of each month. The next meeting corning up is October 8th at 6:30 pm. The school is requiring adequate social distancing so they have banquet tables set up an there's only one person at each banquet table. So there's more than adequate social distancing but there will be limited seating. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 ORDINANCE 3RDREADING - FINAL PAS SAGE 20-13 An Ordinance Creating A New Fund ( Fund #267) for FY2021 Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program (CHIRP) Grant Funds Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved for passage. Councilman Spitale - Grant is allotted for purpose of preventing highway injuries and fatalities the _totalamount of money for that is $158 thousand. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9471 PASSED 20-14 An Ordinance Creating A New Fund ( Fund #249) for FY2020 Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) Program Grant Funds Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved for passage. Councilman Spitale - This grant was awarded to the Hammond Police Department for the use of Covid related expenses and overtime, $147,269. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) A YES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9472 PASSED 20-15 An Ordinance Creating A New Fund (Fund #278) for the City Hammond Police Department for FY2020 Stop Arm Violations Enforcement (SAVE) Grant Funds Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved for passage. Councilman Spitale - This grant will be used for overtime in relation to the school traffic, $24 thousand. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) A YES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/010, ORDINANCE NO. 9473 PASSED Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES cont. 20-16 An Ordinance Vacating A 20 Foot Portion of an Alley Lying Northwesterly of Lot 1 Southwesterly of Lots 1 Through 9 in Belaj's Addition to City of Hammond Lake County, Indiana. Councilman Torres, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for passage. Councilman Torres - It's just a small strip of land that just needed to connect the parking lot. From the existing parking lot to a parking lot that Pac Moore is paving. They are located at 1948 Summer St. They're a food processing plant. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) A YES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS:None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9474 PASSED 20-17 An Ordinance Creating A New Fund (Fund# 265) for Coronavirus Relief Funds Via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES ACT) Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for passage. Councilman Spitale - This just creates a new fund, fund #265, for Coronavirus Relief fund from the U.S. Treasury that were received by the State oflndiana and forwarded to the City of Hammond as a recipient of the CARES Act reimbursement funds. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) A YES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9475 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 20-19 Reclassifying Certain Lands in the City of Hammond for Zoning Purposes and Amending Ordinance No. 8514 for Property Commonly known as 1224 177th Street Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2 nd reading by title. Brian Poland, Director of Planning - You would still need to issue the Notice of Intent to Consider as to when you are going to make the decision on the re-zoning. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES cont. Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Torres, moved for an Intent to Consider at the next meeting. Council President Woerpel - So your motion is for 1st and 2nd reading, no committee assignment, with an Intent to Consider on October 13, 2020. Any discussion? Councilman Emerson - Basically, the resident is requesting a zoning from R-1 residential to S-2 Institutional, as it butts up against the land including Optimist Park. The resident wants to install a privacy fence under the S-2 classification but he's prevented from doing that. There are homes on 177th Street that are zoned R-1. I drove by and looked at it. It's interesting that the home itself was built in 1890, although it needs some upgrades, the primary issue for the resident is the privacy fence which will be permissible under the zoning classification of R-1. The Planning Commission has give the request a recommendation of favorable and feels the occupation by the petitioner would be beneficial to the overall community. Council President Woerpel - All in favor? Opposed? AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS None NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilwoman Alexander - I just want to go ahead and give an update from the Lake County site dealing with the Coronavirus. In 46320, we have an additional 26 cases; in 46327, we have an additional 16 cases; in 46323, we have an additional 33 cases; in 46324, we have an additional 25 cases; 46394, we have an additional 22 cases. Just looking from data from the previous meeting to now we dropped in numbers but hat does not mean don't continue to mask up. I know that we've entered stage 5 in our city dealing with the Governor. I just want to continue to keep people aware, wear your mask, stay washing your hands, and continue to social distance. It is extremely important as we continue to try to drop these numbers in our city. Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Torres, moved to approve the Declaration of Fiscal Body which is been prepared, approved and transmitted to the Council by the Hammond Public Library Board of Trustees. That the Council authorizes its president top sign such declaration and that a copy of said declaration and the letter transmitting it to the Council shall be included in the minutes of the Council. Councilwoman Venecz - This just gives the Hammond Common Council the authority to review the budget for the Hammond Public Library and give our stamp of approval. ROLL CALL VOTE (approval) A YES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS:None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 MOTION CARRIED Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5  Executive Director: Rene L. Grccnkaf Hammond Public Library O 564 State Street • Hammond, IN • 46320-1532 (219} 931-5100 www.hammond.lib.in.us July 17, 2020 Hammond Common Council 5925 Calumet Avenue Hammond, Indiana 46320 Dear Council Members: IC 6-1.1-17-20.3 and 20.4 state that in the event a public library's budget is subject to a binding review and adoption, the Library Board of Trustees must declare a fiscal body at which to present its budget for binding review and adoption. The library has declared the Hammond Common Council as its fiscal body responsible for that binding adoption. Triggering events that would call for a binding review are: 11 if the library's cash balance as of December 31 for all funds derived from tax revenue is greater than one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the library's ce1tified budget for the ensuing year. • if the library increases the ensuing year's budget plOre than the growth quotient percentage. Enclosed you will find a Declaration of Fiscal Body, which has been signed by the president of the Hammond Public Library Board of Trustees. This form must also be signed by you as the fiscal body. Please return the form to us in tl1e enclosed envelope, as we are required to email a signed copy to the state no later than October I, 2020. We welcome the opportunity to provide a presentation to address questions regarding this governmental enactment at your next meeting. Sincerely,1 /l ~ A /,, ,, // '-, I t'g, ,j:V/ /;/ / L _,,,,,.,, / .I /iene L. Gree~l~f, ExL utive Director / Hammond Puurnry RLG:lhs cc: Paul Taylor, President, Hammond Public Libra1y Board of Trustees Encl Adminimative Services: x300 Information Services: x333 Circulation Services: x340 Youth Services: x336 Fax: (219) 93J-34i4 Fax: (219) 852-2222 1,1tod.sk@lm,,1,11011d.tib.ii,.us  Declaration of Fiscal Body The Hammond PublicLibrary(ffthe library") INSTRUCTIONS:(1) This report must be completed, adopted by the library board and board of the designated fiscal body, and signed by the librory board president and president of the designated fiscal body. No later than October l, 2020, a copy of this completed report must be e-mailed to StotewideServices@libra,y.JN.gov or physically moiled to: Indiana State library, 140 N. Senate Ave., lndionopofis, IN 46204-2296, Attn: Statewide Services.The library should keep a copy of the report on file. (2) In the e11enthe library's taJ1ingterritory is modified (ex - expansion/annexation/merger, etc.}, o new repon must be completed and submitted by the next October 1" following that modification if the modification results in a change to the library's adopting fiscal body. WHEREAS,library officials typically submit the library's annual budget for nonbinding review by a separate fiscal body pursuant to the provisions of IC 6-1.1~17; and WHEREAS,under certain conditions designated in IC 6-1.1-17-20.3 and 20.4, the library's budget is subject to binding review and adoption by a separate fiscal body; and THEREFORE,this report identifies the fiscal body that would do any binding budget adoption in the event such binding adoption is required under the provisions of IC 6-1.1-17-20.3 or 20.4. In the case of a triggering event under IC 6-1.1-17-20.3 or 20.4 which requires the library to submit its budget to a separate fiscal body for binding budget adoption, the fiscal body that is responsible for that binding adoption is the Hammond City Council. Paul Taylor _____ _ Library Board President Name Printed FiscalBodyAcknowledgement Pursuant to the requirements of IC 6-1.1-17-20.6, the _____________ _ (Insert name of flm1I body) acknowledges it is the fiscal body responsible for binding review and approval of the library's budget under IC 6-1.1-17-20.3 and 20.4 when the conditions exist that require such binding review. l herebycertifythis reportwasadoptedby the on --(-ln-,e-rt-n;_m_e_o_l fl-,ca-,-b-od_y_) --- ----- Fiscal Body President Name Printed FiscalBodyPresidentSignature Date MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Council President Woerpel - Atty. Berger, I had a question posed to me earlier and I'll pose it to you. Now that the State oflndiana has moved to stage 5, do we have a legal opinion on whether that means we have to meet in present or we can continue to do it electronically and present? Council Atty. Berger - I believe the Governor has signed an Executive Order extending the video meetings for another thirty days. Council President Woerpel - So even though we are in stage five, for the month of October we can do it the way we are doing it now? Council Atty. Berger - I'm assuming that is still valid. PUBLIC EXPRESSION No one spoke. Councilwoman Venecz, supportedby Councilman Torres, moved trr::9rf) AYES: ALL Dave W oerpel, President ATTEST: Hammond Common Council ~~ R~clec, City Clerk . Time: 6:35 p.m. cb Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 6