Common Council

City of Portage Common Council Regular Meeting June 7, 2022 The Common Council of the City of Portage met on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, Hall, 6070 Central Ave., Portage, Indiana. Mayor Lynch called the meeting to called to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 6:30PM. Members present were Councilpersons Ferdinand Alvarez, Debbie Podgorski, Gina Giese-Hurst, Scott Williams, Brian Gulley, Collin Czilli, and Mayor Sue Lynch. Also present was Clerk-Treasurer Nina Rivas and Attorney Dan Whitten. Approval of Minutes Councilperson Czilli made a motion to approve the December 21, 2021, March 1, 2022, April 5, 2022, and May 10, 2022, minutes; Councilperson Alvarez seconded the motion. Mayor Lynch requested input from the Council. Motion passed. Communications, Correspondence, Announcements from the Mayor Mayor Lynch welcomed everyone in attendance to the new Council Chambers. Clerk-Treasurer’s Report Clerk-Treasurer Rivas stated that the 2023 Budget Bulletin is out and she will share the information with the Council. Reports from Standing Committees Ordinance Committee Councilperson Williams stated there was no Ordinance Committee meeting today due to the open house/walk through of City Hall. Reports from City Officials Chief Wilkening Chief Candiano Assistant Superintendent Godby Director Monroe Interim Superintendent Ciesielski Unfinished Business None. New Business Police Collective Bargaining Agreement, 2022-2024 Councilperson Williams made a motion to approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement; Councilperson Gulley seconded the motion. Mayor Lynch requested input from the Council. Councilperson Alvarez asked, while the raises included in the contract are much needed, but from a financial perspective, what position will this put the city in as it relates to future agreements or collective bargaining agreements, and the ability to fund ourselves in the years to come. Clerk-Treasurer Rivas stated that we can only grow the general fund so much, so ARP funds are going to be needed to fund it. Attorney Whitten stated that during executive session, that was exactly what the discussion was. He further stated that this contract is going to require some reserve funds and candidly it shows that if passed, the Council is allocating a portion of ARPA funds to police wages. It’s a priority decision and if you decided to go through with it, that is the decision you’re making. Councilperson Czilli stated this is also based on increased revenue, increased property tax draw from new development, increased assessed values, eliminating our property tax cap whole that we have been in. He stated he agreed with Attorney Whitten, this will used Rescue Act funds that were held back – we knew that was probably going to be the case, but at the end of the day the Police Department needs to be competitive with other departments in the region. I think that with this contract, it gets us there – as Chief Candiano talked to us about last night at the executive session. Councilperson Gulley stated, from his perspective, with the budget presentation last year and through the ARPA process and city needs, it was mostly equipment. I think that is because as a city we invest in our people and I’m very proud we got this contract done and that we’re investing in the people that make this city what it is, and that’s our city employees. Mayor Lynch ask if there were any more questions or discussion. Mayor Lynch requested a roll call vote. Motion passed. 6-yes – 0-nays Introduction of Ordinances Second Reading At the request of the petitioner, Councilperson Czilli tabled the reading of Ordinance #22-09, Amending Chapter 90, Article V of Municipal Code NC and R2 to C2, 5630 U.S. Hwy 6 – Aetna Development in its entirety. Councilperson Williams made motion to adopt Ordinance #22-09; Councilperson Williams seconded the motion. Mayor Lynch requested input from the Council. Motion passed. 6-yes – 0 nays Reception of Petitions, Remonstrances and Public Input Resident Alan Blakely addressed the Council regarding the re-establishment of the Cumulative Capital Development Rate. Clerk-Treasurer Rivas stated to Mr. Blakely that during their phone discussion she explained to him the maximum lawful rate was $.05, not $.50 on $100 of assessed value (for units in counties that have established LIT). Rev. Michael Cooper addressed the Council regarding the recent mass shooting in Texas. He read context from President Biden’s speech in response to the shooting. Rev. Cooper requested the Council adopt a resolution supporting the ending of assault rifle gun sales in Indiana. He stated on several occasions he has asked that the city close the three licensed gun shops ran out of homes in Portage. He stated gun sales should not be taking place on the same streets that our youth are playing. He further stated he has spoken out against the fundraising raffle by the Portage FOP where the prize was an AR-15. The same type of weapon used once again in a school shooting. This time to kill nineteen 3rd and 4th graders and two of their teachers. Rev. Cooper addressed Councilperson Williams. He stated that he been spending some time reviewing his campaign finance report. He stated in March Councilperson Williams received $1,100.00 from the FOP for his recent campaign. $1,100.00 from the raffling off of an AR-15. That put another gun in Portage. He asked Councilperson Williams to do the right thing and donate that money to address youth mental health crisis that is right here our city. Lastly, he asked the Council to do their part to get guns off the street by allocating funds for a buy-back program for our city. Any Matters not Already Considered by the Council Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Lynch entertained a motion to adjourn. Councilperson Czilli made a motion to adjourn; Councilperson Williams seconded the motion. Motion passed. 6-yes – 0-nays Mayor Lynch adjourned the meeting at 7:31 P.M. ATTEST: ____________________________ ____________________________ Nina Rivas Sue Lynch Clerk-Treasurer Mayor