Common Council

, City of Portage Common Council Meeting Minutes April 01,2025 The Common Council of the City of Portage met on Tuesday, April 01, 2025, at 6:30 P.M. at City Hall, 6070 Central Ave., Portage, Indiana. Mayor Bonta called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 6:30 P.M. Members present were Councilpersons Ferdinand Alvarez, Melissa Weidenbach, Gina Giese-Hurst, Bob Parnell, Victoria Vasquez, Penny Ambler, Collin Czilli and Mayor Austin Bonta. Also present was Clerk- Treasurer Elizabeth Modesto and Attorney Scott McClure. Approval of Minutes Councilperson Vasquez made a motion to approve the minutes for March 04, 2025; Councilperson Giese-Hurst seconded the motion. Motion passed. 7 yes-0 nays. Communications, Correspondence Announcements from the Mayor Mayor Bonta spoke on Youth and Government Day which was held Monday March 31,2025. Ten high school students spent the day shadowing the Mayor, Clerk-Treasurer and Department Heads. The students also ran a mock city council meeting discussing and voting on the chicken and firework disposal ordinances. Mayor Bonta invited student Jordan Campbell that was present at the meeting to come and speak. Mayor Bonta read proclamation Donate Life which is the 22nd annual national donate life month, a time to raise awareness and encourage Americans to register as donors for organ, eye, tissue, blood and honor those who have saved and healed lives through the gift ofdonation. CIerk-Treasurer's Report Clerk Treasurer Modesto reported that the Clerk-Treasurer offrce will be implementing new standard operating procedures aligned with the State Board of Accounts guidelines. In the next few weeks, the office will be rolling out new claims processing procedures. These changes will ensure that there are checks and balances that are being adhered to and making the departments responsible for their budgets and spending habits. The Clerk-Treasurer's office submitted the Corrective Action Plans for the audit for the years 2022 and 2023. All the CAP's were approved and if anyone would like a copy please contact Clerk-Treasurer Modesto. The offrce is also reviewing and updating outdated ordinances that will be submitted to the Attorney for review before submitting them to the ordinance committee for approval. In April the Department Heads will be receiving a spreadsheet to complete their department's capital assets due to this being an ongoing finding in our audits. Now that the first quarter is complete Clerk-Treasurer Modesto asked the department heads to go through their appropriations to see where they are in their budget spending. A new mailbox has been installed in the office and asks that every department, City Council, Attorneys and boards check it periodically. Clerk-Treasurer Modesto attended Clerk-Treasurer school in Indianapolis, and she informed everyone that she learned a lot about taxes, and the corrective action plans and much more. The pre-budget workshops will begin in May and if anyone has any questions they can call her office. Unfinished Business Ordinance #25-22 Amending and Supplementing Section 54-10 of Article I of Chapter 54 (Governing Use of Consumer Fireworks) of the Code of Ordinances for the City of Portage, due to concerns with the ordinance and is still under review by legal Fire Chief Crail requesting it be tabled again until it is completed. Councilperson Czilli made a motion to table the ordinance; Councilperson Vasquez seconded the motion. Motion carried. 7 yes-0 nays. New Business Tax Abatement CF-l Gelnex and Tax Abatement CF-l Konrady Plastics. Mayor Bonta explained that these are not new abatements, they are the annual renewals. Councilperson Czilli made a motion to approve both CF- I 's for Gelnex and Konrady Plastics; Councilperson Weidenbach seconded the motion. Motion carried. 7 yes-0 nays RDC Temp Loan MOU for $700,000.00 for Public Safety Equipment and RDC Temp Loan for $1,897,928.00 for the Sanitation Department CNG Trucks. Mayor Bonta explained that these temp loans were already approved. Upon Attorney review it was noted that the city would benefit from having a memorandum of understanding between the RDC and the City Council. Councilperson Vasquez made a motion to approve the RDC temp loan for the public safety equipment in the amount of $700,000.00; Councilperson Ambler seconded the motion. Motion carried. 6 yes-l nays (Czilli) Councilperson Vasquez made a motion to approve the RDC temp loan for the Sanitation CNG Trucks in the amount of $ 1,897,928.00; Councilperson Alvarez seconded the motion. Motion carried 6 yes-l nays (Czilli) Introduction of Ordinances Ordinance #25-23 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 90, Article V of the City of Portage Municipal Code Entitled "ZoningMap" for Labybug Laundry Map was read by Councilperson Vasquez in its entirety as a first reading. l Council Meeting Regular Meeting Min utes April l, 2025 Page2 Ordinance #25-24 An Ordinance Amending Rates and Charges for the City of Portage Municipal Wastewater Utility and Stormwater Utility was read by Councilperson Weidenbach in its entirety as a first reading. Reports From City Officials Plant Superintendent Marshall reported on the recent rain fall bring in about 5 million gallons a day and they are permitted for 5.3 million gallons. She also proudly reported that the Plant passed the buyer monitor testing with IDEM again. They also completed most of the clarifier project, just closed on the SRF for the Northside interceptor lift station and the UV. Police Chief Candiano repo(ed the department switched over to the new county system which changed their daily tasks, and they are working their way through the changes. The chief is proud and gave kudos to his whole department and how they have handled the change acknowledging that it has been a difficult transition. Fire Chief Crail reported that calls are still higher than past years but are starting to normalize. He explained that the new dispatch system is used differently than the Police Department and it has worked to their advantage. For the first time in the history of the Portage Fire Department they have station toning. This means that if one station is being called out the other two stations do not hear the call. Chief Crail also reported that the ambulance that was involved in the head on collision in February is now back in service, giving sincere appreciation to Engineer Litzkow and Assistant Chief Johnson for their hard work and perseverance in getting the ambulance back in service in 40 days. Reports From Standing Committees Councilperson Czilli repofted that the Ordinance Committee met before the council meeting reviewing Ordinance #25'22 Consumer Use of Fireworks and had a resident brought a concern about additional firework issues that the committee will speak to legal about and drafting an additional ordinance. On behalf of the Recycle and Waste Committee, Councilperson Giese-Hurst invited the community to celebrate Earth Day on April I 2, 2025, from 9am- I pm at the Porter County Expo Center. There will be environmentally themed vendors, reuse fairs, giveaways, rain barrel design contests, guest speakers, live music, wildlife shows, local food vendors, bird house building and a magician. Petitions, Remonstrances and Public Input A resident asked the Mayor to take the pictures he emailed him earlier and post them for public review Susan, a resident ofportage has tried for two years to get some ordinance changed. First, is ordinance #25-19 section l8-67 does not speciff what compliance they should be following. It also states that a fine could be imposed without hearing or proof of noncompliance. Regarding Section 18-70 Revocation: The building commissioner shall have the power to temporarily suspend or permanently revoke the registration of any contractor and she feels it is unfair without a hearing or due process. She also has some issues with some changes in departments, but the mayor has reassured her that they will talk about that later. A resident is here to address the Council and Mayor on the two proposed residential TIF district being pursued by the RDC for Bauer Farms and Sandy Trails. She attended the March RDC meeting to ask questions and express concems only to find out there is no opportunity for public input. These two proposed residential TIF district proposals are the first of 5 that have been publicly disclosed that will eventually have to come before this council. Even though the council has not had the oppornrnity to vote on the proposals. These proposals will have an undeniable negative impact on the overlapping tax units which include the Portage Township Trustee office. As the president of the Portage Township advisory board her biggest concern is the lose of potential tax revenue for the township which allows them to provide the crucial services they provide to the residents that are struggling financially, as well as programing and maintenance to the park department, Bonner Senior Community Center and the cemetery maintenance and management. The township has no other recourse to increase their revenue and cannot do referendums like the school districts or add TIF districts like the City of Portage. The township will never be able to increase programs or facility rental fees enough to cover the amount that will be taken from them if the TIF district are approved. Although Mayor Bonta has verbally promised that he will come up with something for the Township like the grant that RDC will be implementing for the Portage Township Schools and through these grants the township and PTS will potentially receive more than they ever would in property taxes however the RDC would ultimately need to agree to these funds and currently there is no binding contracts or legal guarantee to ensure the funds will still be given to the township over the maximum life 20 year life for each TIF district. Additionally, she questions how PTS and the township could ever possibly end up with more money this way while leaving enough money for the City to fulfill their infrastructure obligations inside these TIF's and still being able to fund their Police and Fire Departments. Lastly, she fails to see how these two proposed TIF's pass the But For clause in the State Code. She quoted an article published by Purdue University titled, The Use of Tax Increments Finance by Indiana Local Governments. She asked the council to consider the legal requirements that these developments must meet per state code as well as the impact to the overlapping units when deciding how to vote on these proposed TIF's. Resident George, residing on Brie Ave, has a question about the increases to the Utility Bill of 30%o. Mayor Bonta explained the reasoning behind the increase to the utility bill. The mayor also invited him to speak with the Superintendent as well. Councilperson Czilli also commented that they are bonding 38 million for the upgrades.  ! Council Meeting Regular Meeting Minutes April 1,2025 Page 3 Mayor Bonta also commented that there has been a meeting with Brendan Clancy, the Township Trustee on how the township can be made whole and not loose any money from the existence of the residential TIF's while giving the city flexibility with the money spent for public safety. He acknowledged the approval process of the agreements that will need to be completed through a public hearing through City Council. Mayor Bonta offered to go over the ordinances in question with resident Susan. Mayor Bonta explained to Rod that he already shared a post on Facebook when benchwarrners first started the board because he thought it was wonderful. The mayor explained that he does not have control over the city website but will try to get them posted. Superintendent Komenda announced that the Utility Department is selling rain barrels again. The barrels are $57.50, the residents pay $28.50, and the department subsidizes the $29. The last day to order is April 16th and the pickup is at the Field office on Old Porter Road on April 21't. The information is on the city website and both Facebook pages or residents can call the office at219-763-2986. Councilperson Giese-Hurst announced she will be leaving informational flyers on Waste and Recycling at the entrance. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Bonta entertained a motion to adjoum. Councilperson Czilli made a motion to adjourn; Councilperson Weidenbach seconded the motion. Motion carried. 7 yes-0 nays. Mayor Bonta adjourned the meeting at 7:32 P .M. ATTEST: ld- Modesto 0//*h tLtll{ Austin Bonta Clerk-Treasurer Mayor