City Council - Regular Meeting

Well, good evening. Welcome to the November 17th city council meeting. Um, call that to order. We have presentations right out of the gate, Mr. Mayor. Right. We're short of a soccer team. Soccer team, aren't we? Well, we have one soccer player in the front row. Are you a soccer player? I am a soccer player. Are you going to represent the team? I guess I can. I'm up here. Are you just finding out this right now? Okay.

All right. Incredible. [applause] Congratulations. [applause]

Yes, sir. Yeah.

All right. excited tonight uh to talk to you update. You guys were kind enough two years ago to appropriate a significant sum of money uh towards the um school systems uh innovation efforts. So if you recall, we were financially we were managing things quite well and and uh we wanted to invest in our community where we thought we could make a difference and one of the areas that we really thought we could come alongside as our school system and our teachers who are doing innovative work each and every day in our classrooms. And so um we set up a half a million dollars set aside a half a million dollars to invest in our uh teachers. And then each year since then we've funded it another $50,000. Jordan Alexander who uh really our chief of staff who's really run point on this on the city side. Uh she's on maternity leave with her young daughter who are everyone's doing quite well and she's enjoying her time off. But um her counterpart on the civilian side was Mike Fasel who um if you don't know Mike does it he did an incredible job when he was an educator at HSC schools and we really wanted to have educators lead this initiative and trying to identify what should we invest in and what can we do with those funds and so I'm going to have Mike come up and kind of tee this up and then we also have some students here tonight that are direct beneficiaries of the innovation dollars that went into our schools. Mike Well, some of you know me really well and uh you know that if I get a chance to talk that I'm not going to take it. Um but what I'm going to do is I want to cover a couple things about the grant uh that we have done and I'm [clears throat] going to emphasize I was so happy to find out that Jordan's coming back cuz

me too

me too. Uh but Jordan has been key as as far as a liaison to balance the city uh with the needs of the teachers that we have talked. I cannot emphasize her enough. And then the other people on my committee, Amy Merge, some of you may know from Connor Prairie, um Kaylee Art, who is uh we are blessed with because she's a STEM educated uh teacher who left the position because of a whoops baby, [clears throat] but wanted to give back to the school system uh and handles worked at the DOE for a while doing STEM education. and then somebody that I have a deep respect for uh named Brad Jackson and if you've taught this if you've been around this district long enough and you know who uh Brad Jackson is but our committee has kind of formed some lanes of things that we have found um the school the district itself has put a focus kind of on STEM uh starting from the top down you see they just had a um kind of a robotics kind of trial thing at the junior high level and that kind of stuff, but uh our committee um made up of a lot of elementary focus uh has focused on the elementary schools and I I kind of believe in the uh VBS model. Um get them early, get them often. If you want STEM to work, you got to get it to them in um elementary school. Until you have watched kids uh program robots in second grade, you have not yet lived through the experience. But we have formed a real STEM thing. And we're talking easily, if you take the maker space stuff, $160,000 in STEM projects we've planted throughout the elementary schools. Uh we've done a ton of VR. Um VR just we it's funny, we put VR first off in ENL classrooms to try to equal out the experience for our ENL

population in conversation. So instead of talking about Greek civilizations, they can see touch and I mean literally touch. Um we've but the VR thing that I think I enjoyed the most and I didn't realize the mayor could weld like I can weld. If you know how to weld, uh if you've ever done that, we put a VR welding thing up at the high school. Uh if you've ever welded, you know that your mistakes are plentiful and all mistakes are costly. And they we put a VR welder up there that allows them instead of spending $95 every time they make a mistake welding, they spend zero. And they can do that over and over and over again and it reads out everything from angle to speed to temperature and the rest. It is pretty amazing to do. But what we have, you know, we did those lanes. We've done ENL stuff to help our ENL population in real time translation. Um because um the class that gives ENL kids the greatest amount of trouble is math because if you remember your math classes, they don't go slow and it's hard to keep up and we don't want to lose people in math. And so we made that real time a lot of resources to real time math. Um but the other thing that we did is we have planted a ton of media resources at Hannah South Eastern High School and um we did that and as the committee we did that because not that we believe so much in just media. We believe that kids that get an opportunity to create something, be responsible to something, have an audience for that thing, those lessons are greater than just the class. It's the literally the goal of every person in business is to have a staff that can do that. And so the four people behind me, we asked last fall to their teachers, we updated all the equipment

up at HSC High School and they are an amazing group if you've not seen their work and we asked them to put on a for them to go out and show you what a studentled production would look like showing how the grant has worked. And so, uh, I just told Lily, who I the team threw under the bus and said she was team leader. And I'm going to have Lily come up here and tell you what they did. And then I'm going to let her key in her video presentation. All right. Lily, team leader. [applause]

Hi, my name is Lily Perez. I'm here with my PR team, Lauren Kitowski, Will Ellingwood, and Joey Justice. We all go to Hamilton Southeastern High School and we're part of the Southeastern Media Network there. I just want to say we had such a great time with this opportunity being a part of our externship program and we got to partner with the city of Fisers and create this video that really showcased the effect of the grants both in our school and in other schools around us. We got to go to I think it was six schools and learn about maker spaces, welding, and just like fun things for kids to enjoy. I didn't know that we had so many animals and opportunities for kids of all ages from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. So, I just want to thank you guys for letting us have this opportunity and I hope you guys enjoy the video we work so hard on. Imagination is something we're all born with. Um, sometimes school doesn't always foster that. Sometimes we can stifle that a little bit.

A lot of things going on in HSSE now don't allow teachers to get out and get their own professional development. And virtual welders are not cheap to get.

I had to have enough equipment for six separate film teams. I could not have gotten this kind of equipment on my own. Car maker space was an underutilized space. It was really a glorified closet. And so the innovation grant allowed us to really expedite the timeline to be able to make this available to the students at Cumberland Road. you see kids utilizing space like this and the energy they bring [music] uh to an idea or a concept you had. I think that's what warms my heart the most.

But this was an in-person opportunity to study at the Library of Congress and without this grant we would not have been able to travel there. So the [music] money was was key or we wouldn't have been able to go on this trip. just recently took it to uh Durban Elementary School and we had over I want to say over 60 kids that actually got to experience what a virtual welder is and see if that would be something along the career lines that they may [music] want.

The movie we made last year was just accepted into Indiana Heartland International Film Festival [music] and general competition, not even a student category. So, we're competing against other professional films. This is truly unique and things like this wouldn't be possible through [music] grants like the one we got from the city and other organizations. So I I thank you and I hope you continue to support other innovative classes like [music] this.

In simple terms, this uh redesign of our maker space is really to support our three pillars [music] of our STEM program, which is environment, agriculture, and engineering. Hands-on learning is really helpful for a lot of students, and maker spaces really lend themselves well for kids to learn instead [music] of theoretically relevant learning. And so they can actually get their hands in and on things to help design and create. So again, I just want to thank Mike and the entire team uh for putting on that video, but also just Mike's countless hours of evaluating all these different opportunities and and it's a call also to teachers if they have ideas. We're still fielding new ideas. Correct, Mike?

Absolutely. And so we're going to continue this uh forward. And in your guys's 2020 six budget, you allotted another $50,000. So I do not know of too many communities out there that are putting money directly into the classroom. So we're very excited to to do this and thank you guys for your support.

I have a quick question. Um I was at the school board meeting when they talked about the children's mo well the movie that the students created that competed at H Heartland. When will that be available for the community to see? Well, we've talked about combining with the uh Fischer's art department and Jordan before she left put in contact Jamie Fus who uh is sponsors that with your art department for them to do a film showing thing here in the city which we think is a perfect kind of blending of where the city gets returned on that but also that the community benefits from that and if you've not seen But it's not what we funded for them. They could do their major film. What we did was we created them to be able to do shorts. And so that way instead of all the because they those kids check out the resources in the beginning of the year, well from on that film crew, that's it. You don't see that equipment again until they're done. We gave them equipment so that they wanted to enter into the short film creation and this is what allowed them to do that. Oh, they're they're amazing.

Especially when you realize that they're, you know, 15, 16, 17, 18 years old. Well, I didn't do anything, but I appreciate that. Well, you're welcome. [applause and cheering]

Right. Thank you, Mr. Fossil and students. We'll move on to uh council committee reports. Mr. Weart the finance committee. Thank you, John. The finance committee met last Wednesday. Uh following items were recommended for approval this evening. Item 7B um resolution of common council and controlling uh controller transfer certain funds. Item eight on the agenda, item nine, item 10, and item 11. We also talked about uh our uh storm water fee being uh doing billing being done on a monthly basis rather than an annual basis which that'll be part of our council meeting tonight. All right. Thank you, John. And then

health department report is available for anyone that would like to see that online. Um move on to the consent agenda. Make a motion to approve. Second. Motion by John, second by Selena. All those in favor say I. I.

Any opposed? Motion passes. Onto the regular agenda. Evening. For the record, Lisa Bradford, city controller. Item number eight before you, the request to approve an additional appropriation relates to an additional appropriation for the economic development fund. When we contemplated the 2025 budget for the economic development fund, we had contemplated purely the uh debt service. Due to the timing, as you guys are well aware, the event center finished construction in late November last year with the city required to be on cash basis. We had some trailing professional services costs related to that construction of the event center. So what this does is allow us to pay those funds within the budget for the economic development fund. Happy to answer any questions and then I'll step aside if there's public comment.

Right. We'll do the so comments and then public hearing. Any questions or comments from All right. I'll call to order the public hearing. All right, I will close the public hearing. Bye, Lisa. Motion to approve. Second. Got a motion by John, a second by Todd. All those in favor, please say I. I. Opposed. Right. Motion passes.

All right. Um item nine before you is an amendment relating to the City View project. If you recall, the City View project is in downtown Fisers um in the area right next to First Internet Bank. At the time last year, we had contemplated an inter into a bond anticipation note. Uh this was due to some various um things coming up such as potential reduction in interest rates. And so as that band bond anticipation note is coming due, we're looking to roll that for a number of years. And so what this amendment does is allow us to roll that, let that project get up, developed, and start generating increment. And so this amendment will allow us to explore all potential options for the best case in financing that bond. Um, happy to answer any questions. If there are no issues, we would ask that you suspend the rules and pass just so we can get this wrapped up and finalized before December and the end of the year.

Questions, comments, or motion? I'll make a motion to suspend the rules. Second. Motion by Todd, second by John to suspend the rules. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion to approve. Motion to spend the rules approved and t that's a motion to approve it. Okay. Second motion by Todd, second by John. All those in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. The motion passes. And we've got R11725E.

Okay. Um, this item before you relates to transferring uh funds. If you will recall, when we approved the bond for the permanent financing of the State Road, 37 and 141st Street interchange, we had that listed as a project along with other potential land acquisitions. Those projects uh were all spelled out in the bond ordinance documents that were approved. This item before you allows us to transfer the funds to the town hall building corp for that land acquisition for those projects that were per previously named and discussed. Happy to answer any questions

if I could make a comment. This is just a statutorial thing that we do to to transfer these funds. And if I remember, the amendment agreement actually has the projects listed out that we're looking at as far as going to be using these dollars for. And we need to do that otherwise the money's just going to sit there. Yeah. So these bond proceeds, we need to take advantage of them and use them based upon the debt that we've already incurred. Yes. Yep. And those projects are all listed in the general areas of where that land acquisition would be occurring. Yeah. I'll make a motion to approve. Second. Okay. Motion by John, second by Selena. All those in favor say I. I. opposed. The motion passes the government miscellaneous.

I'm going to cover this one. Um, as we mentioned, we had discussed this at finance committee last week. This item before you amends the uh storm water code of ordinances. And so in the storm water code of ordinances, it says that our residential storm water billing occurs annually. So what we are doing is we are in the process of changing that so it will be a monthly bill and as you guys have seen this year now with the addition of trash you get your sewer bill and you get your trash bill and so in 2026 we're going to throw on that storm water bill. So you'll have all three and then they will all you'll have one number for everything. You won't have a separate sewer account number and you won't have a separate storm water account number. And this is for just residential, so all single family homes and condo units that are considered um homeowners. So this will allow us to change the ordinance to let us do that monthly. And so our anticipated plan is to roll this out for what would be the first full bill of 2026 when we have the slight increase to the trash rate and then we'll roll the storm water bill onto that. Happy to answer any questions. question. If this is first reading and you want to do it on a 2026, do we need to suspend the rules?

Um, we can suspend the rules, but um because we've the first bill of the uh sewer is in a rear earth. So, um you won't people won't see in a January like a bill due January, you wouldn't see it. So it will actually be um I believe the bill due in March where you would first see this come through because it's the bill generated in February due in March. So happy happy you can do whatever Trevor but that there is some time just because of the nature of the trash or the sewer bills. Might as well suspend it.

I made a motion by Todd, second by Slant to suspend the rules. Oh, sorry, Bill.

Yeah. Yeah. All those in favor suspending the rules. Opposed. All right. So, that passes, but yeah. Bill, please.

Yeah. So, Yeah. So, um the residential bill is $79.92 and Yeah. So, it's 666 monthly. [laughter] Yeah. So, um that will Oh, so that but that will be and so then it when it comes in and um Ashley's PR team has a communication to roll this out too because it will coincide with the if you guys will recall there's a annual increase for the republic billing too so that they'll come in correlation with one another. Just wanted people to know that it's not an increase. It's just

it's just a trying to help smooth out the payments. Trying to get rid of another account number for some people. So, thank you. Yeah. No thanks, Bill. Motion approve. Second. All right. Motion by John, second by Tiffany to approve. All those in favor say I. I. Thank you.

Opposed. All right. Motion passes. Lindsay. Good evening, council. I'm Lindsay Bennett, Corporation Council. I'm here tonight on a very simple amendment to section 32.62 of the code of ordinances. Uh we are essentially adding two members to the Fischer Advisory Committee on Disability. So, because that is an ordinance, uh we just had to make a simple change from nine voting members to 11 voting members. I'm happy to answer any questions. Any questions? It's first reading. Any questions? You want to get suspend? We certainly can. It's nothing that's um pressing, but if you're comfortable with suspending,

roll make a motion to suspend the rules and pass on first reading. A motion by John, second by was that Selena? Tiffany, sorry. To suspend the rules and take action on the first reading. Is there a motion to do that? We need a vote. It's a twofer. Okay, we got a motion. Got a second. We need to vote on suspending the rules, right? Yeah. All I'm sorry. All those in favor say I. I. I opposed. Oh, all right. Motion passes. Sorry. John. Make a motion to approve. Second. Motion by John. Was that you, Tom? Second by Bill. Um, all those in favor, please say I. Opposed. All right. Motion passes. Thank you.

Thanks, Lindy. Good evening, council members. For the record, Monica Hills, public health director. Um the motion, the new one that you have in front of you is some updates to the uh health ordinance um specifically the food code and the miscellaneous fee schedule. Um we are asking if it pleases the council to suspend the rules um if that's um okay and pass on first read so that we can be ready for the permit period. um that opens December 1. Um happy to entertain any questions that you might have at all.

Can you just give us an overview of what some of the changes are?

Yeah, so the primary purpose of the changes is really to put our food code in line with the uh the code changes that were um enacted at the state level this um session. So they basically updated it from a 2005 FDA code to a 2022 FDA code. Um, so that's a good thing. Um, and then this, um, lines up our fee structure with some of those changes. Um, so that it's um, the the permitting fees are not based on how many employees a facility has, but how many um, but what the risk level is to the public based on the type of food they serve. Um, and then how many inspections we have to do as a result of that. It also has some built-in incentives um for operators that are doing all the right things and that have strong performance um so that we're not penalizing anyone um for that reason. So um it is a overall it should result in a slight increase um in revenue for us but that's the primary driver is those um changes to the state food code

owners here in town about the changes. Yeah, that's one of the reasons for not bringing it to you um sooner. We had some timing with the health board and then we wanted to make sure to talk to all the operators. So, we did send out a email to all of our permit holders um notifying them of a webinar opportunity. We held a webinar um for them. That webinar has been recorded. Um we have a fact sheet on the website. Um that information was also communicated out in a second email to all of the operators. We have received no questions um from any of the operators at this point. No, thank you. How do you like your new offices?

Oh, it's very nice. Thank you so much for asking. I can I have a good view of all the people coming in and out of the community center and we really enjoy being on the front of the community center um and all the increased traffic that we've been seeing and questions about what we can do for our residents. So, you'll see some new um services coming out in 2026. So, I I have a question about these fees. So, you go in, you do an inspection, there's a fee. you know, we we first came out with the grade and we've had how effective is it really these fees of getting them to go from the lower grades to bump up their grades and the inspection?

So, the the grading primarily is effective based on the incentive that's on their window and the bottom line of the traffic that comes based [laughter] on the grade, right? That's been really effective actually. Um, and we've seen those grades increase um across the board. So a lot of the folks that um were more troublesome um had a lot more issues um you know with education and with that extra incentive of the grade um their performance has improved over time. So um so that's been really really helpful. Um this new structure is a a bit of a different take on that and it's u but it lines up the the grading scale with the FDA um standards and the state food changes. So it's kind of a really nice way to integrate all of that. um together.

Okay. And the grading scale, having the grading scale in place really helps with that.

I also appreciate Monica's proactive communication with the restaurant community. So, having that Zoom call and entertaining any questions, there really weren't any questions from the restaurant community, but I think it's also a more accurate reflection of the higher risk ones that we have to inspect more often. those fees should be more reflective of the time we're spending in that restaurant versus ones that let's say a coffee shop or a you know a gas station. Uh although a burrito on the roller at a gas station may may be a higher risk depending upon how you view it. But um nonetheless I think the board of health did a good job of looking through this and then I think Monica's done a good job of reaching out and communicating with folks. Monica is something that's time sensitive this evening.

Yeah. Um, so we are asking for a suspension of the rules if it's okay with you because our permit period for 2026 opens December 1 uh through December 31st. So we want to make sure we have all of the um changes in place before that opens. I will also just mention there's one other fee that's not related to food facilities um that we're requesting a change for and that's mostly just semantics but um for death certificate issuing um we have to give a certain amount each year each certificate to the corner's continuing education fee um and that uh has a laidout fee structure that's tied to the Indiana code so just trying to separate that out so it can stay fluid and we don't have to go to you every time that um has that structure change.

I'll make a motion to suspend the rules. I'll second it. All right. Motion by Todd, a second by John to suspend the rules. All those in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. All right. Motion passes. Motion to approve. Second. Motion by Todd to approve. Second by Tiffany. Is it? I know. U. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed.

All right. Motion passes. Thank you. Good evening, council. For the record, Megan Bombgartner, director of community and economic development for the city. Um, tonight is a first amendment to the amended and restated Union and crossing project agreement. So, as a reminder, this is the Union area is just south of um Fischer District in the yard today with Thompson Thrift. um that project agreement contemplates allocation areas um and the tax increment from those going towards the at the crossing development that then goes towards the the union project. So today um we're not asking for a change of any of the dollar amounts or commitments at all. We're just asking um to condense instead of three different allocation areas at the crossing development into one. So the commitments of the minimum taxpayer agreements associated with those does not change just the true location and the condensing into one um property. Happy to answer any questions on this one. [snorts]

Make a motion to approve. Second motion by John to approve. All those in favor say I. I. Motion passes. Thank you.

Okay, it'll be fine, man.

Uh, good evening. for the record. Um the next [clears throat] item before you is item number 16 which is 106 uh 10 0625A which is consideration of text amendment um to the UDO chapter 3, chapter 5 and chapter 12. Um [clears throat] this first item is a cleanup item before you guys approved our CEO commercial impact district. Uh last year uh there was an air on uh 4A. um it should have said maximum instead of minimum. So that is shown here. Um and then in um chapter 5 and chapter 12, we are outlining the definition of a car condominium. Um that was something that was previously not in the UDO. Um so that is better to serve our staff um when being requested if that is an allowed use. Happy to answer any questions on both those.

Do we have any car condominiums? Yeah. Uh, no. We're just anticipating some. We have had inquiries. Correct. Thank you. Any other questions or motion? Motion to approve. Made a motion. Yes, Savannah. Made a motion. A motion to approve. Second. Right. Motion by Selena, second by Tiffany. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Right. Motion passes.

Again, Ross Hillary, City of Fischers, uh, Community Economic Development. The next item before you is item number 17, which is 111725F, consideration of a reszone of 1.3 acres from R2 to CEO Commercial Low impact District with conditions. Um those conditions include a maximum square footage of 7500 square ft and um a use for memory care. Um before you again is um a reszone request. Um the address is 10982190 Brooks School Road. Um, so our commercial impact district allows for um office, medical office, beauty, hair salon, day spa, and nail salon, and a maximum square footage of 4,500 square feet, which you guys just approved on the last one. Um, so they're requesting a memory care use at this uh residential property here as well as an increase of the maximum square footage. Uh, this is the first reading tonight. We do anticipate going before plan commission and back with city council. And I do have Rick Lawrence with Nelson Frankenberger and Story Cottage here to give a short presentation.

Good evening. For the record, my name is Rick Lawrence. I'm an attorney with Nelson and Frankenberger with offices in Carmel. Uh with me here tonight is David Lesby. On behalf of the applicant, we represent Story Custom Development and Story Cottage. By way of general background, Story Cottage offers a boutique memory care concept to senior residents where compassion meets luxury. Story Cottage is dedicated to providing a unique and personalized approach in a safe homelike environment, including individual bedrooms, community spaces, and tailored activities to assist its residents in feeling purposeful engagement. There's examples of story cottage cottage products at 13633 Kerry Road in Caramel if you'd like to visit that or 1840 West Main Street again in Carmel. There's also senior group homes located throughout the Indianapolis area. Approval of this reszone request will allow Story Cottage to provide an innovative living solution for people with memory loss in the city of Fisers. The site location map is shown on the screen. Now the real estate as Ross indicated is um has common address of 10982 and 10990 Brooks Gold Road. It totals about86 acres and is currently zoned residential R2. Ultimately the two lots will be platted into one. It's a closeup of that. The exhibit now on display is a concept site plan of the property. While residents will not have their own vehicles, parking will be provided for to accommodate guests and caregivers on the east side there. It is anticipated the group home will generate less traffic than a single family home. The site plan has been laid out to provide the ability to turn around and exit straight on onto Brook School Road so no one has to back onto Brook School Road. And the outdoor space on the property is anticipated to be fenced around the

outdoor patio area in this uh site plan you see. Additionally, the goal is to create a visually appealing and well landscaped residence. On the screen now is a building perspective, a concept building perspective of the front elevation of the home. The rest of the home, the sides, rear elevations will be similar or detailed as you see here. The home will consist of 12 bedrooms to accommodate maximum of 12 residents, including community space, kitchen space, and a small outdoor p patio as shown by that concept plan. And here are some pictures of other um homes that they have built, one of the bedroom areas. In conclusion, Story Cottage will be be designing a customdesigned home that will accommodate the needs of residents by providing thoughtful support in smaller, more comfortable and predict predictable settings that will blend well into the surrounding residential area. With that, I will conclude my presentation, but I would note that if you have any questions, we're here to answer those tonight and that this matter is scheduled for the planning commission presentation on December 3rd. We have had some informal outreach to the neighbors and at this point it's been very well received and we'll continue that outreach as the um matter progresses through the process.

Thank you. Any questions? Would you consider putting another um I am sure my client would be happy to look at any potential lots you have um that might be available for this. I can get you his contact information. They've been uh great to talk to. I know Megan and Ross and I have all met with them and it's it's a great product. So, I can get into the context. We could probably three or four out.

This is also a great uh use for some of our orphan properties that we talk about that are kind of wedged along the road and we're not sure how to use them or what what the new use could be. This is a low impact development that fits right into the landscape, so to speak. So, um, we look forward to working with these guys through the process and, uh, hopefully not just this product, but additional ones as as needs arise. Yeah, I appreciate you, uh, outreaching to the neighbors around there. This really [clears throat] good. And, um, again, just it's always good to have that neighbors around you understand and also appreciate what you're doing. So, thank you. Everyone's job easier. Yeah. And I've been to several of the other ones. It really that's what they look like. They're really beautiful. Well done. That's a really good look. I think it's going to fit in nicely.

Thank you. Any other? So, just one one building, one structure. Yes, one structure. And is this property currently in the city? Yes. Don't have to annex? No. Thank you. First reading. Okay. First reading. Thank you. All right. And then R111725F. Is that right?

Uh yes. For the record, Ross Hillary, city officers. Um the next two items I will go over together. Um so my item 18 and 19 is the Lynwood Hills annexation. Um item 18 is R11725F and item 19 is 111725E. Uh this is a request um to approve a resolution adopting the fiscal plan for the Lynwood Hills annexation as well as uh the first reading of the Lynwood Hills annexation. Uh summary of this annexation, this is pretty large. Um so this is 77 acres along Allisonville and 131st Street. It is a total of 159 um homes. There are 162 lots um within this neighborhood. Um so currently we are doing a sewer project uh in this area anticipated to start um next year. We've had three neighborhood meetings um earlier this month. Um and so happy to answer any questions along with Lindsay.

Yes. Uh yes, I want to really I really really want to thank uh Jeremy and um Jonathan from DPW who worked on this to get uh state dollars along with just working with all the neighborhoods and Lindsay shephering this through this process. Um, it's a it's an opportunity where we've got a lot of septics that are getting pretty pretty antiquated and some maybe even failing and here's an opportunity to come in and put the infrastructure and then also just close in one of those Swiss cheese pieces we have in our our community. So, uh, we look forward to welcoming these new residents and also providing higher level of service than they've seen to date.

What was the feedback from the neighborhood meetings? I mean clearly they want to move forward with it. Was it tough to get? Were most of the neighbors for it? So if I believe correctly, I think we have 77% of the residents who have agreed to the annexation. Um that's over the threshold that is required. Uh those neighborhood meetings were well attended. Um engineering planning as well as legal were there. A lot of questions were about specifically how their new sewer system was going to work, the timeline and then tax implications. So, we provided the tax calculator um annexing in 2027. The first time that they would have city taxes would be in 2028.

What is the timeline for the sewer project? Um so, I believe the sewer project, I have it in front of me, uh survey and design is starting um in October and then we anticipate um bidding of that project in May to June of next year and construction um uh late spring of 27. What is it a difficult projective for them? Um, that's a good question. Uh, we anticipate a lot of it being done within the rideway area. So, a lot of it will be bored. Yeah.

And not open trench cut. So, we're going to minimize as much damage as as possible to to those uh homes and and uh but it will be a significant project and we'll take a great deal of coordination with all those homeowners. Are they paying for the sewer? There's a grant that will pay for a large portion of the sewer infrastructure, including the tap in. What's that? Including the tap in. Uh the I believe the lateral is on the

She's hiding. I see you. Linda, what was the question? The lateral or the tap in fee, what's the cost to the resident?

Um so if I remember correctly, the pays for most of the project including the tap fee and then the property owners will owe around I think it's $10,000 which will be paid in monthly installments over I want to say 20 years. It's a fee um that will be on top of the sewer charge but um it is significantly less expensive than if they do this project on their own. The grant money covers the bulk of the project. And I don't believe, Monica, correct me if I'm wrong here, but I don't believe a septic replacement would even be in the cards likely. So, if the septic were to fail, I'm not I'm not certain that a new septic would go back into these areas.

So, you're really kind of faced with a tough situation there. So, this is even if the septic's working today, at some point, getting these folks on sewer is going to be the the right path forward. So, about 10 grand per house over financed over 20 years. 20 years. Thank you. Are we having everybody hook up to the sewer when we annex them in or is it voluntarily? It's voluntary, I believe, to to hook up to the sewer. They don't all have to hook up immediately.

Correct. Yeah, we we have um 778% that are ready to hook up to the sewer. We have a few that um as we were doing public meetings and they came to talk to us were more interested in hooking up to the sewer. But we still have a few that um I think have recently replaced and so they're looking at maybe keeping their septic for a little bit um until it fails. As we all know, the most important thing is that there's a main line somewhere nearby that when their septic does fail, they can tap into it because no single, this is what we've dealt with with this neighborhood for years, is someone's septic's failing, but there's no there's no mainline anywhere nearby and no one person can pay to get a mainline sewer brought to their to their home. And so this affords people that opportunity.

[clears throat] First reading. First reading. Uh, so this was two items. Uh, I apologize. So item 18, which was the um resolution for the fiscal plan. I'll make a motion approve. Second. Okay. Motion by John, second by Tiffany. All those in favor of the adopting the fiscal plan, please say I. I. Opposed. Right. Motion passes. And then the first reading for the voluntary. Yep. All right. Thank you, Todd.

Um, up next is the Kinwood subdivision. Uh, this is again two items. Resolution 111725D and ordinance 10 0625B. Uh, this is the Kinwood subdivision. Uh, is a request to annex 6.59 acres, also known as the Ruda Bush property. Uh, [clears throat] so this is located off of East 136th Street and Promise Road. The summary of this is a voluntary annexation um of nine new R2 lots by Trees Home. Um, happy to answer any questions. This is the final reading. Any questions? But so this is two different we both of these separately, right? A fiscal plan.

Yeah. So motion to approve. Second. All right. Motion by the Selena, second by Tiffany to request the uh fiscal plan. All those in favor say I. I opposed. All right, the motion passes. Then the next one625B. You kind of included them both in there, right Ross? So I would entertain a motion. Motion. Second motion by Todd, second by Tiffany um for the voluntary annexation. All those in favor say I. I opposed. All right, motion passes.

Um this last item is item number 2211725G. This is the Ketchum property annexation. Uh this is a voluntary annexation for zero connection uh44 acres. Uh this is a first reading and does require a public hearing. does have a public. Okay. So, we'll call the public heating hearing to order. All right. We'll close the public hearing. Any questions though on that or first reading? All right. First reading. Any other

unfinished business? Unfinished business. No. So, community comment if anybody'd like to comment. Hey, please. Yes. State your name and somebody got the clock. Go ahead.

Hey, I'm Ross Reinhardt, 7704 Creekide Court. Uh, I'm fresh back from the wilds of Northern Indiana up at Camp Tecumpsa. I got the opportunity to go be a cabin parent for HSSE schools uh camp up there. Um and it was just such a tremendous uh thing to get to see. For those that don't know about it, it's the teachers create this opportunity u for the high school students to come and volunteer to lead trail groups uh of seventh graders around camp. So they, you know, learn throughout the day and it gives the high schoolers this chance to to lead the trail groups. Um, and it was uh just really cool to see, [clears throat] but it was also really cool to have this front row seat to watch our teachers in action. You know, you got to hear kind of from afar throughout the school year um as they're taking care of our students. But, um, it was just really cool to be there and see them in action, how much they care for our students and how hard they were working. Um, and uh, it just really highlighted for me how our schools are so much more um, than just an education. Um, several of the kids I heard talking about how this was the first time they'd slept away from home um, that far by themselves. Um, and they, you know, so it was just such a cool opportunity for them to stretch and grow. Um, and it, like I said, it highlighted for me how much more uh, than just education the schools are to our community. Um it really uh builds the opportunities for these students, builds their freedom. Um freedom to no matter who you are in the community be able to come and learn and achieve. Um and uh make it it encapsulates our commitment to our ch the children of our community. Um what what it is that we want to be sure um that they get opportunity wise. Um so you know being uh November I just really wanted to share how thankful I was for a city um that supports that and you know clearly we saw um you know how the city

uh values that as well um and puts money behind that. Um and yeah that's something I would say uh our HSSE schools and a city that supports them u is something that I'm just incredibly thankful for. Um, and I I definitely as a member of the community want to make sure that we uh make sure our teachers feel supported um and respected um so they can stay focused on doing what they do best uh every day in our schools. Thank you. Okay. Thanks, Ross. What grades are your children in? They are now third, fifth, and seventh. Yeah. Thank you. Growing up quick.

Any other community comment? All right. entertain a motion to adjourn. All right, we're journ. Thank you.