Common Council - Regular Meeting

Father, allow the words of our mouth this evening, the meditations of our heart. Lord, let them be accepted in your sight for the building of a greater. Please join me in standing. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Roll call. Madam Clerk, Councilwoman, Councilwoman Cwell, present. Councilman Halbert, present. Councilwoman Ivy present. Councilman Toiver. Councilman Washington present. Councilman Wington present. Councilman Williams. President Le present. Madam President, there are seven present. Two. Thank you, Madam Clerk. With seven present and zero and two absent, we have a form to conduct business of the Gary County Council. Assignment of council pending ordinances and resolutions on first [Music] reading collect the minutes of the previous meeting. It's been moved and seconded. Roll call.

Madam clerk. Councilwoman Brown. Yes. Councilwoman Cwell. Yes. Councilman Hallebert. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy. Yes. Councilman Washington. Yes. Councilman Wesington. Yes. And President Le? Yes. Madam President, vote is seven to zero. With a vote of seven to zero. The minutes of our previous meeting have been accepted and is so ordered. Now for assignment of council pending ordinances and resolutions. My first reading CPO 2025-31 an ordinance accepting a grant award from the national institute of food and agriculture and establishing a budget in the green urbanism fund sponsored by Mayor Eddie Melton. Mayor Eddie Melton, City of Gary, Celita Green, City Controller and Department of Green urbanism ways and means CPL 2025-33 in orders of viewing a special use permit for property located at 2557 Kofax Street, Gary, Indiana to use to allow mechanical and auto body work. Petitioner John Kulock, 2557 Kofax Street, Gary, Indiana. planning and development east 15th Avenue to be used to allow light activities related to auto body mounting equipment upfit and repair sponsored by planning and development CPL 2025-34 an ordinance reviewing a special use permit used as a auto dealership. Petitioner Eric planning and development

CPL 2025-35 an ordinance of the city of G Indiana regulating parking meters within the city of Gary and establishing a parking meter fund sponsored by Mayor Eddie Melton City of Gary. Ways and means CPL 2025-36 and revisions to the 2025 local health maintenance budget for the city of Gary health department sponsored by Mayor Eddie Melton city of Gary Green city controller the Gary health department finance madam president of pending ordinances and resolutions thank you madam cler council Washington thank you madam chair madam madam president the planning and development committee has the following ordinance for review council pending ordinance 2025-32 2025-33 2025-34. For the record, I approve these ordinances for reporting out to the council. Councilman Wissington, yes. Councilwoman Leam, yes. For the record, Madam Chair, the majority of the planning and development has approved the following ordinances. You councilman Washington. Yes. Council Washington. Yes, thank you. Council Councilwoman Brown, the finance committee has CPO 202536. For the record, I approve this ordinance for I'm sorry. Yes. And yes, Madame President of the Finance Committee 202536 for reporting out to the council. Thank you, Councilwoman Brown.

Councilman Washington. Thank you, Madam Chair. The planning and development committee reports out CPO 2025-32, CPO 2025-33, and CPO 2025-34. Councilwoman Ivy CP 202537 time on hobbies like drawing, reading, or playing hobbies like drawing, reading or playing games. Still, still happy. Practice gratitude. Think about Counciloman Brown. I'm sorry. I didn't want to vehicles 2026 through 2029 500,000. Mental health among black males is needed. I think for the longest time there's been a stigma that it's okay to ask for help especially with combination with Christ as well. I know we supposed to talk about religion but I have to be honest Kiara just know if you need anything I'm always here for you. So thank you. I'm always here for you. So thank you. Thank you Councilman Wington University of Indianapolis. Thank you, Councilman Wington. Councilwoman University of Indianapolis. This was the first was the first class before they changed. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Councilman. When we look at Dr. Busan did a study and he talked about the behavior is also another announcement. The city of G talked about the behavior is also another announcement. The city of Gary and the faith CDC bearing the faith CDC present your voice your Thank you, Councilman Hallebertton. Any other colleagues? specialist select action necessary. And I would

also just like to make the public more mindful of the um aware as we continue to try and improve air quality in our city street. This is a very important time of the year. I like to collect all of my household hazardous RA to collect all of my household hazardous waste. There is a list waste. Here is a list of things that should not go in this for a full day of community of things that should not go in this for a full day of community building conversation. Again, I know there's, you know, we have the rail cast stadium and things, you know, we have the rail cast stadium and things. we've asked them. So, we'd like to know what the latest is from the surveys that we took and uh the surveys that we took and um hopefully we could hopefully we could and give back to the special needs community. Um we host and give back to the special needs community. Um we host sensory events such as a free Easter egg. sensory events such as a free Easter egg comes with autism training with the with the help of donations, sponsorships and fundraising. We've distributed 400 long way. When we out in the field, we come across somebody with autism and we come across somebody with autism and we have another tool had we have another tool had wanted to express regarding the bystate regarding the bystate airport compact between for the public to use the facility. So I would like to join you for the public to use the facility. So I would like to join you in the My name is John. I'm a city Gary resident business owner. I came here to talk to you guys tonight about the I just want to emphasize two primary points to the council tonight and everyone in the room. I'm going say that again. So when that again so when the

occupants or tenants bill is 60 days past due uh the landlord get a piss on the table. We all need it. I know that. But I know that. to just do this blankly and some will. Uh to just do this blankly and some will. Thank you, Council Bars. Thank you, Council Bars. Second with a vote of six yes and one with a vote of six yes and one abstension. Council man has been appointed to the entertain motion has been appointed to the entertain motion to amend by substitution by substitution 2025-29 2025-29 [Music] been moved and properly and properly So we are So we are going to amend it to add auto amended to add auto. Yes. Counciloman. Yes. Councilwoman. Yes. Council Washington. Yes. Yes. Council Washington. Yes. Council. Yes. By substitution. [Music] Mr. Garcia actually pointed out right before the meeting started and then we realized that actually was supposed to be um so this property is zoned dealership. Uh at that meeting uh at that meeting it was a public hearing in favor. There was one party who came I mean almost vote

against the four to zero vote with the four to zero vote. Um and special use um and of special use not be detrimental or endanger public health would not be detrimental or endanger public health safety morals of general welfare. They determined that the special safety morals of general welfare. They determined that the special use would not be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other. They determined that a special use uh would be it is allowable allowable uh presented document uh to the board. That's a special use presented document uh to the board. That's a special use provides for influence uh provides for implementation of sustainable growth principles initiative ordinances uh regarding sustainable growth principles initiative ordinances uh regarding uh uh dependent and retail related uh services. Uh he unanimously to approve it and that's where thank you attorney council was yes thank you for your uh thorough explanation reason I'm just asking it was initially presented to explanation reason I'm just asking when it was initially presented to came to what it is to what it is for you know I just want to ensure that it's not going to export and you know I just want to ensure that it's not going to be a situation and I'm not first of all we're not blindsiding because initially we're all approach but I do want to understand what constraints could we have today and I would to that point council w of the You have the flexibility to add conditions as needed. So you could place a condition if you wanted to say no more

than a certain amount of cards and then council Washington. Yes. [Music] Um again certainly the council Mr. Garcia directly I think so would you like to elaborate Mr. Garcia approach the microphone as council Washington yeah car right when I had put on the in a car. But whatever it is, okay, the reason why I say that I take responsibility for that because Miss Bron is correct. um as car wash only and council has had many people have cars and so I understand the first cars around this articulated as a car wash and a planning and development committee. Was it did it talk about the benefits of both? They did discuss both. Madam President, Councilwoman will be presented as a car wash or as auto membership. How the

Councilwoman Barn 6 months or a year later and what the progress is. Any other colleagues? Madam President, Councilman Hallebert, I've known the Garcia for a long time in the Bronzeville area. They're a very outstanding family. I'm sure he can adapt and just look for so that even if um the folks in the room can hear you, we want to make sure that those watching online should be back in a couple seconds. I apologize, President. All right, I think we're back. Thank you, media team. Mr. Garcia, can you talk about the business you're already here? Oh, I'm not for himself. Okay. And you do that on this property? Yeah. And myself at home. When you say car wash, is this hand car wash? Is this automatic car wash? Okay. Would you be required to get a storm water pollution prevention permit for the car wash way that we enforcement of compliance

what was former use. Yes. Gas station. Oh, it was a gas station before. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions, comments? Councilman uh Washington, you said it was you said it was four members that voted at the planning commission meeting. Yes. And so the other members they were uh there's only five. One was absent. Okay. All right. Thank you. All right. I think the um the motion on the floor is as amended with the car wash and the auto dealer. There isn't any other questions, concerns, discussion. Roll call. Madam clerk, this is on um as amend it has been amended to be used as a car wash and auto dealership. That's 2529. Everybody clear? Roll call. Counciloman Brown. Counciloman Cwell. No. Council. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy. Yes. Council Washington. Yes. Council. Yes. President. Yes.

Madam President, the vote is yes, one. With a vote of six yes, one no. CPO 2025-29 has been amended and approved. Approved as amended. CPO 2025-30 in order to budget for law department and establish the 2025 budget for the mayor's donation fund and accept the donation. Mayor city. Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded. Overview. Thank you, Madam President. Good evening to council members. Good evening. We have two department budgets that we're requesting to be approved. The first one is for the law department. The law department is requesting that the city attorney position which is currently budgeted for $75,000 is increased to $85,000. In turn, they will be eliminating the intern position which is [Music] $12,000 for the operating budget with that would be considered an exchange. There's a difference of $923. That is the amount that is left after we eliminate the current position. The $923 has been placed under current charges. There is no change in the total of the budget. We also have and um we have provided for you some information regarding the attorney positions their salaries in Indiana. Um the first one indicates that

the average for the state and this is just for the state is $159,85 but we narrowed it down to the city attorney position and areas around us. Uh it's very difficult to precisely compare because we are at a different property tax rate and the population does vary. But we looked at Hammond and the information that we received for Hammond is an average of $88,457 per year. We also looked at South and the average is 98,000. Columbus which has about the same population is between 75,000 and 95,000 is the average for Mishawaka which has similar population. Um here they just indicated that it falls within the 159,85 average per year. Fort Wayne is $92,57 and the Elk Park is $160,684 with an average of $94,82 a population of 53,000. So we did compare several cities and um we are requested to approve the $10,000 increase with no change in the total budget. The second budget that is attached is for the mayor's donation fund. There was not a budget that has been approved for 2025 yet. We did get a $50 donation. The $50 donation uh from the public was requested to be distributed to u some of the individuals that were affected by the storm. Currently, we are anticipating that

we'll receive about $1,500 donations this year. We have $43,970 that rolled over from last year. Of that $43,000. $25,000 was from Domino's Pizza that you all approved last year. U there was a purchase order that was established in 2024, but it was rolled over to 25 and $20,000 of the 25 was spent in January next year. So that's $5,000 left. So the entire $25,000 is part of the 43,000 that was rolled over. 25 to 26. For the budget, we're requesting $5,000 in materials, $20,000 in grants and subies, and $20,000 in mach equipment. Again, we had to put the $20,000 on equipment because that was Domino's pizza. the $5,000 that falls underneath colleagues. Thank you, Madam President. I asked and I received. Uh, thank you. I appreciate your hard work. This is exactly what I was asking for. The numbers are spot on. The variance is there, but that's expected to agree. So, thank you. I appreciate you. titles as well. Uh he listened, he responded and it's a pleasure working with administration. We move so fast. So thank you. Attorney Molina deserves all of it. So thank you. Thank you Councilman. Any other colleagues? Council attorney further

on corporation council what we how Marco works hard, works long hours, saves us so much money outside because he is a work. Um, he's great to work with. He's pleasant. He's extremely [Music] [Applause] thankful. We would love to give him more. He certainly deserves it, but um he saved us so much because of this hard work. I can't Thank you so much, Corporation Council. Thank you for your service, Attorney Molina. Um thank you to that kind soul who donated $50 for the storm victims as well. No other questions or discussion from colleagues. Roll caller. Counciloman Brown. Yes. Counciloman Cwell. Yes. Council. Yes. Councilwoman. Yes. Council Washington. Yes. Council. Yes. And President. Yes. Madam President. Thank you. With a vote of 7 to CP 2025-30 is passed and is so order. Thank you, Madam Clerk. We start with council Washington. Um, council pending ordinances and resolutions on second. Thank you. Um, Madam President, I move for passage of the following council ordinances on second read33 CP 2025-34 with planning public hearing scheduled for Thursday, May 29th at 5:30 p.m. with a public hearing scheduled for

Tuesday, June 3rd at 6 p.m. Thank you. Is it Second roll call. Yes. Counciloman Cwell. Yes. Council. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy. Yes. Council Washington. Yes. Council Wington. Yes. President. Yes. Madam President, the vote is seven to Z. with a vote of seven to zero. CPO 2025-32 33 and 34 has passed on second reading with committee meeting planning and development committee meeting held on May 29th at 5:30. We'll be here at the art house here at here at our house. We'll ask again here at our house and we'll make sure we issue a notice. Yes, madam president for passage of the following ordinances CPO 2025-31 and CPO 2025-35 on second reading with the ways and means committee meeting set for Thursday May 29th at 5 p.m. [Music] It's been moved and seconded. Roll call. Madam cler.

Councilwoman Brown. Yes. Councilwoman Cwell. Yes. Council. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy. Yes. Council Washington. Yes. Council. Yes. President. Yes. Madam President. Thank you, Madam Clerk. With a vote of seven to zero. CPO 2025-31 and CPO 2025-35 has passed on second reading. Councilwoman Brown 2024 536 on second reading was the finance committee meeting on Thursday, May 29th at 6:00 p.m. Second. Thank you, Councilwoman Brown and Councilwoman Bar for the second. It's been moved and seconded. Call Madam Clerk. Councilwoman Brown. Yes. Councilwoman Cwell. Yes. Council. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy. Yes. Councilman Washington. Yes. Council. Yes. President. Yes. Madam President, the vote is 7 to with a vote of seven to zero. CPO 2025-36 is passed. on second reading with our committee finance committee meeting on May 29th at 6 p.m. and resolutions on second. Thank you madam clerk. Any reports of our and questions of our city officials reports officials? If not, I will entertain a motion to journ.