Common Council - Regular Meeting

I want you to turn that on.

5 4 3 two Thank you. Good evening and welcome to the Gary Common Council meeting for tonight, July 15, 2025. As is our custom, we will start with prayer led by Councilman Darren Washington. Thank you, Madam President. Let us pray. Dear Lord, heavenly father, allow the words of our mouths this evening, the meditations of our heart, Lord, let them be acceptable in your sight for the growth and development of the greatest city in this United States of America, that is Gary, Indiana. In the present, in the name of our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen. Amen.

Please stand for our pledge of allegiance. [Music] I pledge allegiance 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. At this time, we'll have our roll call. Madam clerk, Councilwoman Brown. Councilwoman Caldwell, present. Councilman Hallebertton, present. Councilwoman Ivy, present. Councilman Toiver, Councilman Washington,

present. Councilman Wington, Councilman Williams, here and President Le present. Madam President, there are eight present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. With eight present and one absent, the Gary County Council has a forum to do business in the city of Gary. At this time, I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes of our previous meeting. Second.

It's been moved. It's been moved and second. Any discussion? Seeing none at this time. Roll call. Madam clerk. Councilwoman Brown. Yes. Councilwoman Cwell. Yes. Councilman Hallebertton. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy. Yes. Councilman Washington. Yes. Councilman Wington. Yes. Councilman Williams. Yes. And President Leam. Yes. Madam President, vote is 8 to zero. With a vote of 8 to zero. Our minutes from our previous men meeting have been approved and are so order. Assignment of council pending ordinances and resolutions. Madam President,

Councilman Washington, I'd like to make a motion to amend tonight's agenda for withdrawal of council pending ordinance 2025-40. I don't think we need to have a motion to withdraw. Okay. A motion to withdraw CPO 2025-40. Second. It's been moved and seconded that we withdraw CPO 2025-40. Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call, Madame Clerk. Councilwoman Brown, yes. Councilwoman Cwell, yes. Councilman Hallebert, yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Washington, yes. Councilman Wesington, yes. Councilman Williams, yes. President Leon,

yes. Madam President, vote is 8 to zero. With a vote of 8 to zero, CPO 2025-40 has been withdrawn. CPO 2025-41 in order to viewing a special use permit for property located at 1040 North Union Street to be used as a short-term rental property by petitioners Jason and Tanya Platt, sponsored by the Arizona Department. Petitioner Jason Nata Platt 1040 North Union Street Planning and Development

CPO 2025-42 and on zoning property located at 5 30 5339 West 15th Avenue here in Indiana by petitioner Robert L. Lewis sponsored by Gary Planning Commission Petitioner Robert L. Louis on behalf of Bayan Save Corporate Planning and Development CPL 2025-43 an orders for reszoning property located at 925 North Shelby Gar Indiana by petitioner Brian Luick sponsored by Gary Zoning Department petitioner Brian Luick 925 Shelby Street Indiana planning and development madam president ends assignment of opinions and resolutions thank you madam clerk councilman Washington

thank you madam president the planning and development committee has for the following ordinances for as review council pending ordinance 2025-41 2025- 20205-42 and 2025-43 for the record I approve these ordinances for reporting not to the council councilwoman Leam yes Councilman Wessington yes for the record the majority of the planning and development committee has approved the following ordinances

thank you Councilman Councilman Washington. Thank you, Madam President. The planning and development committee um reports out to the council council pending ordinance 2025-41, 2025-42 and 2025-43. Thank you. At this time, we have special elect any council members.

Councilwoman Barnes Cwell. Good evening. Uh I have several announcements for a special and select. The first one is the Katie Hall Educational Foundation Incorporated presents the Lincoln Floral Remembrance Ceremony. This will be Saturday, July the 19th, 2025 at 100 p.m. in the afternoon at the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, Springfield, Illinois. For more information, you can reach out to Katie Hall Foundation at aol.com. St. John Baptist Church Healthc Care Ministry with the MLK Memorial Baptist Convention Healthc Care Department presents Community Health Fair Wednesday, tomorrow, July the 16th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at St. John Baptist Church, 2457 Massachusetts. Reverend Dwight Gardner, Convention State President. There will be several vendors there doing health screenings and other participants. We look forward to seeing you. Please join the fifth district community forum Thursday, July the 17th at 5:30 at Roosevelt Park Pavilion, 2145 Harrison Street. Uh we our discussion topic will be apprenticeship training programs. So all are welcome to attend. We are hiring. Join our team. Gary Community School Corporation 2199853046 www.garieschools.org. We're looking for everyone. Open positions teachers, classroom facilitators, special education teachers, physics teachers, secondary content teachers,

and various support staff. Please join our team. Madame President, Councilwoman Barnes Caldwell, I would like to present boards and commissions. We have um some vacancies to fill. So, at this time, I would like to make uh to appoint to the Economic Development Commission, Thomas Olsen. That's a motion. I make a motion to second. Thank you. It's been moved and second. Any discussion?

Seeing none. Roll call. Mad clerk. Councilwoman Brown. Councilwoman Cwell. Yes. Council Hallebertton. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy. Yes. Councilman Washington. Yes. Council Wissington. Yes. Councilman Williams. Yes. And President Leo. Yes. Madam President, vote is 8 to With the vote of 8 to zero, Tom Olsen has been appointed to economic development. Yes. Corporation. Madame President, I would like to make a motion to appoint Raymond Davis for the police commission as a Republican. Second. Second. It's been moved and second. Any discussion?

Roll call. Madam Clerk, Councilwoman Brown, yes. Councilwoman Caldwell, yes. Councilman Hallebert, yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Washington, yes. Councilman Wington, yes. Councilman Williams, yes. And President Lincoln, yes. Madam President, the vote is 8 to Z. With a vote of 8 to zero, Raymond Davis has been appointed as our Republican appointee to the Gary Police Commission. Madame President, Councilwoman Barwell, I would like to make a motion to appoint Angela Lock to the school board.

It's been moved and second. Any discussion? Roll call. Madam Clerk. Councilwoman Brown. Yeah. Councilwoman Cwell. Yes. Councilman Hallebertton. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Washington, yes. Councilman Wington, yes. Councilman Williams, yes. And President Le, yes. Madam President, the vote is 8 to Z. With the vote of 8 to zero, Angela Lockett has been appointed to the advisory board of the Gary Community School Corporation and will serve as our council's appointee. Madame President,

Councilwoman Barnes Cwell. Um, I have a recommendation. I'm Well, I'm making an appointment to recommend Preston Ruby to the Transportation Board as a Republican. Second. It's been moved and second. Any discussion?

Seeing none, roll call. Madame Clerk. Councilwoman Brown. No. Councilwoman Cwell, yes. Councilman Hallebert, yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Washington, yes. Councilman Wesington, no. Councilman Williams, yes. And President Le, yes. Madam President, vote is six yes. Two. With a vote of six yes, two no. Preston Ruby has been appointed as our Republican appointee to the Gary Public Transportation Corporation Board. Madam President, Councilwoman Barnes Calwell,

I would like to make a motion to appoint Bruce McKenzie as our Democrat to the uh transportation board. Second, it's been moved and second. Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call, Madam Clerk. Councilwoman Brown, yes. Councilwoman Cwell, yes. Council Hallebertton, yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Council Washington, yes. Councilman Wesington, yes. Councilman Williams, yes. And President Leo, yes. Madam President, vote is an 8 to zero.

With a vote of 8 to zero, Bruce McKenzie is will become our Democratic appointee to the Gary Public Transportation Corporation. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Barnes Cwell. Thank you to all of those who serve on our boards and commissions and to all of those who will be serving on our boards and commission. You're the lifeblood of this community. We appreciate you volunteering your time and your talent and service to the city. Any other members of special? Council member Williams. Thank you.

Just like to make two announcements. One is that the blind social center will do their annual walk. Uh this is the blind walk Saturday, July 26. Uh so they're asking all participants to be uh blindfolded to take the challenge of uh understanding what it's like to be blind uh moving in our our community. Uh the event starts at 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the address uh the beginning of the blind social center is where the event will start at is 5195 Jefferson Street here, Indiana. If you're interested in the event, please contact one or the other number 219 980 000097. The second number is 880 5921. Both numbers are 209 area codes. The second announcement is dealing with the farmers market uh in the sixth district hosted by Christ Temple Church. Uh the church is located at 42nd and Broadway. The dates for the event are August 7th, August 28th, and September 18th. The event will start from 400 p.m. to 7:00. And this is a new uh a new event that the sixth district is taking on. This is the farmers market. Uh again, the dates are August 7th, August 28th, and September 18th. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Williams. Any other members? Specialist select Councilman Wington.

Uh yes. Uh it's a beautiful time to be the city of Gary. If you haven't noticed all the remarkable things taking place, please tune in. I say this because we have another windown Wednesday tomorrow. Uh people have been coming to this song. They say I'm pretty young. I didn't know any of music, but it was a great time. Uh I enjoyed myself. I'll just be honest with you. I know what they were singing. But uh it was a good environment, good ambiance. It's it's great to be here. DJ Heyman over here did an amazing job. Killing it. But uh thank you. So please come out. Everybody enjoy the city. It's a great time to be in the city right now. So, please tune in, you know, come to the council meetings, but come out. Come out with us. Enjoy yourself. And also, I want to give a nod to Councilman Barnes Cwell. She has a very tough job to do. So, if you see us laughing at each other, it's because I know how much effort she put into what she did. So, thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Wington. Councilman Washington.

Thank you, Madam President. Um for the public um a very important meeting is going to happen on the 24th of July. The planning commission will have this meeting regarding the roll out of the city's comprehensive plan draft. And so if you can attend this meeting um it's going to be very important. There are consultants that have been mapping out the entire city regarding planning for development in the community. I know the administration is meeting um with council persons regarding our district which is a great opportunity to give our opinion but also madam president after that presentation um I want to be able to schedule in August um for the consultants of Corey Sharp and administration to become to come before the planning and development committee um to do a presentation also for us for the comprehensive plan. So people who actually missed the meeting on the 24th will be able sometime in August to be able to look at the plans that the city has for development. So I want to give a shout out to the administration, the mayor and planning department zoning um for a great job that they're doing in putting together this con comprehensive plan. It's a draft and I think we're looking at hopefully by sometime this September we actually be able to vote on it. But I think it's a great thing that this strategy has been put in place to actually put the city of Gary on the map and also to be able to strategically plan the city for where development actually should be going forward in um in the community. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. Oh, and administration will be putting out some public information on specific details um for this meeting that's coming up on July 24th. Thank you, Councilwoman Broom. I'd like to thank council Washington for I didn't know about that. I think it's extremely important. That's one of the things that I have heard year after year after year. The city does not have a plan. So, we're finally going to have a plan and I'm very excited about it and I certainly plan to be there. I think it's very important. Thank you. Thank you. Councilwoman Brown and the mayor and the and this staff have been working

the mayor and the staff have been working diligently for the last several months to put together this plan before the community and I'm excited um to be able to see the results of what the consultants have put together for the city of Gary. Thank you. Councilman Hallebert

on behalf of myself and Councilman Large Miles Tallebert just like to thank each and everyone who came out to our second district meeting and outstanding dialogue. Also just like to acknowledge a great true legend that we lost. We had this area of service last week, Mr. Walter Monan Brown. For those who do not know him, 1980 wear that blue and orange track star. Uh he still holds the record in that relay team. and they still hold that state high school record. So we give a honor to that young man and his family and condolences behalf have a city guarant council. Thank you.

Thank you Councilman Hallebert. Councilman Toiver now. Okay. All right. Um, I would like to also give condolences to um, Rody Evans. He was a student at Lighthouse Charter Schools. He passed away about a couple weeks ago due to gun violence. It's something that we should definitely take serious in the city. Um, let our youth know that we love them and that life is very fragile and it's something that we should fight at all times. Um, I share the same sentiments that uh, Councilman Hallebertton uh, said about Mr. Monigan. Mr. Mr. out again. Um, I remember growing up, um, everybody used to talk about that Westside Relay 315. Um, when I mean to tell y'all Roland, I mean Roland, um, those four brothers have definitely left a, um, impact in the city. Um, not only was he very successful in the mile relay, but he was an extraordinary 400 runner. So, somebody that is going to be missed. Um, he's definitely a Westside legend and he's also a member of the Indiana Track and Field Hall of Fame. So, it's definitely a badge of honor. Um, and he's definitely means a lot to the city. Um, I would like to give a a citation, Madam President, if I may.

Thank you, Councilman Toiver.

Um, can Albert Evans please come up to the front? Madame President and to my colleagues, today I'm going to give a official citation to honor and recognize Albert Evans. Um, I call him Edna's own community champion. Um, as Gary Common Council always deems it a pleasure to recognize outstanding citizens who have distinguished themselves in the Gary community. And Albert Evans, a proud 35-y year resident of Gary, Indiana, has dedicated his life to service, leadership, and community upliftment. A former collegiate athlete and NFL free agent, Albert brings the same discipline and drive from the field into every endeavor he takes on. and holding a ma master's degree in leadership. Albert has spent over a decade mentoring young people as a high school coach, helping shape future leaders both on and off the field. Professionally, he has he serves as a pharmaceutical district manager where he leads teams with integrity and resultsdriven focus. He serves as a president of Kiwan Shorts Charities. Through his role, he has organized free football camps for youth across Lake County and personally delivered hundreds of Thanksgiving meals to families in Gary and East Chicago. And he is a committed mentor. Albert continues to train local athletes pro bono, pouring back into the community that raised him. His efforts extend beyond sports. He has also led school supply drives, clothing giveaways, community days throughout Gary, especially in his beloved and the neighborhood. Albert E Albert Evans stands as a true example of leadership through action, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the people of

Gary. So now, therefore, let it be known that I, Miles Toiver, Councilman at large, and the members of the Gary Common Council and the entire Gary community are proud to honor and recognize Albert Evans. His many contributions have greatly enriched the lives of others. So again, we wish him Godspeed in all his future endeavors. I want to say something about Albert. Um, Albert means a lot to me. He was one of my dad's former students. I also grew up with Albert. Um it was amazing to see the things that that Albert has done in our community. Whether he's sitting at the abandoned um car wash with signs uh in front of his cars and Paula telling people we have to do better in our community or is he if he's doing school drives um in the Ed community or he's putting on a wonderful safe event in Edna which he did during the 4th of July where he spent his own money for fireworks um jumping pads. I mean, it was just a it was a beautiful event where everybody felt safe. You could bring your children and I'm glad to call you my friend. Um I'm glad that you are somebody the kids can look up to. Um I never forget when you told the kids that you sold drugs and all the kids was like, "What?" And he was like, "No, I'm a pharmaceutical rep." And they started to look at things a different way. And also showed that if you put your mind to something, you can do it. You know, I I used to show my students too that it was a guy from Gary that had billboards across Lafayette, football player. It's a guy that was a free agent for the Miami Dolphins. So, greatness comes from all of our communities and um I'm glad that we were able to give this to you. Um I know the work isn't done. You going to keep on working, but I'm glad to uh fight alongside of you and keep on fighting a good fight. And Gary loves you and I know my colleagues are proud of you also. So, let's give God

[Applause] I don't know. No words. um wasn't planning on speaking to M just asked me to. But um I would just like to say thank you uh to the community. Um first off to my mother uh Kesha whoever she over there. Uh any idea or event that I come up with um my right hand is my mother to make all those things um come to fruition. um my lady Kathleen over there. Um anytime I'm doing an event, especially at the house, she just looks at me. Uh cuz we having people over again. But uh I I appreciate you guys. I appreciate my family. I appreciate, you know, everyone what you guys are trying to do in the city uh to bring some life back to it. Like I told Miles, reach out to me with anything I can help with. Um he been trying to pull me your way for a while, so maybe not DeFi, but I'll support anything y'all got going on. Um, I just appreciate you guys and thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. And let the record reflect that Councilman Miles Toiver is present at our meeting. Thank you so much for that. And thank you, Mr. Evans, for all that you do and everything that you do. Thank you. Any other any other council members for specialist select? Madam President, Councilwoman Barnes Cwell, may I go back to boards and commissions and announce that those appointments are effective immediately? Thank you.

Thank you. Um, I do have just a few things on. Uh, 90 years ago today,

my father, Clarence Everett Peterson, was born the ninth child of of Gary of Gary and James Peterson. I'm right here in Gary, Indiana at St. John's Hospital. So, I want to wish my father a very happy 90th birthday. Um, I would also like to um invite our community to help support our Gary youth who play baseball. Um, the Gary RBI, which stands for reviving baseball in inner cities. Um, is a Major League Baseball is Major League Baseball's attempt to get more inner city boys and girls playing baseball and softball. and our team has been invited to compete in the Nike RBI tournament in Kansas City, Missouri July 24th through the 27th. Um, anyone who's ever had a kid in youth sports understands how expensive it is when your kids win. Um, I'm also reminded how expensive it is when your kids are losing, too. So, we we want to make sure that we're supporting our kids who are winning. Anyone who wishes to donate can go to the Gary RBI social media pages and find their GoFundMe account. Um, let's help our Gary uh youth get to the Nike RBI tournament in Kansas City, Missouri. Um, I also have a spe I also have a special presentation tonight. Um, the committee members from Fest and the First, Jesse Renow is here. I would like for us to congratulate the committee of Fest and the First. Um they won an award from the American Planning Association Indiana chapter. It's the best grassroots initiative at the American Planning Association, the Indiana chapter. And we have a a video.

Can you turn lights off back there? Thank you.

Can we turn the sound on? This year's festival showcased the 21st annual fest was a vibrant celebration of Gary, Indiana's first district, bringing together residents, businesses, and visitors for a day of joy and long-term impact. This year's festival showcase the resilience and creativity of the community. Featuring 25 local vendors, 12 foods trucks, 20 nonprofits, 10 artists, and five hours of live performance highlighted. A key component of the fest was integrating outreach efforts for three planning projects impacting Gary. Roughly 1,500 people attended the event and gave feedback to the Gary Safe Streets Roads for All Safety Action Plan team comprised of Sam Schwarz, the Gary Public Transportation Corporation planning manager and the Decay Devils volunteers for their plan to repurpose Union Station. Notably, one of the most diverse communities within Indiana, Miller Beach offers a unique opportunity for planners to engage with the public and have meaningful discussions. Congratulations to Nexus strategy and implementation and the volunteer office for community accessibility resource and training with their honorable mention for grassroots effort for the fest in the first impact report. Thank you media Jessica Rinsow is here to talk about um the award but also make the announcement for our upcoming best in the first. Congratulations and welcome.

Hi everybody. Can you hear me? He's on. Okay. Um, thanks for having us here. Uh, Fest in the First is celebrating its 22nd year this year

and it celebrates Etna, Glenn Ryan, and Miller. Um, Emerson went to the fourth district now before they were part of it. Um, but they're more than welcome to come. Uh, it celebrates all things first district related and Gary wide. We want to welcome any nonforprofits that serve Gary and Indiana and the greater northwest Indiana community, especially family oriented to come. There's free tables available. We also have a need for vendors if they're interested. Very affordable um vendor fees. And we are looking for volunteers. This is a great volunteer opportunity. You got one day you want to donate some time to, this is this is it. And I want to introduce you to two ladies who are helping organize this year. here and I'm passing the torch over to them because when I started helping organize uh Pres the First, I was not a mom. And now I've got a four and a 14-month-old. So, I have a little book these days. I've got Julia Gibbs from the Miller Beach Arts and Creative District and Gretch and Sip from Vogart.

Thank you.

All right. Well, thank you all for having us here. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for the council for giving us some time to speak about this in the first um I have been a committee volunteer for quite a while. I was there when um the first district has actually passed it to us. So this was actually something that was done by the first district and they allowed for they gathered funds but it was a way to showcase the beauty in Gary. Now, we are working in tandem with the arts district as well as other businesses to make sure that this is a successful event. We do celebrate the office. We celebrate business. We celebrate health. We celebrate family and fun. We invite the city always to come. Last year, we had an amazing turnout. The city supported in a great way. They even provided us with the safe house. And that was such an interactive experience for families and our community members to learn about fire safety. We really appreciate that we have the support of our city as far as backing us up to make sure this is wonderful. One of the things that the American Planning Association really loved was that this was community run. It was community run while it was city sponsored and backed. And so that's what we ask for is that the city continues to back us up to make sure that we can provide wonderful, fun, familyfriendly experiences for everyone. The whole city is always invited. A lot of times we get, you know, some flags because it's first district, but it's everyone. before we've had live artists from all around the city actually doing interactive art and also doing uh community things such as we've had food trucks, we've had entertainment, all of those things. So, we bring them all just to that hub and we celebrate life and community in the first

I'd love to.

Hi, everyone. Thank you. I'd like to introduce myself. I'm the executive director of Miller Beach Arts and Creative District and it's um a big responsibility to take on the mantle that Jesse Renow is stepping away from, but luckily I have Gretchen here to continue the work. We're really excited to be now hosting Fest in the First. We feel like it's an incredibly important festival for our district and the city. We offer a day of free activities for families and individuals to come out and just enjoy community arts and everything that has already talked about and we so appreciate your support. I'd like to point out that I've brought flyers today for anyone who would like one. They're at the desk. We are looking to represent any nonprofit that would like to come out and talk about what they do. We have space for you. We have space for youth groups to perform. We have space for vendors and artisans to come out and and show their wares. So, please reach out to us. We're really excited to have people from Perry represent the things they do best at our festival. So, thank you very much.

Thank you. And thank you all for all you do. September 20th, best in the first 2025. If none of my other colleagues have anything else for special and select, we'll move on to public comment.

Oh, we can do now. Attorney Molina, at this time before we get to special and select, um, in accordance with CPR 202414, colleagues, um, the Gary County Council is to receive proposals for the guaranteed savings contracts. Um, and we're seeking proposals for conservation measures for guaranteed savings contracts. Um, the deadline for those to be submitted is today, Jan, was today, January 15th, I believe, at 4:00. I'm sorry, it's July, it's not January, July 15th. Um, and uh, according to the ordinance, it's the council that receives and opens the packages. So, Attorney Molina, if you want to talk about that and then our attorney um Williams will open the packages and then we'll surrender them to you for review.

Thank you, President Leam. Uh good evening, council members. Uh as uh President Leam uh stated, CPR 2024-14 was a measure uh pursuant to which the council authorized uh the city to begin uh looking at a guaranteed energy savings contract. Um that resolution required the board of public works to publish notice as required by law for these type of contracts. Uh the board of works did do that publishing notice on May 30th, 2025 and June 6, 2025. Uh which in compliance with Indiana statute uh was more than 30 days before today's meeting. Uh pursuant to the RFQ uh notices that went out uh today at 4:00 was the deadline. Uh we have received some. So I brought to the council uh what we have received as responses at those RFQS uh pursuant to the RFQ uh that was put together. Um the target date is today is just opening uh to see who uh made a response and then we are targeting August 5th as a time to select um again that's just a target date but to select someone uh of the applicants uh and then pursuant to the RFQ if if an applicant is selected the goal is to have a contract within 15 days after that uh negotiated. So uh with that I I submitted those to uh uh the council. They are still sealed and ready for the council to open at today's meeting.

Thank you, Attorney Molina.

Thank you, Attorney Molina. Pursuant to the aforementioned state statute, we will uh declare the admission of the RFQS as follows. Leopardo received July 15th at 2:15 p.m. I will open simply to assure that this is from Leopard. I'm an evil skeleton. If anybody want

uh I will confirm that this package is from Leopardo. Uh request for qualifications again dated July 15, 2025. The second package is for Very. I assume I'm pronouncing that right. It indicates that it too is received July 15th at 2:18 p.m. Again, for the purposes of verification, the package is indeed from vari responding to RFQ of the city of Gary guarantee energy savings contract. Uh the final one is from Optera Energy Services. It indicates that it was received on July 14th at 11:33 a.m. Wow. I may because that's our indicator.

Okay, for the record, this is from Optera Energy Services. Again, responding to the guaranteed energy service contract. Uh we will um submit these to the city for further review. Uh but we certify these three responders did respond timely in accordance to the requirements of the RQ. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Attorney Williams. At this time, we'll have our public comments. We have seven people signed up to speak, six people signed up to speak. Let me remind you that you have two minutes to speak tonight. Um, we don't engage in question and answer or back and forth, but you're welcome to leave your comments. There are members of the administration who are here who can answer any questions or give you feedback on your comments if that is something that you so desire. Our parliamentarian Linda Barnes Codwell will be keeping time parliamentarian Councilwoman Linda Barnes Cwell

will be we'll be uh keeping time. We'll begin with Raymond Davis, followed by Penelopey Love and then Celinda Harris. If you all could approach the podium in that order. Welcome, Mr. Davis.

Good evening. Good evening, Madam President. Again, um I'm Raymond Davis of the second district. Um first, I wanted to make a comment, a couple comments basically. Uh first I attended the meeting on 617 um where we acknowledged um the code enforcement team of Gary um and the and the uh 311 app. Um they had we got a lot more um you know people in service and doing uh out there with code enforcement. I'm proud to say that I uh put in a request and that request was promptly uh acknowledged and taken care of. Um, and that was something that was a problem for 3 years in my in my neighborhood and it was taken care of in 3 weeks. And I'm so uh grateful that uh we are moving in the right direction in that area. Uh, my second comment is uh to uh the council and uh and uh Councilman Cwell, thank you for your um appointment to the Gary uh police commission. Again, I plan on serving the citizens uh because safety is paramount in our city and I'm grateful uh to be able to serve on that. And I would also like to thank publicly uh for the Gary GOP, other appointments of Tom Olsen and Preston Ruby as well. So, we thank you and we looking forward to serving the Gary community and working closely with this council. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Davis. Mrs. Penelope.

Good evening, honorable council members. I'm Penelope Love. I'm the an 11-year resident of the Etna Mana community and I am here representing the following Marcela Amos, Colette Bannet, Philip Burks, Charles Jones, Sharon Jones, Joey Kick, Drew Smith, Edward Smith, Morris Stokes Jr., David Sudter, Robert Walker, Dennis Walton, Joyce Anderson, Anita Ballard, Michael Ballard, Kevin Blackwell, Cherry Campbell, Dartha Camper, Olivia Octavia, excuse me, Chase, Calvin Cington, Melie Davis, Drayton, Phyllis Drayton, Albert Evans Jr., Deborah Grey Bowie, Thomas Green, Homer Holmes, Gloria Hopkins, Arte Ivy, Melvin Jackson, Daryl Johnson, Mars Johnson, April Lawrence, Saddon Long, Daryl Love, Dean McBreer, uh Raymond McCoy, Ruthie McAuen, Thomas Miller Jr., Michael Neto, Frederick Nolan, Veronica Pinying, Jennifer CE, Betty uh Sturden, Derek Taylor, Katherine Tilman, Pascara Velasquez, Shaina Walker, James Walton, Karen Wesley, Lynette Williams, Thomas Williams, Denise Winters, Marjorie Woodward, Woodyard, summer residents of Edna for over 50 years, and I'm representing them as part of a cohort that is uh actually proposing the demolition of the Edna Elementary School to construct new homes on the premis for retirees. The purpose is to provide luxury upscale living in low to no maintenance energy efficient homes in Gary to make the Edna Mana community a more desirable place to live improving its appearance by eliminating the biggest blight to increase revenue into the city while also reducing recurring maintenance fees for the occasional maintenance of the property. the plan for the city to include in its comprehensive plan the repurposing of this school and the site along with its green spaces for the construction of these new homes and to share the funding

of this project for the Lake County Commissioners to demolish the school having proposed several years ago that such could be done using discretionary funds. Thank you, Miss Love. Thank you, Miss Linda Harris. I don't see her anymore. Miss Don Dareno.

Welcome, Miss Darcel. Just a reminder, two minutes to speak. I'm Don Daro, and I want to thank you for talking about the Wednesday windown because that's what I want to talk about. It has come to our attention that there will be a parking fee. Now, I'm not here to complain about it, but it's the matter in which you intend to collect that that is a concern. They want us to put an app on our phone and pay with a credit card. I know a lot of seniors enjoy this wind down Wednesday. And some seniors don't have that type of cell phone. They just have a phone you can make phone calls on. So I think if you make it easier on us, we're not complaining. We'll go along with what other city wants. But we want to do it make it easy for us. I'm speaking for just the seniors I talked to at Marquette the other night. So, if we could come to city hall and pay you in cash or credit card, they'd be very comfortable with that. They might even buy the annual pass. But to pay by the hour at the gate with your cell phone, they don't know how to do that and they're admitting to it. I'm somewhat computer literate, but a lot of my friends are not. So, don't tell seniors to pay with an app on their cell phone because they don't know what you're talking about.

But again, uh we're very comfortable with that affair. It's attended by a lot of seniors and um I see people out that don't go out. So, thank you again for having the affair and please work with us. Oh, one more quick question. Are you collecting tomorrow? Are you going to be collecting a parking fee tomorrow? I spoke to Mike Subs about it a little bit at that uh district meeting. So, um our chief of staff Ellis Dumis is here and can answer that question. Then I just wondered if you collecting tomorrow cuz you are collect. How are you going to collect if these people don't have an app? We can talk in the back. I don't want to answer. I just want to if you can tell me how you're going to do it. Thank you so much, Miss Darren.

Thank you. I'm sorry. Uh Jim Nwacki followed by Arman Bowware. Uh just boware. No. Okay. And I think Jessica Rinsow has also left. So, last but not least.

Yes. Good evening, Madam President, members of the council. My name is Jim Noaki, and very proud that my uh my oldest daughter has bought a house and is now a proud homeowner uh in East Chicago, Indiana. And as a her proud father, as her proud father, um I spent the last u I spent several days every week for the last several months doing dad things around the house. And uh I was um I wanted to come to council with a uh with a with my uh impressions about some of the differences from East Chicago and Gary in the circumstances of um uh having the house being cleaned out, bringing debris out to the alley, having excess garbage, etc. things like that. Uh it required a phone call to public works in the city of city of East Chicago and uh within days the debris was removed from the alley uh not just from my property or not just from my daughter's property but from properties up and down the alley. And I was surprised to learn that this was not uh because uh they were impressed with me or I had some influence or uh anything any uh uh it was because that was the way that the city operates. The city provides a basic service to the residents and the purpose of that basic service is not uh simply to um uh uh uh collect accolades, but it's to keep their city clean and tidy. And if you drive through alleys in East Chicago, you can't help but be impressed that the alleys are clean from one end to the other. Not just one alley. This is not like the best neighborhood in the city, but in every neighborhood in the city,

and I made a point to look for that. I could not find debris in an alley in East Chicago. Thank you, Mr. Even though I look for it, I'd have no trouble in Gary, Indiana, but I think it's something we should Thank you, Mr. Bowware.

Yes. Thank you uh for giving me the opportunity. Uh uh thank you all council. I just wanted to come up and share some uh positive remarks on the city of Gary. Uh definitely appreciate the down payment assistance program that the city's been facilitating. Uh that as a real estate broker that's been helping to bridge the gap for a lot of new home buyers in the city of Gary. Uh when we're approaching um uh dealing with new construction that is up and coming in Gary and also dealing with some of the high-end rehabs and renovations in the city of Gary. So definitely appreciate that. I would like to um recommend that we endeavor to find some funds that lend themselves not only to down payment assistance on single family homes but also multi-unit properties in the city of Gary which is a upand cominging market as well. Um other than that thank you all for all your service.

Thank you Mr. Bowman. I believe that is the last person who was signed up for public comment. And we don't have any council pending ordinances and resolutions on third or final. Any reports, questions of city officials?

Oh, I'm sorry. I skipped it. Council pating ordinances and resolutions on second reading. CPO 2025-41, an ordinance review of viewing a special use permit for property located at 1040 North Union Street to be used as a short-term rental property by petitioners Jason and Tanya Platt. Sponsored by the Arizona Department, Matitioner Jason and Tanya Plant, 1040 North Union Street, Gar, Indiana,

CPL 2025-42, an ordinance for reszoning property located at 5339 West 15th Avenue, Gary, Indiana by Petitioner Robert L. Lewis, sponsored by the Gary Plan Commission, petitioner Robert L. Lewis on behalf of Buy and Save Incorporated CPL 2025-43 an ordinance for reszoning property located at 925 North Shelby Gar Indiana by petitioner Brian Luick sponsored by Gary Zoning Department petitioner Brian Luick 925 Shelby Street here Councilman Washington

thank you thank you Madame President I move for passage of following council pending ordinances on second reading CPO PO 2025-41, CPO2, 2022-42, and CPO 2025-43 with a planning and development committee meeting hearing scheduled for Tuesday, July 22nd at 5:30 p.m. with a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, August 5th at 6:00 a.m.

Second. It's been moved and second that CPO 2025-41-42 and-43 pass on second reading with a planning and development committee meeting on July 22nd at 5:30. Roll call. Madam clerk, Councilwoman Brown, yes. Councilwoman Cwell, yes. Councilman Hallebertton, yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Toiver, yes. Councilman Washington, yes. Councilman Wington, yes. Councilman Williams. Yes. And President Le. Yes. Madam President, vote is nine to zero. With a vote of 9 to zero, CPO 2025-41,42 and 43 pass on second reading.

Madam President, as pending orders and resolutions on second reading. Thank you, Madam Clerk. And now at this time, are there any reports or questions of city officials? Welcome, Chief of Staff. Ellis do. Good evening, Madame President, esteemed counsel. This is on. Can you guys hear me? Okay. Is the button? It is pressed green. Get closer. Now it's red. I'll just hold it.

Um, just wanted to uh make sure we share with the general public. Um, our Giri Police Department is hiring. Uh we are encouraging any individual that feels that they are capable to step up to the challenge to please apply with the Gary Police Department. We are doing something different. We are having a open house on July 24th. That will be from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the public safety building 555 Poke. That is to uh share with individuals who may be interested or if you're just a citizen and want to know uh what's inside the Gary Police Department. What do they do? learn about the SWAT team and the drone flying and our beach patrol and all the different departments that you can be a part of. Um, again, that's July 24th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 555 Poke in the City of Gary. Um, August 2nd, we will have our back to school uh event sponsored by the city of Gary uh led by uh first lady Crystal Milton. Um, this is in collaboration with our entire city. We are giving. Last year we gave away over 1500 book bags. We gave away brand new shoes uh donated by Puma. We gave away gift cards from Shoe Carnival and all of our other partners come along and provide school supplies, physicals, haircuts, hairds, nails, food, everything. Um we are encouraging the general public to come out. However, we have to make sure that you understand you have to bring a ID. It is for Indiana residents and Lake County residents to be more specific. You do not have to be a Gary resident, but because of this, you have to use you have to be within the state of Indiana by uh some of our donors who provide the support. It will be at the Railcat Stadium. You can find more information about that on our website. August 9th and 10th. Um I know our council shared it uh several times, but come and enjoy the lovely air show right here in Gary, Indiana. We will have the wonderful

Thunderbirds this year and you can come out and enjoy the uh air show on August 9th and 10th. And then uh also our national night out will be August 5th. That is a Tuesday night from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Railcat Stadium. Um and as Councilman Witson and everybody just indicated, we will have our wind down Wednesdays this Wednesday. As in tomorrow, we will have a city winery performer in uh Fly Girl, Fly Bird and the Family Band, as well as DJ4 Red as our DJ. It is going to be a great time. We do have to make sure we put an emphasis. You This is not a BYOB event. It's not.

It is not a BYOB event. And if you bring your own bottle, you're gonna get put

you gonna get you might even get arrested because it's against excise police rules to have your own liquor at the event because we are licensed to distribute liquor responsibly and safely. So we encourage everybody we will have a cash bar available for anyone to enjoy. We made sure we increase the types of wine by request of some of the patriots. But again, it is not BYOB. We definitely want to show some grace in that and we appreciate the grace of the ExS police, but we do not want to lose our license because of that. So, if you do so, we will have to take uh proper steps. So, again, come out and enjoy a good time though. Um, and we'll be able to address it. I did hear the question about parking. Um, and we will work through that. We did offer we do offer a Gary resident parking annual permit. It is half the cost of the annual permit for non-Gary residents. It is $75 for the entire year. And with our parking and approved parking that we've gone to, understand that we are not stopping the season from our lovely guest and residents enjoying the beach. Um so the parking is for the full year. $75 for Gary residents, 150 for non-Gary residents. and that will prevent you from or uh prevent you from having to do the park mobile. But for the senior citizens, again, I'll talk to you outside about how we can work through that. And on for those that are there that night, our lovely staff at the parks department will be standing outside as they did um at our last wind down Wednesdays to help any senior work through Park Mobile and even assist with that. Um so, they are there. We try to make sure we're accommodating um every single resident or visitor of our great city. And the last thing I just want to say is food truck Fridays. Food truck Fridays. The next one will be July 25th. If you did not make the last one, you missed the treat. It was amazing. A great time downtown, trying to make sure

we bring all of our citizens to have a vibrant downtown. This uh coming up Friday, next Friday, excuse me, the 25th, going to have a bit of a surprise. You do not want to miss it. Everybody has talked about this surprise uh and they've seen it other places, and so it was a great treat to have this person come in. uh as they donate their time and talents. Um so you don't want to miss it. We even are throwing in to where you can participate in this surprise at no additional cost to you. So uh just the city of Gary continue to trying to provide safe and great experiences throughout the summer and throughout the entire year for our residents because our residents deserve it. We appreciate the council for working with us and supporting us and giving all the great ideas um in regards to these events. Um, this is going to be something that you don't want to forget and I'll save all the attention for the amazing Jackson block party. If you have not seen uh the flyer, please go check it out on our website. It speaks for itself and we are looking for an amazing time. Um, outside of that, uh, I look forward back to the council.

Thank you so much, Chief of Staff Dumis. Any questions of our city official hearing? Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion for German. Councilman Washington

wasn't going to say anything, but I have to. One thing that I do know is that as Councilman, although all of us represent the Democratic Party, we represent everybody in this entire city, whether you are Democrat or Republican. So, I just want to for the record remind the young man that came up here today. And although we love Linda Barnes Cwell, and she's a true advocate, champion, and mother on the council, remember she wasn't the only one that voted for those appointments. It was council members who voted. So instead of coming up here only thanking our lustrious fifth district councilman, it would be good for solidarity and working together that you remind yourself to thank all of the councilmen who voted for you to be on those commissions. With that being said, I second your motion for a journ.

So move Yeah. Okay. All right. All right.