City Council - Regular Meeting

that brought it up at Nerfcy. Uh I'm happy to report that we have a good contact in the town of Highland with uh with Councilman Shuringa uh who is also a chief in the Hammond Fire Department. Councilman Sharinga over in the town of Highland brought over Councilman Georgoff and we had a meeting. Uh also former colleague of all of ours Dan Reipe over at the Little Kim River Basin Authority decided to jump in because this concerns his area as well. Uh, and Dean, our city engineer, got favorable pricing, which is nice. Meaning, we're a bigger city. We get better pricing than the town of Highland does. We do a lot more work than the town of Highland. Uh, because of that, we get better pricing. And we took their $800,000 proposal and it's more like $350,000,

which is nice. and then town of Highland, uh, Dan Reap over there at the Little Cyan Basin Authority and the city of Hammond agreed to split it three ways. Now, the good news is INDOT is finishing their work on the bridge soon, like within the next day or so, if not maybe even today. It's finished. Town of Highland side is still shut down and pockmarked. Looks like the moon. Uh, the good news is Dean has already lined up to mill that side of the bridge on Thursday of this week. So 3 days from now they're going to grind it all down and on Friday they're going to pave it and all the interlocal agreements are being taken care of. So by next Monday a week from today the entire thing should be open and brand new. So I know it's a long-winded answer but it's done I think and I want to thank the town of Highland Councilman George off Councilman Garinga. I want to thank Dean Button city engineer Dan Reap at the Little Kat River Basin Authority and uh thank you all for staying on me about that. So, we got it resolved. That was We suffered a lot of damage uh because all the semis and everything were going into this this side that they're not supposed to go in and they just beat our infrastructure up. So, there's going to be damages that we're going to have to cover, but the good news is there's a lot of businesses back there that have a way in and a way out now. So, I brought that up last meeting. I wanted to follow up with it. I don't know if you have any questions about that.

Hi. Good work. Thank you. Thanks, Councilman. Um, so Hammond's portion is between 115 120,000 then. Yeah, right around there. And uh it's going to come from CIB, so they have the money available. Okay. Thanks. Just want to thank you and everybody involved because being in the fifth district, a lot of them businesses were concerned about having to go all the way to Kennedy Avenue. Yeah. As far as the semis and tearing up all the infrastructure there. We suffered some damage during the period of time that it was shut down.

Um good job for the town of Highland for showing us how important it was to work together. They did a good job of showing us how important it was for us to work together. We worked together. I want to thank the two councilmen again. Dan Reap stepping in to help fill fill the cracks in so to speak. Uh really good project turned out. So weather permitting a week from now we should be driving on brand new pavement over there. So with the brand new bridge. So that's good news. Uh and now I'll go through my schedule for the last couple weeks. It's been two weeks since we met. I met with the Hammond Fire Department, local 556 executive team in regards to a submission they made to an RFP for a potential downtown Hammond location. Uh I want to talk to Councilman Selenus about that as well. It's an interesting development. So, and I want to thank Michael Cole and the Hammond firefighters for putting in a great proposal. Did a radio interview with WBEZ public radio in Chicago in regards to the potential Bears moved to Northwest Indiana. This is interesting. tended the tended a reception along with Judge Marissa at Governor Mike Brown's mansion in Indianapolis. I haven't been to his mansion in 20 years. The governor's mansion. That was, if you do your math, that was Joe Kernan's last day in office. So, I haven't been there in 20 years. It looks a lot nicer now. I want to thank Governor Bond for inviting us. There was a lot of mayors there. Um, uh, Mayor Josh from Hbert was there, the other local mayor, but we talked for like 25 minutes about the Bears, just the governor and me and Marissa, and I left there very optimistic. He is bouncing around. He wants this thing done. He thinks it's, you know, so anyway, that was a nice time. Uh, it was good. Met with a potential developer about a through port about the throughport site in Hesville. I talked to Councilman Reikos about a little bit earlier. I'm not sure where this is going, but it's interesting. And it's a development that's been vacant my entire term. So, obviously, it's that's about a half a mile from homes in Hville, so we're obviously watching that situation

closely. Um, Zoom interview with WGN News regarding the potential for the Bears to move to Northwest Indiana. I met with Dennial Group's managing partners over the data center development agreement we have pending before us. I reminded them that we have a June 30th deadline. I'm not sure what to feel about it. I have a feeling we're going to be waiting until June 30th to find out what's going on, but hopefully it moves quicker than that. But we all know we have a deadline. We're sticking to the deadline. Um, if there's any attempt to extend the deadline, I think there should be financial penalties involved because quite frankly, it's time to, you know, do it or get off the pot kind of thing. So, tended to Hammond Water Company's grand opening of their new corporate offices in downtown Hammond. Uh, great office, great location. Everybody's real happy. The water department loves the building. It's big enough to handle all their staff. It's got a drive-thru. So, if you want to pay your water bills, you got to go to downtown Hammond. Now, you can see it right there off of Rimach Street. So, is it Fyet?

Rimach. Fyet.

Rimbach. Thank you. I shouldn't have dotted myself. Interviewed via Zoom by the Chicago Tribunees editorial board over the potential for the Bears to choose Hammond as their next location. Uh attended Hermit's Little League opening day throughout the first pitch. It was really a nice day. Hermit's great. It was a strike for what it matters. I mean hosted the Friendly Sons of Erands Board of Directors annual dinner at the Emerald Green. Uh this is really cool because these guys are from all over the region. You know, Lake and Porter County and Leaport County, they come once a year to Emerald Green and it was so good. I want to remind everybody out there, the Emerald Green, the restaurant was topnotch that night. Man, it's a jewel that we have in Hammond. Uh so I think it was great. I was really proud to be Hammond's mayor with all those people from all over the region and eating good food in a beautiful building. So in Robertdale attended the National Day of Prayer at the Hammond Sportslex. Great turnout, amazing food served by the students of the area Career Center.

We saved a lot of money, too. It was nice. Saved a lot of money. Had food served to us by the area Career Center students. They were super happy to do it and it was delicious. So everything turned out great for breakfast. Was nice. It was

Yes. um met with the leadership of the Hammond fire uh chiefs and captains of the Hammond Police Department for a regular monthly meeting. Met with the leadership of the Hammond Fire Department in regards to a promotion to battalion chief that I'm going to announce right now. Uh we haven't done this publicly yet, but after conducting multiple interviews I chose Tommy Marovich to become Hammond's newest battalion chief. Tom's from a big Robertdale family. Uh he's a great Hammond firefighter. He's super happy. uh should be already battalion chief by now. So, congratulations to Tommy. Uh visited Challenger Learning Center during one of our classes to observe how they interact with students on field trips. This particular class happened to be the class of my nephew from Crown Point. But, uh that Timothy Ball Elementary School did two days in a row at Challenger Learning Center. It's nice to see. And then I want to make a few announcements in the police department. We've done multiple interviews for various positions across the Hammond Police Department. I'm happy to announce the following promotions. Jeff Long, we all know, was promoted from assistant chief of police to becoming Hammond's police chief. That happened January 1st. Chris who was promoted from the captain of detectives become Hammond's next assistant chief of police. I believe I've already announced that to you all also. Now, fill in the spots that they vacated. Uh, Chief Chief God left the captain of detective spot. The captain of detectives is going to be filled by Sergeant Jason Shaffbuck. He's a sergeant in detective bureau currently. He's going to become the newest captain of detectives. He's a Hammond resident. Great detective. Uh congratulations to Captain Sha Buck. We also promoted from Sergeant in the detective bureau. James Anahan a Hammond resident. Sergeant in the detective bureau promoted him to becoming a lieutenant in the detective bureau. Congratulations to Lieutenant Anahan. We promoted Jeff Miller from Sergeant in the detective bureau to becoming a lieutenant in the detective bureau. Congratulations, Lieutenant Miller.

Promoted S Shawn Ford from sergeant in the detective bureau to becoming a lieutenant in the detective bureau. Congratulations to Lieutenant Ford. We promoted Scott Denny from master sergeant in patrol to becoming a shift lieutenant in patrol. Congratulations to Lieutenant Denny. We promoted Walter Peterson from Sergeant in the detective bureau to becoming shift Lieutenant in patrol. Congratulations to Lieutenant Peterson. We promoted Sergeant Ebie Gonzalez going from a sergeant in community affairs becoming Lieutenant in community affairs. Congratulations to Ebie. And last but not least, this is something that I think is amazing. We transferred Lieutenant Kelly Mickey from community affairs. Everybody's like, "What?" to the detective bureau to take on the role of domestic violence advocate. It's a position we haven't filled yet. We haven't had this in a long time. Kelly Mickey, as everybody knows, is a great lieutenant who's very empathetic and very personable. Obviously, in situations like this where you have a victim that maybe not want to talk to male officers, having an officer like Kelly in that role will provide invaluable resources for us. So, congratulations to all of the promotions. Uh I know you guys are considering two resolutions today. The Oh, I forgot one. Uh thank you. Uh, also going from sergeant

master,

master sergeant in patrol, uh, Rich Ray is promoted to captain of patrol, which is a great promotion. I'm happy for Rich. And, you know, he's right there in the back. So, congratulations to captain. I'm not sure if he's still going to be able to do your council meeting, so you might miss him. But, you know, he's a captain patrol, which is that's a captain of patrol is it's like a riding a horse. You get tired after a while. Sometimes you have to get off the horse. I know Rob Bunner was the captain of patrol. We're putting Rob Bunner is in as the captain of training as well. So, Rob's not losing his captaincy. He's getting a break. He's been captain of patrol for a while now. So, congratulations to Rich and everybody else that made promotions. 26R10, a resolution before you guys coming from Midwest Prairie Builders uh is to build a new dairy bell and laundrymat at 1719 through 1733 Indianapolis Boulevard in Robertdale. Uh this is a great project. I'm super happy to support uh we've proposed a traditional 10-year tax abatement is the incentive in that. I think Derryville and that part of the city is going to you're going to have lines down the street for people want to get into that. I think it's a great development. Also, it's another uh North Hammond Robertsdale development. 26R11 uh resolution of the common council approving a declaratory resolution related to the creation of a economic revitalization area. That's the new RV uh storage lot on 3518 Sheffield Avenue. We stalled out a little bit on this project, but it's back up and moving again. It's a great project. I hope you guys support both of them. Sorry about the long report. I'm available for any questions you have. And the RV place will also be a traditional tenure tax exabatement.

Thank you. Yes, thanks for asking. I should have dug that up. I didn't put it in my notes. Traditional, Councilman, it seemed like we were getting a lot of developers that were asking us for 100% 10-year tax abatements. We approved one for the crane company and I think internally we're we're pretty much done doing that. I think that's the last one outside of an extraordinary development. Okay. one that we really have to fight for. If if they don't want to take a traditional 10-year tax abandonment, I don't want to put it forward anymore. So, the last one you're going to see, unless it's extraordinary circumstances, EOCOM, the uh crane company on Calat. So, thanks for asking. Any other questions? Yes. Yes, sir. I'm sorry.

Uh wondered if the city had heard anything new from the EPA regarding the Federated Metals and the potential cleanup coming. Has there been any dialogue from them? Uh any I know there was a meeting in Whiting. I didn't attend. I was there. You were? I haven't heard anything since I got I didn't haven't heard anything either. I just wondered if the city got in any more information. No, no news is good news, but you know, I haven't heard anything. No. Any other questions? Sorry for the long report. Have a nice meeting. Good to see you. Thank you, Mayor. Okay, moving on to approval of minutes.

I'll make a motion that we accept the minutes from the April 27th, 2026 meeting and place them on file. Second. Motion by Councilman uh Selena, second by Councilman Emerson to approve the minutes of April 27th. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor? I I opposed. Minutes pass. Moving on to claims. Madam President, uh, Councilman Reikos,

I move for approval of claims and journal entries for April 23rd, 2026 through April, excuse me, through May 6, 2026. the amount of 7,755,745.75.

Motion by Councilman Reikos. Is there a second? Second. Second. Uh second by Councilman Spatali uh for approval of claims. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? Clerk Olic, roll call vote, please. Alexander, yes. Spatelli, yes. Gowinski, yes. Selenus, yes. Tyler, yes. Emerson, yes. Warpel, yes. Rinkles, yes. The Nez,

yes. Claims pass. Nine in favor, zero opposed. Um, clerk Ol, will you please make note that Councilman Tyler is now in the chambers?

Thank you. Uh, moving on to public hearings. There are none communications. Does anyone have any communications? Uh, I do. So on uh May 20th 100 p.m. the Hammond Police Department and FOP 51 will have a fallen officer memorial service at the Hammond Police Department. Uh in the in uh in case of rain, we will be moving to um uh the civic center. That's always a very moving ceremony. and I urge everyone to uh attend if they can. Uh May 13th is uh Mayor's Night Out. That's in the third district. It will be at the Hammond Sportslex uh beginning at 6:30 p.m. Also, uh there is a fundraiser, Cops on the Rooftop. Uh this is a fundraiser for Special Olympics. Uh there will be two officers on each rooftop at the following Dunkin Donuts and two officers in each drive-thru to collect donations and hand out um coupons. uh the the Dunkin Donuts at 7410 Kennedy, 7334 Indianapolis Boulevard. And I happen to know that the newly promoted Lieutenant Ebie Gonzalez will be up on the roof there. Um and uh 7935

Indianapolis Boulevard. That will be from 7 to 900 a.m. on Friday, May 15th. Uh please uh drive through, get a cup of coffee and a donut and drop off some money in in their uh in their bucket. Councilwoman, yes, M. Madame President. So, how do you get the money up to the rooftop out for them? They they have somebody at the drive-thru. It's not going to be like a bucket come down on a

Uhuh. No, you don't have to whip it up there. Although I'm sure somebody like you will give that a try. Yeah. Okay. Any other communication? Yes, madam president. Yes, Councilman.

H3 Hesville Commerce and Community Creative will having their May cleanup on Saturday, May 23rd, 9:00. They'll meet at the HC3 building 2823 Martha. All residents, students, and businesses are invited. Be light breakfast snacks in the morning and then lunch provided uh for volunteers in the afternoon or around 11:00. That's Saturday, May 23rd at 9:00. Thank you. Any other communications, Madam President? Uh yes, Councilwoman.

Um just a couple. Um the scholarship for the Hammond common council will be drawn on our next council meeting. Um if any student did not get it into their counselor, I'm going to give them until tomorrow because that's when I'll be going by to pick them up um to make sure they have an opportunity for our scholarship. And then also I want to congratulate the Hammond Area Career Center. There are eight students that had the opportunity to compete um in the Skills USA tournament and they will be traveling to the national competition um and they are of course asking for donations um and a lot of those students that have met that goal are from Hammond Central and Morton. So congratulations and we hope that we have some national champions come back for radio TV.

Thank you. Any other communications? Any other comm communications? Councilman, isn't there a parade coming? Okay. May 25th. Thank you. Go ahead.

The Hammond Memorial Day parade sponsored by the Hammond Mohawks will take place on Monday, Memorial Day. Uh lineup begins at 10:00 a.m. uh near the Roller Dome and Cavalier Inn on Gland and u steps off at 11:00 a.m. and then concludes at St. Casmer's Church with a memorial service and a flag raising and a prayer. So everybody's invited to attend the parade or put a float in the parade. Uh but most importantly come to the uh memorial service because really that's what it's for that day. Thank you. Thank you. Any other communications? Any other communications? Any other communications? Communications is now closed. Moving on to ordinance third reading final passage.

No committee reports. Committee reports. Oh, committee reports. Thank you very much, Madam President. Okay. Does uh Councilman Spatali, do you have anything to report out for the plan commission? Nothing to report. Okay. Thank you, Councilman Tyler. Madame President, the economic development committee will be meeting on Tuesday, May 26 at 5:15 p.m. Thank you, Councilman Warp. Finance. Nothing to report on finance. Although ordinance 2613 is going to be coming out for third reading and final passage.

Thank you. Thank you. Um Councilman Selenus, capital improvements.

Yes, that's correct. The capital improvement board met on May 4th and uh it was reported by our city controller Megan Moore that we have approximately about $5 million in funding. We did four funding allocations in new business and I will cover each one of them now. Funding allocation number 319. It's from 165th in Kennedy to Grand Avenue Construction Engineering to First Group Engineering in the amount of $141,000. Sorry, 141 and $100,000. Funding allocation number 320, Memorial Park utility and lot staking. This is additional services at Memorial Park that was awarded to American Structure Point in the amount of $7,900. This is for uh work that was not envisioned or included in the original contract. Funding allocation number 321, 2026 crack sealing program site services in the amount of 300,000. It was estimated about $50,000 per district. This is for our annual crack ceiling budget. Funding allocation number 322, Summer Street Lighting Repairs to Hawk Enterprises in the amount of $11,27927. This is for electrical damage to um a lighting controller cabinet uh near Columbia and Summer. It was not under warranty and it was uh one year since the initial installation. That's all I have to report from capital improvements. Madam President, thank you.

Thank you, Councilman. And as usual, I would like to read a um list of the upcoming community and crime watch meetings. Uh tomorrow or Wednesday, May 13th at 100 p.m. Community Watch at Mount Zion Pleasant View Plaza will meet uh at 100 p.m. That's always a a good one for the seniors. East Ham and Pullman Crime Watch will meet Tuesday, May 19th, 6:00 p. p.m. at the Oilia Steen Center. Harrison Park Crime Watch will meet Tuesday, June 2nd, 6 PM at the VFW on Homeman Avenue. Jefferson Crime Watch will meet Wednesday, May 27th, 6:00 p.m. at Jefferson School. Hesville Crime Watch will meet Thursday, May 21st, 6:00 p. p.m. at the HC3 Community Center on Martha Street. Irving Community Watch will meet Tuesday, May 12th, 9:30 a.m. at Irving School and the Whiting Roberts Dale Crime Watch will meet Thursday, May 14th, 6:30 p.m. at excuse me, Kelly College. Um, as always, I urge everyone to come out to a community or crime watch meeting. Uh you can get a lot of really good information. Um Lori in the front row there just had uh a meeting last week. I believe it was the what is it called now? I always call it Indie

South South Home and Avenue. Uh but a lot of really good information and great questions by uh the residents in the neighborhood. So, uh, please come out, learn what's going on in your neighborhood and the city because community is not just about me, it's about us. Madame President, yes, Councilman,

I'd like to just go back a second because there will be another economic development committee meeting for 26R-11. So, I wanted to be sure that the economic development committee was aware of that. So that uh that would be on at 5:15 on 6826 and that's regarding 26R11 which we will pass tonight but it also will have a public hearing on 622 and between now and then we're going to have a presentation by the de developer for that project at that economic development committee meeting on 6826 at 550. Okay. When was the

to So he was aware. When was the committee meeting? On 6826. Okay. At 5:15. All righty. Okay. Thank you. Any other committee reports? Any other committee reports? Any other committee reports? Committee reports are now closed. Moving on to ordinance third reading final passage

ordinance 26-13 sponsored by Councilman Warpole and ordinance creating new funds funds number 3384 3326 3327 and 3343 for municipal food and beverage tax monies. Madame President, Councilman Warple. I move for final passage and adoption of 26-13. Second. Second. Motion by Councilman Warp, second by Councilman Reikos. Any discussion? Madame President.

Councilman Warple. Back in June of 2024, we adopted and approved a 1% food and beverage tax pursuant to Indiana code 6958. Um the city controller at the request of the city controller from a suggestion from the state board accounts we needed to separate this that money into four separate accounts. So going by the numbers, the funds that he that clerk gullic read off um fund 3384 was the food and beverage DSR-m account. Fund 3326 is the food and de beverage redemption account. Fund 3327 is the food and beverage rebate fund. And fund 3343 is the food and beverage depository fund. And again, this isn't anything new. This is to further put into accounts the food and beverage tax that we passed in June of 2024.

Thank you. Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Clerk, roll call vote, please. Alexander, yes. Spatelli, yes. Kowinski, yes. Selenus, yes. Tyler, yes. Emerson, yes. Warpel, yes. Reikos, yes. Venez 2613 passes. Uh, nine in favor, zero opposed. President Venez, that concludes the ordinances for final passage. Thank you, Clerk Goolic. Moving on to introduction of ordinances.

Item A, ordinance 26-15, sponsored by Councilman Spatelli, an ordinance to appropriate funds in the hotel motel inkeepers tax fund for economic development purposes in 2026. President Councilman Spatelli move for first and second reading public hearing set for June 8th 2026 at 5:15. Second

motion by Councilman Spatali, second by Councilman who was that Emerson. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? Click roll call vote, please. Alexander, yes. Spatelli, yes. Kowinski, yes. Selenus, yes. Tyler, yes. Emerson, yes. Warpo, yes. Reikos, yes. Venez

2615 passes, nine in favor, zero opposed. Ordinance 26-16 sponsored by Councilman Kowinski and ordinance of the common council of the city of Hammond, Indiana upon recommendation of the Hammond Economic Development Commission designating a certain area within the city as an economic development target area pursuant to Indiana code 6-1. 1.1-12.1.

Madame President, Councilman Kellwinsky, I move that 26-16 pass through first and second reading be referred to the econ the council's economic development committee at 5:15 on 52626. Thank you. Do I hear a second? Second motion by Councilman Kellwinsky, second by Councilman Selenus. Uh any discussion, Madame President?

Yes, Councilman. This is we're in the process of ratifying this agreement and moving forward with a traditional 10-year tax abatement on the Boulevard in Robertsdale between 17 19- 173 where a 3500 square foot laundromat will be put up as well as a 1,000 square foot dairy bell with a drive-thru and a,200 square foot commercial building on what has been vacant property on the boulevard for a long time.

Okay. Thank you. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? Clerk, roll call vote, please. Alexander, yes. Spatelli, yes. Kowinski, yes. Selenus, yes. Tyler, yes. Emerson, yes. Warple, yes. Rikos, yes. Venez favor, zero opposed. President Venez, that concludes the ordin introduction of ordinances. Moving on to resolutions.

Item A, resolution 26R-10, sponsored by Councilman Kowinski. a resolution of the Hammond Common Council ratifying the developmental agreement among the city of Hammond, Indiana, the City of Hammond Redevelopment Commission, and Midwest Prairie Builders LLC regarding 1719 through 33 Indianapolis Boulevard, Hammond, Indiana. Madame President, Councilman Kellwinsky. I move for passage of 26R-10.

Second. Motion by Councilman Kellwinsky, second by Councilman Spatali. Any discussion? Madam President. Yes, Councilman. This is now the next step in the process and ratifying the agreement between Midwest Builders, the city of Hammond and redevelopment and the redevelopment commission for the uh Dairy Bell, the laundromat and the 1200 foot commercial building on the boulevard. Okay. Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Clerk, roll call vote, please. Alexander, yes. Spatelli, yes. Kowinsky, yes. Selenus, yes. Tyler,

yes. Emerson, yes. Warpo, yes. Rikos, yes. Vanz, yes. 26R10 passes. Nine in favor, zero opposed. Item B, resolution 26R-1, sponsored by Councilman Kowinsky. A resolution of the Hammond Common Council approving a declaratory resolution related to creation of an economic revitalization area. Madame President, Councilman Kellwinsky, I move for final passage of 26R-11. Second.

Motion by Councilman Kellwinsky, second by Councilman Spatelli. Any discussion, Madam President? Yes, Councilman. This is another development in the first district between Boy Scout Road and Sheffield at Sheffield Avenue to the west of Sheffield Avenue. Uh this is a $20 million project on about 21 acres where RV and boat storage will uh take place as well as uh uh buildings for self storage. Thank you. Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Madam President. Madam President. Yes, Councilman. Madam President.

Go ahead, Council. Yeah. While we're passing this tonight, we're going to conduct an economic council economic development committee meeting um 6826 at 5:15 where the developer will present the project to the council with pictures and answer questions. at that time as well as holding a public hearing on this project on 6226 during the council meeting. Thank you, Councilman. Thank you.

Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Cleric, roll call vote, please. Alexander. Yes, Spatelli. Yes, Kellinsky. Yes, Selenus. Yes, Tyler. Yes, Emerson. Yes, Warpo. Yes, Rikos. Yes, Venez. Yes. Uh uh 26R1 passes. Nine in favor, zero opposed. President Venez, that concludes the reading of the resolutions. Moving on to noon unfinished business. Madame President. Yes, Councilman.

I have two things. Number one, I make a motion that we move the meeting of May 25th, which is Memorial Day, to May 26th. Second. Motion by Councilman Warple, second by Councilwoman, pardon me, at 6 p.m. Okay. Motion by Councilman Warple, second by Councilwoman Alexander uh to move the May 25th meeting to May 26th. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? Cleric, roll call vote, please. Alexander, yes. Spatelli, yes. Kowinsky, yes. Selenus, yes. Tyler, yes.

Emerson, yes. Warpole, yes. Reikos, yes. Venez Yes. Motion carries. Nine in favor, zero opposed.

Uh, my second issue or thing I wanted to bring up in new and unfinished business is over the past few years, Councilman Tyler and I have heard a lot of discussion about getting 167 Street repaid from Columbia Avenue to Indianapolis Boulevard. And now that all the construction is finished, according to the capital improvements board, we're going to it's my understanding that we're going to try to get it done this summer at some point, get it repaid from that distance there. Is that your understanding, too? Correct. Yeah. And that the sports in the Y will stay within the third district.

Yeah. I'm not I I can't I can't jerrymander it now. Terrific. Yeah, that's a great improvement. Thank you. That's all I had. Okay. Any other new and unfinished business? Any president? Pardon? Madam President. Yes.

I just wanted to provide a update on Harrison Park improvements. Um, a lot of people ask about what's going on with the lagoon. We've talked about it in previous meetings, but it is being expanded. Um, both uh the width and the depth of the pond. Um, so it will actually be able to maintain wildlife. And then this week they're adding a liner so that it can retain water as well. So if you want to stop by uh see the construction going on, I'm told, um, Scott, correct me if I'm wrong, maybe about a month or so more of everything because the liner will take a few days. Um, and then they'll have to fill it up with water. I'm not sure if we'll be able to stock it this year, but um, hopefully we'll get be able to get fish in there next year. And then the second update is with the Man of Steel. For those that don't know, excuse me, this is the 50th anniversary of when the Man of Steel was uh erected in Harrison Park. And so, as part of that, we are um uh improving upon it or and planning a rededication. So, we're trying to match the color as close to the original color as possible. Uh, we had a representative from Shervin Williams donate the paint to be able to take care of that job. So, thank you to Shervin Williams. Uh, I know you probably seen the water department out there um along with some other volunteers doing some trying to clean up the statue a bit before it got painted. As of right now, that gray color that you see is just the primer. Um, and then it will be painted sometime over the next few weeks, maybe a month or so. And we'll be planning, like I said, a rededication ceremony and a ribbon cutting ceremony for the pond as well sometime later this summer. So, uh, we'll release more information on that when it gets done. Just want to thank Scott, um, you all, mayor's administration for being supportive of that project, as well as the parks department for partnering on that, too. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President. One other thing. Yes, Councilman. Do we have students in the audience again tonight? Pardon? back. You guys, we got some students back there. What you guys want to come up and say something about why you're here, what you want to do, or the How about if we do that during public expression? Whatever. I'm just being again, I'm a man of peace.

It's It's nice to see them here. Um uh any other new and unfinished business? Any other new and unfinished business? Any other new and unfinished business? new and unfinished business is now closed. There are no special zoning actions uh to be adopted tonight. So, we'll move on to public expression. Uh and I will invite you all to come up first of all. Please state your name. Yes. Tell us your name and what school you go to

and why you're here. Um, my name is Joyce Yao. I go to Monster High School and our AP government teacher, Mr. Gordon, has a project for us um called the policymaking project where we go visit a local town council meeting and then write an essay about everything you've learned. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Yeah. And then my name is Claire Pritsky. I'm also from Munster High School and here for the same reason as Joyce, but we actually had this project previously in the wintertime. And it's kind of interesting to just like see how different towns carry out their policy. Um when we were in Highland, we were at a board of zoning appeals. Me and Joyce went there together. And I just think it's really cool to see the differences between how different towns set it up and the different types of meetings. So yeah. Thank you. Thank you. My name is Andrew Koi. I'm also from Monster. I'm here to do my second witness policymaking meeting. The last meeting I went to was in Highland, so I'm just here to check out Hammond to see the difference. Hey, thank you. I could never wear that shirt, by the way.

I see your mom's favorite. I wasn't in the top three in my family. Thank you. Thank you. Alrighty. Um, our first speaker of the evening is Mary Shones. Hi, good evening. Hi.

So, I I wanted I wanted to talk to you about some concerns I had uh about I just this ongoing issue with our tax abatements because there's a link between our our tax abatements and our city's budget woes. I understand that we want to attract business to the area. However, giving a businesses a 10-year tax amnesty when our schools are having a $4 million budget shortfall is not sound fiscal practice. Uh particularly like at the last meeting, we had a um a condemnation of a property and a 10-year tax abatement in the same meeting without anyone able to publicly express it. and and Councilman Selenus, I'm going to pick on you a little bit because that industry, the crane operators, uh, pulled in, uh, according to Reference USA, $ 122.6 million. So, I think a business like that can afford well can afford to pay their fair share in the city. The the city is uh, subscribes to a policy called trickle down. And that means that we we just assume that if a business gets everything they want and they'll just gorge themselves and eventually a few scraps will fall off the table and you know we'll we'll somehow be able to uh feed ourselves off of that or maybe we'll be able to do it through sales taxes. Uh the problem with s sustaining a city on sales taxes is that uh whether you make $15,000 or $150,000, you pay the same tax rate. So people who make less income end up paying more tax in the city because that is a regressive

tax. like no matter how much money you make, you know, if you pay if you make a million dollars, you know, a 1% tax increase is not a big deal, but if you make, you know, maybe 750 an hour, it it's going to bite a little bit more. And and then on along with that too, we have an issue with uh the Bears Stadium. Uh I saw I I don't know I haven't cooperated this number but uh Mayor Johnson in Chicago is saying that the bears are worth nine billion dollars. So why are we raising why are we proposing to raise a food and beverage tax on an entity that can definitely afford to pay for their own stadium? And if they want to do business in the city so much, maybe they should support the city a little bit more. Thank you.

Does anybody want to explain what tax evaporations are? Next is George Stoya.

Robert Still.

Uh I agree with everything she said. Um, I think we give away way too much in the city. Way too much. I know you guys want to generate all that economic activity, but when's it going to cash in? I mean, we can't just give the game away and then throw all the tax burdens on hiking fees and and all that other kind of stuff on the the general population, but that's neither here or there. Um, with respect to 26-16 and the Dairy Bell and the laundromat, have you guys considered the parking problem that's going to the street? It's going to jam that whole that whole street up. Indianapolis Boulevard is crowded enough as it is at the 1700 block. You got the schools, you got 119th Street. The traffic ending coming in in and out of there. You've got it coming around from Route 12 and the uh the shopping center. I mean, now you're going to stick Derry Bell there. You guys know about Dairy Bell. I ain't going to tell you anything about that. Those lines snake out quite a bit. And what are we going to do with all that traffic? Has there been any rational consideration or oh, we got new development. Let's just stick any damn thing in there. Man, I I don't trust this reasoning at all. And then you're going to give an abatement on top of it. Hey, why not? I mean, it's our problem to clean up. It's the people that live down there and people that drive through there. They got to wrestle with that traffic jam because that's what it's going to be. A big traffic jam. That's all you're signing up for. You know that. You know that. I don't know why you're not doing anything about it, Mike. I hope you have done something about it. I hope it's in the plans this guy brings on the what is it? Next meeting or the meeting after that. Uh uh anyway, that's uh really concerned about that because I live down there amongst other things. But I'm not the only one.

Oh no, there's a lot of people down there. A lot of kids down there. You know, oddly enough, Dairy Bell's across the street from the school on what is it? 75th somewhere around there. And oddly enough, the Derry Bell's going to be near a school again about a block away if not across the street. I said, "That's strange. Derry Bell School, Dairy Bell School." and all you're doing is endangering those kids uh if if they don't have uh uh an adequate adequate way in and out of there. Not to mention the parking that you're going to need for the uh for the laundromat. Anyway, um uh what else? Um, also has the council reconsidered has it considered in light of the recent decision of uh Louisiana versus uh Cala and the ruling about the voting rights act that this further adds another nail if not stink in the heart of this city's action uh backing up Mr. Fontinez and uh and the city which has no standing as I've argued in the past in that case in federal court that's on appeal. It's still on appeal. I checked the docket. There's no case there. The Voting Rights Act, as Judge Simon pointed out, does not apply to the issue that the city and Mr. Fontinez have advanced. He said so black and white. There's no interpretation there. And we're still And we're still paying for it. I'd ask you to take a look and encourage the mayor to get the hell out of that case. It's a dog.

Thank you, George. Public expression is now closed. Motion to adjurnn. Make a motion to adjurnn. Is there a second? Okay. I want to go back to new and all those in favor real