Common Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. The time is now 6:36 p.m. I will call the March 18th, 2026 meeting of the common council to order. Um, could everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the stands. One nation with liberty and justice for all. I would like everyone's attention if we could have like a short prayer for uh one of our former um former community and leaders and also he was a council person Mary at home. We'll have a short moment of silence. Amen.

The next agenda item is roll call members and the termination of quorum. Let the record reflect that we have eight eight counselors present and that we have a quorum. This meeting has been properly noticed in accordance with the indo Indiana open door law. Copies of the agenda are located at the side of the room. Um for any citizens wishing to speak during citizens comments, please use the sign sheet located at the side of the room. The next agenda item is comments of council members and special recognitions and resolutions. Do we have any comments this evening? Right. I will continue with the next agenda item which is the approval of minutes from the regular meeting of March 2nd 2026. Are there any questions or corrections to the minutes? I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 2nd, 2026. So move

councelor James. Thank you councelor Robinson. Any further discussion? Now proceed with the vote. All those in favor please signify by saying I. I. All those opposed, please signify by saying nay. Oops. We'll proceed with the roll call vote. Yes. Zach Kramer. I Robinson. Yes. Payment. Yes. Jennings. Hi. Councelor Cron. Hi. Counselor. Boy. Councelor Mer.

Yes. as well. Let the record reflect that we have an 8 to zero and just to approve the minutes. The next agenda item is reports of committees. Do we have any reports from committees this evening? We'll proceed with unfinished business proposal number three, 2025. Madame Cler, could you please read the title of that ordinance into the record? Proposal number 3, 2025, an ordinance of the common council of the city of Lawrence, Indiana, amending title one, article 2, chapter 5 of the code of ordinances of the city of Lawrence, Indiana. This proposal remains before the committee the whole for consideration and we'll come back to the council when appropriate. The next agenda item is unfinished business proposal number one, 2026. Madame clerk, could you please read the title of that ordinance into the record? Proposal number one, 2026, an ordinance of a common council of the city of Lawrence, Indiana, amending title one, article one, chapter 2, section 12 of the municipal code regarding common council approval on expenditures of professional service contracts.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. That proposal remains before the code committee for consideration and recommendation to the council and will brought back when appropriate. Proposal number one was sent to committee of the home committee of the home and proposal number three was sent to public safety. Yes, Mr. President. Yes. Did I hear that the proposal one is going to be before the whole council? Is that what the council said? Committee of the

Committee of the Committee of the Yes. That'll be scheduled for the the April meeting before the next meeting. Yes. Hopefully the um remediation at the office will be completed. Councilman, Councilman, would you like to also set up your meeting in the same day?

Yes. Okay. The next agenda item is new business 26 zone 01 812145th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46226. 26 zone 1 was notice for hearing on a for the Indiana Open Door section um 531. We will conduct a public hearing and we'll vote to the side of the council make a favorable recommendation. favorable recommendation or no recommendation for the Metropolitan Development Commission would sh then we make a re a recommendation and certify it to the city council. Madam clerk, will you please read the petition number and property address?

Uh petition number 26-V N-01 81214th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46226. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The public hearing is now open. Council, before we begin the hearing, I'd like to ask uh for a motion to approve the following rules governing our public hearing. The petitioner's presentation must not exceed 10 minutes. The combined total time for all members of the public in favor is 10 minutes. The combined total time for all members of the public against is 10 minutes. Petitioners shall have 5 minutes thereafter for any additional comments. And there shall be a combined five minutes for all me members of the public speaking and response. Do I have a motion to approve those rules? Move.

Thank you, counselor. I have a second. We'll now proceed with the vote. All those in favor of the rule set forth, please signify by saying I. All those opposed signify by saying name. All right, those rules have passed. Um, anyone wishing to speak tonight, please stand and raise your hand uh your right hand. Do you swear to affirm that the testimony that you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Thank you. The floor is now open for the petitioner to present this reszoning petition to the common council.

Thank you, council members. For the record, my name is David Gilman. I'm a land consultant and my address is 21 South Avenue, Indianapolis 46219. I have with me Jeffrey Linard. He is the owner. I'm also the owner of JR Mville LLC for this property. I've given each of you a presentation with five tabs. I'm going to go through each of them and explain those slides to you and then at the end I'll open up the engine of this. So in the first tab you'll see a zoning map. It's the existing zoning with a portion of our site that is zoned D5 residential and the remaining portion of our site is C5 commercial. As this site sits today, it's legally established as a non-conforming building and non-conforming use and would require this resoning to cure or resolve the land use defects. There's really no zoning history on how the residential zoning got to this site. I personally looked at the aerial photographs back in the early 1970s and I've never seen where a home sit on this lot and that's what it appears to at a first glance that this was an old home site. Um the commercial building was constructed on this site as zone D5C5 from somewhere about 2004 to 2006. Um, as you know, the site is adjacent to the west to the new township offices and the area um, this whole immediate area south of 45th Street is recommended for commercial use by your township or your comprehensive land use plan. The second slide in that first tab, this is um again a zoning map. The south side of 45th Street is zone SU9 for the township offices and then commercial for the

remaining of the immediate area. Everything in pink is zone C5 commercial. Everything in tan is zone residential. The staff has asked that we give consideration to provide some transitional use and consideration for the SU township offices adjoining us to the west and the homes that would adjoin us on the north side of 45th Street. We've made adjustments. We provided written commitments that we hope will address the staff's concerns. The first slide in tab two. This slide is an aerial map of the property in the immediate area. As I mentioned, the newer township offices are our neighbor to the west and then we have heavy commercial slash lightindustrial uses to our east. The site we feel will provide a good transitional use given the developed area and provide a needed landscape and buffer area that's required by ordinance where it is absent now or was never installed along 45th Street. The second slide in tab two, this is the frontage of the existing building that's on the property. As you can see, the overhead doors presently face the street and the residences with the proposed resoning and our new commercial building. These street facing doors would be blocked from public view. Please notice the white privacy fence that was constructed with the township offices in the photograph. We will have a new row of landscaping that we'll install along that split row portion of the fence to screen the existing parking lot. The third slide in tab three or I'm sorry, third slide in tab two. This is just a view west of our site of 45th Street. We see the parking lot on the left of the township offices,

residential across the street, and then the fire station with the red doors is further in the distance, further west. The next slide in tab two, the opposite direction looking east, our joiner to the immediate east and then light industrial building further in the distance view. And obviously again residential uses to our north and immediately across where that white truck is that entrance drive is to a small um religious use. Tab four slide one. This tab is an aerial map with the proposed building located on the site. Our proposed building will align with the existing building to our east. But most importantly, we will have no parking or outdoor activity facing 45th Street. Again, we believe we propose a good transitional use in a site plan that will provide necessary buffering and enhance the street view. The next slide in the tab is our site plan. The site plan provides the required landscaping per the ordinance to buffer those homes across from us in the church on 45th Street. Um the solid line on the site plan depicts the 6T solid opaque fence that was installed by the county by the township offices. We will wrap around our landscaping to meet that solid fence by the split road, which is not required by workings, but we think it would also um enhance uh the street view of 45th Street. The next tab, this is just our adjoining to our immediate east. We hope that our development will set a good example on how you can do things to protect the residential homes on the north side of

45th Street. Our drive, as you can see, will be in the photograph. We will resurface that along with our paved parking to our new building. The first slide in tab 4, this was the original rendering that we brought forward um to the staff um of our building and our evergreen trees along 45th that would provide year-round screening. We were asked to um dress up the building, make it more interesting so it wouldn't look or appear as just a polebard. And we believe we've made some adjustments and we're I'd like to show those to you in the next uh slide of tab 4. We are going to have a 4ft Wayne Scott masonry brick finish around the base of the building. We have a row of windows with an awning along the office area. Um toward the east we have higher elevated windows to the west and then we have an architectural feature in the middle and we've done that to break up the horizontal relief of the building so it just makes it more interesting and it doesn't appear to be a long metal building any longer. If you go to the next slide three in tab core, this is just a print here. Um, it includes and it will include a combination of both evergreen and ornamental trees for year round buffering and color of the seasons. The building centerpiece will be constructed with cement fiberboard, also commonly known as hardy plank. We think it provides a durable and clean looking material. This feature we feel supports the professional character of the development and it aligns well with local commercial and build builder trade businesses that he we hope will eventually occupy this space. So the final tab these are written commitments that we are going to enter

into in a formal manner that will be recorded. they will become part of our zoning petition and would also become part of any zoning approvement that would be granted by this board. Um we offer these commitments. Um one the only C5 business we're asking for would be for commercial or builder building contractor or an office warehouse use. This is common for us to have like an ecommerce use. somebody that has a startup business out of their home now they need a little bit bigger place to grow their business. Most of the businesses um we feel would be uh remote instead of destination oriented. Um we think that they would also have normal business hours. So very few customers would actually be visiting this site. It would be more for contractors taking their business to various remote destinations to provide their services. Plumbers, contractors, HVAC, electricians, um or e-commerce where they may have a warehouse in an office where they may package certain things that they sell and then UPS or um FedEx, Amazon would come and pick up and deliver. We think that um the landscape plan um is an important component of what we're offering. So, we would um offer that the landscape plan will be approved prior to us getting our building permit. That landscape plan will contain a combination of both evergreen and ornamental trees. And it will also need to be approved by the electric utility company because we do have power lines um running overhead. Um but we would provide that landscape plan to the staff and um they would have an opportunity to review to make sure what we presented tonight um when we do ask for our permit um matches. The building elevations will be in

substantial compliance with what we're showing you. Um I think the important part is the mixed use of our materials um and the window treatment, the masonry finish with the architectural feature um as all being important elements of our building facade to make sure that we you know put a a nice presence on 45th Street that is not there today. Our entrance will be paved, our parking will be paved and striped with the parking standards and currently it's not. And I think this was an important contribution from the staff is that there would be absolutely no outdoor storage period. So we don't distinguish between material supplies. It's just no outdoor storage. My client has agreed to all these commitments. And again, we'll put them in writing. We'll put them on um a proper format that can be recorded. We'll make them worded where they're easily enforced and understood. Um and then um we would uh offer those as part of our petition tonight for your consideration of our reszoning. I'm here for questions. My client, Mr. Reinhardt's here for questions. And um at this point, I'll end my presentation. Any counselors like to ask any questions of the commissioner Robinson?

Hi, my name is Debbie Robinson. Have a look at your over aerial pictures. You're not showing the bu the second building that is on that lot. How is that going to impede the parking? I drove my vehicle onto the lot. And if there were cars parked in the back with the existing building that's there, not the warehouse. This building sits behind the warehouse. I can see that. It's not here. The building I'm speaking of is not here because it would be back here. It's right here. This is the new building. No, no, no, no. Not the new building. An existing building.

There is an existing existing building right here. That's it. That brown one. That's it. No. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. That's the warehouse. It says there's a building right here. Yeah. Oh, that that's a Yeah, I know. That's an old shed that was on the It's a building. Yeah. On the shed, which is removable. Oh, okay. They said you didn't say that that you were going to Oh, I I wasn't. But it's just But if it need be, I can. No, I'm not saying it needs to be. I'm saying driving the automobile onto the lot. Okay.

That's very narrow. Very narrow. And the building that you want to build is going to extend over over onto that parking driveway. It's going to extend because it's bigger than the than than the existing building. Right. Right. It's bigger. So, it's going to extend the parking area. Sticking parking there. So, when you drive onto the property, you got to go to the back to turn around and come out. But if there are cars parked there, there's no way you're going to be able to turn around and come out of there. If you go to tab three slide two for this site plan. So at the end of the existing building and our new building those ends align evenly in that dark shaded area. That's additional parking that we are going to add to that drive to keep people off the drive and have a parking stall.

Okay. There's a there's a there's a small fence between your existing property and the property next door. There's a short fence there. So, you want to take that down or how you move? I think what she's thinking is that the new building is going to be in the back by the sheriff, but it's actually be Oh, fence. Chain link fence. It's not chain just a fence. Not chain length, but it's a fence. I guess dividing the properties. I don't know who put it up, but it does exist. I just want to make sure that that when you're speaking of the new building, the new building will not be in the back by that little shed. No. Okay.

You know, the building's your new building is going to be in the front. In the front, right? And in the front there is no fence other than the one between the city courts and my property. There is no fence on the other side by by the drive. Want me to come over?

This existing business and your business here. There is a fence. No, it's only it's short. It's short. There's there's a concrete. Okay. So, okay. Say that. Say you say this fence exists back here but doesn't exist up here. Correct. So, when you install this building here, it's going to extend over. It has to extend over because it's larger. According to your write up, it's larger than this building. It's wider, but it's no longer even right there with the front of that. And so it's gonna take up more property in here. Yes. It's wider, but it's not It's deeper. It's not wider, but it's deeper.

Okay. Then when you speak of automobiles parking, this picture over here will tab four. It's It's tab three. Right here. Is this what you were planning on doing? Yes. You won't be able to do that. And keep in mind, if I may, when the property comes to the outside, it goes out. see that property line go out. So this building there's not enough room. He's talking about between this building and the trustes parking lot here. There's not that much room between did not put anything on the side. He said he's going to extend over there. No.

It's going to be that extend that would be extending west. Correct. Yes. size. It's going to be even with the building that's there and the parking actually gets wider. So you be they're going to be entering on on the east side of the building. Yes. Correct. Yes. Where the east where the driveway is. Yes. A narrow driveway. It's because as it is now when I went up when I drove up onto the property and

it's actually narrower. Allow me to interrupt, but it's actually narrower by that building than by this building because it gets wider. It the property line goes out. So, it actually more more space than the current building. That's a very small lot to want to add another building warehouse on. It's very small. It's a small lot. Well, it meets all the requirements for buffer and and the street is going to be 20 ft from the street. 25 ft actually and 20 ft from the other building.

And the reason why I'm saying all what I'm saying because I work in the trust building and it's Yeah, that lot is very big. Very big. Well, if it helps, it'll be the exact same size as building there, only it's going to be a little deeper. So,

and we do have we have a civil engineering company that designed the site plan and already did the survey. So, they they have to design everything and they have to show us all their fences, everything that's out there and everything that's on his property and what's not on his property. But from all indications, we can we can meet the standards for the width of the drive and the parking. I don't I still question the parking because when I drove up on the lot, I had to go to the back and there were no cars parked back there now, but I had to make a Uturn to come back out. If not, if cars have been parked there, I was going to back out. How you going to expand that? And then to put parking on the side of the building as you showed in your diagram and tab four, some parking space. I can't see. I cannot envision that happening at all. I just can't.

The whole point is

40 ft. Do we have any other questions? So, what type of vehicles would be u entering um to and from the parking lot like maybe semiis or anything? No. Box trucks, box trucks, maybe dually pickup trucks, box trucks. um maybe vans, uh passenger trucks, things like that. That's about no cost.

A customer could come and maybe place an order or something like that or talk to one of the contractors if you're doing work on my home and I just want to stop by and say, "Hey, you know, here's a check that you needed or whatever." That would be limited to the type of customer interaction. But it's not a destination site where customers will come come inside and shop or come inside and and and expect a service. Drop off an estimate maybe, you know, pick up a check, drop off a check, things like that. What kind of business are you? Yes. Is there a dedicated timeline? Do you want

I'm going to say a within a year on the building. Um, we're also going to put in a sidewalk if if it's approved. This sidewalk would take a little bit extra time, but everything else, landscaping, building once we get permitted a year. Yeah, there'll be Yeah, I've agreed to put in a sidewalk as well. It's required. And so, we're going to put it in and hopefully that'll kind of set the precedent that others will be have something to connect to. If the properties to the east start getting redeveloped, then there's an opportunity to get more sidewalks on 45th. Absolutely. Sir,

would you be um I'm looking at the um landscaping and it says evergreen and ornamental trees and it has to be approved by the electric utility company. Would you be open to um being more adventurous with the landscaping and focusing on planting native trees and perhaps even some uh produces the turf grass by plant having some native plantings. It seems like an opportunity to make her more attractive and that this tree in the in the rendering is like some tree from Argentina. It's not

Yeah. So, we would we would um we refer to those as heritage trees, native trees as heritage trees. Okay. So, there's there's a list of heritage trees. There's a list of heritage shrubs, bushes, grasses, and we could easily map that into our commitment. heritage trees or equivalent so that we can bring something more natural that's native here to Indiana. You're welcome. You want to ask a question? Now just looking at phase eight that do line up.

Um yeah so the new building is 50 ft by 50 by 100. The existing building is about 40 by 100. Um and constantly concerned. Um the driveway is the light gray area right there. Is that the That's the existing drive is light gray. Light gray. And I guess the choking point is what's this? That's where the neighbors drive encroaches onto our property.

So, is that something got resolved? We we could resolve that. Actually, Renee brought that to our attention early on in in the surveyor did. So, yeah, I think if they're it's it's asphalt. We're gonna put on new anyway. So, it's going to be all asphalt. If we were to install fence along the base line, I think that would be a different story, but we don't plan to. Yeah, that's just the new approach on the small. Okay. Yeah. Any other questions? Thank you.

Appreciate the time. I would now like to call any remors who would like to provide public comment um against the reszoning petition. Thank you. I would now like to call any administrators who would like to provide public comment in favor of the res population. Madam clerk, are there any comments for the members of the public attending virtually? Any council members have any further questions? What's the city? Would the city like to provide an opinion?

Yeah, I'm um this is Renee Rafa. I'm the director of public works and we had originally provided a denial recommendation to the council and we had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Gilman and the owner of the property, Jeffrey, and sit down and make some changes to the plans that we feel makes it more consistent with the comprehensive plan, the recommendation from Indianapolis. Um, and those changes including included uh some architectural effects to the building that Mr. Gilman mentioned earlier adding some interesting effects to the building, adding some extra landscaping to make it more appealing. Um we we discussed the sidewalk and also several commitments which we feel are very important to a positive recommendation on this petition. Um we would like to see that it only the following uses can be permitted. a commercial or building contractor or an office warehouse unit such as an e-commerce business. The landscaping plan should be presented to the city of Lawrence for approval prior to obtaining an improvement location permit. We would like to see the landscaping use a combination of both evergreen and ornamental trees, um, which will also need to be approved by the electric utility company, whether that's AES or whoever buys it. Um, we also asked that the building elevations would be in substantial compliance with the renderings that were filed dated 31226. That's the the pictures that he's showing you in uh with that landscaping and the architectural elements. The entrance and the parking area will be paved and strived in accordance with the parking standards. And then the most important of all, we feel that there

should be no outdoor storage on this site. That means no materials, no vehicles, um nothing, no outdoor storage. And um the petitioner and the owner both agreed to those commitments. And with that, we would recommend approval of this petition. Thank you, Renee. Did you Thank you.

Yes. Um, I'm looking at page eight, the drawing. You guys have both uh spoken about the sidewalk. You're talking a public sidewalk like out closer, not up against the building for built for employee purposes. No, out out by the out by the that others correct that they could connect to. Okay. Yeah. Indian that's part of a requirement that Indianapolis requires a public sidewalk on any development. So, um, we didn't want to make a waiver to that. That will have to be included. Yeah. Gotcha. Thank you. Thank you.

Prior to the closing of the public hearing, I'd like to provide a final opportunity for the petitioner and members of the public to respond to the city of Lawrence's comments regarding the petition.

Thank you. We appreciate all the questions. The only thing that I would note in our commitments on the landscape plan is that we would emphasize that we have the language that they be native species or heritage trees. And again, Rene would have an opportunity to look at that before anything gets approved. Thank you. Any final comments from counselors? All right. The public hearing is now closed. Do I I will entertain a motion for a favorable recommendation. Thank you, Council Ler. Thank you, Councelor.

Councelor James. All right, we'll now proceed with the vote. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. All those opposed, please signify by saying. All right, we'll proceed with the roll call vote. Councelor Kramer I. Councelor Robinson no. Councelor Freeman. No. Councelor Jennings. Hi. Councelor Cron. Hi. Councelor Boyd. Hi. Councelor Mur. I. Councelor Walls. I. All right. Let the record reflect that we have a 7 to one.

Sorry. 6 to2 to approve. So we have uh approved uh a favorable recommendation um as a result that will be sent to the state provide provided to the metropolitan development commission. The next agenda item is new business uh transfer parcel 4001619 from the city of Lawrence to FH. This item is substantially similar to agenda item number four. So we'll hear those together. Next agenda item is new business 26 L02 56493 Road 9535 Memorial Drive. Um I just want to receive some clarification. Was that properly noticed?

Yes. Yes, it was. I sent confirmation over to the clerk this morning. So, she has that also include it. So, um Renee, it sounds like the proof that was sent to the council only showed that it was put into publication but not actually sent to members um of the surrounding area in their mail. Was that done? You would have to ask the petitioner about that. I am only responsible for the public notice into the paper.

Absolutely. Thank you, Rene. Did you just do you guys verified? We unfortunately didn't receive the the list or the address to send that to push the zoning until I guess Rene if we can work together on that. I'm sorry. I don't think we ever saw that list of of addresses that we needed to to provide that formal notice to. Um, so we we'll send you an email either tonight or tomorrow to to work on that if if that sounds good to you. That's fine. Thank you.

All right. So, sounds like 26 LO2 was not noticed for hearing in accordance with the Indiana section 531. Therefore, this matter will be tabled um until at least the April 6, 2026 meeting.

Um, and And I would since these are um included, I would move I would look for a um a second for to table proposal number two as well as uh to resolution number two and I'm Yeah. So it' be all of new business from 2 to 5 table to do it all together. So I was going to say I was going to say President if possible we would still like to hear the the TIFF uh piece as well as the the city of Lawrence transfer to the FH if that's possible tonight. I don't think those are required a specific type of notice um for for tonight. Um we know that we have to come back um at least on the 6th for um if if the council votes to move the tip piece on uh we've got to come back to council for for additional meetings as we go over the next 60 days or 45 days called. So we'll be here no matter what. So, if we're able to hear the the partial transfer as well as the TIFF with with Dustin who's here from Bars of Dr. that'd be appreciated, but open to I should say we can they're already on the agenda. We can go in while we're here. So I would hate to think another trip. Yes, apologies for any confusion on

that, Renee. Again, I I apologize. I thought we had crossed our tees and dotted our eyes, but we'll make sure to to reach out to make sure the reszone is um buttoned up for for here in a couple weeks.

No problem. Thank you. The next agenda item is new business resolution number two 2026. Also here new business transfer partial 619 for the city of FHA. Madam cler would you please read the title of the resolution into the record. Resolution number two, a resolution of the common council of the city of Orange containing certain land to employ authority.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, is there any discussion? Do you have a motion to approve resolution number two, 2026, a resolution of the common council of the city of Lawrence conveying certain land to the Fort Harrison Authority? Thank you, Councelor Jennings. Thank you, Councelor Mer. Any further discussion? We'll now proceed with the vote. All those in favor, please stand by saying I. I.

I. All those opposed, please stand by saying nay. Let the record reflect that we have a unanimous decision to approve resolution number two, 2026. Um um next also not on the agenda I'd like to accept a motion to add appointment of the member of the economic development commission as an order of new business. Counselor do I have a second? Thank you. We now proceed with the vote. All those in favor please signify by saying I.

I. All those opposed please signify by saying I. All right. Um, so we have approved to add the appointment of a member of the Economic Development Commission to the agenda. Um, currently, uh, Ray Anderson serves on that seat in the EDC. Um, I would accept a motion to keep Clay's appointment on to serve as board. Thank you, Council Mir. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Councelor Robinson. We'll proceed with the uh, is there any further discussion? We'll now proceed with a vote. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. I. All those opposed, please signify by saying nay. I.

All right. We'll proceed with a roll call vote. Um Kramer I. Councelor Robinson. I. Councelor Freeman. I. Councelor Jennings. Hi. Councelor Cron. Hi. Councelor Boyd. Hi. Councelor Mur. I. Councelor Wells. Hi. Let the record reflect that we have a 7 to one to approve and to keep Ray Anderson as the appointment to the EDC. The uh next item on the agenda is proposal number two. I'm sorry. Uh yes, proposal number two. Madam clerk, could you please read that into the

proposal number two 20226 an ordinance of the common council of the city of Lawrence Indiana authorizing the in the in issuance of the city of Lawrence Indiana economic development revenue bonds rebar TRG for Harrison LLC project ferally taxable and the provisions of the proceeds thereof to rebar to TRG Fort B LLC and authorizing and approving other actions in respect there too.

Thank you, Madam Blur. Um, this proposal um is on first reading for today. Um, I would entertain a um a vote to suspend rules to vote on first reading. Do I have a motion for that? Thank you. So, James, do I have a second? Thank you, Counc. Um, there's absolutely no reason with the

I'm so sorry. We should actually open their public hearing before the council approaches. We slot it in between we introduce it and then bring it back. And this one, I'm so sorry. Sounds good. Preferably not tonight. So we'll proceed with that vote um to read our verse. All those in favor please stand by saying I. All those opposed please stand by saying nay. Nay.

We had already had a first and second to suspend rules and I just continue with the voted voted name to not to not ask. Thank you. So that will be tabled until our April 6th meeting. The next agenda item response to the administration. Do we have any comments from the administration this evening?

Good evening, Greg. Good night, chief staff for City of Lawrence. Uh just two things. Uh update on the building. Uh making progress. Uh they've had to take some of the crew away, so it's not been quite as many people working in there, but they should be finished completely with the second floor at the end of this week. There's just a little bit of mold on the west side of the third floor. And so that would be should be taken care of hopefully in just about a week. I know I made statement last meeting that this that that would be your last meeting in this facility. So I'm crossing my fingers that this will be your last meeting in that facility. Yeah, the only other thing I had was mayor state of the city. I think he sent an email out just letting you know, letting the public know it is on April 16th at 5:30 and this will be at the school administration building on Wheeler Street.

Thank you. Thank you.

The next agenda item is citizens comments. Citizens comments shall be limited to 3 minutes. If any citizen wish to speak, please approach the podium and state your name and address for the record. Looks like first up we have Daniel Rap Daniel R 5718 Waldingwood Drive. Topic tonight financial transparency by the city of Lawrence. It's the topic. It's a topic I talked about before because I think that the city of Lawrence as far as posting financial information either on their web page that they have or on the Indiana gateway portal somewhat lacking the report that I was looking for this afternoon. The 2025 annual financial report, state of Indiana requires it to be posted to the gateway 60 days after the close of business, which is 31 December. It's when you close your financial records for 2025. And I do know that you close the records because I saw the January monthly report out there. So you had to close the books, close out the revenues, close out the expenses in order to get to January business. So I asked, why is the administration not posting that information for the public out on the gateway so we can download it? It's a requirement. And I am making this comment tonight not

just for myself or the common council. You probably were aware of the fact that the annual financial report data was not out there. I am putting it out there so that the people on YouTube, the citizens of Lawrence, taxpayers, residents, that whenever in a month from now the mayor makes her uh status of uh the city or statement of the city telling us how great the city was done in 2025. that they remember that the financial report is not out there for us to look at. I have serious doubts about the numbers, especially since on 29 December, the council had to have a special meeting and approve additional money. So, how did that actually work out in the financial statement? That is all I have to say. My three minutes are probably closed up. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else like to speak? The meeting is a journ.