Common Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening, it's 6.33 p.m. I declare open the seat of the 19th of August 2026 of the Municipal Council of the city of Lawrence. Please stand up and come to us in the oath of loyalty. I swear loyalty to the flag of the United States of America and the Republic that it represents a sovereign nation with freedom. The next point at the order of the day is the call of the members, the verification of the legal number. It is put verbatim that we have nine councillors present and that the legal number has been reached. This meeting was regularly announced in accordance with the law on access to the acts of the Indian and the copies of the order of the day are at the bottom of the room. For the citizens who want to intervene during the comments of the public, please use the signature sheet located near the orders of the day. The next point of the day is the comments of the councilors and special recognitions and resolutions. We have comments this evening. Mr. President. Yes, councilor. I would just like to make an announcement. Tom Burns, I don't know if any of you know him, is a gentleman who is part of the council of parks. He had a fall. I think it happened last week at his house. He was seriously injured. He will have to face rehabilitation for a long time. So if someone wants to send a letter of augur or something, contact me after the meeting and I will tell you where to send it.

Thank you, Counselor Wells.

Oh, one more thing. I'm sorry. I probably have a question for Jamie. I'd have to see if it's there, but will you intervene during the administration comments? Jamie, won't you do it? All right, you probably wouldn't know the answer. So, I'll ask you when you get up here. I want to make a thank you. I want to thank our public services of Lorenz. This week, on the 48th street, in an inappropriate moment with the weather, we had a break in the water conduct. I tell you, those guys immediately got to work. It was Sunday. They came out and solved the problem. They were extremely professional. And then I also appreciated that after the work I think they still have to do a bit of cement, but they even came back and tried to clean the mud that ends up on the road when a conductive is broken. And so I appreciate it and I know that even the residents of the area do it. So great job to the service company. Thank you advisor. Do we have any other comments tonight? Well, we will proceed with the next point of the day, that is the approval of the 3rd of August, 2026. Are there any questions or corrections to the speech?

It seems that I have a motion to approve.

I imagine. Motion to approve.

Thanks to Councilor Jennings and supported by Councilor Cron... Let's proceed now with the vote.

that the verbal reflects the unanimous decision to approve the verbal of August 3, 2026. The next point. At the order of the day are the reports of the committees. Do we have reports from the committees tonight? We, the plenary committee, have met today and both proposal number 1 and proposal number 3 have been sent back for further discussion. We proceed with the next point in the agenda, i.e. suspended questions. Proposal number 1, 2026. Madam Secretary, could you read the title of that verbal proposal?

Proposal number 1, 2026, an ordinance of the Municipal Council of the City of Lawrence, Indiana, which modifies Title 1, Article 1, Chapter 2, Section 12 of the Municipal Code regarding the approval of the Municipal Council on the expenses of the professional service contracts

As just presented, the plenary committee met this evening and we have sent the proposal number 1 to the next meeting of the plenary committee that is provisorily scheduled for our first meeting of the month of September. I think it's September 8th. Next point in the agenda is the suspended proposal number 3 2026. Mr. Secretary, could you read the title of that verbal order? Proposta numero 3 2026 un'ordinanza del Consiglio Comunale della città di Lawrence indiana che adotta un codice etico Grazie signora segretaria anche quella proposta è stata rinviata oggi durante la riunione del comitato plenario e avremo ulteriore discussione alla prossima riunione del comitato plenario La proposta numero 3 è stata rinviata The next point on the agenda is the new activity resolution number 4 2026. Madam Secretary, could you read the title of that verbal resolution?

Resolution number 4 2026, a resolution of the municipal council of the city of Florence, India, which establishes the development district of the Long River of Fort Harrison.

There are comments from members of the council. I would like to ask if the city has representatives who would like to talk about this proposal.

Come closer please.

Good evening, Greg Knight, head of staff, city of Lora. I have some people here with me today. There is Clark Kirkman from the legal studio Clark Quinn. He is a very expert in licenses for alcoholics for the Long River and licenses throughout the state of Indiana. He is here to answer any technical questions that someone may have about this FK. or even Jennifer Panag with the Keystone Group that is working on the development on the 56th street and Heather Milking from FH, she is also here with us. Nathanael Anderson was on the phone with me. He had to send me a statement, he who made the Foamcraft project at the corner between Lee Road and the 56th street, but he didn't send me his statement to read for him tonight. I don't know if I will receive it, I don't know if we are still in the scheduled times. But yes, we are here to answer any questions you may have. Would it be possible to have a brief overview, just to put everything in verbatim, on what is happening? And to all of you, if we have any questions, maybe we will ask them at the end.

Thank you, Greg. Yes, my name is Clark Kirkman.

I work with Russell at the Clark Quinn legal studio in Indianapolis. I have also been deputy director of the commission for alcohol and tobacco in Indiana and I specialize in hospitality law. As you probably know, most of the alcohol licenses in the whole state are issued or assigned to the courts according to a population-based quota. who gets a license for beer, wine and alcohol of the type three-way, every 1,500 people present in their jurisdiction. So Lawrence, despite the fact that it is also within Indianapolis, is an excluded city and has its license rate. Many jurisdictions throughout the state to promote economic development have created districts along the river at the end of to be able to put further licenses for alcoholics in those jurisdictions. It's something that has existed for about 25 years or so and I did a quick research in the ATC database. I think we have about... licenses released for restaurants along the river in dozens of jurisdictions along the rivers created by the councils throughout the state. This one. So you were asked to examine two proposals, one for Fort Benjamin Harrison and one for Oakland. As for what constitutes a river, it has been freely interpreted by the commission for alcohol and tobacco. If a council finds, identifies something that satisfies the criteria, they have always approved it. Westfield, just a couple of years ago, created a district just at 31 and 32 using only ditches, right? Anything that collects water has been approved by the Commission for Alcohol and Tobacco of Indiana. Here you have some affluent rushes, some regional plains, all very similar to what the TC has approved for the license of alcohols for these past foveal districts. So, having said that, if anyone has any specific questions... Any questions?

So, what is the distance? Do you have to be within 100 yards of something?

In reality, it is within 3,000 feet of the river or of anything else that is being used to identify it as a river. And if there is a water mirror and then there is an alluvial plain, you start counting the 3,000 feet from the edge of that alluvial plain. How many licenses will we require? So, the city does not require licenses. The way it works is that these resolutions have been written down in such a way that the role of the RDC, or Fort Ben, is to require a written commitment. So the municipality has control over which entities may require a license. They are allowed out of quota, so there is no limit. I think one of these says yes. So for Fort Harrison it says up to 15. And then for the other I think it says 10. Up to 10 for Oakland. But it's by request. Well, in total, 10 additional permits would be, under this resolution, the ATC could release up to 10 permits out of the quota. So this is above and beyond what Lawrence has as a quota of permits, right? But you know, you start at the local level, you get that written commitment and then you add it as a document required to be included in the request for the State Commission for Indian Alcohol and Tobacco. These permits are not transferable. Therefore, if one of these activities were to be sold, that new entity would have to go back and request another of those permits for the Long River. Moreover, unlike the normal permit, the permits for the Long River are not allowed. I have a question, sir. These permission questions have been presented by existing restaurants or existing activities or new activities that want to come to Lorenz. So, according to the law, it is not allowed if you are an existing license holder and you are in the district, you have been forbidden to sell your license and then ask for one for the Longo Fiume. So it would only concern the activities that are currently not operational. There seems to be news about the new ZEC activity. You can't, you can't, yes. If an activity is in there, they don't have the permission to, you know, sell to allow someone else who is not in the district to use that permission and ask for one of these. There should be a new question.

but you could be an existing activity in the area that did not serve alcoholics.

Yes, that's where he wanted to get.

That's right. That's where he wanted to get, like a restaurant that wants to serve ... or wants to serve alcoholics.

Sure. Are any of these questions ... do they fit into that parameter or not? I do not know. We will set the parameters for this. But in theory, yes. If there was an existing activity in the area and you served food, but you wanted to offer wine and liqueurs, but it was not available due to the limit, this would open and expand such opportunities. So we're going in that direction. Yes, it's great.

I'm just curious, how much do these permits cost?

They are the classic $ 1,000 for the initial permit and then there is an annual renewal of $ 1,000. At TC. Instead of 100,000. We have other questions. Thank you very much. No problem. Yes. I received a statement, if I'm not mistaken, from Netanel.

This comes from PhoneCraft, the developer.

PhoneCraft and the Fort Ben corner support the direction taken by the city. We believe that the Florentine communities are born around places where people can meet, connect, connect and spend time together. Enlarging the opportunities for restaurants and reception structures will help to create lively and welcoming destinations capable of attracting people and strengthening Fort Ben and the city of Lawrence in its entirety. Thank you. At this moment I would like to ask if anyone else would like to speak in favor, if I go ahead and we would like to hear your opinion. Yes, please.

I'm Jennifer Pavic from the Keystone group. I would have liked to be able to present a written statement, to be honest. I don't know if I can just move on to this. No problem. I don't know if you remember, but a couple of years ago we came here for the Benjamin, as it is called now, and we walked there with the mayor and we couldn't be more proud to be part of this community. And I think that those who know us know that when we are part of a community it is not just about the building, right? It is about people, support and many other things. So I suppose that what I want to say is that I think it is very important that we need it for economic development, because we cannot bring restaurants, we cannot bring activities, we cannot do things without this. So I ask you for your support.

Thank you, Mrs. Pavic. Would anyone else like to speak for or against? Please come up to the podium and declare your name for the speech.

As you wish. I'm Scott Perry, representative of Vista Centro Development. I'm here to talk about the Auckland Riverfront.

Oh, but first I want to offer my support also to Lungofiume di Port, Benjamin Harrison, for all the reasons he just mentioned. So, more restaurants in the area where people can find themselves will only help the city. And so, I can talk about the abandonment later in the next topic, but I just wanted to show support also for Fort Bend.

Someone else would like to speak.

Okay.

We have further discussions.

So there is no...

Does anyone want to speak against the Longofiume district? No? Ok. Any discussion on your part? I would like to.

It took me a minute to think about it. He said, for me, yes, out of range compared to the one in range, right?

So out of quota means long river. Yes, that's exactly what I mean.

So it's about additional permits made available to companies beyond the standard quota.

I heard him say it and I just wanted to make sure I understood it right.

Thank you.

The positions of the two districts. So the one we are currently discussing is Fort Benjamin Harrison.

Here's a question.

What else?

How far south? Here it is.

How far south could the license for the activity... Well, it must be... South of the 56th street, sorry. We're talking about Lawrence.

So, the district is indicated in the line.

We're talking about Fort Harrison. If you look at the last page... I don't have a copy for you. You don't have a copy. ...which is Eagle Creek. No, this...

This is pink.

I think so. It's white. So, 3,000 feet So, we're going north So, 3,000 feet Oh, I'm sorry So, as for the building of the services of Lorenz... Right. ...buy that building and potentially turn it into a big restaurant. This is important. Interesting. So we are a little above the 56th street. Because we know what covers everything that concerns the tram and everything else knows... It's fine like this.

I would accept a motion to approve Delibera number 4.

Thank you, Councilor Boyd and Councilor Moore. I will now proceed with the vote.

I forgot that it goes. Councilor Witt.

it is put in the verbal that there is a decision unanimous 9 to 0 to approve the proposal I'm sorry delivery number 4 2026 the motion has been approved and the next point in the agenda are the new proposals for Deliberation 526. Madam Secretary, could you read the title of the verbal deliberation?

Deliberation 526, a deliberation by the Municipal Council of the city of Lawrence, Indiana, which establishes the Oakland Road Riverfront Development District.

Madam Secretary, is there any discussion on this deliberation? I would accept a motion for approval. Thank you councillor Jennings and thank you for the second councillor Merur. We will proceed now with the vote. It is stated verbally that there is an unanimous decision to approve resolution number 5, 2026. The motion is approved. The next point in the agenda is a new proposal, number 4, 2026. Mr. Secretary, could you read the title of this verbal proposal?

Number 4, 2026, an order from the Municipal Council of the city of Lawrence, Indiana, which approves order number 4, 2025 and ends the municipal tax on wheels and the overtax on the license of vehicles with an EV engine.

Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I would like to accept a motion to send proposal number 4 to 31 August 2026. where we will hold a special meeting in which the public hearing will be held, so I give the advice the time to evaluate the public opinion before voting. I make the motion. Thank you, Mr. Gianni. I have a second. Second the motion. Thank you, Mr. Attorney General. We will proceed now with the vote. All those who are in favor say yes. All those who are against say yes. It is verbal that there is a unanimous decision to resend proposal number 4-2026 to the special meeting of August 31. The next item on the agenda is proposal number 5, 2026. Madam Secretary, could you read the title of this verbal proposal?

Proposal number 5, 2026, an ordinance of the Municipal Council of the city of Lawrence, Indiana, which imposes a municipal tax on wheels and an overtax on the license of motor vehicles and creates the fund for the tax on wheels and the fund for the overtax on the license of motor vehicles of the city of Lawrence.

Thank you, Madam Secretary. Good. If there are any questions about proposal number 5, I would accept a motion to also send proposal number 5, excuse me, proposal number 5-2026 to the special meeting on August 31, where we will hold a public hearing, giving the Council the time to consider public statements. I make the motion. Councilor Jennings, I have a second. Thank you, Councilor Cone. We will now proceed with the vote. All those who are in favor say yes. All those who are against say no. It is verbal that we have an unanimous decision to resend proposal number 5 of 2026. The next point of order of the day is the comments of the administration.

Do we have comments this evening? Good evening, Chief of Staff, we have arrived.

The mayor asked me to read a letter about the changes proposed by the tax on the wheels. Dear Lawrence, members of the council, now that the council of the city of Indianapolis has officially passed the veto of Mayor Hogsett to approve an increase in the tax on vehicles at the level of the county, we as a city face a changing financial landscape as regards road financing. Since we are an excluded city within the county of Marion, the taxes of the county could be applied to residents and companies of Lawrence. Now, according to the current structure, residents and companies of Lorenz would be required to pay these higher tax rates in addition to the current circulation overtax and the city's automobile tax. As mayor, I do not believe that the residents and companies of Lorenz should be responsible for the increase in the county tax, in addition to the current municipal tax of Lorenz. We can alleviate this burden, to lift our residents and our companies with a new law. Propongo di abrogare l'ordinanza numero 4 2025 che abbiamo emanato l'anno scorso e di adottarne una nuova alle tariffe attuali, in vigore da Lungrado. Gennaio 2027. La mia proposta vi consentirà ai residenti e alle imprese di Lorenz interessati di pagare le tariffe inferiori della nostra città invece di quelle sia della città che della contea. Sono contrario a una tassazione aggiuntiva sui residenti e alle imprese di Lorenz interessati. As a mayor, I am also aware of the strong increase in prices of the fuel that our residents and businesses pay for the pump, of the increase in inflation, of the increase in electricity costs and of the increase in food costs and other basic necessities that every family in Lorenz must support. At the end, as a mayor, I want to do what I can to not add further weight to our residents and to the companies interested. I ask you to join me. Therefore, I thank you for taking into account these proposed orders during your public hearing on August 31. Kind regards, Mayor De Wilt. I'm here for any other questions. Councilor Wills, do you have another question? I think it's the 30th, Sunday the 30th.

As far as I understand, it will be a rather large and very frequented show.

That's what I've been told. Um knows if the park is open. And I see Eric behind here who might know, in case you don't know. But if the police will still ask for this, as they did on July 4, the plate numbers and all this personal information. I'll let Jane talk.

Excuse me, sir. Jamie Weir, City Dins director. Since it's not us, the city doesn't organize this event. Mike Epstein and his organization, the Foundation, are organizing it. So, the police department of the city of Lawrence will not require the necessary permits for the four leagues.

So, they won't have to. Just pay. The registration fee, the game is done?

It's correct.

Good.

And all I need to know is...

The next point of the day is the citizens' comments. Are you ready? The next point of the day is the citizens' comments. The citizens' comments will be limited to three minutes. If any citizen wants to speak, he approaches the podium and declares his name and address for the verbal. Scott Terry. Would you like to intervene on the resolution? Or William Mulleno? Well, this is the complete list.

Does anyone want to speak during the citizens' comments?

Well, we have a motion to update the seat. So be it. Thank you, Mr. J. One second. Thank you, Mr. Robinson. We now proceed with the vote. All those in favor indicate by saying yes. All those.