City Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you. Let's Good evening. We are having our 6:45 meeting, special meeting. Jesus. public hearing. It's a public hearing

on ordinance 33-25. You'll all stand with me. Say the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. Okay. This is a public meeting for an ordinance vacating a part of an alley located in the block. Okay. Yeah. Ordinance 33-25, an ordinance vacating a part of an alley located in the block of 15 of uh th Kirby's addition to the city of Muny, Indiana. Here we go.

Good evening. My name is Kathy Ben Ice and I'm from Ashton Land Surveyor here in Muny. The project that we're working on, what we're trying to do is vacate a little strip of an alley that has not been vacated. This is south of Wiser, west of Brady. Wolf would be on the west and the Cardinal Greenway is on the south. The property the this little sliver of an alley has not been vacated to the north in 2021. I believe it was vacated to the south. The Cardinal Greenway had theirs vacated a long time ago. So, this alley cannot be servicing anyone either north, south, or east or west. It's kind of just a piece of land that's landlocked that were getting vacated. We do have the um the utilities that have signed off on it um that or the ones that have we only have one that did not respond but nobody seems to be in this area. And what we're trying to do is conjoin the property so our homeowner can build rebuild her garage which used to sit on on the alley but sit it used to sit in the alley across both sides. So, we're going to be putting it back, but it will be now all her property.

Okay. And have they uh No, no, no. Sorry. Is there anyone else? Okay. Seeing there's no one else to speak on this ordinance, we will entertain a motion to adjourn this meeting for our regular council meeting. So move. Second. Second. Motion made by Councilman Basham to adjourn. Seconded by Councilman Pal.

All in favor? Oppos? We'll rec.

October 6, 2025 council meeting. Uh stand and face the flag with me and we'll once again say the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Councilman Green. Did you do the invocation as well? Yes, sir. Yes sir.

Everybody stand up please pray our heads. Precious heavenly father we thank you Lord for the privilege and the opportunity to all gather together this evening with hearts and minds that are concerned about the city of Munich. Lord, we ask that you lead in every procedure, everything that's done tonight, guide and direct the council to make wise and beneficial choices and decisions for the city. Lord, we ask that you would also be with Mark this evening. Lord, we know he's going through a very tough time. And we ask, Lord, you be with him there in a hospital you touch. Lord, that you would encourage his heart and help him. Lord, we ask that you be with all that are hurting in this community tonight. provide for each and everyone. We ask it all in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Amen. Okay. Our citizens recognition award again will be given by Councilman Green. my pleasure and opportunity to talk about a subject that uh has been in my life for as long as I can remember. Uh how many of you listen to music? Should be everybody in here.

It's a universal language. It transcends every uh earthly spoken language. It can be heard in different tones at different places. We don't all like the same thing. I will admit that everybody has different taste. But music is a universal language that speaks to the heart. Many times it can move us uh to tears. It can cause us to have joy. It can cause us to shout. Can do a lot of different things. Music does. And we have been blessed here in the city of my uh beyond measure. We don't realize the different things that we have uh that have happened here in the city of Muny more than more so than other uh communities. We have had uh music programs, the arts programs that have affected thousands of individuals. There are many individuals that have came through the myy school system uh that received encouragement uh challenge for their lives uh and they stepped up to do those things and there are different people that have affected those things. We're very proud of what my central has accomplished. We're proud of what happened uh during the time of my southside and my north side. there were many many different programs from the middle schools uh all through the high school. We're very thankful for that. Uh this evening we would like to uh speak of that just for a few moments. Want to talk about an individual that started their teaching career at North Side High School during the fall semester of 1987. Knowing his first position would be short-term due to North Side's upcoming transition to a middle school, this individual is determined to make the

final semester a memorable experience for their students. At the conclusion of North Side's final year as a high school, this individual was hired as the band director at Southside High School in the summer of 1988. By now, that individual knows whom I am speaking of. The Southside band program had experienced several director changes over the previous years, resulting in a decline in both participation and performance. But this individual is determined to change that and rebound the program's pride and even surpass its previous successors because this individual built success everywhere he went, everything that he did. Under this individual's direction, the band earned a consistent gold superior rating at the Indiana State School of Music Association ISMA contest, countless solo and ensemble gold medals, and state level performances beginning in 1989. Southside became a perennial Indiana State Fair night school sweet 16 band. In the summer of 2000, this individual teamed up with one of his former students. Isn't that amazing? He had taught this individual, and this individual went off to college, became a band director, came back, and now they have teamed up. And it says that they teamed up together um to lead the Southside High School and the Wilson Middle School band programs. Together they built on the past achievements, winning state fair band-aid contest five times, finishing runner up twice. He continued to build success. After his former student moved into administration, he continued working with new directors until Southside High

School's closure. Even through the transition, the bands maintain their tradition of excellence. He instilled that within them, adding another state fair championship and five more runner-up finishes. When Southside became a middle school, he remained there mentoring the high school band and directors while dedicating more time to his family. And during the first summer of that Southside Central merger, Muny Central won the state bear Band-Aid contest, the school's first championship since 1953, marking the start of a new era for Muny's unified high school band. And as Southside's middle school band director, he continued to support the high school program through several leadership changes. Eventually, eventually he was asked again to step in and to lead central band himself to provide students with a stability and quality musical experience. Once again, he accepted the challenge and once again he was successful. When asked to remain as head band director at my central, he agreed. Since the merger, the central band has received superior gold ratings in the state's most challenging musical divisions. Students have consistently earned gold medals at solo and ensemble contest with numerous state qualifiers, three state fair bandaid runner-up finishes, two additional state fair championships. Today he has led or helped lead the band to nine Indiana State Fair Bandaid Championships. But that's not the reason that he's being recognized. He's a difference maker. He makes a difference. He spent his whole career, 39 years plus, in transforming the lives of students through music education, instilling in them not only a love for

music, but also lessons in commitment, perseverance, teamwork, resilience, and he has taught generations of students how to learn from failure and how to lead with integrity and how to find success in life. Thousands of Muny students have been influenced by this individual's guidance. Many whom have gone on to become accomplished professionals, educators, community leaders, and musicians. And he is more than a successful band director. He's a lifelong educator, a mentor, and truly a difference maker in Muny. Some of his achievements I want to mention. A 1982 graduate of Delta High School, he holds two degrees from Ball State University in music education and secondary education. Was a member of 5U Alpha Symphonia, the national professional fraternity for men in the field of music, dedicated teacher in the Muny Community School since 1987. And we mentioned the schools, North Side, Southside, Wilson, Southside Middle School, and Muny Central High School. the state fair band day accomplishments. Third place in 1988 and then brought them to 10 state fair band championships. In 1996 he was a recipient of the Lily endowment grant. He performs he still plays by the way. He's quite a trumpet player. Cedar Point Hot Tamalei Band in the 80s, Cedar Point Hobo Band in 1980s, America's hometown band.

Yes. Muzzy Symphonia Orchestra, White River Orchestra.

He's been community involvement with the Hamilton County Community Band and the Hometown Band as their guest conductor. Currently the board president of the Muny Symphony Orchestra, also known as the Orchestra Indiana. I will say I have some thoughts here from former students that I'd like to tell you just a little bit of what he has done. He mentor to the students and colleagues statements are as follows. John is someone I push myself to be like the number of people that he has impacted in his in this community is beyond in this life and he is so inspiring more than he'll ever know. You have been a great example of what is means to impart hope, confidence, and a strong sense of selfworth as an educator. I love being a part of your amazing legacy. Even if you wear purple, that was a tough one to say, but that's okay. And that's for us Southside people. We can never forget him. He has played such a major role in our music journey.

Another one said, "He has a heart of gold. John teaches. He opens the door the doors for his students and his friends to learn. He makes his kids want to do their best. They want him to be proud of them. They work really hard. He doesn't expect anything from them that he doesn't give himself. He laughs with them. He yells at them and he makes them do it again and again and again and again. And then he tells them some hilarious story. They all crack up and the ability he has to open your mind and make you understand is amazing. He's just an incredible individual. John has always been a tough love kind of a teacher. At first what he says to you as a student or a mentee can feel like criticism but over time you realize that that he is saying is exactly what you stand in need of a profound ability belief in your ability to succeed. He doesn't coddle you. He tells you what you need to hear but only if you can handle it. He always led all of us by example, demonstrating his own discipline and unwavering commitment. He taught me that setbacks should be viewed as an opportunity for growth and that the only failure is not getting back up and trying again. His unwavering belief in my potential instilled within me the confidence that I needed to persevere through challenging times. And I'm very thankful for him holding me to a higher standard and showing me that the toughest lessons are ultimately the most valuable ones. John not only taught

our students from junior high and high school. Uh but he also was professor of music at Ball State. He gave trumpet lessons. My sons both had him. And now John has the opportunity to teach my granddaughter and she has lessons with him. We're honoring John Clark tonight. John, if you would COME WELL, JEFF, thank you. Um, this was unexpected and I appreciate it. I I um I can say one thing about listening to all of that is I'm proud to be a citizen of Muny. I'm proud to be a teacher of Muny schools and uh at the Muny on the move was what it Wednesday um the mayor and I were talking about the challenges that our students have and uh what it means to be a part of successful program that they take that information and go out into the community once they do graduate. And he was recognizing what you were saying about the achievements of the marching band. And boy, I I I uh I say this, I couldn't do it without the people sitting over here. I mean, UM thank you.

CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY, JOHN.

HEY, roll call. Mr. Dishman, present. Miss present. Mr. Macintosh present. Mr. Green present. Miss Pal here. Mr. Garrett here. Here. Mr. M here. President Mason here. Okay. At this time, I'd approve I'd uh entertain a motion to approve the minutes of our September meeting. So moved, Mr. President. Second.

Okay. Motion's been made by Councilman Selvi, seconded by Councilman Macintosh. All in favor? I I Or do we do roll call? Opposed? Roll call. Yeah, let's do a roll call. Mr. Green. Yes. Mr. Garrett. Yes. Mr. Dishman. Yes. Mr. Bashel. Yes. Mr. Macintosh. Yes. Miss Selby. Yes. Miss Williams. Yes. Miss Pal. Yes.

Yes. Okay. Are there any appointments to any boards or commissions that we need to do this evening?

Is there an opening, sir, for the human rights commission? Excuse me. Is there a Is there an opening for the human rights commission? Uh the the opening is a mayoral opening. Oh, I went back and looked. It's not a council. Thank you. Yes. Okay. [Music] And I guess they'll let us know when that appointment's been made. Thank you. Uh committee reports.

Um Mr. President, the finance committee met for the final time on the 23rd. Um it was uh lively. I did put a copy of the form 4B on everyone's place setting um which is something that we discussed that night and um I guess we will approve the minutes at the next time the finance committee meet meets. That's all. Mr. President.

Yes sir. Um, I'd like to remind everybody, uh, this is October and this is breast cancer awareness month. And, uh, if you know somebody that has breast cancer or any kind of cancer, please give them a call and, uh, go go and see them or or show your love to them because they're they're alone and and I don't know how that feeling is because I don't have cancer right right at the moment. You never know when you could get it. But um I appreciate that you would wear something pink this month. You know, just throw something pink on and wear out in the public to show your support. And u because I want to let these people know that have cancer. And I'd like to let the people that are watching too, you there's help out there for you. Don't don't think you're all alone in this because no one fights alone in that.

That's right. And that's all I got to say. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. D. May I? Yes. I think early I am a breast cancer survivor. This is my seventh year and early detector. Early detection is key. uh please encourage your sisters, your mothers, your aunts, any or your friends, your spouse to um to get that mamogram because it does it saved my life and I know it saves others. So yes, I I'm just actually going to do some housekeeping if that's okay. Okay.

All right. At this time, I make a motion to delay action on ordinances 30-25, 31-25, and 32-25, the three budget ordinances. Um, delay action on those ordinances and reconvene that meeting after the completion of all remaining items on the current agenda on Thursday, October 16th at 7 p.m. solely for the purposes of considering those three budget ordinances. I'll second. Oh, okay. Motions made by Miss Pal, seconded by Miss Golia. We need to do roll call. Roll call. Miss Salvi. Yes. Miss Pal. Yes. Miss Goen.

Yes. Mr. Garrett. Yes. Mr. Basher. Yes. Mr. Macintosh. Yes. Mr. Dishman. Yes. Mr. Green. Yes. President Mason. Yes. No, I recommend we take that vote again and not allow Mr. Garrett. Agreed. Agreed. Mr. Garrett isn't able to vote on that motion. Yes. Can we have that roll call one more time, please? Yeah, we're going to redo the roll call. Mr. Garrett, you're not allowed to vote on that ordinance. All right. Mash. Yes. Missy? Yes. Miss Pal? Yes. Mr. D? Yes. Mr. Macintosh.

Yes. Mr. Green. Yes. Yes. President. Yes. Uh, Thursday, October 16th at 7 p.m.,

Mr. Mason, may I may I explain why we did that? Uh, council did that because we cannot proceed with any other items on the agenda and have Mr. Garrett, uh, Councilman Garrett vote on those. if those budget ordinances are open and up for consideration. So, we are delaying action on those three items and we'll reconvene this meeting on Thursday, October 16th at 7 p.m. to address those when Mr. Garrett is back.

Hey, ordinance 25 26-25. I I may I um Councilman Dishman and I uh observe the um ask me firefighters and police negotiations and during this month we observe the police and firefighter negotiations which are ongoing. But Jason Chaffen of the firefighters asked that I give all of you um from that meeting, that last meeting, um a comparative um document comparing the salaries of Muny firefighters with firefighters around the state. And I'm just delivering that on his behalf. Okay. Any other reports?

Okay. Ordinance 26-25. Ordinance 26-25 being an ordinance to amend the city of Muny comprehensive zoning ordinance from the R4 resident zone to the BC community business zone on premises located at 1600 North Willing Avenue, Muny, Indiana.

Okay, my first time doing this. Um, I'm Belinda Hughes. Um, I am a resident of Yorktown, Indiana. I grew up in Muny, born and raised. Um, and we um have acquired this home. My son lived there for a while and we decided it was the perfect spot to move Be Coco, our toy store. So, we've been refurbishing it and it's starting to look pretty beautiful. It's the It'll be yellow. So, in a sea of white homes, you'll see the yellow. It is next door to the Dollar General and across the street from other businesses. So, we felt it was a good location. We um will have sensory toys to meet some needs of some very special people in our community. Um which they all have my heart if you know me. And um we have developed a baby line as well that is sensory friendly for babies. So we're really excited to bring that to the community and we'll have special things for moms. And since I have a new grandson this year and my son said there's not a lot for dads, he's doing a dad corner. So,

we'll have a little bit of everything for the community and we're really excited about that. Mr. President, I make a motion to adopt ordinance 26-25. I second it. Okay. Motion's made by Miss Pal to adopt. Seconded it by Councilman Bashion. I I just wanted to make a comment that's exciting about the sensory toys as an OT, as an occupational therapist. That's really exciting to hear. And you just let me know whatever you need. We're I know that there's another resource in town. Thank you. We're going to be partnering with the new sensory gym and we'll have we'll supply toys for them to sell and be available for family care as well. And kudos to your son for looking out for us dads.

Thank you. That's right. We have awesome fun carriers and all kind of things for dad. Thank you. Thank you. I have have a question for uh the residents that are there. Have you spoken with each and every one of them? And how do they feel concerning that around there? You mean? Yes. Um, actually, we have some that are back behind us. We've never seen they've never come out of the home. Um, and there are businesses on both sides of us. So, to the south is a business. Mhm. That's not a residential house.

Not to my knowledge. I know you have the barber shop two doors down, but it's a residence next door. And you're the one with the gravel parking lot. Yes. Okay. And the house directly south of you. Uh that individual has contacted me. Okay. Uh he's not in favor of this. Okay. He he uh did mention that he doesn't see how you can run a business with such a small area, but you did say this is specialized individuals. This is not like a Walmart or something of that nature. It's a lot smaller. Yes, very much so.

Um I would really like to see you talk to the the neighbors because it's only half a block street and ask the different individuals there how they feel because that will be an increase in traffic there. I know that the individual that owns the house just to the south of you, he has gravel parking out front, space of about three people. Um, and I know he's concerned that overflow from parking at your place will end up in his drive. Uh, he's concerned about that. Is there any provision to prevent that from taking place?

We will have limited parking and it will be marked. So, our our hours are limited as well. We're not open every day during the week. Um, and we're not open on evenings or anything like that, so we are very limited. Okay. All right. Thank you. Another question. Go ahead. This is actually for Mr. Green. Uh, Councelor Green. Yes. Do you know if um does that person live there or does he rent that home? He owns it. Does he live there? Uh, he did up to just a few weeks ago.

Okay. Uh he's having treatments uh in Indianapolis and had to move down there for the moment. Uh don't know exactly what his intention is from here on out. Uh but I know he was concerned about it. He reached out and talked to me about this. So any other questions?

Uh yeah, I guess I do. Yes. What are the hours? Well, right now we are open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Okay. So, what are the hours on those days? I'm sorry. Um, we haven't really established that. So, um, because we haven't opened our doors yet. So, my guess is it'll be like a 10 to 4 kind of thing. Anyone else? Okay. Roll call. This question question. Anyone from the public have any questions?

Christopher Bilbury, this sounds like an absolutely fantastic thing and I hope here in a moment when you guys vote that you'll vote for this and pass it through. My question is, did you guys just commit an open door violation when you voted to suspend and continue the budget items until the 17th? When did you guys have that discussion? Was it prior to the meeting? Before you guys started the meeting, did you guys meet up here and have that discussion

and make that that's an open door violation? So, could we have discussion on that? that the nine of you met before the meeting was adjourned, before the meeting was opened, made a discussion on a vote. I've been trying to get in touch with you guys and let you know about Mr. Garrett's absence since last week. He wouldn't come clean about it. I asked if he was going to be here. You guys could vote without him. I told him I I was aware that he would not be able to vote by Zoom. and you guys met a few minutes before 6:45 and made that decision. Mr. President, how's that not an open door violation? Number one, number one,

point of order. This is not on the the object that we're talking about. Number two, was that a where we were discussing an item with our attorney? Yeah. And the city attorney. So that would be but sorry Sarah I think what we were discussing though is if this were to happen if we had a date because we wanted to make sure we wanted to get a date so that if it passed could you that during the meeting

why what was we wanted we wanted to have a date to discuss that we wanted to have a date before the meeting I'm telling you we wanted to this is my understanding is that we wanted to have a date so that we could tell everybody we wanted to be transparent we wanted to be able to tell you today what that was rather and do it afterward. There was talk about choosing a date afterward and we decided we would rather have a date chosen so that we could announce it right here during the meeting. So that's what we discussed the date if I just wanted to go on record. I know this is not in this ordinance but I I wouldn't have had any other chance to say it during and it's important to get this out first because I will be filing an open door complaint tomorrow and we'll let Jennifer Ruby decide. So thank you very much.

Thank you. Okay. Roll call. Mr. Yes. Mr. Yes. Yes. Mr. Green. Yes. Yes. Yes. Mr. Garrett. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Okay. Ordinance 27-25. Ordinance 27-25 being an ordinance to amend the city of Muny comprehensive zoning ordinance from the R5 resident zone to the uh BC central business zone on premises located at 718 North Walnut Street, Muny, Indiana. Mr. President, I make a motion we adopt ordinance 27-25. I'll second that. Okay. Motion has been made to adopt by Miss Pal, seconded by Miss Selby. Yes, sir. I'm just here to answer questions if you have. Jonathan Chandler, I'm co-owner of the property there. I do have a question.

Has anything changed since the last meeting you were here? No. Did anybody approach you or anything like that? Okay. Thank you. Still have full support from the neighborhood. So, okay. Thank you. Unless you guys have heard otherwise. I haven't heard anything. No, I haven't heard anything either. I've just asked. Anybody have any questions? Any questions from the public?

I would like to ask the council to advise these people that they need to be back next month also for a second reading of this stuff because a lot of these people don't know and then when you guys come up next month and these folks ain't here then you guys are going to table it. So you might let them know about how the ordinances and stuff work please. Thank you. This is This is This is the second reading. This is the second reading. This is This is up for adoption. Yes. That lady right there. Is that her second? Yes. Yes. Mhm. Previously in the

Yes. Oh, Miss Town. Are we doing voting? No. I'm sorry. Ordinance 2720. Motion to adopt. Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. Mr. Barrett. Yes. Mr. Macintosh. Yes. Yes. Mr. Yes. Mr. Yes.

Yes. Okay. Ordinance 25-20 29-25. Ordinance 29-25. An ordinance amending chapter 80 traffic schedules of the myy code of ordinance orland. Ordinances University Avenue parking. Good evening, council. Dan Rydenower. Good evening, Mayor of Muny. A couple of things that I would like to do. Uh first of all, each of you should have received a packet uh from uh President MS at Ball State. Uh for uh the ability of the rest of the members of the audience and the public to be aware of that, I'm going to go ahead and read it uh because it's uh I almost said spring. Mr. Mayor, would you hold that thought until we make the motion to adopt?

Could we do that, Mr. President, first? I'm sorry, Mr. President. I make a motion that we adopt 2925. Second. Okay. Motions made by Mr. Basham to adopt, seconded by Mr. Green. I apologize. I apologize. Roll call. No, no. Okay. Now, go ahead.

So, this is dated September 29th. Uh, it says, "Dear Mayor Ride now," and again, it said copies were prevented presented to council. I'm just going to read it, though. Ball State University supports the city's proposed plan to add bicycle lanes along University Avenue between Dick Street and Wheeling Avenue. When the proposed ordinance was introduced, we shared that our college and community collaboration grant with the Lily uh endowment includes a commitment to create a physical connection between the village and downtown Muny. I understand that some members of the Riverside Normal Neighborhood uh do not support the proposed ordinance. At my request, Chris Paladino met with the neighborhoods executive committee on September 24th. During this meeting, Chris responded to the concerns about this proposed ordinance. Specifically, Chris provided the following information. Number one, uh the individuals who attended the meeting indicated that University Avenue was not their preferred route for a connection between campus and downtown. But constructing a shared use path along Riverside Avenue, their preferred route, poses several significant challenges, including acquiring right ofway from private property owners. Moreover, this alternative alternative route does not provide a direct connection to the village. Number two, the people who attended the meeting also indicated that losing on street parking spaces along University Avenue would harm the village given the increased demand for parking. But earlier this summer, city council unanimously approved an ordinance that added 42 new public on street parking spaces in the core of the village. In addition, 47 additional new on street spaces will be added with the completion of these new projects. With these changes, we estimate that now more than 1,750 parking spaces will be available within a 4-minute walk of the village. This part the parking map is available on your on the village website.

Number three, the people who attended the meeting also indicated that removing on street parking along University Avenue would lead to increased speeding. During the meeting, Chris uh provided multiple data sources indicating that this concern is not valid. Newly striped protected bicycle lanes combined with reduced width of vehicle travel lanes are an effective traffic calming measure. and Chris provided several sources that support this conclusion. Moreover, adding colorful crosswalk treatments as we have suggested has also proven to reduce vehicle speeds. The PE number four, the people who attended the meeting are concerned that the loss of on street parking along University Avenue will lead to future demolition of garages off the alleys to satisfy tenant parking demand. Losing garages may be a valid concern that could impact the historic integrity of the neighborhood, but on street parking is currently limited to two-hour parking during the week. Chris's conversations with current landlords confirmed that on street parking is not marketed as an option for tenant parking. Chris also offered several suggestions for consideration relating to how best to address the potential future loss of garages. Our university recommends protected bike l bike lanes on both sides of the street to include painted buffer between the bicycle lane and vehicle lane. We also suggested adding colored crosswalk treatments at intersections to help further slow vehicle traffic. And our university will provide funding for this treatment. As we previously offered, our university will also install new landscaping along the Martin Street bicycle path and assume responsibility for maining this paint maintaining this painting strip to help provide the overall appearance of the important gateway from the village and campus. We know this concern has previously been expressed by people in the neighborhood

and we want to help provide a solution. I believe that a safer bike route between the village and downtown Muny provides an important amenity and it addresses a key goal of improving connectivity between these two places. I've enclosed a copy of the slide deck that Chris used with the neighborhood. I assume you all received this. Thank you.

Um I have uh let's see these slides include more specific information about safety statistics and potential bice bike lane uh treatments. We look forward to continuing to partner with the city to advance the best interest of every citizen of Muny. So I wanted to read that. Uh also I wanted to state that uh there are uh individuals here from the board including the president from downtown my which already provided a letter of support. They are willing to speak if you need for them to but I I know that uh at least two of the board members are here. Um, I also want to say that I did listen to the comments and concerns and we did already uh fill in the potholes in the alley between North Street and University. This is the uh area that's to the south of Riverside. Uh we are after paving season, we have two more streets we're trying to get done before the weather gets truly bad. Uh but after paving season, we're going to go through and cut back the limbs on that alley. And we also decided to go ahead and do the alley between University and Ashland, which is on the north side. So, we'll be making sure that any of the potholes in that particular alley are handled, and we'll cut back the limbs to make sure that works well. I also want to keep in mind that this uh the way these are this is going to be put together will be Ball State designed. I'm um and it's coming from the Lily Foundation. They provided in a community and college grant application. Ball State University received the most of all this all the universities across the state. But a part of it was to create this connection. So there is roughly a million dollars that's uh will be coming from the Lily Foundation with this particular uh development that will

provide I think a beautiful uh artsbased walk um or bike ride from the village to the downtown area. I know our downtown businesses could use the support. I know um also I think the um I think yeah we have the arts commission director is here as well. They also had provided a letter of support the last time. I'm sure she would speak as well. But I just wanted to and then the other thing was the safety to the bikers. We uh the city engineer worked with Chris and their team to develop a way to provide that safety. So there will be an area between the cars and the bike lanes. So, there will be an area that will um help protect those bikers because it was a concern not only of of the re the residents uh who spoke uh last week from the neighborhood, but also it's a concern for the bikers as well. Um and I know um we wanted to make sure we address those. So, we hope that with these additions um and the support uh that you will look favorably and pass this particular ordinance. Thank you. I've got a question for the mayor.

Okay, Mr. Mayor, we have a question for you. You mentioned the Lily Grant and I I mean that's an awesome thing. I know you guys worked hard for that and that's great. Um but they did not specifically state that it has to be university, correct? They just they they want to have a a pathway between the uh university and downtown. Correct. But they don't have specifics. It wasn't specifically said university. I'll let you finish. Okay. Is that correct? They stated that it had to be that that million dollars is only for a connector trail from the village to downtown. Right. But it does that have to be through a university. It just a connector.

That is what was on the application for the grant. So it wasn't our grant. It was Ball State's grant. Uh they did the application. We signed off and gave letters of support. Um but I I can't say what was exactly on the application whether that I know that was the preferred route. Connector is okay. a preferred route possibly. That is the preferred route, but I can't I can't say whether the grant would be lost if it were a different street, but it certainly doesn't makes the sense to be Riverside. He's talking about that. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Mr. Mayor,

would Ball State be Thank you, Mr. President. Will Ball State be responsible for like the the bike lane, the paint? They're going to keep maintenance of that area forever. That's the point. Okay. That's the plan. Okay. And and zero tax dollars, right, are going into that. That's all from a grant. All the modifications. Well, let me clarify that. I mean, this the city did pay for the street work. Yes. We paid for the sidewalk. We paid for the curbs. So, there has been there have been funds put in, but we are not paying for the bike lane, for the artwork that they're planning on putting down, for the signage that they're planning on putting down to make sure that people know that it is a

That's what my question was million dollar to you and that wasn't very clear. Thank you. Good question. Thank you, Mr. President. Yes, sir. May I? Yes. Um and nor does it make sense to take the route down reserve into downtown does it for that it's it's not as ideal because and part of it is that Wheeling is a big a heavily trafficked street and we're putting in a gateway uh that will definitely be enticing and helpful for people to say oh we're downtown and we wouldn't have that same feel if it were coming down other ways. Yeah. Uhhuh.

So that's that's why clearly the preferred route, right? Mr. President, I have a question for the mayor. Uh when they go across the bridge to come into downtown, uh what are you putting in for a bike lane there? And what is the safety issues that there is already a bike lane there. Um it doesn't have as many safety components as we would like. I'm not going to promise that we are looking at road diets on that. Um, but that we would consider whatever options we can come up with. Now, would that be something that Ball State could help? That would be on the city. No. Okay. All right. Thank you, Mr. President. Yeah. Gota.

Um and and doesn't it then make more sense because of the gateway type park that's being constructed now across from city hall that becomes a part of the entry into Yes, that is definitely the the the plan. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay.

Evening, council. Cameron Grubs. Uh, I just had a couple things. Just, you know, I I think to your point, it would probably be good before voting to have all that information because I do feel like it was kind of presented in a way to where it was possible to lose that grant if this were not voted upon. So, it probably be good for the mayor's office, the administration to provide all information to the council so that they can make a sound decision. At least that's how I would think that things should happen. Uh, I did have a question. Um, you know, I I wonder about the methodology uh of has anybody asked students or people that live there, would they take this route? And have we you put forth a survey or anything in in the methodology there? Because at the last meeting, the methodology for figuring out if it would impact people was to stop and look one day a week and see how many cars were parked on the street. It's not very scientific in my book, but based on the fact that this mo that this ordinance was filed on August 25th and the dates provided by the mayor were August 16th, Saturday, August 22nd, a Friday. Those were the only two dates prior to the mayor deciding that we felt that that seemed quote we felt that that seemed reasonable to come to the council were two days a Friday and a Saturday worth of information and then they gathered more which was August 29th a Friday uh and another unlisted day and then September 4th a Thursday. I don't know about you but I'm pretty sure that most college students aren't here on Fridays and Saturdays. They're going to go somewhere else. So I don't think that using that information is beneficial and I didn't hear anything provided have not seen anything on Facebook

with further information backing up what those assumptions were. Um I don't know if anything was provided to you. Again I've checked the transcript I mean not transcripts but the mun docs where everything should be put and Facebook have not been able to find anything. So maybe you've been privy to information that I'm not. Um, but I just thought you might have some things to think about there before voting. Thank you, Mr. Graves.

Hi, my name is Jeremy Reese. I live in industry neighborhood. Um, so you know this pathway to the village, I'll be honest, I use it. Um, that's how I get to and from the village. We even ride our bikes every once in a while to go to the Everbull there and you know get some fruit smoothies and whatnot. So, so it's a it's it's it seems I it seems ideal for the purpose of what is happening. But, um I will say two things, one in particular, um I know that the last time we had several people from the neighborhood that that had some concerns last meeting regarding this and uh in regards to a different uh a different situation. Uh, Ro, you had actually mentioned to somebody else who's up here, you appreciated their uh, collaboration with the neighborhood and things like that as well. So, one thing I would hope is that that neighborhood, I don't know if they're here to speak on behalf or against today, but if they're not here to speak either way, um, I would say that it's possible they just feel bullied into it. So, that might be a possibility. I'm not saying I haven't talked to them myself, so I'm not trying to say that, but um but I know they had quite a bit to say against it last time. Um so consider that. And then also the fact I wouldn't say that these these bike lanes are amazing. I mean, obviously I'd love to have bike lanes. That's great. Um, but if we just look at downtown, uh, right there at the corner of, uh, Main Street and Malbury Street, people ignore those parking spots and they ignore those bike lanes and they fly up there and they turn right right as I'm turning right. The same time they're trying to pull out right right next to me when I'm turning right. So, um, these lines aren't safe necessarily. They're a little more safe than being buted right up next to it, but they aren't necessarily safe. So, just want to make sure that you guys kind of consider those things when you're thinking about this, too. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Reese.

Hi, I'm Seth Rollins. I uh I actually live in I live on the edge of downtown. Travel this probably multiple times a week um to and from I actually am in favor of a bike lane through this area. It makes makes a lot of sense. Uh one thing is like I I've traveled to a lot of different cities. Like my favorite example is this this bike this area reminds me a lot of an area in Bloomington that connects the univers IU to their um university neighborhood and it's like a the bike lane there is incredible. It's fully protected um like it has ballards and they have actual like cement protections. One thing is if this is something that we're going to do like longterm, we should probably act probably fully fully protect this. Make sure it has full protection from everything. And even like in that that neighborhood actually turns into a real trail going both ways kind of down um the it's not the same exact as same exact street as University. They have a a street that's kind of three lanes and they convert a full lane into a trail. It's probably not available in university, but they're like something like that makes a lot more like a lot more sense long term. um if we're going to do this long term, make sure it's more protected. It is used I use it con pretty constantly. I live on the old west end and I'd go over the village and downtown pretty consistently. So, it makes a lot of sense. Um right right now I go between uh I do either north street or university, but I haven't done university because it's been under construction. Um so, just longterm make sure it's protected if it's something we're going to do. Um that's the major concern and uh everything else is kind of it's nice that we have it now. Um, so I appreciate and support as long as there's protection and more protection to any longer.

Any other public comments?

Hi, my name is Beth Mesner. Um, I had the privilege of speaking to you all at the September meeting on behalf of the Riverside Normal City Neighborhood Association. Tonight I'm here to speak on my own behalf, my personal behalf. Um, my opinions also do not represent uh the uh the opinion of my employer. Um, first of all, I'd like to respond to the information about the safety issue. Um, we also came with data about safety. Um, we've published this information on our neighborhood Facebook page. Um, I believe it was in materials that we sent to the city council as well very recently. According to the nonprofit Bike Head Safe, which provides pedestrian safety uh data, um parking does indeed slow traffic. It does this by increasing friction or effectively narrowing the travel lane and making the street feel narrower for drivers, which encourages slower speeds and greater caution. This added friction forces drivers to be more attentive to parked cars and moving vehicles. It also adds a buffer zone between the moving traffic and the sidewalk, improving pedestrian safety as well. So, um there are other opinions on the issue of safety and bike lanes. I might also add once again that this is a major thoroughfare for first responders. We regularly have ambulance runs. We regularly have fire engine runs. It's a major run for buses as well, which stop every couple of blocks on that particular street. And we greatly appreciate the paving, the curbing, the new sidewalk cuts, the ADA sidewalk cuts. Um, it has it has made a great deal of difference in terms of the navigability of that particular street. It's also increased the speeds of people

driving the street. I don't have a speed meter. Um, but just anecdotally, as somebody who walks that street regularly, as somebody who has to pull out on that street regularly, um, the speeds have increased significantly since the repaving has has happened. Um, I know we talked a lot about safety last week. We also talked about the impact on parking in the neighborhood. I would really like to talk a little bit more about the negative impact on the historic character of our neighborhood. I've lived in this neighborhood for 34 years. Um, in that time, I was drawn to the neighborhood initially by its charm for those of you who know it. We have very eclectic historic structures. We have uh canopied streets. It's a beautiful space to live in. Um, each home originally had one to twocar garages. They had front yards, backyards. It was very much a residential neighborhood. Um, however, over the last several decades, many of the homes in the neighborhood have become investment properties, which you're well aware of. Inadequate zoning has enabled investors to turn homes that were meant to serve a family of four into rentals that often house significantly more people. And as each of those renters arrives in our neighborhood, they bring with them a vehicle. This has created a dire problem for our historic neighborhood. We've witnessed entire backyards and sideyards being paved and graveled over to create additional parking. We've witnessed garages being torn down to make way for more parking. We've uh witnessed renters parking on sidewalks of side streets. We've seen renters parking in their front lawns. The situation only worsened when two years ago the city suddenly and without warning restricted on street parking on University Avenue for two hours which immediately started forcing more parking into um what were very

inadequate spaces behind homes at that particular point in time. Had we done parking surveys before that 2-hour limit suddenly emerged in September of 2023, we probably would have had much more accurate data in terms of the amount of parking that was taking place on University Avenue. Um, so basically the historic charm and character of our neighborhood is being dismantled bit by bit and issues with parking are a significant part of the problem. We do not want to see more historic structures destroyed. We do not want to see more backyards and sideyards paved over to remember to resemble the barren moonscapes that you now see lining the alleys adjacent to Neely Avenue which recently was turned into no parking as well to accommodate the new um boulevard.

We've tried addressing this problem by campaigning to protect pockets of our neighborhood with historic def uh designations. This effort has been significantly confounded by a large number of investment properties in our neighborhood. Few of those owners really support our efforts to prevent them from making changes to their properties. We've been in conversation with various city and campus leaders for over a decade, asking for their help, requesting that they use their networks and influence to encourage investors and developers to make better decisions. They nod. They say they understand. They say they also regret what is happening. But then they approve property line variances which allow people to add additional houses to lots, destroy trees, destroy a garages. They appear to ignore renovation projects that change every available space in a home into a bedroom, including dining rooms, living rooms, and basement without proper egress. And as owners of investment properties overcrowd those homes and negatively impact the quality of life in our neighborhood, we hear comments like, you know, your historic designation efforts don't really matter because the rental property owners are going to tear everything down anyway. As a result, the quality of life in our neighborhood continues to decline despite our best efforts to correct that course within the next couple of years. 28 new town homes and patio homes will be built as part of the village redevelopment efforts. We've been told that the prices of these homes will start at 35,000 $350,000. There may be one home in our neighborhood that will actually fetch that kind of price. There's a lot writing on the successful completion of this phase of the development. We support this phase of the development. Yet, we do wonder how attractive these

homes are going to be to buyers if the quality of life in the neighborhoods surrounding them continues to decline.

How will congested alleys, backyard moonscapes, no places for visitors or trades people to park in front of homes, and overcrowded parking on adjacent streets encourage them to purchase in our neighborhood? In conclusion, your vote on proposed ordinance 2925 isn't just a decision about eliminating parking for some to make a bike lane or make bike lanes for all. Once the landscape of our neighborhood is altered by eliminating parking on University Avenue, it will not be restored. No one is going to be rebuilding garages. Nobody is going to be replanting trees. Nobody is going to be replanting grass to return it to its historic character. My neighbors and I are working really hard to make Riverside Normal City a place where people want to live, not a place where people have to live. That's why I encourage you to vote no on this ordinance. Thank you. Thank you. Hello, Janna Oliver. Um, I have a couple quick questions. Are there three different things? What I guess what I need is the clarification on what route will be bringing it right into the city. Are there three different options to that? Two different options. One option.

So, right down university, two wheeling. Okay. Can we uh check on the accident rate at that intersection because it's extremely high. There's hardly any viewing where you're coming from this direction. You can't see uh any traffic coming from the north or it's very limited. So, there might be some things we need to check on there because I want to be safe if we go ahead and if you could do go ahead and go through with that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Good evening everyone. My name is Melinda Bidio and uh these comments expressed do not represent those opinions of my employer. So one thing that is clear is that there are so many people so many groups and organizations in our community that want the same thing. There is agreement that we want to celebrate public art. We want to provide safe green transportation and beautiful uh pedestrian paths. And we want to protect our historic neighborhoods. We have a campus that wants to build connections through the village to downtown businesses. And they have an amazing partner in Lily. And we have a city council and mayor's office who's reaching towards the campus. These are great things. So what if the solution is to start with the things that we agree with? The campus has offered to put in these really amazing decorative crosswalks. Let's start there. Let's put them in. The city, specifically our mayor, who is the biggest Lorax that I know, which is a tree lover, by the way, has a deep commitment. Thousand trees in a thousand days. Um, planting more trees after the recent he's he's super dedicated to planting trees. And after the recent infrastructure changes, we are in need of more planting. So, let's put those trees in round number two. Um, and build that corridor, right? this really critical corridor that we made a commitment to Lily to. There's been discussion about putting in human scale lighting along the existing sidewalks with beautiful planters and arts and highly functional trash receptacles. Let's put those in. We actually don't know what the parking situation is going to be like until the theater, the retail, and the housing pieces are finished. We may actually need those parking spots. So let's see what happens when those buildings open, the construction is gone, and the people settle into their patterns. And the cool thing is is we can start shaping those patterns now with those wayfinding signs. Everyone keeps talking about those wellness encourage me encouragement activities that will get us to walk four minutes to from our

parking spot to the theater. I'm with you. I'm there. And those parking signs and apps to clarify that there are parking spaces available elsewhere. I know this is hard for the city council to decide on what to do when you've got so many interests to balance here. I really appreciate what you're doing here. But what if a no vote now to the parking ordinance or ordinance is a yes to the rest? The rest of all those things that we do agree on, the crosswalks, the trees, the lights, the planters, the trash cans, the wayfinding signs, the apps, and the art. Now, I can imagine someone might say, "You know, Manda, there's no money for all those beautiful things." I heard there's a million dollars, by the way. I didn't know there was a million. And if that is indeed the case, if there is no money for the crosswalks, the art, the trash cans, the lights, the receptacles, then none of this amazing quarter was going to happen anyway, even with the parking spaces removed, even with those spots made available. In fact, the only commitment we exactly have right now is the paint that BSU has agreed to do. And in that case, the only people who would be paying for this installation would be our neighbors who've been fighting for over a decade to make sure those historic neighborhoods are protected. So, this is what I hope. Let's put the parking ordinance on pause and work collaborative collaboratively. That is the city, Ball State, our arts council, our amazing green transportation partners, our bike riders who do want to ride the bikes, but they're worried the paint might not be enough and pause it so that we can do all the things that we do agree on and we do agree on a lot. And if we put all those amazing things, I think we would have that beautiful corridor that everyone is dreaming of. And I do agree, we need to

figure out where it turns because I've heard 30 different places where it switches onto the main path. And of course, safety is our number one concern. So, thank you everyone for your time. I do want to thank uh Chris and his team. He's been talking uh with us a great deal. I want to thank our neighborhood and all our partners here today. We can make this a beautiful, amazing space and still honor our neighbors. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Evening.

Zayn Bishop, my resident. Um, I had previously sent a letter to city council last week. Um, outlining my support for this project. I don't want to reiterate any everything, but I do want to go over a few things. Um, first I want to say that I I bike, I walk, I take the bus, I drive throughout Muny to the village to uh my friends who live in this neighborhood. I have never had issues finding parking ever. I have had a lot of concerns with safety of getting there if I'm biking or walking. Um, and obviously bus service only extends until certain hours. Um so you know regarding e equity and you know access to Ball State to the village and to everything around there um this would be a great project. Um as Dr. Mesner said um you know parking adding parking on streets having parking on streets really at does have safety benefits that you can tell when you're driving by a bunch of parked cars versus if you're just on the open road. Um there are also studies showing that bike lanes add safety uh to streets. Um also I I know there not tonight but uh there has been some conversation around weather. Uh the biggest correlation between more biking is not with weather cold weather cities. It's actually with infrastructure and safe streets. Um, and unfortunately like the parking just isn't used. I I don't know how long how much the uh data is uh that the mayor shared last month. Um, I know that since this has been been more actively being talked about over the last couple years, I started observing more. I have very minimal records, but I tried to

look on different days, different times of day. Um, the most I ever saw was four cars on my on my account on my account. and I didn't do a ton of studies, but just looking at it and like being around the area for years, you can tell that the parking is at least underutilized. Um, and as far as the historic aspect of, you know, would this lead to more demolitions of garages, would this lead to more parking lots? Um, I think, you know, obviously we don't know what's going to happen in the future. I think the best thing we can look at is Gilbert Street which is two blocks south of University and then the other streets in the um Neie edition. Having on street parking has not prevented any of those garages from getting torn down, has not prevented things from turning into like that whole alleys turning into basically giant gravel parking lots. Um and I certainly agree like you know there's more that needs to be done in this neighborhood. There needs to be parking reform. Like these empty streets that allow parking but only two hours and or only if you're permitted and the permits are difficult to get, especially if you're renting. Like those that parking needs to be used more. There's no point of having a a giant empty street. Um let me see. I'm sorry. I don't want to go on too long. Um I I think the main point is you know this this has been kind of you know this idea of a trail from downtown to campus and to the village and to this through this neighborhood has been proposed for over a decade now. Um you know no neighborhood should be should experience radical change but they should all should not be exempt from change. And at the end of the day, you know, this is something that's on the table that, you know, at least, you

know, I also agree with Dr. Msino, like there needs to be more safety elements to this project, but at least as proposed right now, like this would not be that hard to be to be undone and like add back parking and maybe more people will use it when it's added back on. Um, but this would be a lot easier to undo than it is to vote yes tonight and stop in the way of this project that is hoping to bring, you know, a a good look and a and good safety elements to uh the neighborhood and to our city. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you for your letter. My name is Franklin Gray. I am just here on my own basically. I had a question. There was an observation made that there's already a bike path on Freely. I would like to know where that is. If you're talking about the Riverwalk, technically people are supposed to get off their bikes and walk them down there. It's not a bike path. And it's also you're required everybody coming down Riverside would then be required to cross wheeling to get to the bike path. So where is the bike path on wheeling currently that you're talking about? That was an observation somebody made and I'm just curious about where it is. Also I'm curious about how they would put a bike path on that section of Wheeling. I walk a lot and I walk those sidewalks. The sidewalk is right next to the lane. city bus goes by you, you jump over because you feel like it's going to hit you. Where are they going to put that particular like Pat? Are they going to take away one of the lanes on Wheelie? It's already problematic in some cases. I'm just curious. I don't know if anybody has an answer or not. Just something to think about.

Thank you. Anyone else? Helen McPerson. I am also a resident of the uh Riverside Normal City uh neighborhood. I sent an email to all of you this morning and just appreciate um all the thought and effort that's been going into this project. Um, one of my biggest things is, yeah, just working towards compromise. So, uh, whether parking is removed or not, I am certainly in favor of adding a bike lane. I ride my bike on university quite often. I get it I use it to get to work at Ball State. Um, I rode my bike down University to get here this evening. um and in fact uh had a car probably going 40 miles an hour past me um while I was at it. So that is one of the biggest concerns here is just that that safety piece. Um, so in the name of compromise, I think one idea that I have, I don't know how feasible it is, but just the parking protected bike lanes that we see downtown, um, just having cars act as that barrier for a bike lane is, um, something that's obviously allows parking to be maintained somewhat, um, but still allows for that development of a bike path. Um, and that if you move that parking into the street a little bit, that should lead to those slower speeds that were mentioned and those safety studies. Um, one other just point with the the speeds there. Um, maybe just if our our local law enforcement could actually enforce the speed limits there and make sure people are not going 45 miles an hour down a 30 mph road. that would do a lot for both pedestrians and and cyclists alike. So,

um yeah, once again, I'm I'm in favor of of the bike path in general. Um but I understand that um there is is certainly some compromise that could be done here. So, thank you. Thank you.

Anyone else have anything they want to add? Okay. Any questions from the council? I Okay, go ahead, sir. Sorry. Sorry. Um, yeah, I I just wanted to maybe get a point of clarification. Um, the mayor mentioned and I see that Miss Side is in the audience. Um, who's she's the executive director of the Muny Arts and Culture Council. Can would you mind coming up to the podium? Thank you.

Good evening everybody. Um, so I see we we have the letter that the mayor passed out last last month with the packet and um he said that you were in favor of this and I read this and I and I just want a clarification of what exactly the board agreed to be is in favor of. I guess so. I lead them the arts and cultural counulture council. I'm the executive director. My name is Tanya Aside. I'd like to clarify what our mission is. First of all, we champion arts experiences, public art, and a thriving community for artists and allies. But part of this project that we support are the artistic crosswalks.

Okay. Okay. So, you're not necessarily you don't you don't have a position on parking or anything necessarily. You're just in No, that would be mission creep for the myy arts and culture council. We support any and all arts and cultural projects for the city. Okay. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Here's Miss Council person. There's two things I'd like to say. I have spoken with Miss Vicky V from downtown development and she is in support of this project and I wish she was here tonight to speak, but I know she has something that she couldn't be here, but she's in support of it. And Oh, yes. Okay. Sorry.

Yep. Good evening. My name is Garrett and I'm the current chair of the Muny Downtown Development Partnership. Uh also joined by um Mr. Brian, who's our current vice chair. Uh yes, we are in favor of the ordinance and uh like my predecessor, I would like to restate the mission of the Muny downtown development partnership as I am trying to learn how to navigate an iPhone. So the mission state or the mission of Muny downtown u exists to create a downtown environment that results in sustainable and economic and cultural growth. Um, I think it's important to state that for well over a decade, uh, the local leaders from Ball State University, the city of Muny, and Muny downtown development, uh, have shared one common goal, and that's creating a strong and welcoming visual and physical link between the university and downtown. uh as Ball State uh moves forward with the plans for enhancements to the village and the new performing arts center uh establishing that connection uh will be key to ensuring the vitality and success of businesses in both areas. uh strengthening Muny's identity as a unified vibrant comm uh community. Uh Muny Downtown Development is committed to partnering with Ball State to build a coordinated marketing effort that encourages movement engagement and collaboration between campus and downtown. Uh once again, helping both thrive together. Um as stated, there was a letter provided to the city council uh dated September 8th. Um, we do appreciate the council's consideration of this ordinance and its role in advancing improvements that will benefit uh the entire Muny community. So, thank you M.

My second Thank you for being here. Um the second point was so I've received and read most of the emails that was sent to me and hopefully I've responded to everybody but there were other cons um the other point the other part of the coin is that people in the community in you know not just in the neighborhood wanted access to Ball State. So if they lived in Holtzman and some people you know I mean they wanted to come into Ball State and experience Ball State and they were supportive of it of the bike lanes because they'll feel safer coming into Ball State on university. I'm just sharing some of the things that people have said. Mr. President.

Yes. Council, I understand there's a lot of uh discussion yet that probably needs to happen on this and I'd like to make a motion to table this. Is there a second? Second. Motion's been made by Councilman Green to table, seconded by Councilman Basham. I'm going to finish the public discussion first. No, there's no discussion. We have roll call. Okay.

Okay. So, we get to vote. Vote. Roll call. Roll. Miss. Yes. Mr. Macintosh. Yes. Mission. Yes. Mr. Yes. Mr. Dishman. Yes. Yes. Yes. President. Yes. [Music] I think he's here. Oh, Mr. President. Yes. Council,

I would yes to tableabling, but I would like those discussions to continue. I would like the the the neighborhood to have that that voice because I feel like yes, people from Halman want to go downtown, but they're doing it in the front yards of the people who live and are impacted by these ordinances that we're passing. And you just said last meeting that you like that collaboration with the neighborhood association and that you think that you should listen to those to those voices. No, no. I'm just saying that that you had just said last month as well and I think that that we it's important um we I have been a huge proponent of the village revitalization plan project but in this instance we are there is a huge impact that's happening on the front doorsteps of the residents of Riverside Normal City and I think we need to listen to those voices.

Thank you. May I May I just do a quick followup on that? And also early on a couple years ago, there were meetings and there were other options versus it wasn't just university, it wasn't just Riverside. So there are are other options to look at. So I don't think anybody is against necessarily the Well, but yeah, exactly. Making a statement. Sorry. Yeah, you're right.

And I I want to just go on the record saying I have to listen as an atlarge person. No, let me explain. I have to listen to everyone in the community and weigh my decision that way. So yes, anybody that calls me or emails me, I respond back. I hope if somebody here emailed me and I didn't respond, let me know. I do my job. But I you have to remember that I am at large and I have to listen to every voice, not just one area. Thank you. That being said, roll call. Okay, Mr. Bash. Yes. Go ahead. Did we have red? Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

Next ordinance. Mr. Mr. P Mr. President, may I ask just be recognized? Do Do we still have Council Marrett with us? No. No, we do not. You go see that. Okay. No. No.

He has left the room. Okay. New ordinances. What is ordinance 33-25? Got to say a louder. Ordinance 33-25. An ordinance vacating a part of an alley located in block 15 of CH Kirby's addition to the city of Muny Indiana. Is there anyone here to speak on that? Mr. President, I make a motion that we introduce ordinance 33-25. Second. Thank I'm sorry.

Okay. Motion has been made by Councilman Pal for introduction, seconded by Councilman Green. Thank you, sir. Jesus Christ. Good evening again. Yes, ma'am.

Um, this Can you hear me? This is our first uh real hearing of it, but it is the the alley itself sits behind a property on Brady Street. The um alley is only 75 feet in width and only um in length, I should say, and 10 ft in width. The north side of the property is bounded by a property that was vacated in 2021. the people who did do the vacation did not they were trying to sell their property to move to Florida and they had a real quick had to push it through real quick and so our my client was not able to join the petition to vacate her part of the alley. So this piece of land is truly not accessible to anyone except our client. The north side of the property is south by about 75 ft of Wiser Street. it would be um west by 120 feet of Brady Street and if Wolf Street was improved it would be 120 ft from Wolf Street. So there is really no access to anyone except this uh the property owner.

So anyone else to speak on this? Any questions from the council? Okay, I would all in roll call. Yes, sir. Yes. Yes. [Music] Mr. Yes. Yes. Yes. Mr. Green. Yes. Mason.

Yes. Okay. Resolution resolutions. Resolution 17-25. Resolution that Resolution 17-25, a resolution of the city of Muny, Indiana, relating to the financing of a fire station project and approving a form of taxpayer petition in the connection with the therewith. Um, I'd like to say something real quick if I can, Mr. President. Yes, sir. Uh, Council Bashman, um, yes, you withdrew this resolution at last council meeting. I did.

And to give us the full attention that we can devote our time to the budget. I did. Can you explain why you refiled it in the last two weeks right after that meeting? I did not refile it. It was refiled. Um and um I I I I I did not refile it. Had your signature on it, right? It had my signature on the original one. Um and um it was refiled again and a surprise to me.

Okay. I guess I got my answer. Do we need to introduce it in order to discuss it? Yes. Okay. Do we want to introduce it? Is it a valid? Is it a valid? Is it a valid resolution? If if it wasn't council sponsored, I would say no. Okay, then it's off the board. It's off the table.

Mr. withdraw. Do I need you? No, I I I think um I I think um I'd rather um wait until another time to um to present it at my choosing. Thank you. She you need an explanation. Oh, okay. So, do we need to uh It was It signature Oh, wow. No signature. There's a signature on ours. It's on ours. Yes, it was. It was on the original one. It was refiled. I don't know. I I I did not do it.

Just for a record keeping standpoint for our records, I need the actual signatures of the petition. I haven't filed it. Oh. Okay. Can Mr. President? Yes. May I ask who filed it? Who filed it? The mayor's executive secretary refiled it and it was the exact same copy as last month. And I checked with Dan Gibson and Dan Gibson said if they're refiling it, it's okay.

Yes, Councilman Gill. But that was before he knew that a council person hadn't ced it. Right. Yes. I didn't know that. Yes. No, you didn't. You didn't. No. No. You didn't do anything wrong. No. Right. Right. I address the council. Neither did I. Neither did he. Okay. My name is Dennis and I'm with Bose McKenna and Evans and and we're working uh with the city on this project. Um I just want to answer the question about the secret. We can we can't go council. Are we allowed to discuss this? We haven't introduced it. Yeah, it hasn't it hasn't even been filed appropriately. We'll wait till another month to file.

I apologize. We'll get we'll get clarification on the question of signatures. Thank you. Thank you. Other business. Okay. Is there any other business names for people to to write? Yeah, I'm waiting on her.

Oh my goodness. I know. Okay, so you ready? Yeah. Um the names read. Okay. Rick Yenser. I pass.

Okay. Courtney Marsh.

Been one of them days, right?

Good evening, council. Uh my name is Courtney Marsh. I'm a Muny resident and I am your president of the Southside Neighborhood Association. Um, I come to you tonight to tell you about something a little fun. I know this meeting has been very serious and I hope that we've all taken it very seriously. Um, but I'm here to just share some fun. Now, uh, in October, we put on a great event for a lot of our local heroes. Some of those people may be sitting up here in front of us. Some of those may be in the audience tonight. This mic never gets easier. Um, but on October the 28th from 5:30 to 7:30 over at Ball Court Park, which is located on South Macedonia Avenue, we're going to have drinks, games, special events, or I'm sorry, special guest, raffles, and of course, always something fun we throw in at the end. We would invite everybody to come out, sign our game ball. We have one for basketball and one for kickball. And if your name's on it, you're going home with a special kid that night. We'd like to thank um some of our partners in that situation. One of those being Muny Police Department, our sheriff's department in Delaware County, and of course our parks department for allowing us to use that beautiful green space. I brought along a flyer tonight, so I'll be giving those out to everybody. I hope that you don't keep them in your folders with all that other important information that we went over tonight. I hope that you pass them out, give them to a friend, share them with a teacher. Uh um and we hope to see you guys at the event.

Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you, Janetta Grley. Oh, thank you, Gresley. Yeah. Okay.

Hello. I'm Janetta Presley. I live at 1419 West 8th Street, Muny. Uh, I just wanted to let you guys know that the laundry for kids has went over great. We've done 8,000 pounds of laundry for just kids alone. Um, so and that's with my folk collective. Um, so she's been kind of doing that. I've been a little sick, so she's been kind of she I've gave her the money and she's just kind of took that over with the other laundry that she does for the homeless people. But we are still needing funding for that because we have people calling every day wanting to know about doing laundry for their kids. So that's uh something that's going still going on. Um and also um the Aenddale United Methodist Church um they had were going to be stopping the meals um on Thursday nights, but um I've decided that I took that on um Brian left. So, as of right now, we still will be having the mills there um until we can try to find somebody to replace me uh to to take that to keep that going. So, that's all I have to say.

Thank you. Thank you, Cheryl. I'm not going to mess that last name up. Titan. Okay. Titchen.

I'm Cheryl Tensions. Um I've been in front of the city council several times in the last probably 10 years. um asking for well mainly I know that safety is a real big concern in the city of Muny but it doesn't seem that way in the south my hate to complain but I have tried and tried to get uh houses on both side of me and the city to it seems like that there's a double standard when it comes to enforcing ing city ordinances.

Um I in in particular um one house on at 1516 West 13th has a multitude and has for years for at least 10 years of trash uh foundations that are are rotting. uh trees that are inside the foundation or growing outside of the foundation. So, this is a health hazard for not only the tenants that live in this house, but also for the neighborhood. Um brings in Burman, you know, everything. And so, um, as of May the 30th, I sent, uh, or or it was sent for me because in some ways when you start complaining about your neighbors, your safety is at risk. And because they don't like to be complained against the the the slum landlords or whatever that continued to to be allowed to have this these types of conditions are continued to be allowed to have that. And the last effort that I made was May the 30th. I sent a um a message to uh our neighborhood association president asking him he is part of the um SA house house housing safety and he I I know he put in something for me because right after that was happened and the people did mow their yard but

they mow their yard but the landlords don't need or don't are allowed to to keep conditions of the neighborhood the way they are. And this isn't just a new thing. Um, one of our people that that are on our board and the neighborhood association, um, I think her name is Mary Lambert. I'm not positive. Um, she said that it took her 9 years to get a a house that was next to her or close to her condemned. And that's what needs to be happening to the at least this one house on one side of me. And it just it just doesn't go anywhere. It no one does anything about it. And no matter how many times I bring this up by letter to the mayors u two mayors um it's still just as allowed to happen. And another thing that happened just recently is that I was bitten by a dog that lunged over the fence on to he didn't actually get on my property. He lunged about 12 inches away from my property line. I was working there. I had a a person that was helping me with something. Their truck was there and I was putting some tools back in the truck and the dog just I mean bit me. And I have pictures. And then when I go down to the um the humane or not the humane society um animal control, they said that she produced a uh video showing over a span of maybe

an hour or two hours in between that time that they that the the owners of the dog produced a video showing that that dog didn't never lunge over the fence. And it's I I have a a witness that that said, "Yeah, they did it. I had had pictures of my arm." And so basically they took her position and and you know, and I asked him, I said, "Well, did you document did you document that with time, dates, time?" And oh, no, we were really busy. We couldn't do that as far as that video goes. So, and then I said, "Well, can can you get back with that video and and document the times?" And they said, "Well, she might have erased it by now." And that I I would have that way there would be no proof.

Okay. So there's just unsafe conditions and and you know I stand behind the in front of you guys asking you to make sure that that those things get taken care of. Okay. Mr. President speak uh I'd like to speak with you afterward. I'm on the unsafe housing authority. Okay. And I'd like to talk to you right after this meeting and we'll get some of these things taken care of. That'd be fun. Thank you very much. [Music] Oh, now wait on me. Be best man, sir. Oh, I'm sorry. You did? Yeah.

Mhm. Wow. It's up here twice. I ain't going to call him. He ain't here. Is the mayor here? Dan Randau. Yes, ma'am. Melinda Masanino. Hi. She left too. She's she passes pass those Kevin Sim Simmon Lyn Thornberg pass. Everybody passing now. Okay, Cameron. There you are.

That lift got short. Mhm. Evening again, council Cameron Grubs. I had one to ask for you. Uh, can we create an award? I would like to create an award for bravery. Um, the mayor deserve a coahones award for the amount of bravery that he shows week in and week out

to come here and say what he says and have the expectations he has after emailing you because we see these things small parts through the city's Facebook. But Nora, you had posted, you had made been transparent about things that were going on. And the tone that the mayor had taken in one of those uh emails to sit there and hold a community center hostage, I find that to be ridiculous. Playing talking about games over the last 5 years that he's been playing and suggesting that you all are playing games and then just like the the meetings that he that It gets frustrating because people are tired of having this happen. They're tired of not being given the information, having the transparency they were promised. I don't understand. I I still don't understand why when we have a Republican mayor and we now have a Republican council why we can't have working together put out all the information explain things explain the insurance why things change if they I have questions about the insurance as far as the budget goes whenever you guys talk about that can you all talk about find out before that because it's not been provided what are the changes to the insurance because yes it's going to go down but does that mean that insurance, you know, what is offered goes down. People don't want to find out after the fact. They don't like I don't know how many we got 600 people, 600 employees that they talk about, 209 on E, 199 on family. I would not want to be somebody that finds out after the fact that my kid can't get the treatment that they need. I'd be pissed off if I was an employee and that that stuff's getting tossed around like political footballs. put out the information. I don't

understand why that doesn't happen. It's not your fault. You guys are dealing with what they give you. He came in late. But the Republicans, too, you all have to help out. Try and work. Why aren't we putting explainers out there? Like, show what's going on. Why do we need this? Why do we not need that? Why do we have to pay for channel 60? Who the freak uses channel 60 anymore? Sorry. Yeah, but that kind of stuff. Okay.

Like it it's frustrating. And so like if we can I'm all for working together, but I am tired of I know I'm not the only one. I'm tired of feeling like we can't get information out of this administration. I know I'm preaching to the choir. Absolutely. And Republicans alike. I know you feel me. It's not This is not a Republican Democrat thing. This is purely we need accountability. We need transparency from our administration, from the people who decide what our budget is. So, thank you all. Thank you. Thank you,

Christopher Bilbury. I'm going to kind of springboard off Mr. Grub's comments. Um, first and foremost, I think that what we saw at the end of the meeting with the resolution, and I don't know if it's 16 or 17 because it was 16 last month. You guys didn't take action on it. It was tabled. It was pulled off and then this month it was apparently filed without the council's approval and it was reumbered. So, I don't understand what was why that's happened. So, maybe we can look into that as well. But I think time after time we see things like this happening and it it is very frustrating. Cameron's right. It is extremely frustrating. It it's not this hard. It shouldn't be as hard as it it's being made. This budget process has been probably one of the more painful processes in the last several years. I I want to read a quick state uh the end of the statement from a mayor's email from 9:24. The mayor of Muny said and I quote, "I was never asked to be at the finance committee meeting." He said meeting, I'm saying finance on 9:23. So I was surprised my absence at such a was such a big deal. Had I been asked to attend, I would have been there and answered questions as well. Mr. Mayor, I know you're not here because our voice doesn't matter, but let me be the first to invite you to every public meeting from here until the end of your term. You don't need an invitation to come and answer questions. It's not that difficult. You guys need

to demand that he be here. I understand he can do what he wants, but if you do that, it puts him on the spot. That takes me to the next statement. During the finance committee process, you guys multiple times would ask members of the controllers's office for information. And I hear the members of the controllers's office say this in other meetings, border works meetings, uh, redevelopment commission meetings. They're asked questions that they know they're coming into the meeting and they say, "Well, shucks. If we if only we knew that this was going to come up, we could have answered this. We left it upstairs." Recess the meeting for 5 minutes. Don't say, "Well, we'll give you till Friday to get it." Say, "We'll take a 5-minute recess. We're on the first floor of city hall. They're on the third floor." Tell them to run up the stairs or in the elevator and get what they need. Moreover, we all remember in school where they would say, "Come prepared." If you're walking into a finance committee meeting and you're the administration and you've prepared the budget, I would it's to make sense to me that they would want that budget passed. So to say, well, we've provided you everything and that everything is a graph on a half of a printer paper. I just it it floores me because we're still having an issue where the administration is saying they provided you everything you need to know about the insurance. If the Muny mayor is making the change for the insurance based off that one graph, we shouldn't be making the change. That's not enough information. And when they can I ask you a question are we self-insured or not self-insured? Is cities do we know?

Can anyone answer that? We can't. In the past, we've been self-insured, but I don't I don't know now. Miss

I'll send I'll send an email to the uh controller. And that brings me to my last point, and um I I thought very long and hard about saying this, but I've got more comments to make about this, but I want to speak it. I want the mayor and the controllers to be here when I talk about this. So, I guess I'll wait until you guys talk about it during the special meeting during the budget and I'll come up at that time and speak this so they can hear it because I want them to be present. But this last thing I want to talk to you guys and it's about them and it's about a lot of you. Okay? And I mean no disrespect when I say this, but I'm just telling the truth. Okay? Counselor Powell and I are not the greatest of friends. Okay? It's it's pretty pretty well stood that we have animosity between us. Okay. Every time since she's been back in this seat, she has answered every email that I have sent her. I email every single one of you and not a damn one of you can hardly ever respond. It's ridiculous. It's absolutely ridiculous. Jerry, I've known you for a long time. You've never sent me an email. I don't know what the deal is. If you can't email, you shouldn't be there. Okay. Rose Selby emails. All right. I don't know that I've received an email or two or three from councelor Golian, one or two from uh Macintosh and maybe one from Basham, maybe. I don't know. But if you guys can't email, you're in the wrong seats. It's 2025. You have It doesn't matter if you like me or not. If I can ask Nora Powell a question and she can respond, you should be ashamed of yourselves because you cannot. Okay, I'm just I just want to be clear. And that goes for the mayor. That goes

for the controller. That goes for everybody that is an elected or appointed public servant. So, we just have to be clear about this. This is not rocket science. We don't have to be best friends, but you have a job to do. And if you're not doing it, you shouldn't be in these seats. Okay. Um, that's it. I guess I'll say them more next meeting. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Audie Barber.

Hi. I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Audi Barber. I know some of you guys know me. I know there's a lot of new two or two new a lot of new faces on the council now. Um I haven't been up here for a while because I've been sick with a pause. Um last year we was discussing the fire station, the $9.5 million build. Beautiful building. beautiful fire station is, you know, beautiful place, but here with the budget meetings and stuff, we're at a shortfall. I think some of the contracts that you guys have discussed and and agreed to, some of them said that if you didn't have the money to give them the raise, they would drop back to the 3% instead of the 10%. Now they're giving you packages again to raise again another 10% every year or two or three depending on when the contract's up. And I understand these guys are underpaid. I love them all to pieces. They're great people. I've got family on that fire department and on the police department. But if we can't afford to pay them more than what we got, then we can't afford to pay them more. And it's just that simple. It's if you don't have the money to pay your light bill, you don't go out on Friday night, you don't have money to pay your water bill, you don't stop at Starbucks that morning, so on so forth. With that being said, I have tried for several years to get the council to pull this mayor in check. Cut his money off. If you cut his money off, he will have to answer your questions.

He will have to answer your questions. Quit giving him everything he wants. I know some of the new council members are now on a different party than what they were before and it's uh and it's a Republican controlled council now. But you guys still have to get the spending under control. It's that simple. If he's spending money and you don't have the money to spend and he will not respond to you, you cut him off with his money. When we were kids growing up, if we told our parents a a fib or a stretch the truth a little bit or a damn lie. We got grounded. We got our cars taken away from us. We got our money taken away from us. We wasn't allowed to go nowhere. Mr. Basham, did you have something to say?

No, I don't.

Okay. Well, I just noticed she was mumbling under your breath. So, I'll let you give have a chance if you'd like. Cut his money off. Shut the money off. Do it immediately and he'll start answering you. He's got three more years of this stuff, guys. Okay, two and a half, three years. Okay, who wants to put up with it that much longer? We've been going through it for six years now. Now's the time to step up, grab the bull by the horn, and stop this crazy stuff. He's got people in his office putting in resolutions and ordinances and stuff, and the councilmen don't even know about it. What in the heck is going on there? I think that may be some kind of fraud, maybe, possibly. So, please, please take your job seriously up there. Be a a steward for the citizens that elected you guys to be up there and stop the stupid nonsense of spending and him not responding to you. Cut his money off. Thank you. Have a good night.

Thank you. Thanks, Audi. Wayne,

believe me, I had no plans on saying anything tonight. I was expecting a budget meeting and I wasn't going to say anything. But I'm confused. Why are we not having a budget meeting? Why did they vote? And I I I understand what Bilbury was saying about the uh you guys met and it should have been a public meeting. I understand what he said about that because I saw everybody talking but a man in the pink shirt. I forgot your name skip. I just turned 60, man. So I'm It's Dishman. Jerry Dishman. Sorry, Jerry. So I understand what he said about that, but I want to know can y'all explain to us why we didn't have a meeting tonight? anybody

with only eight members present, you can't vote on an um the adoption of an appropriation electronically. So, the fact that Mr. Garrett was was absent, we could not he could not vote or participate at all in the meeting as long as there was we were considering for adoption those three budget ordinances. Um, we opted to delay action and wait till he is back because if we went down that path and there was a no vote if it was if it was tied then there we ran the risk of the budget being uh reverted back to the 2025 totals which doesn't sound bad because you could appropriate money into those line items and make those whole. However, if we revert back to the 2025 budget, not only do we take those expenses, we also take those incomes. And so, we have a $1.9 million that EDIT is increasing from 25 to 26 that would have been wiped out. And we have increases to public safety uh local income taxes that we expect to get and those would have been erased. And so by what we did tonight, we protected the money that's coming in because it is committed to things like the community center and different projects within the community, we wanted to make sure that we navigated the his absence carefully so that we could all still have a voice, but that we wouldn't find ourselves in a position where we were harming the community.

And so he will be back next week and we will be resuming. We will not adjourn the meeting tonight. The October 6th meeting will continue on until we meet on October the 16th. When we meet on October the 16th, we will resume the October 6th meeting. And that's because we have to not only meet legal requirements, which we we sought the the uh advice of Mr. Delk and Mr. Gibson, but we also have to meet the requirements of Department of Local Government and Finance. Um I talked to our field rep this morning and we were given two options. what we did or start the process all over again, but we have to be able to adopt the budget by Monday, November the 3, or else we fall into that same category when we revert back to the 2025 budget. So, we navigate as carefully as possible so that we could all have a voice and have that discussion, but not hurt the community through forfeiting income that we would be receiving.

Now, see how easy that was? We nobody understood anything. That's that's that's that's all we needed was an explanation. Okay. So, um but since I did come up here and say something, uh oh,

there there is one thing that that's been on my mind and it's just commentary. So, I don't need a reply unless you want to. But I recall when we had a Democrat mayor and our city was under investigation, federal investigation, several people went to prison. Um, sanitary district officials went to prison. All Democrats. Not one time did the two Democrats, I know one was a councilman at the time, one wasn't, but at one no time during all of that fiasco did they jump ship. Not one time did they say, "You know what? My party's top officials going to prison. I'm jumping ship." They stuck with it. They stuck with it. So, I'm just curious. I mean, I don't know of anything that happened lately. Why jump ship now? I don't get it. And I'm not political. I mean, I don't care. I'm not Democrat or Republican. I could care less. But I'm just curious. Is there something? There's an underlying factor to make you jump ship. After all the stuff the Democrats went through and the disgrace on the Democrat party, you stuck with it and then out of the out all of a sudden nothing happens and you jump ship. So I just wanted to make that commentary. Thank you.

Thank you. Can I have one more quick question, please? Can you tell me how long this meeting has been scheduled? Has it always been the first Monday of every month for 25, 30, 40 years? Yes. Okay. I just wanted that to be on the record. Thank you. Okay. That concludes and then anybody else? No. No. We're ready. No. We And then you will read out. If we're ready, Harold, if we're ready to to finish, then you read that. Yeah. I don't know what you're pointed at, but the say it starts with pursuant. Okay, you have it. Okay, go ahead.

Okay. Pursuant to the prior action of council, this meeting will reconvene on October 16th, 2025 to cons to solely consider the budget ordinances. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm sorry. I wasn't looking at my It wasn't.