Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

The City of Gary Redevelopment Commission meeting is now called to order Wednesday, September the 9th, 2026, 4 o'clock p.m. here in the Public Safety Building. Roll call, please.

Commissioner Clemmons? Here. Commissioner Bourne?

Here.

And finally, President Stallings? Yes. All right, let the record show that Gleneva Dunham, and Kenneth Wisenton and Glenn Johnson are not here. But we have enough for a quorum. All right, thank you.

Moving on. The agenda to item number three on today's agenda with the approvals of the agenda. The chair will entertain a motion for the approval of today's agenda. Second, are there any questions or comments from commissioners or staff about today's agenda? If not, roll call please. Commissioner Moore?

Yes.

Commissioner Clements?

Yes. And President Stoltenberg? Yes. Okay, with three votes we have approval of the agenda.

We move to item number four on today's agenda, which is the approval of last month's meeting minutes. The chair will entertain a motion for the approval of last month's meeting minutes. and staff, Commissioner's roll call, please. All right, Commissioner Moore.

Yes.

Commissioner Clement. Yes. And finally, President Sullivan. Yes. All right, with three votes, we have the approval of amendments of the last meeting.

Let's move on to number five, which is the approval of claims. But at this particular time, we will have an overview of the claims from Mr. Tate.

Good evening, Commissioner. Good evening. I have eight claims that is requiring approval. First, with innovative planning. $8,237.07. Cupwright Lawn Care, $24,930. American Structure Point Incorporated, $16,831.01. College Humps, $17,904.73. Corrales Roofing, $5,172.50. Vickerman & Associates, $22,387.50. Haywood & Fleming Associates, this is insurance for the builder's risk for the Brothers Keeper Project, $2,796.20. Willpower, $1,675. All total claims is $99,934.01.

We moved the city hall, actually, I want to say, what, January of 2025. We were determining what we wanted to do with the space. We wanted to clear the space out. And with that, being able to just We had conversations regarding internal, in-house, being able to help satisfy us and move us out of 504 Broadway, but it was really capacity. Unfortunately, 504 Broadway, often the elevator is not functioning. It requires removal of manual labor from up and down the stairs to be able to get us out of the building. So this moving company had the manpower to be able to get us out in a timely manner.

When did you make the decision to move out? Initially, we wanted to be out in July. I think we got pushed back another month because different things, discussions were still taking place. So finally, we sent the last notice in August 1st to be out by August 31st. But the discussion was actually started earlier in the year to see how we were going to get out. But July and August were the dates where...

So this is where I would say that I have a problem? if we can do it internally, because we're going to pay this no matter what. So if they're going to pay us, we'd like public works that could have helped move us out.

They couldn't. They didn't have capacity to do so.

So I've spoken to them, and because I knew I was going to have an issue with this, because I brought it up in June during our finance meeting to see if that was something that could happen. because we have been talking about moving out. And so I am a supporter of helping with Ian first and then looking outside because all of those families live in the city of Gary. And if we're going to pay $17,904, I would like to see that go to families that are here in Gary. And so I know that I brought it up in our meeting. And so I would have liked to be notified that that is not what we decided to do.

The commission did vote on moving forward. No, no, I get that.

But I specifically mentioned it in, am I wrong? Yes, you did. In a meeting. I would have liked to be notified that they don't have the capacity or for whatever reason. Because I was the person who said, how about we look internally at families who reside here in Gary, Indiana to help that. So I will not be supporting that. Everyone else can. But I just think that internally, I think that we need to really look at how do we work within ourselves first, and then look outside if there is a way to do it. And considering that we have been tolling with this for over six months, I think that we could have found capacity. I think that we ran into a jam because we were kicking the can down the curb. That's all that I have to say about that.

I have a question. $17,000, would that be overtime work my whole concern from the beginning. If they don't have the capacity to do it, we're gonna have to go out and get somebody else. I didn't get into, they brought us a presentation about who was gonna do it, I asked my questions then. I didn't get into entertaining or even talking to anyone in the Board of Work, so I was not I would prefer, just like you've been notified, I would like to notify the talks because that's, for me, I don't talk to staff about what they should do. I give it to this staff probably, but I don't talk to the board of words of what's going on. And so moving forward, anything that we have talked about and we need to make some decisions on, I think we should just notify and we could talk about that prior to that. and not moving forward our communication of being in a way that if you have to, it just I'm not in favor of not communicating with one another. So that's my little thing.

And we just had a meeting yesterday. It wasn't even like we had a long meeting. We just had this meeting yesterday. And this was just presented to me yesterday. And I was told, because I was in here at the last meeting, because I was on vacation, that it was already approved. So it has to be paid, because the work was already done. But I was just expressing my issue. You know, I respect that.

I mean, I like that. I mean, I want us to be able to communicate. And then when we can communicate, we can make a solid decision that's going to make everything run forward. So that's it.

Before we go forward with a motion, because we don't have a motion on the floor yet. We started discussions early. I wanted to bring up that we have a very narrow board. We would need three votes to approve the approval of the claims. You've signaled, Commissioner Borum, your intention to not vote for this. So we have two options, right? You vote to approve the approval of claims as it is, but we won't get enough votes. You could make a motion to approve everything but the questionable claim and hopefully get a consensus vote on that. I just want to let you all know if we don't get three votes, then we can't go forward on whatever we go forward with. So keep that in mind as you draft, as you state your motion for the approval and how you want to approve it. So I'm just putting that out there.

So do you want to go ahead? I mean, respectfully so. And, you know, you're doing the board. And I only say this because moving forward, you've expressed your feeling. And by me not knowing that, if I was sitting there new, that was a concern of yours, and I would have been calling you and trying to figure out what.

But I don't think I was in a meeting with college hunks. When I actually looked there and said college hunks, I was like, hunks? Anyway, I understand exactly where you're coming from. The city does have a Think Big, Work Big program. And because I didn't really investigate this, and I see the cost now. I'm straight with what you're saying because when you deal with the public and you know how many people need jobs in our city and how this could have created work for families, teenagers, any nonprofits that are out there cutting grass and utilizing skills and tools. we could have looked within and it would have been a bigger, greater Gary, as they like to call it, because we created something for our community with the dollars out of redevelopment. So I totally agree with what you're saying. Also, they've already been paid, right? I mean, they've already done the work. Yes. So they've done the work because it was approved. So it was approved, we were approving them to get paid. So we already approved the 17,000 out of the four hours. So there's really nothing for us to do but give them what we approved already. And I get it. But I totally agree with what you're saying. But I would still have to support it because they've already done the work. And I believe we could have done the work within this community and help people that even though we didn't have this going on in these families, dealing with these issues from the power outage, you see just the need for additional income that we could have created. So I have a motion to approve this claim.

Just to clarify, is it a motion to approve all claims as presented? Because that was the kind of dispute. Did you want to approve all claims or did you want to approve all claims except the questionable one? But it sounded like you wanted to approve everything.

Yeah, I'm just going to, because it's no bickering with me in regards to what, you know, I'm just going to approve it. But I, you know, when you're dealing with the public, this could have been a good piece of income for the community. But I still approve the whole claim.

I second your motion.

If you move, we'll probably second on any additional questions or comments from staff or commissioners. If not, roll call, please. Commissioner Clemmons? Yes. Commissioner Board?

Yes.

President Stallings? Yes.

All right. With three votes, we have approval of the claim.

Thank you, Senator. Just before we move on to one more other thing, and I know we've always asked the commission to make sure that give me a call and we'll talk about it before it even becomes a motion to obey something like the college trust and stuff, because we've had that in the past with Mr. Clemmons and myself, Six on today's agenda, which is public comments on agenda items only. Is there one present that has signed up to speak on agenda items only, or is there someone present that would like to speak on agenda items? If not, we move on to number seven, which is presentations. Director Harris, do we have any presentations today? Resolution number 7740 is a resolution of the City of Gary Redevelopment Commission authorizing and ratifying an amendment to the contract with Mechanical Concepts HVAC services at 1085 Broadway. Director Herr.

Thank you, President Stallings. So resolution 7740 is a resolution change order to be written in regard to our work at 1085 Broadway. This change order would be for $6,940. This is a capital improvement project. We want to make sure that we're investing in that space appropriately so we can have tenants and maybe happy tenants and we'll be able to lease out more space in the future. So the intent for this change order is actually to add a locking mechanism to the HVAC system to prevent any theft.

So with this, the HVAC system at 1085 will be complete, meaning this is

on for 1085. Also, Chris, if you don't mind, just so I can clarify, there's also some additional work that needs to be done. There was an additional HVAC unit that needed to be ordered at that location. So that was kind of like what the main, the main cause of the change in order. They're doing additional work because something went out in between our last award and this now award. So there's some additional work that needs to be done to get the HVAC system up and running at that location. Is that

Okay, the chair will entertain a motion for the passage of resolution number 7740.

I actually had a question about the resolution. Revisiting this resolution, I had a request in regards to how things at City Hall

going into the summer. I mean, the winter, the heat's only working. We're investing a lot of money. They'll be comfortable, but will you all be comfortable? So, you know, I mean, it's only right that we look at, as the board, the commission, you all was dealing with issues with air, and you're fixing air somewhere else. Now, we're going to the winter months. Are you going to be cold up there? I appreciate it. Who brought, is it the report?

So I can defer to Chief of Staff Ellis Dugans regarding building operations total because we're now at City Hall. We're overall part of the building system and right now as far as it's been generally okay on the ground level but in the winter time usually that actually

of the redevelopment office, because we are okaying money to repair other places, and our home place is not being repaired or had the attention. And you very well may have the agenda vote for the whole building, we just want to know what that is. And we don't want you all to feel lackluster about letting us know what's going on. Chair, we entertain a motion for resolution to pass the resolution number 7740. So moved. Second. The move is properly seconded. Let's get on to the additional questions and comments from staff and commissioners. Roll call, Ms. Teague. Commissioner Clement. Yes.

Commissioner Borum. Yes. And finally, President Sullivan. Yes. All right, with three votes, we have the motion passed.

Thank you. We move resolution number 7741, a resolution of the City of Gary Redevelopment Commission awarding property located at 21 West Seventh Avenue and authorizing the execution of a purchase agreement between the Redevelopment Commission and the bidder. Director Harris.

Thank you, President Stallings. So this resolution is a resolution to award to Mrs. Durania Bell, 721 West Seventh Avenue. This is a parcel adjacent to her building, the Perry Shaw Building. She's been very patient, very diligent, So with that, she's had several conversations with lenders about the acquisition of this site or parking along Seventh Avenue. We have been, oh, there we go. Doreen Dillon has been to the commission meeting several times.

Chair, we'll entertain a motion for the passage of resolution number 7741. So moved. Thank you, Christian.

Second.

We're moving properly. Second. Any questions or comments? If not, roll call, please.

Also, before I start the roll call, I just want to say for the record that School Board Representative Johnson has joined the meeting. But on the roll call, Commissioner Bourne.

Yes.

Commissioner Clemmons. Yes. And President Stallman. Yes. All right, with three votes, we have a motion passed.

resolution of the Board of Redevelopment Commission awarding properties located on Connecticut Street and authorizing a purchase agreement between the bidder and the commission.

Thank you President Stallings. So this resolution is a resolution to award 1101 Connecticut Street and 1135 Connecticut Street to Isaac Ruiz of Rocklands Landscape for the amount of with the intention of building and expanding the landscape business being here in the city. Mr. Ruiz has been very diligent and responsible with how he's been approaching taking care of the city with communication

Hello, how's everybody doing today? Good. My name is Isaac Ruiz with Rough Hands Landscape Company. I'm here today because I would like to acquire that property 1101 and 1135 in Connecticut. My vision for that property is not only to have my headquarters there, but I would also like to install a landscape center there and having hired people from the residents from the city of Gary there as well. So that's why I'm here today.

Thank you. Do I have any questions for Mr. Lewis?

No questions? Thank you so much. I appreciate everybody and God bless you all.

Resolution number 7742. So moved. We're moving properly seconded there. Are there any additional questions or comments? Roll call, please. All right, Commissioner Borum.

Hello.

Commissioner Clements. Yes.

All right, and finally, President Spaulding. Yes. All right, with three votes, the motion passes.

Now move on to seven, resolution number 7743. This is a resolution of the City of Barron Redevelopment Commission authorizing the amendment of a demolition contract with Focus Asset Management. Yes.

I'll take care of it. So, we actually previously awarded a contract with Focus Asset Management, but since different things have happened between that last award and now, some things kind of came up that were not foreseen. There was some legal dumping that occurred on the property with some environmental concerns. So that raised the total scope of the project. It is beyond 20%, but when things happen that are outside of anybody's control, it doesn't necessarily increase the scope, so we can kind of go beyond that 20% threshold. So we're just kind of asking to increase their contracts by a certain amount, and I'll give you the exact amount we had here. We are trying to increase their contract by an amount of $17,414.78. That will cover the additional work that they need to do to be able to clear those, to demolish those lots and clear the extra debris that got dumped on the property and things of that nature. So we're asking you guys to approve. I can't say for sure if we have pictures, but they have not done the work yet. They submitted these new change orders to us before we kind of awarded them this contract today. So they have not done the additional work, but they let us know that this was a problem.

I have not personally seen pictures. Good afternoon, commissioners. Attorney Jenkins forgot I was in the room. Yes, when we bid the project, we documented exactly what was on the property. It was a blighted single-family house. We then bid the project. FAM submitted a bid based on what was on site. Prior to their mobilization, which they have not done yet, somebody came and dumped an entire trailer load of another demolition in the city or somewhere on this property. I have seen the debris. It is extra from where it was originally, what they originally bid on.

Sure, go ahead.

What are they dumping? They are not dumping.

It's just a question. When we're disbursing money, people play games. And I'm not saying they are. But as a commission, the question I asked was, they knew they were getting money. They can send Joel over there to dump another load. We're going to get some more money from the city. What are the safeguards that we have in place to make sure that our money, well, is just being allocated correctly? I get exactly where you're coming from. It was XYZ that came back. It was another pile of trash for $17,000. I mean, how long have they been in business? We know business tactics, but I'm not saying they're doing it. What I'm saying is, $17,000 more from a trailer dump on their site.

There's actually other components as a part of this change order. It's not just the, there are two other properties that did not have environmental reports as a part of the project. They had the option to bid the project without the environmental reports, because we did not have it, and do on-site surveying for environmental services. After much discussion They felt and we felt more comfortable with item criteria of getting an assessment an ASCM Report and so included in that is the asbestos report and management known assessment management on these two properties And I I don't do you have a memo the memo with the

Oh, no, I don't think I heard anything in the back.

I'm happy, we can obviously table this and I can send you the memo, make sure that you have the proper documentation. I can also make sure that FAM is at the next meeting to answer any of your specific questions as well.

I really like that idea, to table it and make sure that they're at the next meeting, but also I'd like Commissioner Clemmons remarks regarding what are the safeguards that we will put in place going forward, right? Is it something that they need to report to the police, right? Is it something they say that, you know, we are a city property, this is the process, and actual documentation so that we know that our money is being appropriated the correct way. And then also, is there a way to make sure that, you know, with certain properties, the environmental test is being done, right? Because to be able to bid and win a bid under one criteria and then say that we both feel that it should be under this criteria, but there should be certain scopes that check off a box that say, because of all of these check marks, you automatically need to bid it with an environmental test. Because you can understand our concern regarding giving out the money.

Absolutely. We do have guardrails from a standpoint of a very strict process and a protocol of what we do as far as due diligence prior to issuing bid. And I'll be happy to share that process with you in a written report or I can tell you now. And then as far as change orders, it's a matter of, we don't have Cameras out at every single property that we own and but for knowing who dumped We don't have documentation now. I will say the citizens have been doing a great job of Sharing information when they are take they'll take pictures of license plates cars the activity and then we can use code enforcement to properly cite those violators and But in this instance, we have no documentation. We don't have a camera. The block is actually, the house right next door is on the slate to be demolished. And so it's just an empty block.

We understand that, but just to make a report with the police to say we didn't do this. Because typically people don't make reports against themselves.

Yeah, great. I will make that suggestion to them, absolutely. I mean, absolutely. That was a great suggestion.

Yes. All right. This item will be taken.

Thank you.

We now move to resolution. Sorry, I have to interrupt you. But resolution 7744 is actually duplicate. Can we just skip ahead on that one to 7745? Okay. Sorry for the confusion.

Chair, we move on to resolution number 7745. Board of Works and Redevelopment Commission transferring properties from their redevelopment commission to the Community Development Department. Director Harris? Yes.

Thank you, President Stallings. So, Resolution 7745 is a resolution to transfer property between the Dairy Rebuff Commission to Community Development. If you look in your packet, you'll have exhibit A. Exhibit A includes addresses that we are looking to pursue our very first initiative, if you recall, sites for new homeowners in the future. So this block is immediately south of Ormond Square. It's completely vacant lot and it's our intention to be able to show model homes that location

Thank you very much. Move to resolution number 7746, which is a resolution granting site access to 456 Harrison Street for environmental testing. Resolution 7746, an entity approached us asking for a site access agreement.

They're a part of the state cleanup program where they're doing environmental testing on different lots. I think the lot they're actually working on is 832 West 7th Avenue, but the lot we own is 456 Harrison Street. And in order to build some of the carryout there by the environmental review, they want to collect soil samples from our lot, which is kind of nearby the area. So whenever they do these state cleanup programs, they kind of target a wide net to just take the environmental testing in the entire area. So that's why they just want access to our property to do that. They want you to monitor it for a few months afterwards, but for the most part, they just want access to the property for that particular purpose. So we're asking you to approve resolution 7446 to grant them site access. And it costs us nothing.

Chair, we entertain a motion to pass the resolution number 7446. Any additional questions or comments from staff or commissioners? Roll call, please. All right, Commissioner Borum?

Yes. Commissioner Clements? Yes.

And President Stelman? Yes. All right, with three votes, the motion passes. Now I move on to resolution number 7747, which is a resolution authorizing the purchase of a lot on 15th Avenue as part of the 15th Avenue project between NDOT and the City of Gary. Director Harris.

So resolution 7747 is a resolution to acquire portion of the property located at 1619 East 15th Avenue. Recall that we have a infrastructure improvement project that we are working on with Indy on 15th Avenue between Martin Luther King Drive and I-65. The intent is to widen the lanes for 15th Avenue and create almost like an industrial park we have the opportunity to really maximize that corridor and encourage future and more development. This also includes street lights, curtains,

This project will possibly be done?

Done, so I know that it will, the intent is for it to start second, third quarter of 27th. Okay. Project completion, you're probably talking about second, third quarter of 28th. Okay.

And that's just east of the main post office?

Yep, yep, along the King Drive to ICD-5. Okay. and it gets really rough at that location. So we've been having conversations with them about including that scope as well. Right, right, I totally agree.

Okay, the chairman obtained a motion for the passage of resolution number 7747. Moved. Second. And moved and properly seconded. If there are any additional questions or comments from staff or commissioners, roll call please. All right, Commissioner Borum?

Yes.

Commissioner Clemmons? Yes.

Now move to number nine on today's agenda, which is other business. Do we have any other business to discuss today? Okay, thank you. Commissioners and directors report. Director Harris?

Yeah, just really briefly, this is September. September 12th, we have our downtown area marketplace, the popular block of Broadway. We have two more, the 12th and then the 26th. So definitely come out. We appreciate everyone's support in supporting small businesses. making it downtown. I had the opportunity to attend Terrell Vaughn's event celebrating Genesis Tower's 100th anniversary last week. It was really awesome. I had a nice stage set up on the 600 block of Broadway. I had a buddy guy and Bobby Rush. Yes, Bobby Rush. So it was a really awesome time, and I think the residents really enjoyed themselves, and it just shows more opportunity next year for creative placement in downtown. So I really appreciate that, and come out to the downtown area marketplace from 12 McCormick Park. Okay, thank you, Commissioner Brown.

I've spoken enough. No comment. Yeah, thank you. Thank you everyone who came out today and also those who are watching over social media. If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to reach out to the relevant staff