City Council - Regular Meeting

If you would please remain standing for a moment of silence of two longtime public servants. Jimmy Lambert passed away a couple of weeks ago. She was on redevelopment for many years. And Bobby Costa, Among her many accomplishments, she was the second female elected to the Hammond City Council and the first female to serve as the council president. Thank you. Mr. Golick, roll call, please.

Here, let the record show six in chamber. Is that correct? One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Seven in chamber, one virtually, and one absent. Mayor's address. Hi, Mayor. Hi, Councilwoman.

Make a motion we accept and approve the minutes of the last meeting.

Second. Motion by Councilman Warpel, second by Councilman Emerson to approve the minutes of the August 24th meeting. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Aye. Motion carries. Moving on to approval of claims.

Madam President. Yes, Councilman Rapos. Move to accept claims beginning and any with claims dated 9-9-26. Claim number 6782 through claim 7289, that's 7289 inclusive, in the amount of $16,053,174.04. Second.

Motion by Councilman Rakos, second by Councilman Tyler to approve the claims. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? Clerk Ollick, roll call vote, please. Alexander.

Yes. Motion carries, seven in favor, one virtually, and one absent. Moving on to public hearings. There are none. Ordinance third reading, final passage. There are none. Hold it. Communications. Did I miss that? Okay. Thank you. Any communications? Any communications? Any communications? Communications is now closed. Thank you, Clerk Golick. Committee reports. Any report from Economic Development? Councilman Tyler?

Any report from Plan? No plan. Thank you, Councilman Spitali. Finance?

Madam President, as we go along with the Capital Improvements Board, Report two.

Okay, so no report on finance? Both. Okay, thank you.

The Capital Improvements Board allocated $250,650 at the last meeting, which leaves 2.2 million in the Capital Improvement Board fund. Of those allocations, Funding allocation 340 was a modification to Wolf Lake parking lot D in the amount of $88,000 that went to HWC engineering. There was a problem with the grass parking lot during the fest, and some engineering is being done on possibly fixing that to some sewer work. Allocation 341 is at US 41 in Calumet Avenue at the Eaton Street conversion right here. They're trying to make it, rather than a one-way street, a two-way westbound. to United

Thank you. Next is the Crime Watch reports. Community Watch at Mount Zion Pleasant View Plaza will meet Wednesday, September 16th at 1 PM. Hammond Pullman Crime Watch will meet Tuesday, September 15th. That is at 6 PM at the Ophelia Steen Center. Edison Community Watch will meet Wednesday, October 7th, 6.30 PM at Edison School. Harrison Park Crime Watch will meet Tuesday, October 6th, 6 p.m. at the VFW on Homan Avenue across from Harrison Park. Hessville Crime Watch will meet Thursday, September 17th, 6 p.m. at the HC3 Community Center. Irving Community Watch will meet Tuesday, October 13th. T

Since this is sponsored by you, I make a motion that it pass on first and second reading. Did we make a decision on if it's going in the committee? On what? Did we make a decision on whether we're going to put it in committee or not?

I don't think it's necessary to put in committee, but we do need to have a public hearing on September 28th. Is there a second? Motion by Councilman Warpel, second by Councilman Spitali. Any discussion? Councilman Warpel, you raised your finger.

Okay. Okay. Just to be specific, this is $16,944.92 that is appropriated from the innkeeper's tax operating balance to the hotel motel fund that is primarily used for, or that is used for advertising.

Now I know why I was exercising my finger. I was supposed to say that. Okay, thank you.

Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Clerk Golick, roll call.

Yes. Motion passes, seven in favor in chambers, one in favor virtually, and one absent.

I make a motion to pass on first and second reading with no committee hearing. This is something we do every year. I make the motion that we pass on first and second reading with no committee hearing. And there is a public hearing on September 28th.

That is correct. May I have a second? Second. Okay, motion by Councilman Werpel, second by Councilman Tyler. Any discussion? Madam President. Yes, Councilman.

I had that wrong. This isn't what we do every year, is it?

Yes. Having a bad night. It appropriates 862,000 from the park department to accounts such as special events, 219 day, key and clean up refunds, holiday parade, veteran parade, Dowling Park, Riverside Park, Irving and Columbia Park, Optimist Park, Hessville Soccer Complex, Sports Hall of Fame, Cinco de Mayo. OT, overtime for special events, part-time concession workers, FICA and Medicaid, payments and employer share allocations.

Thank you. I would like to point out that at Dowling Park, there is a substantial amount that was allocated to that. And there were several upgrades that were done at Dowling Park. The rest of the parks, it's general maintenance and upkeep. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? Glickolick-Rocco. Alexander.

Yes. Motion carries, seven in favor in chambers, one virtually, and one absent.

I move for passage on first and second reading and set a committee hearing for council as a whole on September 28th at 5.15 PM.

Motion by Councilman Warple. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilman Kalwinski. Any discussion?

The Indiana State Board of Accounts requires all municipalities to maintain proper fund accounting and identify sources and authorized purposes of revenues and account for expenditures. This is... setting up fund number 2504 which is the august 2026 emergency fund and it is to receive account for and track and expend revenues and other legally available monies received or made available to the city in connection with the storm that affected the region on august 11 2026 this also includes qualifying state and federal money Fund 3383, a public safety debt fund. It is to receive and account for a

Thank you, Councilman. Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Clerk Golic, roll call vote, please.

Yes. Motion carries, seven in favor in chambers, one virtually, and one absent. Is there a committee report on that one?

Do I need another roll call, clerk? No. It was introduced with that. Okay, that's just that. Okay. Okay, motion carries.

I make a motion that we pass Ordinance 26-26 on first and second reading, refer to Economic Development Committee for a committee meeting at 5 p.m. on September 28th? Correct. Second. Sorry, last piece, and with a public hearing on September 28th as well.

Okay, motion by Councilman Tyler, second by Councilman Emerson. Any discussion?

Madam President? Yes, Councilman. For everybody following along, this is for the proposed development at 6525 Indianapolis Boulevard. The amount of the payment is not to exceed $770,000. And there's also another public hearing tomorrow. Do you want to leave? Yes. I believe you said there's another public hearing tomorrow, too. So public has a couple opportunities to weigh in if they would like to. Thank you.

Any other discussion? Yes, clerk. Oh, did I hear a second? Okay, yes, Councilman Emerson. I thought so. Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Clerk Golic, roll call.

Yes. Motion carries, seven in favor, seven in chambers, one virtually, and one absent.

Thank you. Resolutions, there are none. No non-finished business.

I know it's early, but I make a motion that we move the October 12th meeting, which is on Columbus Day, to October 13th at 6 PM here in council chambers.

Second. Motion by Councilman Werpel, second by Councilman Kalwinski. Just to, no, I was thinking we had committee meetings that night, but no, that's the 28th. Thank you. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? Quick roll call.

Yes. Motion carries, seven in chambers, one virtually, and one absent. Any other new and unfinished business? Any other new and unfinished business? Any other new and unfinished business? New and unfinished business is now closed. Special zoning action adopted under Indiana Code 36-7, there is nothing. Public expression. First speaker, Mary Schoens on Wabash.

Thank you, Mary. Come on. Okay. Wrong button. Okay. Next is Ulysses Cruz. And your address, Ulyssa? Thank you. It is by ordinance. It is by ordinance, and I'll show you. Okay.

Thank you. Thank you. Okay, well, I don't know. Okay, anybody online? Okay, public expression is now closed. Motion to adjourn? Second. Motion by Councilman Morpals, second by Councilman Tyler. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed?