City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Welcome to the Muny City Council special meeting. We're having a special hearing on ordinance number 1-26. You'll stand with me and 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. [clears throat]

Okay. Again, this is a public hearing scheduled for ordinance number 1-26, which seeks additional appropriations. Is there anyone here to speak on that? There's pretty strict instructions up here. Speak into microphone. M

hey Dan Bidenower, mayor of Muny. Uh this first ordinance for 2026 is some additional appropriations for EDIT. Um as all of you know uh from the press conference on we had said that we were going to take $900,000 from EDIT. Uh what had been saved in previous years and use that to help fund uh the general operations of the city. Uh so uh when I went to the controller, he wouldn't let me do it the way I had hoped, which is just take $900,000 and move it into the general fund. He says you have to pick what you're paying. So I decided to use some things that I think I'm not sure everybody's aware of, but I think most of these people were aware of. So I uh last week's board of works, I signed another three-year extension with the Muny Arts and Culture Council. I pay them $10,000 per year. Um and uh that is for op any operation expenses or program that they want. It's not restricted. Uh so that's part of the 900,000. I've got on here a community center for 500,000. Uh this is what we had talked about um a couple of times in in some of these meetings, but also at some neighborhood meetings. This is one that we're looking for on the south side and the uh industry neighborhood. Um so there's 500,000 set aside for that out of edit. Um, I picked the 65,000 for fireworks. That may not be an exact figure. It was like 62,000, I think, last year. Uh, but I added in some inflationary costs. I don't know. We'll try and do it as as, uh, the best price we can get. But that covers both Prairie Creek and downtown. So, that's both. Um, uh, also, uh, at tomorrow, at Wednesday's border works, I'm signing a a memorandum of understanding with the hub. they are having some challenges funding everything that they need to do with the Muny mission uh at the hub. That is a

key piece to everything that we do uh to help uh the homeless and those who need those services. So u I offered to pay 125,000 a year starting this year. Um so we've got a document that'll be going to the public works uh on that uh to on Wednesday. And then Muny Community Schools. This is the fifth year that I have done this. I help support and fund the family navigators that started in Southside and have expanded into other areas as the school system was able to develop additional funding. Uh but they asked me after three years. It was originally a three-year document. Uh they asked me if I could continue it. And with the results that we've seen with Muny Community Schools and the increase in test scores and everything else plus the important piece of information that the family navigators provide to the schools, I wanted to continue that on. So, u we signed on uh continuing that for $100,000 a year. I've done that every year now. This will be the fifth year. And then the YWCA uh this is part of their this is not to fund their operations. This is for their campaign uh their capital campaign. Um, I know Watasha has kind of announc she's announced it, but it's not uh full running, I think, because of mainly the holidays, but they have a new facility they're working on, and this was the city putting in $500,000. This is the fourth of the fif of the five installments that I'm putting in to help with that capital campaign. When you add all those up, uh, boy, I don't know how it works. It's just magic. Totals up to $900,000. So those will not be coming from what you already appropriated from the edit funds. They will these these particular items will come from this additional appropriation if you approve this additional appropriation. So that's what it's about. I'll let it go for now the any public

question comments. I do any question unless there's a question. I do. We don't. Thank you. Thank you. No, we can't. ask questions on TV. Is there anyone else here that wish to speak on [clears throat] this?

Yes. Rick Yenser, newsman and author. I just became aware of this a couple days ago, although I think the um legal notice was a couple weeks ago around Christmas. I've been around long enough to know about these little Christmas surprises [clears throat] and it surprised me that there's still nearly a million dollars in edit just laying around that you are now being asked to appropriate and I'll bet you pop that hardly any of you knew about this till you saw the legal ad or maybe the mayor said. Now I'm grateful that you're helping the homeless cuz we were walking around a couple days ago. They're down under the bridge. They're out by the river. Uh we work with other groups that have got help from the county to bring these people in for education, housing, and employment. Uh but the hub, we were down there the other day and it's slammed. Now, I know the mission's building houses across from uh their place down there at Memorial and uh Liberty,

but they need more help because again, they put people to work, they put them in the houses, and then they move them on. Um, I'm not sure about my schools. They got their own money. They don't need any more money. Ball State runs it. And you know, Ball State, the biggest employer, and spend a half billion a year. I don't know why we're funding that. Uh, but the community center, I hope you take this the task because, you know, there's still a lot of empty buildings down there. the old Garfield school that used to be a community center but didn't work out very well and now there's plenty of empty commercial buildings. But again, I'd like a lot more notice on things like this. You're the council. You spend the money. You appropriate it. He spends it. But you need to know more. So, thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. [cough] Any other comments [clears throat] or concerns? No one. Okay, we're going to adjourn this meeting until our 7:00 regular meeting. All in favor? I oppose. [clears throat] Ajourn.

I'll just take the heat. I'm not Hey, let me look at here. Good evening and welcome to the first meeting of our 20 26th year. As you know, we'll be doing reorganizations this this evening. Well, right now, let's stand and say the pledge again. [clears throat] I aliance 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.

Okay, we'll have our remain standing. We'll have our invocation by Councilman Mack. Gracious heavenly father, we come before you today to give you the praise and the glory. Father God, we just thank you for this opportunity that we made it through a whole another year, Father God, and you have blessed this council. You have blessed this community and we just ask that you continue to bless us, Father God, and each one who is in here today and their families that they represent. And it's that that we will open up our hearts and minds for all the business and transactions that may come forth. It's in Jesus Christ that I pray. Amen. Amen.

Who's doing the citizen thing? Okay. Our citizens recognition will be put off until next month due to the business not being open over the holidays. So we'll move on to roll call. Mr. Gman present. Miss here. Mr. Macintosh present. Mr. Green here. Miss Pal here. Mr. Garrett here. Miss here. Mr. Bash here. President Mason

here. Okay. Our 2026 reorganization is now open [clears throat] for nominations. Mr. President, I'd like to nominate Jeff Green for president. Okay. I'd like to second that. Okay. Jeff Green has been nominated for president, seconded by Councilman Selby. Mr. President. Yes. I would like to nominate you to continue on as president for 2026. I

second. Okay, I've been nominated to serve a second term. Nomination made by Councilman Pal, seconded by Councilman Macintosh. Any other nominations? Okay, with that being said, nominations are closed. We'll do uh how we want to do this. Just say the name of the last name of who you vote for when we call your name. Okay. Roll call.

Roll call. Green. Green. Green. Dishman. Green. Green. Macintosh. Mason. Mason Green Mason Mason for Green for

And I'd just like to take this time to say that uh it was truly an honor for me to serve as your president this past year. Like to thank the council for putting their trust in me to serve as their counsel and I'd like to thank the audience for your input which is very important in these proceedings. With that being said, Mr. green. I yield the gavvel and you can continue with the election. Got to move all your stuff, mate.

You're fine. You're fine. I don't like it. He's down here. Okay, we're good. [snorts] We'll continue with the reorganization. Do we have nominations for vice president?

Uh, I'd like to nominate Mr. Dell Basham for vice president. I'd like to second that. Any other nominations? Yes. Um, I would like to nominate uh Nora Pal as vice president. I'll second it. [snorts] Must be roll call.

[clears throat] Mr. Bash Basham Mr. Garrett Basham Basham Mr. Dish Basham Mr. Macintosh. Pal Mr. Green Bash Miss Powell Mr. Mason Pow.

Thank you. Thank you. [clears throat] We'll open nominations for the reading secretary at this time.

Mr. President, I'd like to nominate Ro Selby. I'll second that. Any others? I'd like to nominate um Sarah Gillian. I'll second that. Roll call.

Miss Gallian. Miss Selby. Selby. Miss Golian. Golian. Mr. Garrett. Selby. Goliath

Selvie Sylvie Mason Gillian Push it up. Thank you so much.

[snorts]

At this time, we'd like to [clears throat] thank our legal counsel that we had for many years, Dan Gibson. We appreciate his service. Yes. And all that he's done. However, he does not wish to be retained at this time. So, we're looking for nominations at this time for legal counsel for the council. We have any nominations? Mr. President, I would like to nominate Arnold Law Offices, specifically Mr. Jen Arnold to be our legal counsel. Do we have a second? I second that. [snorts] Any other nominations?

[clears throat] Seeing and hearing none, we'll do roll call. Miss, yes. Mr. Garrett, yes. Mr. Macintosh. Yes. Yes. Mr. Dishman. Yes. Mr. [clears throat] Yes. Mr. Green. Yes. Yes. M. Yes. Mr. Jay, would you take your seat up front? Thank you and welcome aboard. I appreciate it.

If I do that, is there anything you'd like to say? Address the the crowd all their ear. My commitment to the council, ladies and gentlemen, is to be [clears throat] fair. Thank you.

[clears throat]

We'll go for the the approval of the minutes. Do I have a motion to accept? I so move. A second. Roll call. Mr. Garrett? Yes. Mr. Dishman? Yes. Mr. B? Yes. [clears throat] Yes. Yes. Yes. Mr. Yes. Yes. [clears throat]

Like to establish a few new ground rules for everyone. Uh meetings will be just a little bit different. Uh, starting next month, we're going to have public comment at the beginning of the meeting and not the end. 7 o'clock will be the cut off. If you're not on the list, you will not be speaking that night. When you come to speak, you will give your name and your address and tell us uh that when you come forward again at the mic, you'll be given two minutes in order to speak. Um, on introduction of ordinances, there will not be comment at the beginning of an introduction. Only when those will be adopted, you're allowed to speak. Comments will be comments will be very carefully spoken. We're not going to use foul language. We're not going to heckle other people. We're going to conduct ourselves in a civil manner, in a manner in which you would like to be treated. And this goes for everyone, whether it's my colleagues that are up here or those of you in the audience. We will not put up with language nor attitudes that are incorrect and would cause dissension. We want people to get along. We want people that watch the meetings to see that the people in the city of Muny care about one another. And I don't care your background, but we're going to we're going to control the things that we say and how we say them. I think we should be that way, very civil to one another. These are things that we want to bring about in our meetings. We want to change those things.

Yes. I would just like I do like the idea of adding civility and a control of language in the meetings, but I just want to go on record as I was objecting to some of the changes you make in regards to the timing of the public comment and the length of public comment, Mr. President. Yes. Um [snorts] I also have issue questions about the legality of a couple of those. So if we could have our attorney look into that a couple of those things, too. Yeah, by all means

let me know exactly what it is you're objecting to. That's okay. I I think that Yeah. Okay. You can do that off. Okay. That brings us to the first order of business, the appointments to boards and commissions. The Beast Grove Cemetery Board has two. However, this will be put off till the March meeting. Also, the MITs board will be put off until June. All the rest of them we will deal with this evening. Mr. President. Yes.

I do have a letter of resignation from the Beach Grove Cemetery Board. Um John Batty does not wish to be u reappointed. Okay. So they'll make three positions. Thank you. We have the [clears throat] Edit Building Corporation first and do we have a nomination for that position? There's one opening.

Yes. Uh Mr. President, I would like to I spoke with Miss Watasha Barnes Griffith and she did send me a statement uh for her wishes to continue and if I may read she is in Florida at a conference, work rellated conference. She would have loved to have been here but because of work she couldn't. So if I may read just so it goes on the record just couple sentences. Miss Watasha Barnes Griffith said I wish to continue serving to uphold the responsibility entrusted to me by the myy city council and to ensure public resources are stewarded with integrity [clears throat] and accountability. Thank you.

Okay. Do we have a second? Second. Are there any other nominations? Seeing and hearing none, we'll do roll call. Missing. Watasha Barnes. Griffin. Miss Pal. Yes. Miss. Yes. Mr. Garrett. Yes. Mr. Bash. Yes. Mr. Macintosh. Yes. Mr. Dishman. Yes. Mr. Mason. Yes. President. [clears throat] Yes. Next commission is the emergency communications board and we have one opening there. Mr. President,

yes. I would like to uh like to nominate Harold Mason to be reprod. Okay. Seconded by Councilwoman Pal. Other nominations? Yes. I would like to nominate uh Mr. um Brandon Garrett. Okay. Do we have a second? Second. Okay. Any others? [clears throat] Seeing and hearing none. Roll call, please.

Mr. Garrett,

Mr. Garrett, uh, Mr. Mason, Miss Selby, uh, Garrett, Miss Pal, Mason, Mr. Dishman, Garrett, Mr. Macintosh, Mason, [clears throat] Mr. Mason, Mason, Miss Mason, President Green, Garrett. [snorts] Ethics Commission. Do we have a nomination?

Mr. President, I'd like to nominate Frank Scott Jr. I'll second that. Any other nominations? He is currently serving and um is would like to serve another term. Okay. Any other nominations? [clears throat] Seeing hearing none. Roll call. Yes. Miss. Yes. Yes. Mr. Garrett. Yes. Mr. Macintosh. Yes. Mr. Madison. Yes. Mr. Dishman. Yes. Mr. Mason. Yes. President Green. Yes.

Historic Preservation Committee. We have one opening. Mr. President, I'd like to nominate Sarah Gillian. Second it. Are there other nominations? Mr. President, I'd like to nominate Brandon Garrett. We have a second. Second. Any other nominations? Seeing and hearing. None. Roll call, please. Mr. Garrett. Uh, Garrett. Mr. Dishman here. Garrett,

Miss Golian, Mr. Macintosh Golia Mr. Bash Garrett Miss Gillian Gillian Mr. Mason Gillian President Garrett. Moving on to Metropolitan Planning Commission. We have one opening. Mr. Yes, Mr. President. I would like to nominate Mr. Dishman. I second that. Any other nominations? Mr. President, I'd like to nominate Norah Powell. Second. Second.

Any other nominations? Seeing hearing none, roll call, please. Mr. Dishman. Dishman. Miss Dishman. Mr. Macintosh. Powell. Miss Powell. Powell. Mr. Garrett. Dishman. Miss Gian. Powell. Mr. Bashel. Dishman. Mr. Mason. Ow. President Green.

Dishman. Muny Industrial Revolving Loan Fund. Do we have any nominations? We have one opening, Mr. President. Yes. I would like to nominate uh Councilman Macintosh to continue to serve on that board. I'll second. I'll second that. You can have a back. Any other nominations?

Seeing and hearing none. Roll call, please. Miss. Mr. Macintosh. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. [laughter] Yes. Yes. [clears throat] Yes.

Monty Lamb Bank. Mr. Three openings nominations. Yes. Um I would if that's okay with you, can I nominate all three positions? Yes. At a one in one time. Is that okay with everybody? Okay. I would like to uh the council to consider the nomination of Mr. Brad King, Mr. John West, and Mrs. Hannah Rebecca Hano. Second. Any other nominations? Okay. Roll call. Mr. Bash. Yes. Mr. Garrett. Yes. Miss. Yes. Miss Pal. Yes. Mr. Dishman.

Yes. Mr. McInty. Yes. Yes. Mason. Yes. President. Yes.

Mosy Fire Merit Commission. We have one opening. Do I have nominations? Mr. President, I would like to nominate Mr. Kevin Kohley. He was he is on the fire merit commission and he would like to u serve again. I'll second. Any other nominations? Seeing hearing none. Roll call. Mr. McIntyre. Yes. Mr. Yes. Yes. Mr. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. President Green. Yes.

Ready. Yes. Anybody that's in the audience that's been nominated and accepting your position, if you could stay afterwards and if you want to do the oath tonight and the certificate, I'd like to get that so you don't have to come back. Thank you. Brings us to the Muny Redevelopment Commission. We have two openings. Mr. President, I'd like to nominate Zayn Bishop for one. I'll second that. Mr. President, I'd like to nominate Seth Rollins. I'll second that. Okay. I'd like to nominate Roger Miller. Are we nominating both at the same time? At the same time.

Oh, okay. We can. We have two opening. Sure. Okay. Yes. Got it. Second that. Yes. Three. Any other nominations? Yes. Just for clarification. So when our name is called, we'll give two names. Yes. Thank you, sir. Any other nominations? Other nominations. Seeing and hearing none, roll call, please. Miss Pal, Bishop and Rawlings, Miss Bishop and Miller. Miss Williams Rawlings and Bishop Mr. Garrett Rawlings and Bishop Mr. Macintosh Bishop and Rawlings

Mr. Mash Bishop and Miller Mr. Dish Bishop and Miller Mr. Mason Rollins and Bishop. Miller and Bishop.

[snorts] Yes, that's it for the We're holding off on Mets. Mets. Yes. Mets and Beach will be later. Committee reports. Are there any committee reports to be given this time? Mr. President. Um, I see the mayor is here and we've been requested to have an update on any of the any of the nego negotiations. If you would like just to give an update, Mr. Mayor, would you mind? [snorts] [clears throat]

Good evening. Good evening.

Dan Rydenower, mayor of Muny, 300 East Makulla Boulevard. Uh the uh fire union has accepted their amendment. We do not have that in front of you yet. It didn't get in in time for us to get it submitted. And the police union has accepted their agreement. And again, that's still waiting some of signatures, but we'll have that probably at next month's agreement. And with ASME, uh, we've made an offer. It has not yet been accepted. Um, and so we're still looking for another, uh, that's still in the works. So that's that's about it. I know that for both fire and police, we had two council members attend. And for ASME, even though it's not required, we did have a council member attend just to observe.

So, but that's where we are. I think reasonably, they're going reasonably well. Two of them are done. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Okay. There are no ordinances previously previously introduced. So we'll move on to new ordinances.

Thank you. Ordinance 1-26. Ordinance 1-26, an ordinance for additional appropriations, edit. [clears throat] I hear a motion to introduce this ordinance. Mr. President, I make a motion that we introduce ordinance 1-26. We have a second. I'll second that. Roll call, please. Yes. Conversation. Oh, yeah.

Comment. All right. Mr. Mayor, would you like to come back up and speak on this?

Thank you.

Yeah. Good evening again, Dan Rydenower, mayor of Muny. Um I did mention this earlier, the council member were all here, but not all in the public were here. So, uh let me go through this again. This is a um as we had indicated, I got to find the right page here for it. There it is. As we had indicated in the initial press conference and throughout the the budget hearings, there was $900,000 uh saved over the last several years that we're putting into the budget [clears throat] uh from EDIT. And in order to do that, we need to appropriate those funds. And so this particular ordinance, which will be on today's agenda for intro introduction and next month's agenda for final adoption, does have some areas. I attempted to just move $900 to the U general fund and our controller said no, you can't do it that way. So I picked out some items that I felt were uh important that many of you already know about. But Muny Arts and Culture, we just recently uh did a memorandum of understanding with them and we support them. We switched it uh previously uh it had been for specific programs but we switched it to where they can use the money uh on anything. It can be operational expenses and that's a real challenge for nonprofits is having the money available for uh just operations. most uh organizations that donate and support the nonprofits require it be toward various programs. So, this allows them to do whatever they want with it. Uh it's a three-year program, $10,000. Um I have on here $500,000 for a community center. This is to be somewhere uh on the southeast side. um primarily in the industry and southside neighborhoods, Blaine Southeast. Uh in

in those areas, we have 500,000 set aside for that particular uh endeavor. Um and then I have 65,000 for fireworks. Again, last year I spent a little less than that, but I'm accounting for some inflation. Um hopefully it'll be less, but if it's not, then we've got 65,000 appropriated. And just so everyone is aware, that includes both the fireworks at Prairie Creek Reservoir uh and the ones downtown here in Muny. That's the total. Uh because of some challenges uh just expenses continue to grow.

Um and uh so the Muny Mission and I have been in conversations on how do we make sure things operate the way they should and they are the ones who run with cooperation from three other uh nonprofit entities. the hub uh which is down on South on 8th Street and uh they've had some funding issues and so I'm going to going forward I'm going to put $125,000 directly into that operation to make sure it runs smoothly. Uh and so that money is in there and uh we have um that actually going before the border works on Wednesday. Um, Muny Community Schools. Um, I have supported Muny Community Schools with the funding of the navigators and the the family navigators. Initially, I think I was the main funer of this program uh because they didn't have funds at that particular time. They have since not only uh they have added family navigators to other schools. Originally, they were in Southside and I think that's what I paid for uh but they've added them to other schools. These family navigators help connect families and students with some of the services that they may need. Um, and it it's used for paying salaries and benefits and so forth. Very important piece. And I think with the success that we're seeing with Muny Community Schools, this was well spent money. Uh quite a return on our investment in in my opinion. And then lastly, um Watasha and I have have been uh for several months she's told me what her plans are and I wanted to participate. So I am part this is not for operation of their funds their uh operations this year or any particular year like that. We do help through community development but this was to help them get started with their capital campaign. So we're putting in $500,000. Um this is the fourth of five installments. So this is another hundred,000. When you add those things

up, it's $900,000. [clears throat] And so uh the the money that was already appropriated is be will be going toward uh the salaries and and employees uh of the Buny uh departments. So Mr. I think there was a somebody had a question [clears throat] but while Yeah, there we go. According to my uh proposed uses of the appropriations, um everything looks good. I I just curious about right here where it says community center $500,000. What is the TBD? Is that to be determined?

To be determined. I didn't want to go into a whole lot of details. Um and I, you know, you guys have to appropriate it for me to be able to do it once we have it done. I had somebody else ask me today uh a similar type question on on that. until you guys appropriate it, I'm not going to spend it. Um, so but as soon as you do, then we'll get started on that on that. Okay. Thank you. Um, following up on that, so I assume that that you'll be working with the committee that was put together for that. Okay. To decide how that would be used and Yeah. Okay. All right. Any other question?

Although I have not received the names of who that committee is at this point. So, I'm hopeful that I think some of the neighborhoods I was told that this was a month ago. I was told that some of the neighborhoods hadn't yet picked who their person was that was going to serve on that. That's correct. So, I need to know who they are. Any other questions? Okay. Thank you. Roll call, please. Mr. Yes. Mr. Yes. [clears throat] Yes. [cough] Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. [clears throat] Macintosh. I can only vote once. Yes.

Introduction for ordinance 2-26. Ordinance 2-26 being a resolution of approval to supplement and amend the text of the city of Muny subdivision regulations regarding article 5 improvements and requirements.

I have a motion. Mr. President, I move to um I'd like to make a motion to um discuss or introduce sorry 2-26. Thank you. Do we have a second? I'll second. Do we have someone wishing to speak in clarification of this please? Hi yes. Good evening. My name is Brandy Ingramman. I'm with the plan commission and I'm here tonight for Kylen Swackhammer, our executive director who could not be here. Um she does have a statement that she wrote that um Lacy is helping me pass out right now and I can read that if the council would Thank you.

Good evening council. This proposed amendment began with a request from the Muny urban forestry committee to revise the Muny subdivision ordinance to include the requirements that trees are to be planted in new subdivisions in the city of Muny. The matter was then discussed at the October 2023 plan commission meeting at which time board member Commissioner Henry requested with the support of the board that the plan commission create a focus group to work on the request. A previous plan commission employee began work on this but when work was halted when the employee resigned. We have since revisited this request to complete the proposed amendment. The focus group formed consisted of Malcolm KS, chair of the Muny Urban Forestry Committee, Courtney Puit with Muny Sanitary District, the stormwater compliance inspector, Josh Perkins, owner of Plant Studio Landscaping, Justin Curley, the Purdue Extension County Extension Director, Steve Selby, the previous city building commissioner and plan commission staff. Input was also provided by Adam Leech, the city engineer per Steve Selby. For reference, the current county subdivision ordinance contains tree requirements as follows. Section four, natural features. In approving a proposed subdivision plat, the commission shall consider the preservation of existing natural features contributing to the enhancement of a subdivision and its environs such as natural growth, water courses, falls, beaches, and historic areas. Such features shall be incorporated in the design of the subdivision. Trees shall be preserved and shall be welled against grade changes. The subdivider shall provide at least 2 in I'm sorry, two trees per front yard on the street

rideway. Such trees shall have a minimum trunk diameter of I'm so sorry of not less than 2 in measured 12 in above ground. The discussion was for the city subdivision to include a similar section as follows. Section 3828-31 natural features. In approving a proposed subdivision plat, the commission shall consider the preservation of existing natural features contributing to the h enhancement of a subdivision and its environs such as natural growth, water courses, falls, beaches, and historic areas. Such features shall be incorporated in the design of the subdivision. Trees shall be preserved and shall be welled against grade changes. The subdivider shall provide at least one shade tree per front yard. Corner lots shall provide at least one approved shade tree per street frontage. Such trees shall have a minimum diameter of not less than 2 in measured at 48 in above grade. The highlighted differences resulted from the focus group's discussion and ultimately the plan commission's decision and are based on the following reasonings. Agreement that most of the county subdivision ordinanc's language would be appropriate and applicable to the city subdivision ordinance. A bond requirement was not included. Any bond would fall under the mayor's executive decision, so no language was included. Releasing a certificate of occupancy is the decision of the city building commissioner. So no language or restriction on CFOs should be included. No requirement of placement within the ride ofway. Also no restriction of placement within the ride ofway. The city engineer discourages placement of trees within the rideofway in certain circumstances to prevent damage to

sidewalks, roads, city utilities, etc. All subdivision landscape plans are reviewed by the plan commission office where appropriateness can be considered. The proposed amendment was heard by the Metropolitan Plan Commission at their December 4th, 2025 meeting and is being forwarded to you with a vote of 8 yes and zero no for a favorable recommendation. You have also been provided with the formal request letter from the urban forestry committee dated October 19th, 2023. A letter of support from Adam Breeland, PhD, professor of geography at Ball State University dated November 20th, 2025. A letter from Malcolm KS dated December 4th, 2025 that he read at the December 4th plan commission meeting. and chapter 97, the tree ordinance from the Muny Indiana code of ordinances, excuse me, submitted to the plan commission by Malcolm KS. The letter concludes. Thank you for your time and I hope to answer any questions upon my return. Kylen Swackhammer, director of plan commission.

Thank you. Any questions? Question. Um, will these be available online? Will these be added to the record of this ordinance? Thank you. Yes. M. Any other questions? Question. Call for call. Question. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. [clears throat] Yes. Thank you, council.

Thank you. Thank you. Ordinance 3-26. Ordinance 3-26, an ordinance of the city of Muny amending section 32.39 of the city of my code of ordinances preerequisites to action on ordinance comma resolution. Mr. President, I I make a motion that we adopt ordinance 3-26. Introduced. Introduce. Did I say introduce? Adopt. Okay. Introduce. Second. [clears throat] Council Pal. Yes.

Do we have someone to speak as a point of clarity on this?

Uh, my name is Alex Clubber, 3908 West Silver Lane, and I just want to say that I support ordinance 3-26. I think it'll bring some clarity and I think that'll benefit all employees and elected officials in city government and I think that it's a good standard to set. Thank you very much. Thank you. My name is Rita Faulner and I live in my Indiana at 1515 West Bethl Avenue. Um first happy new year to everyone on the council.

Thank you. Um, please ring in the new year by voting for clarity and transparency by supporting ordinance 3-26. The ordinance would require that all future ordinances and resolutions be filed directly by council person, a council person or legal counsel. Your vote would provide the Muny community with verification that you are taking the right actions to protect yourselves and Msonians. We're only asking that you help restore public trust in the council and our city government. A vote for ordinance 326 simply represents a common sense change to the filing procedures. Thank you for your careful and thoughtful attention to this matter.

Thank you. Thank you.

Hello everybody. My name is Julian Franklin. I'm a Muny resident at 614 West Maine. Uh my views do not represent those of my employers. Uh I urge the council to support ordinance 320-26. I believe this will help promote public trust in the council and in our city government. This will also codify a practice that many residents reasonably assume that already exists. I see no reason to vote no. If you are in favor of transparency, please vote in support of 3-26. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Ellen Whitehead and I'm a resident at 3908 West Silver Lane and my views do not represent those of my employer. I encourage all council members to vote in support of ordinance 326. This ordinance represents a common sense adjustment to the requirements for filing ordinances and resolutions. It is a modest and reasonable safeguard that reinforces accountability, protects the integrity of the legislative process, and benefits the council as an institution. Importantly, this change would cost the city and taxpayers nothing while helping strengthen public trust in our local government. Voting in support of this ordinance is a vote for transparency. Based on prior council discussions, I understand that some hesitation may stem from concerns that this proposal could diminish individual council members responsibility to prepare for meetings. I would respectfully point out that it does not interfere with this responsibility. As you all know, council members review agendas for multiple reasons, including understanding the substance and implications of each item. Clear and transparent filing procedures do not lessen that responsibility. Rather, they support it by ensuring that items appearing under a council member's name have been knowingly and intentionally authorized. Voting in support of this ordinance is a vote for responsible governance. This ordinance also helps ensure that no council member is publicly associated with legislation they did not knowingly sponsor. Because agendas are released publicly before meetings, misattribution can occur even when a council member has exercised due diligence in preparing for a meeting. By reducing confusion and preventing procedural errors, this ordinance allows council discussions to remain focused on substantive policy issues. Voting in support of this ordinance is a vote for efficiency. I would also note that across multiple council meetings, numerous community members have spoken in support of this ordinance. Voting in support of this ordinance is a vote for

listening to your constituents. Ultimately, ordinance 326 will strengthen transparency within the council and help build public trust in our city government. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Thank [clears throat] you.

Good evening. Cheryl Swingley, 3908 North Vienna Woods Drive. Um, I I have a very brief comment because there have been issues with how resolutions are introduced uh for the city council's consideration. I believe that Miss Pal's resolution clarifies how this process should be followed. Uh, it averts future problems which I would think you'd want to do and I hope that you will adopt it. Then I have one other question. Will there be a time another time to comment about your rules for your meetings or may I comment now? You can comment at the end of the meeting tonight. Okay. Thank you.

Good evening. U my name is Mary Moore. I live at 710 West Maine here in Muny. And my thoughts tonight do not reflect my employer. I'm here to urge you to pass 0326 because it strengthens transparency, accountability, and public trust in city government. You know, this ordinance isn't about ideology. It's about process and it is straightforward and ensures that ordinances and resolutions are filed by informed council members or legal counsel. Making both responsibility and accountability front and center. responsibility and accountability. Those are the very values that most of you ran on. I think it's important to note that this council has a track record of voting along party lines. Unfortunately, even on matters that are procedural rather than political. When votes consistently divide the way that way, it creates the impression that decisions here are made more by party loyalty than by the merits of the issue itself. A perception that can easily weaken public confidence and the council's independence. That is why I hope that the council will find inspiration from the events that transpired in December at the Indiana General Assembly. Despite facing strong pressure from party leadership to support a midcycle redistricting proposal, many Republican legislators voted no. They did so for a variety of re reasons, including a commitment to transparency and fairness. For the first time in a long time, Indiana lawmakers chose institutional responsibility over party pressure. And that example matters here. Ordinance 326 should not be a partisan issue. Transparency is not Democratic value or Republican value. It is a value that Mudsy citizens expect from all council members. Voting yes signals that the council values clear procedures, accountability, and public trust, even when doing so means stepping

outside of predictable party patterns. So, I urge you to pass 326 and demonstrate that this council can act independently, thoughtfully, and in the best interest of the institution and the people it serves. Thank you for your time. Thank you, [applause and cheering] ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to make this clear that this ordinance is not up for adoption tonight. This is simply introduction. Okay. Some of you in your speech was saying adopt. We're not there to that point yet. Okay. Want you to know that

Melinda Bino my Indiana uh positions are not those of my employer. Uh, I encourage the consideration of this ordinance and want to amplify the sentiments expressed earlier about the bravery and the transparency that the adoption of an ordinance of this kind could represent. I sincerely believe this would protect each and every one of you and I believe it's an important message to send forward of independence and transparency. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. She's

Hello, my name is Tanya Pearson. I live at 1725 South High Street, right around the corner from the hub in the Muny Mission. Um, I want to uh first thank Nora Powell for posting as much as she does on Facebook, keeping the community um aware of these ordinances um as they're introduced. Um, and I just want to echo everyone else's sentiments and urge you to please vote in support of ordinance 20 uh 326, although it's not up for Please hear me when I say I hope when it's up for a vote um that you will consider voting in support of ordinance 326. Um, transparency should be a bipartisan issue. Um, part of an element of the lack of trust that I think the community, including myself, experiences, um, is in part due to the fact that council members have switched parties partway through their terms. And we need an, uh, and we need to know, uh, we in the audience know the outcome before an issue is even voted on. Um, so I just, yeah, hope that transparency, accountability, um, that you consider it a a bipartisan issue. Um, and please listen to your constituents. Um, work to build the trust that's so severely lacking in Muny. Um, and if you're looking for an alternative to the two-party system, uh, vote for me for Indiana State Senate District 2020, District 26. Yeah. Sarah Vitali, 10:05 North Bittersweet Lane. Um, when the FBI came to town and arrested folks, there was a lot of talk about transparency and ethics and how we wanted to restore that to city hall and to council from

some of you. Um, and you we're going to come in. This is a new day. This is not the previous administration. You know, we're going to support transparency. Make good on that. Make good on that promise. Um, and I, you know, I call you to respect us as your constituents. We're the ones who elected you into these positions. We're the ones that you're here to serve. Um, I think sometimes there's an idea that like we're a a nuisance or um a a problem

um that um we don't want us to talk as much or at different points and and that's heartbreaking. This is our city. This is a place where we should be encouraged, welcomed to give feedback regularly and you should be soliciting that feedback all across the land. If I, you know, if I asked right now, like I'm raising my hand. How many other people in this room are in support of introducing this ordinance? Raise your hand, people. Yeah. And so I think that like if you took some polls, you would know that the citizens of Muny want you to introduce and then adopt this ordinance next month. It should be a a no-brainer as it were. So thank you. [applause] Evening council Cameron Grubs 400 West Beast Street the uh so I was here at the last time that this was introduced and and I'm we'll give some grace because I feel like we got mired down in in some confusion of things and so that's why it didn't end up passing last time. You know, we got sidetracked. I'm going to allow I'll allow for that. Tonight is a doover. It's a mulligan. You have an opportunity to send this forward to be able to vote on it to adopt it next month. And I'd very much appreciate have seeing you do that because anybody that votes against this, as everybody's been saying, is against transparency. And if you know anything about me and the number of times I've been up here, transparency information has been something I've been championing for. So I would very much appreciate your support passing this and then passing it, adopting it next month. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. I like that. right there.

My name is Audi Barber. I live at 300 East Main Street, Wincy, Indiana. Um, some of these rules you guys are trying to to make his ordinances. I understand them. I love it 100%. But all that is doing is making rules for you guys to do your job. If you don't do your job, you get this paperwork two weeks ahead of time. If you don't take the time and do your job and look at your paperwork, stuff like that's going to pass through and now they're going to say, "Oh, I didn't know that was that." Do your job. If you don't want to do your job, sign a little piece of paper saying you're going to resign and move on. If it's too much work to do your job on that council, don't be up there. Take the time. We pay you guys. It's not a whole lot, but we still pay you as elected officials to do that work. And if you don't want to do it, you get it two weeks ahead of time. If you don't want to do it, resign your position and let somebody get up there that will. Thank you.

Hi, Seth Rollins. Uh 112 North Council Street. Just um echoing the support of everybody else. I think this is pretty pretty much a no-brainer. Um, I'd really appreciate your support on this. Thank you. Thank you. Roll call. Oh, you have Go ahead, sir. I was moved by the uh audience to uh express my support for this as well. Uh, seems like a a no-brainer. Um, yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. West. Roll call, please. Yes, [clears throat]

did you say my name? Mr. Green used [clears throat] to be the last on the list as president and since we switched presidents by the name whether you said it or not I I vote yes. Thank you. Mr. Mason. Yes. President Green. Yes. Moving on. Ordinance 4-26. [applause] Ordinance 4-26, an ordinance fixing the maximum salaries of each and every member of the Muny Police Department of the city of Muny, Indiana for the year 2026.

Mr. President, I make a motion to introduce ordinance 4-26. You have a second. Second, Mr. Garrett. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Have someone wishing to speak. Point of clarity on this forness, please.

Chief Degan. Good evening, council. Chris Degan. I'm one of the deputy police chiefs for the Muny Police Department. Um, [clears throat] salary ordinance before you. Uh I know the mayor gave an update on the collective bargaining agreement with um city administration and the FOP. Uh they've come to terms of agreement. I believe you'll see that next month. Uh this is reflective of that. So we're just asking it to be introduced. Um and yeah, we're excited to to be where we're at. If I can provide a staffing update if I the council would entertain me for a minute. Um we swore in six new people today. Um it's a pretty big deal for us. Um, I'm dealing with a couple of retirement transitions now, so it's not a true growth of six. Um, but the projection puts us right at about 109, which is what the new contract will call for. 108 109 um is what we're going to. So, uh, we're pretty excited about where we're at. The stability and the staffing of the Muny Police Department comes um, as a result of the collective effort of you all to pass previous uh, contracts that we've had, the mayor's office, the controllers's office. this this was a collective effort to get here. Um, not not representative of of party, but representative of us trying to take care of our public safety officers. So, I appreciate it.

Any questions for council? Thank you. Thank you. Roll call, please. Yes. We had mentioned at the beginning of the meeting on introduction there would not be. You said that for next meeting. I did.

You have you have something you'd like to say? Stand up. Go ahead. Um Audi Barber 6000 East Washington Street. Um [clears throat and cough] with this being introduced tonight, you guys are introducing it only. I understand that. But you have no recollection of what you're introducing. So, I would hope that before you vote to introduce this, and don't get me wrong, pay the police officers and the firemen and the city employees the maximum we can afford. But before you guys can vote on this, you need to know what you're voting on. That's all I'm saying. Thank you.

Anyone else? [clears throat] Roll call, please. Mr. Dishman, yes. Miss, yes. Gian. Yes. Yes. Yes. [clears throat] Mr. B. Yes. M. Yes. Mason. Yes. President. Yes. Ordinance 5-26. Ordinance 5-26 and ordinance amending chapter 80 traffic schedules of the Muny Code of Ordinances Westview Elementary.

Is there someone like to speak? Mr. President, I make a motion that we introduce 526. I'll second that. Okay. Now, is there anyone wishing to speak concerning that? Apologize.

Evening, council. My name is Eric Amler. I'm the principal at Westview Elementary. Uh, just want to take stick with my notes. So, I'm used to speaking with uh folks that are about 5t tall or shorter and [laughter] 12 years and under in my position of uh leading a building of close to 550 students of which of whom we really want to keep safe, which is what this uh ordinance is going to help support. So, uh, uh, other than that, uh, I'll tell you I've been working with, uh, Chief Sloan because, uh, my jurisdiction ends at the sidewalk immediately in front of the school, uh, to get [clears throat] some ideas and help along with a couple of you on the council, [snorts] uh, to get this, um, to get this, um, in motion [clears throat] and moving. I've been working with Chief Sloan and uh he's been in touch with several of you up there uh with regards to uh parking restrictions and keeping our kids safe during arrival and dismissal times which are very very busy times.

Um there are no sidewalks on any of the north south streets that uh intersect for uh our perpendicular meeting with Gilbert Street which is uh the street that our school is on. And we have uh some uh procedural things that I've asked families [clears throat] to do. Unfortunately, uh like I said, my jurisdiction ends at the sidewalk. So, what happens is we get we get folks that park, create bottlenecks. Students are being let out into the flow of traffic, oncoming traffic. Um I'm wearing a reflective vest on Gilbert and I have a stop sign. Our children do not in those side streets uh that are near and around our school. And so, uh, I've I've been, uh, almost brushed on by some vehicles myself with those safety [clears throat] measures. And so, uh, what this will do will increase safety for our students during those high traffic times and those high mobile times where our students are pedestrians. Uh, we do have a crossing guard, but those are uh, that's our our counselor andor our school safety officer. uh on certain days we do have families that walk to and from that do not drive or get dropped off. And so um it's to keep those folks safe as well because they're uh there's lack of sidewalks on those side streets. So during those peak times that would increase safety particularly in the morning time uh this time of year where we have uh poor weather conditions. Uh we also have uh visibility issues when we're we have a rain and whatnot. Plus, it's very dark in the morning when we open our doors at 7:40 a.m. So, just wanted to speak to that and uh thank you for your consideration.

Thank you. School and it is a problem. Uh parents are parking in front of people's houses causing access issues and things like that for those residents. Um there have been altercations that have nearly turned physical which is a problem. Um MPD parking officers are constantly engaged in that area. uh kids are being dropped off as he said and running across several lanes of traffic to get to the building. That's a problem. Um we just don't want to see any any students get hurt uh which is the biggest thing here. But this will solve a lot of issues for us um both uh with kids safety and then with enforcement in the area as well. So Mr. President. Yes.

Yes. Chief, this will um this will protect of course the pedestrian safety is is number one, but right this will also provide a a out a way for the residents who are being trapped within their driveways. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. It's it's going to be 300 ft um north of Gilbert, no parking uh both sides on the four streets uh just directly north of the school and then one to the west and south. So, um, yeah, it'll it'll restrict a lot of that through there, but only certain times throughout the day, 7 to 9 through 4, um, which is really the the times that we're talking about. Everything else will be follow-up question.

Um, in the event that someone is trapped or unable to access their driveway, would they call the non-emergency dispatch number? What would they do? They can already call us um, and we will come out and take care of that issue. Um, most of the time we don't run into a lot of resistance there. people people understand what the problem is and it's already on the books that you can't block somebody's driveway. So, but this uh this will get signs up in the area so everybody will be on notice of exactly what is expected. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, sir. You're welcome. Anyone else watching speak? Yep.

Hi, I'm Staca Biddings. I live at 212 North Green Bryer Road. I share property line with Westview. My husband and I purchased this home 10 years ago hoping that our kids would go to Westview because it's a it's a beautiful school.

There are 550 to 600 kids packed into this school and it's the largest elementary in my for people to drop their kids off. It ends up being a residential explosion. So, um getting to and from school and then I have I have three children. Two go to Forest Academy and one goes to Westview. Just getting out of my driveway in the morning is violent. People refusing to move their vehicles, cursing at me. Two parents got out of their car because I asked them so I could just pull in my driveway and they tried to fight me.

So, and all three of my children had to watch that and there was nothing that I could do. Um, I can't call the school enough. There's only so many, you know, smoke signals that Principal Amler can send out. He attaches it every week in the parent newsletter. Please do not block people's driveway. Um, when this couple got violent with me and almost became physical with me, three of my neighbors came out to try to deescalate them because I was standing with my three small children there.

So, my husband was not home. So, and this is really not new. The violence is kind of new, but it's been a problem since we've owned our home because there's nowhere for people to go. um they could get in a car line like the other 500 parents, but they wouldn't be able to cut in line and get in front of everyone else who's waited for 30 minutes. So, they form the line down Green Brier and block all of our driveways. And if you ask nicely for them to move, they become unhinged and curse at you and try to fight you. So, that's when I sent an email to the police department, the parking enforcement, Ball State. I didn't know what to do because that cannot happen again. Mhm.

It cannot happen again to where someone's like, "I have a surprise for you in my car. What do I do with that over a parking spot?" So, if I can't be safe in my home, I shouldn't have to be forced to sell my home and move my children to another district when I love Westview. It's the only school my daughter has ever went to. Um, I shouldn't have to do that. And say my kids didn't go to that school, I should still be safe in my home,

in that neighborhood. There are a lot of walkers. I'm not the only one. So, a lot of people walk to school. There's no sidewalk access, all of that. So, um the car line is a huge problem. And outside of me, there are there are parents fighting at the stop sign every day because they don't want people cutting in line. So, they get really passive aggressive. Those cars scream at each other, flip each other off. I got a surprise for you. We all have the same goal. We're trying to get our kids to school safely. So, I really appreciate the attention to this because I can't have my husband come home from work every day early to make sure that I don't get a in a fight with a parent dropping their kid off. Yeah.

I just want to I just want to mind my own business and worry about heart-shaped sandwiches and lunchboxes, not being beat up over my driveway. Understood. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Hello. Uh I'm John West. I live at 4101 West University. Um, this is my neighborhood. My son goes to that school. Uh, it is a hot mess. Um, even on the the best days, uh, there's parents who like to speed around the rest of traffic. Um, I think that there's a lot that can be done to improve the situation there. Uh, I would like to encourage you all to support this ordinance. Thank you.

Miss, may I make a comment? Yes. Um, of course I spoke with uh everybody in the neighborhood has received a letter of what's going on. I made sure everybody did. So this is uh the neighborhood wants this.

Uh the school wants it wants it. I just need to add that this ordinance is not going to be the solution. the city, the mayor. Um, in addition to this ordinance, I've been in communication with the city engineer, with the police and public works department, and the leadership at Westview. Together, they're going to evaluate short-term and long-term safety measures of the area. To go with what Mr. West was saying in the um in the near term the city's planning to trial uh temporary solutions to determine what works best before making permanent changes. This is beyond this uh ordinance. These [snorts] efforts may include added traffic delin delineators to improve visibility and define travel lanes, traffic calming measures and temporary speed bumps. And at the okay and at the same time this came from the city that longerterm infrastructure improvements are being explored such as enhanced striping, improved lightning and potential pedestrian focused safety features and um yeah that's what I wanted to add to that. So this this ordinance is the beginning to make sure that kids are safe and neighbors are safe. But it is a problem that needs major attention. So this is not just the solution. There are other things that the city is working on for Westview.

All right, Chief Sloan, you had Yes. Sorry, I had one other thing. Um, this process normally takes quite a long time to get through when we are talking about kids safety. I'd love to see if maybe we couldn't speed up this process, maybe maybe suspending the rules and getting this through a little faster because we still got to wait on a lot of things. Having it codified takes quite a while a while. I don't know how long that's taking. We're kind of about this time, but yeah, couple months maybe. Yeah. So, it would put it off even longer. So, just for your consideration. Thank you. Thank you. That's a great point. Do we have anyone else wishing to speak? Yeah. [clears throat]

Hi, I'm Stephanie Hail. I'm at 1700 West Royal. Thank you for having us. We've tried really hard to be quiet and be on our best behavior. We sat in back.

Um, we had been at Westview for 4 years now. Um, I remember in the first week, uh, walking to preK, there was a bottleneck of cars and they literally were in a wreck right in front of Wesie because nobody would give up their spot. And of course, parents got out screaming and cussing. It was your fault. It was your fault. Instead of just being in the line and just doing what they're supposed to do. Um, I have seen a couple more wrecks in our couple years at West View. Um, I would just say right before Christmas break, we're walking our kiddos uh home from school and there's only about 50 ft of sidewalk in front of the school um by the neighborhood and cars were driving on the sidewalk. So, we had to walk in the road to get to the neighborhood. So, um, kiddos are trying to get out of school. Parents are trying to pick up, and it is kind of dangerous. And we love Westview. Mr. Amler is very reflective, very big stop sign. He's he's [laughter] doing his best. And all the other teachers, um, they're wonderful, but they can only do so much. So, um, like I said, we love Westview. We just we want to be safe and, um, we need some help. Need some help doing that. So,

thank you. Appreciate your comments. Good evening again, council. Uh Cameron Grubs. I So this is actually my my kid went to West View there for a while and I as I'd like to echo what Chief Sloan was saying about trying to get this expedited uh do but what I actually sitting here thinking about this and I can guarantee anybody watching this on YouTube right now or afterwards is probably like, "Well, come out to my school." Because I mean I mean I've been out there my kid went from from uh West View to North Side and it's like wrangling cats out there trying to get the parents to to follow us like dotted lines kind of like we can't do like we can't color inside lines and we're 30 40 years old for some reason. So, I would like to see if we can't try and expand this, you know, get a partnership between the city and this and the school corporation to kind of create something that gets our kids to school safely and and helps traffic.

Thank you for your comments. Anyone else? Just can we take a vote? Yes. Roll call, please. Yes, [clears throat]

Mr. Um, President, I would like to suspend the rules to expedite um this ordinance. A second. Is that Mr. Mason? Yes. Okay. Any comments from council? This is a safety issue. It is. It's a safety issue. Uh we dealt with something like this with I believe stop signs in that neighborhood. Speed limits. Yes. Speed limits. Yes. Uh and I think it's uh

that was me. something we need to do for the safety of these children. I'm glad you brought the kids. I would love to have had their perspective on that, how they felt. Uh I know sometimes children can see things and observe and know more than what the adults give them credit for. So we want to keep them safe, all of them. So uh as far as suspending the rules, we need a roll call, please. [snorts] All in favor? I would I'd like to do I'd like to do roll call. Mr. Garrett. Yes. Mr. Dishman. Yes. Yes. [clears throat] Miss.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Make a motion. Mr. President, I would like to u make make a motion to adopt this ordinance. Please. I'll second. Okay. Roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Mr. Yes. Mr. Yes. Yes. Yes. Mr. Yes.

President. Yes. brings us to other business. Any other business from council? Public comment. Then

first person registered [clears throat] was Paul Bartisana. Well done. Good evening everyone. Paul Perisan at 21108 West Godman Avenue. And this wasn't what I was going to talk about, but I just have to say kudos to the council for making the um safety of our children paramount. I'm a retired teacher, so good going. Good for you.

Here's what I'd like to talk about tonight. Um, Warner closed in the year 2009. Um, the building was eventually demolished beginning in 2017. Here we are in 2026. And, um, I asked this at the mayoral candidate forum several years ago. Um, and I'm going to put my question into three parts. Um, first, are there any plans for the former Ford Warner site at this time? And number two, what are the obstacles? Um, if it's the vastness of the thing, can we do one acre at a time, you know, and um, number three, how can I and the rest of the citizenry help facilitate this Muny Yorktown corridor? because I think we can all agree there are lots of possibilities and opportunities and um you know I hope 2026 is the year that we take a step forward with the Borg Warner site and make it make it inviting to people going to Yorktown and people coming to Muny a win-win. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you

Miss Beth Mesner. Hi, good evening everyone. Uh when I was here for the December meeting um representing the Riverside Normal City Neighborhood Association, uh we talked a little bit about the status of University Avenue in terms of uh problems with curbing and also with um the painting of center lines before the council had reached a decision about whether or not uh ordinance 2925 was going to be approved, which would eradicate parking on University Avenue. At that point, you asked me several questions about that status. And so this afternoon, I sent you all an email with photographs and I wanted to just make sure that I highlighted some of the key points of that so that we all had some clarification. Again, I am here representing Riverside Normal City Neighborhood Association. My comments do not reflect those of my employer. Um, so one of the key concerns that we had was with the lack of curbing on several blocks of University Avenue. The sections of U University Avenue that have been totally completed are amazing, wonderful. We are really, really grateful that that work has been done. But we're very confused by why four blocks have do not yet have curbing and why the city street department decided prior to winter to simply dump dirt in those areas rather than provide some other kind of stable remedy to the to the weather situation through the winter. So, as I mentioned in my email,

there are four blocks that now basically have no curbs and instead are just mud. So, people who are trying to park, particularly on the south side of the street, cannot get out of their vehicles when they have parked without trapesing through mud to get to the sidewalks. Um, we also uh were concerned about why center lines were painted uh before a any decision had been made about ordinance 2925. You had asked about measurements, which proved to be far more challenging than I thought it would be because it seems like every block of University Avenue is a slightly different width. So, we have everything from a 30 foot um width of University Avenue in the block that's next to Wheeling to a 34 to 35 width University Avenue as we move toward the village. But one of the things that's fairly consistent is that those the center lines that have been painted do not provide sufficient room for parking on the south side of University Avenue, which is currently legal. Several of the the photographs that I've shown you, um you can see people shortly after those lines were painted had to swerve around vehicles that were parked. And you can see them tracking the paint uh across the street as they swerve. It becomes really frightening particularly in those last couple of blocks between rever reserve and wheeling where the lanes are far more narrow. And one of the photos shows that there there is very little room uh between that center line and

parking uh in that particular space. So, I bring forth this information just to help answer and address some of the concerns and questions that we had at the December meeting. Um, as always, I reiterate that Riverside Normal City Neighborhood is opposed to ordinance 2925 for the many reasons that we have shared with you over the last several months. So, if this ever comes to a vote, is ever removed from the table, um we will be back to share more of our thoughts. Thank you. Thank you. Thank Thank you.

Okay. I'm sorry. Um next person was Mr. Eric Amler, but he did leave. Okay. Followed by Mista Bennings, but they both spoke during after the ordinance was read, so they're no longer here. Mr. Cameron Grubs.

Good evening, Again, Council. Um, so I'll try and uh make this all quick. I do want to add though that making Kilgore corridor a thing to bring money between Yorktown and Muny would be great instead of having it go down to uh Hamilton and Noblesville and everything. Uh, what I wanted to address today is something that I had emailed um you about this morning. I've been making posts about it. I have brought it to the attention of the mayor. Whether or not he's not here anymore, but the uh whether or not he actually read it or somebody else handled it for him, um I I can't say. The the issue at hand is that uh last year you passed resolution 18-25 which part portions read the city of Muny values the dignity of every person regardless of race, ethnicity, uh religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, immigration status, or political affiliation. Whereas hateful rhetoric refers to speech that expresses hate or encourages violence towards individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or based on affiliation with certain groups or organizations. Later down there, section one says the common council affirms that hateful and divisive rhetoric has no place in public leadership and condemns such rhetoric whenever it arises. The council uh section two, the common council recognizes that acknowledging hateful and divisive verdict and behavior is a first step towards healing and unity for our community. Common council understands that the integrity of public service demands leaders whether elected or appointed to boards or and commissions, serve all citizens, lead beyond partisan lines, and avoid language or actions that degrade or dehumanize. Section four, the common council is committed to condemning hateful speech and setting a civil tone in discourse for the community. Now, I realize that resolutions are not ordinances. Resolutions don't have teeth, but resolutions are there for a

purpose to show where the council stands, where the city stands. And there's a reason why that resolution came forth, right? There's somebody said something that ticked a bunch of people off and people wanted something done. They wanted accountability. So when the communications director for the city refers to people who are trans as pretending by saying that they expect from the same people they expect the entire dang world to pretend someone with a uh eggplant emoji um is a woman. You don't have to agree with it. I'm not asking her to agree. I don't expect all of you to agree because I know you don't. The problem is that this is language that is offensive, that is harmful, that hurts the community regardless of where we stand on agreement and it shouldn't be said. And I've asked the mayor, I know you can't do anything. I'm not going to ask you to try and remove anybody or to pressure anybody to be removed. I'm simply asking the council here and I would hope the mayor would join you in condemning it in doing what your resolution said you would do. Condemn it whenever it shows up. And so I would ask council as one body, but if not individually to do so online in press releases, whatever you decide to say something, to stand up and say something cuz this is not right. This is wrong, should not be allowed. And I would at least like an apology from our communications director. I asked for something from the mayor to go into a little bit more depth into the uh how we are professional to when dealing with the public. This doesn't look good on my we we're trying to build community here. We want like how many houses are we building? We want people to come here. We want them to feel welcome. And so and I know you all know that. I'm not chastising any of you or anything like that. I'm this is sorry I'm getting a

bit uh I'm lost a word but it's like you know what I'm saying it's like I'm just getting frustrated by it and so like I would like to see something done and and I really would strongly ask that you all just take the time to make that known and stand by your words stand by resolution 1825. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate your comments. [applause] I'm trying to steal the st. Okay. Um, Mr. Bilbury.

Okay. [snorts] I want to read something to you guys. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech or the press [clears throat] or of the press or the right of the people peacefully to assemble and to petition the government for the redress of grievances. I'm interested to know which of the nine of you feel that you're better than, smarter than, more intelligent than Mr. James Madison, who wrote those words in 1789. The Muny City Council has been operating in the way that it's operated in this meeting and the meeting last month for many, many, many, many years. And I would challenge the individual or individuals who have made the rules changes to point to five or six situations in which the police have had to escort someone out of here uh where someone's dropped fbombs or uh use real foul vulgar language. I I would really do that. Now, my problem in doing that is you guys don't answer emails as counselors. I'm sure you probably are not going to answer emails as presidents and vice presidents either. So, you probably won't do that. I'm heartbroken that people feel that you lured over us so much so that when they got up tonight, they felt like they had to give their address. I want you I I hope that the Mr. Arnold here will will take uh Sarah's uh uh ask there and look into this look into the public

access handbook. Okay. Um the state of Indiana has been very clear. You don't have to allow or offer public comment. It's very clear. You do not have to offer that. But it would be because we're here and not next month. It would be piss poor of you to not do that. I think it would be very harmful to re-elections for you to not do that. Um, I think it's shortsighted of you to think that someone can come to a meeting and talk about something before the meeting starts. What if someone comes to the meeting and hears something that you guys talk about and wants to address it before the next meeting? I know, Mr. President, that you've been attending county council and county commissioners meeting getting prepared for this role. The difference there is those meetings are twice a month. You guys meet once a month. So if someone has to set all the way through the meeting until next month to bring it up, shoot, they might not come back. Whatever. Um I just want you to think about this when you're making these changes. These changes do not benefit you. They do not benefit the city. They do not benefit the citizens. Moreover, and I know I'm out of time, and I'm going to finish up on this. I did not give my address tonight. I will not give my address ever. And I will tell you people in elected seats far better and far worse than you have attempted to violate my rights over the last 15 years. And nobody has ever been able to do that. I will never give you anything more than I am directed to. And you will you'll have to escort me out of here and I'll I'll file lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit. You will not violate my First Amendment rights. Hell yeah. [applause]

Stephanie Hall. Stephanie Hall. She's not here. Okay. Uh Mr. Chip Taylor.

Good evening. Chip Taylor, 3119 West Petty. Um, I don't have an employer, so I'm only speaking on behalf of myself. [laughter] Uh, I just I wanted to make a couple First, happy new year to everybody. It's going to be a good one. Happy New Year.

Um, there's a lot of lot of talk about transparency tonight. I want to make some comments along those lines. I promise it's not duplicative. You, you know, I hope what I'm adding is is something original. I've been working in or around local government for almost 40 years. And you know, transparency in local government has always been important. It's more important now probably than it ever has been because of things that happened in the media environment. You know, there was a time not that long ago if somebody was interested in what was going on in a city like my keep up on the major things by reading the local newspaper, right? We don't live in that world anymore, you know, sad sad to say. Um that would be bad enough. What's what's filled the gap is social media, right? And you know, one of the things that happened with social media over the years, people that run it figured out they make more money the more people stay on there, right? Look at more posts. Of course, what they found, you know, unfortunately the way human nature is, what keeps people more engaged on social media is getting mad,

right? So they they show you things that make you mad. Um they, you know, they show you the the hottest take they can possibly have on something. Some of the stuff is just false, some of it intentionally, some of it just like, you know, mis misinformed. Um, and so that leads, you know, people have incentives to like just have hot takes and and, you know, be provocative on online and like it's it's hard to learn anything useful on there. Of course, those are all big trends. What could, you know, what can a city like my do? Um, [clears throat] can't fix a whole problem. I'd say one thing to think about is like look for opportunities to put accurate authoritative, you know, official information out where it's accessible to people, right? That's just that's just the general rule. I mean, you know, look at that. And so, you know, what what's that mean? Here are a few things. Um, one, I think in light of that, like the administration's decision to move the meetings of certain boards and commissions out of this auditorium where they would be streamed, recorded, and archived, out of the auditorium where they won't. I think that I think that's misguided and like a a regretful retreat from transparency on the part of the administration. Uh it's my privilege to serve on a border border commission. Again, I'm only speaking for myself, but I think, you know, made several new appointments tonight. Uh I would encourage everybody that like me that's serving on a border commission. Think about what information, you know, you you've got a you've got a page on the city's website, think about what information is available there for um citizens. It's kind of uneven, right? There's there's at least one you can't even see who who serves on the board. Um, most of them do not show what I think is required by law now, but appointees like who they're appointed by and when their terms run. You know, not every not every website shows that. As a result, like even when you look at the ones where they do list the members, you can't be confident that it's correct.

Um, and there's one I know is not correct because um, somebody has resigned as president, but they're still listed as president. Um, the other thing I think for boards and commissions to think about, again, this is uneven, but a lot of them do a good job of putting agendas, you know, before the meeting, minutes afterwards. That's not universal by by any stretch of the imagination. Um, and so I I we have to we have to have an agenda. We have to file the minutes. It's not it's a it's a very small lift to make sure it gets put online. And and finally for the council, um I've I've seen over the last couple years like people come in and make presentations about big important things like new fire stations. They do a PowerPoint, you know, presentation. There's a lot of information in there. Uh now I've seen the the minutes do a good job. They they intersperse like some of the presentation in with the minutes. It would be real nice. I think a lot of people would be interested in seeing, you know, the the PowerPoint slides, be able to kind of look at them, you know, in their own time, look at it. I think it would be within the council's prerogative to ask them to present those ahead of time so they could be in the in the in the packet. If that's not practical, at the very least they could be posted afterward. Um I I don't I don't think that's a I don't think that's that's, you know, too much for citizens to ask. So, I'll wrap it up just say, you know, I think everyone serving um the the public here in Muny in some way, whether it's council, the administration, people on boards and commissions, think about opportunities to put this information out there. There are a lot of opportunities. It's it's not a you know, it's not a moonshot project, right? It's it's it's pretty lowhanging fruit. Put it out there. There may be some bigger projects that would take, you know, maybe a little more thought to, you know, see if the resources available. uh you know the best time to do the right thing is yesterday. The second best time is today. This is a brand new year. So I I would ask everybody to think about that going forward. Thank you and happy new year.

Thank you. [applause] Mr. Audi Barber. I haven't been up here for Audi Barber 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Um, I haven't been up here for a while because I thought, you know, not a whole lot's going on. It's

not too much happening. I was at home watching the council meeting online and you guys want to, when I say you guys, I mean the president is want to shut the public up. Comments before the meetings, before anything's discussed is wrong. when you get up here and you're introducing these bu these ordinances and stuff. I've been up here a lot of times in the last five or six years that when there is enough people in this room, which there's quite a few tonight because when I first started coming up here, there weren't that many people here, but now that we've had pretty good meetings and stuff, when them people get up and speak, they've changed some of them members. Maybe not you guys, but they have changed votes. on that council because they're out here speaking about it and you're wanting to shut them up and that is not right. If you can't afford the extra 30 or 40 minutes a night on one night a month, resign. This is crazy. We pay you to come in here one night a month. You do all your other stuff on your own time. We pay you all one night a month here. That's it. $1,400 a month. Whatever it is, that's it. plus your insurance. That's it. One night a month. And if you can't afford more than two or two and a half or three hours to be in here at this council meeting, put your letter in right here. This man will accept it. More than happily accept it because that's what you're doing. You're wanting to limited them to two minutes. Most people get up here don't are so nervous that they can't even get it out within the first two minutes.

When I first started coming up here, I couldn't do it. And I still get nervous and I do it and I've done it for five or six years every month limited to two minutes.

That's not fair. That's not fair. And that will reflect on the next election. And whoseever ideal this is, because I can say it this month, can't next. Um, [clears throat] I don't hardly speak like that up here. I try not to. When I first started coming up here, I was pretty hotheaded. I'm pretty upset tonight because this is this is crazy. Go back and look at the rest of the meetings I've been in the last five years. When I first started out, I was pretty upset like this.

I've mellowed out. Now I'm really mad because you're want to shut us up. And that is not right. And I guarantee you, you will have to escort me out of here with police officers every time from this point on because I will be here. Thank you and have a good night. And I hope you get to see Jeopardy. [applause]

Anyone else? Sorry, this is it. Thinking about [clears throat] deputy. Anyone council have anything?

I did not know I needed to sign. You did ask if you could speak at the end. Yes. May I? We're going to let her right now. Let her speak, please. [snorts] Uh, Cheryl Swingley and a suggestion. Instead of giving our addresses, maybe we give our township or something. I don't like giving my address personally. You already did. So, yes, I did. Um, I I'm concerned about your rules. Uh, did you have any consultation with the other members of the council before you impose these? No. No.

I take it your answer. No answer means no. This is public comment. Okay. Let's go ahead and speak.

No. No responses. Okay. Um, what I would suggest that you do is is check out the open meetings law uh for Indiana because it does have guidelines on how um to conduct meetings. Um, I would also encourage that um that I and I'm confused. Did you say that there would be no comment after resolutions are introduced or you said passed? So that's a differentiation. So, we'll be able to comment when resolutions are introduced, but after you vote on them, there will be no comment. It's introduction time.

Introduction time. We can speak. No introduction. We wouldn't at the adoption. Yes. Everyone has that opportunity to speak before you vote on the adoption. Yes.

Okay. Because that wasn't clear to me. Thank you very much for clarifying that. Um I I would also encourage you to give people at least three minutes. Um two minutes is not long at all. Uh and even at the state legislature they give you I think four or five. So you might want to reconsider that. Then the other thing is how are you going to let people know about these rules? Um will they be posted somewhere? uh because I'll just go ahead and say it legally they have to be posted outside the the room. Uh and I would think that there should probably be a resolution. I know that the county commissioners they have it in a resolution or some sort of guidelines about how you're supposed to conduct yourself. Um so those are my comments.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much for allowing me to speak. When you can make the comment when you you'd like to make the comment just a moment. I'll wait till after Dr. Vital. I'll wait till after Dr.

Thank you, Sarah Vitali. I forgot to say earlier that my views don't reflect my employer. Um they don't. Um at least I don't know. I don't think they do. Um so I appreciate some of what probably went into Well, part of what I want to do right now is ask you, President Green, what motivated these changes? And I think that would be helpful for those of us um you know citizens of Muny to know why you want to make those changes so we understand and maybe we would agree with you then um because part of me thinks you know I you know I'm a professional I'm in a lot of annoying meetings um I'm in meetings where you know Robert's rules of order are kind of used not very well. I'm in meetings where I don't know like we're also in meetings that are really long. Um, and so I can understand the desire to make things a little bit more efficient. Um, I appreciate that. Um, but I do agree with Mr. Barber who says that you know what, like this is the one night a month we do it. This is the one month night of month we get together as citizens of Munie and you know get to talk about the issues of the day. Um, and what Mr. Taylor what Dr. Taylor said about you know the the um material being um, you know, shared elsewhere. where we don't have a newspaper that does the kind of reporting anymore like it this needs to be the space like this is democracy this is America um and so um I welcome you maybe at the beginning maybe tonight after I speak or or maybe at the beginning of next month to tell us why we have these rules and I appreciate what um Mrs. Swingley said about, you know, publicizing them because she asked a question about um when you can speak about the the resolution or an ordinance and and she might not know and maybe she does so, but a lot of people don't know that resolutions are just one council meeting and ordinances are two and they

have to vote after to vote to introduce and then vote to adopt. We don't learn that in civics. And so it would be really cool um in speaking about what um Mr. Taylor was saying before is to tell us that like to tell us that this ordinance is about X and this is what we're doing right now. Um so people will know what that means. Um and I think that that would go a long way to you know um to making people feel um pretty heard and welcomed because I think welcomed is a big part of it. Um we want to feel like this is our space to be in with you. Thanks.

Thank you. Sure. [applause] I just have one thing to add tonight. So, your new rules will prohibit people from speaking at at an ordinance introduction. Correct. That's what we Does that include Does that include department heads? No. Because those are points of clarity.

Points of clarity. But I want to point out that tonight being able to speak and having the public speak about council person Selvi's ordinance facilitated, promoted and encouraged council to suspend the rules and put those safety measures into place more expeditiously. And so I I I just hate to limit public input along those ways. I I I respectfully ask [applause] I I I respectfully ask for you to reconsider that. Um, not I I I appreciate your call for civility as someone who's been on the on the receiving end of some of that, but um, as far as limiting public input, that's one of the reasons we're here. Some of the conversations that we've had previously have been about those very things, limiting this and limiting that. And and one of the things that council person Golian said in January of last year is I don't want to do anything that would limit the public's ability to have input even if it means we are on the receiving end of of of criticism. And so again, I would like to respectfully request that you reconsider that

limiting public input. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] Yes. Just some housekeeping. These actually are my employers because they voted for me, but some of them did. Um, from a housekeeping standpoint, whenever you decide what your rules are going to be, we can post them on your section of the website. Okay? So, it's clear, it's clear, and it's accessessible. Okay? Thank you very much. Can I ask you a question? Is it a personal question?

You want to come to the podium? Come to the podium, please. I'm just curious as to why we we delegate and and do all this with resolutions, ordinances, all the policies. How come the how we operate here is not something that gets discussed and and voted on versus like just and nothing against you but just you come in and you say this is how we're doing it now. I was just curious as to why we do it that way is all.

Anyone else? I make a motion this meeting. Have a second. Second. Second. All those in favor? I. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned.