[9:48] We will open with prayer led by

[9:51] Councilman Washington.

[9:52] Thank you, Madam President. Let us bow.

[9:55] Dear Lord, heavenly father, allow the

[9:56] words of our mouth, the meditations of

[9:58] our heart. Lord, let them be acceptable

[10:01] in your sight as we conduct business for

[10:03] the greatest city in this United States

[10:05] of America. That is Gary, Indiana. In

[10:07] the precious name of our Lord and Savior

[10:09] we pray. Amen.

[10:10] Now stand with me for the pledge

[10:12] of

[10:12] allegiance

[10:21] of the United States of America and to

[10:23] the republic for which it stands. One

[10:26] nation under God, indivisible with

[10:30] liberty and justice for all.

[10:44] Roll call. Madam cler.

[10:48] Councilwoman Brown.

[10:50] Councilwoman Cwell.

[10:52] Present.

[10:55] Councilman Hallebertton.

[10:59] Councilwoman Ivy.

[11:00] Present.

[11:01] Councilman Toiver.

[11:02] Present. Councilman Washington

[11:05] present.

[11:06] Councilman Wington

[11:07] present.

[11:08] Councilman Williams

[11:10] president

[11:11] present.

[11:13] President there are seven present two ab

[11:16] with seven present and two absent. The

[11:18] Gary comment council has a form to do

[11:21] business in the city of Gary.

[11:23] Colleagues, you have before you the

[11:25] minutes of our previous meeting. Is

[11:28] there a motion for acceptance?

[11:31] So move.

[11:32] Second. It's been moved and second that

[11:34] we accept the minutes of our previous

[11:36] meeting. Any discussion?

[11:39] Roll call. Madam clerk.

[11:41] Councilwoman Brown.

[11:42] Yes.

[11:43] Councilwoman Cwell.

[11:44] Yes.

[11:45] Councilman Ivy. Councilwoman Ivy.

[11:47] Yes.

[11:48] Councilman Toiver.

[11:49] Yes.

[11:50] Councilman Washington.

[11:51] Yes.

[11:52] Councilman Wissington.

[11:53] Yes.

[11:53] And President Lincoln.

[11:55] Yes.

[11:55] President for the

[11:57] with the vote of 720.

[12:01] Our minutes of the previous meeting have

[12:04] been accepted and are so ordered.

[12:06] Assignment of council pending ordinances

[12:08] and resolutions on first reading. CPO

[12:11] 2025-44,

[12:13] an ordinance providing for

[12:14] appropriations in the building

[12:16] renovations fund for the fiscal year

[12:19] 20226

[12:21] expenses and forwarding to the common

[12:23] council for action and passage

[12:25] pursuant to IC 6-1.1-18-6

[12:31] sponsored by Mayor Eddie Melton city

[12:33] gear lead city patrol

[12:35] finance

[12:36] CPL 2025-45

[12:39] in order to establish a fund for the

[12:41] city of Gary and Hard Rock Casino

[12:44] matches for the Lake County Convention

[12:46] Center and providing for additional

[12:48] appropriations in the casino operating

[12:50] fund for the fiscal year 2025 expenses

[12:54] and forwarded to the common council for

[12:56] action and passage pursuant to Indiana

[12:58] code 6-1.1-8-6

[13:02] sponsored by Mayor Eddie Melton city

[13:04] garrison city control

[13:06] finance

[13:07] CPL 2020 25-46

[13:10] an ordinance provided for the transfer

[13:12] appropriations between series for the

[13:15] Gary city court for fiscal year 2025

[13:18] budget and forwarded to the common

[13:20] council for action and passage pursuant

[13:22] to Indiana code 6-1.1-18-6

[13:27] sponsored by mayor Eddie Melton city of

[13:29] Gary city green city controller and

[13:31] judge DL Monroe Gary city court

[13:34] finance

[13:36] mad President.

[13:39] Thank you,

[13:41] Councilwoman Brown.

[13:49] Excuse me, Councilwoman Brown. I would

[13:51] like to to acknowledge and let the

[13:53] record reflect that Councilman Dwayne

[13:56] Howard is present for the meeting.

[14:00] Thank you. The finance committee has

[14:03] before CPO 202544.

[14:07] For the record, I approve this ordinance

[14:09] for reporting out to the council.

[14:11] Councilwoman Caldwell,

[14:12] yes. And Counciloman,

[14:15] yes.

[14:16] Madame President, a majority of the

[14:17] finance committee has approved CPO

[14:20] 202544

[14:22] for reporting out to the council. The

[14:25] finance committee has before CPO 202545.

[14:30] For the record, I approve this ordinance

[14:32] for reporting out to the council.

[14:34] Councilwoman Cwell,

[14:35] yes.

[14:36] And Councilman Wington,

[14:37] yes.

[14:38] Madame President, a majority of the

[14:40] finance committee has approved CPO

[14:42] 202545

[14:45] for reporting out to council. The

[14:47] finance committee has before CPO 202546.

[14:52] For the record, I approve this ordinance

[14:54] for reporting after the council.

[14:56] Counciloman Caldwell,

[14:58] yes.

[14:58] And Councilman Wilson,

[15:00] yes.

[15:00] Madam President, a majority of the

[15:02] finance committee has approved CPO

[15:05] 202546

[15:07] for reporting out to

[15:10] Thank you, Councilwoman Brown.

[15:14] Now the finance committee has to report

[15:17] CPO 202544

[15:21] 2545

[15:22] and 2546

[15:25] for reporting out to the council.

[15:27] Thank you Brown.

[15:31] At this time any members for special

[15:33] elect?

[15:35] Yes.

[15:37] Councilwoman Brown.

[15:39] Okay. First of all, I'd like to

[15:42] acknowledge the 16 weeks of summer where

[15:46] you have an opportunity to meet

[15:47] Councilwoman Brown. That's me, y'all.

[15:52] That's on Wednesday, August 20th from

[15:55] 300 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. That's in Talison

[15:58] Park in the third district at 1709 Elour

[16:02] Street Place, I'm sorry. And

[16:06] I'd like to announce the the third

[16:09] district has had a community meeting for

[16:13] some time and so we're going to have one

[16:16] on Monday, August the 11th at 5:00 p.m.

[16:20] at Talston Park Pavilion. Our special

[16:23] guests will be the Chief Derek Canon of

[16:27] the Gary Police Department, Miss Gerald

[16:30] Williams, directors of Gary Farms, and

[16:33] County Councilman Ron Brewer from the

[16:36] second district. And our other

[16:40] uh special guest will be councilman at

[16:42] large miles.

[16:44] So anyone is welcome to come. We look

[16:47] forward to seeing you as again and I

[16:49] said Monday, August the 11th at 5:00

[16:53] p.m. at Charlton Park Pavilion and this

[16:56] will be the first community meeting

[16:57] we've had for quite some time. So I'm

[16:59] looking forward to residents coming out.

[17:02] Thank you, Madam President.

[17:03] Thank you, Councilwoman Brown.

[17:05] Councilwoman Barnes Cwell.

[17:08] Good evening. Please join Councilwoman

[17:12] Caldwell in the fifth district community

[17:15] forum Monday, August the 25th at 5:30 at

[17:20] Rosville Park Pavilion, 2145 Harrison

[17:23] Street, Perry, Indiana. Our special

[17:26] guests will be

[17:29] Congressman Craig Maran, State Senator

[17:32] Mark Spencer, State Representative Dr.

[17:35] Bernie G. Smith, Lake Councilman Ronald

[17:38] Gore and I believe representative

[17:42] Reagan Hatch. We'll have legislative

[17:45] updates will be presented. So please

[17:48] join us Monday, August the 25th at 5:30

[17:51] at Roosevelt building. Thank you.

[17:53] Councilwoman Mars Cwell

[17:55] President.

[17:56] Councilman Hallebertton.

[18:09] also like to har on what my colleague

[18:11] stated about the 16 weeks of summer. Uh

[18:13] you can meet me on Wednesday, August 6

[18:16] at from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at this park.

[18:21] Um

[18:22] it's the city of Gary 16 week meet up

[18:26] and please stop by for on-site resources

[18:29] and services. That will be Wednesday,

[18:32] August 6 between 300 p.m. and 6 pm. Tell

[18:35] everyone that Brownsburg Park Councilman

[18:38] Hallebert will be there as well as

[18:40] Sydney Gary. Thank you.

[18:42] Councilman Hallebertton.

[18:45] Councilman Toiver.

[18:46] Um, yes. I would like to on behalf of

[18:49] myself and the Gary County Council, I

[18:51] want to wish everybody a great school

[18:52] year. I know 21st century started today

[18:55] and I know that the other schools will

[18:56] be starting. So, I want to give

[18:58] everybody uh wishing them the best this

[19:00] year. make sure we get that work done.

[19:01] And from our seniors, figure out what

[19:03] you want to do postsecary education or

[19:05] whatever you want to do in life, make

[19:07] sure you have a plan because the time is

[19:09] of the essence. We have to make sure

[19:11] that you have those career opportunities

[19:13] at your hands. So, want to wish them a

[19:15] great school year.

[19:16] Thank you, Councilman Oliver.

[19:19] Any other members specialist?

[19:23] We have two August birthdays. the Gary

[19:26] Common Council. Um, our own

[19:31] the voice of the Gary Common Council,

[19:34] Cam Reynolds, Your birthday's in August,

[19:36] right? Has an August birthday. So, we

[19:39] wish you a happy birthday.

[19:42] And then in his absence, Councilman

[19:44] Dwight Williams also has a birthday in

[19:46] August on the 22nd. So, we wish Miss Kim

[19:50] Clerk, Madame Deputy Clerk Reynolds, as

[19:53] well as our Councilman Williams a very

[19:56] happy birthday. And then on August the

[19:58] 26th at 5:00 p.m., the air pollution

[20:01] advisory committee will be meeting here

[20:03] at the Gary Public Library. We have

[20:06] received notice of a number of air

[20:09] polluting permits from the NIPCO, the

[20:12] Gary Etna Indiana operating center, from

[20:15] the US Steel Corporation at Gary Works,

[20:19] from Carmoose Lime Incorporated are the

[20:23] three just this month. The um comment

[20:27] period on these applications are open

[20:30] and more information about the uh

[20:33] applications have been placed here at

[20:35] the Gary Public Library and can be

[20:37] accessible here. But we will talk more

[20:39] about these permits on August the 26th

[20:42] at 5:00 PM at the Gary Public Library,

[20:46] this branch.

[20:49] Councilman Washington.

[20:50] Thank you, Madam President. Um, I'd like

[20:52] to thank the public who came out to the

[20:56] Gary Planning Commission's um meeting

[20:59] where the a draft of the comprehensive

[21:02] plan was presented um before the public

[21:05] um was presented by MKSK

[21:08] planning director Corey Sharp um with an

[21:11] excellent job in presenting. Um we are

[21:15] going to have a public meeting with the

[21:17] planning and development committee

[21:18] meeting on August 12th at 5:30 here um

[21:22] at the Gary Public Library so the

[21:25] comprehensive plan can be presented to

[21:27] the common council. Um it was a great

[21:30] opportunity. under Madam President was

[21:32] there and it was a great opportunity to

[21:34] see the different properties and what

[21:37] the administration has come up with on

[21:39] how we're going to strategically plan um

[21:41] to get our city's properties in order

[21:43] and to be able to get them back on the

[21:45] tax roles. I want to say congratulations

[21:47] to the mayor and his staff, especially

[21:49] Corey um Sharp and Attorney Molina and

[21:52] um the planning commission who was in

[21:55] attendance also had a great um time that

[21:58] evening. Thank you, Madam President.

[22:00] Thank you, Councilman Washington. Any

[22:02] other members for specialt

[22:09] 12 at 5:30 and that's in case you decide

[22:13] tonight that you want to have your

[22:16] budget and finance your finance meeting

[22:18] on the 12th on Tuesday. You do it at

[22:21] 5:00.

[22:23] Hint hint.

[22:28] Thank you.

[22:29] You're welcome.

[22:30] Thank you. Any other colleagues for

[22:32] specialists elect?

[22:34] Seeing none, we have come to the space

[22:35] in our agenda for public comment.

[22:38] We have three signed up to speak

[22:40] tonight. You have two minutes to speak.

[22:43] Our parliamentarian, Linda Barnes Cwell,

[22:46] will be keeping time. This is usually

[22:49] not a question and answer period. It's

[22:52] an opportunity for the public to make

[22:54] comments. However, um especially when

[22:57] questions, comments pertain to city

[23:00] services, we have members of the

[23:03] administration who are here who may be

[23:05] able to answer your questions. At this

[23:07] time, all members of the administration,

[23:08] can you please raise your hand?

[23:13] All right, we'll start with Marsha

[23:16] Coleman, followed by Mrs. Linda Collins

[23:19] Brown. Welcome. And then

[23:25] Oh, Brian and Bonnie look.

[23:31] Welcome, Miss Coleman. Thank you. Okay,

[23:33] I'll be to the point

[23:35] closer to the mic.

[23:37] Can you hear?

[23:37] Make sure your mic is on.

[23:39] Text test. Okay, awesome. Okay, I have

[23:42] two questions. The first what I I'll

[23:43] deal with um for some of my elderly

[23:46] neighbors they're kind of concerned

[23:47] about reporting issues fearing that if

[23:50] they call the police that sometimes the

[23:52] police will go to that neighbor say hey

[23:53] you know so and so called on you so

[23:55] because of that I guess that's things

[23:56] that's happened in the past I don't know

[23:58] they feel they cannot report an issue so

[24:00] is there any way they can report

[24:02] anonymously let's say the Gary 311 apps

[24:04] I know I know about it but I don't know

[24:06] if they do so how do they report issues

[24:08] anonymously that's the first question

[24:10] and then keep going Yes.

[24:12] Okay. Great. Okay. The second concern

[24:14] had to do with aggressive dog and I must

[24:16] compliment Congressman Hallebert and

[24:18] he's been very instrumental in assisting

[24:19] me in this matter. Jesus name.

[24:23] The reason being um I don't have any

[24:25] pets in the house because we have people

[24:27] with severe allergies. But yet I've been

[24:28] around dogs and this dog is kind of

[24:31] different. There's a gate separating us.

[24:33] However, because we have a detached

[24:34] garage and I have to walk from the

[24:36] garage to my house across the patio.

[24:38] this dog is kind of aggressive when like

[24:41] it's trying to rush the gate basically

[24:43] and it's drooling what have you. So of

[24:45] course I brought it to um Councilman

[24:46] Halleberg's attention. He told me of

[24:48] course not too much can be done because

[24:49] the dog was in the gate. It has to be

[24:52] out and about. I heard stories but

[24:54] because I couldn't verify I couldn't do

[24:56] anything. However, this past Saturday

[25:00] when I went out and this time stamp on

[25:02] my phone I was actually about to go out

[25:04] my front door because I could no longer

[25:06] park in my garage because of this dog.

[25:08] So when I went out my front door, I

[25:10] opened my drakes. That dog was walking

[25:12] around the neighborhood and he's a very

[25:14] big dog. So I went ahead, I did the Gary

[25:17] 311 app and also I did report it to my

[25:20] counselor as well. Um the questions and

[25:22] comments I have cuz the homeowner, my

[25:25] mother and I were kind of discussing

[25:27] this and I hopefully I can find all

[25:29] these questions. Of course can't find

[25:31] them when I need.

[25:32] All right. As far as do we have any laws

[25:34] and Gary as far as Miss Coleman that's

[25:36] two minutes but I'll ask our chief of

[25:39] staff to address the anonymous tip line

[25:42] as well as reaching out to animal

[25:43] control during his report.

[25:48] Mrs. Linda Collins Brown. Welcome.

[25:50] Thank you.

[25:52] Good evening council.

[25:54] I do appreciate the time afforded me to

[25:56] speak before you today. I do so with a

[25:59] heavy heart. I'm disappointed and I feel

[26:03] a little bit of anger. I wish the

[26:05] council would explain to us the citizens

[26:08] of Gary and trust me and believe me what

[26:10] I know that Dr. Vanessa Allen Mloud's

[26:14] tenure was up. I know all of that and I

[26:17] do know that the city council has the

[26:19] right to uh reappoint someone at their

[26:23] discretion. However, I've been around a

[26:25] very very long time. been involved with

[26:28] the Gary school board uh meetings and

[26:31] taking my children to meetings and the

[26:32] whole nine yards since the early 80s and

[26:36] the council the board that we had with

[26:39] Dr. Vanessa Alan Mloud was by far the

[26:43] best one that we've had in a very very long time. So I am so extremely

[26:48] disappointed. You know, the city is

[26:51] moving forward in the right direction,

[26:53] and I applaud the mayor and his entire

[26:55] administration. Our school is getting

[26:57] back on track and was headed in the

[27:00] right direction. I think that was a very

[27:02] poor move. And I do believe now it's

[27:05] rumored that it was in retaliation

[27:08] because um a person on the city council

[27:11] felt the need to complain because they

[27:14] were parked in an illegal parking spot,

[27:17] a fire zone and nothing was done about

[27:21] it. She felt he or she felt the need to

[27:24] complain because she felt that or he

[27:27] that it should it's okay, but it isn't.

[27:30] It's a fire hazard. It's illegal, okay?

[27:34] And it's wrong. So, we must abide by the

[27:37] rules and we must set examples for our

[27:39] young people. And to the young people on

[27:42] the city council, stand firm with what

[27:44] you believe to be right. And I support,

[27:48] you know, us going back, rethinking

[27:50] this, and then putting Dr. Mloud back on

[27:53] that board. Thank you. I appreciate the

[27:55] time.

[27:56] Thank you, Mrs. College Brown,

[27:59] Brian, and Bonnie Luick.

[28:08] Hi. Hi. My husband stepped out. He had a

[28:11] tickle in his throat and I don't know

[28:12] why I signed the paper to talk. We're

[28:14] just here to get reszoned.

[28:16] Thank you.

[28:16] So, thanks for having us.

[28:18] Thank you.

[28:22] to everyone who came to speak.

[28:24] At this time, you will hear our council

[28:26] pending ordinances and resolutions on

[28:28] third and or final read.

[28:35] CPL 2025-41

[28:38] or learners of viewing a special use

[28:40] permit for property located at 1040

[28:43] North Union Street to be used as a

[28:45] short-term rental property by

[28:47] petitioners Jason and Tanya Platt

[28:49] sponsored by the Arizona department

[28:51] petition Jason and Tanya Platt 1040

[28:54] North Street near him

[28:56] colleagues at this time I'll entertain a

[28:57] motion for a appro

[29:00] I'm sorry. Is there a motion on 2022-

[29:07] attorney Molina is doing the overview?

[29:13] Good evening, President Leam and council

[29:15] members. Uh on this uh CPO 2025-41, it

[29:19] is for a short-term uh rental uh special

[29:22] use at 1040 North Union Street. Um, as

[29:25] we discussed at the, uh, committee

[29:27] meeting, uh, last, uh, this came before

[29:29] the BZA on June 12th, 2025, and it

[29:33] received a unanimous vote, uh, to

[29:35] favorably recommend the grant of a

[29:37] special use permit. Uh, it had been duly

[29:40] uh, publicized. Uh, a public hearing was

[29:43] held. There were no remmonstrators and

[29:46] the board of zoning appeals felt that

[29:48] this uh property uh did indeed meet the

[29:51] seven requirements uh that we have as uh

[29:54] part of our ordinances uh for a special

[29:57] use permit to be granted. Um it is zoned

[30:00] uh residential uh and it will remain as

[30:03] residential use as a short-term rental

[30:05] property if it is approved. If there's

[30:08] any questions certainly happy to

[30:09] entertain those and the petitioners are

[30:11] present.

[30:12] Thank you, Attorney Molina.

[30:15] Any questions, comments, discussion from

[30:18] colleagues?

[30:23] Seeing none, roll call. Madam cler,

[30:37] we can read. Can you repeat it? it.

[30:39] We're voting on CPO 2025-41.

[30:43] Uh yes, it's for a short-term rental uh

[30:45] special use at 1040 uh North Union

[30:48] Street.

[30:50] And I'll just say um the there's a

[30:53] motion on the floor.

[31:01] Does anyone object? I'll just give bit

[31:03] of an overview. Jason and Tanya Plant

[31:06] were both Platt were both at the

[31:08] planning and development

[31:10] committee meeting. Um I believe this is

[31:13] the pastor and pastor's wife who bought

[31:15] a piece of property who will be here

[31:17] shortterm and plan to retire here once

[31:21] they retire from their church and the parsonage

[31:25] the stands.

[31:33] All right. Roll call. Madam clerk.

[31:35] Councilwoman Brown.

[31:36] Yes. Councilwoman Cwell,

[31:38] pass.

[31:40] Councilman Hallebert,

[31:41] yes.

[31:42] Councilwoman Ivy,

[31:43] yes.

[31:44] Councilman Talib,

[31:46] yes.

[31:46] Councilman Washington,

[31:48] yes.

[31:48] Councilman Wington,

[31:50] yes.

[31:50] Councilwoman Cwell,

[31:53] yes.

[31:54] President,

[31:55] yes.

[31:56] Madam President, vote is 8 to Z.

[31:58] With a vote of 8 to 0, CPO 2025-41

[32:02] is passed in so order. CBO 2025-42

[32:07] an ordinance for resing property located

[32:09] at 5339 West 15th Avenue Gary Indiana by

[32:13] petitioner Robert L. Lewis sponsored by

[32:15] the Gary plan commission petitioner

[32:18] Robert L. Lewis on behalf of buying

[32:20] saving corporate.

[32:22] Madam President,

[32:23] Councilman Washington,

[32:24] I make a motion to refer CPO 2025-42

[32:28] back to the planning and development

[32:29] committee

[32:30] with the meeting scheduled for Tuesday,

[32:33] August 12th, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. The

[32:37] petitioner in order the petitioner's

[32:39] representative show for the planning and

[32:41] development committee.

[32:43] Thank you, Council Washington. It's been

[32:45] moved and second that CPO 2025-42 is

[32:49] referred back to community to committee.

[32:51] Roll call. Madam cler.

[32:53] Councilwoman Brown.

[32:54] Yes.

[32:55] Councilwoman Cwell.

[32:56] Yes.

[32:57] Councilman Hallebert.

[32:58] Yes.

[32:59] Councilwoman Ivy.

[33:00] Yes.

[33:00] Councilman Toiver.

[33:02] Yes.

[33:02] Councilman Washington.

[33:03] Yes.

[33:04] Councilman Weston.

[33:05] Yes.

[33:06] And President Leo.

[33:07] Yes.

[33:07] Madam President, the vote is 8 to Z.

[33:09] With a vote of 8 to zero, CPO 2025-42

[33:13] has been referred back to committee.

[33:16] CPO 2025-43,

[33:19] an ordinance for reszoning property

[33:20] located at 925 North Shelby, Gary,

[33:23] Indiana by petitioner Brian Luick,

[33:26] sponsored by Gary Zoning Department.

[33:28] Petition Brian Lew 925 Shelby Street.

[33:39] Colleagues, at this time I'll entertain

[33:40] a motion.

[33:42] It's been moved by Councilman Lisson.

[33:45] Second by Councilman Washington.

[33:48] Overview,

[33:50] please.

[33:51] Yes. On the 2025-43,

[33:54] uh we're dealing with the property at

[33:55] 925 North Shelby Street. Uh, petitioner

[33:58] Brian Luick has petitioned uh the plan

[34:00] commission for a reszone. There was a

[34:02] public hearing held on June 18, 2025.

[34:06] Um, a unanimous vote uh recommended that

[34:09] uh the reszone be granted. It's

[34:10] currently reszoned as a B1. Um, and

[34:14] they're seeking a reszone to a B3 which

[34:17] allows for a full service restaurant. U,

[34:19] that was the issue. Um it did it

[34:21] basically B1 is limited as a retail

[34:23] district um more for cafes and things

[34:26] like that and this is a full service

[34:28] restaurant. Um at the public hearing uh

[34:31] there were no remmonstrators against uh

[34:34] there were two people who showed up to

[34:36] speak in favor um of having more dining

[34:39] options in the area. Uh if you recall

[34:41] Mr. was at the uh committee meeting uh

[34:45] last and explained his uh vision for the

[34:49] restaurant. Uh they have complied with

[34:51] everything that we have asked from the

[34:53] planning department. Uh there was a

[34:55] question raised about uh parking and

[34:57] whether they had enough spots. They do

[34:59] indeed qualify under our ordinance uh

[35:01] and do have enough spots. Um, so, uh,

[35:04] the city, uh, the plan commission is

[35:07] asking that this, uh, receive a

[35:08] favorable recommendation from the city

[35:10] or approval from the, uh, council.

[35:15] Thank you, Attorney Molina. Any

[35:17] questions or discussions,

[35:19] Madam President?

[35:20] Councilwoman Ivy,

[35:23] attorney, is the petitioner here?

[35:24] Yes, sir.

[35:26] I have a question.

[35:36] Good evening.

[35:37] I may have been uh on

[35:39] travel when we had the committee

[35:41] meeting. Um were you able to state um

[35:45] your vision for the restaurant? Like how

[35:47] much time do you anticipate before the

[35:50] full service restaurant will be open and

[35:52] active? Well, due to permits and

[35:54] whatnot, um, restaurant equipment, we're

[35:56] shooting for November. So,

[35:58] of 2025.

[36:00] Yes. Yes, ma'am.

[36:01] And what type of, um, restaurant, I

[36:05] guess I should, pastas, pizza.

[36:07] So, like more like a formal kind of

[36:09] dining.

[36:10] Yeah. Yeah.

[36:10] Okay.

[36:12] All right. We'll be checking in

[36:13] November.

[36:16] It'll be worth it.

[36:20] Any

[36:24] other questions?

[36:26] Council member.

[36:31] Any other questions? Discussion.

[36:35] Seeing none.

[36:36] Roll call. Madam clerk.

[36:39] Councilwoman Brown.

[36:40] Yes.

[36:41] Councilwoman Cwell.

[36:42] Yes.

[36:43] Councilman Hallebert.

[36:45] Yes.

[36:46] Councilwoman Ivy.

[36:47] Yes.

[36:48] Councilman Oliver.

[36:50] Yes.

[36:50] Councilman Washington.

[36:52] Yes.

[36:52] Councilman Wington.

[36:54] Yes.

[36:54] And President L.

[36:55] Yes.

[36:56] Madam President, vote is 8 to Z.

[36:58] With the vote of 8 to 0, CPO 2025-43

[37:02] has passed. And so Madam President

[37:05] orders and resolutions on 30.

[37:09] Thank you, Madam Clerk. The time

[37:31] Okay. Council pending ordinances and

[37:32] resolutions on second readings.

[37:35] CPL 2023-44

[37:39] an orders provided for appropriations in

[37:41] the building renovations fund for fiscal

[37:43] year 2026 expenses and forwarded to the

[37:47] common council for action and passage

[37:50] pursuant to Indiana code 6-1.1-8-6

[37:56] sponsored by Mayor Eddie Milton city of

[37:57] Gary city

[38:00] colleagues I would like to entertain a

[38:02] motion to suspend the rules to pass CPO

[38:05] 2025-44

[38:06] on all three readings.

[38:08] So move.

[38:10] Thank you, Councilwoman Ivy. Is there a

[38:12] second?

[38:13] Thank you, Councilwoman Brown.

[38:17] Discussion,

[38:19] Chief.

[38:23] Oh, I'm sorry. Not on the No, no, no.

[38:27] So, um, but can I discuss why?

[38:31] Um, so this is an appropriation needed

[38:34] in an emergency manner for the

[38:36] replacement of the city hall elevator.

[38:39] Um, as you all know, has been out of

[38:41] order for months. It's the reason why

[38:44] we're here in the library. Um, the

[38:47] elevator, to my understanding, is beyond

[38:49] repair. It needs to be replaced, which

[38:52] requires, of course, more money and

[38:54] additional uh budget appropriation.

[38:57] uh because of the sensitive nature and I

[38:59] guess emergency nature of it, we would

[39:01] like to get the replacement moving as

[39:04] fast as possible, which is why I'm

[39:06] requesting that we suspend the rules and

[39:08] do this on all three readings.

[39:12] So, roll call on suspension of the

[39:15] rules.

[39:15] Councilwoman Brown,

[39:17] yes.

[39:17] Councilwoman Cwell,

[39:18] yes.

[39:19] Council Hallebert,

[39:20] yes.

[39:21] Councilwoman Ivy,

[39:22] yes.

[39:23] Councilman Toiver,

[39:24] yes.

[39:25] Council Washington,

[39:26] yes. Council Wington,

[39:32] president.

[39:33] Yes.

[39:35] President.

[39:37] Thank you. With a vote of 8 to zero, we

[39:40] have suspended the rules. And now we

[39:44] need a a motion for passage.

[39:52] Thank you, Councilwoman Ivy. Is there a

[39:54] second?

[39:56] seconded by second by Councilman

[39:58] Wington.

[39:59] Now for the overview.

[40:07] Good evening, Madam President and uh

[40:09] Steam Council. We thank you for um even

[40:12] um acknowledging um the issue that we

[40:14] faced. Um as you know, the city hall uh

[40:17] elevator um we believe was created or

[40:20] put in um it's either in the 30s or 40s

[40:23] had some remodel. Um since then,

[40:26] however, because of the age of the

[40:28] building um and the uniqueness of that

[40:31] elevator that was created, um we have to

[40:33] have a specially um built elevator um

[40:37] because our shaft is very small. So, a

[40:39] unique um elevator or a standard

[40:42] elevator, excuse me, will not fit our

[40:44] ele uh elevator shaft. Um so, what we

[40:47] did is initially the city had been

[40:48] working with KA um Ko N. Um they have

[40:52] been working with them multiple

[40:54] elevators throughout the city, but

[40:56] because of this emergency in nature, we

[40:57] wanted to reach out to any other uh

[41:00] elevator company that exists within the

[41:01] Chicagoland area. And so, we were able

[41:04] to make connection with All Types

[41:05] Elevator. All Types Elevator did come

[41:08] back uh with a more uh responsible and

[41:12] lower quote. That quote is attached in

[41:14] your packet and it's uh uh 20030

[41:19] $230,000

[41:22] uh code days uh information. Um if you

[41:25] don't have it, I can share. I thought it

[41:27] was attached to the package.

[41:29] Um I can't reord it to the email. I just

[41:32] fored it and shared it, but we did

[41:34] attach it to that original.

[41:35] I received it via email, but it's not

[41:37] printed.

[41:38] Okay.

[41:39] Does everybody else send it?

[41:40] And I can send it out right now.

[41:45] 44 is not in here.

[41:49] The ordinance or just the quote

[41:52] just

[41:57] I've seen it. Okay. I've seen it, but

[41:59] it's not.

[42:00] I'll let um our public works director

[42:02] talk a little bit more about the

[42:03] elevator and the history and things like

[42:05] that, and I'll make sure I send it out

[42:07] right now to all of the council.

[42:13] You got it.

[42:15] We have the ordinance.

[42:16] Okay. But just not the attachment,

[42:17] right?

[42:18] Okay. He's going to send it right out.

[42:20] So, excuse me. Good evening. Thank you

[42:23] uh for hearing us. Uh it is an

[42:26] emergency. It's been several months

[42:28] since the elevator has been down in city

[42:31] hall. Uh which is part of the reason

[42:33] that we're here in this room tonight. Uh

[42:35] Ellis is correct because the elevator is

[42:38] so old. the original build. It's just

[42:41] difficult to kind of come in. We

[42:43] actually had a line on an elevator, but

[42:45] it just simply would not fit. Con has

[42:48] been servicing our elevators across the

[42:50] city for the last few years. As far back

[42:52] as I can tell, I find that their prices

[42:56] are incredibly high, that they're not

[42:59] competitive with a lot of other vendors,

[43:02] specifically all types who this proposal

[43:05] is from. We have recently brought all

[43:08] types into our fold this year. They've

[43:10] been doing some work. Uh, one of the I

[43:13] won't call it a disadvantage, but

[43:14] they're not as big of an outfit as Kona,

[43:18] so we've had some challenges with

[43:19] scheduling. Uh, they're out of Illinois,

[43:22] but their price and their work I find to

[43:25] be comparable, if not better than that, of Kona. So, I'm completely

[43:29] comfortable with moving forward with

[43:31] their proposal, which is roughly half of

[43:35] what was presented by Kona maybe a year

[43:39] uh a year and a half ago. So, they've

[43:41] been working toward updating their

[43:44] proposal and they just haven't done so

[43:46] yet. But, I would expect that it would

[43:48] probably come in around a half a million

[43:50] dollars for and it's not a new elevator.

[43:54] It's a complete uh kind of a rebuild.

[43:56] They refer to it as a modernization of

[43:59] the elevator. So that's kind of where we

[44:01] are. All types is ready to go. If we

[44:04] agree on this tonight and to Ellis's

[44:06] point, it would be about 30 days before

[44:08] we could bring all the elements um and

[44:11] all the aspects of it together to start

[44:13] the work. So thank you

[44:18] councilwoman Barwell.

[44:22] I have little understanding you have two

[44:24] quotes in and all types.

[44:26] We don't have con they still have not

[44:28] delivered the quote that we've been

[44:30] waiting on for about 3 weeks now from

[44:33] the other vendor. So the only one we

[44:35] have in hand right now, councilwoman, is

[44:38] for the one that uh all types. But we

[44:41] had previously

[44:42] million.

[44:42] No, no, this is 230.

[44:44] But we had previously received a quote I

[44:47] believe last year, Ellis Labor, or the

[44:49] year before from Ket and that was coming

[44:53] in at least double the amount of all

[44:55] types. So adjusted for inflation and

[44:59] tariffs, I think we can anticipate that

[45:01] it would be higher uh even still this

[45:03] year.

[45:04] Those are the only two elevator services

[45:06] in the area.

[45:07] There are actually there is one other

[45:09] called South Suburban, but it's a very small operation. It's been a real

[45:14] challenge. Uh but these are the only

[45:16] three that I'm aware of and that have

[45:19] been used uh in our for our city

[45:22] services over the years.

[45:24] South Suburban. I be your pardon.

[45:26] Did you get a quote from them?

[45:27] No, I don't believe so. I don't think

[45:29] South Suburban the size of their

[45:30] operation that they're even prepared to

[45:32] take on a job of this magnitude.

[45:36] So, if we were with all types, when

[45:39] would the project be completed? That's a

[45:42] great question and I would dare not give

[45:44] an answer to that tonight, but I could

[45:47] if we agreed to move forward tonight, I

[45:49] could certainly get a better timeline

[45:51] for when we could expect to begin

[45:53] through completion of the work.

[45:55] And how much is that again?

[45:57] 230,000 is the amount of the quote.

[46:03] Oh, Councilman Wington.

[46:04] Oh, thank you very much. Uh, I want to

[46:06] impress my hesitency was not with your

[46:08] work. I'm thoroughly impressed. I mean,

[46:11] you do amazing work especially with

[46:13] limitation that we do have. So I do

[46:15] appreciate you hesitency was excuse me

[46:19] it's just that I've just now seen the

[46:21] documentation

[46:22] um even when we worked with like HUD you

[46:24] always requested three estimates just to

[46:26] figure out but I thank you for answering

[46:28] and talking about the limited scope uh

[46:30] being the size of the groups and we have

[46:32] to retrofit the elevator. So my next

[46:34] question would be since you answered

[46:36] that the allocation says 337,000

[46:40] but you said the estimate that we got

[46:41] today that's all was 230,000.

[46:43] I'm making sure I'm looking at the most

[46:45] recent updated.

[46:46] Yeah, that's that is it. Correct. We're

[46:47] not going to use additional

[46:48] appropriation. What we didn't want to do

[46:50] is find ourselves in a situation where

[46:52] there's any change order whatsoever

[46:54] because it is an outdated and a retrofit

[46:57] which we know have come into play and

[46:58] then have to come back and ask for it

[47:00] again for an adjustment. Of course, we

[47:02] will continue to keep uh Chief of Staff

[47:04] Brooks as well as council president up

[47:06] to update the entire council on these

[47:07] things, but we just wanted to make sure

[47:09] we had enough room to build in any type

[47:12] of change whatsoever. So, that was in

[47:15] regards to it. There's some other

[47:16] building improvements that needed, but

[47:18] again, they're not urgent, but they do

[47:19] comply with ADA. The railing outside, as

[47:22] you guys have seen, climbed up is shaky.

[47:25] All of those things that we know we're

[47:27] working with the council. We appreciate

[47:29] their support in the uh guaranteed

[47:31] segments which are going to address a

[47:32] lot of these things. But the only

[47:34] emergency tonight is the elevator

[47:36] because we know the timeline and the

[47:37] goal is to get the city hall back open.

[47:40] All of our public meetings including

[47:42] council of course have been

[47:43] inconvenenced outside of city hall

[47:45] because it's not ADA compliant as well

[47:47] as our staff who right now anybody who

[47:49] has to we've had to make accommodations

[47:51] to make sure they can be in law.

[47:53] No, I appreciate you and thank you for

[47:54] the explanation. Uh my only concern is

[47:58] not creating precedence going forward.

[48:00] And I I don't say this out of

[48:01] disrespect. Uh I appreciate everything

[48:04] you're doing. I just really like being

[48:05] in the know. And I think for the city's

[48:07] sake, especially as we talk about, you

[48:09] know, expenditures and we talk about

[48:11] limited budget, everyone just deserves

[48:13] to know ahead of time what we're working

[48:15] with and the full scope of it because

[48:17] looking at this 337, I appreciate the

[48:19] explanation. It just comes out of

[48:21] nowhere. And you ask us today to vote

[48:23] for it and I'm like I'm looking at my

[48:25] email. I'm pretty consistent. I haven't

[48:27] seen anything. So, that was my

[48:29] onlyation, but I do appreciate you. So,

[48:32] thank you.

[48:33] Yeah. Thank you. And let me take

[48:34] responsibility for that because it was

[48:36] um I've had it since last week at least

[48:40] and should have passed it on to my

[48:42] colleagues.

[48:43] I appreciate.

[48:43] So, with travel and everything, that's

[48:46] something that I didn't do, but I take

[48:48] responsibility for that.

[48:50] I appreciate you.

[48:52] Thank you.

[48:53] Um, attorney well, Councilman Washington

[48:56] and then Attorney Williams.

[48:57] Yeah. My question,

[48:59] have we

[49:01] provided an estimate for some type of

[49:03] chair lift coming from the parking lot

[49:06] up the steps to city hall?

[49:08] So, so, so let me say this. In order to

[49:11] get our building truly, honestly, it is

[49:13] a fair question.

[49:14] And the reason why I asked that, chief

[49:15] of staff, is that we got some money

[49:18] that's available and those stairs ain't

[49:20] no joke. And I know not only with

[49:22] Councilwoman Brown, but other people in

[49:24] the public have problems going up those

[49:26] stairs.

[49:27] So our ADA, to answer your question, our

[49:29] ADA route, Fort City Hall technically is

[49:32] an ADA ramp. You take the sidewalk to

[49:34] the ramp on the west side of the

[49:37] building,

[49:38] down that ramp into the basement, and

[49:39] the elevator will go to whatever floor

[49:42] you need in this ADA assessment. The

[49:44] problem with that is that we've now

[49:46] fixed that door. So the handicap button

[49:49] works. We got that taken care of with

[49:50] the appropriations we already have. So,

[49:53] at least that door works, but now our

[49:54] elevator's out. Um, also, like I just

[49:56] mentioned, the railing, even not being

[49:59] ADA, that railing, I would dare to have

[50:02] a person grab onto that railing in this

[50:04] current state. We've already got

[50:05] estimates for that. Um, I'm happy to

[50:07] share that with the council. Again, we

[50:09] have enough appropriations thankfully

[50:11] for that because it's deemed situation,

[50:14] but I don't think a chairlift would be

[50:16] necessary, okay,

[50:17] for that. If it it has a ADA route,

[50:19] should our elevator be up to par?

[50:21] So we get that elevator straight to ADA.

[50:24] Correct. We are now back into ADA

[50:25] compliance. We we did in this we

[50:28] assessed again. CO took a lot of things

[50:30] out of plas shame to any other previous

[50:33] administration or what the resources

[50:34] were, but a lot of our buildings did not

[50:36] have up-to-date coded elevators. So all

[50:40] of our elevators were inspected at this

[50:41] point under u um director um Morgan

[50:45] Caesar's leadership. So Hudson and

[50:47] Campbell is good. The Marquette Park is

[50:51] good. Health department is good. Um uh

[50:54] police department is almost there but

[50:56] getting there. Uh but again we don't

[50:58] need additional appropriations in

[51:00] regards to those because they are good.

[51:02] Their repairs were within scope. Never

[51:05] none of them roll to six figures.

[51:07] Thank you.

[51:09] Councilman Washington.

[51:12] Um, yes, Councilwoman Ivy and then

[51:15] Councilman Oliver. Councilman Oliver.

[51:17] Yeah, I just had a quick question. So,

[51:19] with these repairs, what's the

[51:20] longevity? What's the life expectancy?

[51:22] Because I know you said that this is a

[51:23] was built in the 30s and 40s. So, with

[51:25] this, are we looking at that the

[51:27] elevator is not going to have any issues

[51:29] for what, the next 10 or 15 years? Maint

[51:34] with this package includes the warranty

[51:35] and maintenance plan. So what we've

[51:37] already communicated with now is ongoing

[51:39] maintenance schedules both for HVAC but

[51:42] also with our elevators. So they'll come

[51:44] out and do routine maintenance and of

[51:46] course bar any

[51:49] foreseen situation it'll be covered

[51:51] under warranty all of our belts motors u

[51:54] essentials. Again uh we don't want to

[51:56] set expectations unreasonable. So this

[51:58] does not change the cart. Cart is fine.

[52:01] I would have loved to just swap out the

[52:02] whole cart for this price. Um but

[52:04] unfortunately again our elevator shaft

[52:07] is small. So, a standard cart to

[52:09] purchase doesn't fit. We tried that

[52:11] route already. Um, and so we can't we

[52:13] have to they're going to modernize all

[52:14] of it. So, all of that's going to be in.

[52:16] So, to answer your question, it'll all

[52:18] be covered under warranty should there

[52:20] be any issues.

[52:23] Councilwoman ID.

[52:25] Well, that was part of my question. My

[52:27] next question uh would be you stated

[52:31] that KA

[52:33] um had not come in with their proposal

[52:35] yet. No.

[52:36] So, if you have all of this information

[52:39] from all types, does that mean that

[52:41] proposals are closed? Was there a due

[52:42] date? Are you still going to evaluate

[52:45] both or are we pretty much set on using

[52:49] all types of elevators?

[52:50] So, because it is an emergency and this

[52:53] was not an official bid in terms of

[52:55] receiving quotes. If we get one from

[52:58] Kone, I'm saying within the next 24

[53:00] hours, we've literally been waiting for

[53:02] weeks. We'll look at it, but I know it's

[53:04] going to be at least twice this amount

[53:06] for the same scope of work.

[53:08] Madam President, so how does that work

[53:10] with a vote on the floor right now for

[53:12] this ordinance? How does that work for

[53:13] this conference?

[53:14] Correct me if I'm wrong, Attorney

[53:16] Williams, but we're just approving the

[53:17] budget appropriation. We're just making

[53:20] the money

[53:20] with whomever, right? They would like

[53:24] South Suburban

[53:24] from South Suburban

[53:27] from anyone. And I I would just

[53:30] interject here before Attorney Williams

[53:32] speaks.

[53:35] There are a lot of things that I would

[53:39] shop for and buy and price would

[53:42] probably be the number one criteria.

[53:46] Paint, chairs, tables, carpet. I may go

[53:51] with the lowest price. I'm not

[53:53] necessarily comfortable with just

[53:57] getting the cheapest

[53:58] That's right.

[53:59] elevator. Get Yeah, getting on an

[54:02] elevator requires a tremendous amount of

[54:05] trust. So um I would ask that you know

[54:10] we be diligent in making sure that

[54:14] whoever we pick has that they're

[54:16] reference they have references

[54:19] reputation and quality of of work

[54:24] because again um for something like an

[54:26] elevator safety accessibility

[54:29] for sure

[54:30] um even the maintenance plan warranty I

[54:33] think those are things that would

[54:35] warrant us even paying more.

[54:37] Yes.

[54:38] Just to sleep at night than than just

[54:42] the cheapest price. Attorney Williams.

[54:45] Yes. Thank you. I I I think Miss Caesar

[54:47] did a good job clearing it up. We we use

[54:49] the word be it in quotes interchangeably

[54:51] and they're not.

[54:52] Um this would have triggered a bid

[54:54] requirement given the amount of money.

[54:57] Uh but it is an ADA violation and it

[54:59] definitely qualifies as an emergency. So

[55:01] they're not required to get the standard

[55:03] three bids that they otherwise would

[55:05] have been required to do because of the

[55:08] ADA violation that the chief of staff

[55:10] has pointed out. So rest assured we are

[55:13] within the statute's authority. Um I

[55:16] think we probably waited a little too

[55:17] long. We probably should have brought in

[55:18] sooner but it still nevertheless I think

[55:21] satisfies an emergency and the one bid

[55:24] would suffice. This is definitely not a

[55:26] quote situation. This is a be situation.

[55:30] Just wanted to clear that up.

[55:31] Thank you. Former public works director,

[55:34] attorney,

[55:36] Williams.

[55:37] But I take your point, um, Madame

[55:38] President, with regard to the quality

[55:41] and not being fixed on price

[55:43] exclusively.

[55:44] I know K has a a reputation. I think

[55:47] they're a national, if not international

[55:50] firm. Can you speak to all types

[55:53] elevators, the work that they've done

[55:54] for us?

[55:55] The work that they've done.

[55:56] Uh, can't speak to their regional work.

[55:58] I can do more homework on them. But the

[56:00] work that they've done for us in our

[56:02] buildings has been more than

[56:05] satisfactory and they were actually

[56:07] given and I'm actually kind of curious

[56:09] when we do receive the KA quote because

[56:11] I suspect we will get it eventually but

[56:14] it's for the exact same scope of work.

[56:16] So sometimes uh nationally or

[56:19] internationally recognized companies the

[56:21] additional cost is for that recognition.

[56:25] So, while we don't have money to pay

[56:27] double just because of their name, we

[56:30] are certainly looking for uh comparable

[56:33] um services or outcomes.

[56:37] Thank you. Any other questions,

[56:40] comments, discussion?

[56:42] Yes, Councilman Wington.

[56:43] Thank you, Madam President. Thank you,

[56:48] Attorney app. My question is uh why

[56:52] don't we allocate half a million dollars

[56:53] now? I mean if we if you're going to

[56:56] expect it's going to be half a million

[56:57] to get it done right and then just throw

[56:59] the uh the rails in there as well.

[57:02] So um our deputy controller is present.

[57:06] Um and I have to say that because our uh

[57:09] before controller green left um she made

[57:12] sure that the appropriations in which

[57:14] they where they came from was

[57:15] appropriate. Um, and so I would have to

[57:18] defer that to our deputy controller to

[57:20] make sure where we're pulling the

[57:21] appropriations from,

[57:23] okay,

[57:23] the money exists. That's all.

[57:25] So I I appreciate that, though.

[57:28] Um, but I and I assure you we won't

[57:29] spend more than we have to, but um,

[57:32] you can use Councilman Wisson's credit

[57:34] cards, too.

[57:35] Name it the Wiston

[57:38] elevator.

[57:39] People move.

[57:43] Um, good evening, council. I would

[57:45] definitely have to go back and look at

[57:48] some more numbers to try to pull some

[57:50] more finances for that piece.

[57:52] Okay.

[57:52] Yeah.

[57:53] Thank you. I appreciate you.

[58:00] Thank you, Councilman Wington.

[58:02] Any other questions, comments,

[58:04] discussion?

[58:06] If not, the motion on the floor is for

[58:08] passage.

[58:09] Roll call. Madam Clerk, Housewoman,

[58:12] yes.

[58:14] Councilwoman

[58:15] Yes.

[58:16] Councilman Hallebert.

[58:17] Yes.

[58:18] Councilwoman Ivy.

[58:19] Yes.

[58:20] Councilman Tower.

[58:21] Yes.

[58:22] Councilman Washington.

[58:23] Yes.

[58:24] Councilman Wizington.

[58:25] Yes.

[58:26] President.

[58:27] Yes.

[58:27] Madam President, vote is 8 to Z.

[58:29] With the vote of 8 to 0, CPO 2025-44

[58:33] has passed on all three readings.

[58:39] CPO 2025-45.

[58:42] in order to establishing a fund for the

[58:45] city of Gary and Hard Rock Casino

[58:47] matches for Lake County Convention

[58:49] Center and providing for additional

[58:51] appropriations in casino operating fund

[58:54] for the fiscal year 2025 expenses and

[58:57] forwarded to the county council for

[58:59] action and passage pursuant to Indiana

[59:01] code 6-1.1-8-6

[59:06] counciloman Brown I move for passage of

[59:08] CPL 202245

[59:12] on Second reading with the finance

[59:14] committee meeting on Monday, August the

[59:17] 18th at 5:00 p.m.

[59:37] She said Tuesday.

[59:40] No, she said Monday the 18th.

[59:54] I'm okay.

[1:00:07] That's when you guys

[1:00:10] That's the preference.

[1:00:11] Well, the reason why I said that because

[1:00:13] the the presentation, we saw the

[1:00:15] presentation and it's kind of lengthy

[1:00:18] um for the comprehensive plan. So, I

[1:00:21] want them to be able to have as much

[1:00:23] room as possible to have questions asked

[1:00:26] by council members regarding plan.

[1:00:27] That's only reason.

[1:00:31] Yeah.

[1:00:32] So, can you do the 12?

[1:00:35] I mean, do you think there's time to do

[1:00:37] both?

[1:00:38] Whatever you say, ma'am.

[1:00:39] I mean, I'm 12 is fine.

[1:00:41] I'm okay with doing the 12.

[1:00:43] She said the 18.

[1:00:45] That's okay.

[1:01:02] Miss Lane,

[1:01:04] the library available on the 18th.

[1:01:15] Tuesday if that's okay. It's easy. We

[1:01:18] already have

[1:01:20] Tuesday the 12th at 5:00.

[1:01:24] Okay.

[1:01:31] It's been moved to second. Roll call.

[1:01:32] Madam clerk.

[1:01:33] Councilwoman Brown.

[1:01:35] Yes.

[1:01:35] Councilwoman Cwell.

[1:01:36] Yes.

[1:01:37] Councilman Hallebert.

[1:01:38] Yes.

[1:01:39] Councilwoman Ivy.

[1:01:40] Yes.

[1:01:40] Councilman Toiver.

[1:01:42] Yes.

[1:01:42] Councilman Washington.

[1:01:43] Yes.

[1:01:44] Councilman Lington.

[1:01:45] Yes. and President Le.

[1:01:46] Yes.

[1:01:47] Madam President, vote is 8 to Z.

[1:01:49] Thank you. With the vote of 8 to Z, CPO

[1:01:52] 2025-45

[1:01:53] passes on second reading with the

[1:01:56] finance committee meeting on

[1:01:59] Tuesday, August the 12th at 5:00 p.m.

[1:02:03] Thank you for your patience with us,

[1:02:05] Councilwoman Brown.

[1:02:07] CPO 2025-46

[1:02:10] and orders providing for transfer

[1:02:12] appropriations between series for the

[1:02:14] Gary city court for the fiscal year 2025

[1:02:18] budget and forwarded to the common

[1:02:19] council for action and passage pursuant

[1:02:22] to Indiana code 6-1.1-8-6

[1:02:26] sponsored by Mayor Eddie Melton city of

[1:02:28] Gary Sel city controller and jud judge

[1:02:31] DBL court

[1:02:34] counciloman Brown.

[1:02:35] I move for passage of CPL 202546

[1:02:40] on second reading with the finance

[1:02:42] committee meeting on Tuesday, August

[1:02:44] 12th at 5:00 p.m.

[1:02:47] Second.

[1:02:48] It's been moved and second. Roll call.

[1:02:50] Madam clerk.

[1:02:52] Councilwoman Brown.

[1:02:53] Yes.

[1:02:54] Councilwoman Cwell.

[1:02:56] Yes.

[1:02:56] Councilman Hallebert.

[1:02:57] Yes.

[1:02:58] Councilwoman Ivy.

[1:02:59] Yes.

[1:03:00] Councilman Toiver,

[1:03:01] yes.

[1:03:02] Councilman Washington,

[1:03:03] yes.

[1:03:05] And President,

[1:03:07] yes.

[1:03:07] Madam President, the vote is 8 to Z.

[1:03:09] With a vote of 8 to 0, CPO 2025-46

[1:03:13] pass on second reading.

[1:03:15] Madam President, resolutions on second

[1:03:18] reading.

[1:03:18] Thank you, Madam Clerk. At this time,

[1:03:20] we'll have reports and questions of city

[1:03:22] officials.

[1:03:25] Councilwoman Barcelo

[1:03:34] my question. Um, I know that we uh hired

[1:03:39] gay contracts out to

[1:03:43] grass cutters.

[1:03:46] What's the process? Because I've

[1:03:48] requested some lots be cut. Uh, they

[1:03:52] haven't been cut. U one particular lot

[1:03:56] code enforcement told me who the lot

[1:03:59] belonged to which was two of the lots

[1:04:03] half of a block office redevelopment

[1:04:05] owned a couple private citizens of

[1:04:08] others that weren't in the area. My

[1:04:10] question was can we go ahead and site

[1:04:13] those people who own it and do whatever.

[1:04:16] The contractor came out and cut two lots

[1:04:19] and left the rest. It looks a mess. Um

[1:04:22] I'm tired of citizens asking me why the

[1:04:24] grass can't get cut, why it's this high.

[1:04:27] And like I said, I even a block club

[1:04:30] asked me, they're having an event. Can you get the grass cut for us? I put

[1:04:35] the request in and the grass is still as

[1:04:38] tall as I am.

[1:04:39] Yes. Thank you, Councilwoman, for that

[1:04:41] question. Um, in reference to what you

[1:04:43] just referenced, um, we have if it's

[1:04:45] city-owned property, um, and or any

[1:04:48] other, uh, municipal or government

[1:04:50] entity property, of course, we should

[1:04:52] take care of our own, period. There's no

[1:04:54] questions or debate about that. So, if

[1:04:56] you bring any others to our attention,

[1:04:58] myself or, uh, chief operating officer,

[1:05:00] Mr. Subs, we have to see him get right

[1:05:02] on that. Um, in regards to privately

[1:05:05] owned properties, um, you may by public

[1:05:08] information seem that the city can be

[1:05:10] held liable for going on private

[1:05:12] property without a judge order or

[1:05:14] permission from that owner to cut in at

[1:05:17] her site. And so, we're just following

[1:05:19] the process when they go out on a site,

[1:05:22] understand that it's then assigned to

[1:05:23] court. Then, from there, um, if they

[1:05:26] appear at that first court hearing, um,

[1:05:29] the judge will, and I appreciate Judge

[1:05:30] Monroe, she has been acting on those,

[1:05:32] uh, individuals very promptly but if

[1:05:35] they don't then there's a requirement

[1:05:37] legally for them to perfect service to

[1:05:39] that individual which only delays it. We

[1:05:42] understand it is very frustrating. Uh

[1:05:44] trust me um I just wanted to go on and

[1:05:47] cut some myself because it is

[1:05:49] unacceptable. Um I understand that Mayor

[1:05:52] Milton stresses the need to keep our

[1:05:54] city as clean as possible. Um, and so I

[1:05:57] just ask you to stay uh work working

[1:06:00] with us in regards to just getting on

[1:06:02] top of it. Again, I tell you all the

[1:06:03] time, you never bug us. Continue to ask,

[1:06:06] continue to press and we'll do our best

[1:06:09] to try to fast line fasttrack that

[1:06:12] process as quickly as we can, but if

[1:06:14] nothing else, give you an answer on the

[1:06:15] status.

[1:06:23] Madam Chair,

[1:06:24] Councilman Washington,

[1:06:25] um I wanted to ask um if the

[1:06:30] administration had a stance on Airbnbs

[1:06:33] and this is why I asked this. Um,

[1:06:36] I'm for home ownership and renting for

[1:06:39] home ownership,

[1:06:41] but since I've been on the council,

[1:06:42] we've had a plethora, a large amount of

[1:06:46] Airbnbs come through the council,

[1:06:48] especially in the first district. And I

[1:06:51] want to make sure that we are aware that

[1:06:53] I want to make sure, maybe this is

[1:06:55] something that Miss Sharp can work with

[1:06:57] you all on to see. I want the city as we

[1:07:00] begin to rise and begin to have

[1:07:02] opportunities and jobs. I want people to

[1:07:05] be able to rent or either to home have a

[1:07:08] home that they can own as compared to

[1:07:12] renting an Airbnb. And I'm hoping

[1:07:17] that certain parts of the city does not

[1:07:19] come vacation destination spots because

[1:07:22] people have bought a lot of property and

[1:07:24] they are just using them as Airbnb. I

[1:07:27] know me and Hollbert would love

[1:07:29] ownership, home ownership from renters

[1:07:32] in the second. I know Marian would like

[1:07:34] it in the fourth, Miss Brown in the

[1:07:37] third, was in the bronze pile,

[1:07:38] especially in the fifth, which is a

[1:07:40] large portion. And um we've had a

[1:07:44] discussion we haven't finalized, but the

[1:07:47] concern is about the Airbnbs just and I

[1:07:49] know this is something that they did

[1:07:51] downstate, but we want to make sure that

[1:07:54] um we are not literally

[1:07:57] pricing people out or pushing people out

[1:08:00] of eventually as the beginning begin as

[1:08:02] the city begins to bring more

[1:08:04] development, more business, jobs that

[1:08:08] people are not able to actually live in

[1:08:10] the community that they're working in.

[1:08:14] Um, so I'll take that back again. I

[1:08:17] think that, um, if you go back and

[1:08:20] replay some of those planning and zoning

[1:08:22] meetings, um, a lot of these have

[1:08:25] existed in our community for quite some

[1:08:27] time.

[1:08:29] What I will speak to is that I believe

[1:08:31] we have as a collective um the council

[1:08:34] as well as our team has done a good job

[1:08:36] of telling people on what they need to

[1:08:38] do to comply with the law and we're just

[1:08:40] starting to see it come to fruition.

[1:08:41] It's the same with the daycarees.

[1:08:43] They've been there. Um we've just been

[1:08:45] very diligent thanks to our code team

[1:08:48] council knocking on doors, our planning

[1:08:50] and development team. um they've just

[1:08:52] been consistent about answering those

[1:08:54] calls and tell people what they need to

[1:08:55] do to become compliant, talking to state

[1:08:58] um individuals and it's helping us

[1:09:00] police that a little bit better. Um as a

[1:09:02] far as far as an ad an official

[1:09:04] statement, I believe that should come

[1:09:06] best from the mayor um who sets the

[1:09:08] vision for the entire administration and

[1:09:10] our team um on how we path a treasure

[1:09:14] pathway for in regards to these. Um it'd

[1:09:17] be hard to blanket and say what the

[1:09:20] process can be. Um but to speak to also

[1:09:22] your point of Airbnbs in other

[1:09:24] communities, there's an Airbnb that was

[1:09:27] a surprise to myself and the chief of

[1:09:28] police um recently in the fourth

[1:09:30] district um she just left but in the

[1:09:33] fourth district um that right by

[1:09:35] Palaskki school and I was actually

[1:09:37] shocked and it has very positive glowing

[1:09:40] reviews on it. Um um but um they exist I

[1:09:44] think a lot more than if you go on

[1:09:46] Airbnb or Verbbo and put in um you'll

[1:09:49] see there's probably more than what we

[1:09:51] realized. We're just seeing all of these

[1:09:53] people starting to become compliant. Um,

[1:09:55] so I do think we work together like

[1:09:58] we've done so far this entire process

[1:10:00] since 2024 on what is best and the ones

[1:10:04] that won't comply, of course, they

[1:10:06] should not be within our city because

[1:10:08] they have to first get the zoning

[1:10:09] approvals and the special use permits.

[1:10:12] Um, and then go from there in regards to

[1:10:15] at least addressing those that are not

[1:10:17] going to be good stewards in the

[1:10:18] neighborhood. those are the ones that

[1:10:19] hurt our neighbors uh our neighborhoods

[1:10:21] the most our neighbors and the residents

[1:10:23] of Gary and so I think that's the first

[1:10:25] start um as we move forward. So, and

[1:10:28] I'll make sure I get an official um

[1:10:30] perspective from the mayor.

[1:10:32] And chief of staff, it's not really

[1:10:34] asking for a perspective, but just

[1:10:36] something to think about as we go

[1:10:38] forward because I know we have a lot of

[1:10:40] contractors in the city that would like

[1:10:42] to rehab homes and sell them and to rent

[1:10:45] them and eventually people can become

[1:10:47] home owners. And I believe as the first

[1:10:52] district begins to be airbed out, it's

[1:10:55] going to spread across into

[1:10:57] other cities if we don't get these other

[1:11:00] properties rehabbed or built so they can

[1:11:03] people can actually become homeowners.

[1:11:05] And it's to a certain extent it's it's

[1:11:08] about supply and demand and you really

[1:11:10] can't make people not use their property

[1:11:13] for a certain and as long as they're

[1:11:15] paying property taxes because they pay a

[1:11:17] different tax bracket that benefits the

[1:11:18] city. But from the standpoint of council

[1:11:21] members and the home ownership, um it's

[1:11:23] always great um to have homeowners or

[1:11:26] renters living in the community. Thank

[1:11:28] you. Um Mr. Chief of Staff,

[1:11:31] thank you, Councilman Washington. I'll

[1:11:32] just speak briefly on the first district

[1:11:34] and the short-term rentals um in saying

[1:11:38] that I've actually I can only speak to

[1:11:41] my experience. I haven't heard a lot of

[1:11:44] um I haven't gotten the same amount of

[1:11:46] complaints this summer as I have gotten

[1:11:48] it in previous summers. Um a the

[1:11:51] proliferation I guess of short-term

[1:11:54] rentals came during COVID and shortly

[1:11:58] after CO when

[1:12:00] there were limited travel options. Um,

[1:12:04] since then, and again, I used to live in

[1:12:06] between two short-term rentals on either

[1:12:08] side, and both of them have gotten out

[1:12:11] of the short-term rental business. Um,

[1:12:14] I'll say a couple of things. One, all

[1:12:16] short all Airbnbs are not the same. When

[1:12:19] the owner lives locally, a lot of

[1:12:21] residents in the first district also

[1:12:23] have other properties that are Airbnbs.

[1:12:26] They take a lot more care. They're in

[1:12:28] the properties more often. there are

[1:12:30] certain rules that they can implement

[1:12:32] even on the platform saying no local

[1:12:35] renters. They're more diligent about who

[1:12:37] they accept as renters because they're

[1:12:40] in and out of the property more often.

[1:12:42] Um so those tend to be better as opposed

[1:12:47] to um owners. I think at the last

[1:12:49] meeting Councilman Wington talked about

[1:12:51] these larger outfits that have a larger

[1:12:55] portfolio of properties. So the owner

[1:12:58] may not necessarily be local. They may

[1:13:00] have 10 or 12 even on the platform and a

[1:13:04] handful of them are in the first

[1:13:05] district. That's a little different. Um

[1:13:07] also

[1:13:12] it must not have been important because

[1:13:13] it left line.

[1:13:15] Thank you Councilman Washington.

[1:13:19] It happens. All the middle-aged women

[1:13:22] out there know.

[1:13:24] So, um, just a couple updates and I

[1:13:26] won't be long. Um, just to answer the

[1:13:28] question that was posed a little

[1:13:30] earlier, um, the city of Gary, Gary

[1:13:32] Police Department does have an anonymous

[1:13:34] text to tip line. You can also, um, send

[1:13:37] those information anonymously to the

[1:13:39] Gary Police Department. So, our text to

[1:13:41] tip line is 2192078477.

[1:13:47] That's 219207

[1:13:50] tips. Um, you can text that line 247. It

[1:13:54] does go through anonymously. Um, they

[1:13:56] may sometimes respond and ask follow-up

[1:13:59] questions, but none of your information

[1:14:01] is captured other than those anonymous

[1:14:04] tips. There's also a various number of

[1:14:06] emails that you can see on our city of

[1:14:08] Gary website that you can send those

[1:14:10] anonymous tips to. We always encourage

[1:14:12] people if you feel like something's

[1:14:14] going on, call 911. You can say, "I

[1:14:17] don't want to give my name." And they'll

[1:14:18] say, "Thank you." That's how it works.

[1:14:21] You can also call the non-emergency

[1:14:22] number 2196606000000000000

[1:14:27] our police chief um who Derek Cannon who

[1:14:30] you can talk to or our fire chief they

[1:14:32] will tell you you're not a bug. We do

[1:14:35] not mind. It is our job. It is our

[1:14:38] service to come out and service the

[1:14:40] public and we do it proudly. Um Miss uh

[1:14:42] Mayor Meltton has talked about the

[1:14:44] initiative that he put before our

[1:14:46] administration and the acronym is I

[1:14:48] serve. We serve our community. So,

[1:14:50] please, it's never hesitant. I don't

[1:14:53] care if you thought you heard gunshots

[1:14:54] and it was fireworks. That's fine. Call

[1:14:57] it in. It is our job to look at it and

[1:14:59] make sure it's not a gunshot because you

[1:15:02] never know. You may have called

[1:15:03] something that we did not know and it

[1:15:05] helps us land a case. Um, and to that

[1:15:07] point, I wanted to share a release that

[1:15:11] just came out today. Um, that was shared

[1:15:13] with all of the council in the community

[1:15:15] and you'll probably see it in your local

[1:15:16] paper tomorrow. Um, we released the

[1:15:19] midyear numbers and Chief Canon has

[1:15:21] shared this at Councilman Hallebertton's

[1:15:24] uh uh uh committee meeting, I'm sorry,

[1:15:26] uh community meeting along with

[1:15:28] Councilman Tolliver. Um the midyear

[1:15:31] numbers from January 1 to uh uh 2025 to

[1:15:34] June 30th, 2025, we are down 55%

[1:15:39] in homicides. 55% in homicides compared

[1:15:43] to this time last year. I think that's

[1:15:46] amazing.

[1:15:50] It also shares additional data on that report that will come out that

[1:15:54] there's a 8.4% rise in patrols. Um that we had a 49% decline in nonvatal

[1:16:05] overdoses. That is what the work is

[1:16:08] happening in our community that we are

[1:16:10] having less people overdose. Almost 50%

[1:16:13] decline in overdoses. 33% down in fatal

[1:16:16] traffic accidents, a 26% decline in

[1:16:19] non-fatal shootings, and they have a 88%

[1:16:23] homicide saw rate.

[1:16:25] 88%

[1:16:29] the national average is 57%.

[1:16:32] So to put that in perspective, they are

[1:16:35] way surpassing the national average. I

[1:16:39] say that to say that don't let the

[1:16:41] people out there persuade you to think

[1:16:43] that good things are not happening in

[1:16:45] our community. They are. The our men and

[1:16:47] women of public safety are kicking tail.

[1:16:50] And so because of that, if you don't

[1:16:51] believe me, come asking yourself. They

[1:16:53] will be there tomorrow at our national

[1:16:55] night out. You can come and join us

[1:16:57] tomorrow beginning at 5:00 p. p.m. at

[1:17:00] the Gary Railcat Stadium. It is a free

[1:17:03] event. Bring your children, bring your

[1:17:05] loved ones. Everybody can come and enjoy

[1:17:07] a great night engaging with our public

[1:17:10] safety officials. Um, we ask you to ask

[1:17:12] them about this data. Ask them about the

[1:17:14] smoke alarms they're coming install in

[1:17:16] your home. Ask them about the run times

[1:17:18] that they're doing. They are working

[1:17:19] night and day to make our city make us

[1:17:21] proud of for our city. And so we

[1:17:23] appreciate them. We appreciate the

[1:17:25] council for pivoting um to move your

[1:17:27] council meeting to tonight. We don't

[1:17:29] take that lightly. we could have had to

[1:17:31] choose between the two, but um and in

[1:17:33] the spirit of collaboration that's been

[1:17:35] all so much, you guys were happy to make

[1:17:38] this adjustment. And so on behalf of

[1:17:39] Mayor Wilson, we just thank you for

[1:17:41] that. Um and then the last thing I want

[1:17:43] to put out there is that if you are not

[1:17:46] already planning to this weekend,

[1:17:48] please, please make your way down to our

[1:17:50] lovely beach for our 2025 Gary Air Show.

[1:17:55] The air show right now, the weather is

[1:17:57] looking amazing, y'all. We are expecting

[1:18:00] rain for the first time in three years.

[1:18:04] So, we encourage everybody come out.

[1:18:06] Please um enjoy. This is your city. You

[1:18:09] deserve to enjoy it. The Thunderbirds

[1:18:10] are the headliner this year and they're

[1:18:12] so hard to get. Um they are expecting

[1:18:14] it. If you see or hear planes flying

[1:18:17] across your head on Thursday and Friday,

[1:18:21] that is their test runs. There is no

[1:18:22] emergency or no war going on. That is

[1:18:25] just them practicing. But the official

[1:18:28] air show is Saturday and Sunday. So we

[1:18:31] encourage you all to come enjoy it. We

[1:18:33] do have a space where you can sit down

[1:18:35] and enjoy some of our council who will

[1:18:38] be there in a tent that's right outside

[1:18:40] the aquarium for our council and some of

[1:18:42] our city officials who will sit there

[1:18:44] and engage with our public um to also

[1:18:47] just enjoy a great evening and a great

[1:18:49] couple days out. So again, on behalf of

[1:18:51] Mayor Milton, we just thank you for your

[1:18:53] continued partnership and the residents

[1:18:56] for just always being so gracious to us.

[1:18:59] Thank you.

[1:18:59] Chief. If there aren't any

[1:19:02] other questions,

[1:19:04] comments for city officials,

[1:19:08] I entertain a motion for adjournment.

[1:19:24] Excellent.

City of Gary Common Council Meeting 08-04-25

Transcript