Good evening. This is the admin and Finance Committee. We begin with the introductions members starting to the bottom left. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN name is Michael Paul Hart representing District 20. And I'm yes on the community. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN do District 24. Thank you, MR. Chaired Brian Mowery District. 25. Whoever that you carry Nate Allen District 15, thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN Robert strict for thank you, CHAIRMAN, Scary. And, you some district 14. Good evening, CHAIRMAN Miscarry Chris Tucker, Leno District 11 with site. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN, then Boots, District 3 Washington Lawrence townships. Good evening. Maggie Lewis District 5, frankly scared District 90. We have a couple guests. Counselors. Good evening, MR. Chair Jesse Brown
District, 13 guest. Thank MISTER Chair. Appreciate being here on gifts to distribute. All right. We have quite a full We have a first step is proposal. One 35 appoints Tracy Barnes. The information technology board is trees a year. Thank you saying of to serve. You know, you don't get paid. Here. And that where you know that so this still is a little bit about yourself, sir. Name is Tracy Barnes. I've been here in Indiana since 1994 graduate of Butler University Live in Franklin Township with my family just recently left my role as chief information officer for the state of Indiana. I have a master's degree and a bachelor's degree in computer science, a master's degree in
cybersecurity law policy. I love government and I love it. And so the connection between the 2 and the opportunity to be a part of what's going here at the city of Upson Mary County as a very exciting opportunity for me to stay connected and be able to give directly back to my community. Thank you. Any other questions, councilors, any comments? Anyone in the audience seeing none, MR. CHAIRMAN, I move proposal. Number one, 35 to the full council. What they do. Pass recommendation, active. It's a movement. Second, all those in favor say Aye. Aye oppose. Welcome word. Thank you all. Thank you. Up next is the big one proposal. One, 64 2025 appropriates 27 Million. 200,000 dollars. And who saying it. You have the floor. And hold your questions to the end of the presentation to
Thank you. Good evening. I'm Abby Hanson. Controller and director of the Office of Finance and Management. Before we get started, I want to thank this body for the collaboration that we've had over the last few months regarding this proposal. First, I want to give a global overview of the 2025 supplemental income tax amount. 77.7 million dollars has been received and that would be a that's the big number. And that is for all eligible units in the county. Those funds are then broken down into these different income tax buckets based on our 2023 income tax rates, the allocations and each bucket can be seen in the column here
labeled allocation and then to the for this right hand is the amount that the city county is receiving for public safety income tax and certified shares. So 18 million dollars of that is going to public is associated with the public safety income tax, which you do not see included in the fiscal. And that's because those funds will be appropriated at the end of the year to cover union contract increases that were intentionally not fully budgeted. Finally, the city county will receive 34.4 million dollars in covid funds are certified shares. The fiscal does not appropriate the full amount. And that's because our property paycheck property tax projections have decreased by 7 million dollars since we adopted the budget. This magnitude of change is unprecedented, but it is the
result of 2 specific things. The assessed value decreased from our last budget estimate in JULY to what was finally certified by the state on AUGUST. 7th is just a timing problem. There. And then the other units of government increased the debt that they issued, which resulted in a more circuit breaker losses to the city county than we were anticipating at that time. So now to talk about the actual proposal. First light I would say is kind of the boring one. The more the ministry too so first, the office finance and management is requested a minute. Sorry, not a million. $100,000 for today to do a facilities assessment at of all work release center there is money in the 2025 budget for community corrections to address their maintenance needs. But the facility has
had issues. And so this is the first step for us figuring out what our plan is long term and the cost benefit analysis on this facility versus something different. Next. The council needs an additional $300,000 for legal services. The mayor's Office of Education. Innovation is receiving $600,000 for the fall semester of the Circle. City readers program. This program is a high dosage tutoring program. That was a direct response to the low literacy rates in Marion County that were exacerbated by covid. The data we have been able to collect shows that the intensive tutoring has allowed 40.5% of students who began at the lowest proficiency level to move up at least one level by the end of the year. And then. This also funds an additional 2 million dollars for the elevation Grant program. This money will be sent to the Indianapolis Foundation when round 3 report when we receive
their round 3 report. Scope of work is received for our 2025 budgeted money, which is 3 million dollars. And then this new 2 million Dollar appropriation and they're up to date on all reporting per their contract. There's been a Cygnus significant investment in our city's parks to ensure they continue to be a destination for families over the summer months. This allocation this allocates an additional 2 million dollars that will allow parks to make further upgrades. So first parks had budgeted for landscaping in their 2025 budget. But the big came back about double what we were expecting and including this and the fiscal allows us to enter into the contract as planned without having to cut the sites that are being serviced or the level of service. This will allow for 60 courts across 28 parks to
see improvements and for facility and fixture upgrades at some of our parks like hvac replacement at the Garfield Park, Conservatory, which is critical to keep the plants alive. And then finally they will be able to deploy necessary amenities to allow for more picnic tables. Benson, benches and trash cans. Getting to the public works portion of this. The school there is an 8 million dollar gas tax match from Senate bill. 283 that was passed in 2023. Toward this dpw is capital Improvement plan, which this body approved alongside the 2025 budget. This will allow us to continue to address road projects all around the city. Here on the bottom left, you see a picture of the new solid waste garage that's currently under
construction. This 1.2 million dollars will cover the final costs associated and it is set to open by the end of this year. And then as the in the blue line construction, indigo Blue line construction gets underway there. Significant storm water needs along the route. Dpw has committed to contributing 15 million dollars over 3 years in order to address these needs. At the same time. By using the spring supplemental, it allows us to honor those commitments and use the stormwater cip money to address other needed projects around the city. Earlier this year, the body, this body took the lead on updating our city snow response And since then, dpw has and identified the following needs for implementation. First, they need to invest in additional trucks. These are smaller trucks as pictured here on the slide that will be able to
plow snow on our connector streets, but also be used to fill fought potholes in the spring and summer months. And then second, we are appropriating 2 million dollars to cover possible contract or call outs for NOVEMBER and DECEMBER of 2025. Our intention is to earmark these funds for contractors until such a time as they're needed. The funds will lapse. The appropriation will lapse at the end of the year. And so we anticipate coming back before this body in early 2026. 2 re appropriate them kind of just use them on this rolling cycle in till we do need them for that residential call out. The fatal crash review team makes recommendations on safety improvements to intersections based on serious crashes in our city. And so we are investing $500,000 to address a pedestrian safety concerns in multiple locations across
the city. The Department of Public Works is working to design and price out projects and will bring a plan back to council soon on actually spending these funds. And then we're additionally are setting aside a million dollars for urban forestry preservation at this point in time, we do not have a solid plan on how those funds will be spent. But dpw will work collaboratively with the council to develop that. And as a reminder, we do have to bring land purchases that exceed $25,000 purchase. Price back to the council. So there will be an opportunity to weigh in on this again. Dpw is request sorry. Dmd is requesting 2 million dollars for their homeowner repair program. The program is new for 25 and has been funded thus far with just federal dollars. Here are some photos of a successful repair. They were able to make this year. The request came on a
homeowner's Furness broke in the middle of winter and it was not able to home heat a home that housed a 12, a 9 2 year-old. Thanks to the program. They were able to get heat and designed the ducks so that they were safely installed and prevent any harmful fumes from being released in the House. Because the program has been fully funded with federal dollars thus far. There have been some barriers and it has made the projects harder to get. Quickly completed this local investment will elevate and push the program forward. And then I think finally, yes, finally, this allocates half a million dollars for the cultural district program that came from a collaboration
between the council and d-Md. The program will provide an opportunity to dmd to grant fund grant funds to either existing cultural districts seeking to enhance their infrastructure programming or placemaking. And to emerging cultural districts that are seeking pilot projects are activations. Directors here in the audience to answer any questions you MAY have about programs. I'm happy to answer any financial questions. Thank you. Thank you, Any questions councilors? Abuse. A few MR. CHAIRMAN thank Controller Hanson for the presentation. Just to clarify on the Urban Forestry Preservation funds, even though it's going into the storm. Water fund is part of dpw. That money is not to. Only stormwater mitigation and it can be used for the. Yes, free, simple purchase of forest land. That's not being
treated as mitigation. Step for stormwater control. Yeah. I would agree with that because we're funding it with general income tax that it's the most flexible pot of money. Wonderful. Thank you. Cancer Mary. Thank you. Chair. I had a question on the 300,000 for legal services that looking at. The money in I mean, how much we have tied up in an already for this. That's for the investigation, correct? I cannot specific least one safe, maybe 200,150 or 200,000. Sure. You know. I'll defer to our staff to answer that question. Yes, we've already had one allocation. And this is the existing. This is the remainder of those funds, counselor that the original allocation Councilmember was one in 50,200 fish thank Greg. So this is an additional
300,000 on top of that one. 50 cracks are now going for 50 almost half a million for this investigation. And maybe this is for the council here. But is there anyway? We can get an actual update. His last time we had a committee meeting, it was all just told that we can't have any update because they're currently conduct an investigation. And it's ongoing and they don't want to, you know, a compromise, their investigation. I understand that, however, with the amount of money that we're pouring into this and that these are tax dollars that we're now putting into this. I think the feel-like released the counselors need to have like an executive session with this law firm that we can understand where our money is going towards their an opportunity for us to do something like that. So we can have an executive session, but we do meet regularly. That won't just be for any publicly
public meeting. The chair and I and 2 other committee members meet. I think it's Bain council Nielsen virtually to talk about what's going to be present. It. The next meeting is going to be the end of the month. 28 29, one of the state even pick and that'll be our final meeting. They should It will wrap up Ok? At that point, you can ask any questions. Okay. I just at this point to have a little bit of heartburn spending any more money on this, not knowing money is going to so far given that we do have we have had no updates. So I just hope that we can this next meeting. We can come to some kind of conclusion or some sort of update or understanding of what's going on because as as Farley, it seems as though it's all been kept in the dark and we don't really know what's going on. Even the most basic questions can't be answered. And so, you know that in mind, I hope that
something we look forward to future. Thank you. Any other questions, councilors. Cancer Nelson? Thank you, CHAIRMAN, scary have a few comments would allow this real be fast. I also just want thank Ministration. I'm incredibly proud of the work that counselors have done to get to this fiscal package that recognizes the urgent need to enhance and improve basic services address, quality of life issues. Both in my district across the city and also ensuring that we're headed and continue to head down the road towards fiscal stability. As the controller emphasized, you know, these are a lot of separate programs putting contacts we are putting on million dollars in the residential roads. The homeowner repair program is important because that's tripling effectively the
budget for that program. And as we as a council have said that we want to address housing issues broadly, one of the harder issues to address in that housing spectrum is home on repair. We know that the housing that individuals living in now is probably the most affordable to key in order to keep them there. This proposal also follows through on the commitment that this council made to embrace a vision 0 Vision, 0 mandate. Ensure that by 2035 that we no longer have fatal a fatal crashes in our city and it makes good on what is an essential basic service and then to snow policy, right? Except the fact that the JANUARY response we can be doing better and the agreement that we made between the administration and this council to ensure that were good this year. And next year,
we're going to do even better because that's why we were elected this. This package today delivers on all of those things. And I think important to take a second to recognize that we are checking off the things that again, we were elected to do because with everything that's going on after this past session and and headed out of Washington, D.C., We're heading into a period bit of fiscal uncertainty and it's going to really require us to be honest to what our budget is and isn't that we can find can't in all of that uncertainty, it's going to compound over the next 3 years. So I think that's, you know, I know it's a little bit wonky, but and we are the administration finance committee and we're going to be tasked with grappling with all of those things. Not just
this year, but in the next 3 budget specifically are going to be particularly challenging. So I think for those of you here tonight in support of many of these programs, I'm proud that we were able to fund those and going forward. Your engagement in this process is going to be very, very important because the impact again from the state house and from dc and this moment is going to have an impact on our city and certain choir. All of us to really think critically about what the city should be funding with the city can be funding and how we were able to continue to reach our potential. So thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN, thank you. Council Thank you, MISTER CHAIRMAN for second Opportunity. I just want to dovetail one counselor Neilson's comments to make sure everyone really appreciates what's going on here. This spring. Fiscal is
the first time in 6 years where this body has exerted its priorities on this spring money. This comes from the state. It's the county option. Income tax. That is an assigned an obligated. So the state hands us 34.4 million dollars and says go knock yourself out for the past 6 years for the 5 years, I should say that's typically be controlled by the administration. This is the first time in at least my 6 year tenure where the council has Hatem Putin asserted its priorities. And I will I must commend the administration and chief Dan Parker and Controller Abigail Hansen in how collaborative and cooperative they worked to get this done. This was not an easy. We started these discussions in AUGUST of last summer. That's how long it's
taken to get here tonight. So this is a really, in my opinion, a monumental accomplishment by this council to have done And I think we could all be very proud. I have a lot to thank for counselor Nielsen's efforts Councilor Bart's efforts who joined us in all these discussions. And again, these take hours and hours and months to get this done. So I think can all be quite pleased that we've accomplished a very great thing. And I also think Stu, our cfo Candace Harris, Greg's towers. Sara Straw Meyer, all who put in this took an entire team months to get this done. So I just want to make sure that goes on the record this was a heavy lift.
And we're glad we're here tonight and we we believe this deserves the public support and we hope you all agree. Thank you, sir. Are. Thank you, MR. Chair thank you You know, we do share a lot a lot of similarities and those thoughts. We've been saying a lot of things simmer for a long time, although I will have to say in this this doesn't speak completely for the whole council. There are 2 caucuses and so to at least speak on behalf of ours. You know, where I can say that there is complete agreement isn't everything that he said having too have a position as a council versus a position of what the mayor's office is requesting. And this is a difference. And I certainly agree to that where where we you know, there are similarities and there are differences of what we see. I mean, there's some some really good things in this request
from the mayor's office. And I want everybody to really take that point home. Is that this is a request from the mayor's office to the physical body, which is the city Council. The things like snow removal policy. We did a really good job this year working together where we had members from the Republican caucus to a really good job, adding edition and adding value to what that policy looks like. We got it down to 2 inches because some of the members our our caucus, we've got closer to schools because the members of our caucus, you know, we've been a champion of the Forest Alliance and forced Brandy and we're very happy to see dollars in this fiscal packages. Well, kuz will
continue support great ideas and great folks like like everybody here. And there's other things in here to write like the Circle City readers. We see value in that. However. We start going down the line. This is a lot of money. It's a really big package and I will give credit where Credit's due. I mean, the mayor's office did a great job and I've been very transparent with them. They've been very transparent with me. I've talked to the control of multiple time. I've talked with many members of the administration. So there's been no lack of communication and I'll give them given the credit there. But where this lax for me and our caucus is that it is not directly connected to what people are telling me day in day out in the street, on the on the
grounds and the one thing that they continuously asked me about is fill the potholes. Always always and forever. And until we can get to that point, there are still things in this fiscal request that we are not prepared to do that are above and beyond those basic functions that we were elected to do. A city councilors. And that is number one, maintain the roads. We've got to make sure water, James, we've got to make sure is trash taken out. And as soon as we start going behind that we're not fulfilling our basic duties city councilors. And we start to encroach on that and some of these requests. And so one of the things that we didn't have is collaboration beforehand before we got to this point and both of our caucus is so one of the things that we will do and we will provide more information soon
on is we are going to prevent or provide amendments. This at the full council, at least to show you what our constituents are asking of us and how we think that tax dollars are best spent to make sure we are hitting those basic needs before we start going above and beyond. You know, we're not saying that anything in here is is a bad idea by no means, but they're not hitting the basic needs that people ask us and tell us about every single day. And so you know why? I am happy that we are actually in a position now where we're not just agreeing to what the mayor's office is asking for. We've got to tighten up a little bit
farther. Make sure that we're doing what the people are asking us to do because we are here to represent them. And that's that's where we've got to get to in this fiscal MR. CHAIRMAN. Any other question, counselors? Insert son. Thank you, MISTER Chair, and I appreciate the opportunity be here. I just want to speak response to Noi leader in terms of potholes and then as we know our infrastructure problem is as well, a billion dollars and we're nowhere near funding that based on the current funny revenues that we have. Fortunately, the state like gave us additional funding source. But that's gonna take a lot of work to get there even to even start to make a dent. But that in itself is not going to get done. Is a real funding issue in terms of funding infrastructure. Now I do one of its units in that dpw and asked the is doing a of a job.
Models and they're out there every day fact we get a weekly report from dpw talking about the thousands of potholes have been field. Now, do we have work to do? Yes, we do. But I believe the city and the mayor's office Ministration is doing a great job of trying to fill those bottles. And so I think this budget here tonight, special funding for the 27 million really has value. It really creates a whole nother set of opportunities for our residents. And so I'm glad to be here support, MR. CHAIRMAN, thank you very much. No, the question, can't cancer be brief? We're And we're not going to get there overnight, right? I mean, we're not going to come up with a billion dollars overnight. We're going to get their piece by piece. You don't go on a grand destination vacation just overnight. You got to say. But for that, right. And so same thing with the roads are not going to get there overnight.
But at the same time in good conscience. When I represent the east side of Indianapolis and we're asking for 500,000 of are this other part of the caucus is asking the other caucus? The mayor's office is asking for 500,000 to support cultural districts that don't reflect any of the districts that we represent. That's a problem, right? I have nothing against the program, but I'm good conscience. Can't go back to the east side of Indianapolis and say. There's no money here for you because you don't have a culture district, right? That's the in your words. Those are equitable means of distributions of dollars where everybody is struggling with driving on these roads with
blown out pot with bone up tires and those sorts of things and and it's it's not that we're going to solve it overnight. But there's a lot of ground we can cover with strip patching really quickly. And so I want to see is double that this year. And we've got the means to do it with this spring fiscal. And that's the business that we're talking about. Again, it's not the things that we're doing. Our important would it requested, but we're not going to get there overnight. And so we have to get piece by piece closer and closer and use the tools to get that MR. CHAIRMAN. Thank you. I think you should express your opinion and beat dpw Committee meeting. Who do we have to in public? Excuse from the public speak. You have a list. Before we open the floor to public comment. We will like to remind the committee members and the public a few ground
rules. So everyone has a fair chance to speak and be heard. It is important that we each deserve the following rules. First, each speaker will be limited to 2 minutes. Second, any public comments most reasonably relate to the agenda item under consideration. 3rd speakers stray from the item under consideration will become unruly. What petitions. Maybe it's too move on to the next point or conclude their comment. Finally. Attendees will cause disruption that prevent the committee from proceeding through tonight's agenda is reasonably efficient manner will removed. Please remember that any types of threatening speech or enticement to violence are not protected by the First Amendment at all. We will deal with those issues. If they come up with that, we do not
think they will. All When read the first 3 names and great lineup. Install role. Jordan Dylan. In Laurel. Good evening, counselors. My name is Meg U.S. Thorough and I'm the volunteer board. PRESIDENT Of the recently incorporated Mass of Cultural Arts District. We operate without paid staff. Rely solely on dedicated volunteers as one of Indianapolis is original designated cultural district. We play a vital role in the city's cultural life. I became chair of the Mass Merchants Association in 2019 during the covid-19 pandemic when the city utilize our merchant association as a communication hub for mandated closures and pedestrian-only street policies. It became clear that
we needed to establish a formal public interest, charitable organization, which we all agreed needed to become the massive cultural arts district. Beyond merchants. In other words, with Riley Area Development Corporation shifting its focus elsewhere, our support system evaporated. We have no staffing event planting planning or bookkeeping. Now entering our 4th year as a stand-alone organization. We operate on a $70,000 annual budget funds primarily generated through membership dues and private donations. These resources enable us to support our community through marketing promotion and events. The remainder funds are dedicated to maintaining our vibrant district, including upkeep of 52 flowerbeds along mass of which does not include the
Indianapolis cultural trail, organizing community, building events, supporting local artists, makers, musicians and performers and ensuring the integrity and maintenance of our public art installations, for example, when the lights went out at the viewfinder sculpture due to vandalism, stepped in to restore the installation. We also work closely with impd dance, enhance safety and are often the primary contact for issues such as trash management or district-wide basement flooding but shuts down our restaurants. In other words, supporting the district's liveability behind the scenes. Thank you. Thank you very much. Evening counselors. My name is Jordan Dylan and the executive director and sole staff member of the Broad
Ripple Village Association. We are also one of Indianapolis is 7 designated cultural districts and yet we operate entirely without any financial support from the city of Indianapolis with an annual budget just over $200,000 be rva produces events like the broad ripple decrease operates. Broad ripple farmers market which welcomes over 120,000 visitors. Every year and supports the snap program of which many people outside of our district visit. We also provide year-round support to local businesses and residents. Nearly 25% of our budget goes directly to beautification landscaping, public art and Big broad ripple of vibrant, livable neighborhood. This work is
carried out by one staff member supported by volunteers, contractors and a deep commitment to our mission as public projects like the broad Ripple Avenue to redesign unfold needs like lighting and safety enhancements often fall outside the scope of city Funding. Br Villegas stepped in to fill those gaps. We're currently fundraising for lighting along the New River walk because the neighborhood needs it and someone has to step up. Broad ripple is often seen as a destination, but it's really a neighborhood for residents of Indianapolis because we're outside of the downtown core Central Township. We primarily serve the people who live here in care about this place and many ways we're already doing the city's neighborhood level work just without the city support but were stretched to the
limit without dedicated funding. We cannot continue this level of service. It's time to recognize organizations like the rva Fletcher. For what they are, which is grassroots extensions of the city delivering daily impact. If we value that work, we must support it. If any napoles wants to promote cultural districts must also to find them clear boundaries, evidence of self-sufficiency and a dedicated staff member and back then with meaningful ongoing investment. And we're not asking for charity. We're asking for an investment. Thank U.S. Thank you. Hello. My name is Laura. Get full on the current district manager for the Fountain Fletcher districts which probably represents the cultural districts in both pounds. Squaring Fletcher place in 24 in 2024, we welcome nearly 600,000 visitors to our 1.1
mile stretch of Virginia Avenue that's filled with historic places, beloved small businesses, live entertainment in displays of decades of public art. We're home to some of Indy's most beloved events, including trees and tonic ball. You continue to recruit and support new events that will shape the art scene in Indianapolis for years to come. Post covid. We have seen an increase in visitors to our streets and our aunts on track this year to set our highest visitor numbers in 2025. As an organization we serve as a one-stop shop for visitors, residents and small businesses. The current marketing efforts organize street cleaning teams, Boeing and landscaping crews and public art installations with the assistance of Rs make improvement district. We worked as a matchmaker to place new entrepreneurs into
brick and mortar locations and provide them support as they navigate the complex regulatory landscape. We do all of this with the single contractor in a budget, right at $120,000 of completely private investment at the heart of what we do, we anchor residents to this place. This is staying group of cultural districts in Indianapolis should not be viewed solely as a tourism or cultural initiative. But as an economic development tool by having these walkable safe and active commercial notes. We are increasing the quality of life of those choosing to live in the adjacent neighborhoods, property values in the surrounding areas have increased 30% year over year since 2015, we had an all-time low of vacant and abandoned properties. Meaning they don't pay taxes. Additionally by creating avenues for investment for small business owners. We confident we
they're able to confidently open their stores in our district, knowing the environment is right for growth. We hope that this is the start of a conversation we have all been desperately seeking to have of the past years. What does it mean to be a cultural district in Indianapolis? We do this work because these places in these people matter. But we can do so much more with your support that benefits the spaces in these people. We hope that this is not the last time you were able that we are able to share a vision about our historic neighborhoods and you support this funding. Thank you. We have Lisa Cole, Brian Miller enjoy a lot. Good evening, counselors. My name is Lisa Cole and I service the director of community and partner engagement for the local nonprofit, homer, Paris for good home repairs for good provides repairs for
homeowners, 62 and older with a disability living in Marion County at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. We provide these repairs at no cost. So homeowners can age in place site safely launched in 2013 home repairs for good now completes more than 800 repairs and serves more than 400 homeowners annually with our country experiencing such a widespread and persistent housing shortage. We have to acknowledge we can't simply build our way out of the affordable housing crisis. There are also millions who live in places falling apart, even becoming uninhabitable, which is making are huge shortage of affordable housing, even worse compared to new builds investment and home repairs as one of the most affordable housing solution. It's reported for
every dollar invested in repair work $2.84 can be seen return and saved expenses for Medicare and Medicaid. Fewer fires less exposure to lead, cetera, preserving homes for years to come. Not only secures the current resident with housing, but also provides the opportunity for generational wealth. Stabilizing neighborhoods and is proven to help reduce crime home repair programs across our country are underfunded was long waiting less and the defacto model requires 25,000 to 50,000 needed in repairs before one can apply and have not selected. The homeowners stuck with that level of repair, which only worsens and with no relief in sight. This model also requires a willingness to take on a forgivable loan, which is not
something older. Homeowners are those already living unlimited means are willing to take on 90% of the repairs that home repairs for good years in a year cost less than $4,000 per home. But we have expanded our resources to also address larger scale repair projects in the 10,000 to $15,000 range. And again, everything that we do is at no cost the homeowner. I'm Brian Miller. Thanks letting us speak. I'm here representing forest of Indy specifically Marion County Urban Force. And I don't think I need to educate you on the civil engineering impact of cutting down woodlands and forests to cover him with concrete and
buildings. Nothing wrong development. But it also affects our lives as far as quality of our water. Our air and even wildlife. Some people not care about and possum or something along that line. But it really does affect us. I specifically live on the far East side of town born and raised 58 years ago. MR. Hart's my Rep specifically the woods, the far Eastwood's the flat woods by posting roles. I grew up going there with my dad. I've taken my kids, my nieces, nephews, my grandkids. There. And like I said in the meeting in the past, it's just always been there. And that's a literal. This is area that's not been like the parks where you go on 6 the trails and cut down some trees and branches.
This is true. Force that's been there for thousands of years and we're losing it. And it just I think that can make a difference in keeping residents in Marion County and attracting residents to Marion County. We all know residents equals tax dollars, but it's just really important to me. And I've got so many people that I've talked to in everybody's about like 30 minutes before I came in this meeting, I said, wish me luck. And I had over 100 people on my social media saying good luck, weve got your back. They want it. Just hope that you can find the dollars to keep these things so everybody can use them and whether you use it or not, you would benefit. We all would as as citizens in
Marion County. Good Evening, Counselors. My name is Andrew Watson. I'm here behalf of health by design, representing the advocacy community. If you didn't know health by design, pushes for statewide or statewide for safe, accessible spaces that support healthy communities. I'm here in strong support of one. 64, one section specifically allocating a half a million to implement safety improvements identified by the fatal crash review team advancing our city's Vision 0 and complete streets goals. We just wrapped up more than 45 hours of community engagement across all 9 townships. We showed up at farmers, markets, libraries, neighborhood events, meeting people where they are and hearing firsthand about the unsafe conditions, the experience while using our streets. Gathering stories and data is just one piece of a broader multi-agency approach
to align efforts. Since its creation in 2022, the Fatal crash Review team has produced at least 14 detailed reports that have currently just been sitting on the shelf. Funding gives policy teeth, which I think is vital to talk about and to make sure we keep doing it. For those unfamiliar at the feel pressure view represents. Folks from tp Wd md impd Legal along with Citizen Advocates who volunteer their time in service to our city. If we stable, we believe in Vision, 0 and complete streets. If we say every life matters and we need to follow through with data-driven action, I urge you to support this critical investment now and prioritize ongoing funding in every fiscal season. Thank you so much for your time. Next. 3 last we have Jeff Stant. Thank I want to sincerely thank
counseled and boots and other council members from both parties and Mayor Joe Hogsett for proposing to an additional 1 million for force acquisition in Indianapolis and the spring fiscal. Combined with the 1 million already appropriated the funds we hope will not only be an historic milestone, but but serve as seed money for additional forced acquisition funding. There's a pressing need for considerably more funds to be appropriated to acquire force in Indianapolis, particularly given the long established and visionary plan for completing a system. The greenways throughout the right period corridor forested flood-prone corridors of the city, but also given the large
number of areas. Underserved by a car park system. It's a great park system, but there's a lot of areas that are underserved by. There are multiple potential sources of funding that should be explored for pro, putting more forests acquisition dollars to supplement dollars for this purpose from the general fund of the city budget, hundreds of other cities are utilizing these source is to acquire for us in green space. Think stormwater funds impact fees, tree removal fees and environmental infrastructure. Bonds. The city's leadership in developing the sources will attract significant additional funds from private philanthropic sources and federal matching funds when available and many other Indianapolis residents, as you know, are are looking forward
to working with you all and to develop of the 2026 city budget to to address our forced acquisition needs. And I want to thank our PRESIDENT Elizabeth Mahoney and director of of to who were here and surrendered there. Testimony slot for me. And just all these folks who work so hard like and everyone to out the crowd to bring issue to your attention. Thank you. I understand. Are there any one else wants to speak? We some people came in late. Let's go. You have step up before you get 2 minutes. Good evening. Michael firmly within the in a Forest Alliance. So a quote, a the other day said the story in the forest for economic gain. Its like burning the master pick masterpiece. Painting the Cook dinner.
Unfortunately, this has been privilege. Fs and I think here in Indiana. Over the because but because of this council's say, especially to fierce Advocate Council, boots. This Indianapolis City Council gets it is moving the ball forward when it comes to urban forest preservation. So first, I want to thank the grassroots movement here has risen over the last 18 months to save our urban forest. So they were here for the 4th movie. Could just stand up and say hello build a grassroots movements. The city of the city council here has responded last AUGUST. There was a 25 to 0 vote calling for. A major play. The safer been for us in Marion County, the 2025 budget. Money was allocated to save urban forest and several force for save last year because of the work of the City Council and the mayor's I
just want to thank this. The council million dollar allocation. And for listening to residents and as we think about 2026 beyond in bigger, bigger plans. Let's let's not the story are forced to cook dinner. Let's savor for us that we have Zena masterpiece. Maze example. Masterpieces here in Indianapolis. Thank you so much. Hi, my name is Khan establishment. Graham advocacy director at Bicycle Garage. Indy. Thank you for the opportunity to speak about proposal. One 64, I'm speaking behalf of bicycle Garage. Indy. Our customers and community at large. And specifically about the funding of $500,000 for the fatal crash. Few few team recommendations, implementation of those. This is welcome news. So far this
year that have been 25 fatalities, including one youth. And 46. Serious injuries, 7 of which involved youth. These funds will help make necessary safety improvements for fatal crashes have occurred. Many of these locations are known problem areas where it's just a matter of time before another crash happens. The ability to implement the fatal crash review team recommendations has been a missing piece to preventing future crashes, which is key to reaching the goal of Vision, 0 of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2035. I would be remiss without acknowledging that while $500,000 is very welcome, it is not nearly enough to effectively address
Indianapolis traps, transportation safety crisis. Hopefully the allocation of these funds will lead to more robust in investments in the 2026 budget for systemic solutions to sit citywide at locations with similar characteristics where fatality has happened. Before. So that you don't have to have a fatality for infrastructure to change and improve. For those in the audience who support proposal. One 64. Raise your Thank you very much. Thank you for the opportunity. Good evening. My name's Larry King. I want to especially thank City County Council and especially a counselor Dan
Boots for their proposal to a lot 1 million dollars for urban Forest preservation. There will be many benefits in the future of crew into the citizens of Indianapolis for this expenditure. Want to say is a board member of the Indiana Forest Alliance and as leader of the creation Care Ministry of Saint Luke's United Methodist Church in Northwest Indy. That both organization strongly support this proposed funding. And we urge the council to approve it. This committee first, I also want to express sincere appreciation for the hard work of Jeff Stant and Michaels on behalf of the Indiana Forest Alliance for their hard work seeking to obtain this funding. It's much appreciated. Thank you very
much. You any one else would speak on. This is one 64. And just in my district State and Raymond, Raymond and Shelby Street, Raymond members. We had so many just in the last 2 months. We had state and Raymond. I hope some of money helps over there. So open for motion. MR. CHAIRMAN, I move that we pass are approved proposal. One 64 to the full council with a do pass recommendation. Been moved. And second all those in favor say Aye. Sorry, MR. CHAIRMAN, any permission tips thing this evening. There is a grant involved in opposing. Was 64 and I do service e ceo of the not-for-profit and I will again permission to abstain and then at the full council,
I would like us divide the question. Thank Should we do a roll call vote then? Our coverage is. Which is it all those in favor say Aye. Aye opposed. One. Want with it. 2 to pose, MR. CHAIRMAN. Yes, we request recall vote. What I would like call police. That's fine. Councilor Councilor boots. Councilor Carlino Carlino. I councilor do do nay. State. Hour. Council Nielsen. You know some of that. Yes. Council Roberts, Robert, I. Scary. I council a mask sorry. The audience coming out supporting local force alliance. Up next is proposal one 65. Who's presenting that?
Abby? All right. That floor. I'm gonna go ahead and get started. This is pretty administrative in nature and requires us to approve additional grant dollars for grant projects that we have been awarded but didn't have sufficient budget for because we just didn't expect to be receiving them. So here's a table that summarizes the grants by department and character and their purpose Fm's Grant is a federal grant from the Department of Transportation. The Sheriff's office is a mix of 3 different grants. There's half a million dollars from the opioid fund to cover Medicaid assisted treatments. I think that's the right. It's Matt. I think that's the you say for drug
treatment in the jail. $50,000 of a federal grant for a transport van investment. And then finally, 200 24,500 for gun locks through the drug-free Marion County program. The Office of Public Health and Safety is receiving $780,000. And these are philanthropic philanthropic funds. We receive to conduct our Winter contingency program. Need to appropriate them. The fire department is a federal grant its reimbursement for a task force. One deployments. The Department of Metropolitan Development is a 2.7 million dollars for the streets to home initiative is being led by the Mayor's Leadership Council on homelessness to rapidly. How's our unhoused neighbors into permanent housing alongside supportive services. This money is phase one of the initiative and
they're from the opioid fund. The prosecutor's office is a federal grant 100,000 first offered to redact body-worn camera footage and then finally, the election board received 500 $55,000 in federal funding for security enhancements at the Elections Services Center questions thank you have any anyone from the council like to speak on this. Have a question. Cancer Gibson. Well, thank you again, MISTER CHAIRMAN. I just want thank the somebody for considering this additional appropriation, primarily that the funding for streets to home. I had privilege of serving on the mayor is the leash accounts of 4 homeless prevention and that the committee is working very hard major partners to come up with the first phase of initiative. And this will help fun housing
for about 350 individuals. So courage of support tonight. Any other counts against nails. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN want piggyback on my colleague, counselor, Gibson for his words on initiative. We talked about a lot in JANUARY, as we think about what success in our city looks like. And I think providing housing to our most vulnerable neighbors is a important metric that we should be using. So I want thank the administration for putting some great thoughts into what this looks like. And some are my comments on one. 64, as we're thinking about budgeting and especially for and this are vulnerable population and funding being both inconsistent restricted in
some uses the opioid funding. That's you being to fund this while not. Not a perpetual fund is a long term source but as revenue for the city for several years to come. So I know that while we got the appropriated on an annual basis, I hope we can. You continue to work together to at least make a commitment with that money to solve problems like homelessness because we know that housing is the solution to solving homelessness. So I just want to recommit us to that work. I know how challenging that? The public health issue, the stuff that we see in our community. But it also has strategies that we can deploy in order to fix So I just want to thank administration for for their
plans. Look forward to working collaboratively to sot this issue our city. So thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN. Thank you. And the other questions, councilors anyone and publicly speak on is. So in a demotion second, it's been moved. Second of those favor say Aye. Oppose. You have the floor. Just minutes How about Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN, my name Helen Hill, ceo for the city county and director. My s a we're here with our individual spring fiscal to discuss that this is a fiscal request for an appropriation to our character. 3 $550,000 for Mariah safe and think of that as I sa Savings account that we have as an ongoing reverting revenue source that we we only like to use on on the rarest of occasions and what we think is a need or 4 infrastructure that we MAY
need to support the city county as a whole from an it perspective this is of as the title said, this is moving people saw from currently and it's on friends status status, too. Oracle, cloud infrastructure ci. The move is primarily based on on 2 things that would be cyber cybersecurity resilience, and then also on operational benefits that will receive once we have migrated to the eye that involves some of those benefits include include reduce costs, removal of the old infrastructure that it's currently on the biggest of those benefits would be improved. Cyber resilience, disaster recovery, more security for our people, soft
environment. And you MAY be wondering what exactly is that people talk environment and why are why am I talking about this? Well, the People's Officer Enterprise Resource platform or erp. There are other software's of the of the much like workday. You or or people soft. And there's a a couple other ones out there. The city county has been on this. Brenda people saw off since I believe 2012 when we converted from the old mainframe systems and they are currently housed in our data center over at I o t and everything is everything within our data centers and one hyper converged, infrastructure. And the idea here is that we're going to take people's top down and move it to the cloud so that it's in its own separate container. So in the event that something terrible
happens to the city county's infrastructure from a data perspective, people talk will continue to run. People sought is what we used to pay. Our vendors will use to pay our staff how we keep track of of of many different things within the city county when it comes to back in the administrative systems. That being we're working through this process on finding good partner, its modified Arak, kuala process where we're seeking out people who are qualified, who have moved it, agencies or organizations that are large like ours, considering that we have, you know, over 7500 employees that work or people inside the people's off system and more vendors than that. It's important that we take and find the right partner that's
going to take care of us and treat us how we need to be treated and have it secure the way that we wanted to be secured in the new system that being said, we are working through across the and collaboration between controller's office, the auditor's office, the treasurer's office, human resources and the person department our goal is to have this actually migrated before open enrollment begins in OCTOBER. That's a little bit of an aggressive goal. I However, it's been something that I've I've been having discussions with the controller and other agencies and departments about for for some time the appetite internally is right for this move. We had a tabletop exercise probably year and a half ago with members of several departments, including
the mayor's office and other units within the city county. It particularly the ones that are listed on this and that tabletop exercise was like, hey, city county environment has been ransomware. You have no access to people soft. What do you do and there are a lot of eyebrows raised in that conversation. This is one of those things that is central to how every department as he does business, even if they have hr functions outside of City County h r everyone is is paid through the system. So it's it's an impactful system and having this have the tightest security possible outside of the current environment and its own separate capsule or envelope. I had seems to be the move to make for the city county at this time. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you, council
currently no. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN and thank you for for bringing forward this fiscal, I think and I won't belabor the point that you made. But as a sponsor, I think decision to move addresses a lot of needs has a lot of benefits, but security and functionality is definitely paramount. It's best practice. So I really appreciate the level of collaboration and the attention not only of the isi team, but other agencies across the enterprise. I urge my colleagues to support this as well. Thank you. Cancer Brown. Thank you, MISTER Chair and yesterday Hill at again like my CHAIRMAN Carlino. Want to play to the point. You said very well. But I just wanted to emphasize from my background attack, nobody wants to spend all this money to migrate to the cloud. Nobody wants to update their software systems, but I've been a consultant before that
to come in after a ransomware attack or, you know, we've looked at almost every major hospital. The state of Indiana would look to These attacks are very real. They're happening frequently. Was the secretary of state just hacks this week. So I think the amount of money, although I think all of us wish it was I think it's a lot cheaper than the alternative. So I support this. Thank you. Thank Any other questions anyone the audience would like speak on this, seeing none in a motion. Moon. Second at all, those in favor say Aye. Aye oppose seeing no more business go.