Either. Now with a in evening. It is 5.30, and then to 60, we're going do admin finance and start out with intention left. Thank you, MR. Chair Brian Mowery District. 25. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN might do district 24. Thank you, MR. Allen District 15. Thank you. MISTER Chair Nic Robertson, certain for thank you. CHAIRMAN Ben Boost District 3. Good evening, CHAIRMAN. The scary counselor Crystal Wells District. 11 West Side. Good evening. Frank miscarriages streak 19 are. MADAM PRESIDENT is walking in the room. Just it's rich. I didn't it. Track
this Thank you, MR. MR. CHAIRMAN, sorry to be a few minutes late and emails in District 14. Good evening. Maggie Lewis District 5. All right. We have a shortage to propose a proposal. 34 in proposal. 35 first up is proposals. 34 points and there's appointment of Chris Bailey from the chief Deputy mayor. Really you you have the the floor there have a seat. Thank you for stepping up and doing this. He one big enterprise to another. You don't need. Tell us about in the evening about that's what we all million. Means that for here to do with getting ready You know, a lot of people going lie to you. Yeah, sit your police officer even be
able to see that. So yeah. On the advice, you know, always like for We'd like tell you, Tell the audience a little bit about yourself. Good evening, one CHAIRMAN, thank you. And for those watching online, my name is Chris Bailey. It's not be here before you as I take the next step in my career of service to the people of the city of Minneapolis. First, why I want to acknowledge something obviously come to this role from a different path than any chief deputy mayor chief of staff before me. The first one police officer officer to serve in this position and to help early from inside his office. Because of that, I think it's important to share not just why I'm here, but how I see the future of Indianapolis and the role I hope to play in it. My commitment to the city is deeply personal and a lot
lifelong resident of Indianapolis. The city is more than where I work. It's where my wife and I choose to raise our children. So I talk about the future of Indianapolis. I'm speaking from a place of personal investment and genuine care. And that care is what brings me here today as a public safety professional in 27 years of experience. I worked in every part of the city and spoke spoken to countless community members. I've learned that public safety sits at the center of everything we care about. Yes, its about. People feeling safe, but also whether they feel comfortable or excuse me connected, supported are able to build a good life here in our city. It's about neighborhoods that are stable
city services that work. Public spaces where families can gather and communities can grow. That broader understanding of safety and quality of life is what makes this role a natural next step. And my mission to serve our city. During my time as the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department chief. I led with the people first mindset and a holistic vision focused on both results and the people who deliver them. I pray prioritized health and well-being of our officers and professional staff expanding mental health resources, peer support programs and safety training. Because I firmly believe that when we take care of the people who serve, they're better able to take care of our community. Same philosophy as would all bring to my work as the chief of staff. Effective government, much like effective public safety depends on supporting people doing the work day in
and day out. And it also depends on listening. Throughout my time with impd a work closely with elected officials, community leaders and residents to strengthen transparency. And build trust. Collaboration is something I will carry with me into the mayor's office. Whether working with you here on the city County Council, our partners at the state. Are directly with residents across our city. I'm committed to open communication mutual respect. And a shared problem solving effort. That approach is how each achieve measurable success. In this role. My focus will be on continuing the forward momentum of Mayor Hogsett administration and 2026. That means supporting the investments we're making in public safety that are
helping drive down violent crime. It means helping oversee the implementation of a 1.2 billion $1.05 year Capital improvement plan that is rebuilding our roads and infrastructure. It means supporting development across all parts of Indianapolis, not just in the city center but neighborhoods throughout our community. And ultimately it means improving coli, a life for everyone who calls Indianapolis home. Expanding access to affordable housing, strengthening educational opportunities, investing in parks, trails and public spaces that connect our neighborhoods and bring people together. This is our vision for a future of the future of Indianapolis and then his role. I believe I'm uniquely
positioned to help bring that vision to life. I look forward to working alongside Mayor Hog set and each one of you in pursuit of that goal. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Chris. We do appreciate everything you've done me. All around any questions or comments for Chief Bailey. Council No kidding. Cancel rose That's very kind. That was very eloquent. And I believed every word that he said. And I know to be true because I know who you are. The words that you said that stood out to me that my heart needed to hear. And I think our city needs to here. listen. And then your previous role. I know from testimony from our communities that you would. You know, reluctantly when we have vast appear on tv
educate our community on what to do. What not to do. How we can protect our kids. We know we can continue to look to you having managed the largest city budget. You now have way more responsibility. But as you said, you have a unique experience that I look forward to supporting u n. The things that you've done have always been complex. You've always shown up in person we had a drowning on the far west side of the Eagle Creek. And you came and sat with me and talk to me and educated me about park Rangers, our water safety, the complexities of state law and how they impact local government. And that's the kind of leader that our next chief of staff should should be. And so I will. Just say thank you. And you know, my time back to my colleagues
but know that our city needed to hear you say those words. So thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN for allowing him to reintroduce himself this evening. Thank Council cancer Mowery. They still, look forward to supporting you again tonight. Here. It's honor to co-sponsor. This was MADAM PRESIDENT. You know, I'm definitely side to have a constituent and the top brass of the city. So that's going to be one But but for all you do and all you can do and for us in the city as a whole and thank you for being willing to step up into this position. Thank you. Council. MADAM PRESIDENT. Thank you, MISTER CHAIRMAN, thank you for your leadership and your to our community. One question, how do you ensure that there's alignment between the mayor, the council, the department heads and our city leaders. First of all, I would just tell you how great and how
lucky we all are as a city to have extraordinary people. A career long civil servants who every day in every department across this enterprise work their tails off under some pretty intense pressure every single day to deliver for our community. I think that the the path was set, especially last year with the discussions that we had with many of you on how we create a budget that works for everyone. And we've already started that process. I think in this year to talk about priorities and how we we worked together to set achieve the agenda that we all want for the city because I don't think that the things we want aren't much different. And so my hope is that we can all
work together. We will always agree. But with that, we that we come to come to an agreement together behind close, behind closed doors so that we don't. So one of the public sees us. They see us that we're unified in the mission of so serving and supporting them in getting things they need to fulfill their American dream of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Same attitude I took with while others wanted to see criminal justice partners fighting in public. I refused to do that because the community would, in my opinion, feel unsafe if they thought that the people they relied on every single day for safety were at each other's throat. I don't believe that's the best way that we can govern. So you you have some
of that will listen and believe me. I have a lot more time spent. 61 day 7. I've learned more in 7 days about things I never imagined that was going to learn. But the one thing is consistent, all those conversations that has everyone wants to work, what the administration and we want to work with a rebate move the agenda forward. Thank you and thank you for your willingness to serve. Thank Thank you, commissioner. Can city owes him if PRESIDENT? We do the more of though. Counter boots. Thank you, MISTER CHAIRMAN. Thank you. Chief. It would have to change your address either show you, chief it, you would have had this discussion maintain. You can call me, Chris. You can call me she viewing coming way. Just don't
let them on one person calling MR. Bailey night a know like that to in this is almost a rhetorical question. And I and I think we all consume answer. But I just have to ask it. Do you feel you could be objective when it comes to big budget decisions, particularly involving impd is budget and public safety budget. When we do have other pressing needs in the city that at certain times MAY outweigh. Impd budget. No, absolutely. But and as the mayor stated many, many times, public safety is number one priority. And I know I don't see that priority changing as we move into preparation for the 2027 budget. Obviously will all work together to find with the bath best path forward is to
to make sure we ensure that we're taking care of those that take care of that. And that's not just impd us the fire department as others that everything we do in our city starts begins and ends with public safety and their different definitions what that means. And, you know, safe parks and safe roads and safe sidewalks and all those things. So I understand importance of every one of those other priorities that we have in the city and of course, in my new role that requires me to be objective. However, I do work for a a mayor whose priority has been and will continue to be top priority is public safety. Great. Well, thank you. Look forward to working with you. Thank you. Council rounds. Thank you, MISTER Chair obviously look forward to working you very much. Chief been great to work with. I know not just, you know, involved my 2 years on the council. But for 26 years,
clearly been a great great community partner for everything I've heard. I'm very curious on. You know, obviously, Belinda only been in this position for 7 days, but I'm curious because in my head, I think so much the chief of staff's job is working economic development policies and really, you know, working with Dean d I d I b s all the different agencies was curious if you develop the thoughts and kind of your working through all that your priorities and how you'll working. Economic development projects in general. Thank you. I probably spent a lot of a lot of time over the last 7 days learn in hearing about those those priors and things that are even before I started. I said in on our
weekly d-Md conversations and there's lot of people in the room and go through all the things that are pending and what the roadblocks are, what the path forward could be for those type of things. And so they're still left lot to learn and that area, but we talked about a little bit we have to have more housing. We have to have housing that's available at all levels. You know, Indianapolis continues to hit the top. The list of affordability and in the country for housing. But we know there's not enough housing. We have work together to find and use our land and ways that increase this is 7 days of learning here. So believe are so far the great job is accurate wanted to You know, I I have significant significant interest and and housing. That's one of the
things came to front of mind when I took this job There are plenty of opportunities for that. If we do it the right way and work together to do that, including, you know, expansions that Indian Purdue, what an opportunity to get young people to come to school here. But also stay here when they when they're done. Done with education. Very well said. Thank you. Need any other questions. The council. Anyone Republican, like couple years. I'm just gonna make it can manage. First, congratulations for Stephen. A and I commend you stepping away from being the chief of police to chief of staff. And this 7 days and as you sitting here talking, I thought about
when I came in and I came from advocacy standpoint and now you get ready to be in that c and so. Is going to be a coup learning curve and probably over when like you said, you City indifferent season. I know for me I was like, wait a actually an elected And then I got people coming up to me in there in 80 question. So again, I just want to say congratulations and I really do commend you. And Stephen, you know, stepping into a row and I just look forward to working with you. Want see all the great things is going to happen. But we that when they call you for advice to see that. All right. Thank you. Anyone in the audience would like to speak on this appointment. Ocean MR.
CHAIRMAN is I those number. 34 to council that they do pass recommendation is is been moved. And second, all those in favor say Aye. Aye opposed no. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN of 2 John, thank you all. Thank you. Next, a proposal 35,026. And We're least Right on the my pizza welcome. Thank you. not to correct the a I'm the chief of police current chief of staff. I think the mayor has said elections are his top might be wrong on that. But I think I heard that. MR. CHAIRMAN members of this AUGUST body, we are here today. Because we want to move if any of you have been to our Election Service Center, it's a Washington in Sherman. It's bill passed the time too get
new digs. And if you recall. Within the last 6 years or so. There was a proposal to build a new food Election Service center facility somewhere near the Cjc. And when I came into office That would have been more effective right after I say this figure, 34 million dollars. This is not this is not this is well less. Patrick Becker, who is our director of elections. We'll go through. We're moving closer to downtown. We're still going to be easily accessible to. The poll workers rely on public transportation. We're going to have more parking and it's not going to smell like me? That's the plan. So I guess so that the address is 51 could leave a lane, which is, as the clerk
East washington the closest major intersection is it's just a little bit west of of south here, though, the Golden keep coming a little bit closer to downtown is square footage is 56,000 square feet. And that includes about 15,000 square feet of office. So actually able to expand our warehouse capacity as well as our office space, which is one of our goals that we had, which is to try to build out a little bit more our operations. Currently, the operation Center Service Center stores, all the equipment or you all of our testing of our equipment. We now have a new vote by mail equipment that's out our training as well for all of our inspectors. So this additional office space will accommodate a lot of the operations are already kind of exist that we kind of make do
with what we have. And now this will kind of accommodate sort of what we what we've been doing for the last handful of years. On average. It's Over 10 years. It's about 5 million over 10 years with escalating rent. So not 34 Million. Yeah. So and that that rent does increase year-over-year. So we've been through the space allocation Committee back in JULY of 2025. We've collected our signatures. We've had our public hearing. Board voted to approve this and are FEBRUARY 4th meeting which was allowed for the public to view the lease for the 10 days that was required and in the newspaper had the public hearing. Now we're here and you screw near questions that you might have so we can continue to matriculate this thing down
down the field. My question would be I was that the city would not in your lease over 5 years. Is that correct? This is your Yeah, we've won. There are, for example, or records facility at 13, 30 medicine. We've been there for a very long You renew. We do renew for me. The lawyer said it's ok if there's something gases and burial state for the controller's office, the maximum used against 10 years with one 10 year ago. So think next week was, know, it's 10 years. Any questions can answered. Houston. CHAIRMAN, so for how does this? Just past year? 26 budget few months ago can believe it only a few months ago. How can you walk us through right that the change in the lease now, why
now with the budget, how your budget MAY be reflected this kind of work through that a little bit. Please. Thank you, commissioner. So we worked with the budget team in anticipation of So this is budgeted for in our 2026 budget currently and the process actually began in 2024, we went through an rfp with the city so we were able to work through, you know, a cash flow document as we were sort of building out that rfp, we're able to kind of incorporate that into our budget. So we don't anticipate any budgetary impact from that perspective, it's already approved dollars that covers our first year. Rent. PRESIDENT Lewis. So I was
going to ask. The same question is COUNCILMAN Wilson said as so you're already budgeted for the increase in 20. 26. Are there going to be any additional increases? Moving forward says 5 billion over the next 5 years. You are Break that down over the next 5 years. So it stays the same are ever going to see some increases 2027. It's for their their bill to the increases are built in their incremental. What is that percentage? Yeah, it's a 2.6% escalator. But we do have Currently in the budget room for that sort of additional I believe we get to your 5 before will probably need to start adjusting that budget to get it for you to come back and ask for any type of increase from this body. Yeah, and that would be through probably a normal budget
process at that point as well. And so tonight, we're only approving the need to lease, right? You're not really address. And financial piece of it is correct? Yes, the financial piece For all intents and purposes already been. It's you've already proved Okay. Again, it's just just let us move its the approval of the 10 year lease. Okay. Thank Thank you, MR. Roberts thank you, MISTER And I'm very happy to hear this. I met MR. Becker, you know, 6 years ago working there. And it's probably only age more in the last 6 years little bit off topic question. But it's probably the last time we see you guys before the primary. I was just curious in general, if you had finalized as we talked about the Lawrence
Township early vote site is under renovation completely. I was wondering if you have final has that worked on it? I I apologize for the frustration on causing you based on the reaction. For those of us from Lawrence Township, appreciate update. It's been like this with the lease and it's been like this with some of our a vote early vote sites and so we've been in communication with the folks, the staff over there. We actually have a site visit planned to see if there are still if there is still space within the building to accommodate us. They've given us sort of a glimmer of hope that there might be some space, not in the same room, but nearby, like in that open hallway area that we might be able to utilize. And if not, we're actively working on a
couple of contingency plans for if that space doesn't work out. Hopefully a little bit closer to 56 street and then, you know, for us, we're hoping to have our board approve our vote. Senator planned MARCH 6th, so that's kind of our internal deadline to try to get a lot of the stuff is also will be working. You know, really heart of the next few weeks to get that. And you MAY be getting a call or text for me to to to brainstorm on some other solutions out there, depending on how the site as it goes. Is a cancer. Ku. Thank you. MISTER Chair, couple comments. And I guess. In the lease. I think. This is this certainly not standard commercial leases, but I I appreciate this that we have the right to terminate for
lack of appropriate fox. So despite it being 10 year lease with single five-year option. We actually have kind of this unique lever that if we would failed to appropriate the funds, it says we're not even in the fall. Tough week would do that. So that's I think that's unique. I like that because I I guess my. Questions really are. The what is the extent of the need of the Understand we're doing county and everyone's and doing all that. But what is the use of the building outside those time frames? And then I guess my my question tying into that is the this is still pretty substantial amount of rent. It feels like considering. And I know that this one through the land use
committee, but it seems to me just my perception that we have a lot of excess properties and I'm a little surprised that we have to go find in rent something can't do this in some of the property to Erie curiously, there was we saw a lot of places. There was a place. I think it was 30th Street on the Far East side convenient. No perfect. Yes. I'll stay took it because they their need was was such that that it you know, it's public safety. This is it's it's a bigger footprint for So instead of having to flying training facilities because statute requires that our poll worker training that we conduct that
every single election, we don't have to go off site for that. Now. And it. We always need some place that is easy for people to get to that. That's one of the goals that we have. We have being closer to downtown does make it easier for people. Anyone pass to transfer on on at the transit center. Not that not not I think there's plenty of parking, too. So it the facility that we're in now. We have machines. They're very, very expensive and they're not. I wouldn't call them delicate. But there are divots in the floor in the concrete that they don't want us just to mix it up. Bag of quick created doing it ourselves. So it is. It Washington in Sherman. There Also some other well, I was there once and I was in the parking lot. It was
election night a sheriff's deputy started yelling at me to get into car because of the gunshots that going off across the street. So this is I mean, we want our poll workers and our staff and everyone there to be safe. And that's a consideration for us as well. Yeah, I understand I was just talking in. Properties that we have that we have consolidated or you know what you mentioned the cjc when we've moved people over there that we've we shared a lot of vacancy just even in this bomb. There's there's that are we in the club on the clerk's site. There's records where has 13, 30 Madison Avenue just across the street and forgetting I
don't know the I think Dmd was there. Our our trucks don't fit our trucks. The there there is one dock and the truck's that we have to move our equipment. There's no room for them there because that would have been it would have been perfect. Yeah, except. To Thank appreciate Thank And I will say that that give Goodman then. Have been I mean, they worked and worked very hard to something that was suitable. And that was that that we can work with even possibly grow into. So they did a great job I answer the question is why the part of the situation that we're in now, you know, we started looking at other facilities
back in 2019 and this has been an ongoing process but the what has happened over time has operations have shifted from this building out there as our vote by mail, for example, program our entire absentee program kind of runs out of that building now. So not just our vote by mail, but our military overseas, the in in-person early voting, the whole satellite program that we run all kind of now runs out of that facility as well as all the preps for Election Day. We do store all the election equipment there. We did a preventative maintenance and testing out there. And the other thing that it's really used for is the storage of election materials and a good example of that is, you know, in a presidential election will have 20 or so skids of material. They have to go
through retention cycle. So we've through 2020 through 2024, we experience more material that we're having to recycle by virtue of some of these higher turnout elections. And so this also allows us to kind consolidate some of our staff as well with having more office space. And then the final thing, I'll say that that really kind of brought us to this point is our current ownership at our current facility. We basically are rent has doubled over over time. There. And there's new ownership at that facility and the negotiations for any sort of extension with that ownership group really kind of died as the rfp process started, they were originally bidding on rfp and then they they did not really can seem
to want us to continue in that negotiation at our current space. So we've kind of been in this sort you know, we had to kind of send extension with them just to kind of keep our keep our lights on and and keep a place, you know, keep a home until we could can kind of Linda, a land, the plane on our long term solutions. So we're in a bit of a bind with our current ownership as well and their willingness to to continue to house us in that facility. A think Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN, I have to say Council Roberts, I have worked with. This team their team on contingency plans in relocation and they are very good, very thoughtful, very communicative. And the community is always so thankful and we have. We hate
that for you guys because there. So, yes, great for my experience and appreciative for that. My question, MR. CHAIRMAN is will there need to be any renovations to sort of build to sue for those? Particular times when there are larger groups. I'm thinking accessibility number of parking spaces, restroom facilities, that kind of thing. Yes, thank you. There will be some doled out. Those costs are essentially amortized in the current lease through the grant structure the landlord you know there is work, the land where we'll be doing as far as you know, reef finishing up the floors in the warehouse. Kind see and, you know, grinding those down and
polishing those, you know, simple things like, you know, new carpets and things like that in the office space. I will say part of the ongoing struggle with this particular least making the financials work. And so through that process over about the last year, we've had to really pared back with those construction costs would have been. And so, you know, virus saying we're getting everything that we wanted in this building. That's not true because we did have to make some concessions on some bill down things that we wanted to make. The financial piece of this work. So there is going to be some internal not I wouldn't say construction but more, you know, finishing walls and re carpeting refinishing floors in the warehouse. There is going need
to be some parking added to the eastern part. And so that is all work. That we have a work letter with the landlord that's been previously established. An agreed upon and all that work should be hopefully getting going out once we get the the least, you once we enter into the least they can start getting that work done. The lease does have a start date of JULY. 1st of 2026, and so that would be the plans that we can have them get their work done. And then hoping to move the summer. You could. You answered my question. My. My comment. And the reason I ask those questions is because a lot of our poll workers are of very mature ages that MAY be needed to be able to access certain facilities be able to have those pieces. So I just want to make sure that everything is ready for those amazing workers who do so much more
than we're able to compensate them for. So that would be my final comment. MISTER CHAIRMAN, thank Final question. Counsel boost to s and r I anyone the audience having things about this, the comments seeing emotion and move that has a 35 to the full counts with agency. And second, all those in favor say Aye. I Thank Thank get pilot anything we saw any Once we have density of the Polish