Good evening out a call to order the Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee to order from was today the 28, 18 get For AUGUST. The 18th 2025 will begin introductions of my colleagues on the first row. Thank you. MADAM Leader Darren Cahill District. 23. Thank you. MADAM Chair. My name is Michael part representing District 20. Thank you. MADAM Chair, Brian Mowery District. 25. Thank you. Majority leader run gives in District 8. Thank you. MADAM Chair, Brie and Illini District. 2, thank you. MADAM Chair, Nic Robertson, strict for. Thank you. MADAM Leader Kristin Jones District 18. Thank you. MADAM Chair Councilor Jared Evans representing District 17. Thank you, leader Lewis Lee. Why Robinson represent District one. Thank you. Maggie Lewis District 5, the first item on our agenda
proposal. Number 2.37, a point. Brad and I I apologize. I don't want to mess up your last name. Is fate feet cost. Is really I apologize. It's not my ministry to the Citizen Advisory Committee for the Lawrence Township Comprehensive Plan. I apologize, sir. Tell a little bit why you're interested serving this capacity. Sure. I'm PRESIDENT The Greater Chamber of Commerce, obviously with the business interests. We very decided interest and use and what is appropriate inappropriate. I also live Fort Benjamin Harrison. I know an awful lot of people live in Lawrence Township. And I'm happy to be placed forward represent them on this committee. Wonderful questions. Comments with
counselors, this concert. I was going to say real quick. It was an honor to nominate for at for. This is a great guy. And also just make a quick comment that I appreciated. We have now triple partisanship representation. Students have Democrats, Republicans. We have a libertarian to or she ate Brad for being on this. He's a great community leader and I can't even be better. That's actually involve the community in be great asset for this board. Thank you, council. Wonderful other comments. Questions from counselors. Is there anyone audience that wishes to speak to proposal to 37? Cnn, a entertain a motion investment property in the second. All those in favor signify by saying Aye, I was opposed. Same sign the motion carries. Thank you so much for your willingness to serve. Thank you to your last name. One more time cloth and Stein
class. I'm time. Thank you. The next item on our agenda proposal. Number 2.38, points Miser to the City Market Corporation board of directors. Good evening, Mis Miser. Want to share why interested in serving in this capacity. Good evening. Thank you for having me. I've lived in Indianapolis and worked in the downtown for 35 years. And I've always loved the market. I want to see it preserved and thriving again. And I would be honored to serve on the board to help to make that happen. Questions comments from Nyzah councilor evidence. Thank you, leader. I just want to say that it's nice to see MISS Miser again. She was director of Department of Public Works. When joined the council and I think that would be a great role for you to be another. The market having the internal
knowledge of the city. Thank you. Thank you. Leader Mary. Thank you. MADAM Leader. Thank you. MISS Miser for being willing to serve on board. It's it's definitely going to be a challenging one. Given the challenges the city market has faced thus far. I do think that I'm hoping that you can bring in kind of a fresh set of ideas looks like you've served on the board prior. You do with the city, you know, kind of the ins and one thing I want to encourage is looking at other cities that have a similar market. I know family lives in Milwaukee They have a market just like ours. Almost the same footprint as ours is or was. And it flourishes. You know, I think the hours are a lot better than Milwaukee on this because they're open more
than just lunch hours. So maybe that's something we look at future. But I would encourage you to get in there and really try to. Push to make this men make more of other cities have done so well. Milwaukee because I've been there so many times and I look forward to seeing what you do on the board. Thank Thank you. Happy to do that. Him. In the other questions, comments from counselors. Is there anyone audience that wishes to speak to proposal? Number 2.38? And then entertain a motion. Investment properly moved. And second, all those in favor signify by saying aye and those opposed same sign the motion carries. Thank you so much. Thank And your willingness to serve the next item on our guy in this proposal. Number 2.39, this proposal is actually going to
be discussed during the budget here and doesn't require a vote this evening saw inner entertain a motion to table proposal. Number 2.39 a second motion and properly seconded table proposal. Number 2.39, all those in favor signify by saying Aye. Those opposed same sign. Motion carries. Thank you so much. The next item on our agenda proposal. Number one, 84 counselors, just as a reminder, we did hear this proposal a few weeks ago. Number one 84 pose a payment in lieu of taxes. A pilot has provided by icy. 36 dash 3 dash 2 dash 12 park now village 3. Now people are part affordable housing and finance and part with low income housing tax credit in pursuit of section. 42. Brian, we to 39 on tables so it won't entertain it later at
have exact they witnessed. Thank you as as table. And will vote to put it back on the agenda. Okay. Proposal. Number one, 84. And so again council. We did hear this. And so I asked MR. Bobs account for it is kind of give us a brief update on where we at number one. 84. Thank Council leader Louis. My name is Gary Hobbs. PRESIDENT Ceo bwi. We met in JUNE and there were 3 main points for us to address at that meeting. All of our give a brief update in JULY. Want to quickly review the 3 key points. Number one, it was brought up here, but there were some come out village phase one repairs. Tree preservation work we did not complete. I want to address that piece. Number 2. Well, it's the kind village what upgrades to the community that we have promised to have been by the end of this year to be
a brief update on that. The number 3 other was a promised from the city to facilitate a community meeting which was also last week. So I'm happy address all 3 items were completed over the past 2 And what I want to do here with the remaining few minutes here. Give you a quick update. Many of you have also received an email or from the kind of outlining the details on the cv want repairs and the tree preservation. I just want bring to your attention as we stated in the community meeting. Number one, all of those repairs. The things that were mentioned like dollars and and the other issues that were somewhat exaggerated. All those things were completed last summer. The trees there was one tree that was removed. The Birkenau, the was a tree.
Stop. I can't speak to trees that were removed prior to starting construction. But I will say this, you know me myself personally and the team, we value trees preservation of trees and so Now, that 3. We do want to commit to not removing any trees unless it's absolutely necessary required. For a home to be constructed. There. And if a tree is removed, that we've already had conversations with firehouse, we will Kay Ivey up deal for him there as well too. Find a replacement tree if a tree does to be removed. So just our commitment to trees just want. Make sure you guys know that we are committed to that. Number 2, let's jump into the cv upgrades a timeline standpoint, I had some slides to present it was a mess. It
was not answer for this particular meeting right now. But at the end of the day, there were 3 main promises that we have for upgrades that we're committed to Northwest quality of life group. Summer. Number one was a commitment to. Put a survey out all of our residents and what type of would like. It was chosen to be porch extensions or additional fences. The decision was made last summer to pick the portraits entrance. That was later. Voted on by the residents. So they want fence us privacy fences for each of their home. So that is underway as we speak. The second was the community sponsorships, 5 of them. Glad to announce that we have completed all commitments for all 5 sponsorships and looking to do even more behind that. The 3rd one was just says on Clifton Street, and that was done during JULY of this year. So the remaining item you guys since the
completion of the remaining, 35 faces for the current Canal village, one residence or You stated that they would be complete by the end of the year. I'm happy to announce that we have expedited. The making those fences, mute them complete. Here the end of SEPTEMBER. So we'll be ahead of the schedule. Our commitment. So it's important for me for you guys know we are. A business owner. Word. I'm a man of my word. Yes, you know, challenges always exists. But the end of the day we do what say. We're going to do. Just want to wrap up for you guys here with the main reason why we're here is to approve the pilot for cv 3. Going to ask for each of you guys support so we can get the pilot approved so we can Kohl's start construction next month. Thank you very much. Thank you so much for your
presentation. Counselors before I open it up for questions and comments, I did have the opportunity to connect with PRESIDENT. This project is in his district. And so with the commitments been place, he is now in favor of us moving forward with this in his district. And also he noted that with the need for to have more affordable housing, he believes that this project is is crucial for our city. So just want to share that with you that MR. PRESIDENT now supports this project moving forward. So questions comments from counselors yester. Thank you. MADAM Leader in the for steering 2 months ago. I noted that. We had heard some people in opposition for some of the prior to the hearing. I have not heard from anybody I have
since last month's heard from a number of people on this. And it has all been in favor of its. I do want to acknowledge those people, some of which spoke last month, but have privately know that it has been universally positive. Thank you. Thank you for sharing this year. Additional questions, comments. And so I do believe we have a list of individuals that are interested in speaking. You will be given 2 minutes to share. If you have any specific questions, please direct your questions to me about him to get you answers. So MR. Stars before we open the Florida public comments, we like to remind committee members and the public of a few ground rules so everyone can have a fair chance to speak and be heard. It is important that we each observe the following rules first. Each speaker will be limited to 2 minutes. Second, any
public comments must reasonably relate to the agenda item under consideration. 3rd speakers who stray from the item under consideration or become unduly repetitious MAY be asked to move on to their next point are conclude their comments. Finally attendees who cause disruptions that prevent the committee from proceeding through tonight's agenda in a reasonably efficient manner will be removed. Please remember that some types of threatening speech or incitement to violence are not protected by the First Amendment at all. We will deal with those issues if they come up But we do not think they will. And MADAM Chair a committee member asked for consent to adopt these rules. We can proceed to public comment. First up, we have Caroline We have Candy is
Scott Moore. Then Lori Purdue. Carolyn Watts, 14 46 Congress Avenue, Indianapolis. I live in the neighborhood. Means is that got 2 minutes now cut out part of written. And support of the proposal. One 84. And I would like to recommend approval of those. This proposal within our community as a resident co-chair of the new Northwest spoken to residents currently living in the canal, very least one homes and residents that would love to live. And one of the new proposed homes you can now feel is 3 the issue that we have had to address has come about do the individual residents and stakeholders, Sigmund in sales from the communities. Umbrella of the near North Mayor West quality
of life guidelines. There's no issue with Tommy of individual neighborhoods had ever. The issue is when a small segment of the community comes to you, a government entity and representative sales and the entire community. When correspondence was sent, I was. Continually left out. I didn't was informed of what was happening by various individuals. Gary Dobson, bwi has it is making efforts to upgrade the homes in canal, his village, one. That was not part of what was agreed upon when built during the pandemic. I'm sure the committee is aware of supply chain issues while we battle covid-19 challenges the city and that that also have responsibilities during this time. All of us have had to recover from a setbacks, the at health, wise, financial or improvements and taking care
of business from the past 5 or 6 years for our community to experience another setback efforts to improve the immediate needs of affordable housing would be tragic if you drive through our communities. In the North, West Erie, he was homes selling at market rates. Currently only bwi has for gum opportunity to reap profits to for the rich. Their company and the formation of the new normal quality alive contractors is this. You can finish your sentence. Finish my sentence Locally Atkins and out of state came to view the area. We would do that. We were not Worth what we the community wanted, which was affordable housing. Thank you. And good evening. I am candy. Us got more. I have bid one of the 2 co-chairs of to for the
last 15 years. I've been in that community for 20 years. Busting my tail to make sure that we have the best community. That we can have. Have issue with the fact that. When all of this was going all of the hours that we spent on our q well and to all out. The remoteness traders were nowhere to be found. Gary's only problem is during covid. His lack of communication. That's the only fault that I see in Gary. So I want to leave this letter here from other co-chair in speak for the ceo, also Flannery House of which I work for it and the PRESIDENT Of the neighborhood across the street from Flannery which is neighbors helping neighbors please. Let do what we've been doing for all of these years and making that community great. Thank you. Thank you.
Do next up is rage. Snap. Yeah. Good evening thank you commission for hearing is today. My name is Lori Purdue and I speak as a stakeholder in the Northwest Landing neighborhood. I am a member of the Northwest Landing Neighborhood Association and then the co-director of the Community Can Be alliance, which holds office is at 28 13, Greater Street. I've submitted to documents for your for your review, both compare images submitted with this petition. And compare it to the reality on the ground in northwest landing. The first begins with a map included of the proposal. One 84 by dwi and MR. Gary Hobbs showing proposed development.
Lots, but it does not show is the true condition of this area after Canal Village, one. The clear cutting of mature trees and loss to the tree canopy that once defined and served this neighborhood. We show tree loss between 2010 2025? The 1000 block of you don't rate are was shaded in 2010 by continuing this tree canopy even after demolitions through 2000 or 2, 2020. But in 2021, widespread lot scraping destroyed this canopy without mitigation by 2022, the bwi developed portion of the block was stripped bare and in 2025 construction damage claimed a registered heritage Tree on City Park
land at Frank Young Park. Document be concentrates on the area of Clifton in Roach, the orange dots and put those one in 3 show. Lots now advised under petition, ready for while the wooded area to the north was previously cleared in can now village want photos. 2, 4, and 6 in document be show you. The reality is short, flat roof tones on shadeland slots. Stand with thriving canopy once stood. MR. Hobbs claims that he had nothing to do with the removal of trees, but obviously they have been removed treason canopy that served this neighborhood with ego benefits and health benefits. It is the responsibility of this
committee to make sure that any changes to neighborhoods. Secure the character of the neighborhood. And I appreciate your time. Please review these documents on your own. To thank Just to be clear, the first time the timer went off, it was inaccurate. So money by thinking that I gave it someone else extra time. So just a little air. For a snap. Good evening. My name is ration at with the community Canopy Alliance that Lori spoke about. We are co-directors of the community Canopy Alliance and this summer we had the opportunity to work with group of teenagers threw the teen works program to serve a heritage trees in the neighborhood. And I want to really just summarize the some of that date. I think it was shared
with all of you today, I'll try to quickly summarize heritage trees, as you know, are defined by ordinance as certain species that are larger than 18 inches in diameter at height. And we identify 13 heritage trees on the Parcells batter in this proposal that ranges includes a 50 year-old own 275 year-old Chestnut Oak and 189 year-old Walnut tree. We calculated the ages of these trees and other parameters using a platform called I tree that made available to the public through the U.S. Forest Service. And we use that same tool to estimate some of the benefits that these trees are providing. For instance, we
find that those. Heritage trees are providing are capturing between 304,000 gallons of stormwater runoff every year. They capture between 12 and 1000 pounds of Co 2 from the atmosphere this choose also go a long way towards capturing particulates that an extremely important indicator public health because when particulate matter is high, we have much higher incidence of emergency room visits and heart attacks and respiratory distress. So those are very real health benefits that these trees are providing in total. I tree analysis indicated that these trees are providing at least
$120 worth of benefits every year and over the life of the tree that can be up to about $33,000. In total. For all the chase. On all the 13 heritage trees on these parcels. And that does not include energy cost to homeowners. Thank you. Thank you. It. And look, Troy Carter. Good afternoon Council. And in that time frame that we spent between JUNE and when we come back to today, our neighborhood leadership of Northwest Landing was approached by some of residents of cannot village the PRESIDENT Of the neighborhood Council was unavailable to come today to health concerns. The biggest things that we wanted to mention with regard to Canal Village, moving into Canal
Village, 3 is some of the residents voice concerns about where players that had not been done to their homes from the time that they moved 2023 into about 2 years, which is now 2025. One resident spoke to us that their health, the roof had been leaking for those 2 years and had just recently been repaired. She was a single mom with several children was concerned about the quality of life that she was experiencing in her home due to a lot of the repairs that she was requesting to be done for home, not being completed. She didn't indicate she has. Many people have already indicated they do love their homes are very grateful for what bwi Gary have since done the concerns that they're having, though, is that the repairs are not being done in
a timely manner. And some of the things that they're requesting to be done are being addressed. So it's the neighborhood's concern and moving forward with Canal Village, 3 that Canal Village, one repairs continue to be done not to just the front-facing hope that everyone can see as you drive down the street. But some of the ones that were realizing our tucked away another unseen areas. So there's a concern that some of those repairs to homes that are not seen on the public area are not being addressed as they need to documentation was also submitted with pictures showing some of the lack of landscaping. Some of the overgrown shrubbery and things like that in the neighborhood again, making the neighborhood looking slightly for some of the homes that are being maintained as people are renting the properties. A lot
of renters feel like it's the responsibility of the maintenance company in the ownership of the homes while they're preparing for homeless ships. Final concern that we have 30 seconds. Thank you to find a concern that we have as a neighborhood is that program to be put in place for these individuals that are currently renting their home being told that they have 15 years to rent before they can purchase is that programs are put in place to help to become very viable and affordable home buyers of the residents. It's not that we don't want affordable housing. We're just concerned about the quality of life for the residents that. Live in the homes. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Good afternoon. My name Troy Carter. And I just want to
speak on affordable housing. When I came here last month. And now we're here today on our way build to this building 40, 50 homeless people surround this building. The law. Affordable housing is needed in this state. And in this ad and I feel that the longer that we hold up. This project because people don't like the way that the houses look is the longer we're going to have people sitting in our streets in that downtown areas and places that feel like we don't want to see. Is very important. Indianapolis to have affordable housing because not a lot. And as a landlord myself, I know personally that there is not a lot of affordable housing and that's something that we've made. Thank you to sell thank you. Last person is a leading a
camp. Believe camp. I am a resident in Northwest landing. I just want to say that one of the questions that keeps coming back to my mind is why are we still here again? I've had many one-on-one conversations with MR. Hobbs and his team. On one of the concerns being that he's only doing the repairs that need to be done because he's in the spotlight right now. And he's looking for approval for whatever it is that he needs. And unfortunately, the moment he thought that the residents weren't fighting back this stuff stopped. And only recently has he been able to acknowledge some of the other repairs that need to get done. And again, it's because he's being challenged. One of the things that discussed with him
is the fact that these residents don't trust him. They don't trust the fact that he's going to complete the repairs and keep on top of this, what once everything is approved? And my question is even with the checks and balances, the city is putting forward, are you prepared for that? Some of the documentation that we showed you was just from gutters are actually growing vegetation out of that. Not that stuff fell into the gutters, but things are growing out of the gutters. Now now that's not a gutter problem. That is a got a problem. That is a roof problem that has put part most likely a mold issue and it is the quality of life that our residents are living under now. That causes concerns for what's going to happen a month from now. 5 years from now, 15 years from now, are these
residents going to have homes that are going to be purchase a bull that are going to be livable and is the city prepared to spend that kind of man power and that kind of money monitoring this on a monthly basis. Again, the only reason why things are getting done right now is because he needs the city behind him. He needs the residents behind them and we are not right at this moment. We are very concerned that that what needs to get fixed goes beyond just superficial. We have senior living the Square that have water coming in through their doors that have buckled floors again, health and hazard issues all over property see has here in Northwest Landing. So my question is, are we really going to allow this to
continue? Throwing bad money after bad money after he is proven not to be good stewardship with the property said he already has. Thank Thank you. Additional questions. Comments from counselors. Again, it did share the feedback from the District Councilor Councilor Heart. Thank you. MADAM First, like to acknowledge a couple things. One is that the District councilor and recent completely respected his decision. And I think there's things to consider moving forward. The first one is I do want to acknowledge the individuals who provided the photos about heritage trees. They did make it our way and I can see what you're talking about from 2010 to 2025 where there was what appears to be removal of a lot trees. So I'm not sure when MR. Hobbs, you took over here, but I can see from 2010 to 2025. And I
would. Urge you to not do that. If you was you going forward with the next part of this project. But for me where this I think really draws parallel is, you know, our body is approving this. But the city I can see the folks in the back who will be responsible for the contract here. And the first time we brought this up. A month ago or 2 months ago, I guess the city what the plan is to make sure that compliance is meant to obtain this pilot. And my my question remains the same. This is a MADAM Chair. Be interested to hear from the city what they plan to do to make sure that MR. Hobbs comply with its commitments and project. Is someone from the mtv letting up for we do have parameters in place for projects in general. So if you want to speak to what those parameters are for projects like this ever be, we really
appreciate it. Yes, absolutely. Thank you for the question we can provide some clarification. We went over these commitments with the neighborhood. Also at our meeting last Tuesday, AUGUST 12th. So I just want to reiterate that that we went over this information as well with all the neighbors. So the project has a total of 33. Lots. We own Dmd owns. 26 of those lots. This is different than phase one. Those in phase one, those lots are owned by intend Indiana. And so we didn't have as much control over the project agreements during those land transfers. So the commitments that we have in place when we transfer those lots to bwi will be the commitments of architecture review. We've already reviewed architectural plans for the properties. So our city
architect has signed off on those knowing that there were issues and phase one, we're going to have additional oversight during this phase to make sure that the same issues do not arise. But we do have more control through these projects agreements, which is a good thing moving forward with phase 3. We'll meet find those I can read through all those commitments here. So, yeah, the architectural approval. For the next 15 years, bwi will only rent out the properties at a rate that is equal to or less than 60% of the area. Median income and will maintain all of those rental units. They will maintain all of the properties according to itc da's, the Indiana housing and Community Development Authority. Authorities livable standards. They are agreeing to allow dmv to conduct inspections not only during construction, but
during the 15 year affordability, period. So we'll have the right to go in and inspect those properties anytime that we choose, even though it's private property. Once we transfer the land. The city will reserve the right to access easements or right of way for environmental investigations and public infrastructure. That standard with any of our project agreements dmd another condition as we can take back ownership of the properties that the city-owned, if the developer fails to complete an acceptable redevelopment job within a specified time frame. So we will identify that construction time frame and make sure they're keeping to that. So that reconstruction is completed on time and bwi is committing to providing regular regular monthly project updates to the community until the city decides this obligation has been fulfilled. So we'll make
sure those commitments are in the project. Agreements up on land transfer and then additionally with our pilot agreement, they're committing to services which they outlined in their presentation last month and will continue to our standard enforcement, which is additional oversight during construction through inspections. That's not only dmd but also be in us through their standard constructions. And then we always have that right, a reversion to take the properties back. If it's the property owner's a noncompliance and then related to the pilot, we also have the right to revoke the pilot or assess penalties if they are not compliant with these storms. Thank you so much, MADAM Chair. Just kids to know how markets are. Yes, that wasn't given you the green light go. He ate all that. You are as I it. I curious to know
how the residents could follow if any of these conditions were not being met with the city. As I question for me. Yeah. So I would say through the Mayor's Action Center or I really any of the contacts within dmv so they can reach out to me directly and I can get them in touch with the appropriate person or the staff members that are project managing this project as well. Council hurt you get. Leader Mary. Thank you. MADAM Chair, I believe counselor, kind of touched on one of those kind of ask as well. But but one thing still got some news when he said dmv has the right to come inspected time their choosing. That gives Larry to me because I wouldn't want to be in the short of my front door saying gonna come spend your house unless they had good cause. Is this something where assuming that would be more? So if they reach out to you folks to say, hey, I'm having issue, then you show up, you don't just come
knocking on the doors and let me in. Yeah, I would have to be for reasonable cause. Thank you. Additional comments from counselors, Evans. Thank you. Director commitment. Number 7 and thank you for going over these. Title to the real estate shall be vested conditionally. I read to the grantee. So reading this. If you find that there is a series of violations in these commitments, even at the investment that the individual of already put into the site. You can take back those properties. Yeah, I'm sure there are specific. You know, the conditions tied to like what is not being met. I don't think, you know, it depends on the severity of the commitment that's not being met, where we would actually exercise taking that property back. Thank Improper moon. Second, all those in favor signify by
saying Aye. Those opposed same sign. The motion carries. Thank you all so much for being here this evening will now move to the budget hearing portion of our agenda with can sing counselors. I would like to move MADAM Surveyor to the top of the presentations my understanding. I got my hand slapped that the last meeting. So that consensus. MADAM Survey yes, I ask that you transition a little bit quieter, please. And thank you. We still have a meeting. Thank you all for being here. MADAM Survey or the floor is yours. Thank you
for allowing me to present my budget includes sooner than I expected. I would. My name is Deborah Jenkins. I am your Marion County Surveyor and I have been since 2009. Before I begin, I would like to by staff. Susan, bone of I'm out of breath. My administrative manager, Krystle drummer will be leaving to go to Lawrence North for her child's of parents. Back to school night. So if she leaves, that's because he's going be with her scent. And to my right Branden Leslie, he is administrative but it's kind of new position. He's new at this that. Type a job. But just for this office. I have to first kind of apologize for my vision. I had I surgery a couple weeks ago and everything is a little blurry in these light. A
pretty bright. So I do appreciate you moving leaving me forward. I would like to present and read it to the best of my ability and then probably go through pretty quickly. And if you have any questions of the honor to Anson to best of my ability. First of all, our agency overview or 3 divisions to our office. The administrative our hr in our budget are surveying which research. Planning and field work. Made to be difficult our history. Preservations the data analysis and history report. Also I included or county achievement, a more award for Marion County for the Higher Education Longevity Program, which probably do that every single year. The 2 employees that are students at Vincent High Bird. Our one just
received his associates degree in land surveying and the other one is trying to get a state license as well. And they have signed a memo you with ask me and myself for longevity of 10 years in the surveyors office. The agency staffing there. Again, my vision is not as good. But we have 10 full-time employees and we have one opening at this moment. That is the division of male female at Brace to help program as well as showing extremely productive. And it is being copied statewide. Also, we that that also is investing in our staffing. They attend conferences. They earned their credits. They have helped each other to do it's in right away. Says I just heard earlier from Dante's. So I got
a funny feeling. My office going to be very, very busy next year. Which development is great. But it does put some kind of to strengthen my office that I'm not some things. Our success is our goals there. We've made our mandate every year. Now has 16 years, 15 years there. Again, my employees that are tending then since university on the hybrid learning program and then our continuing goals to mandates and are serving activity. A community engagement now to reach. We have paired up with other county lives and we have been out in the field, educating people what the surveyors office does. A lot of people didn't know. And it's also nice to register voters and
let them know what it is that we do and it is important to vote for your elected officials to represent you. Our budget breakdown little over 1 million dollars. It is an increase of $65,000 and 508 compared to this year. But that increase was absorbed to my perpetuation fun. It was no impact on the general fund. The revenue comes from the $5 fee that's collected from the Marin County Coroner's office. According statute, which is deposited into the perpetuation htc's which are to get your liquor license or renew your liquor license change and a name on your liquor license. Documents that have to be presented to the Alcohol Beverage Commission. One of to see basically where is that liquor being sold in
Marion County, whether it's a liquor store restaurant, doesn't I don't care. I just cure with a shovel is where is I don't care what you're selling. I just care where it is that you are selling and this. So we have a form that we fill out that the state farm that we helped revise that specially for Marion, that Marin County being consolidated. Character one there is our sellers are copping compensation benefits. That's our part of our bill, which isn't just about every office building and that is mainly funded out of our perpetuation fund supplies. Also there again, that is supported out of our perpetuation son. Contractual services is. More out of the general fund. Those are like
our supplies and our so forth. Office supplies, computer software. Capital assets. There's $11,000. There is a piece of equipment that asked for for 3 years in a row. But I had been declined to to purchase that it is $80,000 and it would have to come out pat. You ation But the 9 employees that I have the 5 that are in the field every day could use another gps station to get some more private projects completed. The other obstacles. I had his I did have a vehicle catches fire blow up this year, but plane had just stepped out of that. So he was safe. There. Again, I have an obstacle of that. A gps equipment. It's just going make things a little bit more prolonged safety issues. I had employee
of mine working with 3 other employees on Arlington Avenue between Edgewood and Thompson driver did not want to slow down. We had it slow stop. I don't. I only have like 2 pickup trucks out there for traffic. Aiden like it. He hit the tonight pulling back a little bit turned around, came back punch. My employee in the face and then do a gun. There is a police report on that. My performance metrics there again, we have actual numbers of confirmed constituents inquiries. The estimated for the 24 and the goal for 25 and to do our coroner perpetuation fund there again, I believe. Next year we would be higher
than the 9%. The we have increased at every single year. The last screen I would like to show you is membership in committees. I sit on 2. National. Committees, one on steering committee for Transportation. So are Metro bus line. Airports, ports, highways. I sit on steering committee and take that to Washington, D.C., to talk with our congressmen and others on the issues of Marion County's concerns that I see from my perspective. I also was just elected to the large urban County caucus and that represents any population of a city that has over a million. There's only 2 per county and
I am fortunate to beyond that committee with that MADAM Chair. And then I sit this occasion and Indiana counties. And I feel Izzy end, Indiana, public land Surveying Council last thing and the red is. Indiana is being considered Marion County city of Indianapolis, specifically being considered for a conference for the annual Naco, which is the National Association of County officials. To have their conference here in JULY in 2028. And estimated 3200 in attendance and the Indiana economic can't count kular values. This group at 3.8 million dollars to our city in our county. And I sit with on that committee if there's any other questions or concerns
me. I can see a vaguely. But honor answer any. Thank you so much for your presentation. Questions comments from counselors, Cannes, a year later. Just quick question. Serve air. What are some of inquiries that you get from the public that the large number that you have that you guys fulfill each year. You mean like phone calls or calls and just overall emails, questions is up estimate that I might major concern, right? Was it to It's their property lines. That that's they think. I'm a private survey here and I can come out and get their boundaries to them. So we spent a lot of time explaining how those boundary lines are formed. That the 2300 very the monuments and in the right and
it's right away. And easements, it's always that is on my that tree. So I have those kind of concerns that I do reach out to the city of Indianapolis or done. Sometimes the city of Indianapolis reaches out to me and tells me can you have some your staff go look and see if that fence or that tree is on. You know, I can't do the actual survey, but I can say whether city-owned privately owned or whatever, but that's the main. It's a people's property. Okay. Additional questions comments from you. Concers cancer heart. Thank you, MADAM Chair and MADAM As want to say, as always, you do a phenomenal going above and beyond. And this time you about the new SoFi. Bring MISTER Leslie Award. I have to make sure I say something. If
I did, we both have known him a long time, very long time. Good to see that. That is here. And it's going to be a great asset to you. And I look forward to the kitchen of sun me to take incue additional questions. Comments. Anyone in audience wish to speak to budget hearing for this of Ayers office. Thank you so much, Chair. And I again. Let me now move to Department Metropolitan Development and City Market. MADAM Director, the floor is yours. Good evening. Thank you, MADAM Leader and the members of the committee. My name Megan. That's it. I'm the director for the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development. And I'm joined
this evening by emt's chief financial officer chief operating Officer Lucas Anderson. This is Lucas is first time presenting to this committee. But we're very lucky to have him the department and serving the city of Indianapolis and just want to give him a big thank you for this. This year's budget and the presentation. But I also want to thank the mayor and the city council and the members of this committee. You all can gauge with the empty over the last year in various ways. And we are proud of what we've been able to collectively put together and looking forward to going over this year's budget presentation with you all. So let's get into it. So the first couple slides are focused on dmv structure. And so really it's about who's carrying out this work that we're going to present on
sodium. He has 10 divisions. 5 of those divisions are shown here in these. This is about half of our team is overseen by Deputy Director Jenny Fultz. Each of the administrators are here tonight that represent each one of these divisions. But those would be on this slide community investments which oversees our grants and housing pipeline, homelessness policy which focuses on permanent supportive housing real estate division. So it will be our request for proposals and the vacant, a vibrant land bank, our public spaces division focused on legacy properties and public spaces such as Monument Circle Union Station and the downtown can now. And then our economic incentives team, which is focus on our tax incentives and we are growing a compliance team within this
division. The next 5 divisions are overseen by Deputy Director. Carmen. Let think and this is really I would say, urban planning side of the house. So these divisions would be current planning, which is all of our zoning approvals, long-range planning, which oversees the city's comprehensive plan, Urban Design Division, which is led by our city architect, focus on those quality designer views, such as what we just discussed with Cow village, historic preservation, which is the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission. And then we are creating a new engagement division. This new engagement division. We'll really interface with constituents and you all to better serve our community. And I'll talk a little bit more about that later in the
presentation. This next slide goes over our gender demographics the important thing to highlight on this slide is that the average salary among all genders is equal within the department. This next slide goes over our race and ethnicity. Demographics. It's important to dmv and at the city of Indianapolis that our team is reflective of the community that we serve. We've hired 11 people in 2025 and we currently have 5 openings that are posted on the city of Minneapolis Web site. We are anticipating to hire more later this year. Should have also added that total tmt has 92 full-time employees and total. We still have 21 vacancies. We have 5 posted positions, but we're going to have more hiring that we're going to see later this year. We have been able to reorganize some of the divisions throughout this year. Really just our department can better serve the community and be more
effective. This has been done entirely within our existing budget. So no budget changes, but we do anticipate some more hiring from now until the end of the year. So a lot of opportunities to bring in additional people. I also just want to highlight our department culture. All new hires go through interrupting racism, training. We have quarterly all-staff meetings. Our team culture is really focused on highlighting the team members and the good work they do. So we have to do some missions in call outs and we have a department wide incentive plans to encourage each division to go above and beyond their existing responsibilities. And supervisors do hold annual in mid-year performance reviews with all employees. I'm going quickly over these next few
slides because I believe you are given a lot of these statistics ahead of time. But just to go over some of our programmatic and fiscal successes, the site is focused on our housing programs. And so we really try to address public safety through housing, stability. This year. We had a lot of milestones with the town and Terrace Development. Our team acquired a total of 152 parcels and relocated 120 households. So we way we could partner with the nsa and begin demolition work. We also started the homeowner repair program. So we launched that this year and are continuing to grow it. Thanks to your all's allocation of additional local funds to this program. We received 555 applications
and 192 of those applications are active projects at us. So they are being pursued. And that is really just with us launching that over this last year. Housing investments that are under construction or have been committed as of 2025. Would be 683 affordable rental units and 186 affordable hona home ownership units. So their units that dmv has incentivized in various ways that are in the pipeline to be constructed. And I'm really proud of the statistic. This comes from our homelessness policy team. But 97% of individuals to enter dmv permanent housing programs stay permanently housed long-term. And so that is how we address homelessness within the city is to make sure that people who are getting housing are getting housing permanently. The next program is really focused on a real estate division. So we want to take they can't spaces and turn
them into vibrant places. It in 2024. 2025, it's estimated that we will have 140 property acquisitions and we will have disposed or sold 115 of those back to the private market are Brownfield team. Also it has 6 active sites undergoing remediation, which totals about 32 Acres. And as I mentioned, we have focused on department structure and organization to better serve the community. This includes a new engagement division, a new economic incentives, compliance team adding additional staff capacity where needed and future hiring. When it comes to economic development this year we've been able to partner with the New India Economic Development team. And I really want to highlight how wonderful they have been to
work with Jim shelling or team have done a lot of work this year and partner very, very well with the In 2024. 2025, we incentivize 18 development projects and that resulted in 1900 new jobs and 4,214 jobs. I want to highlight out of those new jobs. 1400 of those were committed this year. That really speaks to the effort of the new it. I teams and 95% of those job commitments have been outside of center township. When it comes to land use applications. This is also reflective of private development that we're seeing in the community in 2024, we reviewed 1810 land use applications. And in 2025 year to date, we have reviewed 1142. So we are on pace to exceed last year's number of petitions reviewed and received. And then when it
comes to our public spaces, a public spaces team focuses on activating those faces that everyone is welcome in. And so in 2024, was spark on the circle, which is held annually on Monument Circle. We had 71 about 72,000 visitors and averaged 420 visitors daily. We also were able to partner with our partners at downtown Indy and they car to hold over 270 free events. For the downtown can now in 2024, we saw 400,000 visitors 2025. We've had a year to date 221 visitors and we currently have a cultural districts application that is open now through AUGUST 31st. Again, thanks to the work of you all for allocating funding to the program. When it comes to community engagement outreach, I would say this is a core pillar of dmd community
engagement touches every single division that I've talked about. But just to highlight some of the things that we've been working on this last year and will continue into 2026. So we are undergoing updates. The Marion County Land Use Plan which includes remaining area specific plans. Want to thank you to everyone on this committee and everyone Council who has provided suggestions through the Citizen Advisory Committee to make sure that your townships are represented within this process. Alright, pc team is actively pursuing new historic Preservation District in the Meridian Kessler neighborhood. And they're literally going door to door every home in that district before we proceed. That designation. Community stakeholder in advisory participation in dmv led initiatives. So we do
community stakeholder engagement throughout the year when we're focused on spite cite specific redevelopment such as the former Indiana women's prison, we have to fit visor groups and then we have programmatic in planning advisory groups throughout the year. We also hold a minimum of 168 public meetings annually. These public meetings are the meetings. When you see that orange sign out in the community, that's that's a meeting held by the Department of Metropolitan Development. So this is representative of our Metropolitan Development Commission. O'clock Committee are hearing examiner and that totals 168 meetings handle him. In addition, I just want highlight the internal engagement team, which is going to be focused on customer service and public participation. We want to ensure this team works closely
with you all and that we are making it easy for people to engage with us. We've also been able to launch a new dmv development portal online and we're going to continue to build this portal out into 2026. So this is focused on modernizing applications. Streamlining approval process is improved. Customer service and then making it easy to collect data for outcome. Tracking. So, for example, the cultural district application that I mentioned is live on this portal as well as our economic incentives, applications and other forms. We're going to continue to build this out to make it easy for people to submit for applications with us. All right. Before Lucas goes into the numbers, we did want to share with you just the programmatic spend for dmv. So this pie chart here shows the nba's total budget broken up into the different programs. You'll see that a large part
of our investment goes to housing. This is representative of both grants and local dollars. The next biggest category would be economic development. Followed by the other categories listed there. Here's the funding broken up into grant funds and local funds. So grant funds again looks very similar to the the pie chart on the previous slide. Most of that funding is going to housing investments when it comes to local dollars and how those are allocated. Most of the funding is going into one of the 3 buckets of either being dmd own properties. So we are responsible for maintaining all of the properties we own such cutting the grass boarding up properties or taking care our legacy
properties, staffing for urban planning division and then administration make up bulk of our budget. So when it comes to how we incentivize or support new development, we do this through various ways. And this graphic is just to give you a visual representation of kind of what that process looks like and what tools we have at our disposal to support new development. So we've received projects various a number of ways that could be through our housing pipeline. They're our city own real estate development. When we issue a request for proposals, private development that just occurring in the community and then it I can take so that Indianapolis economic Development incorporated as they're trying
to attract jobs and retain jobs. And then our tool kit currently our tool kit is focused on tax incentives like Tiffin tax abatement, hud grants like Cdbg and home investments in our public spaces and infrastructure. And then we own property and we seeking redevelopment on that. We have the opportunity to reduce the sale of the land at a favorable rate and then we can also prep the spot sites for expedited redevelopment. So Tony Harris is a good example of that where we acquire those parcels relocated residents and are now demolishing the buildings to get ready for redevelopment. I do want to highlight that this tool kit evolves and adapts. So we are constantly looking at ways where we can be more resourceful to support development that we want to see happening in our community. Some of the highlights, some of the
projects that are occurring in your all's districts. And I want to thank you all for your leadership because these projects would not have been possible without each one of you. So when it comes to projects in the pipeline, rose Dale Hill in District. 23. So the pilot was executed in JUNE of this year for affordable housing. We also have promenade at the square, which is a pilot that is set to be introduced later this year. But we also supported this properties through creed funding that you all approved a few months ago. For tax abatements and Winter 10 district to this is a project we've been working with. Counselor Delaney on. We're going to see that tax abatement come before in dc shortly and are working with the developer on application
that has been received. Rocky Mountain Peregrine in district one. This is a tax abatement property that was focused on industrial development bringing in jobs. Thunderbird in District 20. That is also a life science tax abatement property that resulted in 200 jobs being created. That final resolution will be Nbc this week. And we also have the county line commerce in district. 25, which is a tax abatement that has created 63 jobs. And I know you was executed as of last year. We also are going to continue to see investments in Georgia Street to support the redevelopment in district 18 for the Sydney, a project and
the Circle Center Mall and in District 8. We are continuing our environmental remedial remediation efforts at Black Mountain to prepare that site for redevelopment. And district. 22, we have supported the Burmese American Community Institute through hud funding. And so we are finalizing contracts for that investment. And in district 7, we are preparing for a request for proposals at 42nd and College Avenue which is going to be a transit oriented development on a former police station. In district 17. We're continuing to invest in Mst Wayne Township Schools, vocational program to make sure we're growing jobs in that area. And in district 4, we're continuing the long-range planning work of Casselton revitalization area,
working closely with dpw to establish either a tip for floodplain district to support future redevelopment. So we'll continue to see that in this next year. This graphic shows dmv initiatives County wide. So each one of those orange dots represents where project is occurring either and housing economic development, supporting the creative economy, Dmd own real estate investments in our capital. All right. Our legacy properties, civic engagement or efforts underway with our long-range planning team. And then this next map shows applications that we've received county wide when it comes to land use applications. So it would be rezoned variances plotting regional center, administrative approval. Pc
and urban design review. You will see more dots in areas where you see denser areas of our community. That's typical and expected. When you have more built environment, we would expect to see more land use applications and those areas. And then here's just an overlay of both the dmv initiatives and the applications that we've received county wide. With that, I'm going to turn it over to Lucas to go over the numbers. Good evening, counselors for starting off with the first table in front of you is a total budget breakdown slide by major fund source comparing the 2026 introduced budget with the 2025 adopted. What I want to highlight it first is an overall decrease of 6.3% or 6 point. '02, 5 Million. This is
largely driven by a very intentional decrease in requested appropriation and our federal grants funds. It specifically tied to the phase out of one time Arpa funding which will speak too late. And later sites. There is a 2.7% change in local funds are roughly 441,000. Overall. We do not anticipate any significant impacts to service delivery with the md Court missions. Moving next to character Overall, you're seeing a roughly $489,000 increase that is driven by 139,000 on local funding and $350,000 on grant funds. As the directive noted, we are very proud that we've been able to go through a fairly significant reorganization within our department, which is budget neutral from the standpoint of local funds.
When you factor out cola as well as the call of 2.6% and health insurance premium escalators. A 5.6% The $350,000 driven in federal grant increases is tied to additional positions to which we will be able to receive federal grant reimbursements specifically relating to additional focus on affordable housing pipeline as well as the md has received a lead hazard reduction pilot Grant, which we fully anticipate receive a full grant within the next 3 years. Looking at character to which I know is everybody's favorite. Most exciting care requesting an additional $3,000 specifically for our bacon to vibrant land bank program. That is with that program house within the last 7 to 8 months and at the end of the day, are recognizing that there are miscellaneous supplies that are needed in order to fully
running facilitate this program. Moving next to the real bread and butter of dmd outside of our personnel budget is character. 3. Overall you are seeing is 6.7, 1, 3 million dollar decrease. That is driven by largely a federal grant decrease of 5.8, 9, 6%. But before I go into too much detail of the decreases, I do want to highlight the increases that you see in front of you. There's an additional requests to $325,000 of opioid funding, which will go towards the Saint George Bridge Housing program as well as Dmd is master leasing program. We are excited to say that if we are able to secure this funding, we would anticipate our master leasing program increasing from roughly 30 to 50 units in the 2026 fiscal year. There's also additional 44,000 in the city cumulative capital development fun. And that is tied to additional cost with
the Marion County Building Authority for operations and maintenance on the downtown. Now. In terms of decreases again with the federal grants and the reduction that you're seeing there that is tied to one time funding that was provided to d-Md and federal and tired entitlement block grant funding. Under our pot. So all I'm sure this body is very familiar with the large tranche of funding provided to the city county under arpa with the state fiscal recovery funds. Again, didn't title in grant funding. Also, did U.S. Receive additional distributions the arpa Act? Utilize that funding to target specific pandemic-related issues issues. So the phase out of that one-time funding, we do not anticipate to impact any ongoing dmd initiatives and programs. There is an
intentional $320,000 shipped from character 3 to 4 in our local funds. And that is for various capital needs, which explain on the next slide. There is a reduction of 165,000 and charge backs and intentional. $195,000 reduction in our bacon vibrant landing program. Similar to our master leasing we and how's that program within the past year. And this reduction is aligning our actual needs with what required to fully implement the program. Real cost. It also recognizes revenue limitations since we based our 2025 budget off of an estimation rather than actual as which we are now able to see. Lastly, there's a 507,000 reduction on this is tied to the removal of a historic subsidy provided for the annual operations of the city market. House. Knowing that that site is going through a significant historic
renovation and revitalization on the need for an annual operating subsidy is not required for 2026 and we hope long-term to not require that at all. Once we are able to work operating an operator in the future. Ultimately this these funds are more beneficial to the House and other city county agencies given the larger fiscal restraint. So we are facing during this time. Character for again to highlight that 320,000 shift from character, 3, we're looking to have an additional 275,004. Both are permanently or temporarily owned historic properties permanently or what we define as our legacy properties include the downtown. Now sitting market house, Union station as well as the Indiana Repertory Theater and then temporarily on would be
examples of the Indiana women's prison site as well as the former Drake Apartments on Meridian. Ultimately when it comes dmd owning or helping to facilitate the redevelopment of historic properties. There are innately critical capital repairs that are needed to ensure that structural integrity let alone the long-term longevity of locations. There's also a $75,000 shift in our vacant a vibrant land bank program and that will allow for additional property acquisition as well to address property taxes just to make note since I know it is slightly confusing for those at home why the government would be paying property taxes to itself. A lot of that is due to timing for when we acquired the site versus the previous assessment
date. We do proactively work with our partners in the Marion County Treasurer's Office as well as the other county commissioners to look at reducing the cost, if not waiving those when it makes sense. And that moment. Lastly is on character 5, which is specifically internal city charge backs for Dmd that is inclusive of fleet in the Office of Corporation Counsel. And the decrease is driven by reductions in our 2026. Propose charge back to of cc. In terms of revenue. It's easiest to break dmd into 2 rounds will first is in direct indirect revenues which is composed of our largest revenue source, which is federal grant reimbursements. And then we also receive a
portion of fees assessed by the Marion County Recorders Office for every transaction that occurs and that funding goes toward our Housing Trust Fund program, direct revenues within our within the purview of the Metropolitan Development Commission is our land use applications for urban planning team economic development, application in transaction fees, land sales as well as miscellaneous operational revenue agreements. For grants. We I previously mentioned Emd is up Dmd in the city of Indianapolis is fortunate to be one of the communities in the country that does receive in Thai annual in title one grants through the Department of Housing and Urban Urban
Development. We currently have received initial of work and dedication is for 2025 program year and we are working through the contract process to finalize that. We in no way at this point in time. Our concern regarding our 2026 allocations, we work closely with our federal lobbying team to maintain a very broad perspective of actions occurring at the federal level. And again, while we have no concerns at this moment in time, we do want to stress that any dollar that comes to the city of Indianapolis ultimately used to further our residents. And we at the Indy ensure that we maximize that was up most potential in terms of in a little bit more exciting in terms of applied grants. We
have received an award for 2025. Epa Brownfields community-wide assessment Grant totaling 450,000 which can go towards Environmental Assessment, hazardous building materials assessments and also on aids. Smaller level development plans for specific corridors on for 2026, we have identified a study of East 25th Street. We also have received a public art for all grant for up to $30,000 which will go rehabilitating downtown girls that were commission under Super Bowl. 46 and I say that because I was not able to read the Latin name earlier today and I made clear on that. With that. I want to again just stress how thankful we are for the partnership with this committee and the council at large. And we are happy answer
any questions regarding nba's 2026 proposed budget. Thank you so much for your presentation. Before open open it for up to my colleagues to 2 questions. And so is my understanding that everyone was asked to hold 4%. And yet you said here changes decreases 6.3% But most of that is from federal grants. Is correct? That is That majority leader Louis. So we were requested as part of the budget process on Dmd was we're required to include a 4% proposed reserve reduction in our 2026 budget. That amount totaled out to roughly 600,000 and working with the Office of Financial Management, which I do want say a special. Thank you to new team members that deal budget team was so
closely and willing to work with us during this budget process. Specific shout out to Janet Carter as well as Bradley Williams we were able to receive a little bit of that funding. Back to go some contractual commitments as well as capital needs for the historic properties. Balance of that is 507,000. We also did have a slight reduction that we try to ensure that we have submitted a balanced budget to offset care to one increases. And that's tied to that production with the vacant vibrant landing program. So then my second question was, are there any unfunded obligations? But it sounds like are no there there definitely is not meant for majority leader list. We feel very confident that we will not have any program impacts from the proposed budget that you see before you. In fact, we are hoping to find
efficiencies and be able to potentially expand some service areas pending how the year closes out. Perfect. Thank you. Questions counselors. Leader Mary. Thank you. MADAM Leader. A question. So the when you talk about the incentives, tax incentives give to developers. Who was that those trial City Hall's that twg. Yes, that is correct. And they were doing the goal building in was Thursday, doing city market as well. Now that was a different of all those to a developer doing go billion city market. So that would be Kersh been partners in city. Mark. When I thought these kind of incentives and these tax deals that we're giving these developers. Of kind of stuck in mind for me is with the goal billion city. You know you about this earlier in last week. I think it was just getting idea what was going on there. Look at it as almost like both pricing. So what's your unit costs you're paying? So if you're buying more,
you're paying less. If you're doing more, you're getting a better deal. You're from the city. So it's just a point that back out of this project for the reasons I'm sure you can get better. I give spare. I deal with those are I just think that women when they win these things do happen. I think needs to be a way for us go back and look at what we're giving them different. That's going to stay the same. That doesn't make a lot of sense to because I didn't say I don't work anymore. So encourage us to in the future, somehow figure out how we can go back and restructure these deals that they do back kind of last minute and then man, we got one more time Thank you. One of the slides. You talk about the developments within the townships and one 1 of the things in my township in district. 25 has been. The residential boom that's been
going on for years now. I had the opportunity to discuss some of the developments with one of the developers been doing some of the neighborhoods in the neck and then district. Thing that stuck out to me is the told me the street is not so now those neighborhoods a certain with that correct. It would depend on if it's a public road or a private road within the subdivision. But is a public road. We need to bill to dpw standards. I don't know what that with this off the top. My head is that come through you, folks. That would be when they apply. They would say we're going to have a street. That's this with you guys. Make sure it's a size or the dpw. Does that we would. We would get through the planning process. We would, you know, subdivide the subdivision and they would have to show that appropriate
with for the right of way. Okay. Well, I appreciate just go. I'm getting at here is that I would like to take it. Hope you can take consideration your. Your board that it's gonna make all those decisions as well. Economic Warren, everything. What they're doing to the district. 25 right now is because the street in the city streets that run through the district are not this or some more narrow than what we see in the neighborhood. So one of things that over told me is that we look to code this MAY be a as well here, but the city streets or not to code, but the neighborhoods are because there are wide enough. The only street and the Franklin Township that's actually took over Emerson Avenue because it was widened. So as you're proving these deals for these developments come in. Encourage you think about the
ramifications on the city streets as well because dpw some hard time keeping up the way it is. And we have 80,009 1100 1000 trucks on with equipment on it coming through. It's tearing down the road faster. So if we could try to slow down some of the development have a more reasonable, more responsible development strategy. We're actually fixing some of the streets and getting these days is that before we approve than 3 office, that would be hugely beneficial for the township, I think in the district as a whole. And I have to be official for anywhere in the city. So I Curtis look into that as are approving these Thank you. Council Gibson. Thank Majority I have a couple questions that director and cfo, very thorough
presentation. I appreciate you very much for On the opiate This going towards a cause, a portion going towards to master leasing program. Is that part of the mass of the sun that we're using for us to streets to homes initiative? So the master leasing program is I would say, is separate from the streets initiative but works very closely with that initiative. So they're you know, adjacent to each other, I think, through streets to home. The phase that they're working on is really on crisis response. So they're focused on, you know, getting people in the shelter or temporary housing mass releasing its more about that permanent housing, I think will be coming at a later phase. But we're still
coordinating with that. Looks like good. It's good to hear because I thought I really talk about the later phase where we're trying to get 350 people actually permit. How so good to hear that you invest in little bit further in terms of the Mass of the sun program. My second question is, is housing and I want to commend you what you've done in terms of driving up more affordable housing here in Indianapolis with tips are pilots do a really good job or trying to sow the seed, if you will, in terms trying to get more 4. Will house a tease? My question to you is I don't I don't think we ever get to a point where we will be too. Maximize sell for a long way to go there. And is it's almost a impossible task. But you're you're you're you're deputy stepping up to the plate to try to get there. My
question to you any estimates, what how how much. How We infer house and committee cree increase in the next one to 3 years by some of that you're doing. So the numbers that we have right now is what's in the pipeline is your question focus more on like what will be coming or what you hypothetical. I'm just trying to how how, how I gauge how well we're doing in terms of trying get more affordable housing rehab. So the mpo came out with the housing study in the last couple years. And so they have some housing projections on like where we should be. What is that housing demand? I think right now with that development portal that's going allow us really aggregate our data better to see to be able to measure that progress. And it's been hard to do without a system like that in place. And so we're hoping to better aggregate data to build that
answer. That question to return Thank you very much. Appreciate your. Thank you. MADAM Chair. Thank you. MADAM Leader at 2 questions. If I MAY, that U.S. Quick one maybe I missed it is is the dmv initiatives county wide? Is that in our little book or could get the details of? I mean, I see all these little yellow parcels and stuff like I mean, I know what's what's there? But I don't recognize them is the project. So if we could get a a listing the for absolutely. Counselor, thank you. Then the second is related to character one, which is which is a the bulk of our spending city county enterprise. We have proposal from a council hurt coming soon. I want to get your thoughts on 2 things in your unique individual yourself because you came from fishers. So first, part of the question
is. The city of Fishers have a residency requirement that you have to live in fishers or Hamilton County or anything like that when you are an employee. So no, they did not. I lived in Marion County. What I work there, but I would say that that was part of my reason for moving choosing to work for Indianapolis is because I found it important to live within the community. I was working in. Okay. And then second part and we we'd ask this to multiple people is. Based on that. Would your recruiting efforts be easier to fill gaps that you haven't been a staffing if the residency requirements were lifted. So in the positions that we've had open this year, we have seen a lot of demand for positions over 100 applications for varying levels. So I don't think about is a right now for us hiring.
Actually seeing an uptick and the demand for our positions. I would also add that Dmd is focused on sustaining and growing jobs in Indianapolis. Ok, that's Thank you. Counsel Robert, thank you. MADAM Chair Councilor Gibson took my question, but I will just give a couple compliments. Really kudos to you all for obvious of the great presentation. All you're doing I love that stuff in here about activation. We've talked about George Street before we talk about the canal, talked about sparked all those things that really spring-like to downtown, I think are so important and really says a broader point. I want to give again kudos to all really push you to be as bold as possible with building housing. I know you guys don't have unilateral ability to build housing, working with bs to make sure
that our you know, bureaucracy in our city you know, management is not going the way of development but actually assisting with that I think very important, too. One question had on this is I noticed on here. You mentioned the cast are vital station plan and the the floodplain her new updates on that from dmv. 4 ounces. One if you could provide an update on that. Thank you. Yes, absolutely. And so Casselton revitalization plan was completed at the end of 2019. So covid did delay our implementation of that plan just because our efforts are focused on pandemic relief. But we are working closely and we have been working closely with dpw since the adoption of that plan. And so that has really gone towards consultation of looking at
that districts and the flood plain. So that would be daylighting Holland hitched. What is the most feasible plan moving forward? If we were to daylight Helen ditch economic analysis of a tiff creation or a flood control in Senate district. So that is almost a flood version of a tiff. And so right now we are in the midst of determining what a tiff be better or that flood district be better to support revitalization area efforts in that area. The real quick. I appreciate that. You know, I was a plan even ask about that coming. And I'm glad you included us in here that expire next year includes the Roche property, which we also just recently expanded. So let me know if I partner that. But for working on that as we all
know Cason is the largest commercial center of the city. So having that be a thriving areas, really important for all of us. 75 help out bank. You absolutely. Counsel Not sorry. Heart. Thank you. MADAM First first, I want to address gratitude for your entire staff. We closely together all time. I bring in tons of questions and they follow up and do a phenomenal job. And a handful of folks here today. So just to make sure that shown appreciation the nose in are looking for. But I will say they are very responsive, very thoughtful, very knowledgeable officials well, draw attention to is on the expenses by entity. Pretty technical financial question here I'm just looking at trend on professional services under
the federal grant funds coming from. 23 to 24 everywhere. Like 24 million dollars. And then and 25. Skyrocketed. The 75 Million. Potential for are put in all you guys answer that. But I see no, 69. Million going into 2026. So aside from what that jump comes from from previous years. Big expense that we have out of those grants are professional services. Partner that with the pie chart that you provided us on how grant dollars are spent. A lot of that goes towards housing investments. So certainly an overlap between those 2. I'm just really curious of the what professional services are we paying for with those federal grants that make up
the investment housing? Yes, a counselor hurt. So of the first point there are clarifying this report when you are looking at the 23 2024 numbers, those are actual spend figures versus the 75 70 75.7 repeatedly for 2025 60 9 figure. 69 Million. Those are budget numbers. So that difference and spend does cause quite a discrepancy. When you first look at those to be technical, also the way that we expand our federal grant dollars. We ultimately provide funding to community development partners. Usually typically cdc's and so those fall under our professional services expenditure category within our financial system in terms of accounts that are being used. Ultimately, it's our community partner, partners that are than actually going out and working
to construct a real rehabilitate housing. Thank you is I think it'd be interesting to see a copy of. Essentially who are providing those funds to and then what the results are. I think that ties back into counselor Gibson's question terms of affordable housing. Be really insightful to understand how far those dollars are going. Absolutely. We'll be able get that to you, sir. Thank you. Turning. Thank you very much. MADAM Chair. Thank you, director and team for your continued work in the city, particularly during this budget process. I just wanted to note as we took a look through the presentation and looked at some of the different in the pipeline projects. It would appear to me just glance that we see more happening outside of the
Center Township area. And that's something that I think this council has been relatively vocal on, that we want to see additional and increase investment deployed through all of Indianapolis and Marion County. I particularly want to thank you for the work that's happening in my district district. 22, where we see the Burmese American Community Institute. We're very proud of that. And the folks at the ba ci of work for a hard it was an honor to play very small part and helping him go through that process. I hope we can continue to see over the next several years. Those additional investments being deployed a neck pillow equitable way throughout the city and county to maximize the impact on all of our residents. And I think that
we're moving and the right direction in that regard. Director, I was curious, we've seen in the news last few discussions with respect to projects that MAY be we anticipated seeing completed and have been pushed back for various reasons. I was just hoping to confirm what projects are currently. Being put on pause. I'm getting put back out for bid or otherwise being delayed in any way, shape or form and its course. I don't want a list of every project in the city or or or county, but mostly downtown. Some of these big projects like the city market. There's been some discussion about Old City Hall. Just so be it more clarification on what really is. And it's not. I can speak to both of those projects. So
for city market on Friday, we issued a request for qualifications for developers to help construct Whistler Plaza, which is the plaza that sits just west of the city market has been the plan for that to be the focus of the first phase of construction efforts. Really? Because what we've learned through the process is that we need to drive foot traffic in that area to support operations of the market. House. So we're trying to invest in the public space. Make that more of a destination. And then we're doing that in partnership with the developers of the Gold Building court looking to convert that office structure into housing again to drive foot traffic. So the developer still focused on their private development. That's always been private development goal building there. So we're
working on that and we're supporting them through the incentives that you all have already approved. Whistler Plaza was always going to be 100% funded by the city. And so we are going to continue those efforts. What we're just what has changed recently as we are. We are issuing a new request for qualifications to bring on a developer to help deliver those improvements. Previously, it was going to be the same developer that's focused on the goal of building. However, we want them to focus on the goal building. Get that on the very inventive dishes project in and of itself. We want to bring on a developer to help us constructing deliver the Whistler pause improvements. So that's a status update there. As far as City Hall is concerned, we're still working with twg. They went through legislative approvals for incentives earlier this year. Nothing has changed on that front. We have weekly calls
with them to get construction updates. And really we're just working towards a groundbreaking. But we need to button up a few more things. Really. Some changes at the state House impacted the incentives that they were receiving their. And so that has delayed the anticipated closing date of that project. I appreciate that. My my closing comment would it seems to me, least from from my own perspective that I learned of these developments through the media and I would hope that sense. The city council is very involved and saying these projects come to life that there would be some advanced notice given 2 Oz says these new developments occur or at least at the exact same time
as as it's being released the public because I was getting questions regarding some of these investments. Frankly, I was learning about from from outside the enterprise sources. And I think it's important to make sure that we're so we can defend or discuss the work that we're doing in this chamber. Absolutely. Thank Cancer morality. Thank. Thank you. And her last are I knew what you meant. This question is for director because following up on counselor ne. Could you just generally articulate what the vision is for Whistler Plaza and the market? Are we looking at? Food vendors? Again, something similar to
what we've all remembered for the last 15 years, 40 years it's been a food vendor venue as long as I can remember. Could you just articulate on that a little bit. Yeah. So the design plans we have right now that I can speak in detail about our Whistler Plaza. So what we're looking at there is exposing the catacombs and making them really open air daylighting them making them accessible, ada access, but then just being available to the public as a public space. And then, you know, just some improvements with greenery on that plaza and as opposed kind of a park-like setting when it comes to the market house. We really need to what these 2 is going to focus on is identifying operator and the operator will really help us nail down the details of what that new city market looks
like. We have a general floor plan. We're getting pricing on what that is going to cost. So that as we're exploring operators, we can make sure that we're putting in a sustainable business model to support those operations but really can't speak to the details of that until they're brought on board. But I would say generally we're looking at yeah, vendors, multi vendors of various most retail and food options. We're not leaving really anything off the table right now. We just wanted to be a sustainable business model. Additional questions concerts. Is there anyone audience that wishes to speak to the budget hearing? Thank you so much. I apologize. Council delay need the last item on our
agenda is a budget presentation for Department of Business and Neighborhood director. The floor is yours. All right. Sorry about that. My name is Abby Brands. I'm the department director for the Department Business Neighborhood Services, Jacob Miller, chief financial officer for business, a neighborhood services. Think you are used to Eva Flick sitting next to me. She is still maternity leave coming back next week. But she told me she's watching live. So everybody's ahead In addition so department breakdown, I this slide. All right. I present the slate every time guys just to provide a refresher of what the nsa does in our different divisions, construction business services is the area that focuses predominantly on permitting, but also business
inspections licenses, special events, land-use, you services the area oversees all zoning enforcement, unsafe building enforcement demolition, as well as other things and ministration finances are kind of internal division finance. It keeps all the other divisions running as you guys know, animal care services became its own department in JANUARY. Very happy about that. But as we were party to the shelter construction project, we help get that kicked off and we still hold several of the contracts related to that. We are still very much involved in that project. Given the volatility of standing up a New department and that department being a animal care services. It just made sense that we remain involved in the project.
We'll figure. Is going. Okay. Get cooking. Next It's been a on this, but I just wanted to provide a breakdown to show at a high level. Some of the differences between us and the health department because I know that can get confusing at times. Just a reminder. So we oversee vacant structure disrepair that's are unsafe building program. The health department is going to oversee all occupied structure disrepair. So if a home is occupied, but has issues that's going to be a health department function, zoning enforcement that is bns. We are enforcing dmd zoning ordinance, occupy junk trash and debris that is often overseen by the health department just because when you get into occupied territory, you're not sure
what the definition of trash maybe to one person to another. And then oftentimes there might be other violations present that the health department would oversee. So that's their jurisdiction. It's a vacant structure. Zoning issue. I trust a breeze. That's us. We oversee all high weeds and grass. Although as the health department does have that capability and then abandoned a purple vehicles falls under arrest. Department breakdown. I am pleased to say so. We have 210 staff members. Last year when I came before this body, we had 70 vacancies in JANUARY. We had 30 now we have 18. I think that's great. And they are split evenly between the union and non-union positions. We have several positions represented by afscme local 14. 37, the other
chart on the slide shows the increase to salaries that we secured with our 2024 negotiations. I'm incredibly proud of this and I don't think asked me gets a ton of credit for the work that they did. Mainly the fact that they were open to right-sizing. It has often been one rate for all. But that's not the case with the different positions. We have freight, some have more certifications or more qualifications and others. And they really came to the table and they were open to increasing salaries as it made sense for those specific position. So that's why you see kind of some differences in the rates there. That right-sizing occurred this year from 2020 for 2022 2025. With an average increase of 13%. But some increased as high as 23% over the life of the contract. The average
increase is 24%. And joining us this evening is the PRESIDENT Of Local 14. 37 Amanda Thompson. She wanted to. Say something leaders that sorry. I thank As Abby said, Amanda Thompson and the current PRESIDENT Of and local 14. 37 and with me today is Vice PRESIDENT Jesse We are not only leadership in the union that we are also unsafe building inspectors. So we were definitely wanting to support every brand director of the department with this 2026 proposal. Changes told ordinances of Indiana in Indianapolis to keep our city safe and clean. And we are
firm believers in mission statement, which is to protect and improve the quality of life of all persons in the city, Indianapolis and this proposed budget that she supports our mission as well as allows the nsa to remain a self-sustaining city department. Additionally moving forward, as you guys we see fit with the proposed continuous vacancy program to hold owners of long-term. Take it structures accountable as an unsafe building inspector. I appreciate the department using every tool available to address blight and improve our communities. And this proposed budget will also allow us to
continue to fill the 18. They get positions that we have in our department. Thank you for your time. Thanks, Amanda. Alright, construction business services not going to touch on 2024. These are items that I had my appointment presentation, but just wanted to highlight some of the big things that we did in 2024. In 2025 we were heavily impacted by the state House session, namely with House Bill 1037, 10. 0, 5, 10. 37 sought to reduce the local regulation around erosion and sediment control and essentially made it so that we can no longer issue drainage permits under an acre of disturbed land 10 0, 5, is related to private plan review. So for residential permitting, beginning JANUARY, first 2026. You can have 3rd party private provider review your
structural and zoning plans and then they can also conduct the inspections for that work. We have a very small window of when we're able to take those materials and review them and get them back out. We have a very small window when we're able to collect those inspection materials and approve them and get them back out. I'm hopeful that we'll be able to continue conversations with the author of that Bill who seem very open to talking about it. There are other states who have enacted these kinds of laws and they give a little bit more authority to the local unit, at least to be able to reprimand bad actors and things like that. So we just want to make sure structures are built safely. So we're going to continue those conversations, bookings and a more positive bookings was rolled out this year. The mentioned to this body. I want to swing the pendulum back as it pertains to customer
service. Now every permit reviewer has a bookings. Lincoln, their email signatures. So if you are a resident and you file a residential permit and you get review comments back. You have absolutely no idea what they're asking for. You can click that link scheduled time and talk to that actual permit review about what the request is. We've instructed our staff to not wait for those meetings. If they see someone has scheduled something and at their next available, just pick up the phone and give them a call and see if they're available and talk through it. And I think in almost all instances we've been able to avoid a meeting because we've just picked up the phone called hash that out. We are improving continuously improving our coordination between our fellow departments, Dmd predominantly working on things like
variances and those processes Bonn process is the process is that seemed We're not seeing too that do span multiple departments in need that extra layer of coordination which goes into it. I as director of it is you mentioned we've been meeting with them regularly. We've had at half board meetings with some of their board members who are developers to have really candid but positive conversations about zoning and permitting processes in ways that we can all work together in a positive space to improve these processes. Overall. And later this year will be bringing forward a special event ordinance change. We don't want to do anything that jeopardizes Indianapolis being the best city in the world to host large events. But this ordinance was passed in preparation for the Super Bowl. And I don't believe it's really been touched since. And so for us, the ns, I think dpw
Ifd impd we all just have interests and maybe adjusting some of the language in So we're working on that now will start having kind of a road show with our pure departments and also get some feedback from peers, stakeholders like downtown Indy as well. Living on the other side, 20,000 permits issued today. That is on track with where we were last year. All permit types have a turnaround. Time of open ready to issue in 6.2, 5 days. I will say that number is skewed because that is literally every permit. So that includes things that have minimal review. But that's why we pull out the development permits, aka zoning permits. I'll structural and drainage permits and those are averaging about 13 days. That does play a role in what I'm
about to share in the drainage permit numbers because of 10 37 going into effect and that changed by state law. Our ability to shoot change from its. We had to cancel a good amount of permits to pause, permitting and drainage pace for about a month. Well, figured out legally what we could and could not do. And which leads into the next number. So in residential change permits 99% of those that have been applied for to date either issued has been resolved or canceled or waiting on the applicant. Less than one percent is with us. Now. And non residential drainage permits. 94% have been issued resolve door waiting on the applicant 6% or 13 permits are within us. Now. Chasing citizen service. So so far our neighborhood cleanups, we've picked up almost 24 tons of. Our next neighborhood. Cleanup is on the near Northwest side next Thursday.
If anybody wants to join us, we have 2 left this year last year. I believe we collected a total of 42 tons to put that in perspective. I think in 2023 we collected 23 times total. So we are improving with the amount of volunteers were getting and we're expanding the size to make these really impactful cleanups illegal dumping assistance. So if you are somebody who has been victim to illegal dumping someone's dump something on her property, we don't want a victimized twice. So we created the illegal dumping assistance program where you sign an affidavit. We send their vendor out to clean it. We eat the cost this year. We also created a high weeds and grass assistance program. Really the same purpose. We know there are individuals who want to be in compliance, but
for physical or financial hardship. Just can't. And so when we open a violation, we have a lot of information on the letter to reach out to us so we can start that process and conduct of freedom on their behalf. We reopen 975 repair cases in 2024. To date, we've opened 762. I will tell you some of these have closed and what you can see, the number extrapolate they're going to open 1500 this year. I do think we're on par to have another year similar to last year based on these numbers. But I don't I don't see this double. So she'd Demolition program. So last year this body invested an additional 3 million dollars demolishing program that we usually only budget on a million dollars for. Yeah, he's excited. 54 structures were. But in 2020 Ford put
that in perspective. We will 100 structures by the end of this year, doubling our typical amount since that investment 79 demolitions have been completed. 49 were in 2024. 38 so far year to date. We believe more will occur. There's approximately 110 structures in our backlog, which sounds like a lot. But 10 years ago they were 500 this investment has allowed us to catch up to those that were at risk of expiration because a demolition order. Once it's been affirmed, we have to do what we have to demolish it within a certain amount of time. And so we were having to prioritize those properties, not the ones that MAY be needed the most. And so by having this investment, we've been able to catch up and that backlog. I think the most the oldest affirmed date we currently have in our backlog
is APRIL 2024. And then as director of the town in tears is underway, that will completely razed by this fall within a month or side. Imagine and rose on encounter get since district was torn down earlier this year. The continuous a vacancy program. So this is leveraging state statute and building on our current unsafe building program today. Essentially it allows us to focus on the worst of the worst, to speak in significant blight and state statute allows us to open a specific case on properties that have been vacant for longer than 90 days. We're going to add an extra cabbie out to That property has had also had 3 consecutive repair orders. So again, looking at the worst of the worst, these are properties that have been vacant for at least 6 years that are in disrepair that
have shown no. Signs of compliance. We foresee there being about 15200 structures in year. One, this will be a largely administrative program because it is tied to repair orders. Then that map there kind of gives you so we went to the data to see what would be kind of an eligible property with what we have today prepare orders. And that's what this map is depicting. I also had my team to get to the date a little bit to look at ownership as well. And I can tell you 60% of these properties are either owned by a company and as state individual or trust. And getting into it council hurt with pre she. So we rolled out the road closure view earlier this year. That's what you see here. I put a nice qr code. If you haven't
visited it, please do. And visualizes all of the road closures we have in the city be a special event or a dpw project. Whatever that MAY be. We also use this tool to build out our special event application to see if this tool could work well as a front end for us. And so far we've we've enjoyed the way it's it's worked. We secured additional funding through the Enhanced Access Review Committee to roll out a second phase of this. So we will be building out the right of way permit application, which is huge right now are rightly permits are tied to a parcel. This would actually tie them to geometry based maps that would be tied to the lane where the work is occurring, making the data that much better. And because it is being taken into this tool, we can easily visualize it through this, too, as well. We're also going to be building out a public portal because we have developed so
many hooks into our system. We already have the ability to display a lot of data through a cell. And so we want to make we want to create kind of an easier user friendly search that folks can use with that mapping capability so they can look up whether it's a right of way permit or any kind of permit or any kind of enforcement case. Just being a little bit cleaner, a little bit more user friendly than what the Acela port office today. Digital license renewal. So right now you hold licenses bns. You cannot renew it digitally. Have to reach out to a team member. I think that's wild. And so we're working on that right now. Our development team. We're working on contractor licenses currently because those happened next year. And we're looking at all of our licenses
making that digital. A process available to everybody. Website overhaul. That's something I've talked about for a while because of my estate background, very much. Kara, overhauling our content and we're in that process right now. It is not just rewriting our content, but also looking at how it's organized on the page. I think the website it's great. There's a ton of great information, but it was really designed from people who wanted to share specific message and not necessarily considering how that message would be received by residents where we have this big knowledge gap. So really paying attention to how we're. Communicating to the city and then legislative development, as I mentioned with 10, 0, 5, going live in JANUARY. That requires a whole new permit process for us. We have to
build entirely new permit that people can apply for with this private function. So we know when to engage and not to engage. And so that's going to be a big part of our development to the end of the year. Ali, some of Senate today, Mayor, excuse me. And because I was just last APRIL, we are still on schedule, actually received the initial bid documents today to review. So we should have that that advertising out to the next couple of weeks. I think. We already have a lot of interest from some contractors, which is great we're targeting end of year to start that construction certainly before some of the asphalt plants close. Moving on balancing budget proposal, the cost of service proposal. So the nsa's fees and penalties somewhere established in 1988, those who zoning violations. And you can
in your print out. I have the the typewriter proposal to council in 1988 who establishes a violations and then other fees were discussing evening were updated last in 2010 last year. We work with Baker Tilly on rate and fee analysis that really looked at the output of our staff. So how much time and effort does it take for an individual to review a permit? What is the cost of that action? And then what are we charging on the back and for that work? We also assess pure jurisdictions. So looking at Carmel, Fishers, et cetera, to make sure we're competitive with our peers. I think it's important to highlight that we are not changing every penalty. This is not kind of a 10% over the board situation. For example, we could of easily attacked on application fee to craft permits like electrical current permits, plumbing, things like that. Not going to change the amount of review work we're doing. So
it's not necessary. Just attack on a fee just because we can. So I just want to highlight. We've got a lot of effort into looking at the specific fees and penalties that were changing and changing them too. Also, police say that as part of the ordinance pack in front of you, we are removing unnecessary permit process is for example, we've such as notification permits where. We don't charge you anything. He filed this permit. It goes into an office assistant skew and they eventually uploaded the system. But we're not revealing anything. Why on Earth are we having people fill out a piece paper just to fill very bureaucratic? So we're getting rid of that. And that's part of the ordinance package. Even there. There's a whole section crossed out. A overview of the approval because, of course it is complicated. So broken up the
fees into 3 groups. The first zoning violations that is solely councils private is the zoning ordinance. Live an ordinance. My board has no authority over that. So the fees that we're presenting will be both. Weighed in on, voted on and codified by council group 2. That's right of way. Encroachment, drainage flood and some of our unsafe building. Admin fees are being a sport has jurisdiction over those fees and they were never codified in ordinance or board will be voting on any of those changes next week to the live in JANUARY. And then groups 3 is a hybrid of both of those. So these are things that the board has jurisdiction over, but at some point in time, we're also codified in ordinance. So that's why what you have in front of you and your ordinance package include
some of those items. The board will vote on those next week. And then council any to vote to codify those to update those tables and ordinance the data. The bottom there, just Trying to highlight what we're what we're doing because I know there's some clicking this and having a table proposals and things like that. So tonight we're introducing the ordinance package were tabling. It on next Thursday, our board will vote on those fees and penalties that they have jurisdiction over. And then we come back for analysis. I know we'll have at least one amendment and then we'll take the final vote at that time, a final vote. But that the committee. That's the intention. Zoning violations of this is the group. One I
was just talking about, as you can established in 1988 a flat $50 for every kind of zoning violation, which I don't think reflects the difference in these violations. They're not all the same. I think they have different levels of egregious depending on what is happening. And so you can see they're there. In some cases, we're not changing them. The for legal display we're keeping at the same. But then you have ones like a petition violation down at the bottom. So this is a business has made a commitment to the Indy to have landscaping around their business because they're near a dwelling district to screen for sound or what have you and some cases we know maybe they don't put it in some cases. Maybe they put it They decide to take it out. 6 months later. That is clearly a
thoughtful violation on their part because they know they've made this commitment to the city to have these things in place. And so that's why we've increased that. Excuse me more significantly. I know commercial vehicle parking is a huge issue and some council districts so that one is increased as well. Junk trash, debris and operable vehicles, development standards. Those are all slightly bumped up but yeah, I think the Baker Tilly study average that about $326 for each of these violations. And so that's why we landed on that 3.25 Number. Skipping group to again, because those are the ones that go just to my board moving into group 3 for building inspections. So when get structural permit, we pay to permit fee. There is an inspection process where our building inspection team comes
to look at your framing, your foundation. They conduct final inspections. They also do inspections for Kraftwerk like electrical plumbing, etc. These were last updated in 2010. And so we're requesting a few adjustments here. So one is a re inspection fee. All of our peer jurisdictions have one. We do not. And what this simply means is that if someone schedules and inspection with us and then it turns out they're not ready or they don't show up to work or what have you right now. We're going back out for free. Our peers do not. So we would like to institute or inspection fee. Well, this it would be nice to be able to offset some of the work that's being done by the inspection team and they have to go out. I also see this fee acting as a deterrent because if you know that we're not going to come out for free anymore and you're actually gonna have to
pay fees. And I think maybe you'll be available for your inspection when you schedule it, have everything available for us to see. Moving on to the next for. These are accelerated inspection options. So we do not want to change anything with class to that's residential. I do not want to be the reason that someone has been waiting to get back in their house and need to get their house the camper. So what you see in the current column there, those would stay the same for residential. What we're proposing is that we create another 4 for class one commercial specifically and that we increase those. We have found Several of these types of requests, in some cases, they've been in contact with their building inspector and they've just dropped the ball or something's changing their schedules, change the
news to come out. In some cases they haven't been in contact with their building inspector and then all the sudden it's it's a big calamity. I use this example a few times, but there was a hotel locally that was getting some work done. Remodeling work done before a very big concert that was going to take place last year and they needed to reopen that day because the concert was happening and we want to not be the reason why people can sleep and Indianapolis after seeing this concert. And so we got a group of supervisors all sorts people together to go over there and handle it. But that was a very big mad dash situation to make sure that this all played out very well. And property owner knew they only had to pay $200 for it to happen. So moving on a slight adjustment to the administrative fee and then a
stop work order violation. Right now, there is no violation for a stop work order. So if you don't have a permit. And someone calls in we come out and say he didn't have a permit, we put a piece of paper that says you have to stop work. Order you to get a permit for you continue work. It is not uncommon for people to look over the shoulder and say, well, the city is not here. Gonna drive that by here. I'm gonna go back to work right now. I have no penalty for that. And I find that a particularly egregious violation. You know that you're not supposed to doing work until you have your permanent place. You chose to do it anyways. On top of working without a permit to begin with. A lot of our peers have different ways of addressing this. I've seen things like 4 times the permit costs to reinstate a stop work order. We didn't want to do anything that was overly complicated for our system. So
just keeping flat fees class one again being commercial class to residential. I'm not going through every fee adjustment you because you have the proposal for me and I think it would take me another hour. Even with this passes. I talk to go through all of them. But I wanted to highlight just some examples here to talk about what. What it looks like, the changes we're making. So when we talk about structural fees, we assess a plan of up at the beginning and a structural feet at the end. What ready to issue status? The plan plan a tv excuse me obviously offsets plan review cost in that and that were completed structural is intended to help offset those inspection costs. So right now, if you're building a 2500 square-foot residential building. You would pay a little over $400 just in your
structural fees that doesn't include zoning or anything like that. Proposing to adjust that formula. So that costs would be a little over $1000. And when you look at our peers, you can see that in Carmel, that same projects that 2500 square foot new build would be over $6,000 in fishers. It be almost $5,000 and Noblesville. It's over $5,000 and in Greenwood, which is even a smaller municipality. It is almost $2000. Moving down to commercial same situation. Looking at 25,000 Square foot. The plan or the fi. So in 2018, there was a decision by the board, too. Remove the plan review fee. I think in all reality it was just absorbed into the structural fee. I don't think that's very transparent. And I just personally don't like it. I
think if we're conducting plan review and you have multiple reviews and we get into a situation or maybe a contractors fired or project runs out of funding or something changes and they don't get that permit. I'm never assessing a fee. So I've never recuperating the cost for that plan review. So I think just being transparent, pulling it back out of the structural fee our third-party review costs are about $100 an hour. So it's guaranteeing we have a couple hours rifi there. So right now that total cost would just be a structural feet about $1700. We'd be bumping it up to about 4800. For the formula. Again, these are flat fees. And again, when you look at our peers, you can see in Carmel that would be over $7,000 and fishers. $4200. And it's my understand their impact. Fees
are well over $1000 and same thing for Noblesville almost $6,000. And those impact fees are high as well. So in summary I just want reiterate. Put a lot of time and effort into getting good data and understanding the work that we do and the gaps that we have. And so these are very thoughtful changes to not only cover our expenses, but also in line with our peers and remain competitive in the metro area. We're not changing every penalty. And I do believe these will ultimately net long-term improvements to service, whether that's us being able to invest more staff, invest in greater technology solutions like overhauling our permitting a code enforcement system or even the way we're able to
leverage their party resources and and senators. With that, I'll turn over to Jacob. As director brand stated, nsa's taking steps to modernize our fee schedule with the goal of stabilizing the department's revenues. That said we approach the preparation of this budget with careful, discipline responsibility. And we're now proposing a budget that keeps expenses flat for 2026 until such time that those revenue increases from updates are realized. Operating budget we're putting forward today reflects an overall slight decrease of roughly half a million dollars for 2026, which can be attributed to a reduction or it service charges from our internal partner. The end result is a balance, fiscally responsible budget that ensures the continuity of quality service is delivered
to the community. Character. One represents the department's personnel services. There's some accounting shifts in strategic moves between divisions built into this character, one budget, which will enable being asked to support the wage increases from the new collective bargaining agreement. The net change to the 2026 character. One budget is a $36,000 decrease representative of the decrease in budget workers. Comp expenses attributable to acs splitting off from being The new There's a small reduction to our office operating repair, maintenance and other supplies. Budget. The care to 3 budget covers operational, third-party and contracted services, including demolition, high weeds and grass mowing illegal dumping abatement and structural plan. Review services among other services. The over $500,000 debt reduction represented here somewhat misleading in
that it stems from savings within our controlled character. 3, I s a computer and phone service charges. I say he's restructure their charge. Model as it relates to overhead and service charges and says one of the agencies that will see a reduction in charges within their new model. The net reduction carries within it in over $150,000 increase to the department's uncontrolled character, 3 budget, which is where bns funds the type of service it of direct services that are most felt and seen within the community. The big picture here is that the overall reduction to be in as character 3 budget for 2026 will have no impact on the frequency or quality of services. Being us provides to the city county. There are no proposed changes to our character for budget for 2026, 4 vehicles in capital
equipment. And there's a slight increase or internal services charge back budget, which funds the services that the n s receives from the Mayor's Action Center Office Corporation counsel and tweet services. And with that, MADAM Leader, presentations, thank you so much. Thank you for your presentation. Questions comments from counselors. Thank you. MADAM Questions. Is. You mentioned the continues. They can see the new definition. You did data-driven. But I'm looking at the map. I believe I have a property that discussed with Caitlin. And whole thing was, well, it's its own. The taxes are being paid everything else. But it sounds like under this new definition that the person is not living there. And to your point, they own multiple properties. Can I just send those to Urkaine?
Absolutely. Ok, thank you. And then second question. And this is more for the benefit on the other side of the aisle because this came up in our caucus discussion. But I think it's it's important for everybody to hear this. I was shocked by this that when we have a discussion about the fees being assessed and the why is it even egregious violations are. It's just a wee going occ goes in for goes and it's just request for a continuance over and over over sometimes in many cases years. Time and you mentioned that there is a limitation at the core that is driving can do want to speak to that just for their benefit. Katie Campbell, former legal counsel for nsu,
was an administrator over permitting. And this year that occ and eventually became city prosecutor. So best person in the nsa's perspective to be city prosecutor overseeing our cases a post covid. We ended up with for dockets faces a week in front of a judge. They alternate monthly whether it's Monday or Wednesday and that monthly alteration also alternates between out it's I'm sorry between magistrates for and judgment mask. And so that limited docket space makes it difficult for the city prosecutor to be able to prioritize which cases are going to continue to which cases are going to be heard right of someone appears to be working towards compliance. She's likely going to work with opposing counsel and continue those cases. If someone is being more egregious and not coming towards compliance, she's
gonna try to prioritize those. But she also has a very small window weekly of how she can prioritize those. I would add. I think there's been a lot of frustration with you know, how long sometimes these take. And certainly that things don't really come to fruition. I think violations are fish. And I think the safe rescue does a really good job of trying to uphold our fines and penalties. What we have seen a with our assigned judges and magistrates is that they will often wave or heavily reduced penalties. So that's something that we would left to discuss. What this body for Thank you, Yes, cancer on me. Thank you. MADAM Chair. I just want to compliment the director and I
don't know that it's easy always pass Ron compliments. I try not to pass around so frequently that they are viewed significant way. But when I think about all of the folks that email within city government on a variety of constituent concerns, very few can be directed. Brands responsiveness, but more importantly than the responsiveness the the detail that she provides said most recently we had issue in my district over near on Colley High School. And actually it's counselor calles district. It's my alma mater. Within 5 minutes, I had a full briefing of what the health department
was doing in coordination with the Department Business. Neighbors Services. That's extremely important. And I just want to thank you and your team for doing that good work. I also want to say something that I've seen the last 6 or so years is a lot of time goes by before the council departments make changes on fees and things. And it's frustrating for some of us who are sitting here because obviously that should have been done probably long ago. And so I would just encourage you as we go through this, both of the council on the board level that there's some semi-annual review. So that we don't wind up. 37 years later, passing on to a
new council. Things that should have been done much sooner. Thank you. MADAM Chair also want reiterate this sentiment of thanking your entire staff land use be in us. And probably Zach Adams your staff is the top specifically, Caitlin, e-mail all the time. But everybody there is always helpful what I need them. To a conflicted by everything. The council Cahill mentions. I brought this up in a public safety. Committee with with the and the concern about the amount of time I would do 3 or 4 hours on a Wednesday morning that we're hearing any of these violations cases from the city prosecutor, which is a massive concern for me because it's it's the. Biggest portion of constituent management that i interact with, rather it's. High weeds and grass at mall or or housing illegal dumping.
I mean, you name it right. It's all the things. But it. It all so much a part of that. I don't make sure I mention Talk to, but it always seems that bottleneck, you know, I thought it was you guys for such a long time, which it's not you know, speaking for my constituents, they would say we need to be faster. Will say that but there is a 3 parts to this. It's it's you guys. It's the prosecutor. And the city prosecutor specifically and the judge and right now identified the but the biggest bottleneck is is the judge and I just want you to know that when he was that chair earlier last week he did commit to looking into expanding those hours. But I think it's going to take. All of us. You guys, city press going to take everybody getting on those guys. It wasn't just something with funding mechanism be there. It was just a they have the ability to do it. They have a concern about having
money. They just need to appropriate more time to it. But they're not. And so I would, you know, ask for your help in doing that. I know I'm mentioning caters meant that we're all trying to get to that point because ultimately, you know, the day that's we're managing constituent needs and services you guys take the brunt of it on the front end, I would love to do more said year that I don't think we necessarily need to fund your department with your own You know, if we could get more out of it by having more people would be great. But I think at this point, if we did that, we just on the citations and they're going to sit there so I just want to ask your help specifically on The other piece is, you know, just to say that sentiment from anybody that I don't talk about the building world I know we're continuously working on getting faster, but
we just got to get faster faster, faster, faster faster. Could eating with director position and mission towards housing. You know. I don't have counsel Mary's issue in district with the residential boom. We could definitely use more on our side of town so we can start to incentivize district 20 side of town, more commercial development and the things up and down Washington Street and that we've got to get quick. We got to get really quick at it. And specifically in the permitting process and others initiatives going towards that. I'm not saying that you're not that we've got to get faster more efficient every day and any and another technology that you're looking at but specifically, if you lay out anything that you're doing in this particular in short. To increase those speeds, I would love to hear so I can take it back to the district. Sure. So
I think highlighting some of the it investments we're making things like pushing more things into dot map so we can understand we have more visual impact or collecting better data. I also if I'm being honest, I think so. A lot of this is perception based. I know anytime I show turnaround numbers, I get, you know, groans like, but that's not what I'm hearing. I know that's not what you're hearing literally with the data in our system is saying and it's updated on a step-by-step I think by and large, our team is moving very quickly when they get things to either assigned those to a 3rd party, how 3rd party or do that review internally. But I hear the complaints. I think that's a big reason. I mention economic development court that we've been working with
with their ad-hoc board. Members are several developers on that Ford and we've been having really great conversations about what is it? What are the hang-ups, a zoning? What are the hang-ups with permitting and what should we be communicating better and what we actually improve? And then the other piece there is I mentioned, according a dpw and d-Md understanding, we're tossing things over the fence that we're being more transparent with one another. Understand that we're building out our processes appropriately. So when we do have, you know, a drainage variance, for example, we have some way of checking in to see where that is for tossing something over the fence and then just get that, you know, and the meantime, people are saying a live from a stake in 6 weeks ago. My dress 6 months ago range from it. It's not necessarily the fault of our reviewer of interviewing some cases were sitting on a
variance or multiple Francis. So I think the more that we can get information in front of individuals to communicate with our processes are to communicate what a turnaround times are looking at. We've talked about linking power be I into our system, too. So we can have more regular dashboards because there's nothing that we're necessarily afraid of talking about publicly like we know are a lot of our shortcomings are. We want to continue working on? All right. Thank you, Director. Yeah, I mean, it's it's it's on both sides I've had people contact me to hate. My contractor will work on this guy contact your office in will. The couple are waiting on the contractors. This and the first has to go. Contractor have to send
something new. So it is a two-way street. You know, by all means. And then MADAM Chair, just one more question this or I just want take another stab at this question. But specifically on the union side because I haven't had the opportunity to do so. Would be like to ask the union PRESIDENT On the staffing side of the house. I talked to some some city members, other committees, but I'm curious to know from the union's perspective, it would make their hiring easier if they could hire from outside Marion County. I will say the union doesn't hire individuals. That they represent me. So when is the this proposal being saying the economy around. 26 to 26. Yeah. But again, they they did not do the hiring Councilor Robertson yet. We've heard
this every meeting, every director, every person is hurt. His question numerous times about come proposal. So hard. So would it be fair to say, though, if we broaden our search to outside of the city, the county, the state, would have more robust pool of people to work for Stone. We went outside Mary County 90 counties. We did get more people to apply that a more qualified. He went state, though, that to say that. Cars are man service MR. I absolutely think if we broaden our scope, we would get a larger pool of candidates. Absolutely is very safe to say. MADAM Leader. So that. So the question that you've asked to several of the leaders, agencies, guy was b s anytime you broaden the school of individuals that you can pull from LeBron. The pool too.
Hamilton County, county. Morgan County. Course, the going to sure. So, yes, the questions, if that's going lead us into something in the future. Well, all the direct U.S. Ensure that the pool be a better. That would be a better people. We get more people. But I mean, like you're putting people took people a box with about asked this question. Every everyone comes up here. It's hard see that. Thank you. Get met him and think So it expands be way beyond that. One piece of the question we get into the specialization of individuals and the ability to attract that talent. We've had the conversation on the diversity of candidates. We've had the conversation on the sunken, constant training and the vacancy of roles. So it is far beyond just the scope of is it easier to find them based on
the pool size? Those are 3 other examples of of character that conversations we've had just in the single conversation. So it is a broader conversation and then just expand the pool. Thank you both and again, we'll hear this proposal The 26. Thank you. Additional comments council Delaney. Thank you. MADAM Chair. I just wanted to piggyback on what councilors Cahill and heart stated about the violations and the city prosecutor. I've been hearing a little bit about the same issue up on the north side of Indianapolis and I think the word that comes to mind is I'm curious about it. I've talked to director brands and also working with my state senator on exploring maybe creative ways of of finding ways to get property owners to comply with
the law. Right now it's just but talk. I'm I'm learning and and I'm looking forward to working with director brands as the year progresses and and possibly the courts as well in to end getting creative about how we can make our property owners comply with the law. So thanks for bringing that up. Council heard both committees. Appreciate it. No questions. Comments. Is there anyone the audience that wishes to speak to the presentation? Thank you so much, MADAM Director, seeing no other business committee. We are