The Indianapolis City-County Council voted 24-5 Monday night to update the city code on smoke detectors. It also voted 24-5 to spend $8.3 million from the Rebuild Indy fund on emergency road repairs.
Indianapolis City-County Council Democrats want to spend $16 million more on emergency road work. The Democrats oppose Republican Mayor Greg Ballard’s plan for a $150 million bond issue and instead want to tap general and special funds.
Indianapolis might forego repairing some heavily traveled, winter-damaged roads to instead focus on shoddy streets spread among all City-County Council districts.
The argument that the complex could help revitalize the neighborhoods near the former GM stamping plant southwest of downtown could be crucial for securing the support of residents.
The City-County Council wants to force officials to produce documents relating to the controversial lease of the public safety operations center on the east side. It was vacated in September due to safety and health code violations.
If the plan is carried out, new city employees wouldn’t be eligible for pensions through the Indiana Public Retirement System. Instead, they would have a defined-contribution plan similar to the 401(k) plans offered by private-sector employers.
Councilor Jeff Miller said the city’s settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union over panhandling enforcement shouldn’t deter a City-County Council effort to pass a more restrictive ordinance.
A Democrat-controlled City-County Council committee has tabled a proposal to spend $8 million in Rebuild Indy funds to repair thoroughfares hit hard by the brutal winter. Democrats say the project would favor Republican districts.
Browning Investments Inc. says that it is seeking $5.7 million from the bond issue to help finance Canal Pointe, its controversial $30 million apartments-and-retail project.
The Indianapolis City-County Council voted 18-9 Monday night to provide up to $23 million in city financing for the project, with the stipulation that 30 percent of the workers hired to build the 28-story building live in Marion County.
A City-County Council committee recommended approval for the 28-story building but only if the developer pledges that 30 percent of the workers it hires to build the tower live in Marion County.
The Indianapolis City-County Council passed a "ban the box" ordinance by a wide margin Monday night. The ordinance says the city and its contractors may not use prior criminal convictions as a screening tool in hiring.
In the meantime, city officials are arranging to meet with lawyers, judges and residents who are concerned about moving jails and courts from downtown’s core.
SerVaas was elected to the City-County Council in 1962 and served for more than 40 years, including 27 as council president. He was one of the architects of Unigov, the consolidated city-county government plan credited with revitalizing Indianapolis.
The sponsor of a panhandling ordinance plans to pull it from City-County Council consideration for a second time Tuesday night. Councilor Jeff Miller said he’ll reintroduce it in February with easier-to-understand language.
Indianapolis 'ban the box' initiative would affect hiring practices for the city, its vendors and economic development partners.
Mayor Greg Ballard is proposing to pay about half of the $20 million needed to upgrade the Natatorium at IUPUI. The city's Capital Improvement Board is also considering setting aside tax revenue for operation expenses.
An Indianapolis City-County Council committee has approved a proposal that would ban panhandling and other forms of begging near bank entrances, ATMs and other specified areas.
A bipartisan group of city-county councilors is considering an ordinance that would increase panhandling restrictions, including barring panhandling and street performances within 50 feet of any area where any financial transaction is made.
City-County Resolution 354, co-sponsored by Democrats John Barth, Angela Mansfield and Zach Adamson, and Republican Benjamin Hunter, will be voted on by the full council Monday.
