LEADING QUESTIONS: New councillor in for wild ride
As a new City-County Council member entrenched in several hot-button issues, Angel Rivera sometimes blows off steam on his Ducati SportClassic GT1000.
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City names new controller, communications director
Jeff Spalding, a former financial administrator at the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, has been named controller for the city of Indianapolis.
City revokes four cab companies’ licenses
The license revocations stemmed from violations such as failure to maintain a dispatch log, failure to maintain a dispatch facility and failed body or mechanical inspections.
Mayor’s communications strategist leaving city post
Robert Vane, Ballard’s deputy chief of staff and communications director, plans to start his own firm specializing in crisis and strategic communications. His last day with the city is Nov. 5.
Di Rimini violations reveal holes in process that relies on trust
Brazen violations of city design guidelines and state building codes by the developer of the Di Rimini apartments cast a spotlight on what is essentially an honor system of regulation for developers once they win approval for their projects.
Downtown apartment developers take divergent paths to financing
J.C. Hart Co. spent more than a year securing a $5 million bank loan to expand an existing project; Buckingham Cos. turned to the city to finance its ambitious project just north of the Eli Lilly and Co. campus.
New parking meter plan could yield Indianapolis more cash
The revised plan calls for less money up front, more over the life of the contract and more flexibility to terminate the 50-year deal early.
Veolia losing water contract, will get $29M termination fee
Playing a limited role under Indianapolis Water's new owner, Citizens Energy, wouldn't be profitable, Veolia says. Citizens plans to make job offers to "substantially all" Veolia employees.
City-County Council approves 2011 budget
The CIB’s $73.1 million budget, which included a $10 million payment to the Pacers for the operation of Conseco Fieldhouse, passed by a 15-14 vote.
Some council members still unsure about CIB budget
The Capital Improvement Board’s controversial spending plan will face its final trial Monday night as the City-County Council takes up the city’s $1.1 billion budget for next year.
City rolls out revised parking-meter deal
City would reap more cash in the long run and get more flexibility to alter the deal if necessary, but the controversial 50-year term of the contract remains.
Indianapolis wins state “Green Community of the Year” award
Mayor Greg Ballard has unveiled a number of green initiatives, ranging from widespread use of hybrid vehicles to making the City-County Building more energy-efficient.
City pitching in $38M for $192M Clarian project
The city is kicking in up to $38 million for infrastructure upgrades to support a massive expansion of the Clarian Health campus at 16th Street and Capitol Avenue.
CIB budget could face rough ride in council
Some City-County Council members are skeptical of the Capital Improvement Board’s spending plan for 2011 that includes $10 million for the privately operated Indiana Pacers.
City not impressed with fixes proposed by Di Rimini developer
Developer Jeff Sparks met with city planners Oct. 1 to propose fixes to the apartment project at Capitol Avenue and St. Clair Street.
Hudnut joins D.C. office of local lobbying firm
Hudnut will represent clients in federal government matters for Bose Public Affairs Group LLC, an Indianapolis-based lobbying firm. The former four-term Indianapolis mayor served the city from 1976 to 1992.
City halts apartment developer
The Near North Development Corp. asked the city in a Sept. 2 e-mail to compare the renderings for the Di Rimini apartment project at 733 N. Capital Ave. with what was actually taking shape. A week later, the Department of Code Enforcement issued a stop-work order for the project.
Downtown tax district reaps unexpected windfall
The city has accumulated a $12 million surplus of funds from the downtown TIF district, raising questions from critics who wonder how the windfall came about.
Critics of parking proposal question $500,000 penalty
City leaders argue the termination fee would be paid only if the city breaks the 50-year agreement after the City-County Council signs off on the deal, not if the contract doesn’t win approval.
Dolce hotel, YMCA part of city-funded ‘North of South’ development
The city plans to issue bonds and use tax-increment financing to fund the $150M project, which also will include 320 high-end apartments and 40,000 square feet of retail space. Construction should begin this year.