Indianapolis Marion County City-County Council Meeting Live Blog

Another fun filled Monday night at the City-County Building. You can find the Uhgender HERE. Check back after 7:00 PM for the commentary.

(Commentary after the Quantum Leap)

7:00 PM - Well well an interesting surprise guest. Former President Steve Talley has dropped by for a visit. As typical the Democrats are slow to arrive in the Council Chamber.

7:01 PM - President Bob Cockrum has called the meeting to order. Councilor Barbara Malone is absent.

7:05 PM - Recognition of Guests

7:06 PM - Official Communications read by Clerk Melissa Thompson

7:07 PM - Adoption of the Agenda - There is an additional item - Proposal 242 Approves grants for the Arts Council - Agenda Consented

7:08 PM - Approval of the Journal - Consent

7:09 PM - Special Resolutions and Council Resolutions. Looks like a bunch of re-appointments and appointments to boards & commissions

7:10 PM - Proposal 221 - Honors Chris Treska on achieving the rank of Eagle Scout

7:13 PM - Proposal 222 - Recognizes David Cook for his work as the Public Defender

7:19 PM - Proposal 223 - Recognizes the Donna Talley Storybook Theatre of the IMCPL East 38th Street Branch

7:25 PM - Proposal 224 - Recognizes the LEAGUE’s contribution and guidance to the students of Creston Middle School (MSD Warren Twp) in recognition of Earth Day

7:31 PM - Proposal 113 - Reappoints Susan Powers to the City Market Board and Proposal 123 - Appoints Wessley Jackson to the Indianapolis Economic Development Commission - Passes Unanimously - Hey where did Mike McQuillen go? He was here and now he’s disappeared.

7:34 PM - Proposal 153 - Appoints Jeffery Wells to the Crime Prevention Advisory Board - Passes Unanimously

7:36 PM - Proposal 163 - Approves Mayor Ballard’s appointment of Darla Williams as an Administrative Law Judge presiding over environmental violations. Proposal Passes 18-8 with Councilors Bateman, Brown, Minton-McNeill, Evans, Gray, Oliver, Pryor, and Sanders opposing. Isn’t it interesting that 7 African-American Democrats are opposing the appointment of another African-American to a position such as this?

7:39 PM - Proposals 166, 167, 168, & 169 - Appointments Kevin Quinn to Law Enforcement Advisory Board, Cynthia Kirchhofer to Citizen’s Police Complaint Board, Natalie Wolfe to Marion County Community Corrections Advisory Board, and Dennis Bender to the Marion County Community Corrections Advisory Board. Passes Unanimously.

7:42 PM - Proposal 173 - Appoints Kenneth Hughes to the Stormwater Management Technical Advisory Committee - Passes Unanimously

7:44 PM - Proposal 188 - Appoints William Carr to the Marion County Community Corrections Advisory Board - Turns out Mr. Carr does not live within Marion County but works in Marion County. Mr. Carr is being appointed by virtue of being a representative of a private corrections company. Councilor Vaughn is advising that Advisory Boards do not have a residency requirement. Councilor Duke Oliver is proclaiming that he should not serve due to his out of county residence and will not support this appointment. Councilor Mansfield also expresses concern that Mr. Carr lives outside Marion County. Councilor Vernon Brown is stating his opposition to this appointment. Councilor Nytes is asking for a legal opinion on the legal status of residency requirements. Counsel to the Council Bob Elrod gave his legal opinion that advisory boards do not require county residence. Councilor Sanders is opposing the appointment. Councilor Sanders moved to return to committee. Seconded by the Dems - Vote is 11-17 the motion fails. — oh Mike McQuillen has made it back to his Council seat — debate continues Mike Speedy speaks in favor of the appointment. Councilor Hunter is speaking in favor. Councilor Mansfield said the appointee doesn’t pay Marion County Taxes. Councilor Vaughn retorted that he does pay Marion County business taxes. Councilor Brown is again speaking against the appointment. Councilor BMahern is speaking against the appointment. Councilor DMahern is speaking against it on the principle of paying Marion County taxes. Councilor Cain calls for the Question - Question Call passes 18-8 - DEBATE IS CUT OFF - Proposal passes 15-13 along party lines. Now the Dems are beating dead donkeys by explaining their votes.

8:08 PM - Proposal 198 - Appoints Robert J. Hill to the Marion County Community Corrections Advisory Board - Councilor Monwoe “Sweet Pea” Gway asks the race of the appointments. Passes 24-4 with Councilors Bateman, Evans, Minton-McNeill and Sanders opposing.

8:12 PM - Proposal 199 - Appoints Aaron Freeman to the Law Enforcement Advisory Board. Proposal 202 - Appoints Robert Dale Buwalda II to the Marion County Community Corrections Advisory Board. Once Again, Sweet Pea is demagoguing an affirmative action program for African-Americans. Proposal passes - 22-4 with Councilors McNeil-Minton, Bateman, Gray, Mansfield dissenting.

8:20 PM - Introduction of proposals - time for a break

8:27 PM - Proposal 109 - Rezoning - Postponed

8:27 PM - Proposal 121 - Authorizes issuance of bonds for funds expended for the acquisition of a voting system for Marion County. Proposal Passes Unanimously

8:31 PM - Proposal 164 - Appropriates $2 million for the DMD to fund the proposal process for funding affordable housing. Proposal passes .. Jackie Nytes Abstains - 26-0

8:34 PM - Proposal 165 - Appropriates $200,000 in brownfield remediation grants to clean up the former Flowers Cleaners (Dry Cleaning store) site at 2460 N. Delaware St. Passes Unanimously

8:37 PM - Proposal 171 - Appropriates $150,000 for the SKIP program (doesn’t that program ring a bell anyone?) funded by a block grant - Councilor Duke Oliver questions the validity of the SKIP program - The director of SKIP speaks on the program. Councilor Hunter speaks in support of the grant. The Democrats are hammering the Ten Points / SKIP director on points of fiscal responsibility and the budget of the program. Democrats are attempting to score political points at the expense of the ICJI and MCJA. Proposal passes 27-0

8:48 PM - Proposal 172 - Appropriates $273,198 in the Superior Court for two commissioners, and a probation officer. Passes Unanimously

8:53 PM - Proposal 135 - Issuing Waterworks bonds of $110 Million - This is a refinance of some other variable rate bonds which are re-setting (just like mortgages basically) and hopefully save some money on interest payments - Passes Unanimously

8:56 PM - Public Works proposals - 174 through 183 - Pass Unanimously

9:00 PM - R&PP Proposal 184 - Salary Levels of City Employees required to file statements of economic interests. The Proposal seeks to raise the floor of salary required to report from $28,000 to $60,000. Councilor Dane Mahern - opposed to the proposal. Wants to return this to committee. Chris Cotteril of the Corporation Counsel is speaking to the proposal. Dane Mahern is using this as a political platform to try to get salary increases to employees. *BATTERY WENT DEAD - FOUND AN OUTLET*
9:22 PM - Debate continues on Proposal 184. Lots of back and forth of little substance coming from the Democrats. Joanne Sanders suggests requiring employees paid $45,000 or more comply with ethics reporting. The problem with the current ordinance is many employees with no purchasing or management responsibility are having to fill out these forms. Councilor Vaughn calls the question - Vote on an amendment to change the threshold to $45,000. Amendment fails 11-16. Proposal as passed by committee - Passes 18-8 with Councilors Bateman, Gray, the Maherns, Mansfield, Oliver, and McNeil-Minton dissenting.

9:27 PM - Proposal 186 - Amends Chapter 851 to change the name of the Cable Communications Agency. The original purpose of the CCA and Cable Franchise Board are now obsolete with innovations such as AT&T Uverse and Dish/DirecTV — so what’s Jose Evans doing with a ballpoint pen jammed sideways in his mouth?? — anyway some discussion about taxes and fees. ugh - BMahern is blabbering on about how he thinks the Cable Franchise Board and Cable Communications Agency are not doing what they are authorized. Passes 25-2 with Councilors Vaughn and Pryor opposing.

9:40 PM - Adjournment