Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council Meeting Live Blog

There is an Indianapolis Marion County City-County Council meeting tonight at 7 PM at the CCB. I plan to be there to live blog the meeting.

6:50 PM - I’m in place, plugged in and ready to go. Councilor Ed Coleman came by and told me to keep an eye out for a proposal tonight. He didn’t share which one but he’d let me know…. this should be interesting.

The Agenda (not the uhgender) is posted HERE. I see there is a Proposal 265 recommending the Indianapolis Airport Authority add the old name of the Airport to the new terminal so it will be named “Indianapolis Weir Cook International Airport”. Lots of older generation folks remember Weir Cook was the original Indianapolis Airport.

[Live Blog begins after the fold]

6:57 PM - As typical the Democrats are late getting to their seats.

7:00 PM - President Cockrum has called the councilors to their seats

7:03 PM - Prayer and pledge by Councilor Ben Hunter. Vernon Brown will not be here tonight, Mary Adams will be arriving later apparently [edit: She arrived about 7:15 PM]

7:04 PM - Announcements and recognition of guests

7:05 PM - Official Communications

7:07 PM - Approval of Agenda - wants to have Proposal 265 sent to Committee. Vote being tak en 8 votes reached - It will go to Municipal Corporations Committee.

Special Recognitions, Proclamations, etc.

7:10 PM - Proposal 257 - recognizes Officer Candi Perry for being nominated for the Community Policing Officer of the Year Award. She’s giving her remarks en espanol.

7:19 PM - Proposal 258 - recognizes the Honorable Richard “Dick” Good, Jr. for his life of service to his country and to his community

7:22 PM - Proposal 259 - recognizes the efforts of the Warren Township Development Association and Warren Pride Clean-Up Coordinator Ruth Ann Walker and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful President David Forsell and Program Coordinator Tammy Stevens for their work on April 26, 2008 with the Great Indy Clean-Up

7:28 PM - Proposal 264 - requests a parking meter blockout on May 23, 2008 to encourage veterans and citizens to observe the 500 Festival Memorial Service on Monument Circle

7:28 PM - Proposal 265 - Renaming the new Airport terminal adding the airport’s original name “Weir Cook”. Sent to Committee

7:29 PM - Proposal 66 - appoints Tammie S. Jones to the Crime Prevention Advisory Board. Passed Unanimously.

7:30 PM - Proposal 85 - appoints Bradley Battin to the Indianapolis City Market Corporation Board and Proposal 86 - appoints David Oeth to the Speedway Economic Development Commission - Brad Battin is an employee of the Marion County Republican Central Committee. David Oeth is an Allison Gas Turbine retiree, and a lifetime resident of the Town of Speedway. Councilor Joanne Sanders questions Brad Battin’s residency. Councilor Cardwell stated Mr. Battin stated he lives in Marion County. Passes Unanimously.

7:35 PM - Introduction of proposals by Melissa Thompson…….

7:37 PM - End of Introduction of Proposals….

7:38 PM - Proposals 261, 262, and 263 - Certified Rezoning ordinances - Passed into law

7:38 PM - Proposal 109 - rezoning ordinance for Center Township, Councilmanic District 19, 607 and 609 Russell Avenue and 21 and 81 West Merrill Street (2007-ZON-827) - Councilor Dane Mahern stated the remonstrance was dropped and the proposal is being voted upon. The proposal passes unanimously.

7:40 PM - Proposal 204 - appropriates $381,821 in the 2008 Budget of the Department of Public Safety, Fire Division (Non-Lapsing Federal Grants Fund) to purchase fire suppression turn out gear, including fire resistant coats and pants, funded by an Assistance to Firefighter Grant provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Proposal 206 - appropriates $75,200 in the 2008 Budget of the Marion County Forensic Services Agency (State and Federal Grants Fund) to fund the purchase of specific laboratory equipment, financed by a Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in association with the National Institute of Justice. Proposals passes unanimously

7:42 PM - Proposal 207 - approves an appropriation of $10,500,000 in the 2008 Budget of the Department of Public Works (Stormwater Management Fund) to fund the drainage/stormwater capital improvements for 2008 - This is for future building projects. Near Eastside Stormwater and Sanitary sewer separation will be about $5 million and another $5 million for another combined sewer separation project. Proposal passes unanimously.

7:45 PM - Proposal 220 - takes action on the proposed Capital Projects Fund Plan submitted by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Board. Passes unanimously.

7:46 PM - Proposal 170 - amends the Revised Code regarding the requirements for a merit promotion, and for the appointment of chief, within the Indianapolis Fire Department. Passes unanimously.

7:49 PM - Proposal 203 - transfers $325,000 in the 2008 Budget of the Department of Parks and Recreation (City Cumulative Capital Fund) to fund the maintenance of existing capital assets. Passes unanimously

7:50 PM - Proposal 205 - transfers $9,000 in the 2008 Budget of the Marion County Forensic Services Agency (State and Federal Grants Fund) to fund a required upgrade to the Combined Offender Database Information System (CODIS) server, funded by a DNA Cooperative Agreement grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in association with the National Institute of Justice. Proposal passes 27-1 with Councilor Lincoln Plowman dissenting.

7:52 PM - Proposal 208 - approves a transfer of $1,118,575 in the 2008 Budget of the Department of Public Works (Transportation General Fund) to fund the offset of expenses incurred in early 2008 for snow and ice removal and to fund materials that will be used during neighborhood blitzes, special event support and other operational initiatives that will occur summer and fall of 2008. Proposal passes unanimously

7:53 PM - Proposals 210-218 - DPW Traffic Control Proposals. Proposal 209 was stricken in committee. Proposals pass unanimously

7:56 PM - Proposal 219 - amends the Code to change weight limit restrictions in various areas of the city. This cleans up various parts of municipal code for weight limits on city streets. Proposal passes unanimously.

7:57 PM - Proposal 242 - approves certain public purpose grants totaling $1,543,500 for the support of the arts. This is being presented by Councilor Day, chairwoman of the Parks committee. I’ve received word from Councilor Coleman there could be some dissent on this proposal. Councilor Mansfield is commenting supporting the arts. Comrade Nytes is echoing Angela Mansfield’s comments. Now Comrade Nytes is trying to tie the public funding of the arts to…. THE SUPER BOWL ?!?!?! Ummm Comrade Nytes - Public safety is much more important than the arts. Arts is nice, but not at the expense of essential city services. Councilor Mike Speedy is encouraging private sector funding for the arts, because of the already tight budgets for the city, and expresses his opposition to the proposal. Councilor Mansfield asks what the Mayor’s opinion of this proposal. John Cochran steps up and says Mayor Ballard is in support of this proposal. Councilor Janice McHenry is speaking about the question of revenue and the late collection of property taxes. Stresses the high cost of fuel for public services, and the costs of goods and services. She is opposing the proposal. Seems the scuttlebutt is Councilor Cain and RINO Councilor Malone is potentially breaking ranks and joining the Democrats in passing this proposal. Oh …. This is unreal. Councilor Joanne Sanders is now trying to justify the recession as a reason why the Council should pass this and fund the arts with tax dollars. Councilor McQuillen is asking to send the proposal back to committee. Councilor Lutz seconded. Councilor Vaughn spoke in favor of returning to committee. Councilor Plowman also wants to return this committee. Councilor Duke Oliver is stating the proposal passed committee already. Uh-oh … Sweet Pea is now tying funding of the arts to public safety. Spreading the doom and gloom of the arts will end if this money isn’t spent. Councilor Speedy wants to give this an up-or-down vote. Voting to send it back to committee …. Fails 12-16, party line with Councilors Barbara Malone, Ginny Cain, Christine Scales, and Mike Speedy dissenting . Motion is now to approve as passed by the committee previous. Councilor Hunter has now asked the Arts Council to come speak about the proposed funding. Duke Oliver is again babbling about how this passed committee already… ok we’ve already been over that. Move along Duke….. NEXT!
Sweet Pea is whining about the President cutting off debate, which he didn’t. What an idiot. He was dumber than a box of rocks when he was council President and he’s not gotten any smarter since taking his seat in the peanut gallery. Councilor Cain is already stating she will vote to support this proposal. Councilor Lutz seems to be leaning towards passing this proposal. Councilor Sanders calls the question… Vote is unanimous .. now the vote to adopt the proposal … Proposal Passes … Councilors Ed Coleman, Mike Speedy, Mike McQuillen, Jeff Cardwell, Christine Scales, Marilyn Pfisterer, and Lincoln Plowman vote against this proposal. While Councilors are busy explaining their votes on camera, Councilor Cain is busy talking to the folks attending from the Indianapolis Arts Council.

Joanne Sanders announces that Duke Oliver received an award from the NAACP.

8:34 PM - End of the Agenda.