City-County Council Live Blog

Yet another Council meeting is upon us and I’ll be there to live blog it tonight, from the Chambers of the Council. Meeting starts at 7 PM.

The preliminary agenda is posted HERE

6:48 PM - The Republican councilors are in the chamber with a couple exceptions. As usual none of the Democrats are in chambers yet. They typically don’t arrive until the last possible second. The MSM is lined up in front of the Public Assembly Room anticipating an appearance by Doris Minton-McNeill. So far no word if she will appear at the council meeting tonight.

6:52 PM - The Dems are slowly making their way into the chamber. Vernon Brown is the first to arrive.

6:55 PM - Doris Minton-McNeill is present in the Council Chamber. Ms. Minton-McNeill passed by my location saying to Kim King of Fox 59 “No Comment”.

6:59 PM - Prayer led by Councilor Janice McHenry’s pastor. Pledge led by a former student of Councilor McHenry. Attendance recorded, Angela Mansfield is reported as sick by Council President Bob Cockrum. Doris Minton-McNeill brought her 29th Ward Organization to the Council Chamber in a show of support for their councilor.

[More After The Leap]7:05 PM - Clerk Melissa Thompson is reading official communications.

7:06 PM - Adoption of the Agenda. Councilor Lutz wishes to suspend the rules on proposal 306 for it to pass tonight. This is required by state law to be on the ballot by July 15th. Councilor Vernon Brown has moved to adopt Proposal 187 after being tabled in committee. This is Brown’s call for removal of the local option income tax hike enacted in 2007. This was placed on the agenda by a voice vote. This is obviously Brown’s attempt to embarrass Republican Councilors after a candidate (yes that’s you Squidward) used the income tax hike as an issue against Vernon Brown. Now, Councilor Ryan Vaughn wants to put forward Proposal 326 which allows the 2007 tax bills pay in 2008 allowed to pay in installments. Councilor Joanne Sanders and Councilor Vaughn got into a heated discussion about this proposal and placing it on the agenda for passage tonight. Councilor McQuillen asked for a division to record a vote. The vote was party line with the exception of Councilor Vernon Brown who sided with the Council Republicans. Councilor Sanders encourages people to call the Treasurer’s office. It’s apparent the Dems would rather play politics than help homeowners with their property taxes.

7:19 PM - Councilors are explaining their stance on Proposal 326. Comrade Nytes stated that Indiana laws are “crazy” and the city cannot afford the provide the services which “taxpayers expect”.

7:21 PM - Agenda is finally approved.

7:22 PM - Special Resolutions. Ed Coleman and Lincoln Plowman are honoring Lutheran High School’s Class A boys basketball team for getting to the state finals.

7:27 PM - Special Resolution recognizing DPW. Almost the entire Council signed off on this one.

7:35 PM - Special Resolution recognizes Mark Amos for extraordinary achievements in scholarship, community service, and leadership. He’s a cadet in the US Air Force ROTC, holding a 3.95 GPA in his course of study as an electrical engineer at Virginia Tech.

7:40 PM - Special Resolution recognizes the 2nd Chance Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program

7:47 PM - Special Resolution recognizing Greg Lindsey upon his departure as Associate Dean of IUPUI SPEA.

7:50 PM - Special Resolution recognizing Decatur Central for winning the State Baseball title in IHSAA class 4A.

7:55 PM - Council Resolution appointing John M. Bales II to the City-County Administrative Board. There was a question on this appointment as to Mr. Bales’ residency. Vernon Brown is now raising a question as to whether Mr. Bales has contracts with the city for rental properties. President Cockrum states he is unaware of any such conflicts. Passes unanimously.

7:58 PM - Council Resolution appointing Alan Rowland to the IPTC Board. Passes unanimously.

8:00 PM - Introduction of proposals as read by Clerk Melissa Thompson………………

8:04 PM - Here we go again. Proposals 294 and 295 are inducement resolutions for a total of $29,500,000 for low income apartments in Perry and Franklin Townships, respectively. Proposal 294 passes unanimously, with Mike Speedy abstaining due to business conflicts. Proposal 295 passes 26-1 with Barb Malone dissenting.

8:09 PM - Zoning ordinances. Lincoln Plowman is calling down Proposal 316 for a full hearing at the next Full Council Meeting. The remaining zoning petitions pass into law.

8:12 PM - Proposal 267 - Fiscal ordinance appropriating $306,933 in the 2008 budget to pay overtime costs for two crime reduction initiatives, a pilot project for DNA technology, and purchase law enforcement equipment. Passes unanimously.

8:13 PM - Proposal 268 - Fiscal ordinance appropriating $516,192 for IFD to pay operating expenses for the Urban Search and Rescue Task Force. Passes unanimously.

8:16 PM - Proposal 266 and 269 - Transfers funds to purchase radios and covers overtime costs for a first responder training program. Also transfers funds to fund a women’s education program at the Marion County Jail. Passes unanimously.

8:20 PM - Proposals 270-281 - a whole bunch of DPW related traffic ordinances.

8:21 PM - Proposal 306 - Certified the question for the election for the referendum on removal of the assessor. Lincoln Plowman asked what if the proposal is not passed. Counsel to the Council Bob Elrod stated more than likely the Election Board would be sued to enforce the state law as passed. Proposals passes 19-9 with Councilors Bateman, Brown, Coleman, Day, Gray, Moriarty Adams, Oliver, Sanders, and Speedy dissenting.

8:28 PM - Proposal 187 - Councilor Brown’s proposal to rollback the COIT. Councilor Pfisterer stated people can look at the proposal as posted on line HERE. Some lengthy discussion is underway. Mike Speedy is stating the property tax bills are just coming out, and appeals of those tax bills and assessments are underway. Councilor Brown is stating his support for the reduction in income tax, due to the State’s assumption of the city’s public safety pensions. Councilor Lutz is raising a point of order about legality of the proposal, the Counsel is stating the proposal may not be legal according to state law. Councilor Vaughn is directly questioning Councilor Brown about the impact upon the property tax levy and the amount of relief upon taxpayers, and the net effect of this proposal in combination with HB1001. Councilor Brown turns the question into a slamfest against the Mayor’s Controller, and the councilors who campaigned against the tax increase. Councilor Cain called a point of order to bring the discussion back to the subject at hand. Councilor Brian Mahern is stating he supports rescinding the increase in COIT. Councilor Coleman calls the Question. Vote is 15-13 to stop debate. The motion on the floor is the send Proposal 187 back to committee. Vote is 16-12 along party lines.

Councilors are explaining their votes - Councilor Brown is playing the class warfare card. “My constituents don’t pay property taxes they live in apartments” … umm slight correction. Landlords do pay property taxes and pass them onto their tenants. On a personal note, my previous landlord jacked up my rent due to the increase in property taxes. Vernon Brown also used the typical talking points - price of food, price of gas, cost of living, etc. Now Councilor Brown is being belligerent about the proposal, and wants to know when the income tax proposal will be heard.

9:00 PM - Adjournment