MINUTES OF THE MEETING

OF THE COMMON COUNCIL

VALPARAISO, INDIANA

June 28, 2021, 2021

The Common Council of the City of Valparaiso, Indiana, met on Monday June 28, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall. Mayor Murphy called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was said. Present were Councilmembers Reed, Cotton, Schmidt, Anderson, and Costas. Councilmembers Pupillo and Douglas were absent.

Mayor Murphy read a Proclamation for VHS Unified Track State Champions. Next, he recognized the City Government Academy participants who have completed their seven week course.

MINUTES

Councilmember Cotton stated in the section where he asked and Councilmember Anderson confirmed what his point of interest was, the minutes reflect “Councilmember Cotton discussed the circumstances that trigger a traffic study”. People reading the minutes would not understand. His point was asking for clarification if his understanding that the number of destination end points is what is the strict trigger. He would like more refinement for clarity sake of what his actual inquiry was about. Councilmember Reed moved to approve minutes of the May 10, 2021 meeting. Councilmember Schmidt seconded the motion. Upon voice vote the motion to approve as presented passed with a 5-0 vote.

RESOLUTION NO. 8, 2021

A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA, ADOPTING THE PORTER COUNTY MULTI-HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE

Councilmember Reed moved that Resolution No. 8, 2021 be read and considered for passage. Councilmember Schmidt seconded the motion. Clerk-Treasurer Taylor read Resolution No. 8, 2021.

Chief Jeff Balon addressed the Council. The City of Valparaiso participates with Porter County and other local units of government within Porter County in a Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. This Plan must be studied and revised every five years. If this is not reviewed and adopted every five years, the City will not be able to apply for Federal Funding in the event of a disaster.

Councilmember Cotton stated he has not seen a copy of the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan or the earlier Resolution. Chief Balon stated it is over 100 pages. He will see that Councilmember Cotton gets a copy.

Councilmember Reed moved to adopt Resolution No. 8, 2021. Councilmember Cotton seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote, the motion to adopt Resolution No. 8, 2021 passed with a 5-0 vote.

RESOLUTION NO. 9, 2021

A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA, ESTABLISHING THE POLICY BY WHICH MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MAY PARTICIPATE BY ELECTRONIC MEANS OF COMMUNICATION

Councilmember Reed moved that Resolution No. 9, 2021 be read and considered for passage. Councilmember Schmidt seconded the motion. Clerk-Treasurer Taylor read Resolution No. 9, 2021.

Attorney Patrick Lyp addressed the Council. During the pandemic the Governor has issued an Emergency Health Order. Part of that Order allows for meetings to be held via electronic means of communication. Once the emergency is lifted, it is necessary that boards have a Resolution adopting their desire to continue to allow electronic means of communication. Resolution No. 9, 2021 has the basic rules to follow so that the City complies with State Law. It is Attorney Lyp’s recommendation that if the Council adopts this Resolution, then the remaining Boards and Commissions of the City should adopt a similar Resolution. A quorum will still need to be present in person.

Councilmember Cotton asked if there is language that talks about the public participation component. Attorney Lyp replied, this does not affect the public. Once the emergency declaration is lifted, the public can be here.

Councilmember Reed moved to adopt Resolution No. 9, 2021. Councilmember Schmidt seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote, the motion to adopt Resolution No. 9, 2021 passed with a 5-0 vote.

RESOLUTION NO. 10, 2021

A RESOLUTION GRANTING APPROVAL FOR A FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT REIMBURSEMENT GRANT FOR BACK POCKET VALPO LLC

(150 WASHINGTON STREET)

Councilmember Reed moved that Resolution No. 10, 2021 be read and considered for passage. Councilmember Schmidt seconded the motion. Clerk-Treasurer Taylor read Resolution No. 10, 2021.

Beth Shrader addressed the Council. Blockhead Brewery is in compliance. They have done over $80,000 in eligible improvements. They are requesting a $25,000 façade grant. This comes to the Council with a favorable recommendation from the Plan Commission.

Councilmember Cotton asked if this property has received a façade grant before. Beth replied no. He stated he is confused about what constitutes façade. He asked if the whole building was painted. Beth explained not all of the new paint counted towards the grant. Even with this they were well over the 50/50 match so it did not affect their grant.

Beth Shrader explained that the process for a grant is to apply for the grant, get approval, then do the work. There was a miscommunication with this project. The work has been done already. Her office is reviewing the application and revising it to make it clearer.

Councilmember Cotton asked if the new windows are functional and will carry over for the ages. Bruce Boyer replied the windows are functional. They are insulated frames and glass, all new doors and they changed the look of the windows.

Councilmember Schmidt asked if $25,000 is the max that can be requested. Beth Shrader explained $25,000 is the max per façade. Some businesses have a front and back façade.

Councilmember Reed moved to adopt Resolution No. 10, 2021. Councilmember Schmidt seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote, the motion to adopt Resolution No. 10, 2021 passed with a 5-0 vote.

ORDINANCE NO. 13, 2021

AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN THE ST. PAUL PROJECT EID FUND AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATOIN OF NOTICE

Councilmember Reed moved that Ordinance No. 13, 2021 be read a first time and considered on first reading. Councilmember Costas seconded the motion. Clerk-Treasurer Taylor read Ordinance No. 13, 2021.

Clerk-Treasurer Taylor addressed the Council. The City has received $44,869.33 with the last tax draw. Attorney Patrick Lyp reviewed the history of this project. An EID was created. All residents paid an EID fee since there was no tax abatement. This money is paid back to the developer for public improvements up to approximately $1.6 Million Dollars. This fee is collected for a period of 10 years. This appropriation is the first draw on money paid by the property owners. All school referendum fees have been paid and will be paid going forward. This is for 10 years with or without reaching the $1.6 Million Dollars. Attorney Lyp stated the developer has done exactly what was promised. Now it is the responsibility of the City to make this payment to the Developer. There will be another amount with the City’s December tax draw.

Councilmember Cotton asked Attorney Lyp if he knows the occupancy this amount was figured on. Attorney Lyp replied he does not know the exact numbers. He believes this is just building one in terms of occupancy and maybe a little bit of building two. The EID will not apply to non-sold units.

Councilmember Reed moved that Ordinance No. 13, 2021 be carried over to the July 12, 2021 meeting. Councilmember Cotton seconded the motion. Upon voice vote the motion to carry Ordinance No. 13, 2021 to the July 12, 2021 meeting passed with a 5-0 vote.

Other Business

Paving 2021 Presentation

Mike Jabo presented a report showing a comparison of paving in the past two years and this year.

The report outlined what work they expect to do this year, expense for those projects and funding. This year they are including sidewalks in the report. They are looking at the roads this year and doing more than resurfacing. They are bringing the roads up to a standard. They are also doing an aggressive alley program. There is approximately $8.2 Million available through all sources for the paving program. There has been $800,000 committed to pathways/sidewalks. The Utilities has obtained equipment for mudjacking and grinding.

Councilmember Schmidt asked if Mike has seen an increase in costs. Mike replied he has not. Some entities in the area have started to though.

Clerk-Treasurer Taylor asked if they are going to finish Campbell Street from Northview to Harrison and put a turn lane in. This is not on the list, but they will look at pavement markings when they prepare that list. She also asked about a pathway or sidewalk on Harrison from Campbell west. Mike said they will look into that.

Councilmember Cotton echoed the praise for collecting some of the old deferred maintenance in the older part of the City. Mike had mentioned the average rating with the context to raise the average rating. Does the alley work contribute to that average overall paver. If they are included, that is a big bump up. The question is: the average and what the goal for improvement is, to what number and if the alleys have an impact on that as well. Mike replied they should be in the range of 6. Alleys have not been inventoried and do not count.

Councilmember Reed stated she appreciates the alley program. However, this usually brings speeding. She hopes something can be done to curb speeding. Councilmember Reed asked if there has been an increase in the wheel tax. Clerk-Treasurer Taylor explained this money comes in daily and they have seen a slight increase yearly.

Councilmember Costas said he is glad to see the work on Center Street. He asked what side of Center Street will have sidewalks. Mike replied they are doing the east side of Center Street.

Public Comment

None.

The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.

/s/ Holly Taylor, Clerk-Treasurer