[1. EMERGENCY RESPONSE UPDATE]
[00:00:13]
COMING TO ORDER ON MONDAY, TO THE STORMS.
>> GOOD EVENING, JOEL THACKER, FIRE CHIEF CITY OF CARMEL, FIRE DEPARTMENT, PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I WANT TO SAY WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO WORK WITH MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CARMEL FIRE DEPARTMENT, CERTAINLY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES.
YOU KNOW, I HAD A CHANCE TO GO TO ALMOST EVERY HOME AND BUSINESS TODAY, AND JUST THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE FROM OUR FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, INITIALLY, IS TO BE COMMENDED, AND THIS IS STUFF THAT FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, WE KIND OF BLOW OFF AS JUST DOING OUR JOBS, BUT THERE WERE CERTAINLY PEOPLE IN HARM'S WAY ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
AND WITHOUT DUE REGARD FOR THEIR SAFETY, WERE ACTING ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS RECOGNIZED AND WE'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THANK THOSE WHO RESPONDED OUT THERE INITIALLY, AND THEN CONTINUE TO WORK OVERNIGHT AND INTO THE NEXT DAY TO ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS SAFE.
>> PLEASE MUTE IF YOU'RE ON TEAMS, PLEASE.
AGAIN, AT OUR HIGHEST POINT, OUR CITY OC HAD BEEN ACTIVATED.
WE HAD OVER 18 INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING ALL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY.
IN THE OC, I THINK SOME OF YOU MADE VISITS TO THE OC AND SOME OF THAT WORK BEING CONDUCTED FIRSTHAND. WELL DONE.
I SEE THEM IN HERE. EVERYWHERE THAT I WAS TODAY, THEY WERE THERE IN MULTIPLES. SO I WANT TO GIVE A LOT OF PRAISE TO MATT AND HIS TEAM. I MEAN, THEY WERE EVERYWHERE TODAY. AND DOING A GREAT JOB OF WORKING WITH OUR CITIZENS.
AND THEN OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY RESILIENT. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WAYS TO BE BETTER IN THAT REGARD, AND, YOU KNOW, COMING THROUGH THE SEVERE WEATHER, WHICH CARMEL HASN'T BEEN IMPACTED BY FOR DECADES.
THANKFULLY WE'RE GOING TO LEARN TO BE BETTER FROM THIS.
BUT OUR CITIZENS ARE RESILIENT. EVERYONE WE TALKED TO TODAY, YOU KNOW, WAS PUTTING THEMSELVES, YOU KNOW, IN HARM'S WAY IN SOME OPPORTUNITIES, HELPING THEIR NEIGHBORS IF THEY WEREN'T AFFECTED, REACHING OUT.
WE HAD INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NOT HOME, AND THEIR NEIGHBORS WERE TAKING CARE OF THEM, AND JUST INCREDIBLE.
AND SO JUST VERY HONORED, HUMBLED TO BE A PART OF THE CITY LEADERSHIP HERE AND PART OF OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES PROGRAM. WE DECREASED OUR EOC ACTIVATION LEVEL BACK TO A LEVEL 3, MONITORING, AGAIN, WORKING TO ASSIST AND SUPPORT THOSE STILL IN OPERATION, MAINLY THE STREET DEPARTMENT, DOCS HAD SOME OF THEIR PERSONNEL WERE OUT WITH US TODAY. WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES OF HAMILTON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY LOOKING AT DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS TODAY, AND WE HAD 54 RESIDENCES THAT WE VISITED THAT WERE IMPACTED. FIVE OF THOSE WERE MAJOR DAMAGE.
22 MINOR, AND 27 AFFECTED. THESE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DAMAGE THAT WE APPLY AS WE LOOK AT SOME SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, OR POTENTIALLY SOME FEMA ASSISTANCE, WHICH, AGAIN, IS I WOULD SAY FAR OFF.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT CLOSE TO NUMBERS FOR FEDERAL DECLARATION, AND WE'RE REALLY STILL SHORT OF ANY TYPE OF SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANCE. SO 54 RESIDENTS AND THEN 13 BUSINESSES. SIX OF THOSE WITH MAJOR IMPACT.
SEVEN WITH MINOR AND ONE AFFECTED, AND WE'LL PROVIDE THAT LIST OUT TO YOU ALL SO YOU CAN ALL SEE THAT. MOST OF THE BUSINESSES WORKING WITH THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF ASSISTANCE THEY CAN GAIN. OVER THE NEXT WEEKS AND MONTHS, WE'LL UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S GAPS IN THERE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY THINK THEIR INSURANCE WILL PROVIDE AND WHAT THEY'LL ACTUALLY BE PROVIDED, AND SO THERE WILL BE MORE DISCUSSION THAT WE COULD HAVE ON TRYING TO FILL THAT GAP.
[00:05:03]
AND, AGAIN, WE ARE MANAGING THROUGH MYSELF AND ZACH'S OFFICE, OUR COSTS, SO THAT AS WE LOOK AT ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE STATE DISASTER RELIEF FUND, IF WE'RE MEETING OUR THRESHOLD, AND WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS ON THAT AS WELL.SO WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED. I DON'T HAVE ANY DOLLAR AMOUNTS AT THIS MOMENT. WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED A NUMBER OF PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THROUGH DONATIONS AS WELL THAT THE STREET DEPARTMENT, I THINK, HAS PROVIDED SOME INFORMATION TO YOU ON. SO THAT'S FANTASTIC, BUT OVERALL, STABLE, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING. AND -- BUT THEY'RE MANAGING RIGHT NOW, AND WE CONTINUE TO ASK THEM TO KEEP US INFORMED, IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL NEEDS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO THEM. AND I KNOW THEY WILL. SO WITH THAT, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAYBE WANTED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE FOR THEMSELVES AS WELL! ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE
COULD YOU JUST BRIEFLY JUST SAY, AGAIN, YOU SAID YOU HAD VISITED WITH DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA AND WHO ELSE?
>> HAMILTON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. SO WORKING ON THE DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. CHIEF, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING TO ASSIST RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES.
HOW MANY OF THE BUSINESSES ARE ACTUALLY UNABLE OR ARE CLOSED? WERE THERE ANY THAT COULD NOT CONDUCT BUSINESS BASED ON THE CONDITION OF THEIR FACILITIES?
>> YES, I KNOW OF TWO THAT ARE NOT OPERATING RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY. AGAIN, MANY OTHERS ARE, YOU KNOW, BOARDED UP SOME DOORS AND SOME WINDOWS, BUT THEY'VE GOT PEOPLE WORKING. THEY'VE GOT BUSINESS BEING CONDUCTED THERE.
>> PHONES ARE RINGING, COMPUTERS ARE ON, THAT KIND OF THING?
>> YEAH, TALKING WITH -- WE DID MAKE CONTACT WITH EVERYONE, BUT BUILDING OWNERS AND TENANTS OF DIFFERENT PROPERTIES AND, AGAIN, THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THEIR DAMAGES, AND KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON AT THIS TIME.
>> OKAY. SO THE TWO THAT ARE CLOSED, IS IT A SITUATION WHERE THESE ARE, LIKE, RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS OR ARE THEY OFFICES WHERE WE MIGHT PUT THEM UP IN SOME OTHER SPACE? IS THERE ANYTHING -- ARE THOSE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS BEING HAD RIGHT NOW?
>> NO, I HAVEN'T HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM.
AGAIN, THEY'RE STILL SORTING OUT WHAT THEY NEED AND THROUGH THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY ABOUT HOW THEY CAN QUICKLY GET BACK UP AND GOING, AND THAT MAY BE HAPPENING IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS THAT THEY COULD BE -- COMPLETE AN ASSESSMENT OF THEIR DAMAGES AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO GET THEM UP AND GOING, AND THEN BACK UP IN RUNNING.
>> FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, YOU MAY NOT WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY WHO THE BUSINESSES ARE BUT MAYBE IF YOU COULD LET THE COUNCIL KNOW PRIVATELY, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP IN THOSE KIND OF SITUATIONS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S INVOLVED, BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO GET PEOPLE OPERATIONAL AGAIN, I WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. GREAT JOB TO YOUR TEAM AND CARMEL PD AND THE STREET DEPARTMENT OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. SO I GUESS MY WIFE AND I HAVE THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION OF LOSING A PROPERTY AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS TO A TORNADO BEFORE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS WE HAD INITIALLY DUE TO THE DAMAGE AND NOT ABLE TO OPERATE OUT OF THE BUILDING WAS WERE WE ABLE TO SECURE OUR BUILDING PROPERLY, AND THEN, TWO, ONCE IT'S SECURED, SINCE AT THE TIME THE ALARM WASN'T WORKING, OTHER THINGS, IS HOW CAN LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MONITOR MY LOCATION AND ENSURE THAT I'M NOT A VICTIM OF A CRIME.
HAVE THE BUSINESSES THAT AREN'T ABLE TO OPERATE, HAVE THEY BEEN ABLE TO FULLY SECURE THEIR PROPERTIES AND THEN THOSE WITH HOMES WHO ARE MAYBE NOT ABLE TO STAY WITHIN THEIR HOMES, HAVE THEY BEEN ABLE TO SECURE THEIR PROPERTIES? AND I'M ASSUMING WE CAN HEAR FROM PD, BUT HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL LOOK OR OBSERVING THOSE PROPERTIES.
I'M SURE THERE'S NOT ANY CRIME OR VANDALISM OR
[00:10:04]
THEFT. >> I'LL LET THEM SPEAK TO THEIR PATROLS. THERE WAS NOT A BUSINESS OR A RESIDENCE THAT I CAME ACROSS TODAY THAT WAS OPEN.
I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE RESPONSE FROM A LOT OF THE BOARD UP COMPANIES, ESPECIALLY ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE. SOME BUSINESSES HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, AND WERE SECURED TO THAT POINT, ALREADY SECURED THEIR PROPERTY. BUT I'LL LET THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SPEAK TO SOME CH OF THEIR PATROLS.
>> CHIEF, OF THE FOUR, I GUESS, 54 RESIDENTIAL HOMES, FOUR MAJOR, YOU SAID?
ARE ANY OF THEM CONSIDERED INHABITABLE?
>> THERE'S A COUPLE FOR SURE THAT FOLKS ARE NOT ABLE TO LIVE IN.
>> AND THAT'S NOT ALL THE MAJORS BUT SOME OF THEM.
OKAY. >> AND AGAIN, I DID SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE MAJOR DAMAGE, AND THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF AT THIS TIME. THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES OR THEY'RE WITH FAMILY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY PUT THEM UP IN A HOTEL OR THEY'RE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. HAVE A
FOLLOW UP? >> TALKING ABOUT THE RESIDENCES, SO WHAT I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS SOME OF THE ELDERLY, PARTICULARLY IF THERE'S ANY ELDERLY THAT ARE BY THEMSELVES, MAYBE HAVE A DAMAGED VEHICLE, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE APPOINTMENTS THOSE SORT OF THINGS. IS THERE ANYBODY THAT HAS THAT SORT OF NEED?
>> COUNSELOR TAYLOR, I WAS HOPING WE COULD MOVE TO SOME OF THIS WHEN WE GET INTO THE ACTION, MAYBE WE COULD GET THE UPDATES FIRST TO KIND OF INFORM US BECAUSE THAT WAY WE CAN TALK ABOUT --
>> I WAS JUST SEEING IF THERE IS AN ISSUE, THAT'S WHY I'M
ASKING. >> HAVE NOT COME ACROSS ANYONE THAT'S NEEDED ANY OF THAT ASSISTANCE, AND WE HAVE CONTINUED TO EXPRESS THE MESSAGE THAT IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, YOU CAN CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
YOU CAN CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THROUGH CITY HALL TO LET US KNOW THAT YOU HAD THAT NEED, AND WE'LL HELP YOU FILL THAT
NEED. >> COUNSELOR, YOU HAD AN UPDATE FROM THE STREET DEPARTMENT AND THE MAYOR YOU WANTED TO READ?
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. YES, AS OF THIS MORNING, FROM STREET COMMISSIONER MATT HIGGINBOTHAM, CALLED 20 TANDEM SALT TRUCKS, TREE DEBRIS, MULTIPLE LOADS OF MISCELLANEOUS STORM DEBRIS, WHITESTOWN AND WESTFIELD HAVE SENT CREWS OVER THAT ARE ASSISTING. AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE THANKED THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES SUCH AS WHITESTOWN, WESTFIELD, AND NOBLESVILLE WHO ARE ASSISTING US THROUGH THIS AND PROVIDING EITHER PEOPLE APPARATUS, TRUCKS, AND OTHER SUPPORT. THEY ALSO CAME FROM MAYOR WANTED TO EXPRESS HER THANKS TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE STEPPED UP TO HELP
SO THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF DOING THIS.
WE HAVE THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE UPDATE, AND THEN NEXT WE'LL GO TO KIND OF THE ACTIONS ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SIMPLE UPDATES THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE AT THIS MOMENT BEFORE
[2. LONG-TERM RELIEF PLAN]
WE KIND OF MOVE INTO SOME ACTIONS? OKAY. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. IT SAYS ON THE AGENDA, LONG- TERM RELIEF PLAN. WE HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED TO COUNCIL, AND THEN WE HAVE POSSIBLY ANOTHER ACTION THAT WE CAN DISCUSS.FIRST WE'LL HAVE A MOTION WHETHER TO INTRODUCE THIS RESOLUTION. I WOULD ASK THAT WE PROBABLY JUST DISCUSS AND ACT ON THIS RESOLUTION FIRST, AND THEN WE Ú BIGGER PICTURE PLAN SECOND.
SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE?
>> SECOND? ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE RESOLUTIONS, DC 04072501. COUNCIL WOULD YOU READ THE SYNOPSIS.
>> THIS RESOLUTION PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO WAIVE APPLICABLE FEES COLLECTED THERETO DEPARTMENT OF CITY SERVICES FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES WHERE CONNECTED TO THE DAMAGE OF THE EMERGENCY WEATHER EVENT THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF EXECUTIVE ORDER SF-2025-03.
>> WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE A SPONSOR FOR THIS RESOLUTION FOR RECORD KEEPING, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS WAS KIND OF PUT TOGETHER. RAISE YOUR HAND.
[00:15:04]
GUESS ALL. YEAH. WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE LISTED AS A SPONSOR THAT THEY HAVE THE CHANCE, AND WE'LL PROVIDE A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION FOR THE MEDIA LATER ON.NICK, WOULD YOU -- DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS WHAT'S HAPPENED BEFORE WE AMEND FIRST? SO WE HAVE INTRODUCED AND SECOND. NICK COME UP HERE AND INTRODUCE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE, AND WE'LL DISCUSS AMENDMENTS.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, I'M NICK WEBER, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY OF CARMEL.
YOU IS AN OUTGROWTH OF A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS, LARGELY DESIGNED TO HELP OUR RESIDENTSRESIDENTS BUSINESSES MOVE ON AND DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS STORM.
AS CHIEF THACKER POINTED OUT, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, BUT IT WAS NOT ENTIRELY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY. SO THERE'S A RELATIVELY SMALL UNIVERSE OF FOLKS WHO NEED HELP WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ENTIRETY OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT THOSE FOLKS ABSOLUTELY DO NEED HELP. ONE OF THE THINGS WE THOUGHT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS QUICKLY WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH A CITY AS INDIVIDUALS OR BUSINESSES ARE LOOK K LOOKING TO REBUILD. PLAN REVIEW FEES, PERMIT FEES, THOSE COULD BE FEES THAT WE MIGHT CHARGE FOR ENGINEERING RIGHT-OF- WAY PERMITS.
ANYTHING THAT MIGHT CHALLENGE A HOMEOWNER OR BUSINESS WHO IS TRYING TO MAYBE TAKE A LIMITED POT OF INSURANCE MONEY AND RECREATE WHAT THEY LOST IN THE STORM. THE THOUGHT WAS LET'S NOT DIVERT THE MONEY TO THE CITY. LET'S LET THOSE DOLLARS FLOW BACK INTO WHAT THEY LOST. WITH THAT, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS A RESOLUTION THAT ALLOWS THE CITY ADMINISTRATION VIA THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES TO WAIVE FEES THAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY COLLECT ONCE A HOMEOWNER OR BUSINESS DEMONSTRATES THAT THEY SUFFERED A LOSS AND ARE REPAIRING SOMETHING THAT WAS DAMAGED FROM THE STORM.
SO WE HAVE NOT WORKED OUT EXACTLY WHAT THAT MECHANISM WILL BE. WE WILL HAVE TO DO THAT.
THAT WOULD BE A FUNCTION OF WHAT THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE PROVIDED YOU ALL SUPPORT THIS CONCEPT, BUT IT WOULD ALLOW US THEN TO OFFER THOSE ENTITIES A SENSE OF YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE A PIECE OF THAT INSURANCE AND PUT IT IN OUR COFFERS, WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU KEEP THOSE DOLLARS AND PUT IT BACK INTO YOUR SITE.
>> THANK YOU. I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS.
BEFORE THAT, I'M SURE YOU'RE WORKING ON SOMETHING THAT HAD OVERLAP TO THIS. DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS WHERE THE OVERLAP MIGHT BE AND THE AMENDMENTS YOU WANTED TO BRING UP?
>> ONE IS PROVIDING A MANDATE. ONE CAREER FROM TODAY, OR ONE YEAR FROM EXECUTION OF THE DOCUMENT. NUMBER TWO WOULD BE SECTION 3, IF SOMEBODY APPLIES TOFFEES WAIVED AND IT'S DECLINED FOR ANY REASON, THEY CAN REPLY IF THEY HAVE NEW INFORMATION.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE COMING FAST AND MAYBE NOTS KNOW EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, SO THE ABILITY TO RE-APPLY, AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION, THIS MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR MS. CARNES, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PERMIT FEES THAT WE ALL KIND OF THINK OF AS IT PERTAINS TO DOCS, YOU MENTIONED RIGHT-OF- WAY, WHICH WOULD PERTAIN TO ENGINEERING. BUT FOR THESE HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE PROBABLY HAD TO SHUT OFF GAS, WELL, ALL THEIR UTILITIES, DAMAGES ALSO APPLY TO CARMEL UTILITIES, WHICH IS NOT A DIRECT -- SOMETHING THE COUNCIL DOES NOT DIRECTLY CONTROL. TAP FEES, RECONNECT, THAT KIND OF STUFF, FOR WATER, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULD NEED TO DISCONNECT SEWER, BUT FOR THOSE TYPES OF FEES.
>> SORRY. THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT I THINK WHEN WE PUT THIS TOGETHER, WE LOOKED AT THINGS THAT THE DOCS COLLECTS, AND IN SOME CASES THEY DO COLLECT SOME OF THOSE, BUT YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
WE NEED TO WORK WITH ALL OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CAN FIT INTO THIS PROGRAM.
OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO BE AS PERMISSIVE AS POSSIBLE TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
THAT WOULD BE OUR BIAS WHEN WE DO THIS.
WE TRIED TO WRITE IT AS BROADLY AS POSSIBLE, AND WE WILL HAVE TO DETERMINE MUCH LIKE THE VALIDATION, OKAY, WHAT CAN FIT UNDER THIS SPOKE PROGRAM.
>> BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR. I LOVE THIS, AND I THINK IT'S GREAT.
[00:20:02]
BUT LEGALLY THIS PROBABLY ONLY PERTAINS TO DOCS, AND PROBABLY ENGINEERING. PRETTY MUCH OFFICES WITHIN CITY HALL. BUT THEN IN GOOD FAITH, WE WOULD EXPECT THE CITY TO WORK WITH CARMEL UTILITIES TO HONOR THIS IN THE SAME SPIRIT AS ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.>> THAT'S CERTAINLY OUR INTENT.
>> COUNSELOR SNYDER, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON YOUR AMENDMENTS NOW OR WAIT?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE. DO WE VOTE TO
REINTRODUCE THIS? >> REINTRODUCE THIS.
>> I WOULD MOVE TO AMEND THIS ADDING A TERMINATION DATE FOR APPLICATIONS ONE YEAR FROM THE EXECUTION OF THIS DOCUMENT, AND ADDING LANGUAGE SAYING THAT IN SECTION 3, SAYING THAT IF AN APPLICANT IS DENIED THE REPEAL OF A FEE, THEY CAN RE- APPLY PROVIDED THEY HAVE NEW INFORMATION. AND THE REASON, PERIOD, THAT'S -- THE REASON FOR THIS IS SIMPLY TO VERIFY THAT THE FEE BEING WAIVED WAS DIRECTLY RESULTED FROM THIS EVENT AND NOT JUST -- THEY WANTED TO GET A NEW FENCE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO GET
A NEW FENCE OR WHATEVER IT IS. >> I'LL SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT. MOTION SECONDED. ARE WE CLEAR ON WHAT THE AMENDMENTS ARE? ALL RIGHT.
ARE WE READY TO VOTE ON THE MOTION.
FIRST, ANY CONVERSATION ON THE AMENDMENTS, JUST THE AMENDMENTS? OKAY. WE CAN VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.
IT'S OKAY. EVERYONE'S CALLED IN LAST MINUTE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY A HARD TIME TODAY. WE SHOULD ALL BE ON THE BEACH.
ARE WE ACTING ON THE AMENDED RESOLUTION? OF COURSE OTHER AMENDMENTS CAN STILL BE MADE. ANY QUESTION OR CONVERSATIONS FOR DIRECTOR WEBER OR ANYONE ON THIS AMENDED RESOLUTION. COUNSELOR GREEN.
>> A QUICK QUESTION, IN SECOND TWO, YOU TALK ABOUT CITY OFFICIALS AND SOLE DISCRETION OF THE CITY OFFICIAL, I WOULD ASSUME IT WOULD BE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR, AND AS COUNCILLOR SNYDER SAID THERE MIGHT BE TWO, DOS AND ENGINEERING. HOW DO YOU DEFINE CITY OFFICIAL?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND PART OF THAT AS A FUNCTION OF FRANKLY US MOVING RATHER FAST TO GET THIS PUT TOGETHER. YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
WE ALL FALL UNDER THE MAYOR. I THINK AS WE WERE THINKING ABOUT THIS, WE WERE LARGELY THINKING ABOUT THIS AS A FUNCTION OF THE DOCS DIRECTOR.
BUT WE DID DRAFT IT SUCH THAT IF WE FIND SOMETHING THAT WE NEED A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY ON, WE HAVE THAT BAKED IN BY SAYING CITY OFFICIAL. BUT THAT'S -- MY EXPECTATION IS THAT WILL LARGELY LAND IN THE DOCS DIRECTORS.
>> AND THESE ARE ALL GREAT RESOLUTIONS, YOU KNOW, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS LATER, BUT THE LONG- TERM PLAN, ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL KIND OF REALLY GOOD LESSONS LEARNED.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDED RESOLUTION? COUNCILLOR LOCKE?
>> IMPACT AND STRUCTURE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE GONE THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT WONDERING, AS WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, 54 HOMES, 13 BUSINESSES, PROBABLY A LITTLE BROADER OF A SUBSET THAT MIGHT HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, DAMAGE RELATED TO THIS IN THAT THAT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE THE LIST, BUT DO YOU SEE THIS BEING A BURDEN OR DO YOU SEE THIS BEING KIND OF A NUMBERS GAME THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO DO?
>> DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES, I MEAN, THIS IS NOT A NATURAL EVENT, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY, AND SO WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE COLLECTING FEES OR NOT, WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE THIS. AND SO, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A HARDSHIP AT
>> I ALWAYS HATE ASKING QUESTIONS BASED ON YOUR PRIOR HISTORY AND PRIOR EXPERIENCE, BUT IS THIS SOMETHING KIND OF A STANDARD THAT'S DONE WITHIN MUNICIPALITIES OR, YOU KNOW, WITH ONE OF THE WAYS MUNICIPALITIES CAN KIND OF REACT, KIND OF A FIRST RESPONDER TYPE OF LEVEL BEFORE STATE AND FEDERAL OR IS THIS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING KIND
[00:25:03]
OF NEW?>> I THINK YOU'RE BEING PROACTIVE HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS I'VE -- MY EXPERIENCE OVER THE LAST FOUR AND A HALF YEARS, AND UNFORTUNATELY BEING IN A LOT OF PLACES HEAVILY DAMAGED, HAVING THIS TYPE OF TOOL AVAILABLE AND TAKE K ACTION ON IT IS BEING PROACTIVE, AND MORE COMMUNITIES NEED TO BE RESILIENT WITHIN THEIR OWN BOUNDARIES AND PROVIDING A MEANS FOR FOLKS TO GET RELIEF, AND YOU WILL SEE, TO YOUR POINT, COUNCILLOR LOCKE, THERE'S A LOT OF DAMAGE OUT THERE.
54 RESIDENTS HAVE STRUCTURAL IMPACT, BUT THERE IS FENCES AND THERE'S MINI BARNS AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE DAMAGED ON A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT JUST DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT, SO IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> ONE MORE THING. OUR PLAN WOULD BE AT THE END OF THIS TO REPORT BACK TO YOU THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO QUALIFIED, WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THIS, AND THE VALUE OF WHAT THOSE PERMITS WOULD HAVE BEEN, JUST TO GIVE YOU ALL A SENSE OF HOW THE IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM PLAYED OUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AN AMENDED RESOLUTION. DO WE HAVE ANY MOTION TO ACT? ALL RIGHT. MOVED AND SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE.
ALL RIGHT THIS PASSES 9-0. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. NOW MOVING ON, THE NEXT ONE, WE DON'T HAVE A RESOLUTION NUMBER FOR, BUT I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILLOR SNYDER TO PRESENT ON THIS AND SHARE SOME THOUGHTS THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO FOR NEXT STEPS. COUNCILLOR SNYDER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. AFTER SOME OF THE DUST CLEARED ON THIS, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A MECHANISM IN WRITING CODIFIED THAT OUTLINES WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT THE CITY IS GOING TO GIVE WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS AGAIN.
EVERYBODY ON THIS AIS HAS PROVIDED INPUT.
THERE'S A PROGRAM BROKEN DOWN INTO BLUE AND GOLD SECTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, OUTLINING THIS IS THE KIND OF RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE. THAT DOCUMENT IS IN DRAFT FORM, AND I IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MAYOR AND CITY STAFF, IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE RE-WORKED.
THE REASON WHY I FEEL LIKE IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING THIS UP RIGHT NOW IS THAT EVERYTHING'S FRESH IN OUR MIND.
ALL OF THESE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE DO, LIKE THIS RESOLUTION, AND THINGS WE CATCH ARE FRESH, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE NOTES OF THESE THINGS, CONTINUE TO GET INPUT FROM ALL THE COUNCILLORS, MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE HAVE IS A PROGRAM, EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM, ONLY ENACTED IN THE CASE THAT A MAYOR DECLARES A STATE OF EMERGENCY SO THAT A LOT OF THESE "WHAT IF" QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE ASKED ARE NO LONGER WHAT IFS. THERE IS A PLAN. AND A CONCERN OF MINE HAS BEEN IF WE CAN WAIT ON THIS, A FEW MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, THE IMPACT DIMINISHES AND DIMINISHES, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET AROUND TO IT, WHERE AS IF WE DO IT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STILL SEEING THE IMPACTS.
WE'RE STILL SEEING THE EFFECTS AND WE'VE GOT SOME MOMENTUM. SO THE COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF HAS GOTTEN THE FIRST TEN PAGES OF THIS DRAFT FRAMEWORK.
IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE VETTED. MAYOR FINKAM HAD INVITED MAYOR LAMB FROM SULLIVAN, UNFORTUNATELY THEIR COMMUNITY SUFFERED DEVASTATION FROM A TORNADO. I'M SURE THAT HIS INPUT, HIS RESOURCES, WHAT THEY DID.
WILL CONTINUE TO GO INTO THE DOCUMENT. NOW, THAT BEING SAID, WHEN I FIRST STARTED THINKING ABOUT THIS, AND THIS WAS ACTUALLY SEATED BY COUNCILLOR AYERS, HOW AT THE LAST MEETING IT HELPED RESIDENTS, AND COUNCILLOR AYERS BROUGHT UP WE HAVEN'T HELPED THE BUSINESSES WHICH ARE PRIMARILY IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, AND THEN ONE OF THE TWO BUSINESSES WE WERE TALKING
[00:30:01]
ABOUT, JEFF, HAS REACHED OUT AND IS IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH COUNCILLOR AYERS. WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE -- I ADMIT IT WAS A LITTLE NAIVE, BUT SOMETHING WE COULD ENACT RIGHT NOW REALLY SHOULD BE THOUGHT OUT FOR A LONGER PROGRAM. SO THIS CHAMP PROGRAM IS GOING TO BECOME THE LONG- TERM EMERGENCY RESPONSE.FOR THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO BUSINESSES, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT DATA, CHIEF. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE TWO THAT ARE UNINHABITABLE AT THE MOMENT.
AM I RECOLLECTING THAT? SO MY OPINION WOULD BE, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE THAT DATA SET, I WOULD SAY PERSONALLY TO CITY STAFF THOSE BUSINESSES SHOULD REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO THE CITY, WHETHER IT'S ANY SORT OFOF ASSISTANCE COULD BE ON A CASE BY CASE, AND THEN I FOR ONE, PLEDGE MY SUPPORT TO BACK THEM SHOULD ANY FUNDS BE NEEDED OR APPROPRIATED FOR THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A RESOLUTION TYPE THING GIVEN IT'S ONLY CURRENTLY THOSE TWO BUSINESSES, THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A TALL ORDER THAT NEEDS AN ENTIRE DOCUMENT TO SUPPORT.
PROBABLY TALKED IN A FEW CIRCLES HERE.
CHAMP PROGRAM, LONG- TERM, GOING TO BE AN AMAZING EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN. IMMEDIATE RESPONSE, AS FOR ME PERSONALLY, I WOULD -- MY VOTE TO REIMBURSE NICK AND HENRY AND THAT GROUP ON A CASE-BY- CASE BASIS, I'M WILLING TO PROVIDE THAT.
>> COUNCILLOR SNYDER, A FEW THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TIMING BEFORE WE GET INTO A DISCUSSION LIKE THIS.
SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS A CHANCE THERE MAY BE SOMETHING ACTIONABLE TONIGHT. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS. THERE'S A FEW THINGS I MIGHT SUGGEST, ONE, AND SAM MAY HAVE A QUESTION HERE. THE MAYOR'S EMERGENCY ORDER IS UNTIL THURSDAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY INDICATION IF THAT WILL BE RENEWED, BUT BEYOND THAT, OUR ABILITY TO APPROVE FUNDING AT AN EMERGENCY MEETING WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN IT IS DURING THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION, CORRECT?
>> GOOD EVENING, SAMANTHA CARNE, PROBATION COUNCIL.
THAT IS CORRECT. IF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS NOT APPROVED, THE FUNDING PORTION OF THAT WOULD NO LONGER FALL WITHIN THE EMERGENCY POWERS, AND SO WE WOULD NEED TO GO BACK TO OUR NORMAL PRACTICES FOR APPROPRIATING FUNDS. I HAVE NOT HEARD AT THIS POINT WHETHER SHE INTENDS TO EXTEND THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HEARD, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY FIND THAT OUT.
>> SO ALONG WITH THAT, SO HERE'S THE THINGS I WAS THINKING, AND COUNCIL CAN DISCUSS THIS TOO. WITHIN THE EMERGENCY ORDER, IF YOU WANTED TO -- IF THE COUNCIL WANTED TO ACT ON SOMETHING FOR THE CHAMPLAIN IMMEDIATELY, IT WOULD NEED TO EITHER BE BY THURSDAY, WHICH I KNOW THE QUORUM ISSUES MAY BE DIFFERENT LATER IN THE WEEK FOR SOME OF THE COUNCILLORS, AND FOR TRANSPARENCY SEEK, NOT IN TOWN TO WITNESS WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THE OTHER OPTION THAT WAS PRESENTED, I TALKED TO PEOPLE, WAS HAVING A COMMITTEE MEETING DISCUSS SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS.
I WAS THINKING OF DOING THIS AS A COMMITTEE OF A WHOLE, MONDAY WAS THROWN OUT AS A DAY FOR A COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE THAT WE COULD DO THIS. THAT WOULD BE A COMMITTEE, WE COULD NOT ACT UNLESS THE MAYOR RENEWED THE ORDER AND MADE A MEETING, BUT WE COULD GET SOMETHING SENT TO COUNCIL FOR OUR APRIL 21ST MEETING IF WE HAD A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON MONDAY. SO THOSE ARE SOME OPTIONS, TIMING- WISE OF WHAT WE COULD DO, WOULD BE TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING BY THURSDAY OR NEXT WEEK IT WOULD BE ONLY A COMMITTEE MEETING UNLESS THE EMERGENCY ORDER IS RENEWED AND THEN WE COULD CONTINUE IT IF WE FELT OR ON MONDAY, IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS PLUSHD FLUSHED OUT, IT COULD BE MOVED TO COUNCIL BACK FOR THE 21ST, WHETHER AN ADD- ON ITEM OR ON THE AGENDA. THOUGHTS, COUNCILLOR
TAYLOR. >> SO WITH THE EMERGENCY ORDER, THE ONLY THING WE'RE FORE GOING IS THAT IF WE APPROPRIATE, WE MUST APPROPRIATE VIA AN ORDINANCE, AND THEN ORDINANCE REQUIRES TWO HEARINGS UNLESS WE DECIDE TO SUS SPEND THE RULES.
THE ONLY THING WE WOULD FOREGO WAITING IS HAVING TO SUSPEND THE RULES ON AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AND ACT ON IT
IMMEDIATELY. >> IT WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE PUBLICLY NOTICED.
>> THE MEETING WOULD HAVE TO BE PUBLICLY NOTICED
[00:35:02]
AND THE APPROPRIATION WOULD HAVE TO BE PUBLICLY NOTICED.>> THAT'S A SEVEN-DAY NOTICE REQUIREMENT FOR THE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE?
>> I THINK IT'S TWO WEEKS. AM I CORRECT ON THAT, ZACH? YEAH.
>> SO UNDER THAT POINT, IF WE HAD A MEETING ON MONDAY --
>> UNLESS THE MAYOR RENEWED THE ORDER, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A COMMITTEE MEETING. COULDN'T BE A EMERGENCY COUNCIL MEETING LIKE WE'RE HAVING NOW UNLESS THE MAYOR RENEWED THE ORDER.
LOCKE. >> AS A PERSON WHO LOVES BUREAUCRACY MORE THAN ANYBODY, IF WE CAN GET THE CITY COUNCIL TO THE COUNSELOR SNYDER'S POINT TO TALK TO THE BUSINESSES AND FIND OUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING OF PRESSING NEED, TOOLS OR STRUCTURES OR THINGS WE CAN DO AS A CITY WITH A PROGRAM THAT WE COULD GET APPROVED UNDER THE ORDER BY THURSDAY, THAT WOULD BE EXCEPTIONAL.
IF NOT, MAYBE WHAT WE ASK THE MAYOR TO DO THEN IS EXTEND THE ORDER TO GET THROUGH THE PERIOD FOR A WEEK OR SO TO GET US TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN MAKE THE EMERGENCY MOVES TO HELP THESE BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NEED. SO IT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE FLOAT TIME.
I THINK THE IDEA OF TURNING AROUND A CONCEPT WHERE, AGAIN, THE PLEA TO THE PUBLIC IS IF YOU'VE GOT AN ISSUE, IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT IS STALLING THE WORK BEING DONE TO GET YOU BACK INTO YOUR BUSINESS, AND GENERATING REVENUE OR GETTING THAT STARTED, PLEASE SHARE WITH THE CITY STAFF SO WE CAN START TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP YOU.
THIS IS KIND OF THE ISSUE OF FIRST IMPRESSION FOR THE CITY OF CARMEL. THIS IS A PERFECT STORM OF SORTS, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO HEAR FROM MAYOR OF SULLIVAN HERE IN A MINUTE ABOUT A BROADER, AND MORE SOPHISTICATED AND HARDER STORM TO DEAL WITH.
WE'LL BELOW THE THRESHOLD WHERE WE'RE GOING TO TRIGGER POTENTIALLY STATE. WE WILL NOT TRIGGER FEDERAL SUPPORT. SO WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE ALL OF THE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THIS WILL BE RECEIVING EITHER THE DIRECT SUPPORT FROM THEIR INSURANCE OR THEIR OWN PURPOSES AND/OR CITY SUPPORT, SO THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING TEST CASE FROM BUREAUCRATIC PROCESS AND THE CITY PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE WHILE FOR THE PEOPLE AFFECTED, IT IS A HORRIFIC AND DISASTROUS EVENT, IT WAS A NARROW ONE, WHICH GIVES US THE ABILITY TO HONE WHAT WE CAN FEEL AS A CITY TO FILL THE GAPS.
THE GOAL HERE IS TRULY THAT AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ENSURING THAT THOSE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE, IN CARMEL, AND WILL NOT BE TRIGGERED IN A PLACE WHERE THEY WILL BE RECEIVING STATE OR FEDERAL SUPPORT BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE STORM THAT CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF BY EACH OTHER, OUR NEIGHBORS, AND US AS A CITY. I THINK, AGAIN, BACK TO THE BUREAUCRACY, THE IDEA OF LET'S RUN THIS TO GROUND FROM CITY PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING YOU CAN BRING BACK TO US THIS WEEK, BEFORE THAT ORDER IS UP, I WILL ECHO MR. SNYDER'S SENTIMENT THAT I WOULD BE READY TO MOVE ON SOMETHING TO HELP SUPPORT THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NEED AS SOON AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
>> SO ALONG THOSE LINES, AND THEN MAYBE THE COUNCIL CAN MAKE A MOTION. COUNSELLOR SNYDER MADE A COMMENT THAT WE HAVE TWO BUSINESSES MAYBE IN THE NEED OF IMMEDIATE
NOT OPERATING. >> WE HAD A MOTION, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE A RESOLUTION MADE UP. A MOTION MADE AT OUR PREVIOUS MEETING TO APPROPRIATE CITY RELIEF. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE, MAYBE AT TONIGHT'S MEETING WE COULD GET THOSE TWO BUSINESSES TAKEN CARE OF WITH A MOTION, AND THEN WE CAN FLUSH OUT A LONGER TERM SOLUTION GIVEN MORE TIME TO DISCUSS.
>> THE THING IS WE DON'T KNOW THEIR NEEDS
ARE. >> THAT'S EXACTLY MY POINT.
>> SO, I MEAN, LEARLY WE COULD APPROPRIATE X DOLLAR AMOUNT AS A PLACE HOLDER, AND ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE DOLLARS, GOING BACK TO LAST OCTOBER, AS WE FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL THROUGH THE BUDGET AND I THOUGHT DID REALLY WELL, AND WE RETAINED A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY, AND EVERYBODY UP HERE HAD AN OPINION ON KIND F WHAT TO DO, BUT THE GENERAL CONSENSUS OF THIS WHOLE BODY WAS LET'S KEEP IT IN A SAFE SPOT WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND IN CASE THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY.
WELL, I'M VERY PROUD THAT WE DID THAT BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE THAT MONEY THAT MANY COMMUNITIES OTHERWISE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE, BUT I DON'T KNOW -- ONE OF THE BUSINESSES IS BAD. VERY BAD.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S FUNDING THAT CAN GET THEM IN THERE TEMPORARILY OR IF IT'S GOING TO BE A REPLACEMENT, AND TO COUNCILLOR LOCKE'S POINT, AND FEEDBACK FROM EVERYBODY UP
[00:40:02]
HERE, UNTIL WE HAVE THAT DATA, AND IF WE COULD GET IT BY THE END OF THE WEEK, I DON'T KNOW.AND÷÷ COUNCILLOR AYERS HAS RELATIONSHIPS WITH A COUPLE OF THESE BUSINESSES BECAUSE IT'S HER DISTRICT, MAYBE SHE NEEDS TO SIT AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU AND THE BUSINESSES.
>> THANKS, COUNCILLOR. MUCH LIKE BUT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT CHIEF THACKER HAS DONE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS, HE'S LOOKED AT THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURES, AND ARE THEY SAFE, ARE THEY HABITABLE. I'M FOCUSING A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE INSIDE. IS THE BUSINESS ABLE TO OPERATE.
WE HAVE STARTED REACHING OUT. WE HAVE -- I SPOKE TO ONE OF THE TWO BUSINESSES THAT CHIEF THACKER TALKED ABOUT BEING CLOSED. THEY DO EXPECT TO OPEN TOMORROW. SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO BEGIN SERVING THEIR CUSTOMERS AGAIN STARTING TOMORROW.
WILL IT BE AS IT WAS BEFORE? NO.
THEY LOST PROBABLY THE USABILITY OF 1,500 SQUARE FEET OF THEIR BUILDING, BUT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEIR SERVICES TO THEIR CUSTOMERS IN THE BALANCE OF THEIR SPACE AND ARE WORKING THROUGH ESTIMATING WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO REPAIR AND REPLACE AND THEY THINK IT WILL PROBABLY BE OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER THAT IT WILL TAKE. I GUESS MY POINT IS, THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT ARE NOT YET EVIDENT THAT SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES WILL NEED DOWN THE FUTURE, SO I THINK WE CAN DO THIS OUTREACH THAT WE'RE DOING NOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR KNEES ARE NOW, BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF SOMEBODY COMES BACK IN TWO MONTHS AND SAYS THIS IS THE CHALLENGE I'M HAVING NOW TO GET FULLY OPERATIONAL. SO I THINK THIS WILL BE A LONG- TERM ISSUE.
>> COUNCILLOR, WE'RE ALL WAITING OVER HERE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. YEAH, SO A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON HERE AS FAR AS GETTING SOMETHING DONE.
I GUESS THE WAY I'VE LOOKED AT IT WHEN COUNCILLOR SNYDER REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT THIS WAS THAT WE WOULD BE ACTING AS A BRIDGE TO HELP BUSINESSES WHILE THEY DEAL WITH THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY, ET CETERA. I CERTAINLY WANT TO BE HELPFUL.
I DON'T WANT TO JUST BLINDLY DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IF WE HAD 50 BUSINESSES, WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW THIS ALL -- IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE FUTURE, WE HAVE TO BEWARE THAT WHAT WE DO NEEDS TO BE SUSTAINABLE. NEEDS TO BE REASONABLE, AND IT NEEDS TO BE WELL THOUGHT OUT. AND WE HAVE AN EXPERT WHO'S BEEN VERY PATIENTLY WAITING ON THE LINE. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MAYOR LAMB, HE MAY HAVE HAD AN OFFICIAL PRESENTATION PREPARED, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, MAYOR LAMB, WHEN YOU WENT THROUGH YOUR SITUATION IN THESE FIRST FEW DAYS, WERE THERE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY NEEDED THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT JUST WAS NOT THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS OF GETTING SOMEONE TO BOARD THINGS UP OR GETTING A NEW PHONE LINE INSTALLED OR WAITING FOR INSURANCE TO HAND OUT THE CHECK? WERE THERE SHORT- TERM THINGS THAT YOU SEEM TO BE HEAR ABOUT OVER AND OVER, IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE ME -- I WOULD LIKE THAT CONTEXT BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER ON SPENDING ANY MONEY YET.
>> I'VE BEEN REFERRED TO AS A LOT OF THINGS, AN EXPERT, THAT'S BEEN KIND OF RARE, AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME ON MARCH 30TH OF 2023, THAT I WOULD BE KIND OF CONSIDERED THE TORNADO MAYOR, I WOULD HAVE SAID YOU'RE CRAZY, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUT, UNFORTUNATELY SINCE MY TIME LEAVING OFFICE AND NOW JOINING, AME, A PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF CARMEL, AND CITIES AND TOWNS ACROSS INDIANA, WE WANT COMMUNITIES TO SUCCEED, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS KIND OF A ROLE THROUGH MY ROLE WITH AME I HAVE TO TAKE ON. I HAVE BEEN TO WINCHESTER, MOUNT VERNON OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND CONTINUE TO HELP MAYOR WILSON IN THE CITY OF SULLIVAN WITH HIS RECOVERY EFFORTS.
IT'S KIND OF AN INTRODUCTION THERE SO TO SPEAK.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, AND NO MATTER WHAT YOU DECIDE, NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE HAPPY, AND I KNOW OUR INITIAL GOAL WAS TO TRY TO MAKE EVERYONE WHOLE, TRY TO MAKE PEOPLE -- BRING THEM BACK IN BUSINESS, HELP THEM IN THEIR RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
JUST KNOW GOING IN, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY, ESPECIALLY WHEN CITY GOVERNMENT STARTS TO PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS OR, SO TO SPEAK.
THAT'S PROBABLY A TERRIBLE WAY TO PUT IT.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, KUDOS TO THIS TEAM HERE THAT YOU HAVE ASSEMBLED THAT ARE TRYING TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, SO TO SPEAK. BECAUSE YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT BUDGETS A MINUTE AGO.
EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD A RAINY DAY FUND OR WHATEVER, MONEY PUT AWAY, I HAVE YET TO SEE A CITY GOVERNMENT ACROSS THE STATE OF
[00:45:04]
INDIANA PUT INTO THEIR BUDGET A NATURAL DISASTER LINE.MAYBE AS THESE INCREASE OR WHATEVER, THE SEVERITY OF IT, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU SEE IN THE FUTURE. BUT SOME OF THE THINGS, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, WE DIDN'T REALLY DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE TWO WHEN IT COME TO CITY GOVERNMENT. WE WERE JUST THERE TO SOMEWHAT ASSIST IN WHAT YOU NEED. OBVIOUSLY THE CITY OF SULLIVAN MIGHT HAVE HAD LESS BUREAUCRATIC OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY, RED TAPE, SO TO SPEAK, WHEN IT COMES TO AN EMERGENCY SITUATION LIKE THIS. WE JUST KIND OF STEPPED UP AND STARTED WORKING.
WE WERE ALSO VERY CAUTIOUS TO DO A LOT OF HANDS-ON WORK.
WE WERE CAUTIOUS TO START ADMINISTRATING DOLLARS BECAUSE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PART OF IT. FRANKLY, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY. THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO CONSIDER, WHO'S GOING TO BES ADMINISTRATOR. I KNOW YOU'RE WANTING TO TALK TO THE TWO BUSINESSES DIRECTLY, AND GET THEM UP AND GOING. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING YOU HAVE 54 RESIDENTIAL, AND I HEARD THE COMMENT DURING THE MEETING, NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO REALIZE WHAT THEY NEED.
RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO ADVISE YOU, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY NEED. UNTIL THEY DO THE FULL ASSESSMENT, UNTIL THE INSURANCE AGENCY COMES IN. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A FEMA ASSESSMENT. I WAS HEARING CHIEF THACKER SAY THAT PROBABLY NOT. PROBABLY MIGHT NOT QUALIFY FOR THAT. AND ALSO WHILE I'M RANTING HERE, I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO CHIEF THACKER.
THE CITY OF CARMEL IS IN OUTSTANDING HANDS.
THE CHIEF HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY, AND WE KIND OF NAVIGATED THROUGH THESE WATERS TOGETHER. THERE IS NO COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH. I THINK THE CHIEF WILL TELL YOU TO COME BACK FROM A NATURAL DISASTER, SO BEING INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE, KUDOS TO YOU, BUT I WANT TO MAKE THE RECORD REFLECT THAT YOU HAVE AN OUTSTANDING LEADER WHO DOES AN OUTSTANDING JOB THERE. YOU'RE IN GREAT HANDS THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M BETTER AT Q AND A, INSTEAD OF RAMBLING HERE ON WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED. ONE THING THAT I HAD TO DEAL WITH AS A MAYOR, WE LITERALLY HAD TO STOP ASSISTANCE BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE WERE COMING IN BEFORE WE EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO ASSESS. WE HAD VOLUNTEERS WANTING TO COME IN, GO INTO AN AREA. I COULD TALK FOR HOURS ON THIS TORNADO, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE CAME UP AGAINST. YEAH, I'LL KIND OF OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS, IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OF MAYBE WHAT WE DEALT WITH.
>> SO WE HAVE COUNSELLOR JOSHI HAD A QUESTION.
IF COUNCILLORS HAVE QUESTIONS FOR
YOU. >> SURE, I APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERIENCE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS TRAGIC, AN EXPERIENCE NO MAYOR, NO CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO UNDERGO, BUT I'M CERTAINLY LEANING INTO EXPERIENCE AS VERY IMPORTANT. I REALLY JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ITERATE FOR EVERYBODY OUT THERE, WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM THIS COUNCIL IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COMPASSION, AND THE DESIRE TO HELP OUR FELLOW FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT THIS IS ULTIMATELY ALL ABOUT. BUT IN THE DESIRE TO ENSURE THAT WE DO SOMETHING GOOD, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT THE PRECEDENT THAT WE'RE SETTING IS AND WHAT LONG- TERM OUTCOMES MAY BE. I THINK WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE ENACT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN SOMEONE IS AFFECTED BY SOMETHING, I KNOW IN MY PRACTICE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ASK THEM WHAT THEY NEED.
WHERE ARE YOU AT SO THAT I CAN MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE AT.
NOT SO THAT I CAN MAKE AN ASSUMPTION OF WHAT YOU NEED AND DELIVER MAYBE SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T.
I THINK THAT ASSESSMENT OF EACH BUSINESS, AND YOU KNOW, COUNSELLOR AYERS, COUNCILLOR SNYDER, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THESE BUSINESSES, THAT IS THE ULTIMATE ISSUE TO COME TO, AND IF WE CAN THEN ADDRESS THAT, I THINK WE WILL HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB AS A COUNCIL. THAT'S MY MINDSET AND WHERE I'M COMING FROM ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I AGREE, I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO THINGS, SHORT- TERM AND LONG-TERM. THE LONG- TERM IS COMING UP WITH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A I SEE TWO SITUATIONS, ONE WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS JUMPING IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS JUMPING IN. EVERYONE IS GOING TO INSURANCE COMPANIES. THERE'S GOING TO BE PROBABLY SOME GAPS OR A ROLE THAT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, A CITY CAN PLAY, KIND OF REALLY FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN BE HELPING, KIND OF BE A GAP FILLER, OR A BRIDGE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME. THAT WOULD BE GREAT, YOU KNOW.
I THINK WE WOULD BE WAY AHEAD IN DEVELOPING AN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN. YOU KNOW, SO FOR THE NEXT CITY
[00:50:02]
COUNCIL, POOF, SPG SOMETHING HAPPENS, THERE'S A PLAYBOOK AND THE CITY COUNCIL KNOWS HOW FAR THEY CAN GO TO HELP THE CITY, LIKE DR. JOSHI SAID. FEMA, THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, THE DAMAGE IS HORRIBLE BUT DOESN'T HIT THE TRIGGERS. SO THEN IN THOSE SITUATIONS, WHAT CAN MUNICIPALITIES DO AND HOW FAR WE CAN ACTUALLY GO. THAT'S KIND OF THE LONG- TERM THING THAT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LEAN INTO THE EXPERTS, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE GOOD MAYOR IS SAYING, AND YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH A LONG SUSTAINING PLAN SO WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY OPERATION PLAYBOOK THAT CAN GO INTO PRACTICE. THE SHORT- TERM IS RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, KIND OF REALLY GETTING THAT FEEDBACK ON WHAT DO PEOPLE, WHAT DO BUSINESSES REALLY NEED. YOU KNOW, WHAT THE COST IS.WHAT CAN WE ACTUALLY DELIVER ON, AND THEN MEETING THAT.
AND DOESN'T SOUND LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GET HERE TONIGHT. MAYBE COMING UP WITH A GAME PLAN ON COLLECTING INFORMATION THAT WE NEED SO WE CAN ACT ON IT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EARLY NEXT WEEK.
I DON'T KNOW. BUT, YEAH, THAT'S MY FEEDBACK.
>> NICK, DID ANY OF THE BUSINESSES SPECIFY OR GIVE A LIST OF THIS IS WHAT I NEED RIGHT NOW? THANKS, COUNCILLOR AYERS. THE ONE BUSINESS THAT I SPOKE TO THAT'S OPENING TOMORROW MADE IT A POINT TO SAY DON'T PUT ME AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
I'M CLOSED NOW. I'LL BE OPEN TOMORROW, AND THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY HAVE IT WORSE THAN ME.
DON'T FORGET ME, BUT I DON'T NEED ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR. WHEN WE DRILLED INTO IT, BECAUSE I STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT HE WAS HAVING, THE ONE ISSUE THAT CAME UP SORT OF SPECIFICALLY WAS HE HAD SOME WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL BRUSH TREES, SORT OF THE SCRUB TREES ALONG THE EDGE OF HIS PROPERTY THAT HAVE COLLECTED INSULATION FROM THE BUILDING.
THEY ARE DECORATED LIKE CHRISTMAS TREES WITH INSULATION. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD GET THOSE TRIMMED SO THOSE WOULD GO AWAY. THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THAT WAS SORT OF AN IMMEDIATE NEED.
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GETTING HIM BACK IN THE BUSINESS, BUT IT GOES TOWARDS THE VIABILITY, RIGHT, OF HIS BUSINESS AND GETTING CUSTOMERS IN AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY, TO DR.
JOSHI'S POINT. WE MIGHT BE SEEING SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN A LINE, IF HE STARTS HAVING TROUBLE WITH HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. WE JUST DON'T QUITE KNOW ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WILL COME OUR WAY I THINK AS IT RELATES TO THIS. WE ARE BENEFITTED, I THINK, AS CHIEF THACKER TALKED ABOUT, THE UNIVERSE IS NOT HUGE IN THE COMPANIES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, THE BUSINESSES WE'RE DEALING WITH, AND THAT'S A
BLESSING. >> COUNCILLOR TAYLOR, AND COUNCILLOR SNYDER.
>> FROM UNFORTUNATE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I THINK WHERE THE CITY CAN PLAY A ROLE, OBVIOUSLY YET TO BE DETERMINED, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST STEP AS I MENTIONED BEFORE IS EVERYBODY WANTS TO SECURE THEIR PROPERTY, A BUSINESS, AFTER IT'S DAMAGED LIKE THAT, AND THEN YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS IT'S STRUCTURALLY SOUND, CAN BE ENTERED, YOU KNOW, IS THE CLEAN UP, AND THAT'S MAYBE A WAY THAT THE CITY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ADDITIONALLY WITH BUSINESSES, BUT THEN AFTER THAT, YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU CAN GET BACK OPEN AND OPERATE. RIGHT? AND BUSINESS INSURANCE USUALLY HAS FUNDING AVAILABLE TO EITHER HELP TEMPORARILY LOCATE, RECOVER LOST REVENUES THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ALREADY EARNED. AND THEN EVERYBODY, INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES INSURANCE NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. SO UP FRONT, YOU KNOW, EARLY ON IS, YOU KNOW, THOSE ITEMS LIKE CLEANUP, ET CETERA, THAT MAYBE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP. BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE TONIGHT, AND I THINK AS LONG AS YOU'RE OUT THERE TALKING WITH THEM AND GATHERING DATA, AND BRINGING IT BACK TO US, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE EMERGENCY ORDER IS STILL IN PLACE, YOU KNOW, I THINK -- I TRUST YOUR TEAM AND CHIEF THACKER, AND FOLKS ON THE THIS DAIS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS FOR THEM.
>> THANK YOU, WELL SAID, COUNCILLOR TAYLOR.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLARIFYING SOMETHING FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF WORDS UP HERE. ASSISTANCE IS NOT ALWAYS IN THE FORM OF MONEY OR CASH INJECTIONS. WE'RE NOT SITTING HERE SAYING WE NEED TO THROW MONEY NECESSARILY AT BUSINESSES, AND YOU HEARD THE COUNCILLOR USE THE WORD BRIDGE, THAT GOAL OR THAT SENTIMENT, WHICH I AGREE WITH, WOULD BE IN
[00:55:06]
THE VERY EARLIEST STAGES OF HAVING A MECHANISM THAT IS WELL THOUGHT OUT, AND THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS WHERE WE COULD GET -- IF A BUSINESS HAD THE ABILITY -- THEY NEEDED A FEW THINGS TO REOPEN, BUT COULDN'T WAIT FOR INSURANCE TO KICK IN OR THAT PAYMENT TWO, THREE MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, THAT'S WHERE THAT BRIDGE WOULD BE. THE CITY WOULD GET THAT MONEY BACK, AND THAT SO I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO THINK WE ARE UP HERE TALKING ABOUT THROWING MONEY AT BUSINESSES, BUT WHERE I SEE BUSINESSES NEEDING ASSISTANCE IN THE LONG- TERM WHERE MONEY AND NOT SO MUCH TAXPAYER DOLLAR MONEY IS IMPORTANT, IS LEANING ON NICK AND HENRY, AND THE CITY BECAUSE SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS, EVEN THE ONES THAT ARE OCCUPIABLE, THEY'RE GOING TO ASK THEMSELVES QUESTIONS. MY BUILDING NEEDS A LOT OF WORK.IS IT WORTH IT? TELL MY WHY IT'S WORTH IT, OR HEY, WE'RE GOING TO REBUILD. HOW CAN YOU HELP US IN THAT REBUILD PROCESS. CAN YOU PUT US SOMEWHERE ELSE WHILE WE REBUILD ON THIS PROPERTY OR WORKINGWORKING THE DOCS AND THE LOOK OR THE DESIGN OR THE BEST USE OF THE LAND MIGHT BE THAT THEY'VE BEEN ON FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS.
SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT ASSISTANCE IS NOT ALWAYS MONEY BUT IT'S EXPERTISE, AND IT IS -- WE WANT EVERYBODY BUSINESS IN CARMEL TO BE SUCCESSFUL, PERIOD, AND WE'VE GOT ENOUGH PROFESSIONALS THAT CAN HELP WITH THAT. TO EVERYBODY'S POINT, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN ACTION TODAY. WHAT I WOULD LOVE, THOUGH, IS AS YOU TALK TO PEOPLE AND HEAR THINGS, IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT MAYBE IS NOT DIRECTLY TO THE BUSINESS BUT LIKE THE CLEANUP, FOR INSTANCE, OR DO TREES NEED CLEARED, THAT KIND OF THING THAT'S MORE OF A GLOBAL, EASY THING FOR THE CITY TO KNOCK OUT.
LET US COLLECTIVELY KNOW, AND THEN WE CAN GIVE FEEDBACK OF WHETHER OR NOT WE FEEL THAT THAT IS THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT OR NOT, IS MY PERSONAL OPINION.
>> ALSO REAL QUICK, IF I COULD JUST ADD AFTER THIS CONVERSATION, AND THEN I'LL BE OUT OF YOUR HAIR. I THINK GENERALLY WHAT I'M HEARING HERE, IF I CAN LEAVE YOU ADVICE, AND I THINK YOU'RE ON IT, YOU'RE DOING AN AMAZING CONVERSATION IN THIS CONVERSATION. BEING THE FACILITATOR AND BEING THE POINT OF CONTACT IS SO IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE, WE USED CITY HALL AND CITY FACILITIES AND CITY STAFF BASICALLY TO GATHER THIS DATA. YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO HELP PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY, GET THEM BACK TO WORK. I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH, AND I'M SURE YOUR TEAM FEELS THE SAME, TRACKING EVERYTHING YOU DO, EVERY HOUR YOU SPENT, SENDING YOUR CITY DPW DEPARTMENT OR WHATEVER OUT DOING CLEANUP, DOING THOSE IN- KIND CONTRIBUTIONS, DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO BE THAT FACILITATORS, JUST, I CHECK MARKED THE HIGHLIGHTED, THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF YOUR FOLKS ARE INSURED, CHECK, THAT'S GREAT.
THE FACT THAT I HEARD EARLIER YOUR COMMUNITY IS STABLE. CHECK, AND THE FACT THAT YOU'RE PUTTING TOGETHER AN IMMEDIATE PLAN AND A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, THAT'S AMAZING, AND IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT CHURCH ASKS FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE TAKEN ON RESIDENTIAL FOLKS AS WELL. BUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE CHURCHES, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS CAN ALSO STEP UP. THROUGH YOUR REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, THROUGH A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THAT CARMEL I'M SURE HAS ESTABLISHED, AND ALSO WE DID A LOT OF PARTNERING WITH OUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO IN CARMEL.
IT KIND OF TOOK THE CITY GOVERNMENT OUT OF IT.
KIND OF TOOK THE POLITICS AND PEOPLE QUESTIONING THE DECISIONS THAT CITY GOVERNMENT WAS MAKING. WE MADE SURE WE BROUGHT IN THE UNITED WAY AND SALVATION ARMY, AND CHIEF THACKER CAN TALK TO YOU MORE AFTER THE MEETING ABOUT THE VOAD METHOD, THE VOLUNTEERS OFFERING ASSISTANCE IN DISASTER. THEY CAN HELP YOU AS WELL.
WHILE YOU'RE PUTTING TOGETHER A CARMEL PLAYBOOK, THERE IS A SPECIFIC PLAYBOOK THAT IS USED BY COMMUNITIES ALL OVER, BUT FACILITATING THE CLEANUP, BEING THE POINT OF CONTACT, CITY GOVERNMENT, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO FINANCIALLY FINANCIALLY ASSIST, THAT'S AWESOME. IF YOU CAN PUT SOMETHING CREATIVE THERE.
POINTING PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. A FEW THOUGHTS I HAD EARLIER FOR
YOUR DISCUSSION. >> COUNCILLOR
LOCKE. >> THE IDEA OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW CITY, STATE, FEDERAL, NONPROFITS, AFFILIATES, ALL THE COOL WORDS WE GET TO USE THESE DAYS, WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN WOULD BE REALLY BENEFICIAL.
WOULD LOVE AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS TO USE YOU AND AIM AND YOUR EXPERTISE FIRSTHAND TO BUILD OUT WHAT THE LONG- TERM STRATEGY LOOKS LIKE. AGAIN, WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS STORM, WHICH, AGAIN, WAS NOT A HUGE STORM, HIJACK FOR US AND THE PEOPLE IT IMPACTED BUT
[01:00:01]
A SMALL FOOTPRINT OF THE IMPACT, WHICH ALLOWS US TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS SITTING IN THE BUILDING, WHICH WAS RIGHT IN THE PATH. IT COULD BE GONE.WE COULD HAVE BEEN IN A WAY WORSE SITUATION THAN WE ARE.
WHICH GIVES US THE ABILITY AND THE STRATEGY AND COFFERS, TO PUT US IN A BETTER POSITION MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID TO LEAD YOUR COMMUNITY THROUGH AND FOR PUTTING YOUR EFFORT AND ENERGY BACK INTO PLACES AROUND THE STATE, AROUND THE COUNTRY AND US SPECIFICALLY. SO THAT'S MORE OF A QUESTION MOVING FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO GET INTO DETAILS TONIGHT.
>> WE'LL GET MAYORMAYOR IF WE HAVE A COMMITTEE MEETING TO DISCUSS A LONG- TERM STRATEGY.
WE'LL MAKE SURE AND EXTEND AN INVITE THERE.
>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR, TONIGHT WE'RE TALKING MOSTLY ABOUT BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS OWNERS, AND NOT SO MUCH THE RESIDENTS IN THIS EMERGENCY ACTION TONIGHT, AM I CLEAR ON THAT?
TABLE. >> NOT ACTION, BUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAINLY, LONG- TERM PLANNING.
>> LONG-TERM PLANNING INCLUDES
PERSONALLY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING. I KNOW I SENT IT TO YOU IN AN E-MAIL, TO EVERYONE IN AN E-MAIL, BUT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR ELDERLY NEIGHBORS, AND THOSE ON FIXED INCOMES. AND WHEN IT COMES TO A DISASTER LIKE THIS, THEY MAY BE UNDER INSURED, MAY BE NOT INSURED AT ALL. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING AS A CITY THAT WE CAN DO TO POSSIBLY HELP WITH THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.
MY DISTRICT WAS HIT PRETTY HARD. SAW LOT OF ELDERLY NEIGHBORS THAT WERE THERE BY THEMSELVES, AND COULDN'T MOVE TREES, AND LUCKILY THEY HAD NEIGHBORS TO HELP THEM BUT JUST REALLY FOCUSING ON THOSE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO GET INTO THE WEEDS. I JUST WANTED TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD.
>> AND THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR. I KNOW YOU HAVE PUT A LOT OF WORK ON KNOCKING ON DOORS IN NEIGHBORS IN YOUR DISTRICT.
I APPRECIATE THAT. I WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT, AND THEN WE CAN SEE ANY FINAL COMMENTS FOR THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE KIND OF GO BACK TO WORK ON THIS. THIS KIND OF REMINDS ME GOING BACK TO WHEN WE HAD COVID-19, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SCARED, AND PEOPLE WANTED TO HELP.
ESPECIALLY IN CARMEL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A COMMUNITY THAT DOES HELP PEOPLE OUT.
WE SAW ON THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL SOME ATTEMPTS TO HELP IN A RUSH. IN THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP IN A VERY QUICK MANNER, SOME THINGS WEREN'T DONE THE PROPER WAY. WHEN IT COMES TO COVID RELIEF. WE SAW BUSINESSES THAT REALLY SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT NOT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND THEN NOT ACCUSING ANY BUSINESSES OF THIS IN CARMEL, WE SAW IT NATIONWIDE WITH COVID, BUSINESSES WHO TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE WHEN THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING MONEY. HAVING A STRONG SYSTEM TO VET THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I REALLY DO THANK COUNCILLOR SNYDER, THE DRAFT THAT I READ, THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE CALLED THIS TODAY WAS VERY THOROUGH, AND I THINK VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT. IT WAS NOT JUST A BLANK CHECK HANDED TO BUSINESSES. BUT IT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING PROVIDING REASSURANCES BECAUSE IN THESE THINGS, THE WORST THING A BUSINESS CAN FACE IS THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO. CAN I OPEN TODAY, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. HAVING GOVERNMENT SAYS WE HAVE YOUR BACK, AND WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU THROUGH THIS I THINK IS THE IMPORTANT PART. I DO THINK AS WE CONTINUE TO TALK THROUGH THIS, MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO ADMINISTER THIS PROCESS, SOMEONE THAT THE COUNCIL TRUSTS, BODY OR PERSON THAT THE COUNCIL TRUSTS I THINK IS IMPORTANT.
PERSONALLY, I WOULD HESITATE TO HAND THAT OFF TO OUTSIDE OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT I DON'T KNOW, BUT I KNOW THAT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE UTILIZING OUTSIDE NONPROFITS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BODY OR THE PERSON THAT IS DOING THIS KNOWS CARMEL.
AND KNOWS WHAT CARMEL NEEDS. SO WITH THAT, I DO REALLY WANT TO -- I KNOW THIS COUNCIL HAS WORKED REALLY HARD AND KNOCKED ON A LOT OF DOORS, TALKED TO A LOT OF RESIDENTS, AND I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING.
RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, EMERGENCY MEETING, ALL NINE COUNSELLORS ARE HERE IN PERSON TO DO THIS, SO I THINK THIS SHOWS HOW DEDICATED THIS GROUP IS, AND I KNOW WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE DEDICATED AS WE FIGURE THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG- TERM SOLUTIONS FOR THIS. ANY OTHER -- COUNCILLOR
WORRELL. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE I'M FRANTICALLY TRYING TO, HOPEFULLY SOMEONE CAN HELP ME, THERE IS A VOLUNTEER CARMEL ACTIVITYACTIVITY
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TOMORROW. BUT I CAN'T FIND MY DETAILS.SO I BELIEVE IT'S 1:00. DOES ANYBODY KNOW? OKAY. OF COURSE. 10-1. COUNCILLOR MINNAAR WOULD YOU MIND HELPING ME? VOLUNTEER CARMEL TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE STORM. THE ONLY THING I WAS TRYING TO FRANTICALLY FIND WAS WHERE DO WE MEET? DO YOU KNOW? I WANTED TO GET IT OUT. DO YOU KNOW?
>> WE COULD HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE TALK WHILE WE LOOK THAT UP ON FACEBOOK REAL QUICK.
>> I ALSO WANT TO COMPLIMENT COUNCILLOR SNYDER, I TOLD HIM THIS OVER THE WEEKEND, HIS CARE AND COMPASSION AND CONCERN FOR RESIDENTS IS ADMIRABLE, AND I'M LEARNING
LESSONS. >> WE HAVE A GOOD GROUP.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, COUNCILLOR SNYDER?
>> I DO WANT TO POINT OUT BECAUSE THIS MEETING WAS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT BUSINESSES, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT BUSINESSES, BUT THE CHAMP PLAN AS IT'S BEING CALLED, AND IT MAY CHANGE, BUT THE PLAN IS JUST AS DEDICATED TO RESIDENTS AS IT IS TO BUSINESSES.
SO I DON'T WANT PEOPLE THINKING IT'S A BIASSED -- THERE'S THE BLUE AND GOLD, BECAUSE WE ARE A CITY OF CHAMPIONS AND I'M PARTIAL TO BLUE AND GOLD, GO HOUNDS.
BUT IT IS NOT A STRATEGY, EMERGENCY RESPONSE STRATEGY JUST FOR BUSINESSES. IT IS VERY MUCH FOCUSED AND MOSTLY FOCUSED ON RESIDENTS, SHORT- TERM LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS. AND THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THIS GOVERNMENT, THIS COUNCIL IS MOST FOCUSED ON, AND I THINK IT'S OUR DUTY TO FOCUS ON CRITICAL PATH LIFE SUPPORT THINGS THAN EVERYTHING ELSE FALLS AFTER. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S ASSISTANCE. COUNCILLOR LOCKE AND COUNCILLOR GREEN FOR SITTING THERE WITH ME.
I'M A SLOW TYPER. BUT ALL OF THE FEEDBACK FROM EVERYBODY. NOT A SINGLE PERSON UP HERE, A LIVING DOCUMENT OF EVERYBODY UP HERE AND THE MAYOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND CITY STAFF AS WELL. SO HOPEFULLY IT'S BROUGHT ENOUGH THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH IT IN THE SHORT TERM.
>> I HAVE GOOD NEWS. THE VOLUNTEER CARMEL ALL SHIFTS ARE FULL. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS OUR COMMUNITY CAME OUT IN FORCE, VOLUNTEER CARMEL, EVERYONE, YOU'RE WONDERFUL.
>> SO WE WILL, AFTER THIS MEETING, HUDDLE UP TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT MEETING OR NEXT STEPS.
WE'RE OPEN TO CALLING ANOTHER MEETING IF WE NEED TO FASTER. BUT ABSENT THAT, I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE PUTTING A HOLD MAYBE ON MONDAY WE'LL FIGURE OUT A TIME FOR COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO DISCUSS IMMEDIATE SHORT- TERM ACTIONS. THAT IS NOT OFFICIAL BUT THAT IS WHAT THE TENTATIVE PLAN IS. ANY DISCUSSION, DEBATE?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.