Budget Update, Better Roads, and More! - 7/21/25

Hello neighbors,  

Below you’ll find important updates on Carmel’s budget, historical preservation projects, and a new platform that will make it easier to volunteer. 

As always, you can watch the entire City Council meeting here. 

CITY COUNCIL MEETING UPDATES

Persons Who Wish To Address the Council 

• Rose Popovich asked the council to consider paving the roads in her neighborhood, which was on this meeting’s agenda.

Mayoral Comments

• 5th grader Aaryan Kottam of Towne Meadow Elementary did a great job of sharing Mayor Finkam’s updates, which included:

  • Sharing Carmel’s innovative urban design, which creates spaces that connect residents and businesses with the Redevelopment Association of Indiana 

  • Unveiling “Taking Flight,” Carmel’s newest roundabout art piece 

  • Attending the Bloomberg-Harvard City Leadership Initiative in NYC, which develops innovative approaches to government and leadership 

  • Visiting TherAplay, a nonprofit outpatient clinic which uses “hippotherapy,” a.k.a therapy on horseback, to treat children with disabilities 

    • TherAplay is wide open for tours to the public. 

    • As a pediatrician,  I can say this kind of innovative therapy is wonderful to have for children with special needs right here in Carmel! 

Deputy Mayor Kottam, Mayor Finkam, and I

Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee Update

• Gave a positive recommendation to Ordinance D-2774-25 in order to pave streets

  • More on this below under “Old Business”

Land Use Committee Update

• Land Use discussed micromobility last week, but will not have a meeting this coming week.

Historical Preservation Commission

• Mark Dollase, vice president of Preservation Services at Indiana Landmarks, presented the Historical Preservation Commission update, which consists of:

  • Starting preliminary work to redesignate the North Rangeline Road, spurred on by City Council comments

    • Councilor Assen encouraged the Commission to add life to empty lots in the area while also preserving its historical aesthetic.

  • Working with St. Elizabeth of Seton Catholic Church about what to do with a building on their campus, the only historical school building in the city

  • Having conversations with the current owners of the Thompson RCA building, who are interested in an office and housing conversion. 

    • Gave them a facade grant to fund rehabilitation 

    • The state will determine eligibility to unlock tax credits that will help them recapture costs.

  • Facilitating the spring rounds of grants, which distributed $49,000 to eight applicants

Finance Department Budget Update

• Zac Jackson, CFO of Carmel, gave the budget update. The main points were:

  • Wanted to make monthly targets for revenue and spending

  • Revenue results for Q1 through Q2:

    • Projection: $76M

    • Actual: $79M

  • Yearly revenue projection: $147.2M

  • Spending results for Q1 through Q2:

    • Projection: $72.1M

    • Actual: $69.2M

  • These past few months were focused on working with city departments to create monthly targets for revenue and spending so they can accurately assess Carmel’s cash flow.

    • Jackson said this method facilitated better conversations between divisions. 

  • Some councilors were worried that we were underbudgeting, but Jackson assured us that the numbers will “smooth out” as the year progresses.

• He also highlighted that Carmel doesn’t have much turnover compared to most cities.

• Jackson also shared a new process for approving the budget:

  • In September, the CFO will send out a Report of Budget Estimates and supporting documents to the council.

    • The following week, the mayor and CFO will present the Report to the council.

    • Over the succeeding week, department heads will present their departmental budgets to the council.

      • Councilors will request individual or group meetings if they have further questions.

    • The Mayor and CFO will consider feedback and present an update of the Report in late September.

    • In October, the council will pass the budget.

Old Business

Ordinance D-2774-25

• Approved 

• Returning from Finance with a unanimous positive recommendation

• This ordinance appropriates $2,526,702.00 to support street repaving costs.

• Carmel Street Department Commission Matt Higginbothon discussed how Carmel chooses which roads to pave. 

  • For more information, watch this video.

• 70% of the roads deemed poor will be addressed either this year or next

Public Hearings

Ordinance Z-698-25

• Approved

• Comes with a unanimous recommendation from committee. 

• Refines and simplifies language in the UDO to make it more user-friendly.

Ordinance Z-699-25

• Approved 

• Clarifies language in the “Group Home” ordinance

  • More information about the group home ordinance here.

• The authority for special exceptions for group homes will shift to the Hearing Officer of the Board of Zoning Approvals. 

Ordinance Z-700-25

• Approved 

• Director of Community Services Mike Hollibaugh told us that the ordinance:

  • Creates a Change of Occupancy permit for existing buildings and updates language that makes it clear that to get a certificate, the building will have to go through a series of inspections instead of a single, final inspection 

    • Also adds language that supports a state law that allows for private inspections.

• This ordinance is a crucial step toward ensuring the safety of our community. By requiring the Fire Department to inspect buildings before residents move in, we're prioritizing public safety and peace of mind. It's a no-brainer change that boosts the well-being of our city. 

New Business

Resolution CC-07-21-25-01

• This resolution approves a resolution of the City of Carmel Redevelopment Commission creating a new North End Phase III Allocation Area within the Old Town Economic Development Area, including an economic development plan supplement, and a related City of Carmel Plan Commission resolution.

• Henry Metesky, director of the Carmel Redevelopment Council, said that this ordinance will:

  • Take one allocation area and turn it into two allocation areas so that townhomes in the second area can run on a different timeline than projects in the original area

  • Maximize the amount of TIF the city receives 

Resolution CC-07-21-25-02

• Approved

• I sponsored this resolution so that Carmel can work with JustServe, a platform that connects cities, nonprofits, and charities with willing volunteers. With this system, Carmel can implement volunteerism without spending a dime. 

  • The quality of our community is based on citizens’ engagement and altruism; we should encourage all residents to engage in acts of volunteerism by making the process as simple and easy as possible. 

Events Around Carmel

• Come to the Carmel Summer Farmer’s Market every Saturday from 8 am to 11:30 am until September 27 

• See Legally Blonde: The Musical presented by the Civic Theater at the Tarkington starting Thursday, July 24, through Sunday 

• The Carmel Clay History Museum is celebrating Tanabata, the Japanese Star Festival on July 26, from 10 am to 1 pm. Expect dance performances, refreshments, and an origami craft.

• Need something fun to do with the kids? Watch Turning Red as part of the Movies at Midtown series on July 29 and 31.

• The Carmel Fountain Square committee’s Summer Family Concert Series is still going strong. Check out their full schedule here! 

• Celebrate the new school year with the Back 2 School Bash on August 2 from 11 am to 2 pm at Village Green in front of Dick’s Sporting Goods.  

Thank you all for reading this recap, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions.

Caring for Carmel,

Dr. Anita Joshi

If you have a fifth grade Carmel student who would like to give the mayoral update at a council meeting, please reach out to me and I will be happy to put your student's name forward.

If you’d like to attend a City Council meeting, committee hearing, or other council events, please visit our website for the calendar.