Keeping Our Greenways Safe & Our Parks Beautiful

Hello neighbors,  

We passed the micromobility ordinance! After robust conversation, feedback from residents, and input from experts, we developed regulations that will keep our multiuse pathways fun, functional, and, most of all, safe.  

We couldn’t have done it without those of you who showed up week after week with invaluable questions, research, and opinions. I’m in this position to represent you, not myself, but I can’t do it unless you make your voices heard. I want to extend a thank-you to those who shared their observations and encourage those who didn’t to speak up. You can reach out to me on my website. 

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

CITY COUNCIL MEETING UPDATES

Recognition of City Employees and Outstanding Citizens 

• Police Chief Drake Sterling swore in five new officers: Ryan Dienhart, Ryan Enochs, Zachary Martin, Braden Adams, and Jonathan Hasstedt. 

  • I’m so happy to have such incredible people keeping our city safe!

Our five new police officers

Recognition of Persons Who Wish to Address the Council

• Zachary Levy requested that we defer a decision on the micromobility ordinance due to ambiguous language regarding slow-moving vehicles. 

• Judy Hagan advocated restricting class 3 e-bikes from multiuse pathways.

• Bruce Shire warned that e-bikes are unsafe and said that those with inadequate helmets should be written up. 

• Dakota Crawford spoke in favor of the updated micromobility ordinance but requested that the information be made available to the public in a more timely manner. Also, he pointed out that class 2 and class 3 e-bikes aren’t markedly different in their capabilities. 

• Josh Friedman sells e-bikes in town and believes that class 3 e-bikes should be allowed under the ordinance. These days, nearly every bike he sells is in class 3. He says law enforcement should issue tickets for high speeds rather than impose an outright ban. 

Mayoral Comments

• Deputy Mayor Sujay Shah, a 6th grader at Creekside, gave us an update on Mayor Finkam’s activities. 

  • She extended her thanks to the team that organized our Veterans Day ceremony. 

  • Carmel is growing: she has recently attended five ribbon cuttings or groundbreakings for new businesses, many run by Carmel families. 

  • She expressed gratitude to the Street Department for keeping roads safe after the first snow of the season. 

  • You can now download the 311 app to report non-emergencies and track the status of your requests. 

  • A reminder: Christkrindlmarkt opens this week! Enjoy the winter magic starting November 22. 

Our deputy mayor for the evening!

Council Comments

• Christkrindlmarkt is open for city employees only on November 24. 

  • This is the city’s small token of appreciation for all that our city employees do. 

• Councilor Worrell invited the public to the next edition of his Project Civility program, a Thanksgiving-themed event named “Please Pass the Civility.”

Land Use Committee

• We are not having a meeting this Wednesday, but we will update you on the rescheduled date.

Parks Department

• Michael Klitzing, director of Parks and Recreation, updated us on Parks activities, including:   

  • The Bur Oak Bridge, a project made in collaboration with Fishers, Hamilton Township, and Clay Township, opened!

  • The playground in Founders Park was resurfaced to make play safer, the sand was replaced with sand that poses fewer health risks, and fencing was installed between the parking lot and playground.

  • The Founders Park floating boardwalk will be completed in the spring. 

  • Jerry’s Native Tree walk in Carey Grove Park opened. 

  • Parks is soliciting proposals for the construction of Bear Creek Park. 

    • Many of our youngest children are shaping the park's creation by suggesting ways to make the playground as fun as possible.  

    • As your westside councilor, I have continuously advocated for funding for this important park that will benefit our west side residents and can't wait to be there when it opens!

  • The American Camp Association reaccredited the Department.  

  • They received the Indiana Park and Recreation Association Outstanding Agency Award!

    • Congratulations to the team–you made our parks world-class! This is a much-deserved honor. 

      
      

Finance Department Budget Update

• The Indiana Code was amended to state that the Food and Beverage tax can’t be transferred to any other fund, which means Carmel will likely miss our general fund target by 0.2%. Still, we are underspending by $3 to $4 million. 

• Carmel will end the year with about $20 million in unappropriated dollars, which is up about $1 million.  

• Read the full report, starting on page 36, here.

New Business

Ordinance D-2796-25

• Approved

• This is our micromobility ordinance, aimed at keeping our multiuse pathways safe (and fun!) for everyone. 

• Read the full ordinance, starting on page 48, here. 

• I’d like to address some major concerns about the ordinance:

  • Class 3 vehicles cannot be operated by anyone under 16. 

  • All riders under 16 MUST wear a helmet. 

    • State code states that we cannot regulate helmet use for adults. 

    • As a pediatrician, I know how important helmets are. Every two minutes, a child is treated for an unintentional bike accident, but helmets are the most effective way to reduce bicycle injuries and fatalities. Plus, Indiana DHS found that “every $12 spent on a bicycle helmet for a child generates $580 in cost-saving benefits to society.”

    • If you have questions about helmet usage, check out this handy fact page.  

  • “E-Moto Devices,” which are similar to dirt bikes, are not allowed on greenways or multiuse paths unless they get a permit from the DMV. 

  • E-Scooters are allowed under the ordinance, but remain banned in our parks and greenways.  The Parks Department is unlikely to change that as per our discussions during the last land use meeting and again tonight. 

Public HearingS

Ordinance D-2797-25

• Approved

• This resolution appropriates funds to cover overtime costs within the Carmel Police Department Fund.

Ordinance D-2798-25

• Approved

• This resolution appropriates funds to cover a grant agreement within the Opioid Settlement Restricted.

Ordinance D-2799-25

• Approved

• This resolution appropriates funds to cover costs associated with the emergency disaster response by the Parks and Recreation Department.

New Business

Resolution CC-11-17-25-01

• Approved.

• This resolution transfers $1,426,958.15 from the Grant Fund into the Parks and Recreation Impact Fee Fund

Resolution CC-11-17-25-02

• Approved

• This resolution transfers $63,181.47 from the Grant Fund into the Carmel Police Department Fund.

Resolution CC-11-17-25-03

• Sent to Land Use Committee

• This resolution amends the Carmel Comprehensive Plan to incorporate a new subarea plan for the US31 Corridor in order to beautify the area. 

• Read the full plan, starting on page 74, here. 

Ordinance D-2802-25

• Approved

• This resolution amends the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement, extending the Parks Department’s partnership with the Clay township until 2042. 

• This would transfer the taxing authority from the city to Clay Township. 

  • But, they would still need to go through the City Council for approval. 

  • This in no way impacts Carmel’s revenue. 

  • This does provide a long term funding solution for the parks.

• Director Michael Klitzing said that the Interlocal Agreements are what make Carmel the incredible Park Department we are today. 

Ordinance D-2803-25

• Approved

• This resolution amends the speed limit in the Deerfield Subdivision to 25mph.

• This will keep the residents of Deerfield, especially the children, safe.

• I was very happy to be able to get this accomplished for the residents of Deerfield who came out to the meeting to ask for this change.

City Council Appointments 

• The City Council will work on one nomination for the Christkindlmarkt Board, which is a two-year term.

Events Around Carmel

• The Carmel Christkind will ring the opening bell at noon on November 22 in the Winter Pavilion to officially open the Chriskrindlmarkt!

• Discover the Stars on November 22 at the Carmel High School Planetarium.

• Visit the Carmel Winter Farmers Market every Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm. 

• Enjoy seasonal lights on the Monon every day from November 22 to December 31. 

• The Ice at Carter Green is opening for the season on November 23! 

• The Christkindle market will officially open to the public on November 22 at noon!

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 next year please reach out to me and I will be happy to put your student's name forward.

As always if you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please reach out to me. I’m always here to listen and advocate for you. If you wish to review the details of our city meeting, the recording is available here, and the meeting agenda is available here! If you’d like to attend a City Council meeting, committee hearing, or other council events, please visit our website for the calendar!