Making West Road Safe
- Anita Joshi
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Hello neighbors,
Being a councilor that truly cares about the needs of the residents and neighbors on our west side and being able to advocate and create solutions to real problems is what makes this experience the most rewarding and amazing for me. Thank you for your continued support!
CITY COUNCIL MEETING UPDATES
Persons Who Wish to Address the Council
Residents of West Road attended this week's meeting and requested speed bumps or other traffic-reduction measures to keep them, their homes, and their families safe.
West Road is a well-known drag strip, and residents have suffered from loud vehicles late at night, property damage, and accidents in their front yards.
You’ll hear more about how the neighbors and I have addressed this problem under the heading Ordinance D-2813-26.
The safety and security of the residents and their children and property is a project I have worked hard on for the last year and a half!
Sawyer Hargrove of the Mayor’s Youth Council promoted Get Moving in May, which encourages Carmel residents to get up and get moving! Go to their website for more information about events.
Mayoral Comments
Cheryl Hornbacher was our deputy mayor for the evening and did a terrific job!
Another Neighborhood Pop-Up is scheduled for this Thursday, May 21, from 5:30 to 6:30 for southeast district residents. Come to the Woodlands Pool parking lot for ice cream, yard games, and face-to-face time with Mayor Finkam, department heads, and other City representatives.
A huge congratulations to Kiaan Bhatt for winning the regional Spelling Bee! He will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Redevelopment Commission Update
Now that it’s heating up, it was a busy month of construction in Carmel! Things are continuing on as expected.
Monon Phase 3 is set to open early July.
Carmel Historic Preservation Commission Update
Historic Preservation Staff is working on the North Rangeline Road District, including documentation and meetings with property owners.
Another round of facade grants is in after a series of site visits with applicants.
Our Commission passed the Indiana DNR Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology standards! Huge thanks to the many people that worked hard to get this through!
I look forward to working with the Commission on the North Overlay District.
Audit Committee Update
The city audit is expected to wrap up by June 30.
Carmel received the highest certificate of achievement in government accounting.
Thanks to our Committee representative Santosh Rajmane for reporting and to the entire finance and accounting team for all your hard work!!
As the longest serving employee currently in the accounting department (23 consecutive years!) Ann Bingham deserves a little shout out for that continued achievement!
Parks Department Update
The Waterpark is officially open for the season!
Community feedback is being gathered for future improvements at Ironwood Park.
Plans for Veterans’ Park were presented to the Veterans’ Commission.
Sadly, a fire at the Central Park maintenance facility damaged some equipment, but thankfully, other departments are helping fill the gap while replacements are arranged.
The city is exploring the possibility of building a new Operations and Administration Center.
Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation was named a finalist for the National Gold Medal for Excellence in Parks & Recreation Management!
Updates on Bear Creek Park– As your West Side Rep I am so excited to see this park finally getting done. We really need more parks with playgrounds on the West Side!
A new inclusive playground is being planned for children of all abilities.
The groundbreaking is expected before the end of the year.
Construction will take about 18 months.
Land Use Committee
We had one item on the agenda on May 20th and that was the Ordinance amending the right of way disturbance permit maintenance and restoration requirements and penalties for violations
The intent of this ordinance is to ensure that citizens are not inconvenienced or endangered by equipment in the right of way. It is also intended to prevent and provide for repair to damaged infrastructure.
Requirement of right of way permit and fines for not obtaining or complying with the requirements of the permits were discussed and proposed and the ordinance was updated to comply with Carmel’s standards of caring for the public right of way.
This will be sent to the next council meeting.
Old Business
Resolution CC-12-01-25-04
Approved
This resolution amends the Carmel Comprehensive Plan to incorporate a new subarea plan for the Home Place area and to make associated revisions to the menu of Street Typologies, the Thoroughfare Plan map, and the Mobility and Pedestrian Plan map.
The proposal included community input and received a positive recommendation from the Land Use Committee.
I am very pleased to see this project completed
Ordinance D-2815-26 & Ordinance D-2816-26
These are two petitions to vacate the public way between 1118 S. Rangeline Road and 1132 S.Rangeline Road, previously Lot 8 of the Harvey B Stout subdivision, filed by Petitioner Carmel Midtown Community Development Corporation, and the public way west of 1132 S. Rangeline Road, lots 9 and 10 of the Harvey B Stout subdivision, filed by Petitioner Carmel Midtown Community Development Corporation.
The development will include:
Retail space
Office space
A hotel
Council members discussed hopes that the project will attract employers, visitors, and future residents to Carmel.
To be frank, I believe that the hotel and office space are needed in Carmel so I supported the project. However, I do still take issue with the change of 100% of the TIF going to the developer. With all the other incentives developers received from the state this session, I think the project could have been done without the city giving up that extra capture of tax revenue.
Public Hearings
Ordinance Z-706-26
Approved
This ordinance amends the Short-Term Rental Use-Specific Standards and also amends the applicable Special Exception provision and the Definitions in the Unified Development Ordinance.
Aligns the rental ordinance with the state code, which precludes enforcement of the amendment as it stands.
The ordinance expands rules into additional zoning districts.
HOA rules banning short-term rentals will still remain in place.
Ordinance D-2819-26
Approved
This ordinance appropriates $20,000 to cover costs related to Volunteer Carmel.
Funds will help cover:
Insurance
Volunteer shirts
Background checks
I supported this ordinance because I believe volunteerism is needed for public events and community public gatherings. Creating the many enjoyable activities that take place in Carmel does take dedication from our citizens.
Ordinance D-2822-26
Sent to Finance Committee
This resolution authorizes the issuance of the City’s General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2026, in the maximum principal amount of $12,000,000, for the purpose of refinancing multiple series of outstanding General Obligation Bonds issued in 2016 in order to achieve debt service savings and paying costs of issuance of such bonds.
Ordinance D-2823-26
Sent to Finance Committee
This ordinance appropriates $1,074,842.00 to cover repair and/or maintenance costs for city assets.
New Business
Ordinance D-2821-26
Approved
This ordinance calls for the vacation of drainage and utility easement within the Laurel Ridge subdivision.
Carmel will relocate a pipe to allow the land to be developed.
Ordinance D-2813-26
Approved
This ordinance amends Carmel City Code §8-39 to add new speed humps on West Road between 121st Street and 131st Street.
I have been working with the residents of West Road for the past 18 months and they have shown incredible organization, passion, and teamwork to get what they need for their neighbors and their safety.
The decision followed:
Traffic studies
Engineering review
Community feedback
Data analysis
We had multiple meetings and organizational planning
We can be sure that after this much work, this is the result that the residents deserve.
Read more about the project in The Current.
Ordinance D-2820-26
Sent to Finance Committee
This ordinance amends the collection of civil penalties under the jurisdiction of the City’s Violations Bureau.
The proposed updates would expand the city's enforcement authority for violations, including parking violations.
Ordinance D-2824-26, Resolution CC-05-18-26-05, & Ordinance D-2823-26
Sent to Finance Committee
Ordinance D-2824-26 amends Article 4, Section 2-128 of the Carmel City Code to establish the Non-Reverting City Assets Repairs and Maintenance Fund.
Resolution CC-05-18-26-05 transfers $1,074,842.00 from the General Fund (#101) into the City Assets Repairs and Maintenance Fund (#927).
Ordinance D-2823-26 appropriates $1,074,842.00 to cover repair and/or maintenance costs for city assets.
Resolution CC-05-18-26-01
Sent to Finance Committee
This resolution approves the issuance of Carmel Redevelopment Authority’s Lease Rental Bonds, Series 2026A, in the maximum principal amount of $115,000,000, for the purpose of refinancing the Authority’s Lease Rental Bonds, Series 2016A in order to achieve debt service savings, and approves documents and matters related thereto.
Resolution CC-05-18-26-02
Sent to Finance Committee
This resolution approves the issuance of Carmel Redevelopment Authority’s Lease Rental Bonds, Series 2026B, in the maximum principal amount of $5,000,000, for the purpose of refinancing the Authority’s Lease Rental Bonds, Series 2016B in order to achieve debt service savings, and approves documents and matters related thereto.
Resolution CC-05-18-26-03
Sent to Finance Committee
This resolution approves the issuance of Carmel Redevelopment Authority’s Lease Rental Bonds, Series 2026C, in the maximum principal amount of $10,000,000, for the purpose of refinancing the Authority’s Lease Rental Refunding Bonds, Series 2016C in order to achieve debt service savings, and approves documents and matters related thereto.
Resolution CC-05-18-26-04
Sent to Finance Committee
This resolution approves the issuance of Carmel Storm Water District Refunding Bonds, Series 2026, in a maximum principal amount of $24,000,000, for the purpose of refinancing the Storm Water District Bonds, Series 2016 and the Storm Water District Revenue Bonds, Series 2020, in order to provide interest cost and cash flow savings to the Storm Water District, and to approve matters related thereto.
Events Around Carmel
On May 22 at 9 am, come to the Memorial Day Ceremony as we come together to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. The event will take place at 400-498 American Way N.
On May 29 at 3 pm, “Walk with the Mayor” as part of Carmel’s Get Moving in May. Take a stroll from Carmel City Hall to Anthony's Plaza in the Arts and Design District. Along the way, connect with community partners offering health-related resources.
On June 26, visit the American Legion Post 155 to attend “Beyond the Headlines: Veterans’ Stories.” Carmel's veteran organizations will present an oral history event to celebrate America's birthday. Families are invited to learn about our history through storytelling as presented by a panel of veterans.
Thank you all for reading this recap. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with 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!
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