Rental Cap Passed, EidFest Debrief, and More - 6/2/25

Hello neighbors, 

Carmel's first-ever EidFest was a huge success!

Hello neighbors,  

It was great to see so many of you at Carmel’s first-ever EidFest, where we celebrated our vibrant Muslim community. I hope you got to see some of the various country’s dynamic traditions on display, like music, dance, and calligraphy–not to mention the fantastic food! Neighbors of all backgrounds gathered together in the spirit of friendship and understanding, which reminded me about what makes Carmel so special. 

I also wanted to invite you all to Americana on Main, a four-week community celebration held on Wednesday evenings from June 11 to July 2. The opening night on June 11 is National Corn Day, where you can enjoy fresh-popped popcorn at 1st on Main, listen to a moving piano down Main Street, and have fun with corn-themed activities. June 18 will feature an ice cream social at 1st on Main, June 25 will host square dancing at Anthony’s Plaza from 6 pm to 7 pm, and July 2 will conclude with a grand finale of live music at Anthony’s Plaza at 6 pm.

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

Me and my husband at Hamilton County Democrats' Night of Blues fundraise

CITY COUNCIL MEETING UPDATES

Swearing In

• Police Chief Joel Thacker joined us to swear in three new police officers: Juan Trejo, Alex Lopez,and  Brandon Pounds. We are so lucky to have incredible talent flocking to Carmel!

Carmel's three new police officer

Recognition of Persons Who Wish to Address the Council

• Frances Gileno says that DORA signs were once again placed on the sidewalk in front of her home and requests their removal. 

• Gabe Paul, Dave Drzewiecki, Dee Fox, Jill Misenheimer, and Ed Shaughnessy spoke in favor of the rental cap and registration ordinance.

• Jack Feldman promoted cyclist safety by suggesting several improvements, such as clear signage on multiuse paths. He also wanted to ensure that one-way cycling tracks on the Monon are included in the area where violations are enforceable with fines. 

• Jordan Kohl opposed the rental caps, saying that renters are an important part of the Carmel Community. He believes the ordinance would allow landlords to hike up prices and increase housing prices because it would encourage owners to stay in place rather than downsize.

• Ron Carter promoted the safety of bike paths on residential streets and spoke against the Autumn Greenway.

Mayoral Comments

• Shresta Vankayala, a 6th grader at Creekside Middle School, was our Deputy Mayor of the day! She told us about activities Mayor Finkam has been up to, including:

  • Hosting business leaders for Mayor-CEO Roundtable where Chiefs Thacker and Sterling presented information regarding weather emergency preparedness

  • Breaking ground at Ardalan Plaza which will provide Carmel with more retail space and art opportunities

  • Attending Team Bounceback, an effort to bring back students who moved away 

  • Honoring fallen heroes Memorial Day 

  • Taking part in the Metro Indy, a figure skating competition that attracted hundreds of talented students to Carmel

• Mayor Finkam thanked city council members for the work done on the rental cap ordinance.

Council Comments

• Councilor Minnaar thanked the Streets Department for replacing monuments that were knocked over by the tornadoes in one of the eastside neighborhoods.

Finance Committee Update

• Recommended rental ordinance for approval 

• Recommended U.S. 31 Ramps Economic Development Area sent to the City Council for approval 

Land Use and Special Studies Update

• Sent group home ordinance to Plan Commission 

• Working on parking fees

Carmel Redevelopment Commission 

• Henry Mestetsky, Carmel Redevelopment Director, said that lots of construction is currently underway. 

  • He was excited to say that a 80-room hotel will wrap around the garage in Hamilton Crossing, providing a nice facade. We encouraged Mr Mestetsky to continue to develop the future portion of this project according to the original promises to council of some public greenspace and apartments.

  • In addition, Republican Airlines is building a training center, which will bring in revenue for the city.

  • He clarified that Ardalan Plaza will not generate more debt for the city. In fact, the city will recover its investment from retail, housing, and the TIF bond.

Climate Action Advisory Committee

• Eric Mehl, Carmel Clay Parks Administration & Planning Director 

  • The Climate Committee will take six priorities to the Sustainability Committee to discuss with staff who will be in charge of accomplishing the goals.

Old Business

Reading of Ordinance D-2762-25

• Remains in Land Use & Special Studies Committee

• This would establish 15-minute parking space or spaces at the beginning of each block along Main Street from Knoll Ct to 1st Ave SE, regulate parking on Range Line from Main Street to 1st Street, and remove inconsistencies and duplications of code.

Ordinance D-2767-25

• Approved

• This would amend the ordinance regulating the Ambulance Capital Fund.

• At their most recent meeting, the committee discussed how EMS fees should be set.

Ordinance D-2769-25

• Remains in Land Use

• This would raise the fine for failing to display a valid permit for motor vehicle parking on a city sidewalk, multi use path, or bicycle lane to increase compliance with the law.

Ordinance D-2770-25

• Approved (Please see the addendum below)

• This would require owners of residential rentals to obtain a permit before renting and limit the number of authorized residential dwelling permits to ten percent (10%) of all homes within any subdivision in the City of Carmel. 

• I amended the immediate family exceptions clause in the ordinance to include siblings, nieces, and nephews which was approved.

• The ordinance originally included the entire city in the 10% cap, but now just refers to subdivisions and neighborhoods. Certain citizens were worried that this change would create issues in neighborhoods without Homeowner Associations, but we were assured by the legal council that subdivisions without HOAs are included in the law. 

• Councilor Minnaar said this regulation will protect those who are looking to buy their first home in Carmel and is a proactive measure against future investors. 

Ordinance D-2771-25

• Approved 

• This would authorize a TIF bond to invest in improvements to support the development of the North End Phase II Project.

Ordinance D-2772-25

• Remains in Finance

• This would adopt requirements for nonprofit organizations receiving public support from the City.

Ordinance D-2773-25

• Approved

• Corrects language in the interlocal agreement with Hamilton County, concerning the U.S. 31 Ramps Economic Development Area to allow the TIF bond revenue to pay for existing debts

Other Business

Property Abatements/Compliance with Statement of Benefits – Deadline was May 15, 2025

• Sent to Finance Committee 

• Includes:

  • Alliance for Cooperative Energy Services Power Marketing, LLC (ACES)

  • Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO)

  • Schlage Lock Company, LLC 

  • ZP Investments, LLC and Zotec Partners, LLC

Events Around Carmel

• Come see Inside Out 2 on June 5 at 12 pm at the Midtown Plaza as part of the city’s Movies at Midtown series. 

• Join other local families for a 2-mile Family Fun Bike Ride starting at Carmel Elementary School on June 7! Registration begins at 8:30 am, and the ride begins at 9:30 am. 

• It’s adults only for the Slow Roll Dinner Cruise on June 10, beginning at 5:30 pm. Take a nice stroll with your fellow citizens for about one hour, starting and ending at Midtown Plaza. 

• Americana on Main will be held Wednesday evenings from June 11 to July 2. Click the link for more information. 

Though I voted to approve the rental ordinance, I recognize that this is not a perfect regulation nor a quick fix. For neighborhoods already above the 10% cap, it will be years before the problems they are currently experiencing are corrected. For those below the 10%, it may incentivize landlords to buy up the remaining properties. The cost of implementation and the details around enforcement remain to be worked on and this ordinance may require further amendments to make it workable for our city team.

However, the rental registry will have a substantial positive impact on Carmel because it will ensure that all landlords current and future obtain a permit and provide reliable contact information to the city, increasing the standard of care for their properties. This will enrich the lives of both renters and homeowners in the neighborhood. 

My wish is that this ordinance keeps future investors from gobbling up properties in Carmel, keeping the dream of home ownership alive for young families. I will continue to fight to keep Carmel affordable and authentic. Be well, and let’s work together to keep our community a wonderful place to live!

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