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Thinking about our future, taking action today.

Writer: Anita Joshi
Anita Joshi
1 hour ago
5 min read

Hello Neighbors,  


This week's City Council meeting was eventful and forward looking to say the least. From continuing discussions on micromobility ordinances, nonprofit oversight in Carmel, and the 2027 city budget, to a special announcement from Councilmember Jeff Worrell, there was a lot to discuss.


Before we get into that, I want to remind you that early voting for this year's general election kicks off TODAY (10/21) and runs for 10 days until Halloween. This year has been difficult for many people, marked with affordability challenges, ICE violence, and serious concerns over corruption and oversight both here in Central Indiana and nationally. I urge you to make your voice heard at the ballot box. Every election is important, but this year's cycle seems to be the most critical election in recent memory. Find your poll site and vote. It is the strongest way to ensure that we support our schools, defend our neighbors and end an affordability crisis.


I am proud to stand behind some incredible candidates this cycle, each having immense experience and genuine passion for standing up for Hoosiers across the state. One of those candidates is Lindsay Gramlich, running for Indiana House District 39. Lindsay is a dedicated nonprofit CEO and mother who believes that Carmel and Westfield want a representative who will fight for bold solutions to today's problems. Her platform addresses much of what we're fighting for in this upcoming election: focusing on affordability, supporting public education, and responding to increased legislative pressure around AI and data center construction. I'll be hosting a meet and greet with Lindsay at 6 pm on October 22 at Peace Water Winery Carmel, and would love to have you join us. You can RSVP by emailing events@lindsaygramlich.com or just drop in!



Now, without further ado, let's get into the meeting.


CITY COUNCIL MEETING UPDATES


Persons Who Wish to Address the Council

  • We heard, once again, from concerned neighbors about the micromobility ordinance being deliberated on in the Land Use Committee. I am always glad to get feedback from our constituents.

  • We also heard from a representative from the Small Business Administration (SBA), letting our community know about emergency loans available for businesses impacted by the recent floods in our community. If you or a loved one is going through financial hardship as a result of this or other natural disasters I encourage you to visit sba.gov for more information.


Mayoral Comments

  • Mayor Finkam gave us an update on the ongoing damage assessments in our community as a result of the recent floods. Teams have completed fieldwork and assessments are ongoing. Building owners will be contacted with their finalized assessment in the near future to see what kinds of relief are available to them immediately. Residents may also appeal these decisions if they feel the assessment is inaccurate. Please stay tuned for more information.

  • Mayor Finkam also appealed to the council to approve the city budget for 2027, citing the intense work done to ensure that no new taxes will be raised in the coming year while retaining funding for critical municipal services and the arts. I will discuss more about this later in the newsletter.


An Update from Councilmember Jeff Worrell

  • Council member Worrell announced at this meeting that he will not be seeking reelection in next year's primary and general election for Carmel City Council. For decades, Jeff has been a powerful voice on this Council and in the city of Carmel. I've enjoyed my time working with him and am grateful for his guidance and service to this city. Though he will serve out his term, he will be missed in the years to come. Thank you, Jeff.


Carmel's 2027 Budget

  • You may have heard a lot about this year's budget. Our discussion this evening was limited, but largely focused around many councilmembers' and the Mayor's positive feelings about how the budget has been laid out. Yes, there will not be new taxes levied or assessed to residents in the coming year. I am pleased that we were able to retain funding for our arts programs and critical municipal services. However, we all recognize the challenges to retaining these services in the future.

  • The fact of the matter is that Carmel, and cities across Indiana are facing an impending fiscal crisis. Due to State of Indiana's passage of SEA-1 we will not have the money to keep our cities fully funded and/or affordable without raising new taxes. We were uniquely lucky among the cities of Indiana to not have to raise taxes this year, but our resistance to doing so means that we will have to face hikes in the future.

  •  The passage of SEA-1 has led to a significant shortfall for our schools and forced a new school referendum which I believe we need to support. The school system of Carmel is the leading reason why people move to and choose to stay in Carmel.

  • I don't like paying taxes any more than you do. But in the coming years, unless serious changes are made, we will have to find a way to cover our costs. If we want our residents to be able to live with security and stability, to have functional roads, properly operating emergency services, disaster relief options, and the amenities that make Carmel such an inviting city, a tax hike is inevitable. This isn't an option, it's a fiscal fact.

  • If this concerns you, I urge you to go to the ballot box in November and make your concerns heard.


Land Use and Micromobility

  • Our micromobility ordinance has been thoroughly discussed over several meetings during the course of this year, all of which have been videotaped and shared. I am proud to say that the land use committee has been open and well attended by the public. The public is allowed to speak freely and share their opinions, many of which have shaped this ordinance. The current ordinance is well thought out, and has taken into account many of the public's and council's suggestions and recommendations of our Carmel police department. I look forward to finally passing this ordinance so that we can make our multi use paths sidewalks and greenways safe for pedestrians and cyclists. We are a bike friendly community and we are trying to make sure youth and adults alike can use the paths for recreation and commuting to work and to school. I am also committed to revisiting this ordinance in a year to evaluate its effectiveness and enforceability and to make further changes if they are deemed necessary.


Nonprofit Oversight

  • The ordinance that was voted down by council tonight was in it's 31st reading. It was an ordinance that was written to address concerns about how the city and nonprofit partners interact with one another. The legal concerns that were expressed about the breadth of the language are ultimately what caused it to be voted down. However, the questions regarding how all nonprofit entities that interact with the city are overseen are still good ones. I am sure that in the interest of equity and transparency we will continue as a council to work with the Mayor to ensure that these entities are treated fairly and are appreciated for what they contribute to Carmel.


Upcoming Events in Carmel


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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