Vote early or on May 5th, but make your voice heard!

Hello neighbors,  

You may have noticed that I wasn’t present at the last City Council meeting, that’s because I was on a family vacation planned almost a year ago. While the time with my family was lovely, I missed many of you who came to the meeting to make your voices heard on the ICE office, which I’ll get into shortly. Though I couldn’t attend, I want to ensure that all of you can get the updates you need from our City Council meetings through this newsletter. I hope you’re well, and I look forward to connecting with you all at our next meeting. 

I also want to let you know that I already cast my Dem ballot, and you can too!  Early voting is now open for the Primary Elections. Please visit indianavoters.in.gov to find your early voting location and check your voter registration. You have until May 4th to cast an early vote and avoid election day lines on May 5th! I encourage you to vote on the Democratic ballot, and also vote for me to be a Democratic delegate! 

Friendly reminder that you can watch the entire city council meeting here. 

CITY COUNCIL MEETING UPDATES

Persons Who Wish to Address the Council 

• The ICE office opening in Carmel was the main point that our residents wanted to discuss at the meeting, and for very good reason. Its my firm belief that ICE has no place in our city, and ICE must be held accountable under the law. Councilmember Snyder, and attorneys representing the city, noted prior public addresses that our city government legally cannot prevent a private leasing agreement between two parties. Since ICE has procured a lease from a private company for their office, the city is unable to stop them. Additionally, the state of Indiana has passed Senate Bill 76 into law, which requires local cooperation with ICE directives. I know that this is not a satisfactory response for myself, or the people of Carmel who came out in opposition to the office opening. I hear you. We hear you. As my friend Sarah Draper noted in her comments to the council, 13% of Carmel’s residents were born in another country and attacks on our neighbors solely based on their background will never be tolerated. I encourage you to continue raising your voices, calling elected officials, and offering support to reputable charities supporting our immigrant neighbors when you can.

Mayoral Comments 

• Archishman Chakraborty was our deputy mayor for the evening and did a terrific job!

  • The neighborhood pop-up series kicks off this week. 

    • These one-hour events provide a way to ask questions, share feedback and learn more about City services and initiatives. Enjoy light refreshments, family-friendly activities and informal conversation with City leadership. 

    • See the schedule here. 

  • May 3 is Japan SpringFest, where we will celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Kawachinagano Japanese Garden. Learn more here.

Swearing In of New Police Officers

• Daniel Eanes, Jeremy Fultz, Philip Smiley, and Tyler Winings were sworn in as Carmel’s newest police officers. We are so lucky to have them protecting our community!

  
  

Presentation of Award

• Officer Mary Potvin and Sergeant Jeremy Meie saved the life of a citizen who was found unconscious, unresponsive, and without pulse. They used an AED and conducted CPR, saving his life. 

• Firefighters who responded to this situation were also recognized. 

  
  

Land Use Committee

• I am confident that your community input has led the Council to create a 31 Subarea Plan that spurs development while protecting our existing neighborhoods. While ensuring that Carmel’s voices are heard is part of my job, its been a joy to meet the neighbors who have been so engaged through this process!  I am thrilled that this was approved tonight.

• We have also worked with the Department of Community Services to finalize the Home Place subarea plan and I am excited to discuss that in the summary of our Land Use Meeting on April 28th later in this newsletter.

  
  

Old Business

Twenty-first Reading of Ordinance D-2772-25

• Remains in Finance 

• This ordinance adopts requirements for nonprofit organizations receiving public support from the City.

  
  

Eleventh Reading of Ordinance D-2795-25

• Remains in Finance

• This ordinance establishes public areas of City Hall.
  

Fourth Reading of Ordinance D-2811-26

• Approved with amendments

• This ordinance amends the regulation of parking on Autumn Drive.
  

Resolution CC-11-17-25-03

• Approved with amendments

• This resolution amends the Carmel Comprehensive Plan to incorporate a new subarea plan for the US-31 Corridor and makes associated revisions to the Mobility and Pedestrian Plan.

• There were a couple of cosmetic formatting tweaks made and proposed to the existing resolution, the council noted that they were very pleased with the final draft presented and hopes that this better represents the opinions and concerns of the Carmel residents in the plan area. 
  

Resolution CC-12-01-25-04

• Remains in committee

• This resolution amends the Carmel Comprehensive Plan to incorporate a new subarea plan for the Home Place area and makes associated revisions to the menu of Street Typologies, Thoroughfare Plan map, and Mobility and Pedestrian Plan map.
  

Public Hearings

First Reading of Ordinance D-2812-26

• Approved

• This ordinance appropriates $248,679.00 to cover costs related to the White River Greenway North Extension Project.

• The trail has been paved and will be opened in early May. 
  

New Business

First Reading of Ordinance D-2812-26

• Approved

• This ordinance Transfers $1,112.00 from the Grant Fund (#900) into the General Fund (#101).

• This is a transfer of a donation from the Central Indiana Police Foundation in order to fund the Community Connect Cop Cards Initiative. These are trading cards that community members can collect. 
  

Resolution CC-04-20-26-02

• Approved

• This resolution authorizes the purchase of certain properties believed to be valued at more than $25,000.00 that are necessary for roundabout and related improvement projects.

• Early on in the council’s term, we changed our process for city property acquisitions so that instead of approving a large list of possible property acquisitions that were difficult for the public to parse through, we could introduce and approve them more transparently. I and other council members would like to note that this doesn’t mean the city is absolutely acquiring the properties in question, only that the purchase is authorized so the city can begin the process of offering a price to a landowner and negotiate further.

• Properties in question are for a proposed roundabout on River Road.
  

First Reading of Ordinance D-2814-26

• Approved

• This ordinance vacates the public way north of 805 Oswego Road, Carmel, Indiana.
  

First Reading of Ordinance D-2815-26 & First Reading of Ordinance D-2816-26

• Sent to Land Use

• These are petitions for vacation of the public way between 1118 S. Rangeline Road and 1132 S. Rangeline Road, previously Lot 8 of the Harvey B Stout subdivision and for vacation of the public way west of 1132 S. Rangeline Road, lots 9 and 10 of the Harvey B Stout.

• Last year, we approved a project called Proscenium III, a mixed-use development. Since then, there has been some substantial changes made by the developer to the specific offerings that the development will have, as well as some of the design elements. As it currently stands, the proposal includes a 128 room hotel with 5000 sq ft of retail, 154 multifamily apartment units, a 372 space parking garage (80% of which will be public parking), and spaces for a public plaza and public art displays. 

• This vote is to ensure that the road and land in between the development spaces can be used for this development, but also that the city can take the land back if the project does not move forward. Since the project has changed substantially, and the TIF to the developer has gone from 95 to 100%, there is much to consider. The summary of the discussion in land use on April 28th will be presented later in the newsletter.  
  

First Reading of Ordinance D-2817-26

• Approved

• The ordinance renames the Carmel Climate Action Committee to the Environmental Stewardship Committee and expands the committee's responsibilities and membership.

• The renaming of this Committee is less important than the work that actually gets done. We need to ensure that Carmel is leading the way in preserving and protecting our environment for future generations! I will keep you updated on future work through this committee and encourage you to stay informed and contact your elected officials to express your thoughts on proper environmental stewardship in Carmel.
  

First Reading of Ordinance D-2818-26

• Approved

• The ordinance amends requirements of Chapter 4 Article 6 of the Carmel City Code relating to the residential rental dwelling registration and permit program.

• This is to allow residents who may have missed the rental dwelling registration deadline to be able to register after the fact if their residences are indeed rentals, but weren’t previously subject to registration requirements that were passed last year. Councilmember Snyder noted that this isn’t about collecting data on residents, but rather ensuring that Carmel’s first responders could contact the resident and/or property owner in case of emergency.  
  

Land Use Meeting on April 28th

• Discussion around the Proscenium III project centered around the significant changes to the project and how important it is that CRC informs council of the changes made to any project.

  • The changes are significant and the importance is in ensuring that this project gives something back to the public for the incentives the developer is receiving.  

  • There was a great deal of discussion around the parking that this project will build. I am still not fully convinced that the number of spaces will enhance the parking needs of our growing city, but 80% of the spots are available to the public.

  • The park impact fees which were directed to be applied to the project are funding a public space within the project.  My concern is that it will not be as easily noticed as a public space and that the developer should commit to ensuring that it is highlighted for public use and that public art and enticing decor is used to direct people to this space.

  • The question in front of us as a committee was the vacation of additional parcels of land to allow the project to move forward.  The project had been previously approved by council but it has changed.  

  • The development will bring a high-end luxury hotel, office space, and a public plaza but, more importantly, it will connect the areas around city hall in a more cohesive manner.

  • As previously mentioned, I still have concerns regarding this project and will continue to push for more public benefits from this development. For now, it will be sent out of committee with a unanimous vote on the vacation of the parcels to allow the project to move forward.  Further discussion will be held at the May 18th Council meeting.

• The other item of business was the unanimous positive recommendation of adoption of the Home Place Subarea plan. This plan is a preservation of the character of the neighborhoods around Home Place and a clear directive on preserving its character as new development occurs.  

  • I believe this plan was truly positive for the Home Place neighborhood.  It will be voted on at the next city council meeting on May 18th.

Events Around Carmel

• Horsepower: an annual sensory friendly carnival hosted by The Children’s TherAplay Foundation is this weekend at 9919 Towne Rd. on Saturday, May 2 from 10 AM to 1 PM!

• Carmel’s annual Japan SpringFest (formerly known as the Cherry Blossom Festival) is this Sunday on May 3 from 12 PM to 5 PM. This event will also showcase the newly redesigned Kawachinagano Japanese Garden!

• Carmel’s first-ever Vaisakhi Festival celebration will kick off next week on May 9th at the Carmel Gazebo! Vaiksahki is a spring harvest festival and the celebration of the Sikh New Year!

  
  

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!