Public Meetings - Evansville, Indiana

On October 26, 2026, the Evansville Common Council met at 5:36 p.m. with six members present (Councilmembers Taylor, Heronemus, Hatfield, Koehler Lindsey, Brinkmeyer, and Green) and three absent, establishing a quorum. The meeting began with roll call, approval of the October 5, 2026 meeting memorandum, and acknowledgment of reports and communications. The council adopted several ordinances on first and second reading, approved an interlocal cooperation agreement for a joint river patrol, and heard extensive public comment on gun violence and the Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) system. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which passed amid heated debate. Consent Calendar (First Reading of Ordinances and Resolutions) - Ordinance F-2026-18: Authorized transfers of appropriations, additional appropriations, and repeal/re-appropriation of funds for various city funds. Sponsor: Councilmember Green. Adopted unanimously (6-0). - Ordinance F-2026-19: Amended Ordinance F-2026-04 regarding the issuance of Taxable Economic Development Tax Increment Revenue Bonds, Series 2026 (The Republic Project). Adopted unanimously (6-0). - Ordinance R-2026-19: Rezoned 3524 Kratzville Rd from M1 to R2 (owner: Happy Storage, LLC). Adopted unanimously (6-0). - Ordinance R-2026-23: Rezoned 3416 & 3408 N First Ave from C1 & C4 w/ UDC to C2 (owner: ILJKM Properties, LLC). Adopted unanimously (6-0). - Ordinance R-2026-24 (amended): Rezoned 1724–1740 S Grand Ave from R2 to C4 w/ UDC (owner: Community One, Inc). Adopted unanimously (6-0). - Ordinance R-2026-25: Rezoned 1119 Lincoln Ave & E Mulberry St from R1 to CO2 (owner: Sergio Chang Figueroa & Maureen Vanegas). Adopted unanimously (6-0). - Ordinance R-2026-26: Rezoned 1020 Professional Blvd from CO2 & C1 to C2 (owner: 1020 Professional Blvd Medical Office Facility, LLC). Adopted unanimously (6-0). - An amendment to ordinance R-2026-24 was also adopted, and a special order was made to add ordinance R-2026-19 to the first reading agenda for procedural consistency. Committee Reports - The Area Plan Commission reported recommendations on several second-reading ordinances: R-2026-02 (recommended approval, 6-1 vote), R-2026-19 (7-0), R-2026-20 (continued), and R-2026-21 (7-0). Council accepted these reports. Discussion Items Regular Agenda – Second Reading of Ordinances 1. Ordinance F-2026-15 – Appropriated monies for the Evansville-Vanderburgh Levee Authority District for FY 2027 (beginning January 1, 2027). Robert Gunter (Controller) explained this was the final budget adoption for the Levee Authority, delayed from October 5. No changes were made. Adopted 5-0 (Councilmember Taylor was remote and unable to vote on this item). 2. Ordinance R-2026-02 – Rezoned 2713 Jeanette Ave from R1 to M2 w/ UDC (owner estate of Ronald Lee Strahl). Cassie Virgin (Area Plan Commission) noted a legal description discrepancy with GIS and requested correction before recording. Joshua Claybourn (attorney for the estate) argued the property had been used as an auto repair/salvage yard since the 1960s, a legal nonconforming use that was voided when a pole barn was built after a fire. The UDC restricts use to auto repair, towing, storage yard, and warehouse; no change in use is intended. Councilmembers asked about salvage vs. storage, and it was confirmed that salvage will not be part of the business. No public opposition. Adopted 6-0. 3. Ordinance R-2026-19 – Rezoned 3524 Kratzville Rd from M1 to R2 (owner: Happy Storage, LLC). Cassie Virgin reported the property contained a residence with legal nonconforming status due to a 1957 rezoning; the applicant seeks to match surrounding residential zoning. Krista Lockyear (attorney for owner) stated the intent is to maintain single-family residential use for lending purposes, though R2 allows duplexes. No public opposition. Adopted 6-0. 4. Ordinance R-2026-21 – Rezoned 1500 N Heidelbach Ave from M2 to R5 w/ UDC (owner: Oolite Management Services, LLC). Cassie Virgin described the site’s history as a furniture factory and later flea market (demolished 2016), with EPA contamination from a previous Whirlpool facility. A proposed 63-unit multifamily development (workforce housing) is planned, limited to 4 stories by UDC. The representative confirmed market-rate workforce housing. No public opposition. Adopted 6-0. Resolution Docket Resolution C-2026-35 – Approved an interlocal cooperation agreement for a joint river patrol between Evansville Police Department (EPD) and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office. Councilmember Allen (speaking via roll call?) explained the agreement allows use of the county-owned boat (purchased via state grant), with each agency paying officer wages/training, and splitting minor repairs 50/50. Major repairs are covered by the county. The City’s share of expenses was included in the EPD budget. Public comment questioned jurisdictional and financial details; council clarified the funds are already allocated. Adopted 6-0. Public Comments & Testimony - The session opened for general public comment beyond the agenda. Topics included gun violence among youth and the Flock ALPR system. - Jordan Payne (805 Riverside Dr) – Spoke as a senior at Bosse High School, urging more positive activities for teens, motivational speakers in schools, one-on-one mentoring for black young men, and community campaigns against gun violence and drug abuse. - Christopher Newman (3121 S Rollerwood Ave) – Emphasized listening to youth voices, especially those who are angry, anxious, or overlooked, and meeting them where they are. - Candace Taylor (317 Hays Dr) – Opposed renewing Flock, citing documented misuse in other cities (e.g., wrongful identification in Lafayette, officer charges in Indianapolis, Washington Post report of 100+ employees accused). Urged transparency and reallocation of the $182,000 budgeted for Flock. - Anthony Ogden (2712 Sontag Ct) – Alleged a judge ordered Flock data to be turned over in his case but it was not, implying law enforcement noncompliance. - Roger Madden (4205 Frizzy) – Supported Flock as a tool that can clear or convict, but criticized Brady rights violations and lack of evidence disclosure. Mentioned drunk driving enforcement failures. - Jessica Reed (1124 SE First St) – Criticized the $182,000 budget for Flock, arguing it could be better spent on community safety investments (mental health, housing, youth programs). Stated surveillance responds after crime, while true safety prevents it. - Brennan Dillingham (1825 N Iroquois Dr) – Expressed hopelessness, believing council does not care about citizen concerns. - Ann Yates (7020 Little Shaker Rd) – Asked council to strike Flock from the budget and challenged a previous dress code enforcement of a political shirt, citing First Amendment rights. - Adam Carey (7699 Meadow Lane) – Listed questionable search reasons from EPD audit logs (e.g., “homeless”, “test”, “FBI”, “DEA”), argued misuse of Flock and Clearview AI. Demanded defunding. - Brian Gebhardt (802 SE First St) – Noted data collected by Flock goes to private companies without public consent or control. - Olivia Latham (132 S Bakey Rd) – Asked for clarity on whether a line-item vote to strike Flock funding is possible; Councilmember Heronemus explained the budget is passed but an ordinance could ban Flock, though no council member is willing to introduce one. Councilmember Brinkmeyer acknowledged confusion and stated he is still learning options. - Councilmember Green defended Flock, citing a case where a child abducted by a sexual predator was rescued in 20 minutes using Flock, and a robbery suspect was caught. He argued license plate data is purged unless part of an active case and criticized the tone of public comments. - After further back-and-forth, Councilmember Brinkmeyer moved to adjourn, which was seconded and passed (voting ayes). The meeting ended abruptly. Key Outcomes - All consent calendar items (7 ordinances) adopted 6-0. - Ordinance F-2026-15 (Levee Authority budget) adopted 5-0 (Taylor excused). - Ordinance R-2026-02 (2713 Jeanette Ave rezoning) adopted 6-0 with a request to correct the legal description before recording. - Ordinance R-2026-19 (3524 Kratzville Rd rezoning) adopted 6-0. - Ordinance R-2026-21 (1500 N Heidelbach Ave rezoning) adopted 6-0. - Resolution C-2026-35 (Joint River Patrol) adopted 6-0. - Public comment on Flock: Council members acknowledged concerns but the budget is finalized; no immediate action was taken. The next meeting is scheduled for November 9, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.

The Evansville Police Merit Commission met in open session on October 26, 2026, after an executive session. The agenda set the open meeting for 4:15 p.m.; the transcript records the call to order at 4:16 p.m. in Civic Center Complex, Room 307. The minutes document was not available, so this summary relies on the agenda and the raw transcript. The commission approved minutes and claims, received a field-training update, voted on applicants, acknowledged a resignation, and scheduled the next meeting. No public comment period appears in the agenda or transcript. Executive Session - The agenda listed a closed executive session before the open session under I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(5) (information about and interviews of prospective employees), I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(6)(A) (alleged misconduct), and I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(9) (job performance evaluations). No transcript is available for this portion. Consent Calendar - Minutes from the October 12, 2026 meeting, recorded by Johnson-Kincaid, Sutton, and Thompson, were approved by unanimous voice vote after a motion and second. - Claims totaling $550 were approved by unanimous voice vote after a motion and second. Probationary Officer Update - The commission received an update on probationary officers in field training and in the SWILEA program. No motion or formal action was noted. Applicants - A motion was made and seconded that applicant 26-142 and applicant 26-189 not be allowed to continue; the motion carried unanimously. - The agenda also listed applicants 26-122, 26-151, and 26-198, but the raw transcript does not record any motion or discussion regarding them. Resignations - The commission received recognition of Officer Evan Ray Lake, Badge Number 1644, who resigned effective October 17, 2026, after serving nine months and five days. Key Outcomes - Approved October 12, 2026 minutes. - Approved $550 in claims. - Voted unanimously to not allow applicants 26-142 and 26-189 to continue. - Acknowledged Officer Evan Ray Lake's resignation. - Scheduled the next meeting for Monday, November 9, 2026, at 4:15 p.m.; motion to adjourn carried.

The City of Evansville Loan Administration Board met on October 23, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 301 of the Civic Center. The board unanimously approved prior meeting minutes and a revised revolving loan fund plan, received an update on loan portfolio performance, and discussed upcoming meeting schedules and a borrower's status. Consent Calendar - Approved the meeting minutes from May 22, 2026. - Approved the executive session memo from May 22, 2026. - Approved the revised Revolving Loan Fund Plan. Discussion Items - Loan and Fund Updates: The board received an update on loan fund activity. Most borrowers are performing well, but two borrowers have become less consistent in payments, making larger payments after missing a month. Two additional borrowers—Artisan Pizza Revolution and Main Street Wedding—are behind on payments; they have received two notices, and a third will be sent soon. If no response, the loans will be sent to collections. Also, Emerald Design paid off a $1,000 loan balance, and those funds are now available for lending but require appropriation before being spent. - Helponics Loan Status: The board discussed Helponics, which has three loans with the city. The first two remain deferred, and the third is interest-only with a reduced interest rate. Helponics had previously applied for an SBA loan that was denied due to changing federal guidelines. They are pursuing new SBA loan opportunities. The board decided to invite Helponics to the January 2027 meeting to provide an update, either in person or via video call. - Future Meeting Schedule and Board Terms: The board noted that there will be no meetings in November or December 2026 due to holidays (the fourth Friday of each month falls on holidays). Board member terms expire December 31, 2026, and members will receive email notifications about reapplying for mayor-appointed positions. The January 2027 meeting will include swearing-in of members and moving forward with the new loan plan. Key Outcomes - Approved all consent items unanimously (voice votes with no opposition). - Directed staff to continue monitoring delinquent borrowers and proceed to collections if necessary. - Agreed to invite Helponics to the January 2027 meeting for a loan status update. - Confirmed that the December 31, 2026, term expirations will trigger a new application process for board membership.

The Board of Public Works met on October 22, 2026, at 7:45 PM to approve routine items, including minutes, contracts, and right-of-way permits. All votes were unanimous. Consent Calendar - Approved the minutes of the October 15, 2026, Board of Public Works meeting. - Approved bills and payrolls. Discussion Items - Change Order No. 6 for Danco Construction (Admin Renovations): Jonathan C. B. King, Director of METS, explained the final change order adds $13,175 to the contract, bringing the total to $731,966.15. The funds cover roof repairs at the Greyhound (due to an HVAC leak damaging the ceiling), additional ductwork at the admin building, and data lines for a new office. The board approved the motion. - Acceptance of Street Improvements – Orchard North Subdivision: Brian Mundy (City Engineering) stated these streets were not originally constructed properly and a letter of credit was called. A new developer fixed them, and the improvements are now ready for acceptance. Linear footage: Cameo Drive Section 1 – 815 ft, Cameo Court Section 2 – 302 ft, Section 3 – 348 ft, Cameo Drive Section 4 – 791 ft, plus adjacent storm sewers. The board approved the acceptance. - Right-of-Way Dedication – Lynch Road: Brian Mundy explained the dedication clarifies an existing right-of-way west of Garrison Avenue (east of US 41) that was not formally recorded. The property owner agreed to the formal dedication. Approved. - Right-of-Way Permits: The City Engineer’s office recommended approval of applications 3270–3277 and 3279–3281 as submitted; exception was taken on application 2436 (insufficient information/civil issue); application 3255 was tabled pending additional information; and application 3278 was pending a meeting with APC requirements. The board approved the recommendation with the condition that maintenance of traffic procedures follow the Indiana MUTCD and that Board of Public Safety approval may be required for lane restrictions or street closures. Key Outcomes - All motions passed unanimously (all ayes). - Change order No. 6 approved with a new total contract amount of $731,966.15. - Street improvements in Orchard North Subdivision accepted. - Right-of-way dedication for Lynch Road approved. - Right-of-way permits approved with noted exceptions. - Meeting adjourned.

The Evansville Vanderburgh County Building Commission held a hearing on October 22, 2026, at 1:00 PM, presided by Pro Tem Hearing Officer Michael DiRienzo. The hearing addressed over 40 cases regarding unsafe buildings, including both evidentiary cases (requiring sworn testimony) and routine matters. Key actions included affirming repair, vacate, and raze orders, and imposing civil penalties for non-compliance. Consent Calendar (Routine Approvals) - 3926 N. Fourth Ave. (Land Trust): Released to voluntary compliance after substantial renovation. - 1674 S. Elliott St. (KJ Realty LLC): Released to voluntary compliance; all repairs completed. - 3412 Yale Dr. (Whitt): Released to allow civil court action for fence encroachment. - 1621 Jackson Ave. (Pendergrass): Order upgraded from repair to raze due to fire damage. - 1424 W. Maryland St. (Gibson): Order upgraded to raze. Public Comments & Testimony - 303 Chandler Ave. (apartment building): Multiple neighbors expressed safety concerns. Sam Forrest questioned the scope of repairs and suggested engineering oversight. Philip Hooper (Riverside Neighborhood Association president) criticized prolonged inaction and safety hazards. Sarah Rodriguez highlighted school buses stopping near the unstable wall. - 823 E. Chandler Ave.: Angie Bullock (realtor and neighborhood board member) informed the commission the property is under contract with a buyer who plans historic restoration, with closing expected by October 30. - 2911 W. Franklin St.: The inspector read a neighbor complaint about debris blocking the sidewalk. - 2575-2579 Stanley Ct.: Owner Frankie Ray Needhammer described difficulty finding contractors and health issues. Evidentiary Cases and Key Discussions - 2911 W. Franklin St. (retaining wall): Inspector Allen testified the wall remained incomplete and debris littered the sidewalk. Owner CJ Funkey cited contractor equipment failures and previous engineering plan rejections. The Hearing Officer imposed a $1,000 civil penalty, finding the safety hazard and months of non-compliance justified the penalty as previously ordered. Matter returned December 17, 2026. - 303 Chandler Ave. (SK Homes LLC): Inspector Lukey recommended the $5,000 maximum civil penalty for failure to submit a detailed plan and signed contract. Neighbors testified to the building's dangerous condition (collapsed brick wall, unsafe balcony, mold). The Hearing Officer imposed the $5,000 penalty, requiring a signed contract, detailed timeline, and active permits by November 6, with a progress hearing November 19. - 823 E. Chandler Ave.: Inspector documented roof holes, exposed structure, and animal entry. Realtor Angie Bullock confirmed the sale pending to a restoration buyer. Repair order affirmed; matter returned November 19. - 1205 Edgar St.: Masrani Global LLC representative Darren Brewer disputed the water service status, claiming water was supplied from an adjoining property. The Hearing Officer affirmed the emergency vacate order based on evidence of inactive water service. - 1107 Lodge Ave.: Emergency vacate affirmed for house and garage; camper had been removed. Separate repair order for garage also affirmed. - Other evidentiary cases: Emergency vacate orders were affirmed for 1308 Fountain Ave. (deplorable conditions), 901 N. Fourth Ave. (roof, foundation issues, vagrancy), 1014 N. Third Ave. (fire damage, foundation collapse), 1728 E. Riverside Dr., and 2600 W. Illinois St. (owners deceased). Civil Penalties and Compliance Orders - $5,000 penalty: 303 Chandler Ave. - $1,000 penalties: 2911 W. Franklin St. and 1612-1614 S. Linwood Ave. (non-compliance, refused access). - $500 penalties imposed: 722 E. Gum St., 1263 Madison Ave., 1117 W. Iowa St., and 2575-2579 Stanley Ct. (willful non-compliance). - Civil penalties held under advisement: 1931 Hathaway Ave., 312 E. Florida St., 1343 E. Franklin St. (receivership issue), 221 W. Columbia St., and others. - Referral: 2600 W. Illinois St. repair case referred to Housing Court for enforcement. Key Outcomes and Next Steps - Numerous vacate, repair, and raze orders were affirmed. - Most matters were continued to November 19, 2026 or December 17, 2026 for progress updates. - The next hearing dates were set for compliance reviews. - The hearing officer emphasized that substantial completion or clear progress must be shown by those dates to avoid further penalties.

The Vanderburgh County Data Center Research Committee held its fourth meeting on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:06 PM in Room 301 of the Civic Center Complex in Evansville, Indiana. Chair Lloyd Lamberton presided. Members discussed public communications, their research activities, the committee’s process for developing recommendations, the South Bend/Amazon wastewater permit, and plans for an evening public comment session. The committee approved prior minutes, made several procedural decisions, and heard comments from two community members. Attendance and Consent Calendar - Roll call: Present were Tom Shetler Jr., Lloyd Lamberton, Lauren Lynch, John Diekhoff, Mark Murry, Richard Reed, Jason Naab, Scott Ambrose, and Jon Robertson. Absent were Susan Hardwick, Jenna Richardt, John Bates, and Chaitanya Mamidala. - With Secretary Jenna Richardt absent, Lauren Lynch agreed to record the minutes as substitute secretary. - The committee approved the September 29, 2026 meeting minutes with emailed edits on a voice vote. Public Comments & Testimony - Nicole Chandler, a Vanderburgh County resident and environmental nonprofit employee, asked a clarifying question about the recommendation pathway and was told the committee reports to the County Commissioners, who will work with the Area Plan Commission on an ordinance. She expressed support for an after-hours public comment period, recommended prohibiting behind-the-meter gas plants as Posey County did, recommended requiring data centers to identify proprietary chemicals used in cooling and wastewater systems, and suggested taking noise/frequency measurements at existing Evansville data centers. She noted those existing facilities are not hyperscale and, in her view, have among the most diesel generators on site in the state. She also suggested Just Transition Northwest Indiana as a resource. - Margaret Connelly, an Evansville citizen, endorsed the evening public comment session because many residents cannot attend afternoon meetings. She urged caution because, in her experience, data centers have not always followed through on agreements; raised regional Ohio River pollution concerns; emphasized noise impacts on nearby residents; asked the committee to avoid recommendations that raise utility bills; questioned the long-term job benefits; noted there is no guarantee data centers will remain; and advised caution about small modular nuclear reactors. Discussion Items Public Communications and Email Process - Chair Lamberton raised concerns about public emails being commingled with committee and research emails. The committee decided to keep the public email address, DCResearch@VanderburghGov.org, and to ask IT about routing public emails to a separate folder. Members agreed to respond to public emails as an agenda item at each meeting, and Jon Robertson volunteered to collate the comments into categories for the next meeting. Committee Member Research Activities - Members reported research activities, including meeting with the Evansville Water & Sewer Utility director, contacting IDEM and other communities, reaching out to the City of South Bend about its AWS facility, reviewing ordinances, talking with fire departments in several states, and collecting resources on the committee SharePoint site. - Chair Lamberton said he met with the EWSU director and asked him to attend a future meeting; the director has conflicts with Tuesday afternoons. He also contacted the IDEM pretreatment coordinator and said four communities responded to outreach about data center experience. - Noise research was discussed at length, including decibel and low-frequency measurements, acoustic baselines, site-specific standards, backup-generator testing limits, and possible continuous noise monitoring paid for by the developer. One member discussed the XAI facility in Memphis as an example of temporary turbine noise becoming a persistent problem. - The committee approved, by voice vote, a motion by Mark Murry and a second by Scott Ambrose to share the SharePoint resource library with City Council and Area Plan staff on a read-only basis. Tom Shetler advised that sources should be shown for each resource. Deliberation Process and Deliverable - Lauren Lynch said the committee should focus first on potential impacts and benefits, and only later on ordinance language; several members agreed. - The committee discussed how to vote on its deliverable to the County Commissioners. It reached consensus that members will select topic or topics in their area of expertise, present research on benefits and impacts, recommend ordinance language based on best practices, and the committee will vote item by item by majority. The final deliverable will be a report with recommendations and suggested ordinance language. Votes can be tallied, and multiple options may be included on contested points. Chair Lamberton said he was concerned some topics might not be claimed; John Diekhoff observed that not every topic needs the same level of research. AWS Industrial Discharge Permit – South Bend - Chair Lamberton reviewed the Industrial Discharge Permit issued by the City of South Bend for Amazon Data Services. He explained that Indiana has roughly 35-40 delegated pretreatment authorities, that Evansville Water & Sewer Utility sets limits based on a load study, and that in his opinion EWSU’s pretreatment program protects the publicly owned treatment works and, through the NPDES permit, the Ohio River. He noted data centers are not categorical industrial users, so limits would be set at the local level, and that EWSU already monitors industrial dischargers. - He also noted that South Bend reported the AWS facility was nowhere near its estimated discharge volume, and that the design of flow measurement matters for accuracy. Evening Public Comment Session - The committee agreed to hold an additional public comment meeting in the evening so more residents can attend. The preferred options are November 10 or November 17, 2026, from 5:00-6:30 PM, subject to room and security availability. Speakers will sign in and receive up to three minutes to comment. Lauren Lynch will coordinate with the County Commissioners office. Susan Hardwick Comments / Ordinance Outline - The committee tabled discussion of Susan Hardwick’s comments on the Outline for Data Center Ordinance Amendment Proposals because members were not ready to review general ordinance language before completing impact research. Key Outcomes - Approved the September 29, 2026 minutes with edits by voice vote. - Approved read-only sharing of the committee’s SharePoint resources with City Council and Area Plan staff. - Agreed on an item-by-item majority-vote process for recommendations and a report deliverable to the County Commissioners. - Directed Jon Robertson to collate public emails into categorized agenda items for the next meeting. - Agreed to schedule an evening public comment meeting, likely November 10 or November 17, 2026, from 5:00-6:30 PM, with 3-minute comments. - Tabled the ordinance outline comments. - Adjourned at 3:06 PM by voice vote. - Remaining action items included having members prepare topic materials, continuing data center site and topic discussions, preparing an impact-review template, refining definitions, and coordinating IT access for City Council and Area Plan staff. - Upcoming calendar items from the agenda: October 27, November 10, November 17, December 8 public comment meeting and committee discussion, and December 15 final vote on recommendations to the Commissioners. Note - The agenda and minutes body identify the meeting date as October 20, 2026, and the transcript begins at 1:00 PM on that date, although the minutes document footer repeats the prior meeting’s September 29, 2026 date. The transcript also spells the second public speaker’s name Connolly, while the minutes spell it Connelly.

The Evansville Redevelopment Commission met on October 20, 2026, with the Vice President presiding in the absence of President Randy Alsman. The Commission approved a declaratory resolution and an economic development agreement for a major new housing development, tabled another agreement pending revised financing terms, and awarded a contract for downtown electrical repairs. A substantial portion of the meeting was dedicated to a detailed presentation and discussion on a proposed LED lighting upgrade at the Ford Center. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the October 6, 2026, meeting were approved. - Approval of Accounts Payable Voucher Register: A voucher totaling $40,341.00 was approved. Payments included concept development fees ($5,000), street connector invoices ($4,115 and $22,555), utility bills for city parking lots, and mowing services in Downtown and Jacobsville areas. Discussion Items - Resolution 26ERC29 & 26ERC30 – Brown Capital Group (BCG) Development: The Commission approved a declaratory resolution (26ERC29) establishing the BCG Economic Development Area and Allocation Area, and an economic development agreement (26ERC30) with Brown Capital Group. The project proposes 240 market-rate multifamily units on approximately 15 acres at the Promenade, representing a total investment of roughly $63 million with $50 million in hard construction costs. Financing will be structured through tax increment financing (TIF) bonds, with the developer's TIF revenue pledged to service the debt, making it not a general obligation of the city. The captured funds are intended for infrastructure improvements around the undeveloped site. Staff confirmed no other approvals were required from the city or county for this specific parcel. - Resolution 26ERC31 – Goodin Bowen Evansville, LLC (The Republic): A proposed economic development agreement for a 153-unit Class A apartment project with $38 million in costs was discussed. The financing terms had changed due to interest rate increases, requiring the bond issue to be increased from $5 million to $5.5 million to generate enough usable proceeds for construction. Because the resolution under consideration would require immediate amendment, the Commission voted to table the item. It will be brought back to the next meeting alongside a new resolution reflecting the increased bond amount. - Resolution 26ERC32 – JEP Electric, LLC Contract Award: The Commission approved awarding a contract to JEP Electric, LLC for electrical outlet repair in the Jacobsville Redevelopment Area along North Main Street. The Christmas Parade Committee requested the repairs. Four quotes were received, and JEP Electric, LLC was the lowest bidder. The contract is set at a maximum not-to-exceed of $7,350, though the anticipated cost based on the initial evaluation of 20 outlets is $3,725. - Ford Center LED Lighting Project (Other Business): Staff and vendors presented a comprehensive proposal to replace 202 existing 1,500-watt metal halide lights with 96 561-watt LED fixtures at the Ford Center. - CenterPoint Energy Rebate Presentation: Sonia Fenwick from Resource Innovations presented the pre-approved rebate of $172,631 for the project, based on an estimated reduction of 1.2 million kilowatt hours annually, resulting in approximately $120,000 in annual energy savings. The system operates for roughly 4,520 hours per year. The pre-approval letter expires October 31, 2026. - Technical Presentation: Jake Ward from LIT Lighting Solutions described the new system's capabilities, including programmable lighting scenes for different events and RGBW architectural lighting designed to attract higher-profile Division 1 events. - Commission Caution: Commissioners expressed caution based on past experiences with parking garage lighting upgrades where projected savings were offset by factors like previously non-operational lights coming back online and new EV charger loads. They stressed their fiduciary responsibility and a desire for strong assurance on the savings projections. The legal requirement for a public bidding process for the installation was a key point of discussion, as a 7% manufacturer price increase is effective November 7, 2026. - Outcome: The Commission took no vote. They directed staff to request an extension from CenterPoint on the rebate pre-approval deadline, seek a legal opinion on the bidding process, and gather more specific operational data from the Ford Center's management to present at the November 4th meeting. Key Outcomes - Resolution 26ERC29: Approved. Established the BCG Economic Development Area. - Resolution 26ERC30: Approved. Economic development agreement executed with Brown Capital Group. - Resolution 26ERC31: Tabled. To be revisited at the next meeting with revised bond terms. - Resolution 26ERC32: Approved. Contract awarded to JEP Electric, LLC. - Ford Center Lighting Project: No formal action taken. Staff directed to research bidding requirements, verify facility usage data, and secure a CenterPoint rebate extension.

The Evansville Climate Collaborative Board met on October 20, 2026, at 3:43 PM. The meeting included approval of minutes from the July meeting, no appeals, and a detailed staff report covering emissions permits, project updates (including a rain garden planting, data center research, solar cooperative, city solar installations, EV charging usage, and an anti-idling campaign), education events, and scheduling of the next meeting. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes: The board unanimously approved the minutes from the July 2026 meeting. Motion by Stacy Milheiser, seconded by Robert Flores. Passed without dissent. Discussion Items - Emissions & Permits: Staff member Sarah reported that all 2026 invoices to municipal and state sources have been sent out during September and October. Work continues to update out-of-date initial five-year source operating permits; the process is challenging due to businesses ceasing operations or new ones opening. The permits are not due for renewal until 2031. - Projects & Grants – B City/Rain Garden: The city (a B City certified in 2025) partnered with USI, the Stormwater Division, Parks, and plant societies to install a rain garden at Westland Park. 1,400 native pollinator plants and three bald cypress trees were planted in three stormwater retention swales. The project involved 40 volunteers and 8–10 committee members. Wesselman Woods designed educational signage. - Projects & Grants – Data Center Research: Both county and city passed ordinances pausing data center development. Chair Stacy Milheiser serves on a 13-person study committee. Public comments can be submitted via email (DCResearch@vanderburghgov.org) or at meetings; an evening public comment session is being scheduled for November 10 or 17. Milheiser outlined major environmental concerns: a hyperscale data center could double the county’s greenhouse gas emissions, increase air pollutants (NOx, particulate matter), and affect water and energy rates. The public’s top concerns are noise and utility rates. The committee is gathering resources on a shared SharePoint. - Projects & Grants – Solar Co-op: Partnering with Solar United Neighbors, the summer solar co-op closed with 190 members (double the typical 100). Eight members have signed contracts with Morton Solar as of September 2. At least 10 low-income households will receive 5 kW systems through grant funding. Another co-op is planned for next year. - Projects & Grants – Solarize the City: Of 17 city facilities evaluated, 14 were feasible for solar installations. Three were dropped (two communication towers and the Pagoda), with funds redirected to enhance other projects. Installations are scheduled to begin. Water & Sewer Utility is adding solar at Sunrise Pump Station and East Wastewater Treatment Plant; a new fire station on the east side is designing solar into construction. - Projects & Grants – EV Charging: Five charging stations were installed by June. Since then, over 200 charging sessions have been recorded, and usage is increasing. - Projects & Grants – Anti-Idling Campaign: Over 100 yard signs were placed at city parks during summer, but most were damaged or disappeared. The board plans to switch to more durable aluminum signs on posts. Staff also designed a new anti-idling sign (displayed at the meeting). - Projects & Grants – Resilience Hub Study: Community engagement sessions scheduled for late October were postponed due to insufficient sign-ups. Staff will work with the consultant to reschedule before the year-end contract expiration. - Education & Events: Upcoming events include a data center sustainability workshop at IU Bloomington (Oct 23), a neighborhood cleanup (Oct 23), a tree planting at TP Park (Oct 24), a legal workshop on data centers (Nov 6), and the ECC round table for sustainability practitioners (Nov 18, 1–2:30 PM) at EVPL West. Key Outcomes - Approved the July 2026 meeting minutes. - No appeals were presented. - Next Meeting: Scheduled for November 17, 2026. - Adjournment: Motion carried to adjourn.

The Affordable Housing Fund Advisory Committee met on October 20, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 307 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting covered the financial report, a developer application for down payment assistance, an update on the TruVest Bayard Park homes project, approval of revised contract templates, and updates on current housing trust fund projects. No formal votes were taken, but several items were advanced to the next meeting. Financial Report - Staff reported that the committee had committed $250,000 in August for Echo's Litech project, contingent on a LITEC award expected in November 2026. Because the committee now knows that $1 million will be provided in 2027, and Echo will not need the $250,000 until 2027, the committee can treat that commitment as not currently encumbered and continue spending. The available balance as of the meeting was $14,290.61. It was clarified that if Echo's previous LITEC application had been rejected, that money would have been returned to the fund. Discussion Items A. AHTF Developer Application: HOPE of Evansville Down Payment Assistance Program - Josh Calvin presented a request for $60,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to assist first‑time homebuyers through Habitat for Humanity. The committee noted that formal approval could not occur at this meeting but agreed to approve it at the next meeting, scheduled for November 10, 2026. B. TruVest Bayard Park Homes Update - Staff summarized a call with Ryan (TruVest) on October 19 regarding the 512 Bayard Park property. Ryan proposed building a modular home for the next unit (510 Bayard Park) to lower costs and speed construction, addressing earlier committee concerns. Committee members expressed frustration with TruVest’s history of delays and lack of transparency. Key points: - TruVest currently owes $250,000–$256,000 on the loan. The first house (512) has not received a certificate of occupancy due to drywall issues and a failed blower‑door test. Ryan expects the test to be completed later that week. - If the 512 house sells, TruVest plans to repay $130,000–$140,000 to the city and use the remainder to build the 510 house. However, committee members noted that selling at $200,000 in a declining market may not yield enough profit to cover the next build, especially if TruVest takes a loss on the modular option. - Some members raised concerns about TruVest’s financial capacity, noting that Ryan may have other lending activities. The committee decided to invite Ryan to the next meeting (November 10) to provide a full update. Staff will also arrange for an independent inspection of the 512 property before that meeting. C. AHTF Templates Approval - Staff presented revised contract templates covering rights of first refusal, delayed recording, and affordability restrictions that run with the land. The number of templates expanded from about six to twenty‑four to cover various project types (developer agreements, purchaser agreements, low‑income housing tax credits, etc.). The committee acknowledged the templates and agreed to proceed with using them in future contracts; formal approval was not required. The templates will be distributed by email to members for review. D. Update on Current AHTF Projects - Staff provided an update on active projects: - Eight home repair program projects are in progress: 1414 Adams, 705 South Craig (near completion), 1075 Spring, 1401 MacArthur, 736 Gum, 113 South Willow, 311 South Willow, and 6115 East Walnut. - Echo has not yet spent the remaining pre‑development funds for the Reed Street project (awarded end of 2024). - Memorials’ 660 Ravenswood project (awarded $150,000 at end of 2024) is ongoing, with additional CDBG funds to finish. - JD Sheff Foundation’s work at Mina’s Place is ongoing; estimated completion is Q1 2027. - Advantage received a $250,000 commitment for the River City Homes LITEC project but has not yet secured a syndicator; if it does not spend 10% of the LITEC award within 12 months, the commitment may be forfeited. - Grandview Tower (L&M Development) closed in early September 2026 and construction is expected to start imminently. - Hope of Evansville recently purchased the 40‑unit Phoenix Apartments and is working with HUD to secure additional funds for rehabilitation. Key Outcomes - The HOPE down payment assistance application will be formally approved at the next meeting on November 10, 2026. - TruVest’s Ryan will present a full update at the November 10 meeting, including a market analysis for the 512 property. The committee will consider whether to accept repayment terms or pursue alternative resolutions. - The revised AHTF contract templates were acknowledged and will be used in future agreements; they will be sent to committee members for review. - No formal motions or votes were taken. The meeting adjourned at approximately 4:10 p.m.