OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Evansville Common Council Meeting - May 11, 2026

City Council — Monday, May 11, 2026
BodyEvansville, Indiana
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, May 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:15:41

Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

The honorable council of the city of Evansville is here by called to order.

0:09

Madam Clerk, please call roll.

0:11

Councilwoman Taylor.

0:14

Present.

0:14

Councilman Horonymus.

0:16

Here.

0:17

Councilwoman Hatfields.

0:18

Here.

0:19

Councilwoman Kaylor Lindsay?

0:20

Here.

0:21

Councilman Brink Mayer.

0:22

Here.

0:23

Councilwoman Allen.

0:24

Here.

0:25

Councilman Green.

0:26

Here.

0:26

Councilman Johnson.

0:27

Here.

0:28

Councilman Chalkman.

0:29

Here.

0:30

There being nine members present, zero absent.

0:33

Representing a quorum.

0:34

I hereby declare this session of the Common Council officially open.

0:40

This evening, the pledge of allegiance will be led by the very popular this evening, Colby Jackson.

0:46

Dr.

0:47

Colby, please.

0:50

There you go.

0:51

Come on up front.

0:54

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

1:02

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:16

Please join me now in a moment of silence.

1:32

Fellow counselors and those in the audience.

1:35

Welcome to the May 11th, 2026 meeting of the Common Council.

1:40

Is there a motion to approve the meeting memorandum of the April 27th, 2026 meeting of the Common Council as written?

1:49

So moved.

1:50

Second.

1:51

Hearing a first and a second.

1:53

All those in favor.

1:55

Aye.

1:56

Any opposed?

1:58

So ordered.

2:01

Reports and communications.

2:02

Emailed material.

2:03

Ordinances F 2026-05 and F 2026-07.

2:08

R 2026-10, 11, 12, and 13.

2:12

Resolutions C 2026-16, 17, 18, and 19.

2:16

And on your desk this evening, extended agenda.

2:18

Is there a motion to acknowledge the reports and communications?

2:23

So hearing a first and a second.

2:27

All those in favor?

2:28

Aye.

2:30

Any opposed?

2:32

So ordered.

2:36

Special orders of the day.

2:37

There are no special orders this evening.

2:40

Consent agenda.

2:41

First reading of ordinances and resolutions.

2:43

Ordinance F 2026-05 and ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville, authorizing transfers of appropriations, additional appropriations, and repeal and reappropriation of funds for various city funds.

2:53

Ordinance F 2026-07.

2:56

An ordinance of the Common Council, the City of Evansville approving the community annual community development plan and appropriating community development block grant, emergency solutions grant, and home investment partnership grant program grant funds.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing██████████████████████████████████████38%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Parks and Recreation██████████████14%
Energy Efficiency███████7%
Economic Development██████6%
Technology and Innovation██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%
Housing███3%
Housing Code Enforcement█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Evansville Common Council Meeting - May 11, 2026

The Evansville Common Council met on May 11, 2026, at 11:45 AM (adjourned at 6:50 PM) with all nine members present. The council approved a consent agenda, adopted several ordinances and resolutions, heard public comments, and tabled one item.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved first readings of ordinances and resolutions: Ordinance F2026-05 (appropriation transfers), Ordinance F2026-07 (CDBG and HOME grants), and rezoning ordinances R2026-10 (501-503 & 511 East Walnut), R2026-11 (4919 Old Boonville Highway), R2026-12 (1307 & 1311 Hitting Avenue), and R2026-13 (1514 South Morton Avenue). All passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • A group of students from the Winy community (Briley Owen, Derek Floyd, Samori Wagner, Lab Intensley, Brooklyn Farrow) spoke about unsafe conditions at Van Park, including lack of sidewalks, broken playground equipment, unsafe bathrooms, and illegal activity. They requested city assistance to fix the park.
  • Luke Bryant (1221 Meadowbrook Drive) urged the council to review and end the Flock safety camera contract, citing privacy concerns, lack of independent evidence of crime reduction, and potential for abuse.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance G2026-10 (Bond Refunding): Authorized refunding of 2022 Evansville Vision Bonds to release parcels for the Republic project. Interest rate slightly lower. Passed 9-0.
  • Ordinance G2026-11 (PILOT for Grandview Towers): Approved a 30-year payment in lieu of taxes agreement for rehab of 147 affordable senior housing units (170 units total, 95% occupied). Project includes $17 million rehab, no displacement, added resident services coordinator. Passed 9-0.
  • Ordinance F2026-04 (Republic Project Bonds): Authorized up to $5 million in developer-backed TIF revenue bonds for a 153-unit market-rate apartment development at 6933 Vogel Road. Developer Shelby Bowen presented. Council discussed financing agreements needing to be filed. Passed 9-0.
  • Ordinance F2026-06 (HUD Funds): Repealed and reappropriated $200,000 in HOME funds for Memorial CDC's Ravenswood Place rehab (8 units). Also transferred planning funds to youth development. Three council members recused (Hieronymus, Hatfield, Johnson). Passed 6-0.
  • Resolution C2026-16 (Police Pursuit Vehicles): Proposed lease purchase for 15 police SUVs. Tabled to next meeting pending final lease agreement.
  • Resolution C2026-17 (Solar Co-op): Supported formation of a solar purchasing cooperative with Solar United Neighbors. Passed 9-0.
  • Resolution C2026-18 (Affordable Housing Trust Fund): Authorized $250,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for Memorial CDC's Ravenswood Place rehab. Council requested quarterly updates on fund expenditures. Passed 9-0.
  • Resolution C2026-19 (Regional Trails Master Plan): Adopted the Evansville Regional Trails Master Plan to guide regional trail connections. Passed 9-0.

Key Outcomes

  • All adopted ordinances and resolutions (except tabled) received unanimous or near-unanimous approval.
  • Ordinance G2026-10, G2026-11, F2026-04, F2026-06, and Resolutions C2026-17, C2026-18, C2026-19 were adopted.
  • Resolution C2026-16 tabled to May 18, 2026 meeting.
  • Council directed staff to provide quarterly updates on Affordable Housing Trust Fund expenditures and to file financing agreements for the Republic project.
  • Next meeting scheduled for May 18, 2026 at 5:30 PM, with a finance committee meeting at 4:15 PM.

Meeting Transcript

The honorable council of the city of Evansville is here by called to order. Madam Clerk, please call roll. Councilwoman Taylor. Present. Councilman Horonymus. Here. Councilwoman Hatfields. Here. Councilwoman Kaylor Lindsay? Here. Councilman Brink Mayer. Here. Councilwoman Allen. Here. Councilman Green. Here. Councilman Johnson. Here. Councilman Chalkman. Here. There being nine members present, zero absent. Representing a quorum. I hereby declare this session of the Common Council officially open. This evening, the pledge of allegiance will be led by the very popular this evening, Colby Jackson. Dr. Colby, please. There you go. Come on up front. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Please join me now in a moment of silence. Fellow counselors and those in the audience. Welcome to the May 11th, 2026 meeting of the Common Council. Is there a motion to approve the meeting memorandum of the April 27th, 2026 meeting of the Common Council as written? So moved. Second. Hearing a first and a second. All those in favor. Aye. Any opposed? So ordered. Reports and communications. Emailed material. Ordinances F 2026-05 and F 2026-07. R 2026-10, 11, 12, and 13. Resolutions C 2026-16, 17, 18, and 19. And on your desk this evening, extended agenda. Is there a motion to acknowledge the reports and communications? So hearing a first and a second. All those in favor?

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