The power of the gal right there.

The honorable some of us.

Council of the City of Evansville is hereby called to order.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilwoman Taylor.

Councilman Herodimus.

Here.

Councilwoman Hatfield.

Here.

Councilwoman Kaler Lindsay.

Here.

Councilmember McMayer?

Here.

Councilwoman Allen.

Here.

Councilman Green.

Here.

Councilman Johnson?

Here.

Councilman Truckman.

Here, there being nine members present.

Zero absent.

Representative quorum.

I hereby declare this session of the common council officially opened.

This evening, the pledge of allegiance, if she would.

A special guest appearance in the back, one of our good friends.

Former city councilor.

Missy Mosby in the house.

I missed all of you too.

You've got to pay.

We still, yeah.

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.

Thank you.

See you come back and you get an opportunity.

Please join me now in a moment of silence.

Fellow counselors and those in the audience, welcome to the May 18th, 2026 meeting of the common council.

Is there a motion to approve the meeting memorandum of the May 11th 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.

Email material ordinance hour 2026-09 amended.

Resolutions C 2026-20 and C 2026-21.

An area plan commission report for May 2026.

And on your desk this evening, extended agenda.

Is there a motion to acknowledge the reports and communications?

So moved.

Aye.

Opposed.

So ordered.

Special orders of the day.

There are no special orders this evening.

Consent agenda.

First reading of ordinances and resolutions.

There are no items on first reading.

Committee reports.

Mr.

President, the Area Plan Commission submits the following recommendations.

Ordinance R, 2026-08 comes forward with a recommendation for approval, having eight affirmative votes.

Ordinance R, 2026.

Also comes forward with recommendation for approval, having six affirmative votes, two negative votes, with the condition to amend the UDC to add provisions similar to the UDC of R2025.

Is there a motion to acknowledge the committee reports?

So moved.

Second.

Aye.

Opposed.

So ordered.

Regular agenda.

Second reading of ordinances and resolutions.

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

So moved.

Second.

Okay.

Floor is now open for discussion.

Robert?

Good evening.

Uh Robert Gunter from the controller's office.

We have a few adjustments we'd like to make to the 2026 budget.

So thought I'd go through these page by page, and if you have any questions, please stop me.

The first one is just a reclassification of some amulets uh expenses.

It was adopted as small tools, and we'd like to move that to other equipment.

I mean other machinery and equipment.

These are these are bigger than just small tools.

These are the power cots and heavy equipment that will be used by the amulets.

It's just a classification adjustment.

Mr.

Controller, um, do we have a total for the expenses on the ambulance account for the year?

Would that be something you could get to us?

Yes, I can get that to you.

Okay, thank you.

I'd be curious to know that.

If I gave you a number, it would be off so just email it to us.

Thank you.

Sure.

The second item there on that first page.

We're moving it from the American Rescue Plan to the general fund.

It's 50,000 for the rights home in Evansville War Wartime Museum.

On the next page, the first item there, Mayor Terry was awarded a $125,000 scholars uh grant from the African American Mayor's Association.

And we would like to use that for it with the summer feud uh program.

Healthy play and uh pantry partners with the Evansville Promise neighborhood.

Can you say that again?

What's it being used for?

It's uh it's a program healthy play healthy play, okay and pantry partnership.

And will that be through the parks department or it'll be paid out of the mayor's office?

And who will be running that program?

Do you I'm sure they will.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

As far as the program itself, I don't know.

It'll be granted by the mayor's office.

It's gonna be granted by the mayor's office for the okay.

All right, and it so we don't know where exactly where the hundred and twenty-five is going, except that it's gonna be going out in grants.

Yes.

Okay, will it be more than one agency that receives it?

Um or do we know?

I don't know that yet.

Okay, thank you.

So is it possible to get more information on that?

Sure.

So when could we get more information on that?

Uh I think they're still working out the details on which programs will receive it.

But uh Rob Robert, do you know what these funds are from?

The $125.

Is that the award from the African American Buyers Association?

Okay, yeah.

So I I can give you a little context into what's going on there.

So there's uh several community partners that uh are at the table kind of talking about um uh the opportunities to partner together and and meet um essentially the nutritional needs of students within the six schools of the Evansville Promise Neighborhood um zone, right?

So there's a lot to be worked out on this, it's really kind of in the infancy side, but we've we had received in those funds several weeks ago.

Um and long story short.

They're just I'm assuming positioning it for when things really start moving.

So that way once plans are in place, then things can start moving forward.

And then are they planning to do that program this summer?

Uh there is not a timeline per the grant.

Uh but once the appropriate plan is um developed and in action enacting that particular plan, uh to my understanding is is as soon as we can possibly start moving forward.

Sounds good.

It's always good to get grant money.

Yep, for sure.

Yeah, it's it's exciting discussions that are going on and not to get too much in the weeds or also misrepresent what's going on, but we can wait on that memo from uh controller Gunter.

But once those are determined, I want to make sure the council's given you that information, but the the funds have already been received and we don't want an appropriation to hold up getting those funds out to the uh the organizations.

Thank you.

Uh the next item is just uh we're received a $2200 donation in the uh animal control.

I'd like to use it for computer software.

Is that computer software within animal control?

I'm I'm sorry, is that computer software within animal control?

Okay, yes.

Uh the next item there, you may remember last year uh five hundred and fifty thousand dollars was used from ARPA interest to do the blight flight I mean the blight fight uh we got most of that done last year but there's a hundred and seven thousand twenty-four dollars that did not get uh encumbered or uh awarded so we'd like to still do that it would just come from uh general fund cash the whole 550 thousand was moved from ARPA to the general fund so it's in that in that cash uh the next item uh with the new engineering staff you know they've got new three new positions we'd like to appropriate eighty thousand for uh some engineering engineering services with local firms uh the next item is for the parks and recreation fund uh the next level trails 557 40451 receive the state grant and we would like to use that for improvements for other buildings improvements other than buildings I'm sorry the last item on that page is for the area planning commission fund I'm kind of excited to do this we have this fund is at almost 2.2 million dollars that they just set there and it's been growing and growing and growing because we use those fees that get put into this fund but we've never spent it I like to use this to pay our share of the Aero Planning Commission we've been paying that out of the general fund so this should save the general funds going forward.

Is this the full amount of our payment for the whole year?

Yes.

Awesome and can I go back to the engineering that's on call engineering service companies I'd like to know a little bit more about about what that is and and it I don't recall us ever doing that or right no we have a new city engineer we'll have a new assistant city engineer and we've lost the traffic engineer so kind of everyone's new and we'd like to use outside firms to get some of the engineering done until they get their legs under them.

Okay and and do we already have the firms selected there's two specific ones is that looks like what that says you know I don't know I don't know if you can find just find out a little bit more and just send that to us I'd be interested to know about that and then so this we we think this will be just like a one time thing until we get get things back going there because I know we were behind.

Alright thank you the top of the last page we're asking to spend 29000 from the Terra Holt funds to do HVAC system repairs to the innovation point.

It's got a leak in it and they've had people come in to try to look at it and it's cannot be patched my assumption is this is a full on replacement of the system okay Dave Rector with the building authority is helped us with this and he's he's getting bids so I'm hoping this is the very high end of what that could be and come in much lower than this.

Okay the last item there is $90,000 from uh the levy authority fund taking it from cash to do some repairs on pump station that K4 levee station and that fund has quite a bit of reserves to do this type of work.

Are there any other questions from council?

Seeing none, is there any comments or questions from the members of the audience?

Madam Clerk.

Councilwoman Taylor.

Um yes.

Councilman Hieranimus?

Councilwoman Hatfield, aye.

Councilwoman Kayler Lindsay?

Aye.

Councilman Brickmeyer?

Aye.

Councilwoman Allen.

Aye.

Councilman Green?

Aye.

Councilman Johnson.

Councilman Trockman.

Aye.

There being highlight zero days ordinance yet.

2026 over the thank you.

Ordinance R 2026-08, an ordinance to rezone certain real estate in the city of Evansville.

State of Indiana, more commonly known as 1810 and 1814 Hooks Drive.

Is there a motion to adopt ordinance R 2026 08?

So moved.

Second.

Hearing a first and a second.

Cassie.

Good evening, Council members.

Cassie Virgin with the Area Planning Commission.

And this is the first one I have for you this evening.

This is APC docket number R E Z-2026-010.

Proposed ordinance R-2026-08.

The county assessors' records indicate that the three existing residences on this site were constructed at different times.

The home at 1810 Hicks Drive was built around 1927, and the home at 1814 Hicks around 1940.

The existing residence that crosses the property line at the rear of these two lots was built around 1977, and it's shown in the city directory as 1812 Hicks.

A large outbuilding also crosses the dividing property line.

It was originally constructed around 1937, and the directory shows a commercial business operating from the building as early as 1960 called Max Upholstery Shop.

The county assessor regularly combines parcels for tax purposes when buildings are observed to cross the property lines.

The additional residents crossing the dividing line at the rear of these properties was noted during that combination process.

The applicant is now requesting to rezone both lots to R3 to legally establish the three residential homes and allow combination of the lots into one tax parcel.

The 2035 future land use map recommends this site for residential uses.

So the request to rezone to R3 to legally establish the three homes would still remain consistent with the comprehensive plan.

And this comes forward from APC with a recommendation for approval having eight affirmative votes.

No, so this is all our three uses that are now on both of those parcels if we pass this, right?

Yes.

Okay.

But it's the same family that's owned it since that commercial business was there in 1960.

It's been passed down.

I believe it's the daughter now, and she's just trying to bring it into compliance so they can wrap it into one tax parcel for her, and then we won't have any more issues with the property.

Anyway, have questions.

The family has owned both of those properties, and they are currently in a trust since those um sections of the properties since trying to get everything together.

They've been instructed to do the rezoning.

I've received nothing against it.

Um I have been communicating with the um with the trust, the family trust on this.

Yeah, you can see there's the residence at the rear that crosses, and then there's also a large barn in the middle that crosses.

We were told there's no longer a commercial business in there.

Um there's really not a whole lot of anything in there right now.

She said, and then there's um residents in both of those homes towards the front of the lot, and that's it.

Yeah.

Thank you, Cassie.

Any other comments from council?

Um, is there a represent representative here?

Um yeah, please.

You can share a little update if you don't mind.

Sharing your name and address, please.

My name is Wendell McKinney.

Excellent.

Do you want to give us any background?

Uh it's basically just that uh my grandparents owned the property, and we I wasn't aware that it wasn't in compliance.

Um, that all happened before I was ever here.

Um so we are just since we learned that we've been working to get it back into compliance.

Thank you very much.

We appreciate that too.

Um thanks for being here.

Okay.

Uh any questions uh from uh the audience about this?

Okay, I think it's pretty straightforward.

Madam Clerk, please call a role.

Okay, Councilwoman Taylor.

Yes.

Councilman Heronimus?

Aye.

Councilwoman Hatfield, aye.

Councilwoman Kyler Lindsay.

Aye.

Councilman Brinkmeyer.

Aye.

Councilwoman Allen.

Aye.

Councilman Green.

Aye.

Councilman Johnson.

Aye.

Councilman Truckman.

There being nine ayes and zero nays ordinance R 2026 08 is hereby declared adopted.

Thanks for coming.

Ordinance R 2026-09 and ordinance to rezone certain real estate in the city of Evansville, State of Indiana, more commonly known as 6600 owed Boudville Highway.

Is there a motion to accept the amendment for ordinance R 2026?

09.

Second.

Hearing a first and a second.

Uh all those in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed.

So ordered.

Is there a motion to adopt ordinance R202609 amended?

Hearing a first and two seconds.

Uh the motion to adopt ordinance R 2026 09.

Uh is moved in.

Cassie, please.

Okay.

This was APC document number REZ-2026-011, proposed ordinance R-2026-09.

This site's located in a mixed residential and agricultural area between Burkhart Road and I 69, north of Morgan Avenue.

The immediate vicinity includes both single and multifamily uses, zoned R1 and R3.

The nearest non-residential uses are located in an industrial park zoned M1 directly to the north.

The property in this request was zoned AG prior to annexation of the area into the city in 2009, at which time the zoning was automatically changed to R1.

However, it has since remained agricultural ground.

Development in this area has gradually moved northward since annexation in a piecemeal fashion with newer development most often for residential uses.

There are two existing multifamily developments and a recently platted single-family subdivision, all fronting on this small segment of old Boomville Highway.

Although this site is within the I 69 corridor, there is no immediate interstate access from Old Boombow Highway.

The applicant is now requesting to rezone the property to R5 for proposed multifamily residential development.

The conceptual site plan shows an apartment complex with five buildings, which the application estimates will house 216 total units.

During the APC hearing on May 7th, the commission recommended the UDC be amended to add development commitments to protect neighboring properties.

Citing an example of a rezoning from last year for a similar multifamily project nearby.

That was located, you can't see it on the map right now, but it's directly north of that R3 that's on the other side of Burkhart Road.

And the new UDC that was filed for this one on May 12th limits use of the property to multifamily residential only, and further specifies special use number eight for a mobile home park will not be permitted.

The commitments regarding development include restricting the height of all buildings to no more than 50 foot.

Screening of a proposed trash compactor, providing a tree buffer along both the east and west property lines, installing a privacy fence along the north property line, limiting hours of construction activity to between 6 a.m.

and 7 p.m., limiting rent to market rates only, and commits to completing a traffic impact study.

Well, the amended UDC does address the topics discussed at the hearing, APC's concern regarding the traffic impact study was that the UDC should require that the developer follow and execute any action or improvements that are recommended by the study.

And this one comes forward from APC with a recommendation for approval, having two negative votes and six affirmative votes.

Cassie, can you repeat what you said about adding to the UDC that APC recommended?

So they discussed all the all the things that I went through are basically topics that they touched on during the meeting that they wanted to see rolled into the UDC whenever they amended it.

And the one thing that they were looking for that wasn't quite spelled out exactly how they were asking was um the traffic impact study.

They wanted them to commit to doing one, of course.

It will be a requirement because of how much how many trips this will generate per day, but they wanted them to commit to following the recommendations and whatever actions are recommended and whatever might be necessary as far as improvements that they do, go ahead and execute those.

So if that was included in the commitment, then they would be required to do that as well.

Are you saying that commitment was made or that was not made?

That was not included in the UDC.

All the UDC says at this time in the amendment that you just hold and is just that they'll do a traffic study.

Yeah.

Gotcha.

Thank you.

Yep.

Okay.

Uh any other questions of counsel.

Okay.

You said it's the traffic study.

That's that wasn't part of it yet.

That was optional.

They put in there that they would do one.

They did not include that they would act on whatever was recommended by the study.

And that's what APC was asking for, that they would commit to doing whatever the recommendations include.

Thank you.

All right.

Mr.

Chairman, I am a person who doesn't believe that anybody should be denied the opportunity to do what they want with their own property.

However, there is, I think this is probably only the second one that's given the concern.

I voted against one.

I don't, I'm not saying I'm voting against this.

But I am concerned about the traffic study, and I'm also concerned to vote for it before the traffic study comes out.

I think the council should be allowed to see the traffic study before we vote on this.

So I would like to make a motion to postpone this ordinance or 2026-09 until June the 22nd.

And hopefully between now and then we will have a traffic study that we can look look at and then uh enter discussion at that point.

I'll second.

That was uh there's been a motion.

And a second um quest under discussion.

Question, please.

Um I'm gonna say I I've I as representing this area have had lots of discussions with a lot of these folks out here.

I've got stacks of emails.

Um from the neighbors, you know, with those same with those concerns.

Um is it possible to get a traffic study done?

Cassie, I mean, before we are zoned, and how much does that cost and who's gonna pay for it?

Can you answer those questions?

Very good question.

They can get it done before it's zoned.

That's that would totally be appropriate if that was needed in order for you to make a decision for sure.

Um, and it would be at their cost, of course.

And who does those studies?

They would hire a firm to do it for them.

And MPO would help in evaluating it if that was necessary.

And the city engineer's office.

Okay, and I and I know I've had discussions with with both sides, and I know the developer is looking to proceed maybe more quickly than that.

Is it possible to get a traffic study done by June 22nd, or is it possible to get one done quicker than that, or do you have any idea?

I would not know about timing, no.

That would depend on motivation, I would assume on both sides, whoever they're hiring and their own.

I picked June 22nd to make sure they had time to get it done because I was unaware of how long it would take, also.

Right, right.

And I would also like to if we I don't know if we can amend the motion, I would like to see that that language is included in the use and development commitment that we just spoke about with Cassie.

Um and I would also feel more comfortable because I know the water pressure is a concern as well.

I'd like to see something added to the use and development commitment that they would be willing to uh commit to whatever the uh water and sewer because I know they'll do a study at site, so if we can just put that same language in there, I think you said commit to following and ex executing the recommendation from the water department.

Um I would like to could we amend the motion to that, um I will second uh the motion.

So you're amending your motion.

I will set I will amend my motion.

I thought Paul made the motion.

Paul made a motion.

Paul made a motion and it was second.

Are you are you asking to modify?

Yeah, I'm asking to modify and uh if we could add that on to your motion that they add in the uh the language in the use and development commitment on the traffic impact study and on um water study if they just can add that language to the use and development that I'd like to do.

I would agree if councilman Hatfield would agree.

I would agree.

Council person hatfield.

Sorry.

Okay, I would agree.

So to clarify, are you are we motioning that we're we are tabling this and requiring that language to go into the UDC?

It's not one or the other.

Yes, we are tabling and requiring that.

We're tabling and I want to like to see absolutely the meet and put that language in there and then um get that traffic impact study done before.

I was going to discuss the issues with the water with Vic, but I hadn't had that opportunity.

Um especially with there's no sidewalks or anything out there.

So that was that was my biggest concern was the safety of the community.

But uh I do know there's issues with water pressure, so that's that's something we can discuss with water and sewer, also.

Um I also agree with that.

I you know the only other time I received this many emails um were about trees, and I feel a lot more comfortable making a decision on people's lives when it comes to that roadway.

I've driven it before.

Um I was looking at it, I'm thinking about school bus stops, emergency vehicles, snow, um, you know, removal.

There really is not a space to even pull to the side in these situations.

I'm extremely uncomfortable.

Um with when that language that was added, I can't I cannot see myself voting on this unless it was an agreement that they would follow that plan to make that a safer road.

Cassie, is there is there access to Burkhart off of that property?

So right now at the top you can see there's vacant area.

A lot of that to the west is being filled in currently, there's single family homes being built in that subdivision, but there's a large parcel up there that's vacant, but that is also part of the subdivision, and that would be the only opportunity to access Burkhart, but it's not part of their property, Cassie.

I've got a uh question just so we can be mindful of you know, time being of the essence in this particular situation.

So just to kind of clarify when items like this come from Area Plan Commission to city council, we have 90 days that we sh have to respond in one way, shape, or form, or what recommendation comes over automatically goes into okay.

I just I want that to be, you know, obviously we've got a window here, but if we have to extend a window again, we're gonna have to be mindful as a legislative body on, you know, the timing of all of this.

So it's 90 days from the time that we certify it, and I believe that would have been last week, last Tuesday or Wednesday.

No, at the time that we certify it to the clerk's office.

I think that was Tuesday or Wednesday, yeah.

Thank you.

Yeah, and hopefully we won't have to use all that time.

Yeah, hopefully.

I will uh say that I did watch the area plan uh meeting and sorry I wasn't able to join in person, but it does seem a little um as though we're put in a spot where APC just considered this last week.

I know that uh the developer and Steve, sorry, you're not getting a chance to speak right now.

Um, uh yes, that's right.

Give you time to heal.

Um, but to give us a little bit more time for conversation to be had and uh discussion about the UDC.

Um, so uh with and before you take the vote, I I would just say too that I'm I'm willing to meet with with all of any or all of you to to work those things out, or you all can meet together and just keep me, but I encourage you to get together and meet on the UDC, get that tightened down, um, and then get that traffic impact study done.

I think that's gonna make this uh much safer.

We want it to be safe for the neighbors.

So, Mr.

Bullible, you will need to file an amendment with those with a new UDC clarification on the UDC.

Yeah, thank you.

When's the learning done about that?

It will be the deadline before our June 22nd meeting.

I'm sorry, it will be the filing deadline for the June 22nd meeting.

So let me look at that date real quick.

Okay, um just a point of clarification, just so that the applicant knows what they're supposed to do.

Could we clarify what the expectation is regarding the water pressure?

I know with the traffic impact study, the the request uh of the council was to update the UDC to include the traffic study would be done in any recommendations implemented.

I wasn't exactly clear on the water pressure study uh if you wanted the same um get do it and then implement or do are you still just in a couple.

I'm not asking that we do the water pressure study before that, I would just like it included in the UDC that the developer will commit to following and executing the recommendations of the water department.

I just want that I know it's gonna be done on site review, but I think that's gonna give the homeowners a measure of comfort um having that in the UDC as well.

Okay, I just for sometimes and what I'm on.

Does that make sense, Cassie?

Is that I know I talked to Ron today and he said that you have done that with the water um issue on some others.

Does that make sense?

And I did pull some language from another one that I am gonna get.

Okay, great.

Great, okay.

Sometimes when I'm on that side of the podium, I'm I leave and I'm like, Well now, what what was exactly what exactly do you want me to do so that they can come back and do maybe what you thank you for bringing that up.

Yeah, I think that's good clarity.

So we're not clear sometimes.

Yeah, right.

I'm just saying it's a collaboration, and it's best to clarify.

I just want to note how we're all collaborating so nicely tonight.

Mr.

Bunn, appreciate it.

Mr.

Bulliver, the filing deadline would be Monday, June 15th at noon.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

You guys have done this so orderly.

Um, all those in favor, uh, the amended motion.

The tabling and the criteria, right?

Yes, to table this.

Sorry.

Yeah.

Please.

I.

Any opposed?

Uh so ordered this uh will be tabled to we said the 20.

Okay, I have one more thing to add 20 seconds.

Late to the game on that one.

Um sometimes you can um waive the fee if there's any fee associated with the continuation.

Sometimes you know that may be appropriate since you're they're gonna be incurring expenses.

There's no fee for filing amendment.

Okay, good.

Is there what do we do if they can't get the traffic study done in that time?

We postpone it again.

We'll just okay.

Thank you, Steve.

Resolution dockets.

Resolution C 2026-16, a resolution of the common council of the city of Evansville, Indiana, declaration of official intent to enter into lease purchase agreements for 2026, police pursuit vehicles.

Is there a motion to hold resolution?

See 2026 16.

Robert is asking.

Until June 8th.

I'll make the motion.

Second.

I hear you first and a second and a third.

All those in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed.

So ordered, you get your wish, Robert.

Robert, why why uh why are we holding this voting?

We're waiting, it's an addendum resolution.

We have we have pretty much the whole thing done.

The attorneys are working on some minor adjustments to the resolution.

So I hate that we we have to delay it again, but you know, based on the actions of the last year.

When legal says go, then that's when we go, right?

Okay, that makes sense to me, but just to say we're holding it without an explanation.

I just need to understand what was happening.

Yeah, yeah, we're we're very close, and I hope that I mean, we sent you guys the rat the draft.

Oh, did so.

I'm sorry we have to wait to get everything understandized.

Resolution C.

2026-20, a resolution in the common council of the city of Evansville, Indiana supporting an interlocal agreement between the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility and the City of Evansville to facilitate solar projects on city properties.

Is there a motion to adopt resolution C 2026-20?

So moved.

Second.

Uh hearing a first and a second.

Uh please state your name, address, and share all the good stuff.

Hi, I'm uh Sarah Pritchett.

I'm the climate action coordinator.

I'm standing in for Lauren tonight, so because she's on vacation.

No pressure, right?

So I'm gonna I'm gonna introduce the resolution.

Um, um yeah, so do I have to say my address?

All right, that would be fantastic.

301 Northwest Third Street, Department 107.

Thank you.

All right, so the City Council passed a resolution to adopt the climate action plan in 2025, with the goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 and improve our community sustain sustainability and resiliency.

Since 77% of emissions come from powering our homes, buildings, and facilities with grid supplied electricity, we must give significant weight to reducing emissions from energy use to achieve that goal.

The climate action plan commits to strategy E5 to improve energy efficiency of municipal facilities through procurement of energy efficient products and renewable energy systems.

This strategy supports a clean energy resolution passed by City Council in 2019 to transition city operations to 100% renewable energy by 2050.

Now is the perfect time to transition to solar because our electricity rates keep rising and our electricity use will also rise as we encounter more excessive heat days and cold spells.

So climbing energy costs will increasingly also strain the city budget.

Solar is a favor is a favorable renewable energy solution to reduce both emissions and energy costs and improve our city's resiliency to extreme weather and power outages.

We can install solar systems without increasing the city budget for energy needs.

Solar energy generation will offset the amount of electricity we purchase from the utility, and we can use the cost savings to pay for it.

We can also use the federal clean energy and investment tax credit to recover 50 to 60 percent of the total cost.

So considering those factors, a solar system will pay for itself in under six years, and it will generate energy for its lifespan, which is usually 25 to 30 years, with little to no maintenance.

This is the time to solarize the Evansville water and sewer utilities willing to manage and front the funding for solar projects for city facilities through an interlocal agreement, and the city will reimburse the utility with energy cost savings and a tax credit.

There should be zero net impact on the city budget during this time.

We provide a list of seventeen city facilities that we're considering for solar installation, which would collectively spend 1.6 million annually on electricity.

We could save upwards of 50 to 80% of that by going solar.

If we converted all 17 facilities, solar the total cost would be roughly 6.4 million.

However, after the tax credit, our costs would be roughly 2.6 million.

So our city controller Robert Gunter will speak on the financial details, but we asked City Council to adopt the resolution to support their local agreement between us and the EWSU at EWSU, yeah, to manage solar projects for the city.

Thank you.

Perfect delivery.

That's great.

Thank you, Sarah.

Yeah, yeah.

This is uh very exciting.

Robert, do you want to share?

Well, and do we know what buildings, Sarah?

Is that been decided what buildings the solar will?

17 million.

Right.

We have we've identified 17.

We're gonna have to wait and see what kind of bids we get back before we can.

I can send that list to you if you like.

Okay.

It's in there on the attachment A.

Thank you.

I'll look at that.

Yeah.

Haven't we're not we haven't narrowed it down.

We have a list of options and we're gonna see how much we can afford how many buildings we can do budgetarily.

We haven't decided narrowed it yet, gotcha.

And really appreciate Keith Penny, the finance director for EWSU for offering to do this for us, they're able to take debt survey preserve funds and do this.

So, okay, Robert, in uh what I heard was there's going to be kind of a net negative impact to our budget, right?

Yes, with these particular investments by the utility, and but we will reimburse them with help help me understand that side of it.

Are we going to reduce their pilot obligations to the city or it's gonna it's gonna be like a debt payment?

Okay.

What we plan to do is whatever we hope to be able to pay to them the net savings each month as rates increase, those payments will also increase.

Okay, plan it we'll have a a standard amortization schedule of the paybacks, but we hope to pay it back faster as the savings increase.

I gotcha up to a six-year limit.

So thank you.

So I'm just throwing the number at the suppose uh swanders, their bills six hundred thousand, and we're saving three hundred thousand on an annual basis.

We'll take that three hundred thousand dollar savings and pay it to the utility so the the overall budget stays the same rather than paying center point, we're paying water sewer to the back.

Okay, so let me make sure I understand this because it's one of those it sounds too good to be true.

This is a nice moment, isn't it?

The the water and sewer utility is going to incur all of the cost of constructing building the solar project.

I don't know what to call it.

The the solar, okay.

So, how much money does the city have to lay out initially?

And that's what we'll wait to wait to the bids come back.

It won't be over four million.

So the city's gonna have to pay four million or the utility.

The water utility is gonna pay you the four million.

Right.

Uh they'll pay six million, get the credit back, so their net cost should be right at 3.2, and depending on what what the credit is.

They range based on where it's located and some other factors.

So it could be between 30 to 60 percent credit.

So they will pay the entire cost of the project, they'll keep the tax credit, and that net is what they will invoice us to reimburse them.

And then we're reimbursing them using the savings, and we have up to six years, so we're really not taking anything out of our budget.

We're reducing the utility cost but increasing the debt payment.

So it it's still going to be a payment, but it's to water water and sewer utility rather than tobacco.

So it's not it we're not increasing what we're paying, we're we're keeping the same, we're not adding to the budget then.

Okay, that's that's what I'm that's what I was looking for.

So it's a net and has a zero net impact to the budget.

So just to kind of put this a little bit more in firm terms, uh so we've got you brought up Swander and I'm showing the annual energy cost is being 442,532.

So hypothetically, if we have a system built dedicated for Swander, and that reduces the utility cost, you know, in year one by 200,000 dollars, then we would be turning that over 200 of 442 of which we would budget um in repayment up to six years in an amortization schedule till we pay it off.

Right.

I don't know.

Is it up?

I don't I think the six year mark was just saying we could probably have it all repaid, we would have that in or is it a six-year limit?

I think water, Keith, correct me, but I think the the limit that they can loan it is up to a maximum of six years, okay, okay.

I thought I was just saying it could um be paid off in that amount of time, but you're saying that is the limit, it has to be paid off in that amount of time.

Got it.

And and ideally, after that six-year limit, we are hopefully revenue neutral with utilities, and we're and we're seeing a savings of 1.6 million dollars annually year over year that we can reinvest uh in other projects in the city, right?

Right.

When we started looking at this, we thought the credit was 30 percent, but once Keith and his staff dug into it, I mean it it increased, it can be increased to 50 to 60 percent.

That changed the whole dynamics of this, and so we got excited about this, and we're really eager to see what the bids are and what we can do with this.

So we have the water department here.

Could we maybe come up and have them come up and talk a little bit or get it on record?

We wouldn't want you to come down here for nothing, Keith.

And are those tax credits that expired?

Is that end this year?

The eligibility for those federal tax credits, we all have questions.

Yes, uh, I'm Keith Penny, Director of Finance for Utility.

Um, yes, the tax credits we do have deadlines to meet.

Um, July the third, we have to pay five percent of the projected cost out to be eligible for that 50 percent.

Um, so that's uh pending approval tonight.

Um, we will send these out to advertise this Friday or notify the papers, and they'll go out next week.

Uh, we have a very quick timeline to go on this.

Um, but yes, uh, July 3rd is our deadline to get 5%, and then once we got that, we have to the end of 2027 to get everything going.

And again, you have the funds within your budget, which comes from user fees and not from tax dollars, right?

Actually, these funds that work as Robert mentioned, our debt service reserve.

Um, we keep a large balance in our debt service reserve that draws interest.

Uh, we requested that that interest back because we don't want to keep it overfunded, and it was roughly four million dollars that we received back from that.

Uh so we have that fund that's not in our budget, that's not in our capital spending.

Um so when Lauren brought this idea about solar for the city and everything, I started looking for ways that we could try to assist.

Um, since we are doing our own solar projects for the utility uh this year, which we'll be bringing uh to our board here in a couple weeks, I figured we've already started that process.

We know we have engineers that we can work with on this, and how can we help the city meet this goal?

Um, because it would be a difficult task with all the different departments trying to do this, not to mention the funding constraints, whereas we can streamline and make the process more efficient and try to meet as many facilities as possible.

So, what and and maybe I missed this, what type of solar are we talking about, like the installation?

What is that going to be?

It'll be physically it'll be rooftop solar panels.

Um I believe in uh only three or four of the locations are actually actually had like design work done on them.

Um when Lauren was collecting this information and they were all rooftop.

Um so I'm assuming that's what the other locations will be as well, will all be rooftop.

Okay, and you say you're assuming how will we know because what I want to when I've been in cities where they have like the solar farms and you know all of these different things.

So I want to kind of think through what that looks like.

Yeah, I don't none of these will be of land-based.

Okay, it'll all be on the building.

Okay.

Um is outstanding.

And uh opportunity for us to sit here today and consider a resolution that uh potentially saves millions of dollars uh in the future on energy costs not going to uh any corporation is a good night for council.

And I just commend uh your office and Sarah and Laura and all the crew for coming up with a creative uh option.

As you mentioned, you know, right now is a time where we're pension pennies left and right.

I know Robert is.

And to come up with something uh like this that not only is excellent for our environment, but uh collaborative and helps our city as a whole, I I think is just outstanding.

So speaking of pension pennies, um I know when we are doing rooftop um solar installations when you go through that kind of consultation thing.

There's a lot about the the um the m not so much the butt the condition, that's what I'm trying to say, the condition of the roofs.

When you're selecting buildings, are you looking at the condition of the roofs?

Because sometimes it's recommended that the roof be repaired or stabilized in a certain way for those solar panels as you're selecting buildings that that come into play as well in the selection process.

So we won't.

So the buildings that were listed were ones that Lauren had identified uh that could benefit from solar based on building type, rooftop, about roof quality.

Um but as we go through the RFPs um and we get um proposals for all the facilities, um, the utility along with the city will will go through those and determines which ones are most costed advantage.

Um I mean that we may run an instances where roof need to be repaired, and we'll have to you know address it at a time, whether or not it gets included or not.

Okay.

I mean, there is a a couple items that took priority on the list, and then we're also looking at the other places like Swanders, Deacon as Aquatic, you know, hydrain, the zoo, I mean some of those high drain locations that we could really benefit from this.

And the the saving estimates that you you see in exhibit A or the energy usage, those are not based on a full year of the 30% increase that we got last year, because that took effect around July time frame.

So the January through June numbers you see on there um are based off the old rates.

So there's potential to have even better savings than what we show on there, just because we're still going through that cycle.

This does sound too good to be true.

Uh to uh counselor Taylor's point, I think that uh our question is that um and my understanding is uh as you have mentioned the any concern with rooftop would be uh done upon further evaluation of all the sites by whatever firm is selected, right?

And so we'll have a greater uh idea of what is necessary whenever you get down into the details.

Correct.

Once we receive the RFPs, we'll have a better understanding.

And if roofs do need repairs, then you know that's something that we'll have to discuss at the time to to see if it fits the candidate for the time frame of what we've got to do.

But okay, and any any reinforcement or anything like that would be part of the would be part of that project.

Right.

If it needed any extra braces or whatever, correct.

Yeah, if it needed more support, that would be done to facilitate, make sure it's a safe structure.

Ums from the audience.

I think we have a slip here.

Nicole Chandler.

Hello, my name is Nicole Chandler, 2711 Claremont Avenue.

Um, and I just wanted to come out as a private citizen in support of this resolution.

This is really exciting to hear these discussions happening.

Um the ROI on solar is incredible.

It's really decreasing as the technology decreases in cost, but increases in efficiency and effectiveness, and this is not out of the realm of what's already happening in the city.

There's already solar on CK Newsom.

So this is not a completely new thing that uh the city of Evansville has been uh doing before.

And so I think this is a really exciting opportunity as someone who plans to stay in the city for the rest of her life.

It's great to see um opportunities for cost savings, fuel adjustment charges.

There's gonna be the IURC Summer Reliability Forum happening next tomorrow.

Uh and so lots of fuel adjustments um will probably be discussed, and quite frankly, those prices are not gonna go down.

Um our energy system is pretty destabilized right now, so looking at how we can become energy independent and resilient within ourselves, I think is an incredible opportunity.

So I just wanted to come out and speak in support of this resolution and uh just say fantastic job by the Evansville Climate Collaborative and the Evansville Water and Street Utility on their collaboration on this.

Thank you.

Excellent spokesperson.

Uh any other comments from the audience.

Well, I would enthusiastically ask the clerk for the roll call.

Okay, councilwoman Taylor.

Yes.

Councilman Hieronymus.

Aye.

Councilwoman Hatfield.

Aye.

Councilwoman Keller Lunzi?

Aye.

Councilman Brickmeyer.

Aye.

Councilwoman Allen.

Aye.

Councilman Green?

Aye.

Councilman Johnson?

Aye.

Councilman Truckman.

Aye.

There being nine ayes and zero nays.

Adopt uh to adopt resolution C 2026-20 is hereby declared adopted.

Thank you.

Congratulations, and well done.

Resolution C.

2026-21, a resolution of the common council, the city of Evansville, Indiana, recognizing the June celebration of Pride Month.

Is there a motion to adopt resolution C 2026-21?

So moved.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

All right.

Airing a first and a second.

Um any comments uh among council.

I I will I will echo my sentiment from last year.

It's refreshing to serve alongside a council uh that is willing to uh sponsor this as a whole.

Um as we know we've got some great festivities coming up next month as well, just a what a week and a half away or something to that.

No, it's two and a half weeks away.

Um so I would just encourage you know, as many folks uh, not just on this body but in the community to get out and meet your neighbors uh that are celebrating this uh special month.

Thank you, counselor.

Any other comments, council?

I'm I'm I'm excited.

Um this is another opportunity for us um as counselors who show just that E is for everyone, and this is really important.

Um to our city, is really important uh to uh our students to see that this is a city where they are supported and they are seen as someone who has um served on the pride committee, um, has routinely held down my corner uh at the Pride Parade.

It is exciting to um finally be able to put my voice uh to something official instead of just screaming as the people go by.

So I'm excited.

Now you can do both.

Uh any comments from uh the audience.

Jacob Delk.

Oh sorry, I didn't know there was more slips.

If you can state your name and address, you have three minutes.

Good evening, City Council.

My name is Jacob Delk.

My address is 31 Adams Avenue.

Uh, just it makes it really hard uh when you all just come up and steal all of my thunder.

But it is really refreshing, um, as a citizen here in the city of Evansville, um, to see such a supportive uh city council here that uh sees the effort that our local organizations and local communities trying to do to advance uh equality and equity in our community.

Um I'm the president of River City Pride here in Evansville, and um really hope you do take the time to come out and see the festivities that we have all month long, but especially our uh River City Pride Festival and parade on June 6th.

Um it's on this big old street right outside, so um all day, so do really hope to see many familiar faces there.

Um, but it's people like you that make me really proud to be a citizen here and um make it really easy to enjoy where I live, especially when I have people like you representing us um every day.

So thank you all for what you do.

Thank you.

And what is the time for the parade and festivities on this?

The parade starts at noon, um, and it goes down Main Street, and the festival itself is on Main Street from Riverside to 2nd Street, and that begins at 1 p.m.

There are over a hundred and fifteen uh vendors, including nonprofits and small business, and a full array of entertainment from bands, comedians, drag performers, um, the entire day.

So there's 20 food trucks as well.

There's a kids area, um, and we have partnered with local law enforcement, EPD, uh, the sheriff's office to compile a very comprehensive safety plan so everyone feels safe and comfortable and not have to worry about any um concerns about this type of uh festival going on in the city.

Can you ensure that it'll be a hundred degrees or less?

You know, we have taken extraordinary measures to make sure that happens, yes.

Appreciate you being here.

Thank you.

That's it.

Um, please call a roll.

Councilwoman Taylor.

Yes.

Councilman Heronimus?

Aye.

Councilwoman Hatfield, aye.

Councilwoman Kaylor Lindsay.

Aye.

Councilman Brick Mary?

Aye.

Councilwoman Allen.

Aye.

Councilman Green?

Aye.

Councilman Johnson?

Aye.

Councilman Chuckman.

Aye.

There being nine ayes and zero nays.

Resolution C202621 is hereby declared adopted.

Miscellaneous business.

Next meeting on the common council is on Monday, June 8th.

We'll be burnt to a Chris.

Uh from Pride Pride uh festivities at 5 30 p.m., boards and commissions.

We have the following vacancies available.

Commission on social status of African American mills.

There's three vacancies, and you must be a city resident.

Evansville Economic Development Commission, City Council will select someone to nominate to the mayor for her to appoint them.

Evansville Redevelopment Commission, you must be a city resident and 18 years older.

Evansville Urban Enterprise Association Board, you must live in the zone and be a Republican voter.

And then this one, Affordable Housing Fund Advisory Committee, you must be nominated by a township trustee, community development corporation, neighborhood association, community-based organization, or other social service agency.

If you're interested, please apply online at www.evansville.in.gov forward slash boards by Monday, May 25th.

If you are applying for the Affordable Housing Fund Advisory Committee, please also have your nomination emailed to boards at Evansville.in.gov by Monday, May 25th.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Are there any additional comments from members of council this evening?

Uh any we have no no more slips.

Um appreciate everyone being here tonight.

I would entertain a motion to adjourn.

Second.

Any opposed?

Meeting adjourned.

Thank you so much