Evansville City Council Meeting – July 27, 2026

The Evansville Common Council met on July 27, 2026, from approximately 5:35 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to consider a consent agenda, several rezoning requests, resolutions for tax phase-ins, a firefighter/EMS union agreement, and public comment. The meeting featured extensive debate over a proposed 216-unit apartment complex on Old Boonville Highway and a unique rezoning to allow a chicken and garden operation. Key outcomes included adoption of the 2027 meeting schedule, approval of three rezoning ordinances, passage of three resolutions, and appointment of a council member to the Area Plan Commission.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved two first-reading ordinances: G-2026-15 (creating Chapter 10.65 on unmanned aircraft systems) and F-2026-09 (authorizing appropriation transfers).
• Adopted the 2027 City Council regular meeting schedule (unchanged from 2026, second and fourth Mondays with exceptions for holiday weeks).

Public Comments & Testimony

• On 6600 Old Boonville Highway rezoning (R-2026-09 amended): Multiple residents (Ed Krause, Kathy Tooley, Marcia Forston, Mark Tulley) expressed strong safety concerns about the narrow, high-speed road, lack of shoulders, sidewalks, and lighting, and feared increased traffic would create hazards. Kathy Tooley also raised concerns about emergency responder access and long-term infrastructure costs. Pat Hickey (Evansville Regional Economic Partnership) spoke in support, citing a 98% rental occupancy rate and a need for over 3,000 additional rental units in the next five years.
• On Henning Ave rezoning (R-2026-12 amended): Applicant Brent Jackson explained he was forced to seek AG zoning due to code enforcement citations for unpermitted structures (barn, garden, chickens). Two neighbors spoke in favor, noting the garden and chickens benefit the community. No opposition was voiced.
• On Mount Vernon Ave rezoning (R-2026-14): No public comment.
• General public comment: John Geary urged council members and citizens to foster unity and civility in online discourse. Christopher Newman requested a temporary moratorium and transparent study on large-scale data center projects. Mike Freeman spoke in opposition to child affirming care legislation (noted as not currently filed) and asked about a past resolution on Gaza (clarified as not passed).

Discussion Items

• Alley Vacation – G-2026-13: Unanimously approved. Project engineer Jim Morley explained the vacation was needed for a sanitary sewer connection for redevelopment of a fire-damaged property at 213 W Division St. No objections from utilities or emergency services.
• Floodplain Administrator Correction – G-2026-14: Unanimously approved. Councilmember Heronemus noted this was a simple grammatical fix to allow submission to IDEM and FEMA; no substantive change.
• Rezoning – 6600 Old Boonville Highway (R-2026-09 amended): Developer proposed rezone from R1 to R5 for 216 apartments on 15.875 acres. Extensive discussion on traffic safety, site distance, a proposed passing blister, and water pressure. Appellant attorney Steve Bohleber and engineer Jim Morley detailed traffic improvements (12-foot passing blister, widening), water and sewer capacity assurances, and a $35 million investment. City engineer Brian confirmed the intersection could be made functional and noted a speed study would be conducted regardless. Councilmember Taylor (ward representative) opposed, citing resident safety fears and noting the road’s current deficiencies. Councilmember Johnson expressed concern that the rezoning is a permanent change despite future site review. The motion passed 5-4 (Yeas: Hieronymus, Hatfield, Allen, Green, Trockman; Nays: Taylor, Kaylor Lindsey, Brinkmeyer, Johnson).
• Rezoning – 1307 & 1311 Henning Ave (R-2026-12 amended): Applicant Brent Jackson sought AG zoning to legalize existing chickens and a garden. APC representative Cassie Virgin detailed the property’s history and raised concerns about precedent, the lack of animal control input, and the inability to meet the 500-foot separation requirement for animal raising. She noted no property within city limits is currently zoned AG. The UDC was amended on the floor to limit poultry to five hens per parcel (total 10 on two lots), prohibit roosters, cap agricultural crop area at 80% of footprint, and require compliance with all animal ordinances. The amendment passed unanimously, and the ordinance passed 6-3 (Yeas: Taylor, Hatfield, Kaylor Lindsey, Allen, Green, Johnson; Nays: Hieronymus, Brinkmeyer, Trockman). Councilmember Green cautioned against setting a precedent for downzoning to AG in dense urban areas.
• Rezoning – 2828 Mount Vernon Ave (R-2026-14): Unopposed rezone from C4 to M2 for a woodworking shop (high-end cabinetry). APC recommended approval with eight affirmative votes. Attorney Matt Lehman confirmed a 20-foot green buffer or landscaping would be installed adjacent to the residential property, and the operation would have limited hours and noise mitigation. Passed 9-0.
• Resolution C-2026-29 (Firefighter/EMS Union Agreement): Fire Chief Tony Knight reported on the first 26 days of the new city-operated EMS service: 1,733 calls responded to (average 67/day), 90th percentile response time of 7 minutes 43 seconds (under 8-minute benchmark), 78% transport rate, and 11-minute offload time. The agreement covers July 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027, and integrates 47 new full-time EMS staff into IAFF Local 357. Unanimously approved.
• Resolution C-2026-30 (Escalade Sports Tax Phase-In): Confirmatory resolution for a property tax phase-in for rehabilitation and new equipment at 817 Maxwell Ave. No changes since the preliminary resolution. Passed 8-1 (Councilmember Taylor dissenting).
• Resolution C-2026-31 (Qualis Engineered Plastics Tax Phase-In): Confirmatory resolution for 1700 Lynch Road. No changes. Passed 8-0 (Councilmember Allen had left the meeting).

Key Outcomes

• Adopted: All consent agenda items, regular ordinances, and resolutions as described above with recorded votes.
• Appointed: Councilmember Green to the Area Plan Commission for a term ending January 3, 2028 (unanimous).
• Next Meeting: August 10, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 301 of the Civic Center.