OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Evansville City Council Meeting - August 24, 2026

City Council — Monday, August 24, 2026
BodyEvansville, Indiana
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, August 24, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:08:36

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

The honorable council of the City of Evansville is hereby called to order.

0:08

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

0:09

Councilwoman Taylor.

0:11

Present.

0:12

Councilman Hieronymus?

0:14

Here.

0:14

Councilwoman Hatfield.

0:16

Here.

0:17

Councilwoman Kaylor Lindsay?

0:19

Here.

0:19

Councilman Brinkmeyer?

0:21

Here.

0:21

Councilwoman Allen?

0:22

Here.

0:23

Councilman Green?

0:24

Here.

0:25

Councilman Johnson?

0:26

Here.

0:26

Councilman Trockman.

0:29

Here there being nine members present, zero absent.

0:33

Representing a quorum, I hereby declare this session of the Common Council officially opened.

0:41

This evening, the Pledge of Allegiance will be led by the next city clerk of Evansville.

0:50

The youngest wind horse in the audience, Gabby Winhorse, please.

1:01

To the flag of the United States of America.

1:05

And City Republic for which it stands.

1:08

One nation.

1:11

Invisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:21

Perfectly done.

1:24

Please join me now in a moment of silence.

1:48

Fellow counselors and those in the audience, welcome to the August 24th, 2026 meeting of the Common Council.

1:56

Is there a motion to approve the meeting memorandum of the August 10th meeting of the Common Council as written?

2:04

So moved.

2:05

Second.

2:06

Hearing a first and a second.

2:08

All those in favor?

2:09

Aye.

2:10

Aye.

2:10

Any opposed?

2:12

So ordered.

2:16

Reports and communications.

2:17

Emailed material.

2:18

Ordinances F 2026-10 amended.

2:21

F 2026-11.

2:23

F 2026-12.

2:25

Area Plan Commission report for August 2026.

2:28

And weights and measures monthly report.

2:30

On your desk this evening, extended agenda.

2:33

Is there a motion to acknowledge the reports and communications?

2:37

Second.

2:39

Hearing a first and a second.

2:41

All those in favor?

2:42

Aye.

2:43

Any opposed?

2:45

So ordered.

2:49

Special orders of the day.

2:50

There are no special orders this evening.

2:54

Consent agenda.

2:56

First reading of ordinances and resolutions.

2:57

Ordinance F 2026-11, an 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.

3:08

Ordinance F 2026-12, an ordinance of the Common Council, the City of Evansville authorizing repeal and reappropriation of funds for various city funds.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Variance████████████████████████████████████████40%
Budget Equity Analysis███████████████15%
Procedural██████████10%
Floodplain Management██████6%
Procurement█████5%
Public Engagement█████5%
Licensing█████5%
Data Center Infrastructure█████5%
Community Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Evansville City Council Meeting - August 24, 2026

The Evansville Common Council met on August 24, 2026 at 5:33 PM. All nine council members were present. The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, discussion and adoption of several ordinances, including budget amendments and two rezoning requests. Public comments addressed utility reliability and a public records request.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved first reading of Ordinances F-2026-11 and F-2026-12 authorizing budget transfers and re-appropriations. (Unanimous)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Christopher Newman (3121 S. Rotherwood Ave) expressed concerns about electrical grid reliability, citing NIPSCO outages and CenterPoint's record, and urged the council not to recruit hyperscale data centers without proof they won't harm residential service.
  • Ken Colbert (4512 N. First Ave) continued a public records request regarding the Flock contract, seeking a copy of the check and the account used for payment. Council President Trockman clarified the council does not handle such contracts.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance G-2026-15 (Unmanned Aircraft Systems): Withdrawn at the request of EPD, who will rework the ordinance.
  • Ordinance F-2026-10 (Amended): City Controller Robert Gunter presented several budget adjustments:
    • $200,000 from Terre Haute casino funds for animal shelter roof replacement (remaining balance ~$150,000).
    • $25,000 from Terre Haute funds to replenish the Building Commission for cleanup at Oak Hill Road trailer park.
    • $500,000 from ARPA interest for Forward Together grants (35 recipients). Approximately $450,000 remains in ARPA interest.
    • Internal fund transfers: $500 for iPads, $3,300 from education to small tools for a plotter, $150 from chemicals to sales tax.
    • Council approved unanimously (9-0).
  • Ordinance R-2026-03 (Rezone 2708 & 2712 Jeanette Ave): APC staff detailed a 60-year history of salvage yard violations. The property has been in use since before zoning, but legal non-conforming status was voided by unpermitted construction. The owner, Robert Strahl, requested rezone to M2 with a Use Development Commitment (UDC) that prohibits salvage yard use (requires special use). Petitioner's attorney Krista Lockyear presented affidavits from neighbors in support. Council approved unanimously (9-0).
  • Ordinance R-2026-15 (Rezone 5033 Bellemeade Ave): Request to rezone from CO2 to C1 to allow a multi-tenant salon. No opposition. Approved unanimously (9-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved.
  • Ordinance G-2026-15 withdrawn.
  • Ordinance F-2026-10 (amended) adopted 9-0.
  • Ordinance R-2026-03 adopted 9-0.
  • Ordinance R-2026-15 adopted 9-0.
  • Next meeting scheduled for September 14, 2026 at 5:30 PM.
  • City/County Joint Department Budget Hearings set for August 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM (public may attend but not speak).

Meeting Transcript

The honorable council of the City of Evansville is hereby called to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Councilwoman Taylor. Present. Councilman Hieronymus? Here. Councilwoman Hatfield. Here. Councilwoman Kaylor Lindsay? Here. Councilman Brinkmeyer? Here. Councilwoman Allen? Here. Councilman Green? Here. Councilman Johnson? Here. Councilman Trockman. Here there being nine members present, zero absent. Representing a quorum, I hereby declare this session of the Common Council officially opened. This evening, the Pledge of Allegiance will be led by the next city clerk of Evansville. The youngest wind horse in the audience, Gabby Winhorse, please. To the flag of the United States of America. And City Republic for which it stands. One nation. Invisible with liberty and justice for all. Perfectly done. Please join me now in a moment of silence. Fellow counselors and those in the audience, welcome to the August 24th, 2026 meeting of the Common Council. Is there a motion to approve the meeting memorandum of the August 10th meeting of the Common Council as written? So moved. Second. Hearing a first and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? So ordered. Reports and communications. Emailed material. Ordinances F 2026-10 amended. F 2026-11. F 2026-12. Area Plan Commission report for August 2026. And weights and measures monthly report. On your desk this evening, extended agenda. Is there a motion to acknowledge the reports and communications? Second. Hearing a first and a second.

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