Evansville Common Council Meeting Summary - September 28, 2026

The Evansville Common Council met on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 5:34 p.m. with all nine members present. The meeting featured second readings of several ordinances, including a major affordable housing PILOT agreement, alley vacation, and multiple rezoning requests. Public comment focused on opposition to Flock surveillance cameras and data centers, along with neighborhood concerns about a triplex rezoning. A resolution authorizing participant stipends for a resilience hub study was also approved.

Consent Calendar

• Ordinance G-2026-18 (First Reading): Establishes regulations for data center research and permit deferrals. (Sponsored by Trockman, Green, Allen)
• Ordinance G-2026-19 (First Reading): Fixes salaries for appointed officers, employees, and department heads for 2027.
• Ordinance F-2026-14 (First Reading): Appropriates funds for city government departments for fiscal year 2027.
• Ordinance F-2026-15 (First Reading): Appropriates funds for the Evansville-Vanderburgh Levee Authority District for fiscal year 2027. (Discussion date noted as October 26, 2026 due to longer advertising requirement)
• Ordinance F-2026-16 (First Reading): Adopts the 2027 budget for the Port Authority of Evansville.
• Ordinance F-2026-17 (First Reading): Fixes salaries for elected officials for 2027.
• Ordinance R-2026-22 (First Reading): Rezones 1411 W Maryland St from M3 to R2 (Owner: Tip Top Homes, LLC).
• All consent agenda items were adopted unanimously (9-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Larry Samples (St. Paul's United Church of Christ): Reported that his church serves 350 ready-to-eat meals every Wednesday and Saturday to anyone in need, without restrictions, at locations near White Oaks High Rise and the Oz & N family shelter. Expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve the community.
• Tammy Tenbarge (1229 W Maryland St business owner): Expressed frustration with persistent trash, illegal camping, drug use, and lack of sanitation at a privately owned block behind the Salvation Army. Noted that there is no city sewer, water, or electric on that property. Asked the city for help addressing the situation.
• Domingo Palmer (Indiana Young Communist League): Read a statement from Isla Lopez opposing data center construction, arguing it would raise energy bills and harm the environment. Also spoke personally against "hostile architecture" (benches designed to deter homeless individuals) in downtown Evansville, calling for removal of such benches and increased funding for shelters, addiction services, and public restrooms.
• Nicole Chandler (2711 Claremont Ave): Urged council not to approve funding for Flock or other AI surveillance systems, arguing they do not reduce crime and can lead to racial or socioeconomic targeting. Advocated instead for investment in social safety nets and community programs.
• Jessica Reed (1124 SE First St): Opposed renewal of Flock contracts, citing cross-jurisdictional data sharing, a 30-day retention period, and a documented breach where CBP accessed Flock data in violation of Illinois state law. Noted that Evansville paid $142,500 for surveillance contracts in 2026 and $265,000 is proposed for 2027.
• Damien Bondi (7508 E Chandler): Stated opposition to mass surveillance and data centers, describing surveillance as a "last gamble of scared people" and urging nuanced solutions to complex community problems.
• Melanie McDowell (Nesker Park Dr): Opposed data centers and Flock, expressing concern about loss of freedoms and a perceived shift toward communist or socialist agendas.
• Rosalyn Folkerson (203 Alt House Ave): Opposed funding Flock and ClearView AI, arguing they threaten Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. Advocated for more effective public safety solutions.
• Magdalena Hawkins (1806 Glendale Ave): Opposed funding for Flock, ClearView, and similar surveillance tech, stating they violate Fourth Amendment protections.
• Erin Johnson (810 Fairlong Ct): Detailed past misuse of surveillance tech by law enforcement, including stalking and biased facial recognition. Argued that $265,000 would be better spent on housing, addiction treatment, food security, and violence interruption programs.
• Adam Carey (7699 Meadow Lane, Newburgh): Noted public opposition to ALPR systems and cited a leaked Flock document titled "How to Speak to City Councils" that trains law enforcement to "own the narrative". Urged council to remove funding for Flock, ALPRs, the drone program, and ClearView AI.
• Philip Elpers (232 Avenida de Azalius): Noted that private donations could allow police to circumvent a budget cut for Flock, and called for conditional funding. Cited a data breach that released approximately 70,000 searches from Evansville's Flock cameras. Also criticized the drone program for not releasing public flight logs as promised.
• Kelsey Hirsch (510 S Red Bank Rd): Alleged that EPD Chief Doan used Flock technology on a city travel vehicle to track her spouse (a former EPD records employee) and a coworker during a work trip to Indianapolis without a warrant. Urged council to reject Flock and ClearView.
• Bart Heath: Argued that Flock's expansion to a national surveillance network implies involvement of federal agencies (NSA, FBI, CIA, IDF). Referenced court decisions limiting First Amendment recording of police. Compared current surveillance trends to the gates of Rafah in Gaza.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance G-2026-16 (Alley Vacation): Unanimously adopted (9-0). Vacates a 12-foot alley between 214 and 222 Main Street. Krista Lockyear, representing the petitioner, stated the alley currently runs through a parking lot and serves no purpose. The developer (Josh Tadella of Zuki) plans to turf the parking lot and create an outdoor event space with a large screen, enhancing the downtown area. CenterPoint reserved an easement. Council members expressed strong support for the project.
• Ordinance G-2026-17 (PILOT for Crawford Door Affordable Housing): Unanimously adopted (9-0). Approves a 40-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement for the Crawford Door development (1701 N Heidelbach). The project includes adaptive reuse and new construction of 134 affordable multifamily units (10 at 50% AMI, 124 at 60% AMI). The owner will pay an annual PILOT of $26,500, increasing 1% per year starting in 2029, after which property taxes resume. Total development cost is $42.7 million. Project sponsor Colby Jackson noted the PILOT allows the owner to borrow more due to lower operating expenses. Rob (developer) detailed the use of federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, READI 2.0 funds, and city funding. A relocated EVPL library branch is under discussion. Public commenter Lee Russell asked about local hiring; the general contractor is Empire Contractors, based in Evansville. Another public commenter asked why taxpayers are paying; Colby explained the PILOT is authorized by Indiana Code for LIHTC projects, and the city receives the entire PILOT payment (county is exempted).
• Ordinance F-2026-13 Amended (Budget Transfers): Adopted (9-0). Controller Robert Gunter presented amendments: $50,000 from temp salaries to repair parts (Met system); $50,000 from health insurance to supplies (Parks); $850 from chemicals to services (golf course); movement of ARP funds to general fund; $250,000 remaining from housing trust fund; additional transfers for security, physical ability test equipment, SWAT vests (25 vests for $14,961.56), and $628,719.43 moved from casino fund to Motor Vehicle Highway Restricted account for the Cross Point roundabout.
• Ordinance R-2026-16 (2003 E Franklin St Rezone): Unanimously adopted (9-0). Downzones from C1 to R1 to remove legal nonconforming status. Owner Richard Bennett explained he inherited the property from his mother and discovered it was commercially zoned during an appraisal. APC recommended approval (8-0).
• Ordinance R-2026-17 (824 E Blackford Ave Rezone): Adopted (5-3). Rezones from R2 to R3 w/UDC to allow three units (currently a duplex with a basement unit). Owner’s representative Matt Lehman stated the goal is to bring the nonconforming triplex into compliance. He noted that an improvement location permit and site review will be required before the third unit can be occupied, ensuring all city departments (building, fire, water/sewer) sign off. Several neighborhood residents spoke in opposition, citing concerns about historic preservation, lack of permits for prior work, egress safety, increased sewer load on aging infrastructure, and a history of R3 rezonings leading to demolitions and blight. Shona Jarbo (Belmade/Bayard Park Neighborhood Association president) presented data showing only two of six R3 rezonings in the area are still standing. Councilwoman Hatfield voted yes, noting that rezoning is the first step and that site review will address code issues. Voting no: Councilwoman Taylor, Councilwoman Kaylor Lindsay, Councilman Johnson.
• Ordinance R-2026-18 (2453-2457 W Franklin St Rezone): Adopted (7-0). Downzones from C1 to R2 to remove legal nonconforming status for two duplexes. Owner Constance Nord stated she is selling the properties and the downzone will help the buyer obtain a mortgage.
• Resolution C-2026-34 (Resilience Hub Study Stipends): Adopted (7-1). Authorizes up to $150 per participant for up to 20 residents to participate in community engagement sessions for a resilience hub feasibility study. Lauren Lynch (Evansville Climate Collaborative) explained that the hubs would provide safe refuge during emergencies (power outages, extreme weather). Stipends are intended to offset barriers (time off work, childcare) for vulnerable residents. Councilwoman Kaylor Lindsay voted no. Councilwoman Allen was absent for this vote.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Ordinance G-2026-16 (alley vacation) (9-0)
• Approved: Ordinance G-2026-17 (Crawford Door PILOT) (9-0)
• Approved: Ordinance F-2026-13 Amended (budget transfers) (9-0)
• Approved: Ordinance R-2026-16 (2003 E Franklin rezoning) (9-0)
• Approved: Ordinance R-2026-17 (824 E Blackford rezoning) (5-3; Taylor, Kaylor Lindsay, Johnson opposed)
• Approved: Ordinance R-2026-18 (2453-2457 W Franklin rezoning) (7-0)
• Approved: Resolution C-2026-34 (resilience hub stipends) (7-1; Kaylor Lindsay opposed)
• Next Meeting: Monday, October 5, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
• Meeting Adjourned: 7:50 p.m.