OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Indianapolis City-County Council Meeting - June 1, 2026

City-County Council — Monday, June 1, 2026
BodyIndianapolis, Indiana
SessionCity-County Council
DateMonday, June 1, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:16:59
Transcript — Verbatim
0:13

Good evening.

0:14

I will now call to order the Indianapolis City County Council to order for Monday, June 1st, 2026.

0:20

We'll begin our meeting where with the I can't talk.

0:22

Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance by Councillor Jones.

0:38

Thank you.

0:39

With me this evening is Pastor Oliver, and he is with Stringtown, West Side Pentecostal Apostolic Pentecostal Church.

0:48

And their mission is go reach, go love, and go serve.

0:52

And I did not meet Pastor Oliver at church.

0:55

I actually met him doing his mission statement, which was out in the neighborhoods serving his community, and his church absolutely lives that mission with serving.

1:05

And I'm just honored that he is with us here this evening.

1:08

So I would like to introduce Pastor Oliver.

1:15

Thank you.

1:16

Give God all the glory.

1:17

Thank you, Chris and Joan, for all you do.

1:19

God bless you.

1:20

Let's bow our heads and pray.

1:21

Dear Jesus, we thank you for this wonderful day you have given us.

1:25

This is the day that you have made we can rejoice and be glad in it.

1:30

We're thankful, first of all, Lord, for your mercy and grace that you have bestowed upon us.

1:34

It was renewed this morning.

1:36

Great is your faithfulness.

1:38

I ask you today, Lord, to let your presence just rest in here.

1:42

Let this be a habitation for you today.

1:44

I ask you, Lord, in Jesus' name to give us peace that passes all understanding.

1:48

And as your word tells us, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

2:03

I ask you to bless everyone in this room, bless their families, bless their work.

2:08

And Lord, you told us in your ward in Colossians chapter 3 and verse 17.

2:13

Whatever we do in word or deed, do all in your name.

2:19

And we give you all the praise and glory that's due.

2:22

And everyone say in Jesus' name.

2:25

Amen.

2:30

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.

3:46

The purposes of such meetings being to conduct any and all businesses that may properly come before regular meetings of the councils.

3:53

Sincerely, Maggie A.

3:55

Lewis, President City County Council.

3:58

Ladies and gentlemen, pursuing to the laws of the state of Indiana, I call to be published in the Court and Commercial Record and in the Indianapolis Star on Friday, May 8th, 2026, a copy of notice of public hearing on proposal numbers 120 through 122, 124, 125, 131 through 135, 138, and 159, 2026.

4:24

Said hearings to be held on Monday, June 1st, 2026, a 7 o'clock p.m.

4:31

in the public assembly room of the City County Building.

4:34

Ladies and gentlemen, I have approved of my signature and delivered this day to the clerk of the City County Council, Yolanda Winfield, the following ordinances.

4:43

Special ordinance numbers two and three, two thousand twenty-six, general resolution numbers nine through twelve, two thousand twenty-six, and special resolution numbers nine through eleven, two thousand twenty-six, Joseph H.

4:56

Hawkes at Mayor.

4:57

Madam President, this concludes the official communications.

5:00

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

5:01

The next item on our agenda is the adoption of the agenda.

5:03

Do I have consent?

4:59

The next item on our agenda is the approval of the journals for May 4th, 2026.

5:09

Do I have consent?

5:11

We'll now proceed to presentations of petitions, memorials, and special resolutions.

5:15

Proposal number 193, introduced by Leader Evans.

5:26

Thank you, Madam President.

5:28

Just say a few words while my colleagues are coming down.

5:30

Tonight we recognize both a profound movement in our nation's civil rights history and a celebration of community, visibility, and celebration belonging here in Indianapolis.

5:43

The Stonewall Uprising was born out of injustice, but also out of courage, courage from people who refused to accept being treated as less than equal.

5:53

That moment helps spark a movement that continues to shape conversations around dignity, safety, and human rights today.

6:01

Throughout the month of June, especially during Indy's Pride Weekend, the parade, the festival, and community events across our city, we see thousands of people come together not only in celebration, but in affirmation that Indianapolis is at its best when everyone feels welcome to be fully themselves.

6:16

As we recognize Pride Month in Indianapolis, we also recognize our neighbors, friends, families, family members, coworkers, public servants, and community leaders that are in the LGBTQ community who help make our city stronger, more vibrant, and more compassionate every single day.

6:33

This resolution is both a remembrance of the past and an affirmation of the kind of city we strive to be moving forward, one where everyone feels seen, valued, and that they belong.

6:44

As mentioned, this is a special resolution recognizing the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising and celebration celebrating June as Pride Month here in Indianapolis.

6:54

Whereas in June of 1969, the Stonewall Uprising in New York City marked a defining and courageous moment in American history when LGBTQ individuals resisted systematic discrimination, harassment, and injustice, helping to ignite a national movement for civil rights dignity and equality.

7:13

And whereas, whereas the legacy of Stonewall is one of bravery in the face of fear of voices once pushed to the margins, rising to demand recognition, safety, and the fundamental right to live openly and authentically, and whereas, while much progress has been made since that pivotal moment, the struggle for full equality and protection under the law continues, reminding us that the work of justice is ongoing and shared by each generation, and whereas June is nationally recognized as Pride Month, a time to honor the history, resilience, and contributions of LGBTQ plus individuals, to celebrate the progress achieved and recommit ourselves to the pursuit of dignity, respect, and inclusion for all people.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Miscellaneous██████████████████████████████30%
Procedural█████████████████████████████29%
Affordable Housing██████████████████18%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Workforce Development███████7%
Public Health███3%
Economic Development██2%
Pending Litigation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Indianapolis City-County Council Meeting - June 1, 2026

On June 1, 2026, the Indianapolis City-County Council convened at 7:00 p.m. in the City-County Building. The meeting included adoption of a Pride Month resolution, approval of multiple appointments, public hearings on various appropriations, and votes on proposals ranging from charter school funding to councilor disclosure requirements. Several items generated debate, particularly Proposal 122 (charter school software funding) and Proposal 145 (removing home addresses from disclosure statements). The meeting concluded after approximately two hours.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of journals for May 4, 2026 (unanimous).
  • Adoption of the agenda (unanimous).
  • Special Resolution recognizing June as Pride Month and the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising (adopted by voice vote, unanimous).
  • Appointment of Jordan Gathers as Deputy Mayor of Neighborhood Engagement (Proposal 119, 25-0).
  • Reappointment of Greg West to the Metropolitan Development Commission (Proposal 123, 25-0).
  • Appointment of Jessica Harris to the Marion County Public Defender Board (Proposal 128, 25-0).
  • Reappointment of Forrest Pervine to the Emergency Services Agency Board (Proposal 129, 25-0).
  • Reappointment of Lieutenant Larry Pete Atkins to the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (Proposal 130, 25-0).
  • Additional appropriation for Marion County Clerk/Treasurer (Proposal 120, 25-0).
  • Additional appropriation for Marion County Information Services Agency (Proposal 121, 25-0).
  • Additional appropriation for vacant to vibrant program (Proposal 125, 25-0).
  • Additional appropriations for IMPD cadet program and related (Proposal 131, 25-0).
  • Additional appropriation for Marion County Coroner's Office (Proposal 132, 25-0).
  • Additional appropriation for Marion County Public Defender (Proposal 133, 25-0).
  • Additional appropriation for drug treatment and reentry courts (Proposal 134, 24-0, one vacant seat).
  • Additional appropriation for IMPD grants (Proposal 135, 25-0).
  • Additional appropriation for DPW snow response and salt barn repair (Proposal 138, 25-0).
  • Additional appropriation for Marion County Forensic Services (Proposal 136, 25-0).
  • Truck restrictions on portions of Westmore Street (Proposal 139, 25-0).
  • Renewal of safe syringe access program (Proposal 140, 25-0).
  • Paperless billing for property tax statements (Proposal 94, 25-0).
  • Payment in lieu of taxes for affordable housing projects (Proposals 126 and 160, each 25-0).
  • Acceptance of Sheriff's first quarter report (Proposal 137, no action needed).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Larry Vaughn (multiple proposals): Opposed additional appropriations, claiming they fund bond debt and mismanagement; alleged that the city has issued billions in bonds and that assessments increase to cover debt; made unsubstantiated claims about crematoriums and forced medication; criticized immigration and affordable housing.
  • Fabian Brown (multiple proposals): Expressed frustration with city prioritization, arguing that wealthy corporations (e.g., Eli Lilly) receive tax breaks while residents struggle with potholes and lack of funding for schools and social services; urged redirecting funds to help poor communities.
  • William Bowler (Proposal 122): Opposed charter school funding, citing $40 million net revenue among Indianapolis charter schools from 2024 990s, called the software modernization "graft."
  • Corbin Havener (Proposal 122): Opposed charter school funding, emphasizing that charter schools undermine IPS and collective bargaining, and that teachers at IPS are forced to reapply due to uncertainty.
  • Larry Bond (Proposal 125 and 138): Supported the vacant to vibrant program but noted that paved streets are needed; on Proposal 138, criticized the mayor's use of highway funds for other purposes and poor road conditions.
  • David Brown (Proposal 138): Expressed concern about environmental effects of road salt.
  • Unnamed speaker (Proposal 131): Questioned the alignment of criminal justice program funding with local laws regarding bond and surety appropriations.
  • Additional speaker (Proposal 121): Supported the general opposition to bond spending and called for better use of funds.

Discussion Items

  • Pride Month Resolution (Proposal 193): Leader Evans presented a resolution recognizing the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising and declaring June Pride Month in Indianapolis. The resolution passed unanimously. Belinda Drake from the Indy Pride Board offered brief remarks of thanks.
  • Proposal 122 – Charter School Software Funding: The proposal appropriated $276,809 for software modernization for the Office of Education Innovation to manage charter school authorizing. Councilor Brown urged a no vote, arguing charter schools already receive a disproportionate share of tax revenue and that IPS faces a referendum. Councilor Cahill responded that the funds are for administrative software, not for charter schools directly. Public comment opposed the funding. The proposal passed 20-5.
  • Proposal 145 – Remove Home Address from Councilor Disclosure Statements: The proposal amended city code to remove home addresses from annual disclosure forms. Councilor Brown spoke against, citing transparency and previous residency challenges. Councilor McCormick argued that home addresses should remain public as councilors are accessible. Other councilors noted that home addresses are already on file with the election board and that removing them does not hinder public access. The proposal passed 21-4.
  • Motion to Call Down MDC Approvals: Councilor Brown moved to call down for public hearing the MDC approval of 2025 ZON 124 and 2025 VAR 012, citing ongoing litigation and that a previous objection was improperly ruled out of order. The motion lacked a second and failed. Proposals 194-205 then passed into law.
  • Proposal 206 – Rezoning Case 2025 ZON 084: Chairman Muscary moved to schedule a public hearing for July 6, 2026, at 7 p.m. for a rezoning at 401 South Keystone Avenue. The motion carried.
  • Proposal 159 – Rezoning Withdrawal: Leader Evans announced that the petitioner on case 2025-ZON-126 wished to withdraw and refile for a variance only. The council continued the hearing to July 6, 2026, pending MDC acceptance.

Key Outcomes

  • All appointments and most appropriations approved unanimously (25-0), except as noted.
  • Proposal 122 (charter school software) passed 20-5.
  • Proposal 145 (removal of home address from disclosures) passed 21-4.
  • Motion to reconsider MDC approvals failed due to lack of second.
  • Rezoning hearing continued to July 6, 2026.
  • Councilor Brown's objection to the MDC motion was noted in the record.
  • Meeting adjourned in memory of Wayne Moss, Leon DeWitt Williams Jr., Julie Ron, Larry Land, Shelley Kay, and William "Bill" Henderson.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I will now call to order the Indianapolis City County Council to order for Monday, June 1st, 2026. We'll begin our meeting where with the I can't talk. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance by Councillor Jones. Thank you. With me this evening is Pastor Oliver, and he is with Stringtown, West Side Pentecostal Apostolic Pentecostal Church. And their mission is go reach, go love, and go serve. And I did not meet Pastor Oliver at church. I actually met him doing his mission statement, which was out in the neighborhoods serving his community, and his church absolutely lives that mission with serving. And I'm just honored that he is with us here this evening. So I would like to introduce Pastor Oliver. Thank you. Give God all the glory. Thank you, Chris and Joan, for all you do. God bless you. Let's bow our heads and pray. Dear Jesus, we thank you for this wonderful day you have given us. This is the day that you have made we can rejoice and be glad in it. We're thankful, first of all, Lord, for your mercy and grace that you have bestowed upon us. It was renewed this morning. Great is your faithfulness. I ask you today, Lord, to let your presence just rest in here. Let this be a habitation for you today. I ask you, Lord, in Jesus' name to give us peace that passes all understanding. And as your word tells us, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. I ask you to bless everyone in this room, bless their families, bless their work. And Lord, you told us in your ward in Colossians chapter 3 and verse 17. Whatever we do in word or deed, do all in your name. And we give you all the praise and glory that's due. And everyone say in Jesus' name. Amen. 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. The purposes of such meetings being to conduct any and all businesses that may properly come before regular meetings of the councils. Sincerely, Maggie A. Lewis, President City County Council. Ladies and gentlemen, pursuing to the laws of the state of Indiana, I call to be published in the Court and Commercial Record and in the Indianapolis Star on Friday, May 8th, 2026, a copy of notice of public hearing on proposal numbers 120 through 122, 124, 125, 131 through 135, 138, and 159, 2026. Said hearings to be held on Monday, June 1st, 2026, a 7 o'clock p.m. in the public assembly room of the City County Building. Ladies and gentlemen, I have approved of my signature and delivered this day to the clerk of the City County Council, Yolanda Winfield, the following ordinances. Special ordinance numbers two and three, two thousand twenty-six, general resolution numbers nine through twelve, two thousand twenty-six, and special resolution numbers nine through eleven, two thousand twenty-six, Joseph H. Hawkes at Mayor. Madam President, this concludes the official communications. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The next item on our agenda is the adoption of the agenda. Do I have consent? The next item on our agenda is the approval of the journals for May 4th, 2026. Do I have consent? We'll now proceed to presentations of petitions, memorials, and special resolutions. Proposal number 193, introduced by Leader Evans. Thank you, Madam President.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com