Public Works Committee Meeting - August 13, 2026
Public Works Committee Meeting - August 13, 2026
The Public Works Committee of the Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council met on August 13, 2026, at 5:30 PM to consider ten proposals (speed limit reductions and parking restrictions) and hold a budget hearing for the Department of Public Works' 2027 budget.
Consent Calendar
- Proposals 249, 250, 251, 253, and 257 authorize speed limit reductions to 25 mph in various districts. Moved by Councilor Evans, seconded, and passed unanimously without public comment.
- Proposals 252, 254, 255, 256, and 258 authorize parking restrictions on specified streets and special parking privileges for the federal courthouse. Moved by Councilor Nielsen, seconded, and passed unanimously without public comment.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Vincent Garden, President of ASME Local 725, spoke about poor working conditions at DPW garages (Districts 1, 2, and 3), citing lack of heat, air conditioning, locker rooms, and leaky roofs. He urged the committee to prioritize the $15 million consolidated garage project included in the budget and invited councilors to visit the garages to see conditions firsthand.
Discussion Items
- DPW 2027 Budget Presentation: Director Wilson, CFO Sam Barris, and Chief Engineer Mark St. John presented the department's $335.3 million budget (30% increase over 2026). Key points included:
- The budget does not rely on Proposal 192 (wheel tax increase) to meet the state match for Senate Enrolled Act 179. Instead, the match is satisfied with $5 million in stormwater fees, $20 million in local income tax, and $25 million in supplemental COIT.
- The Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (IAMP) will use data-driven methods to treat 1,500 lane miles over five years, aiming to raise the average pavement condition index from 53 (poor) to 55 (fair).
- Significant capital investments: $1.22 billion five-year transportation plan, $139 million stormwater plan, $50 million state annual match, $15 million for DPW operations facility consolidation.
- Updates on Vision Zero, community powered infrastructure, solid waste transition, tox drop days, and fleet investments.
- Councilor Questions and Comments:
- Councilor Wells asked about the hybrid funding approach and noted constituent disappointment that an additional tax was not included.
- Leader Maori confirmed the plan meets state match without new taxes and asked about progress on Vision Zero at Raymond and Shelby intersection. Director Wilson said a road safety audit was done and long-term improvements are being considered.
- Councilor Boots requested expansion of the street sweeping program; CFO Barris explained constraints of personnel and equipment, with average sweeper age of 18 years.
- Councilor Cahill praised the capital plan presentation and asked about pavement marking funding ($1 million new money) and the IAMP's impact on stormwater-funded road repairs.
- Councilor Nielsen asked about allocation of additional funds in the IAMP and accounting for stormwater transfers.
- Councilor Gibson stressed the need for more residential street and sidewalk funding, noting the success of previous councilor-initiated projects.
- Councilor Ross requested that councilors be provided with data from the IAMP to inform district-level decisions.
- Councilor McCormick clarified the relationship between the CIP and IAMP and asked for color-coded maps showing treatment types.
Key Outcomes
- All ten proposals (249–258) were recommended to the full council with "do pass" recommendations by unanimous voice votes.
- No votes were taken on the DPW budget; the hearing was for discussion and questioning. The budget will be considered at a future meeting.
- The committee heard extensive presentations on the 2027 budget and the new Infrastructure Asset Management Plan, which will be presented in more detail at the October Public Works Committee meeting.
- Director Wilson and staff committed to providing councilors with updated PCI maps and data to inform project selection.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to our public works committee meeting for August 13th, 2026. We will begin with introductions of counselors on uh with Leader Maori. Thank you, Madam Chair. Brian Mowray, District 25. Thank you, Madam Chair. Derek Cahill, District 23. Good evening, Chairwoman. Um Krista Wells, District 11, Far West Side. Madam Chair, Ron Gibson, District 8. Thank you, Madam Chair, Nick Roberts, District 4. Thank you, Chairwoman, Andy Nielsen, District 14. Thank you, Madam Chair, Dan Boots, District 3. Thank you, Madam Chair. Counselor Jarrett Evans, representing District 17. Thank you. And I am Kristen Jones, representing District 18. With consent, I would like to move to hear proposals number 249, 250, 251, 253, and 257 together. Thank you. We'll have Nathan Sheets come and lead us with those proposals. Good evening, Nathan Sheets, Department of Public Works. I've got a handful of uh proposals before you this evening, beginning with proposal number 249, 2026. This authorizes a speed limit reduction to 25 miles per hour in the area bounded by Broaderville Avenue, Kessler Boulevard, East Drive, College Avenue, and Compton Street, that is District 7. Proposal number 250 2026 authorizes a speed limit reduction to 25 miles per hour within the Crystal Lake South Subdivision, District 24. Proposal number 251 2026 authorizes a speed limit reduction to 25 miles per hour within the Dahlia Gardens subdivision, District 22. Proposal number 253, 2026 authorizes a speed limit reduction to 25 miles per hour in the area bounded by 52nd Street, Kessler Boulevard, East Drive, Central Avenue, Meridian Street, and Westfield Boulevard, District 7. And proposal number 257, 2026 authorizes a speed limit reduction at 25 miles per hour in the Trophy Club Subdivision, District 5. And if you have questions about uh any of the five proposals I just went over, I'd be happy to try to answer them. Any comments, questions from counselors. Anyone in the public who wishes to speak on proposals 249, 250, 251, 253, and 257. No. Okay. Counselor Evans. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'd move to take proposals 249, 250, 251, 253, and 257 to the full council with the due pass recommendation. Second. It's been moved and seconded to send proposals number 249, 250, 251, 253, and 257 to the full council with the due pass recommendation. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed say nay. The ayes have it. With consent, I would like to move to hear proposals number two fifty-two, two fifty-four, two fifty-five, two fifty-six, and two fifty-eight together. Thank you. Nathan. Yes, uh proposal number two fifty-two, twenty twenty-six. This authorizes uh the installation of parking restrictions on North Meridian Street between 18th and 19th Streets, that's District 12. Proposal number 254, 2026 authorizes parking restrictions on Maryland Street, from Schumacher Way to Missouri Street, that is District 18. Proposal number 255, 2026 authorizes parking restrictions on Waterway Boulevard from Gent Avenue to a point 140 feet east of Gent Avenue, that's District 12. Proposal number 256, 2026 authorizes parking restrictions on Wellingshire Boulevard between Tibbs Avenue and Southport Road, District 22. And proposal number 258, 2026 authorizes special parking privileges along the west side of Pennsylvania Street from New York Street to a point 175 feet south of New York Street for official federal courthouse business, and that is District 12. And again, if you have questions about uh any of those proposals, I'd be happy to try to answer them.
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