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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Indianapolis City-County Council Meeting - September 14, 2026

City-County Council — Monday, September 14, 2026

BodyIndianapolis, Indiana

SessionCity-County Council

DateMonday, September 14, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 48:55

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:01

Good evening.

0:02

I will now call to order the city county council meeting for Monday, September 14th.

0:08

14, 2026.

0:10

We'll begin with the prayer and pledge of allegiance led by Madam Chair McCormick.

0:35

Hi, good evening.

0:36

Tonight, I'm pleased to welcome Pastor Tim Lindsay to offer our opening prayer.

0:40

Pastor Lindsay is our council chaplain, and he also serves as the senior pastor of Lifeline Baptist Church on the Southwest Side.

0:48

But the best part about Pastor Lindsay is he is a proud resident of District 16.

0:53

And so welcome.

0:54

Thank you, Pastor Lindsay, for coming here tonight.

0:57

Let's pray.

0:59

Heavenly Father, what a joy it is to be here in the public assembly room tonight.

1:03

What an honor to stand with them and pray for them.

1:06

But even greater than that, we have the awesome privilege to boldly enter your throne room.

1:10

So it's amazing that you hear us and you answer our prayers.

1:13

I lift up their families.

1:14

I ask you to encourage them and protect them.

1:17

I pray for their staff, the volunteers, the media, and all those who work so hard to see our city succeed.

1:23

I pray that you strengthen our counselors as they strive to improve lives to support the weak and protect the vulnerable.

1:29

Help us all to love like Jesus and serve like him today.

1:33

The book of Proverbs proclaims that most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness.

1:38

But a faithful man who can find today I pray these public servants be faithful, faithful their calling, more importantly, may they be faithful to you.

1:46

May the words of their mouth and meditation of their hearts be acceptable in thy sight.

1:50

In your name we pray.

1:51

Amen.

1:53

And join me in the pledge.

1:55

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

2:03

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

2:10

Thank you.

2:23

Thank you, Madam Chair.

2:24

The next item on our agenda is roll call.

2:26

If all counselors would select the green button to indicate their attendance.

2:54

I apologize.

2:55

Let's welcome Councillor to the Chamber.

3:01

And you'll probably have to correct my pronunciation of your name a couple more times, but welcome to the chamber.

3:07

The next item on our agenda is introduction of guests and visitors.

3:14

Madam Clerk.

3:18

Thank you, Madam President.

3:20

Ladies and gentlemen, you are hereby notified that regular meetings of the City County Council, police, fire, and solar waste collection special service district councils will be held in the city county building in the public assembly room on Monday, September 14th, 2026 at 7 o'clock p.m.

3:40

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

3:47

Sincerely, Maggie A.

3:49

Lewis, President City County Council.

3:53

Ladies and gentlemen, pursuant to the law of the state of Indiana, I cause to be published in the Court and Commercial Record and in the Indianapolis Star on Friday, August 28, 2026.

4:05

A copy of public note pub notice of public hearing on proposal numbers 275 and 276, 2026.

4:14

Said hearings to be held on Monday, September 14th, 2026, 7 o'clock p.m.

4:20

in the public assembly room of the City County Building.

4:26

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

4:34

General ordinance numbers 45 through 55, 2026.

4:38

General Resolution Number 14, 2026.

4:42

Joseph H.

4:43

Hawksett, Mayor.

4:45

Madam President, this can conclude the official communications.

4:48

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

4:49

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

4:52

Do I have consent?

4:53

Councillor Brown.

4:54

Thank you, Madam President.

4:56

Um, Councillors, tonight I'm once again moving to amend the agenda to use one of the powers that we have as a council.

5:02

That power is to remove Metropolitan Development Commissioners that report to us who have not served our constituents or the guidelines we have set out for the commission.

5:09

Constituents have been growing louder and more insistent that as counselors we use every power at our disposal to help the people who pay our salaries.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Budget█████████████████████████████████33%

Procedural███████████████████19%

Public Safety███████████████15%

Personnel Matters████████████12%

Public Education████████8%

Public Records Management████4%

Public Works███3%

Traffic Safety███3%

Parking Management███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Indianapolis City-County Council Meeting - September 14, 2026

The Indianapolis City-County Council met on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Public Assembly Room. The meeting included the introduction of new proposals, public hearings on bond and appropriation measures, final adoption of traffic and naming ordinances, and unanimous approval of multiple appointments and resolutions. A motion to remove two Metropolitan Development Commissioners from the agenda failed.

Consent Calendar

Proposals 211, 236, 240, 241, 242 (appointments to boards and commissions) were adopted by votes of 24-0 each.
Proposals 243, 244, 248 (investment policy renewal, thoroughfare district bonds, and sheriff’s quarterly report) were adopted by votes of 24-0.
Proposals 249 through 258 (speed limit reductions and parking restrictions in various districts) were adopted by a vote of 23-0.
Special Orders – Priority Business: Rezoning proposals 291 through 303 passed into law without public hearing.

Public Comments & Testimony

Larry Vaughn, a recurring public speaker, opposed multiple bond issues (Proposals 245, 246, 275, 276), arguing that the city relies excessively on debt financing, which he characterized as double taxation and a threat to fiscal stability. He also criticized the city’s spending priorities and the use of bond proceeds for what he called “fornication mills.”

Discussion Items

Motion to Amend Agenda (Proposal 304): Councilor A. Brown moved to add an item to remove Metropolitan Development Commissioners Greg West and Brandon Hergett, citing lack of accountability. The motion required 15 votes but failed 4-20.
Proposal 245 (Revenue Bonds for Justice Campus Parking Garages): Councilor Wells requested follow-up information on questions from committee; the City CFO provided clarification. Councilor Brown noted the garages are already constructed and suggested exploring revenue opportunities. Passed 24-0 after public comment.
Proposal 246 (Police Station Bonds): Councilor Gibson expressed support. Public speaker Larry Vaughn criticized further bond issuance. Passed 24-0.
Proposal 275 (Additional Appropriation of $19 Million): Councilor Brown moved to divide the question to separate out $450,000 for the Mayor’s Office (Character 3), citing concerns over use for ILEA/IPEC programs. The motion to divide failed 11-13. Councilor Cahill defended the funding for the Circle City Readers program. Councilor Nielsen explained the appropriation was cash-based and included strategic holdbacks due to state gas tax suspension. The proposal passed 23-1.
Proposal 276 (Levy Freeze Tax Rate Adjustment): Councilor Hart asked about interaction with public safety funds and the wheel tax. Controller Abby Hansen clarified this is an annual adjustment to avoid funds being locked in reserve; it does not relate to the wheel tax. Passed 24-0.

Key Outcomes

Failed Motion: Removal of MDC commissioners (4-20).
Approved Appointments (24-0): Elizabeth White (Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team), Raymond Powell (Community Corrections Advisory Board), Kimberly Stowers (Citizens’ Police Complaint Board), Craig Von Deylen (Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals), Allein Patton Hickman (Greater Virginia Avenue Corridor Improvement Board), Tanya Ndiaye (City-County Audit Committee).
Proposal 245 adopted 24-0: Authorization of up to $35 million in revenue bonds for parking garages at the Community Justice Campus.
Proposal 246 adopted 24-0: Preliminary determination to issue up to $12.5 million in general obligation bonds for a new north district police station.
Proposal 275 adopted 23-1: Supplemental appropriation of $19 million for multiple city departments for 2026.
Proposal 276 adopted 24-0: Request to lower the levy freeze tax rate via the Marion County Local Income Tax Council.
Proposal 239 adopted 24-0: Street naming as Pastor David Lee Memorial Way.
Proposals 249-258 adopted 23-0: Various traffic and parking regulations.
New proposals introduced (277-290) regarding appointments, bond issuances, and budgets for airport authority, CIB, HHC, IndyGo, library, and school referendum levies; referred to committees.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I will now call to order the city county council meeting for Monday, September 14th. 14, 2026. We'll begin with the prayer and pledge of allegiance led by Madam Chair McCormick. Hi, good evening. Tonight, I'm pleased to welcome Pastor Tim Lindsay to offer our opening prayer. Pastor Lindsay is our council chaplain, and he also serves as the senior pastor of Lifeline Baptist Church on the Southwest Side. But the best part about Pastor Lindsay is he is a proud resident of District 16. And so welcome. Thank you, Pastor Lindsay, for coming here tonight. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, what a joy it is to be here in the public assembly room tonight. What an honor to stand with them and pray for them. But even greater than that, we have the awesome privilege to boldly enter your throne room. So it's amazing that you hear us and you answer our prayers. I lift up their families. I ask you to encourage them and protect them. I pray for their staff, the volunteers, the media, and all those who work so hard to see our city succeed. I pray that you strengthen our counselors as they strive to improve lives to support the weak and protect the vulnerable. Help us all to love like Jesus and serve like him today. The book of Proverbs proclaims that most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness. But a faithful man who can find today I pray these public servants be faithful, faithful their calling, more importantly, may they be faithful to you. May the words of their mouth and meditation of their hearts be acceptable in thy sight. In your name we pray. Amen. And join me in the pledge. 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. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. The next item on our agenda is roll call. If all counselors would select the green button to indicate their attendance. I apologize. Let's welcome Councillor to the Chamber. And you'll probably have to correct my pronunciation of your name a couple more times, but welcome to the chamber. The next item on our agenda is introduction of guests and visitors. Madam Clerk. Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen, you are hereby notified that regular meetings of the City County Council, police, fire, and solar waste collection special service district councils will be held in the city county building in the public assembly room on Monday, September 14th, 2026 at 7 o'clock p.m. The purposes of such meetings being to conduct any and all business that may properly come before regular meetings of the councils. Sincerely, Maggie A. Lewis, President City County Council. Ladies and gentlemen, pursuant to the law of the state of Indiana, I cause to be published in the Court and Commercial Record and in the Indianapolis Star on Friday, August 28, 2026. A copy of public note pub notice of public hearing on proposal numbers 275 and 276, 2026. Said hearings to be held on Monday, September 14th, 2026, 7 o'clock p.m. in the public assembly room of the City County Building. Ladies and gentlemen, I have approved with my signature and delivered this day to the clerk of the City County Council, Yolanda Ray, the following ordinances. General ordinance numbers 45 through 55, 2026. General Resolution Number 14, 2026. Joseph H.

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