Board of Business & Neighborhood Services Meeting - August 28, 2025
Board of Business & Neighborhood Services Meeting - August 28, 2025
The Board of Business and Neighborhood Services (BNS) met on August 28, 2025, at 3:02 p.m. in Conference Room T-260, Indianapolis-Marion County. The meeting covered the 2026 budget presentation, approval of liens for unpaid abatement costs, adoption of a new fee and penalty schedule, and a contract amendment for flood mapping services. Public comment was heard on the fee changes.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The board unanimously approved the business meeting minutes from July 24, 2025.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ms. Jean (last name indistinct): Spoke against all proposed fee increases, arguing they disproportionately affect lower-income residents. She criticized the department's staffing levels and enforcement priorities, citing examples of excessive administrative fees and zoning enforcement that penalized helpful community members (e.g., a veteran doing small engine repair). She urged cutting personnel and focusing on genuine problems rather than minor violations.
Discussion Items
- 2026 Budget Presentation: Director Abbey Brands and CFO Jacob Miller presented the proposed budget. Key points:
- BNS vacancies reduced from 70 to 18 (210 staff). New AFSCME contract with average 13% salary increase, up to 23% for some positions.
- Impact of state legislation: HEA 1037 (May 2025) ended BNS authority to permit drainage disturbances under 1 acre; HEA 1005 (effective Jan 2026) allows private plan review for residential structures.
- Permit volume: 20,773 year-to-date, with average 6.25 days to issue (13 days for development permits).
- Neighborhood cleanups removed 23.5 tons of litter; illegal dumping abatement removed 275 tons; 62 illegal dumping assistance cases ($12,151).
- Demolition program: 79 completed demolitions (49 in 2024, 38 YTD 2025); $3M council infusion in 2024; backlog reduced from 500 to ~110 structures, none at risk of expiration.
- IT updates: Road Closure Viewer, digital license renewals, website overhaul, and alleyway program phase two.
- Fee and penalty changes (Resolution 2025-C10-023): First update since 1988/2010, based on Baker Tilly rate analysis. Proposed increases to right-of-way, encroachment, illegal dumping, demolition admin, drainage, building inspection, and permit fees. Goal to balance revenue with expenses.
- Resolution 2025-C10-023 Amendments: Director Brands and Deputy Director Eva Flick presented amendments:
- Strike commercial accelerated plan review fee (to be revisited later, tied to third-party contracts).
- Revise accelerated inspection fees for commercial structures: $250/hr for same-day, $150/hr for next-day scheduled, $250/hr for after-hours/weekends (beyond first two hours).
- Clarify effective date of January 1, 2026.
- Board voted to adopt the amendments unanimously.
- Public Hearing on Fee Changes: Opened and closed; only one speaker (Ms. Jean) offered opposition.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 2025-C10-021 (High Weeds and Grass Liens): Approved unanimously. Authorizes liens on 344 properties for $175,320 in unpaid abatement costs.
- Resolution 2025-C10-022 (Trash Liens): Approved unanimously. Authorizes liens on 44 properties for $26,178.97 in unpaid trash cleanup costs.
- Resolution 2025-C10-023 (Adoption of Regulations: Fee Table): Approved unanimously after amendment. New fees effective January 1, 2026.
- Resolution 2025-C10-024 (Contract Amendment: CRS Recertification and Flood Mapping): Approved unanimously. Increases contract with Christopher B. Burke Engineering from $150,000 to $250,000, extends three years through 2028.
Meeting Transcript
I wish you were so you can find it. Hey, how are you? Good look, we almost beat the setup. What is happening? Well, not a few. Not a hands. If you're here to speak, if anyone from here in the audience is here to speak uh during the public hearing portion, if you wouldn't mind signing that sheet there, so we have your name for the record. Just right there on the edge of that table. There's nothing here. Oh, I was gonna say sorry about that. Oh this is not what? No, first one. Yeah, what you print your name. I know it doesn't say it lasts for stage permit until it's successor is appointed. So I feel like I'm in good for a lot. Unless Adam is there. Which are calls for hold on. You won't try that. You're not removed. Is Catherine joining? Just as she said she does. I just saw it, thank you. All right. Given that it's three, I'm gonna go ahead and call this meeting to order. This is the August 28th uh Board of Business and Neighborhood Services meeting. My name is Abby Brands. I'm the director of the Department of Board and Business Neighborhood Services. Uh board members would like to introduce themselves starting to my right. Uh Belinda Drake. Camille Bullunt. Kate Warpool. Thank you. Um got a relatively short agenda, but a lot packed into it today. Uh with consent from board members, I would like to move um the budget presentation just before the last resolution. Um because there is content in the budget presentation that is germane to that resolution would be helpful. Is there a consent from board members? Consensus. All right. First piece of business is to review the minutes from July 24th. Uh there are any corrections or questions regarding those minutes. If not, I will entertain a motion to approve the July 24th minutes. I move we accept the uh July 24th minutes as introduced. All right, is there a second? Uh second. All right. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Look at that. All right. First action item is uh C 10021, highweeds and grass liens, Ms.
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