Board of Business and Neighborhood Services Meeting - December 4, 2025
Board of Business and Neighborhood Services Meeting - December 4, 2025
The Board of Business and Neighborhood Services convened on December 4th to conclude the 2025 fiscal year. The meeting featured the introduction of a new staff attorney and proceeded through the approval of departmental minutes, several professional service contracts, and the readoption or adoption of key regulatory frameworks regarding passenger rights and permit review acceleration. All agenda items were discussed and approved unanimously by the board members present.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The board approved the minutes from the October 23rd, 2025, meeting unanimously (Motion moved, seconded, and passed with all 'Aye' votes).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Hearing - Passenger Bill of Rights: No members of the public commented during the open forum. The director noted that the board and public were "very content" with the existing regulations.
- Public Hearing - Accelerated Review Policy: No members of the public attended to offer comments or testimony regarding the new accelerated review policies.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 2025 C 10031 (Tourism Tomorrow): Staff recommended approving a new one-year professional services agreement with Tourism Tomorrow for $40,000 to provide ombudsman services for film and media production. The role involves shepherding media companies through approval processes for commercial, marketing, and documentary projects.
- Resolution 2025 C 10032 (India Economic Development Inc.): Staff recommended renewing the agreement with India Economic Development Inc. (formerly Indy Development) for permitting and licensing ombudsman services through 2026. The Board approved an increase in the contract compensation limit by $126,050. Staff noted the organization was recently spun out of the Indy Chamber with joint seed funding from BNS and DMD to replace a vacant position and support economic development initiatives.
- Resolution 2025 C 10033 (CP Total Construction LLC): Staff recommended approving a new one-year agreement with CP Total Construction for unsafe building boarding and securing services, effective February 1, 2026, with a limit of $325,000. Board members discussed historical spending, noting an average annual spend of approximately $175,000 over the last decade.
- Resolution 2025 C 10030 (Passenger Bill of Rights): The Licencing Manager presented the readoption of a 15-year standing regulation requiring licensee vehicles (taxis with meters) to display a "Passenger Bill of Rights" decal. The decal informs passengers of rights, including credit card payment options, visible meter pricing, and non-discrimination policies. Board discussion clarified that ride-share services regulated at the state level are not covered by this city ordinance. The board confirmed the process for meter disputes involves inspection and potential refunds. A motion to readopt was passed unanimously.
- Resolution 2025 C 10034 (Accelerated Review Policies): Staff proposed a shift from self-selected accelerated review to an application-based system for structural and drainage permits. The change introduces a new flat fee of $2,500 (approximately half the rate of reviewed municipalities) to guarantee a five-business-day turnaround and top-priority status throughout the entire review process, rather than just the initial round. Staff explained this change was made to ensure service delivery aligns with contract expectations before expanding the program in 2026. The board discussed and agreed the flat fee is more transparent than the previous hourly model. The motion to adopt the policy passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Resolution 2025 C 10031, authorizing a $40,000 agreement with Tourism Tomorrow (Vote: Aye).
- Approved: Resolution 2025 C 10032, renewing agreement with India Economic Development Inc. with a $126,050 compensation increase (Vote: Aye).
- Approved: Resolution 2025 C 10033, authorizing a $325,000 agreement with CP Total Construction for unsafe building services (Vote: Aye).
- Adopted: Resolution 2025 C 10030, readopting regulations for the Passenger Bill of Rights for licensed vehicles (Vote: Aye).
- Adopted: Resolution 2025 C 10034, adopting new accelerated review policies for structural and drainage permits with a $2,500 flat fee (Vote: Aye).
- Administrative: The board adjourned the meeting, noting it as the final meeting of the year. The next meeting is scheduled for January 22, 2026, at 3:00 PM in Conference Room T260.
Meeting Transcript
I'm just working all the record tracking processes. So I added like the general stuff. We have a new attorney. Sorry. So do we have a new attorney? I'm just covering for Sarah. All right. My name is Alan Kenneth. Nice to meet you. Special guests. I know Catherine said she's got yes. Okay. That's my event. I said why. I don't need the answer now. I'm just curious. We have a full minute. Lord knows we've had board meetings in prior to all board members getting here before. Sarah can say that she reviewed the resolution. And she had no injections to appreciate that. All right, well 301. I love this thing. Uh I'm gonna call to order the December 4th Board of Business and Neighborhood Services. My name is Abby Brands. I am the director of Business and Neighborhood Services. If my board members would like to introduce themselves. Belinda Drake. Katie Willpool. All right, thank you. Um first order of business. We have the minutes from the October 23rd meeting. And look at that, we were all here for that one. Uh if there are any questions about the minutes, uh if not, I will entertain a motion to approve the minutes from the October meeting. So moved. Second. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Thank you very much. We've got three minutes. All right. Moving on to action items. Um resolution 2025 C 10031. And it said Jacob Miller, it's actually owing up for the next two. So for resolution number 2025 C 10031, staff recommends this board approve and authorize the director to enter into a new one-year professional services agreement with tourism tomorrow for 2026 film and media community ombudsman services. The contract compensation not to exceed limit shall be set at 40,000. And this contract is uh facilitating film and media production by essentially at least in part uh shepherding media companies through approvals for shoots for commercial and marketing uh film documentary products. Oh I'm sorry, projects. Um so they typically, if they are coordinating with us, it's with our special events team or right away. Special events by yes, that's correct. Any questions about this proposal contract?
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