OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

McCanna General Membership Meeting with Health Department Presentation - May 19, 2026

Other Meetings (J-Z) — Tuesday, May 19, 2026
BodyIndianapolis, Indiana
SessionOther Meetings (J-Z)
DateTuesday, May 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:41:23
Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

I've been here how many meetings and I couldn't remember the entire thing.

0:05

But McCannna is an independent 501c3 nonpartisan alliance of neighborhood organizations and primarily concerned with broad-based neighborhood issues that do or could impact residential communities of Marion County.

0:20

Founded in 1990, McCannna supports neighborhood empowerment at the grassroots level by providing information, advice, and materials to neighborhood-based organizations, assisting them with their local issues and working to lend the collective voice of the neighborhoods to those issues that may have countywide implications.

0:43

All neighborhood-based organizations in Marion County and other organizations with similar missions are invited to join McCana and participate in the many issues and processes affecting neighborhoods.

0:54

Membership dues per organization are only $20 per year paid on an annual basis.

1:01

So that time of year is kind of been now for a while.

1:20

McCannis general membership meeting is the third Sunday of every month except December from 9 to 11 a.m.

1:27

at North United Methodist Church at 38th and Meridian Street.

1:48

We'd also like to thank Channel 16 for recording our meetings and making them available to the public on Channel 16 and 28 to permit McCannna's efforts to reach even broader audience.

2:01

We know that many neighborhoods who have contacted McCannna first learned about the organization from Channel 16 and 28 and know that Channel 16 serves as a critical research resource for people to remain engaged in and knowledgeable about what is happening in Marion County, even when they're unable to attend meetings and hearings in person, especially at 3 a.m.

2:25

in the morning.

2:26

If you would like to contact McCannna, you can reach us on Facebook, or you can reach McCannna's president Kathy Burton by phone at 317-847-9959 or email her at CB 7801 at AOL.com.

2:47

So with that is are there any community announcements?

2:54

No, I have a couple couple of broad.

3:19

So at this point, the MDC will vote on the draft at on June 3rd, Wednesday, 1 p.m.

3:28

There is public comment still available on the website, and that's going to close still Monday, May 18th, this Monday at 8 a.m.

3:39

But you can still contact DMD with any comments that you have.

3:46

Given all that, once the MDC approve, once they approve the draft, it would get submitted to the City County Council as a proposal.

4:03

And the given that June 3rd, I got the council calendar, there, the first meeting where they could introduce it would be on July 6th.

4:17

And then it would get assigned to the Metropolitan and Development and Economic Development Committee of the Council.

4:24

And that's that meeting would be July 13th.

4:28

So first domino is the MDC.

4:31

So if that date holds, those would be the subsequent dates.

4:35

So, but uh everyone who's interested in uh data centers really needs to look that draft over and submit your comments.

4:45

I know Monday's coming up fast, but even if you can't submit them on that official website, contact DMD, because uh we need a vigorous um ordinance to protect neighborhoods and to start protecting neighborhoods.

4:58

So, and the cannabis still has a moratorium for moratorium of all data centers.

5:13

Yes, the um the uh any moratorium has to be initiated at DMD and the MDC.

5:25

So the city council has passed a request of the MDC that they initiate a moratorium.

5:35

But that's where we stand at this moment.

5:40

Anything else with going on?

5:43

Um, well, there are a lot of things going on that you want to talk about.

5:53

But one of the hot buttons right now is this general assembly matching funds initiative that we can get into after our presentation.

6:03

Okay, sounds good.

6:05

Well, given that, we welcome heartily we welcome Dr.

6:09

Virginia Kane from the um, she's the director of Marion County Health Department, and um she's a gem.

6:17

So we we're lucky to have her as Kathy always says.

6:21

Um so Dr.

6:22

Kane, if you would come and tell us what's going on and the latest and greatest from our health department.

6:29

Thank you.

6:29

Where would you like them for me to stand?

6:31

Anywhere you're comfortable.

6:34

You don't need that.

6:35

Oh, I don't need this.

6:36

No, you don't need it at all.

6:37

Okay, so then I'll have to come around.

6:39

Oh, to move my slides.

6:42

Okay, okay.

6:46

Well, thank you so much.

6:47

It's always an honor and a pleasure to uh uh come and talk to McKenna and talk to what I think is going to be a very critical issue for our community by way of every five years, the Marion County Health Department does what it's called the board-based community assessment related to what's happening in their communities and what those issues are.

7:15

Let me see here.

7:17

I'm sure I'm going the right way.

7:22

And then by doing that, uh, what we do is we try to, whatever this information that we're able to obtain, we try to increase the community awareness of the health issues.

7:33

Try to identify if there's any health disparities that's related to the information that we're receiving.

7:40

But more important than that, when we know we're having limited resources in our communities now, how did we really target those areas where there's a tremendous need, as well as prior to rise, which ones we need to reach first, second, third, fourth, and fifth, and so we have a community health improvement process where we gather all the data, and once we've identified what those top five priority areas are, then we set up a process where we ask volunteers, people from the community, different agencies to look at a community improvement plan.

8:24

What is it now that we've identified the problem that we need to do?

8:29

And in order to do that, and once we do that, then it's much easier to say, okay, now I need to identify the resources to make sure we can carry out these initiatives that we can see uh great greater improved health outcomes as a result of our effort.

8:51

Now, you may not realize this, but we looked at the different perspectives related to this.

8:57

And um, this you have a handout also those in the audience that highlights the the bigger monograph book highlights um that we looked at race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, uh disability.

9:14

Uh we even address your religion or faith, uh, your occupation, insurance status, you know, um, housing, uh, you know, safe and affordable housing is becoming more and more a major issue.

9:29

Forty percent of the two one-one calls was related to safe and affordable housing.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Health████████████████████████████████32%
Miscellaneous█████████████████████████████29%
Technology and Innovation██████████10%
Environmental Protection████████8%
Community Engagement█████5%
Mental Health Awareness█████5%
Youth Programs████4%
Public Safety██2%
Affordable Housing██2%
Summary of Proceedings

McCanna General Membership Meeting with Marion County Health Department Presentation - May 19, 2026

The McCanna (McKenna) general membership meeting was held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at North United Methodist Church. The primary agenda item was a presentation by Dr. Virginia Kane, Director of the Marion County Public Health Department, on the 2025 Community Health Assessment (CHA) findings. Additional discussions covered data center ordinances, the General Assembly matching funds initiative, and various neighborhood health and safety concerns.

Announcements & Updates

  • The Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) will vote on the draft data center ordinance on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 1 p.m. Public comment on the official website closes Monday, May 18, 2026, at 8 a.m., but comments can still be sent directly to the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD).
  • Once approved by MDC, the proposal will go to the City-County Council, with potential introduction on July 6, 2026, and assignment to the Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee on July 13, 2026.
  • A moratorium on data centers must be initiated at DMD and MDC; the City-County Council has passed a request for MDC to initiate a moratorium.

Presentation: Marion County Community Health Assessment 2025

Dr. Virginia Kane presented the results of the five-year community health assessment, based on a 90-question survey sent to nearly 25,000 residents, with 4,518 responses in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Kinyarwanda). Key findings:

Top Five Health Priorities (in order of community importance):

  1. Mental health and well-being
  2. Access to health care
  3. Safe and affordable housing
  4. Trauma and injury prevention (including violence and domestic violence)
  5. Infant mortality

Demographics & Health Disparities:

  • 16.5% of households speak a language other than English; 11.6% of residents are foreign-born.
  • 15% of Marion County residents live in poverty, with rates highest among Black/African Americans (22.3%), followed by Hispanic/Latino (20%), Asian (13.6%), and White (10.6%).
  • Leading causes of death overall: heart disease, cancer, accidents, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke. For Black residents, homicides are the fourth leading cause; for Hispanic/Latino residents, accidents are #1, followed by heart disease, cancer, homicides, and conditions related to pregnancy.

Mental Health:

  • 26.6% (approximately 27%) have been diagnosed with depression in their lifetime; 14.7% had symptoms of depression at the time of the survey.
  • The suicide rate in 2024 was 10% higher than in 2018. White residents and males died by suicide at much higher rates (males nearly five times higher than females).
  • Indiana had higher rates of poor mental health among youth (grades 9–12) than the national average in 2023.

Health Care Access:

  • 23% reported being unable to see a health care professional in the past 12 months due to cost, with the highest rate among Hispanic/Latino residents (42.6%), followed by Black/African Americans (23%).
  • Only 48% reported that their health care providers always ensured they understood their health conditions.
  • Only 56% of pregnant mothers in Marion County receive prenatal care in the first trimester.

Housing:

  • Nearly 50% of renters and almost 20% of homeowners spend over 30% of their income on housing.
  • Since 2014, home values have more than doubled.
  • 40% of 2-1-1 calls related to safe and affordable housing.

Violence & Firearms:

  • Marion County's homicide rate is 25.5 times higher than any other industrialized country.
  • 87% of homicides in Marion County are gun-related (national average ~79%).
  • Firearm homicides declined by 16% from 2023 to 2024.
  • Homicide rates are six times higher among males than females; nearly 50% of firearm homicides occur among those aged 15–24.
  • 35% of Marion County residents own a gun; 79% use some form of storage, but 20% do not.

Substance Use & Overdose:

  • In 2024, Black/African American residents surpassed White residents in overdose death rates (approximately 46–47% vs. 37%). Marion County's accidental overdose rate (52%) is nearly double the state (30%) and national rates.
  • The Safe Syringe Program and a first-time felony drug offender program with the prosecutor (offering treatment and expungement) have an 80% success rate in keeping participants in treatment.

Infant Mortality:

  • Highest rates among Black/African American women (12.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024), followed by White women (7.9), and lowest among Hispanic/Latina women.
  • Top zip codes for infant mortality: 46202, 46205, 46208.
  • Smoking during pregnancy: highest among White mothers (4.3%), followed by Black mothers (1.8%), and Hispanic/Latina mothers (0.8%).

Food Insecurity & Environment:

  • In 2025, 51% of Black and Hispanic residents experienced food insecurity, compared to 22.4% of White residents.
  • Top environmental concerns: traffic/congestion (49%), safe drinking water (47%), outdoor air pollution (41%), climate change/extreme weather (39%).
  • What residents like most: neighbors and friends (looking out for one another), diversity, safe walkable neighborhoods, general affordability, built environment (sidewalks, trails, etc.).
  • What residents like least: housing affordability and condition, crime/gun violence, lack of grocery stores, litter, lack of walkability/sidewalks/lights, lack of parks and green spaces, lack of community events.

Discussion Items & Q&A

Following the presentation, meeting participants raised questions and concerns:

  • Soil testing for community gardens: Dr. Kane stated the Health Department's Healthy Homes program can test soil for contaminants (lead, arsenic, etc.) and can be reached at 317-221-2000.
  • IPS summer meals program: Dr. Kane noted IPS historically provides free meals; referred to the city and parks department for current details.
  • Summer curfew program: Dr. Kane acknowledged the measure as a response to youth firearm homicides, particularly among 15–24 year olds.
  • Randsburg YMCA closing: Dr. Kane expressed concern, emphasizing the need for community action to prevent closures that affect physical activity and youth programs.
  • General Assembly matching funds for road improvements: A question about raising $50 million in local funds to receive a $50 million state match (ramping up to $100 million). Dr. Kane declined to comment on how to raise the funds, citing upcoming elections.
  • Wait times for primary care: Dr. Kane noted optimal wait time is two weeks but cited a looming shortage of 100,000 health professionals by 2030 and 90,000 nurses, exacerbated by caps on government loans for medical and nursing students.
  • Decatur Township lack of primary care/OB-GYN: Dr. Kane noted Indiana faces a severe OB-GYN shortage and lauded plans for new family practice residencies at the Marion County medical college.
  • Data centers and public health: Dr. Kane outlined concerns: water consumption (~5 million gallons/day per moderate-size center, equivalent to 50,000 people), energy use potentially raising electricity bills, noise, diesel generator emissions (up to 10,000 gallons per half-hour testing), and on-site storage of 1 million gallons of diesel, posing environmental hazards. She emphasized the need to examine incentives, cost burdens, and closed-loop vs. open-loop water systems. Participants added that data centers often increase their generator count after initial approval.
  • Stop the Bleed kits: The Near Eastside Community Organization asked for funding and training sources. Dr. Kane said the Health Department's preparedness division distributes free kits and offered to connect them.
  • Food insecurity and convenience stores: Dr. Kane discussed the Fresh Bucks program (SNAP supplemental for fruits/vegetables) and the importance of healthy options at pantries. She urged against donating expired or unhealthy food.

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes or decisions were taken during this meeting.
  • Dr. Kane encouraged attendees to participate in upcoming community health improvement meetings and to use the Health Department's resources: the CHA report (available at MarionHealth.org/CHA2025.pdf), the Credible Minds mental health provider locator, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and other health services.
  • The meeting adjourned after Dr. Kane's presentation and Q&A.

Meeting Transcript

I've been here how many meetings and I couldn't remember the entire thing. But McCannna is an independent 501c3 nonpartisan alliance of neighborhood organizations and primarily concerned with broad-based neighborhood issues that do or could impact residential communities of Marion County. Founded in 1990, McCannna supports neighborhood empowerment at the grassroots level by providing information, advice, and materials to neighborhood-based organizations, assisting them with their local issues and working to lend the collective voice of the neighborhoods to those issues that may have countywide implications. All neighborhood-based organizations in Marion County and other organizations with similar missions are invited to join McCana and participate in the many issues and processes affecting neighborhoods. Membership dues per organization are only $20 per year paid on an annual basis. So that time of year is kind of been now for a while. McCannis general membership meeting is the third Sunday of every month except December from 9 to 11 a.m. at North United Methodist Church at 38th and Meridian Street. We'd also like to thank Channel 16 for recording our meetings and making them available to the public on Channel 16 and 28 to permit McCannna's efforts to reach even broader audience. We know that many neighborhoods who have contacted McCannna first learned about the organization from Channel 16 and 28 and know that Channel 16 serves as a critical research resource for people to remain engaged in and knowledgeable about what is happening in Marion County, even when they're unable to attend meetings and hearings in person, especially at 3 a.m. in the morning. If you would like to contact McCannna, you can reach us on Facebook, or you can reach McCannna's president Kathy Burton by phone at 317-847-9959 or email her at CB 7801 at AOL.com. So with that is are there any community announcements? No, I have a couple couple of broad. So at this point, the MDC will vote on the draft at on June 3rd, Wednesday, 1 p.m. There is public comment still available on the website, and that's going to close still Monday, May 18th, this Monday at 8 a.m. But you can still contact DMD with any comments that you have. Given all that, once the MDC approve, once they approve the draft, it would get submitted to the City County Council as a proposal. And the given that June 3rd, I got the council calendar, there, the first meeting where they could introduce it would be on July 6th. And then it would get assigned to the Metropolitan and Development and Economic Development Committee of the Council. And that's that meeting would be July 13th. So first domino is the MDC. So if that date holds, those would be the subsequent dates. So, but uh everyone who's interested in uh data centers really needs to look that draft over and submit your comments. I know Monday's coming up fast, but even if you can't submit them on that official website, contact DMD, because uh we need a vigorous um ordinance to protect neighborhoods and to start protecting neighborhoods. So, and the cannabis still has a moratorium for moratorium of all data centers. Yes, the um the uh any moratorium has to be initiated at DMD and the MDC. So the city council has passed a request of the MDC that they initiate a moratorium. But that's where we stand at this moment. Anything else with going on? Um, well, there are a lot of things going on that you want to talk about. But one of the hot buttons right now is this general assembly matching funds initiative that we can get into after our presentation. Okay, sounds good. Well, given that, we welcome heartily we welcome Dr. Virginia Kane from the um, she's the director of Marion County Health Department, and um she's a gem. So we we're lucky to have her as Kathy always says. Um so Dr. Kane, if you would come and tell us what's going on and the latest and greatest from our health department. Thank you. Where would you like them for me to stand? Anywhere you're comfortable. You don't need that. Oh, I don't need this. No, you don't need it at all. Okay, so then I'll have to come around. Oh, to move my slides. Okay, okay. Well, thank you so much. It's always an honor and a pleasure to uh uh come and talk to McKenna and talk to what I think is going to be a very critical issue for our community by way of every five years, the Marion County Health Department does what it's called the board-based community assessment related to what's happening in their communities and what those issues are. Let me see here.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com