Friday, February 5, 2021

News from the Carmel City Council

At the February 1 City Council meeting, Council President Sue Finkam presented past Council president Laura Campbell (pictured below on left) with a plaque commemorating her service to council. Council President Finkam and others noted Campbell's strong leadership under the pressures and unique challenges of the COVID pandemic.

Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation Director Michael Klitzing (left) and Leon Younger representing the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration (right) presented Mayor Jim Brainard and the Carmel City Council with the Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management to hang in council chambers at City Hall. The Parks Department received the award late last year.

Also pictured top row, left to right: Councilors Tim Hannon, Jeff Worrell, Sue Finkam, Adam Aasen, Kevin Rider, Laura Campbell, Tony Green

News from the Carmel Police Department

The Carmel Police Department employees attended the "Enterrupting Racism Now"(ERN) workshop by The Soul Focused Group during the week of January 25. Anuar Velazquez, Dustin Washington and Albert Gay (pictured below) presented about the origins of race and racism in the United States and the impact those decisions have had throughout history and today. They also led discussions about interrupting negative effects of socialization related to racism, and the importance of healing and building human solidarity. Thank you, Soul Focused Group, for your knowledge, passion and guidance.

Left to right: Lieutenant Tim Byrne, Anuar Velazquez, Dustin Washington, Albert Gay, Officer James Grose

SAVE the DATE!

The second Saturday of the month means it's time for Meet Me on Main in the Carmel Arts & Design District! Click on the image below for more information. When visiting Main Street and the District, please don't forget to wear a mask and observe physical distancing. Let's continue to keep our merchants and community safe while having fun!

New survey on Carmel's use of 'TIF'

City, Community Data Platforms, seeking opinions from broad sample of local residents regarding redevelopment projects

A new comprehensive community survey was launched on January 26 as part of a new study on the City of Carmel’s historic use of Tax Increment Financing to pay for several high-profile redevelopment projects that City leaders feel have become magnets for economic growth and private investment. This new study, being conducted by Community Data Platforms, seeks to provide data to determine if decisions made over the past few decades on projects such as the Palladium, Center for the Performing Arts, Midtown Plaza and other notable redevelopment efforts have produced a good return on investment.

What does Carmel offer that made you want to live here … and to stay here?
What would you change or add if you could?
How well do you understand TIF … and do you support it as a tool for growth?

These are just a few of the topics covered in the survey, which takes about 15 minutes to complete online. Participation in the survey is completely voluntary and all responses will be kept confidential. No personally identifiable information will be associated with your responses in any reports of this data.

To take the survey, click on this link.

City of Carmel snow removal

With more snow in the forecast, the City of Carmel would like to remind all residents, property owners and business owners that it’s important to keep your sidewalks clear of snow and ice. Carmel is a city that embraces a spirit of walkability – whether that is for a walk to school, the grocery store or just to get out and exercise during these frigid winter months.

Help us continue this tradition of keeping our community walkable, no matter what the weather holds. Please shovel your sidewalks or arrange for others to help, so that your friends and neighbors can continue to make their way – safely – around the City.

Many residents may not realize that the City is responsible for plowing the streets and our many trails and pathways, but it is the responsibility of residential property owners to clear their own sidewalks of all snow and ice after within 72 hours of a major snowfall. If you own a business, the timeline is by noon the day after the snow event.

Paths that are located along City roadways are cleared by the Carmel Street Department as soon as possible after City streets are cleared. In most cases, they are cleared along with the adjacent section of roadway. It should be noted that the Street Department does not clear trails outside of normal business hours and depending on the depth of snow, it may take up to 2-3 days to clear the paths. Additionally, in some areas, trails are not cleared on both sides of the roadway.

Trails and greenways are cleared by the Carmel Clay Parks Department, which begins clearing operations shortly after the end of the snowfall. Trails in Carmel are cleared but are not salted. No salt is used due to the threat of killing vegetation along the trails, causing injury to the paws of our pets and the potential damage to the asphalt.

Questions regarding snow removal on sidewalks can be directed to Building Code and Services. Building and Code Services can be reached at 317-571-2475.

Winter Bike to Work day...brrr

International Winter Bike to Work Day is February 12. If you are working outside of your home and commuting to work, consider riding your bicycle. If you're working from home, go out for a ride around the neighborhood. Over the next week, be sure to check Bike Carmel's Facebook page for tips to ride in the cold winter weather.

Blood drives that save lives: Synergize and Versiti partner in Carmel

In 2020, Synergize, the Carmel-based professional group, raised $35,000 for charity. This year, they’ve decided to donate 200 units of blood to those in need, on top of this year’s philanthropic goal of $60,000.

The Synergize community is teaming up with Versiti to hold four blood drives. The drives will coincide with four of Synergize’s monthly 4:30 p.m. Meetup events.

The first of Synergize’s blood drives is on February 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. They encourage not only Synergize members, but the entire community, to be a part of their life-saving impact.

Read more information here.

Please click on the image below for a message from our partners at Carmel Clay Schools regarding COVID-19 protocols.

Carmel Swim Club breaking ground on new pool this spring

The Carmel Swim Club (CSC) will break ground on a new facility, the Carmel Swim Academy this spring located in the heart of Carmel, adjacent to the existing Carmel Total Fitness gym. The new pool will provide critical space to expand Carmel Swim Club’s non-competitive programs in an effort to more fully live out the organization’s mission, “teaching excellence through swimming, for life.” Carmel Swim Academy will have a six-lane, 25-yard pool, and will include an adjacent zero-entry area for easy access and optimum instruction for the youngest swimmers. Carmel Swim Academy will provide space for CSC’s existing group swimming lesson program to expand, as well as offer new community programs, including adaptive and inclusive swim lessons, classes for infants and parents, lap swimming and fitness classes for adults.

“The Carmel Swim Academy represents a critical step forward in meeting the CSC mission and will provide life-saving programming for children in and around Carmel,” Carmel Swim Club Head Coach and CEO Chris Plumb said. “We are thrilled to share our incomparable experience, expertise and commitment to healthy activity for the benefit of our entire community. The legacy of the Carmel Swim Club and Carmel High School Swim Teams provide us with an outstanding platform to ensure children are safer in the water and adults can engage in exercise in a location that is convenient and accessible.”

For the complete news release, click here.

This week at City Hall...

Upcoming Public Meetings

Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee - Wednesday, February 10, 5 p.m.

How to Watch Public Meetings Virtually

City of Carmel government meetings will continue to be available in real time in a number of ways. Public meetings will be broadcast live on the City's website as well as local access television. Here are the ways to watch Public Meetings on CarmelTV:

Cable Providers:
AT&T Cable Channel 99
Digital Channel 64.45
Metronet 33
Spectrum Cable C. 340

Streaming Devices:
carmel.in.gov - click on the CarmelTV icon at the bottom of the page
Facebook.com/CityofCarmel - click 'Follow' for notification settings
YouTube.com/CityofCarmel - click 'Subscribe', then click the bell image for notification settings

To view archived Government Meetings with Closed Captioning visit the City's video archives.

Select your meeting and once the video window opens on your computer screen or phone, select the CC box on the bottom right hand corner next to settings.

Spring Construction Schedule

The 2021 Spring construction schedule is now available. Please remember that this schedule is subject to change. For more information you can go to the Carmel Link 2.0 website or contact the City's Engineering Department.

Did you know?

ATTENTION Indiana residents, you can register for the COVID-19 vaccine at ANY location in the state of Indiana. You are NOT limited to the county of your residence. Register online at www.ourshot.in.gov.

Carmel Cares is a community partnership with Carmel Clay Schools, Carmel Clay Parks Department, Carmel Clay Public Library, Good Day Carmel, the Carmel Police and Fire Departments, Center for the Performing Arts, and others.

Follow #CarmelCares on Facebook
Twitter: @CarmelCaresIN
Instagram: @carmelcaresin

And don't forget to buy your Carmel merch! Visit AllThingsCarmel.com for great t-shirts ($5 from every purchase goes towards post-COVID relief).

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