Represents: Southwest Region
E-mail: [email protected]
Family: Married to husband, Ron, 30 years; one daughter, age 15
Day job: Architect since 1997; pharmacist since 1979
Community involvement: Former member of the plan commissions of Carmel and Hamilton County, respectively, Carmel Clay Historical Society, former co-chair of fundraising for Creekside Middle School, former Towne Meadow Elementary Parent Teach Organization member, among others
Schleif on joining the council:
While participating in numerous professional and individual endeavors, as an individual person to participation on the state level, it became clear to me running for council would be an avenue to another level of service to others. Additionally, my professional and business experiences would be a supplement in the areas of property rights, land use, fiscal responsibility and transparency. I look forward to serving as the citizens of the Southwest District and the city as a whole.
On the council’s top priorities for 2012:
A key goal for the council is the continuation of the implementation of the Southwest Clay annexation settlement agreement. Certain deadlines itemized in the agreement are approaching and require attention. Since the council is charged with being the fiscal and legislative body, but not implementation, teamwork is necessary. Because taxes from the annexation areas will increase city revenues by approximately 20 percent during the next few years, promises to our new SW residents need to be fulfilled completely and on time, as laid out in the agreement. Strong financial management will be necessary in 2012 so Carmel can continue to lead by example. In order to keep taxes low, continued review of spending and debt is necessary. Hopefully, this year, there will be full financial disclosure by the redevelopment commission regarding the work they do with the intent of revitalizing select areas of our great city.
Another area of focus for the council this year includes setting up the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission. Historic preservation commissions are valuable, long-term economic development tools that stabilize neighborhoods and increase property values for neighborhoods significant to the history of our city. They allow property owners to create rules, of their choosing, that maintain the character of their neighborhoods. Since these neighborhoods were created before homeowners associations were common, the CHPC will help fill this gap.