The Carmel City Council met Feb. 6 to discuss requirements for pet owners, approve the Clay Corner Planned Unit Development and more.
- The Clay Corner Planned Unit Development passed 8-1 with new Councilor Tony Green, who represents the area were the development is, voting against it. The project at W. Main Street and Clay Center Road would include 76 lot on 34.5 acres, which some have said is too dense.
- The Carmel City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to require pet owners to get their dogs and cats spayed or neutered within six months, unless they obtain a breeder’s permit from the Carmel Police Dept. This is because Hamilton County will no longer enforce its mandatory spay/neuter ordinance within Carmel city limits. Some amendments were made to the original ordinance such as saying a permit is needed for each animal and no more than two litters per animal.
- The Carmel City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that creates a 60-day waiting period for a demolition permit if the structure that is to be demolished has been designated as an “outstanding,” “contributing” or “notable” structure by the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission’s Historic Architecture Survey. Director of Community Services Mike Hollibaugh said there are 500 potential sites but only a handful could potentially be “in harms way” of future development. Mark Dollase, of Indiana Landmarks, said it’s not likely that many properties could be relocated, but the extra time could be used to look for other options or lead to someone else buying it. Some were concerned that 60 days would unnecessarily delay construction, but others point to projects such as a recently demolished historic house. “I think moderate delay is fine if it’s truly significant and unique,” Brainard said.
- Carmel Redevelopment Commission gave an update. It will be working on expanding the offices of The Palladium and have opened bids for the acquisition of the former Arby’s site at Range Line and Carmel Drive. The only bidder so far is Anderson Birkla, which is developing the former Party Time Rental site immediately to the north of where Arby’s once stood.
- The Carmel City Council introduced and tabled a proposal to transfer appropriations to fund Comprehensive Annual Financial Report-related expenditures from the Clerk Treasurer’s Office to the Mayor’s Office. This comes after the council previously unanimously decided to create an audit committee to oversee all city audits. The committee was created after some on the council said Clerk-Treasurer Christine Pauley was taking too long on the audit.
“With the audit committee in place, we felt it was appropriate for the dollars to follow the committee,” councilor Ron Carter said.
The ordinance introduced on Feb. 6 would transfer responsibilities for the audit plus $106,500 in related expenses to the Mayor’s Office. Linda J. Harvey, chief deputy clerk of operations in the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office, said their office would have a budget problem if they money was moved because additional money is needed to pay for an internal assets audit. Some councilors wanted to vote on this ordinance at the meeting and then later propose an additional appropriation for the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office if needed, but that motion died and it was tabled instead.
