Boots on the Ground Update
The Fall Campaign is in Full Swing!
Hello Boots for Indy Supporters!
Team Boots has hit the official Labor Day Launch of the fall campaign season at full speed. Here's just a taste of what and where we have been hitting the ground!
2020 Proposed Budget for Indianapolis
Mayor Hogsett presented the 2020 proposed City-County budget of $1.2 billion to the full council on August 12th. Here are the highlights:
Balanced budget- for the third year in a row
No tax increase
Protects the City's credit meetings
Pays down debt to reduce City's liabilities
Smart-sizes City-County Government
Invests in public safety, infrastructure, neighborhoods development, and economic development
Total appropriations are broken down as follows:
Criminal Justice Services -- 38%
Other Public Services -- 25%
Public Safety Initiatives -- 22%
Executive, Legislative, and Administrative Services -- 8%
Debt Service and Pension Obligations -- 7%
The anticipated total revenue by source is:
Taxes (primarily property and income) -- 64%
Inter-Governmental -- 24%
Charges for Services -- 9%
Licenses and Permits -- 1%
Fines and Forfeitures -- 1%
Other Receipts -- 1%
Some of the new initiatives include:
Public Safety
Raising starting salaries of IMPDF and IFD recruits
Food insecurity infrastructure
Homelessness
IFD Cancer Initiatives
IMPDF Body Cameras
IFD Training Facility
Criminal Justice
$1.3 million increase to community mental health centers
$977K Public Defender Agency (PDA)
Raise starting salary of PDA and prosecutors
Infrastructure and Neighborhoods Investments
$118 million for roads, resurfacing, bridges, sidewalks, and greenways
$31.5 million for Stormwater projects
$1.5 million for DPW second-shift personnel (multi-year plan to move to zone-based model)
$100K Arts Council Grant increase ($1.1 million total)
Capital and Equipment
$1 million Parks Capital
$1.6 million DPW Refuse Trucks
Special Incentives
$1 million Develop Indy (maintaining 2019 level)
2020 Presidential Election -- expanding early voting sites
Mediation Office Center under Marion County Prosecutor
In 2016 when the current administration took office, the County's Fiscal Stability Fund Balance dipped to a recent low of $78.42 million. That fund is projected to reach $82.34 million in 2020. The fiscal prudence recently shown by the City has resulted in positive credit rating upgrades:
2015CurrentStandards & PoorAAAA+ (stable outlook)Moody’sAaa- (negative outlook)Aaa (stable outlook)KrollAA+ (stable outlook)AA+ (positive outlook)
With the recent rolling 4-year improvement plan and strong financial management structure, the financial future for Indianapolis is bright! If elected, I will strive to ensure our City's finances and fiscal policies and procedures are equitable, transparent, and accountable.
Click here for a more detailed overview of the 2020 Proposed Budget.
Castleton Revitalization Update
The year-long study is entering its Strategies and Recommendations Phase III. Another meeting of the Community Stakeholders Committee was held on August 22nd. The task force is beginning to formalize their recommendations and prepare their formal report, which is due in December.
Based on the community survey and assets analysis, the top concerns indicated are Traffic/Traffic Patterns (57%), Retail Vacancies/Changing Retail Environment (40%), and Public Safety/Crime (36%). The most short-term impactful action steps from the survey included a Plan for the Empty Store Fronts (60%), Litter Clean-Up/Beautification (38%), and More Green Spaces (33%). Long term recommendations include:
Remaking 82nd Street as a "complete street" with a signature identity
Build the Nickel Plate Trail as a signature defining pedestrian element in Castleton
Improve Bash Street and Masters Road as a single through street
Extend 86th Street east across I-69 to Fall Creek Rd
Extend Knue Rd south as a single through street
Improve Howland Ditch as an important stormwater park and retention area and co-locate a trail along that easement
Creating "villages" focused on walkable, mixed-use villages in the triangle between I-465, I-69, and 86th Street, centered around Castleton Square, Howland Canal, and Nickel Plate South
These are bold and brave ideas that I fully support and will work diligently to implement over the next several years. For more details on the recommendations, and the financials tools by which some of these objectives may be pursued, I encourage you to read the latest Plan.
Click here to read the latest Castleton Plan
Glendale Redevelopment Plan Update
The Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) held a hearing on August 21st on the zoning petitioners’ (Kite and Milhaus) request for rezoning. The traffic study was submitted to the City staff and the neighbors just shortly before the hearing. Consequently, the MPC voted 7-2 to continue the hearing until September 4th to allow the surrounding neighbors an opportunity to study the traffic study and meet further with the developers.
You may review the petitioner’s Preliminary DP Plan, their proposed Statement of Modification or Termination of Covenants or Commitments, the MDC Staff’s report, and the latest developers' drawings from August 28th by clicking the appropriate link below.
Click here to read the Traffic Study
Click here to read the Preliminary DP Plan
Click here to read the Statement of Modification or Termination of Covenants or Commitments
Click here to read the MDC's Staff Report
Click here to view the latest developers' drawings
Coleman Watson Endorsement
We are very pleased to announce that Coleman Watson, Dan’s rival in the Democratic primary back in May, has thrown his full support behind Dan for the general election.
Noting Dan’s long-time presence in District 3 and his commitment to public education, economic development, and criminal justice reform, Watson urged his primary supporters to vote for Dan as City-County Councillor in District 3.
"Dan has shown that politics does not have to be a blood sport," Watson said in his endorsement letter describing Dan's overtures toward party unity. "Rather, politics can be a united enterprise to further and support common-sense values that benefit all."
We are excited to join forces with Coleman’s supporters to make NE Marion County a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
Click here to read Coleman's Endorsement Letter
Boots are on the Ground somewhere near you -- come join our cause!
We are humbled and encouraged by the growing groundswell of support our efforts are receiving. Here's just a snapshot of our recent events:
We were hosted downtown by our friends at the Frost Brown Todd law firm on July 31st
National Night Out on August 6th
Fred and Annette Biesecker, Carey Hamilton, and Mark and Karen Kryah hosted an event for us for Avalon Hills, Devonshire, and Rolling Ridge on August 14th.
Good times were had at Steinmeier Estates' Summer Blast on Aug. 25th, where I had the privilege of introducing guests Carey Hamilton and Christine Scales, including a tribute to Christine for her nearly 12 years of zealous and dogged representation of our community on the City-County Council.
On Aug. 26th, Barbara Lawrence hosted an event for Team Boots for Mendenhall Estates/Pleasant Acres near 79th and Dean Rd.
There are many upcoming events we are looking forward to. Here are a few that we're excited about:
Greg and Libby Hahn will be hosting an event for us on Sept 4th.
On Sept. 12th, Dean and Jane Burger and my fellow neighbors in Steinmeier Estates will be hosting an event supporting our team.
Friends in the Clearwater Lake area will be gathering in the home of Pam Hickman on Oct. 3rd in support of our campaign.
Planning continues for future events in Sycamore Springs, Ivy Hills, and other neighborhoods across our District 3.
We would love for you to come out and join our cause -- there is no shortage of tasks to do! To start, please visit our website, sign up to volunteer, and go like our Facebook page.
Click here to view a collection of past and future invites with special guests and hosts
In closing, I hope to earn your vote and, with YOUR support, continue sufficient financial-monitoring processes and disciplined cost-saving initiatives on behalf of our great City, and to work toward making NE Marion County an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.