If we want Indianapolis to attract and keep families, strengthen its neighborhoods and draw new employers, raising the bar for our schools must be our highest priority. The success of Indianapolis Public Schools and its students is everybody’s business: the City-County Council, the Chamber of Commerce, teachers, parents, and, most of all, students. It is clear that every single resident of Marion County has a stake in the success of IPS.

The good news is this: The community understands the critical importance of the K-12 education discussion and is taking notice of the ideas being proposed.

The council recently approved a new deputy mayor of education position and confirmed Jason Kloth for the job. The Mind Trust sparked a community conversation about improving IPS with the release of its December report, “Creating Opportunity Schools.” And IPS responded last month with its own report.

Both plans warrant discussion, and other ideas from all perspectives should also be welcomed to the table.

It’s time to really engage in a community conversation focused on what ideas will and won’t work for our city and our students. Under the leadership of President Maggie Lewis, the council is doing its part. Earlier this year the Community Affairs Committee heard the details of The Mind Trust’s plan. On May 17, we will hear the details on IPS Superintendent Eugene White’s plan in a public meeting.

Maybe you have an idea for how to improve IPS. Now is the time to speak up — and to listen. We encourage you to join us at 6 p.m. May 17 at 120 E. Walnut St. to add your voice to the discussion.

We need all voices at the table. If we don’t find solutions for IPS, our city — and all of our futures — are at risk.

John Barth

Jeff Miller

City-County Council members

Recently, Indy Parks began expanding on these traditional park activities. The city signed a 15-year contract with a company (Go Ape) to install and operate a zip line course (Go Ape will charge customers, and the city will receive only a maximum of 6% of revenue per year as payment). Now city officials are considering adding mountain biking on ECP trails.

Given the importance of ECP to our city, I believe that prior to any more expansion beyond the traditional uses of the park, a robust public engagement process should take place. That is why I have authored Proposal 172 (to be introduced to the Council on 5/14/12). The aim of the proposal is simply to seek public input on any expansion of the “traditional or historic” use of the park. Indy Parks will be required to hold a public meeting to review any proposed new use and to allow public testimony. This information will then be reported to the Parks Board to help guide decision making. It is my hope that this simple proposal to encourage more public engagement will spark an on-going discussion about the role of ECP and its value to the residents of the City of Indianapolis.

Indianapolis, April 16, 2012  - The City/County Council, by a bi-partisan majority, approved a tough new smoke-free ordinance Monday night.

The new ordinance will extend the current non-smoking rules to include bars, bowling alleys, restaurants and hotel rooms. The bipartisan ordinance was authored by Councillors Angela Mansfield and John Barth.

“We’ve talked and we’ve listened. We’ve studied and we’ve compromised. Now, we’ve taken action to protect our residents and workers and make our city more attractive to business and tourists,” said Council President Maggie Lewis.

The proposal permits smoking in private clubs if a majority of their members vote to allow it. Without an affirmative vote to allow smoking private clubs will be smoke-free.

Mayor Ballard vetoed an earlier proposal that covered private clubs, but protected children, by restricting their access to clubs that retained smoking. A recently passed state law now includes protection for children in certain, designated rooms in private clubs.

“I am pleased we have passed a common-sense proposal that will expand protections and better promote public health. I urge the Mayor’s to sign this proposal right away”, said at-large Councillor John Barth.

To the Editor:

Indianapolis Animal Care and Control faces tremendous challenges in managing the unwanted pet population. Chief among them is managing the huge volume of unwanted pets (more than 17,000 in 2011) with limited resources amid an economic downturn. Because of this volume, Animal Control has had to humanely euthanize far more animals than anyone would like, about half of the animals dropped off last year.

With limited resources, what steps can Animal Control take to reduce the level of unwanted pets dropped off at the center? How can Animal Control begin to raise revenue that can be used to promote spay and neuter options? The Animal Welfare Alliance, Animal Care and Control leadership, and members of the City-County Council have been meeting to seek answers. One of the ideas generated from these meetings recently was passed unanimously by the council and signed into law by the mayor.

The new law revises the city code to charge a $40 fee to non-Marion County residents who drop off unwanted animals at the Animal Control center (Marion County residents can still drop off for free). Animals from out-of-county residents accounted for 5 percent of drop-offs in 2011 (nearly 900 animals). In fact, the new law simply brings Indianapolis in line with the common practice of charging a “surrender fee” — just like governmental agencies do in surrounding counties. For example, Hamilton County charges a $160 fee for out-of-county drop-offs, and many counties refuse to accept out-of-county animals altogether.

Our hope is that this new fee for out-of-county residents will reduce the volume of animals dropped off at the center and raise revenue, with all proceeds required to be spent on spay and neuter activities. While we are glad this proposal is now law, there is much more to do to ensure that Indianapolis has an Animal Care and Control we can all be proud.

John Aleshire

CEO, Humane Society !of Indianapolis

John Barth

Member, Indianapolis City-County Council

Amber Myers

Chief, Indianapolis Animal Care and Control

Indianapolis – With the State’s announcement that Indiana counties have been underfunded through tax payments, the City-County Council is urging the Mayor and City Controller to use a portion of those unexpected additional funds to address the public safety shortfalls in the Department of Public Safety and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.  On Thursday, April 5, 2012, the State made a public announcement of previous underfunding in tax distributions to Indiana counties, which will result in an additional distribution of funds to Marion County of $17.7 million for 2011 and $23.6 million for 2012.  While the Mayor has issued a press release stating that he intends to put those additional funds into reserve for future budget challenges in 2013, Council leaders feel a portion of those monies should be used now to address funding gaps in public safety, before those gaps become unmanageable and public safety for citizens is thereby threatened.
“Public safety is a critical function of local government, and the safety of our citizens has to be our top priority.  The additional distribution provided by the State is a perfect opportunity to close the funding gap and keep our citizens safe,“ stated Council President Maggie Lewis.

Recent meetings of the Council’s Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee revealed budget shortfalls in various public safety departments and agencies, causing Council leaders to call for a special hearing.  Efforts continue to find solutions to funding critical public safety services for the citizens of Indianapolis.