Critics of parking proposal question $500,000 penalty
City leaders argue the termination fee would be paid only if the city breaks the 50-year agreement after the City-County Council signs off on the deal, not if the contract doesn’t win approval.
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Dolce hotel, YMCA part of city-funded ‘North of South’ development
The city plans to issue bonds and use tax-increment financing to fund the $150M project, which also will include 320 high-end apartments and 40,000 square feet of retail space. Construction should begin this year.
Democrats charge conflict in parking meter deal
A city lobbyist who also is registered to lobby for Affiliated Computer Services Inc., which was chosen to receive a 50-year lease deal to manage meter operations, says he was not involved in the deal.
City finance chief to leave post for state role
City Controller David Reynolds, who started with the city when Mayor Greg Ballard took office in January 2008, has accepted a job as senior fiscal analyst for the Indiana Senate’s Republican majority caucus.
Downtown merchants want parking plan revoked
About 80 downtown business owners and employees have signed a petition urging Republican Mayor Greg Ballard’s administration to nix major plans to revamp metered parking in Indianapolis.
City parking agreement to receive first scrutiny
Indianapolis’ Department of Public Works Board and its City-County Council Rules and Public Policy Committee both will meet
on Monday to consider the long-term deal. It would need approval from the City-County Council before taking effect.
City vendor may get $1.2B from parking-privatization deal
The pitch from Mayor Greg Ballard’s administration to privatize the city’s parking meters is compelling, but the proposal
to sell the meters to Dallas-based Affiliated Computer Services Inc. has the city giving up more in the long run than is immediately
apparent.
Arts funding maintained in proposed city budget
Funding for city arts programs is expected to remain at $1 million in 2011, even as the mayor’s budget plan calls for cutting
$22
million in local spending. Funding for the parks department also should remain flat, at $21.1 million.
City chooses firm to oversee parking-meter operations
The city has entered into a 50-year lease agreement with Dallas-based Affiliated Computer Services Inc. The
city will receive $35 million upfront and a share of revenue to make sidewalk and street repairs. Parking meter rates are
expected
to double in some areas.
City lands $13.8M more than expected from water deal
The city's AAA bond rating boosts proceeds to $153.8 million. It originally expected $140 million for street, bridge and
sidewalk projects.
Bank On Indy initiative nearing first-year goal
Program that aims to reach local population without bank accounts so far has helped more than 7,500 people open an account.
EDITORIAL: Raising parking fees is wise step
It isn’t difficult to grasp the reasoning behind Mayor Greg Ballard’s proposal to privatize the city’s
parking operations.
Parking rates could double under city plan
City leaders expect to select a manager to oversee parking operations within the next week.
Property shuffle aims to connect police, fire services with neighborhoods
The city plans to open police-and-fire hubs in two former IPS schools, retrofit
an Eastgate mall department store into an Emergency Operations Center, and build at least two fire stations.
Seven cab companies denied licenses
The city of Indianapolis’ Department of Code Enforcement rejected the applications largely because the companies didn’t have
a dispatch facility or didn’t have employees to staff a facility.
Ballard takes aim at vacant homes
If Mayor Greg Ballard successfully closes the $1.9 billion sale of the city’s water and sewer utilities to Citizens Energy,
some of the proceeds will be used to bulldoze or rehabilitate 2,000 to 4,500 abandoned, unsafe homes during the next two years.
Brizzi hires ex-partner to handle public records requests
Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi has hired his former legal partner and personal attorney to field public records requests.
Locally based Collignon & Dietrick PC is responsible for review and production of Prosecutor’s Office e-mails, contracts,
case files and other documents requested by members of the media or public.
Indianapolis launches three Web business tools
The sites offer insight into government contracts and other business activities of local government.
EDITORIAL: Deal for Pacers is worth making
Conseco Fieldhouse does not belong to the Pacers, but to the city. And we need the Indiana Pacers.
Bond swaps cost city units $93M in penalties
Wall Street bankers for decades sold municipalities like Indianapolis on debt instruments called swaps as a safe way to reduce
borrowing costs and hedge against rising interest rates. In reality, the swaps were complicated bets that relied
on misguided assumptions, and taxpayers paid.