City-County Building ‘greening’ project to cost $8 million
City expects environmentally friendly overhaul of downtown headquarters to provide net savings of $250,000 per year.
City Government
Articles
City flush with energy-saving ideas for building
City-County Building energy-efficiency upgrades are set to be unveiled Tuesday afternoon. The nearly 50-year old landmark is the centerpiece of the city's greener-building initiative.
Indianapolis road projects aided by federal stimulus funds
The city’s Department of Public Works plans a record $88 million in transportation improvements, including road, bridge
and sidewalk projects.
Parking privatization may spur economic development
Mayor Greg Ballard’s potential lease of more than 15,000 street, surface and garage parking spaces could create turnover downtown
and in Broad Ripple, boosting retailers and restaurants.
City approval of Citizens Energy deal could come in May
Citizens Energy should have completed the majority of its due diligence of the city’s water and sewer utilities, which
it plans to acquire, by the end of this month.
Ballard mimics Major Moves infrastructure-improvement plan
So far, in discussing his plan to sell the city’s water and sewer utilities, Mayor Greg Ballard has
emphasized the impact on utility rates, the $1.5 billion in city debt Citizens would assume, and the chance
to improve streets and sidewalks. But Ballard also has another key objective: business attraction and
expansion.
City utility deal treads in murky waters
A $1.9 billion proposal to sell the city’s water and sewer utilities splashed into public view last month, but some
financial details settling at the bottom line could make the deal harder to swallow.
Retired Junior Achievement exec files defamation suit
Former Junior Achievement CEO Jeff Miller says Mayor Greg Ballard was about to hire him as a senior policy adviser, but comments
by Central Indiana Community Foundation President Brian Payne and current CEO Jennifer Burk ruined the offer.
Group rounds up business help for Census
As deadline day arrives, the Indianapolis Complete Count Committee is encouraging area companies to provide funding for local
marketing and events
designed to encourage citizens to fill out their Census forms.
Animal shelter tries to improve under new leader, tight budget
Indianapolis’ new public safety director says the city’s pound is woefully underfunded. But he also takes umbrage at critics
who call it a dirty death row for unwanted cats and dogs.
Two of Ballard’s top administrators step down
Deputy mayor, city Bond Bank director resign to take jobs in the private sector.
EDITORIAL: Citizens’ utility deal is smart move
Much work remains before the city’s water and sewer utilities are sold to Citizens Energy Group, but the general outline
of the deal makes sense and deserves support—not political posturing—as final terms are hammered out.
Official: Promised rate reduction key in $1.9B city water, sewer deal
Cost savings from combining three utilities helped give Citizens Energy Group an advantage in the deal to take over Indianapolis’
water and sewer operations, said Michael Huber, the city’s director of enterprise development.
Low-profile CIB leader embraces tough financial task
Ann
Lathrop's interactions with the Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis Colts aren't what she might have envisioned as a young
college student pursuing a career in sports medicine. Now president of the city's Capital Improvement Board, her relations
with the teams are tied to their financial conditions rather than the health of their players.
Ballard solicits business help in aid of Indy Parks
Corporate contributions, volunteerism help shore up struggling city department after recession-driven cuts reduce budget by
nearly one-fifth.
Ballard retooling city’s curbside recycling strategy
Mayor Greg Ballard plans to renegotiate the city’s trash-collection-and-processing deals, a move aimed at boosting Indianapolis’
woeful 3.5-percent curbside-recycling rate and making the city one of the best environmental stewards in the Midwest.
Officials: Weak smoking ban hurts Indianapolis’ hospitality efforts
The ongoing smoking-ban debate is getting a new spark from convention leaders trying to light a fire under
lawmakers, who have been reluctant to approve the kind of comprehensive smoking ban that
health—and now tourism—officials say is needed here.
Ballard’s high-risk IT project could save millions – or flop
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard has decided to overhaul the city’s and county’s 1970s-era financial IT systems—a move
that could cement
his reputation for improving government efficiency. But the upgrade also is fraught with risk.
City seeking proposals to privatize parking operations
Indianapolis leaders are officially seeking proposals from companies interested in running the city’s parking operations—and
possibly additional spaces managed by other government entities.
City program gives firms incentive to hire ex-offenders
A pilot project is providing jobs for 70 ex-convicts, with their $10-an-hour wages covered
by Uncle Sam for six months. City officials hope they can then transition into other jobs or receive recommendations that
help them to find other work.