Bloomington panel won’t support chain-store ban
A task force appointed by Bloomington’s mayor will instead look at other options for protecting the small-town character of the city’s downtown from standardized chain stores and eateries.
Local Government
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Ballard rolls out tougher requirements for lobbyists
Lobbyists paid $1,000 or more to sway city or county officials will be required to report all activity online.
Muncie mayor plans closing of animal shelter
Muncie’s mayor says she’s planning to close the city animal shelter because budget cuts would leave it understaffed.
Indiana house panel takes up property-tax caps
If approved by the full Legislature during the session that gets under way in earnest in January, voters would decide whether
the caps should be constitutional.
City mulls 6 proposals for use of Old City Hall
Visions for the empty historic building
range from offices to a museum. Two developers propose a boutique hotel on an adjacent parking
lot. Video bonus: Tour the landmark’s interior.
Constantino’s and City Market reach settlement
City Market has agreed to forgive Constantino’s $27,000 in unpaid rent if the meat and produce stand shuts down by Dec.
24.
IT firm receives abatement for job-growth plans
Indianapolis’ largest computer consulting firm on Wednesday received property-tax abatement relating to its plans to
create 200 high-paying jobs and invest $600,000 in new equipment.
Smoking ban bill sent back to committee
The fate of a proposal that would impose a stricter workplace smoking ban in Indianapolis remains up in the air after the
City-County Council voted Monday night to send the bill back to committee for further review.
Sponsor: ‘No way’ smoking ban would pass in current form
A proposal to strengthen Indianapolis’ workplace smoking ban is set to come before the City-County Council on Monday
night, but one of the bill’s sponsors wants to send it back to committee for more work before a final vote.
Indianapolis Sustainability Awards will honor green projects
Deadline for nominations is Dec. 15 for projects in the categories of air, energy, land, water and “reduce,
reuse, recycle.”
Advisory panel urges EPA to back plan to pay for green projects via property tax
By issuing “voluntary environmental improvement bonds,”, local and state governments could
create special taxing districts that finance homeowner purchases of everything from solar panels to rain
gardens.
Ballard set to shake up CIB with staff moves
CIB Treasurer Ann Lathrop will become board president, replacing Bob Grand at the helm of the organization that oversees the city’s professional sports stadiums and the Indiana Convention Center.
Indianapolis looks to Cleveland, Philadelphia for City Market examples
The troubled Indianapolis City Market is looking East for a new direction. This summer, its executive director, Jim Reilly,
visited Philadelphia and Cleveland to observe their successful urban markets and seek pointers that might be applied here.
Greenwood closer to annexing portions of township
A proposal to incorporate portions of White River Township into the city of Greenwood passed a major hurdle on Tuesday.
Lawrence Township exploring fire department merger
A Lawrence Township trustee is proposing to merge the township’s fire department with the Indianapolis Fire Department,
in an attempt to further reduce its operating deficit.
Mayor’s European mission focusing on motorsports industry
A delegation of business and community leaders led by Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard departed for Europe Nov. 14 on a nine-day
economic
development mission to help grow the city’s motorsports industry.
Bargersville wins annexation dispute with Greenwood
The Town of Bargersville won a legal dispute Monday that will allow it to annex 739 parcels within three miles of Greenwood’s
city limits and become the exclusive sewer-service provider in the area.
CIB may accept $27 million state loan after all
The Indianapolis Capital Improvement Board likely will accept a state loan providing $27 million over three years to help
shore up its fragile financial situation.
Sign proposed for IBJ building requires public hearing
The parent company of Indianapolis Business Journal has filed plans to add a sign with an electronic-message component outside
the newspaper’s headquarters at 41 E. Washington St.
Members of City-County Council form task force to study CIB financial problems
A new task force formed this month is charged with recommending solutions to the financial problems of the Indianapolis
Capital Improvement Board and its related convention and tourism issues.