[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6275688,"mediaKeyId","2768974-6d096fc7633f120e1043f03491684d36","parentId",2768974,"title","Commission urges clearer asset ownership for EV chargers, proposes department workshop and ordinance research","audioSeconds",1681,"startMs",1535000,"endMs",3216000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2768974-6d096fc7633f120e1043f03491684d36&start=1535&end=3216","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2768974-6d096fc7633f120e1043f03491684d36/thumbnail_1535000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6275688/La-Porte-City/LaPorte-County/Indiana/Commission-urges-clearer-asset-ownership-for-EV-chargers-proposes-department-workshop-and-ordinance-research","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275688-31b3ba44f22ed675cd0680fa1b8e6531/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191887&Signature=VySexIn1tF92-8LO7mU850SKjMDwmO4abTL5DKvGPLOK3vky5fnAQCOepED-4LUE4iBqTgzGoKLykopg5ZE5DcpusEmRJhkT9Ulhkf3EvOtJm~U4UxiecUNtpTwlwJLJmLnkVNgvxrgvugI~l~jpzVhZSDqIw4f6N~HYm0eU536S1DG99B78EiMrFIrhopyBVoD0S425Y4fIJI-~nJrFWWGReZZOQ73evtrrYcUgHdq-ACnkJ1K7NcQVhSus3tf~uDMO~EbJgLeIH0ORTZDMUUn9BeejxCLy4m-NlK~pO-zIIRJlofR-mhcZW3JTyjpxGn1sjp1jZxZMnSkM4f5sQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of La Porte IN","date","2025-03-26T04:16:20.55Z","article","La Porte City’s Sustainability Commission discussed electric vehicle charging stations and a broader asset-management push, urging clearer departmental ownership of city assets and preliminary drafting of charging-station requirements for new developments.

Commission members said the city owns about five or six public chargers installed under a previous regional program; those units are ChargePoint hardware but “they’re not connected to ChargePoint’s network,” the commission noted, and many chargers are unmaintained or damaged. A speaker estimated typical public charger maintenance runs about $400 per charger per year; another staff member suggested $500 as a planning figure when deferred maintenance exists.

Commissioners identified existing charging locations including the Civic Auditorium, Fox Park, the water plant on Lake Street and the 618 Plaza at Monroe and Lincoln Way. They said some chargers were installed temporarily (one unit in front of the water plant was installed while another site was pending) and that equipment reliability is uneven; one commissioner said the screen on the water-plant unit appeared inoperable.

Discussion shifted to asset management across city departments. Commissioners said many city-owned assets—street planters, lighting, and some chargers—are “asset-management orphans” with no single department owner. Tucker King and other commissioners recommended a formal owner-identification process so the city can budget and schedule regular maintenance rather than respond reactively.

The commission proposed a workshop of department heads to inventory sustainability-related assets and identify ownership. Commissioners suggested holding that meeting midyear (targeting June) and recommended inviting water, wastewater, parks, streets, engineering, planning and development, code enforcement, police, and fire.

On policy, a commission member asked Tucker King to meet with City Planner Nick Minnick to draft a reasonable mandate for charging-station installation in future private developments (for example, specifying charging when a site has a threshold number of parking stalls). King agreed to open that conversation. Commissioners also raised enforcement and signage issues after an incident in which a resident used a public charger to top up home battery packs; commissioners suggested code language or traffic-code signage to restrict non-vehicle use of chargers.

Commissioners discussed options for procurement and operations: continuing city ownership with periodic maintenance contracts, partnering with private providers, or relying on developers to install and maintain chargers in new projects. They noted there are multiple technical and contractual models and that any mandate would require zoning review and coordination with planning staff.

No formal ordinance was created at the meeting; commissioners agreed to research current zoning language, consult planning staff, inventory orphaned assets, and return with recommendations for ownership assignments and possible ordinance language.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commission on Sustainability - 03/25/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners discussed ageing and lightly maintained public EV chargers, lack of clear ownership and network connections for ChargePoint units, estimated maintenance costs, and proposed a department-wide asset-management workshop and drafting of potential zoning/ordinance language for charging infrastructure.","taxTitle","La Porte City, LaPorte County, Indiana","taxId",70496,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6275693,"La Porte sustainability commission details tree-planting plan, schedules Arbor Day dedication",2916,509000,3425000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2768974-6d096fc7633f120e1043f03491684d36&start=509&end=3425","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2768974-6d096fc7633f120e1043f03491684d36/thumbnail_509000.jpg","/articles/6275693/La-Porte-City/LaPorte-County/Indiana/La-Porte-sustainability-commission-details-tree-planting-plan-schedules-Arbor-Day-dedication","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275693-70fdf2e6a88c97a0db821d83fbfb78a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191888&Signature=W3VbfQQz958dlqIm0u9feM56e-9F4U3l~~MGfftxGBjrWH-XAs6mjUqLtjRoVMjkNDo~TR7owc~Zkl-mTAVnJoZw1dTBPyaLh9zhqdxzWVHI1FZFzUMeafyoU8sYOUTzd29ZPCia9Y0HDTdUiH1NbxbGnhf8Q7lfMloGYBG0GmvT0vs~GpoErcJo2dXp29oPcay38q2liS~hubD3QSkF7ccH8Jxv4Vbo3qH2mzuQ3iBke4YSrL0lr3Y2v7eWH6XbhhvFDC69vK6AfHFGgV~aleG0ZQPUX-OtxVXyQqeDqjpMBrshzS9ohOk-RgaXnvA~tn1wUdkUJDFhK6f-gvW5UA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","La Porte City’s Sustainability Commission reported progress on a federally funded tree-planting grant and outlined plans for an Arbor Day/Earth Day dedication and public cleanup.

The grant-backed planting will begin within the next month, and “80 to 85,” Tucker King said, are already slotted for the spring cycle. King said the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) sidewalk program will remove about 50 trees and that program’s 2:1 replacement requirement will add roughly 100 more plantings over time. In total, King estimated the two programs could yield about 100–150 new trees across the city.

The city is partnering with Dogwood Hills Tree Farm (Middlebury) as the planting contractor. King said the city’s contract with the vendor includes a warranty: “any trees that die within that first year will be replaced.” He also said the street and water departments are coordinating a watering and mulching program; trees placed in the public right-of-way will remain city property and be maintained by the city.

Commissioners described a Rotary Club donation to be used as a local match for additional plantings. The commission discussed routing flowering trees along the Clear Lake Loop and the Chessie Trail and said the Rotary funds are intended to extend plantings from Truesdale into Fox Park and along trail connectors. Tucker King said Rotary contributed about $12,500 as a match.

Commissioners said they will notify residents in advance when a tree is planned in the tree lawn adjacent to private property; a letter will be sent to households whose yards are scheduled to receive plantings so residents may opt out. King also said the commission plans to update the city’s tree-request form so residents outside the current grant-targeted census tracts may register interest for future plantings. The commission has established a local tree-donation fund to allow planting outside the grant’s targeted tracts when local partners offer matching dollars.

For outreach and celebration, the commission confirmed an Arbor Day/Earth Day event with a morning cleanup followed by a dedication to the Rotary at Fox Park Amphitheater. At the meeting’s announcement the commission scheduled the event for April 25 with cleanup beginning at 9 a.m.; commissioners also discussed ribbon-cutting or dedication activity timed with Arbor Day observances.

Organizers said some details remain to be finalized: confirmation of use of the Arts in the Park building for food service and final planting lists are pending. The commission said it will email the list of residents receiving trees and will coordinate communications with the parks department and library for event programming.

Tucker King and city staff said the scope of the grant focuses planting in three census tracts identified for environmental need; homeowners outside those tracts are unlikely to receive a tree from this round but could in the future through the donation fund or a request form.

The commission will continue working on outreach, planting logistics and the fall planting schedule, which will include any trees deferred from the spring cycle.","Commissioners reported an ongoing tree-planting grant, a Rotary-funded local match to extend plantings along trail corridors, a one-year warranty on new trees, and plans for an Arbor Day/Earth Day cleanup and dedication at Fox Park.","actionData","errors"]

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Commission urges clearer asset ownership for EV chargers, proposes department workshop and ordinance research

La Porte sustainability commission details tree-planting plan, schedules Arbor Day dedication