[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6250721,"mediaKeyId","3199174-219425685ab8df1b2bb0316603216d77","parentId",3199174,"title","Mayor proposes new nonprofit to centralize city events as council considers governance reform ordinance","audioSeconds",3726,"startMs",3664000,"endMs",7390000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3199174-219425685ab8df1b2bb0316603216d77&start=3664&end=7390","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3199174-219425685ab8df1b2bb0316603216d77/thumbnail_3664000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6250721/Carmel/Hamilton-County/Indiana/Mayor-proposes-new-nonprofit-to-centralize-city-events-as-council-considers-governance-reform-ordinance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250721-284ecccfb178a54016d17cbdcf95a6b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440155&Signature=aYfG3jfU9~oKzV~-A8zBOEFaWdSyWA215tMWdRa0D36E3WH9w-a5EcNSFPU9jsjXq2P9ClOfViIxqK2sBJo-uSSTCgeUqdd4QSVsMtGCV1-NENrCF-2BBEyxvwXfesDLdVPvXmtaZo4nx72QEZKCiCLVbiHdfEwHohNheEk6tuEz~k7Em2YMRk4f32H28L3OYv1~a4e3lhq~tHnFbCIrg5tPaD1-6j9xMYtlBotDoG7MdztajLKEL7u52tEkE~LGjzVHHDXvngxPdxzu2JUEuZhLfFOB18Doue738cOp8hVUyEB8OZWkhlbVtcL3fSTUVz42qspRovOAJYuCrrO~6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Carmel IN","date","2025-05-06T15:23:09.71Z","article","Mayor Finkham proposed creating a new independent nonprofit, described during council remarks on May 5 as \"Experience Carmel,\" that would centralize management of public events, philanthropic relationships and city-owned public spaces.

The mayor said the new organization would have co-equal governance representing both the legislative and executive branches and could manage public-space operations, arts grants and shared staff to realize operational efficiencies. The proposal was presented as a forward-looking alternative to ad-hoc affiliate management and was introduced in the mayor’s comments; no ordinance creating the nonprofit was presented for a vote at the meeting.

Separately, the council added an ordinance to the meeting agenda on May 5 that would adopt requirements for nonprofit organizations that receive city support. Corporation Counsel and staff said the draft ordinance (added as an agenda add-on) would require at least one council-appointed member on the governing body of each qualifying affiliate, require mayoral appointees to be approved by the council, and set annual budget-review obligations for affiliated entities that receive public funds or in-kind support. The ordinance’s supporters said the rule would tie the governance change to receipt of public support and would apply to a defined class of \"affiliated entities;\" attorneys noted the council should examine whether the proposal conflicts with state law and suggested additional review.

Councilors agreed to send the draft ordinance to the Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee for more review. Corporation Counsel told the council her office had received the text late in the afternoon and said at first glance it raised “concerns” that warranted a legal review; she asked staff time to check for possible conflicts with state statute. Councilors also asked staff for a comprehensive list of all nonprofit affiliates that receive city support so committees can identify which organizations would be affected.

Supporters of stronger oversight said the measure would create clearer accountability and improve transparency after the recent affiliate-review process and the Christkindlmarkt dispute. Opponents and some counsel staff urged caution and additional legal review; they noted the difference between standard grant payments and formal affiliate relationships that include city appointees and long-term operating agreements.

The ordinance would also require that organizations receiving grants follow a council-established grant process; the draft language provides a carve-out so widely supported community groups (for example, volunteer-led organizations that receive occasional sponsorships) would not be reclassified as affiliated entities. Councilors asked for clarifications on thresholds, which draft language sets at $25,000 per year for an organization to be considered an \"affiliate.\" The item was referred to committee for further drafting, legal review and stakeholder outreach.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Carmel City Council - May 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Finkham outlined a plan to form a new nonprofit, \"Experience Carmel,\" to coordinate city events and public-space management; the council added and referred to committee a separate ordinance that would require council-appointed representatives and annual budget reviews for nonprofits that receive city support.","taxTitle","Carmel, Hamilton County, Indiana","taxId",3929,"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},6250726,"Carmel council votes to open full investigation after months of Christkindlmarkt controversy",3148,1832000,4980000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3199174-219425685ab8df1b2bb0316603216d77&start=1832&end=4980","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3199174-219425685ab8df1b2bb0316603216d77/thumbnail_1832000.jpg","/articles/6250726/Carmel/Hamilton-County/Indiana/Carmel-council-votes-to-open-full-investigation-after-months-of-Christkindlmarkt-controversy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250726-8d9f503d33f5e2b89c1eb90cfca5f8ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440155&Signature=Zev2E8hMCAOamDYaZHZSCQ33KTB44MisgZdgTWQwDjJzVxiZW72jnHe78X2LODdOSjf7CiI~CGYt9Nhi82JurkS2iB89GEEMjT2qvpPMINDfcxlBvT~h8H3HddxzfIIQ2LiLsH2Y6Tml0cseC~PqwGUoLwGU2ZO5EOoBUEdClqpZOD271SYcWnamZ-DxEOwFs5d~AklSGmv8DTsEhRJb56JUTffwDoIOcrvwwzRs5LpeGE1og-6-sZzGS9MVnXZRggTeK26a06WjTQ5JLJrrTUNxEDppDykuUS7~qziEAmk6sGBo8pYtqWICYXvCkq0wHq7wvEH4ujAAnvML5aaxUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Carmel Common Council voted 8-0 on May 5 to establish a committee of the whole to investigate actions taken by representatives, contractors and the Carmel Christkindlmarkt (CCI) board as they relate to the market.

The vote came after more than two hours of public comment from residents, former market leaders and vendors who described resignations, community backlash and concerns about governance and transparency. Former CCI CEO Maria Adela Rosenfeld read her resignation letter during public comment and said she had been excluded from board decisions and from the operating agreement negotiations. Multiple residents, including Sandy Richardson and Bob Carlson, urged a thorough review and expressed concern about the effects of recent events on the market’s cultural authenticity and vendor relationships.

The council’s investigation motion, presented by Councilor Rob Worrell, asked that the council follow state statute and local rules to form a committee of the whole to examine actions taken by city representatives and the CCI board. Councilors debated scope and process for nearly two hours before passing the motion. Several councilors and the mayor said they want a transparent, final document to guide healing and policy changes; others warned that a narrow, impartial process will be required to avoid politicizing the review.

Councilor Ryan Locke, chair of the affiliate review committee, summarized the review work already completed by the affiliate review group and said the public input received during those meetings informed additional recommendations; he said the committee remains open to public comment. Mayor Finkham described the larger challenge of aligning city resources with nonprofit affiliates and proposed a separate nonprofit vehicle to coordinate events and philanthropy, an idea that generated immediate discussion but no council action.

Earlier public-comment testimony described impacts the controversy has had on vendors, artisans and volunteers; speakers said contractors and sponsors were hesitant to re-engage and that German artisans had stayed away after leadership changes. Speakers also urged procedural fairness and better checks and balances on city-affiliate relationships.

The council did not direct a specific outside investigator or law firm at the meeting; councilors debated whether a single external investigator or a multi-person panel is the best approach and reserved decisions about hiring and scope for future committee actions. The committee-of-the-whole formation means all councilors will participate in the investigation process, and the council voted to begin that process immediately.

Councilors repeatedly emphasized they intend the investigation to produce an executive summary that the community will accept as the factual basis for policy changes and for “healing” the market. The council and mayor also discussed parallel work on nonprofit oversight and potential structural changes to how the city supports and governs affiliated nonprofits.

The investigation vote follows weeks of open affiliate-review sessions and public testimony and signals the council’s intent to produce a formal record beyond the affiliate review committee’s earlier briefing sessions.

The council chair recessed the meeting briefly after the vote; further procedural steps for the investigation (scope, chair, contracting) will be decided in subsequent sessions.

","After weeks of public comment and meetings by the affiliate review committee, the Carmel Common Council voted to form a committee-of-the-whole investigation into decisions and actions around the Carmel Christkindlmarkt and related affiliate oversight. The council also heard extended public testimony from former market leaders and residents.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6250712,"Council forwards group-home zoning changes to Plan Commission after committee review",510,9110000,9620000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3199174-219425685ab8df1b2bb0316603216d77&start=9110&end=9620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3199174-219425685ab8df1b2bb0316603216d77/thumbnail_9110000.jpg","/articles/6250712/Carmel/Hamilton-County/Indiana/Council-forwards-group-home-zoning-changes-to-Plan-Commission-after-committee-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250712-c55bb3557386564a04c2113327c32351/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440155&Signature=J99IM8d2qbUcXXPTpw9aHq~XxHEaivXL7OyhtVymdCtkLh7un5jZ3lqOCZyiY7wBg76iL-ojoClW3DzZyg8PHyafJTsShQ-6RDbOxHqoItM5LFd4YMlVKj91DpbHb7Rih~dj3U6bab~cNSIqmK2y9j2UIe-7xgu297xYZVCRZ5cOUyfsvgG95C8hXivvMgmw2~m8XJRZoNOzjLVdLyhgIi5VNEP2x2mBsxYASQ5o6zL6CPkmpEa2krPQEV-JGNgaOxYbTFwoenryEAreu8svW3YOhZXqJ92jttLpJa~PABSQjeUZoExYtJuUk3UIjVin0tbmzhCR-BtvdKAaVoK~JA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council voted to send an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that changes how group homes and certain special exceptions are reviewed and renewed.

City attorneys and staff summarized committee edits adopted in the Land Use and Special Studies Committee. Key changes in the proposed UDO text include reinstating licensure requirements for some group homes (licensure by the Indiana Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services for homes serving persons with developmental disabilities and by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction for homes serving persons with psychiatric disorders); capping group-home occupancy at eight unrelated residents in certain residential districts; and removing a hard 300-foot spacing requirement and instead making separation one of several considerations for the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) due to fair-housing concerns.

The amendment also moves renewals for group homes to the full BZA (rather than a hearing officer) and sets renewal minimum terms in five-year increments (with a maximum term up to 20 years). Short-term rentals and non-dwelling short-term rentals retain renewal review by a hearing officer, per the committee’s recommendations. Staff added clarifying sections on building classification, referencing guidance from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) on building and fire-class requirements.

Council members said the changes balance concerns about neighborhood fit, public safety and legal compliance with federal fair-housing and ADA requirements. Sergei (city planning/legal staff) told the chamber the proposed amendments are largely housekeeping and procedural clarifications derived from committee review; the ordinance will be transmitted to the Carmel Plan Commission for public hearing under the statutory text-amendment process.

Councilors approved the resolution to send the text to Plan Commission by unanimous vote (7-0). The plan commission hearing and its recommendation will return to the Council for final action.

","The council approved a resolution sending Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) amendments on group homes and related ADLS/development-plan processes to the Carmel Plan Commission for public hearing and recommendation. The ordinance would add licensure requirements, change renewal and approval processes and remove a rigid 300-foot separation rule.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6250716,"Council hears North End Phase 2 TIF bond introduction; developers cite permanent affordable units and park amenities",1070,5824000,6894000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3199174-219425685ab8df1b2bb0316603216d77&start=5824&end=6894","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3199174-219425685ab8df1b2bb0316603216d77/thumbnail_5824000.jpg","/articles/6250716/Carmel/Hamilton-County/Indiana/Council-hears-North-End-Phase-2-TIF-bond-introduction-developers-cite-permanent-affordable-units-and-park-amenities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250716-fa71b0ba11b6d59bbd592db269151544/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440155&Signature=hszA89IZ7PLJTEd1YTaJKMYsLYUCmhKLyNqFaImVeeL~YQcI8m73OL6U2cYTizipezgJYgGDZIK9kYP67-Na3FP906caMgB2AndbUyzgn5Mc5VwmQZ7VDcDAF19U8hLYzhZWVOskfoJZAZLVx1ngG0t4453-6ON13~FlAgmH7IGFLHu3tNGXDnj8PPkg6H1j4xgI4OQh4rxlrT2cZB7v76nq4vcrWt6cZ~al71yE5GaQKRrNh8Tow-lRdqN-6MqqDXhSvcS09S84WRCqEcMRNEwVJiUhvwOf9mB8RAyfrZdJwpZfEFlUqiSBQLN1g1yfo-7rY0NqbzUSWNz72TTNdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council received an introduction on May 5 for an ordinance that would authorize economic-development tax-increment-financing (TIF) revenue bonds to support North End Phase 2, a mixed-use project adjoining the Monon Trail.

Old Town representatives and redevelopment staff presented the project's goals: add at least 72 additional housing units (including a planned Viva Bene 55+ community), expand the Monon Trail connection, build an urban farm and preserve a long-term community trust to hold attainable housing in perpetuity. Rebecca McGuckin of Old Town described more than 250 residents currently living in North End phase 1 and said 40 attainable units for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are integrated into the development and intended to remain in perpetuity.

Justin Moffat (presenting for the development team) said Phase 2’s eight-acre parcel required higher-density housing and that adding at least 72 units was necessary to make the overall trust and operations financially sustainable. He described a design that includes townhome-style rental units, a senior-living product, a public plaza and a trail plaza that will connect to the Monon Trail.

Redevelopment Director Henry Mistetsky gave fiscal figures: the undeveloped parcel currently produces about $20,000 in property tax revenue annually; phase 2 is expected to generate about $463,000 in annual property tax revenue when completed, with approximately $67,000 of that new revenue estimated to go to the schools. Mistetsky said the assessed value per acre would increase from roughly $148,000 to about $4,260,000 after buildout.

Developers emphasized a long-term financial model that uses a community trust to retain mission-oriented ownership of the attainable units and produce an “evergreen” revenue stream from market-rate components to subsidize ongoing operations. Old Town and partners said the project is designed to be financially sustainable and to create employment and vocational opportunities for residents living in the North End community.

Councilors asked technical questions about traffic, tree preservation and park access. Developers said the project includes a roundabout and frontage road to manage traffic flow and preserve existing stands of trees where feasible; they also said public access to the urban farm and park space is part of the plan and that a parcel of land would be transferred to the city for park use if the mission changed.

Councilors referred the TIF-bond introduction to the appropriate committee for review; no bond sale or TIF commitments were approved at the May 5 meeting. Staff said the item will receive a finance committee review and additional council hearings before any bond issuance.

","Developers and city redevelopment staff introduced the North End Phase 2 project and a proposed TIF revenue bond to support it. Presenters described 40 permanently set-aside attainable units, an urban farm, trail connections and projected tax revenue increases for the parcel.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor proposes new nonprofit to centralize city events as council considers governance reform ordinance

Carmel council votes to open full investigation after months of Christkindlmarkt controversy

Council forwards group-home zoning changes to Plan Commission after committee review

Council hears North End Phase 2 TIF bond introduction; developers cite permanent affordable units and park amenities