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City outlines summer events and parking approach; seniors raise concern about app‑based payments
Summary
City officials outlined upcoming summer events and operations at the July 15 council meeting, and a senior resident asked for alternatives to app‑only parking payments at Wind Down Wednesdays.
City officials used the July 15 Gary Common Council meeting to outline a slate of summer events and operational details, and a senior resident asked the council to provide non‑app payment options for beach parking. Chief of Staff Ellis Dumas described multiple city events: Wind Down Wednesdays (the next event was the following day), a police‑department open house on July 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Public Safety Building (555 Polk), a back‑to‑school giveaway on Aug. 2 led by first lady Crystal Belton, National Night Out on Aug. 5 (5–8 p.m. at Railcats Stadium), and Food Truck Fridays scheduled for July 25. Dumas said the city also supports festivals and neighborhood events, and he encouraged residents to check the city website for details. During public comment, Dawn Darsenow, speaking for seniors she had consulted, said some older residents do not have smartphones or the app capability required to pay by mobile app at Wind Down Wednesdays and asked the city to allow cash or in‑person payments at City Hall or other senior‑friendly options. Darsenow specifically asked whether parking fees would be collected the following day and how seniors could pay without a smartphone app. Chief of Staff Dumas responded that staff would work with seniors and that parking staff and parks personnel will be present at events to help with park‑mobile payments. He said the city offers an annual resident parking permit and stated the fee is $75 for Gary residents and "$1.50 for non Gary residents" as recorded in the meeting; he added that staff would assist seniors in person at events to avoid excluding those without a smartphone. Dumas also emphasized the city’s enforcement policy regarding alcohol at events: Wind Down Wednesdays is not a BYOB event and licensed sellers will manage alcohol distribution. No change to parking policy was adopted at the meeting; council members and staff said they would follow up with operational details and accommodations for seniors who need alternatives to app‑based payment.
