Public Works Committee recommends two reappointments to Board of Public Works

The Indianapolis City Public Works Committee on Oct. 23 voted to recommend two nominees to the full City Council for seats on the Board of Public Works: incumbent member Sebeiko Jawanza and Leslie Schulte.

The committee moved both proposals to the full council with a "do pass" recommendation after short presentations by the nominees and brief questions from council members. The committee conducted voice votes for each recommendation; members said "aye" and the chair declared the ayes had it.

Sebeiko Jawanza, who told the committee he has served on the board since about 2021, said serving on the board gives him an opportunity to shape day-to-day improvements in city operations and to press for consideration of neighborhood impacts when projects are designed or changed. "I get to, actually vote on some things that really improve our city on a day to day basis, people's travels and the way that our city workers are able to do their jobs," Jawanza said, adding that his work primarily focuses on the city's West Side and on projects such as the conversion of Thirtieth Street and work around the Sixteenth Street bridge.

Leslie Schulte described completing her first year on the board and cited prior participation in the city's Community Powered Infrastructure program — a temporary project on East Tenth Street that she said reduced crashes and produced a more pedestrian-friendly neighborhood environment. "I deeply believe that our public spaces can be safer for everyone," Schulte said, and said she tries to put public safety "at the forefront of all of our decisions." Schulte also said her professional background is in mechanical and chemical engineering and that the engineering contracts the board oversees (stormwater, trash service, paving, design services and similar work) are not part of her day job as a mechanical engineer.

Councilor Bain asked Schulte whether any contracts the board considers overlap with her private-sector work; Schulte replied that she is not a civil engineer and that her day job focuses on heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, and therefore she does not expect a direct overlap.

There were no public speakers recorded on either nomination during the committee meeting. For the two items the committee approved, members moved and seconded the recommendations and adopted them by voice vote.

The committee's actions send both nominations to the full City Council for final confirmation.