Council approves purchasing, investment, zoning and funding measures; votes at a glance

The West Lafayette City Council on Aug. 4 approved multiple ordinances and resolutions covering purchasing and investment policy updates, three zoning reclassifications, a right‑of‑way vacation, and several funding and economic development actions. All measures recorded at the meeting passed by roll call with eight ayes and no nays.

Key outcomes:

- Ordinance 30-20-25: Updated authorization and use of city purchasing cards (controller). Passed, 8-0. - Ordinance 33-20-25: Adopted a city investment policy to mirror state investment rules (controller). Passed, 8-0. - Ordinance 35-20-25: Rezone at 800 Northwestern (Stewart Cooperative House) from R2U to R3U to allow an addition; petitioner said the project would add 43 beds for a total capacity of 76 and requires a parking variance; the Stewart Cooperative Association has a policy requiring alternative parking proof for vehicle permits. Passed, 8-0. - Ordinance 36-20-25: Rezone at 420 South Chauncey (BC Cent LLC) to bring an existing 32‑unit building into compliance and permit two additional units; the petitioner committed in council to cap units at 34. Amendment to add that commitment was moved and approved before the ordinance vote. Ordinance passed, 8-0. - Ordinance 37-20-25: Amendment to the city’s 2025 salary schedule clarifying holiday policy (controller). Passed, 8-0. - Ordinance 38-20-25: Vacated portions of County Road (labeled 100/140 in exhibits) tied to a Research Village planned development and road realignment; petitioner said the vacation is a housekeeping action and includes a plan to plant trees along the vacated segment. Passed, 8-0. - Resolution 14-20-25: Authorized the city to participate in a Sandoz opioid settlement; staff said funds typically are restricted for opioid‑related programs and the city will track and segregate funds as required. Passed, 8-0. - Resolution 15-20-25: Reappropriated 2020 and 2022 CDBG funds through a substantial amendment to purchase additional fire department equipment to meet HUD timeliness rules. Passed, 8-0. - Resolution 16-20-25: Approved amendments for the Levy Village economic development area to set up allocation areas and TIF reimbursement mechanics tied to Trinitas infrastructure; staff described this as step three of a four‑step process. Passed, 8-0.

Presenters included City Controller Peter Gray, who spoke to the purchasing card and investment policy ordinances and the salary-schedule clarification; Kevin Riley of RTS Law, representing the petitioner for the 800 Northwestern rezone; Drew Tharp with Gutwein Law for the 420 South Chauncey rezone; Ryan Munden (RTS/BC West Lafayette Land Holdings LLC) for the County Road vacation; Ethan Forner of the Department of Development for the CDBG reappropriation; and Jennifer Vanskeiver for the TIF allocation amendment.

Several public commenters raised non-agenda concerns in general public comment: Megan Lee asked about posting of Economic Development Commission meetings; a student speaker urged better engagement with students around code enforcement and parking; Cheryl Kirkpatrick and Jim Raul raised separate neighborhood concerns including a long‑standing issue related to Cherry Lane property records. Council members also announced upcoming public meetings and noted back‑to‑school schedules.

Below are the formal actions as recorded in the minutes. All motions were adopted by roll call with the recorded ayes (Bellisario, Blanco, Burr, Dennis, Leverence, Parker, Sanders and Schenkel).