The Evansville Common Council on Oct. 27 voted to adopt the city’s 2026 salary ordinance, raise civil penalties tied to large trash cleanups, approve a package of budget transfers and reappropriations across departments, and to adopt two zoning ordinances. The council also accepted the withdrawal of one rezoning petition and appointed Mary Allen to the Solid Waste Board.

The council adopted Ordinance G-20-25-20 (amended), the ordinance that sets the 2026 salaries for appointed officers, employees, deputies and department heads for the city and the Evansville Vanderburgh County Health Authority. Robert Gunter of the comptroller’s office described the ordinance as the "final ordinance for the 2026 budget that sets the salary for all the positions within the city." The motion passed on a roll call vote recorded as seven ayes and zero nays.

The council then adopted Ordinance G-20-25-21, which amends the Evansville Municipal Code’s civil penalties for nuisance-related trash and debris. The ordinance establishes a $200 fine for trash or debris weighing less than 2,000 pounds and a $500 fine for collections exceeding 2,000 pounds. Rick Dolfen, code enforcement coordinator, told the council the last fine update was in 2012 and said that in 2024 the city cleaned 53 properties with more than 2,000 pounds of material; one property in September required removal of 23.9 tons. Dolfen said the city’s contractor charges $280 per ton, and that property owners who are billed for cleanup receive a bill that includes contractor charges, an administrative fee and any fine. The ordinance was declared adopted after the roll call; the clerk recorded the affirmative result when called.

On budget matters the council approved Ordinance F-20-25-15 (amended), a multifund package of transfers, additional appropriations and reappropriations. Controller Robert Yanchor walked the council through multiple line-item moves and stated several items did not add new money but reallocated existing funds. Notable items called out during discussion included:
- a $125,000 interfund transfer of remaining opioid-related funds to the law enforcement training fund to send 10 police officers to training;
- the return to cash of $41,289 in CARES Act COVID funds previously appropriated;
- $22,950 in miscellaneous revenue proposed for solar lamps on the Greenway;
- a $181,652 reimbursement to be placed in maintenance of streets and alleys;
- use of casino fund dollars to finish a downtown restroom project previously started with Terre Haute casino money;
- $16,600 in seized-gun revenue proposed for small tools and minor equipment; and
- approximately $280,000 remaining Terra Hope funds applied to a First Avenue stormwater repair project. City staff said the First Avenue work is replacing a failed 33-inch corrugated metal pipe and contractors are ordering pipe to complete the job, with an anticipated finish before Christmas. The ordinance was adopted on a roll call recorded as seven ayes and zero nays.

On zoning matters the council approved two rezoning ordinances after the Area Plan Commission recommended approval. Ordinance R-20-25-23 (docket REZ-2025-031) rezones 519 N. 10th Ave. to R-3 to legalize an existing three-unit configuration in a building originally constructed as a church around 1885 and converted to a duplex around 1914; APC staff reported the site has one two-bedroom unit and two one-bedroom units and found the rezoning consistent with the 2035 future land use map. The APC forwarded the request with a 7-0 recommendation; the council adopted the ordinance on a roll call recorded as seven ayes and zero nays.

Ordinance R-20-25-25 rezoned 1116 Stanley Ave. to R-4 (single-family residential) to match the surrounding solid R-4 area and to reflect a legal nonconforming residence constructed in 1945. Cassie Birgeman of the Area Planning Commission said APC voted 7-0 to recommend approval. A member of the public, Pamela Jenkins, presented a letter from the property owner expressing concern that rezoning could allow apartments; APC and the council clarified the action constituted a downzoning that retains residential use and does not authorize a new apartment building. The ordinance was adopted on a roll call recorded as seven ayes and zero nays.

The petitioner for Ordinance R-20-25-26 (1 E. Powell Ave.) withdrew their petition; the council accepted the withdrawal by voice vote.

In other business the council appointed Mary Allen to the Solid Waste Board to fill a term through Dec. 31, 2027. The appointment was approved by voice vote.

During public comment residents raised utility and regulatory issues. Christopher North and another attendee asked about higher electric costs at the Musgrave/Musgrove Park Zoo (an item in the budget amendment) and about recent CenterPoint Energy rate increases; Eric Beck, identified as an executive director for the park/zoo, told the council higher utility costs — not higher usage — drove the additional request. Captain John McQuay of the Evansville Police Department described the process for disposing of seized firearms: the department contracts with a vendor that inventories, provides a bulk value and then reconditions and distributes the guns for sale through distributors. A public commenter also discussed pending appointments to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and the livestream schedule for interviews.

Why it matters: the salary ordinance and the budget transfers set pay and spending priorities for 2026, while the nuisance fine changes and zoning decisions affect enforcement, property owners and land use near neighborhoods and downtown. The multiple budget reappropriations also direct limited local revenues (casino funds, seized-gun proceeds, opioid settlements, CARES Act reimbursements) toward infrastructure, training and operational needs identified by staff.

Votes at a glance:
- Ordinance G-20-25-20 (2026 salary ordinance, amended): adopted; roll call recorded seven ayes, zero nays.
- Ordinance G-20-25-21 (nuisance penalties tied to trash weight): adopted; roll call affirmative as recorded in minutes.
- Ordinance F-20-25-15 (budget transfers and reappropriations, amended): adopted; roll call recorded seven ayes, zero nays.
- Ordinance R-20-25-23 (rezoning, 519 N. 10th Ave.): adopted; roll call recorded seven ayes, zero nays.
- Ordinance R-20-25-25 (rezoning, 1116 Stanley Ave.): adopted; roll call recorded seven ayes, zero nays.
- Ordinance R-20-25-26 (rezoning, 1 E. Powell Ave.): petitioner withdrew; council accepted withdrawal.
- Appointment: Mary Allen to Solid Waste Board to serve through 12/31/2027: approved by voice vote.

What the council directed staff to do: staff answered questions from council about line-item details in the budget amendment and provided timelines (e.g., First Avenue stormwater repair expected before Christmas). City staff also explained enforcement practices and billing for cleanup work and discussed working with property owners in extenuating circumstances.

Sources and documentation: reporting is based on the Oct. 27, 2025 Evansville Common Council meeting transcript and on presentations by city staff and Area Plan Commission representatives.