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Hammond council approves alcohol-in-parks ordinance, millage election and multiple routine items; billboard moratorium extended
Summary
Council adopted an amended ordinance to allow sale of alcoholic beverages in city parks, approved calling a special election to renew a public works millage (about $596,000/year), adopted removal of unused UDC definitions, approved annexation and several resolutions including an event waiver and equipment purchases; council also extended a billboard moratorium 90 days.
Hammond — At its Aug. 12 session the Hammond City Council approved several ordinances and resolutions and handled multiple routine agenda items.
Key votes and outcomes
- Alcohol in parks ordinance (final adoption): Council voted to adopt the amended ordinance permitting sale of alcoholic beverages in city parks with safeguards. Administration and event organizers will use the existing waiver process; the change allows an administrative permit step and retains the requirement that an open-container waiver be considered by council. Several councilmembers and the Downtown Development District director thanked staff for drafting clarifying language.
- Unified Development Code housekeeping (remove outdated definitions): Council adopted an ordinance removing about 18 pages of definitions not used elsewhere in the UDC.
- Public works millage: Council approved an ordinance to call a special election in November to renew a public works millage that staff said generates roughly $596,000 a year for roads, drainage and infrastructure. If voters do not renew the millage, the city would lose that revenue beginning in 2026.
- Annexation: The council approved annexing 35 acres (Lot 1-D-1B on High Park Boulevard) and zoning it I-1; the developer said sewer and water connections will tie into existing lines at the corner of the street.
- Resolutions and permits: The council approved reappointments to the Hammond Housing Authority board, authorized alcohol sales and an open-container waiver for the Hammond Regional Arts Center Brews & Arts fundraiser on Oct. 25, and endorsed a $24,000 grant application for license-plate readers for the police department.
- Equipment purchases: Council authorized purchase of a Kubota excavator for streets ($68,945.60, state contract) and approved rugged laptops for the police department (~$84,316.40), with staff confirming GPS tracking is being deployed on new vehicles/equipment.
- Billboard moratorium extension: Council extended a moratorium on off-premise signs and billboards for an additional 90 days while planning and zoning finalizes new regulations; a local billboard company requested clarification about two pending permit applications filed shortly before the original moratorium. Administration said permits approved before a moratorium remain valid but applications in process when a moratorium takes effect are subject to the moratorium unless a variance is granted.
Votes at a glance (recorded outcomes from the meeting recording): final adoption and approvals were carried by recorded council votes as noted during the meeting minutes.
What happens next: Affected items now move to implementation steps (public information campaigns for the millage, planning staff for billboard rules, and department purchasing and asset-tagging for approved equipment).
