Noblesville council approves travel-policy update, budget adjustments, zoning measures and opts into opioid settlement

The Noblesville Common Council voted unanimously on a slate of ordinances and a resolution addressing city policy, midyear budget adjustments and land-use approvals.

Deputy Controller Caitlin Kessler presented a second reading of an updated travel and reimbursement policy (Ordinance 43-08-24). Kessler said the policy allows employees to be paid for meals and incidental expenses at federally approved General Services Administration (GSA) rates, payable in advance or by reimbursement, while airline, hotel and similar costs remain reimbursed at actual cost or charged to a city credit card. The council adopted the ordinance by roll call vote, 9–0.

Jeff Spalding, city controller and CFO, introduced Ordinance 44-08-24, a bundled set of additional appropriations covering midyear budget adjustments discussed in finance committee. The council opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers and approved the ordinance by a roll-call vote of 9–0. Spalding then presented Ordinance 45-08-24 to appropriate remaining unobligated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds; the council similarly closed the public hearing and approved the appropriation 9–0.

The council also approved several planning and zoning measures on unanimous roll-call votes: a change of land use and preliminary planned development for the Oasis at Hyde Park (Ordinances 46-08-24 and 47-08-24) to allow owner-occupied townhomes on roughly 15.5 acres; a text amendment to the Midland Pointe PD to permit one veterinarian clinic in an inline commercial tenant space (Ordinance 48-08-24); and an amendment to the Stony Creek planned development reducing unit counts and granting requested waivers for the townhomes at 1255 South 16th Street (Ordinance 49-08-24). Planning staff reported favorable recommendations from the Plan Commission on these items (votes ranged from 8–1 to 9–0 at the commission level).

City attorney John Hughes presented Resolution RC 34-24 asking the city to opt into a national opioid settlement (the transcript referenced the Kroger settlement as part of broader national agreements totaling about $1.2 billion). Hughes said distribution mechanics are still being worked out at state and national levels; the council voted 9–0 to opt into the settlement.

Claims and the finance committee recommendations were accepted earlier in the meeting and the claims docket was approved by hand vote, 9–0. Council members used the comment period to highlight downtown events and to thank staff and local nonprofit leaders. All listed ordinances and resolutions on the published agenda were approved during the session.