[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6161310,"mediaKeyId","5442332-f7a53b569f8e44cd146afe48b7b305b3","parentId",5442332,"title","City outlines summer events and parking approach; seniors raise concern about app‑based payments","audioSeconds",487,"startMs",3581000,"endMs",3094000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5442332-f7a53b569f8e44cd146afe48b7b305b3&start=3581&end=3094","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5442332-f7a53b569f8e44cd146afe48b7b305b3/thumbnail_3581000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6161310/Indiana/City-outlines-summer-events-and-parking-approach-seniors-raise-concern-about-appbased-payments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161310-bb12643e4272a365ab26b0f942452066/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158684&Signature=n6loGnJtbGqjR4ZfUlBpruCs2QJAwUorvwGKT7MYYX3AVFOSEgoNi3lWlcNo2zcZyZ9URSxOTXeijA6qEh9-DbtNPupUmqhul66EfEzxqqpPeLAoDvaQv0jbefHcnduFUtjs-Kyw56U~jkvCafO39WjOkv48eyE79Npp5q7ahxYBXzsnrZzXqT-io~Ykbrs8PudlPjTxjS5-lmMmsaHV6Svf3L5pJIH6GSkUqMS2FbsBo9UHrTlcgXM9wwz5~MDUXVNXckfkItoMQNqN78vTizklko8-xfdGRirl9fa7cLpc3hjKJGeOtgcFJKBn0bIMsnefkkNB-9YzcvoD7G0ylg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gary City, IN","date","2025-07-16T00:00:00Z","article","City officials used the July 15 Gary Common Council meeting to outline a slate of summer events and operational details, and a senior resident asked the council to provide non‑app payment options for beach parking.
Chief of Staff Ellis Dumas described multiple city events: Wind Down Wednesdays (the next event was the following day), a police‑department open house on July 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Public Safety Building (555 Polk), a back‑to‑school giveaway on Aug. 2 led by first lady Crystal Belton, National Night Out on Aug. 5 (5–8 p.m. at Railcats Stadium), and Food Truck Fridays scheduled for July 25. Dumas said the city also supports festivals and neighborhood events, and he encouraged residents to check the city website for details.
During public comment, Dawn Darsenow, speaking for seniors she had consulted, said some older residents do not have smartphones or the app capability required to pay by mobile app at Wind Down Wednesdays and asked the city to allow cash or in‑person payments at City Hall or other senior‑friendly options. Darsenow specifically asked whether parking fees would be collected the following day and how seniors could pay without a smartphone app.
Chief of Staff Dumas responded that staff would work with seniors and that parking staff and parks personnel will be present at events to help with park‑mobile payments. He said the city offers an annual resident parking permit and stated the fee is $75 for Gary residents and \"$1.50 for non Gary residents\" as recorded in the meeting; he added that staff would assist seniors in person at events to avoid excluding those without a smartphone. Dumas also emphasized the city’s enforcement policy regarding alcohol at events: Wind Down Wednesdays is not a BYOB event and licensed sellers will manage alcohol distribution.
No change to parking policy was adopted at the meeting; council members and staff said they would follow up with operational details and accommodations for seniors who need alternatives to app‑based payment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gary City General Common Council Meeting 2025-07-15","oneSentenceSummary","City officials outlined upcoming summer events and operations at the July 15 council meeting, and a senior resident asked for alternatives to app‑only parking payments at Wind Down Wednesdays.","taxTitle","Gary City, Lake County, Indiana","taxId",3530,"location","Indiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6161315,"Council told comprehensive‑plan rollout set for July 24; residents urge repurposing of Edna Elementary",1694,1256000,2950000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5442332-f7a53b569f8e44cd146afe48b7b305b3&start=1256&end=2950","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5442332-f7a53b569f8e44cd146afe48b7b305b3/thumbnail_1256000.jpg","/articles/6161315/Indiana/Council-told-comprehensiveplan-rollout-set-for-July-24-residents-urge-repurposing-of-Edna-Elementary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161315-bfa441e15790cccd7c08e654dc2205e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158684&Signature=IcYxo4H1KpAhLNowqvZEvbdPXCrroAjsguZzZW70nQpzpJ6iYDmCWASq194mK68w33pibhZ9OHaLxqIm3eFxlchf5xsSe0TOUwQotZGjfwjVDi9xVcCeyM29wBT0h~oG0f6biNLuWC4n-nN7F9C-u4udC2CeecfuYxqrj8X4FwLdEBRt6RRTF7EUiSbjmpJT74BnGsf3Z4JhDijiVAEgPJSfmzlesfYa9wd33eEcqYKdbu5A9AzWVsSViqYrCY1fFG6Q7UQkIcJYY1LLTsV9Mjp1~Rug5FWOcjehqdKbEn2SZ55jdO3acT4xoryNXL1ePUcuZWvtByeuM~C3EN0kDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilman Washington told the Common Council on July 15 that the Planning Commission will hold a meeting July 24 to review rollout of the city’s draft comprehensive plan and that consultants working on the plan will appear before the Planning and Development Committee in August to present draft materials.
Washington said the administration and consultants have been mapping the city and the plan remains a draft; he said the council may consider voting on the plan as early as September. He urged public participation in the July 24 Planning Commission meeting and said the administration will publish information on the rollout.
During the meeting’s public‑comment period, Penelope Love, identifying herself as an Edna Manor resident, said she represented a large cohort of long‑term residents and requested that the council include in the comprehensive plan the repurposing of Edna Elementary School. Love asked the council and the county to consider demolition of Edna Elementary and building new homes on the site intended for retirees, arguing the change would improve the neighborhood’s appearance, eliminate what she called a blighted structure, increase revenue for the city and reduce recurring maintenance costs for the property. She also said the group sought financial participation from Lake County commissioners and referenced prior years’ discussions of discretionary county funds for demolition.
Council members did not take immediate action on Love’s request during the meeting; her remarks were entered during the public‑comment period and will be available for planning staff and elected officials to consider as they review the comprehensive plan draft and upcoming public outreach.
Details about funding, timelines or a formal proposal for demolition and redevelopment were not provided in the meeting record; Love’s statement asked that the city include the concept in the comprehensive plan and coordinate funding discussions with Lake County.","Councilman Washington said the Planning Commission will review the draft comprehensive plan on July 24 and that consultants will present draft materials to the Planning and Development Committee in August.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6161320,"Council opens sealed RFQs for guaranteed energy‑savings contract; three respondents certified",131,2447000,2578000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5442332-f7a53b569f8e44cd146afe48b7b305b3&start=2447&end=2578","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5442332-f7a53b569f8e44cd146afe48b7b305b3/thumbnail_2447000.jpg","/articles/6161320/Indiana/Council-opens-sealed-RFQs-for-guaranteed-energysavings-contract-three-respondents-certified","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161320-0f42cb76c9d88a55d814ce4dc5417479/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158684&Signature=csoRJ4bzfkBFwpnDCTUSoWEbflKDJC7AqZvbKgF3hA8MT5TPaE8bUsX4NR06Q7d1WFZ~rMJSzHaRcPx1bPzKNCfgpv1k5oi059W7LhwzULAQEp1Zj4mEqtov2aQT5SzEFId4f8tnbm9KR5UuB5-hcPJDGqi~APEoVs2kL6~WuRp~Qd12kc3AuOflAzv1izDzKYsBA35kYKGe0xSV76DVv-SAJqA3jaeD2zA07JwWiY7oB6DSszBc08NPlZGKBQipZ9jgDzLHhpmQ8qj~64F8cbA07tmk8iuedHM121DYURFOfyR0OpNWYssQOVsJC400Q~wM-~~xNeThl8BAxOv6OQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gary Common Council on July 15 opened sealed proposals received in response to a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a guaranteed energy‑savings contract and certified that three firms responded timely.
Attorney Molina told the council that the governing measure, cited as CPR 20‑24‑14, directed the Board of Public Works to publish required notice; Molina said notices were published on May 30 and June 6, 2025, in compliance with Indiana statute. The RFQ deadline was 4:00 p.m. on July 15, and responding packages remained sealed for opening at the council meeting.
Attorney Williams opened and read the packages into the record, certifying three responses: Leopardo (received July 15, 2:15 p.m.), a second package recorded as \"Beriki\" with a notation read aloud that also referenced \"Verigu\" (received July 15, 2:18 p.m.), and Optera (also read as \"Octera\" in the record) Energy Services (received July 14, 11:33 a.m.). Williams certified the three responders as timely and said the sealed packages would be submitted to city staff for further review.
Attorney Molina said the RFQ calls for a target selection date of Aug. 5 and that, if an applicant is selected, the goal is to have a negotiated contract within 15 days after selection.
Council members and counsel did not award a contract at the meeting; the action was a formal opening and certification of received RFQs to begin the city’s review and selection process.","Under a council resolution authorizing a guaranteed energy‑savings procurement, the Gary Common Council opened and certified three sealed RFQ packages for a guaranteed energy‑savings contract on July 15; staff set Aug. 5 as the target date to select a respondent and said contracts would be negotiated within 15 days of selection.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6161325,"Council advances three planning ordinances on second reading; public hearings scheduled",2963,544000,3507000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5442332-f7a53b569f8e44cd146afe48b7b305b3&start=544&end=3507","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5442332-f7a53b569f8e44cd146afe48b7b305b3/thumbnail_544000.jpg","/articles/6161325/Indiana/Council-advances-three-planning-ordinances-on-second-reading-public-hearings-scheduled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161325-c308938fe1abf0b771e61546f5ed5640/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158684&Signature=ijqrKeP8wDYP70ExL92g0H2ze~IIRYIUwZzJ~YK87zWK44rLPTpdAywvP0~KaD2KDDY9yd4ZDy-tOZ9N4Rh-Su5mAcQMyYfhn4m5Pb8LvHvgmHW0PWheQFsQLP~llphjPKl5brFqbqGiidIP9ZtWpmdarSP8DvUoclqWU73SkCqQlZU~zEodxsvFiuS4Am7JvBlOXf62mFh3trw5saNNC1ZykmamQ6b8DticDeygpNBMeFKm00hpqzQmSF3lKzLnoO0ij0xXHeeVs7viAXCoIxMdBS9FlykJTxsuuJckVMOwqiW0-jgwDGuUBnDK3PzKPcG82HZ22WUhIcFFyUgaqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gary Common Council voted unanimously on July 15 to advance three planning ordinances on second reading and set committee and public-hearing dates.
Councilman Washington, reporting for the Planning and Development Committee, said the committee approved sending Council Pending Ordinances CPO 2025‑41, CPO 2025‑42 and CPO 2025‑43 to the full council for action. On second reading the council approved passage of the three ordinances by roll-call vote, 9–0.
The three items are: a special‑use permit application (CPO 2025‑41) to allow a short‑term rental at 1040 North Union Street by petitioners Jason and Tanya Platt; a rezoning petition (CPO 2025‑42) for property at 5339 West Fifteenth Avenue filed by Robert L. Lewis on behalf of Buy and Save Incorporated; and a rezoning petition (CPO 2025‑43) for property at 925 North Shelby by petitioner Brian Lewick. Councilman Washington said the planning committee reported favorably on the ordinances.
Councilman Washington moved for passage on second reading and noted a Planning and Development Committee meeting would be held Tuesday, July 22 at 5:30 p.m. A public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 6:00 p.m., the council record shows.
The council did not adopt final ordinances at this meeting — the items passed second reading and will return for subsequent action following the scheduled public hearings and committee work.","The Gary Common Council on July 15 moved three planning-related ordinances to passage on second reading — a special-use permit for a short-term rental at 1040 North Union Street and two rezoning petitions for properties on West Fifteenth Avenue and North Shelby — and scheduled committee and public hearings.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6161330,"Gary council fills multiple boards and commissions seats; several appointees named",44,821000,865000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5442332-f7a53b569f8e44cd146afe48b7b305b3&start=821&end=865","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5442332-f7a53b569f8e44cd146afe48b7b305b3/thumbnail_821000.jpg","/articles/6161330/Indiana/Gary-council-fills-multiple-boards-and-commissions-seats-several-appointees-named","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161330-5dd89e45682219954250b264c949a7ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158684&Signature=b4URe5wAWqxeRF~n9sK9~ZAPCfLAElEPa32aUpm813Ev~ukYeC~HTjWCThOp-DiNcS5HEs-g8Tt2W0p2-1D6yUULEioD19muhfvP92efNLlBwuZvNkwEV3Fmxtt1dR3M4HL41Bn5q2-xBzOZ3XEDYnChuD--0vbuyh11Gy72BpaHrQK~7wYJ0fUmTVw4lVNWRoTjSmBP9bgNJxVavyGiaU8~gavFTvUcLbBF7-NrV-ImGXaaOF5Utrnmzj3XRpS3XRQe-s3po--geYy2Erzx7XfgKI0AEyGo9GgA~6NeT2XWO6NrWXKfXvxe0wL68cIx66IxWsqCx2-z0U6lmJKKxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gary Common Council members on July 15 approved appointments to multiple city boards and commissions, voting unanimously on each nomination.
Council votes installed Tom Olson to the Economic Development Commission, Raymond Davis to the Police Commission, Angela Lockett to the Gary Community School Corporation advisory board as the council’s appointee, and Preston Ruby and Bruce McKenzie to seats on the Gary Public Transportation Corporation board.
The appointments fill vacancies the council said it sought to address as part of its regular board-and-commission work. Councilwoman Linda Barnes Caldwell moved several of the nominations during the meeting; motions were seconded and put to roll-call votes. The clerk recorded unanimous votes on each appointment: Tom Olson (8–0), Raymond Davis (8–0), Angela Lockett (8–0), and Bruce McKenzie (8–0) as the council’s reported tallies for those items. Preston Ruby’s appointment to the public transportation board was also announced as completed at the meeting.
Council members offered brief remarks of thanks to the appointees and to volunteers who serve on city bodies. Raymond Davis, who later spoke during the public-comment period, thanked the council for his appointment to the Police Commission and said he intends to serve the city on public-safety matters.
No ordinances or funding actions were tied directly to these appointments during the meeting; the appointees were directed to proceed with whatever onboarding or commission procedures each board requires.
The council did not schedule follow-up votes on these appointments at later meetings.","At its July 15 meeting the Gary Common Council voted unanimously to appoint members to several city boards and commissions, including the economic development commission, police commission, advisory board to the Gary Community School Corporation and the Gary Public Transportation Corporation board.","actionData","errors"]

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City outlines summer events and parking approach; seniors raise concern about app‑based payments

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Council opens sealed RFQs for guaranteed energy‑savings contract; three respondents certified

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Gary council fills multiple boards and commissions seats; several appointees named