[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6160742,"mediaKeyId","5448963-644fedf06960a03684fc0f7cfe954daa","parentId",5448963,"title","Council adopts proactive rezoning for Bluffton Road and Lower Huntington corridors after community outreach","audioSeconds",548,"startMs",4801000,"endMs",5349000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448963-644fedf06960a03684fc0f7cfe954daa&start=4801&end=5349","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448963-644fedf06960a03684fc0f7cfe954daa/thumbnail_4801000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6160742/Fort-Wayne-City/Allen-County/Indiana/Council-adopts-proactive-rezoning-for-Bluffton-Road-and-Lower-Huntington-corridors-after-community-outreach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160742-90fbcf06edccc5928c34bdfbd3fcc002/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113015&Signature=mejy5evwRN6m8sTGKuor-PBUv1yu-db2qSMH7YhiUdp9klwFTPGRLec-nha4fK3-XUoP1CaFjZDDy5ojMeVeiOiLAP1Ee8aag~H05ZVtaVpmBk2Yq~kTa9UDqnjCodHXRHdsJNniUXlRok8IbDniLj6Rpg~H7cAk545C~7737jgTGSOhslCD-AtJmIA4DIDE3X2MfpLNOE~TI3QsPATk~WwaSy1nvT4zpdbLQOf~sNjCcMz0G-mNu6T43rbdFXkYRYBM2ZADoa6Z74ndj8Xyk-cV7DKZqJpMSLt7GgwChFAX7IDIVIVIz-7m3YUEq0PlI5SUAuVXqPZRuQfEnSkUTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fort Wayne City, IN","date","2025-06-24T00:00:00Z","article","The Fort Wayne Common Council on June 24 approved a set of proactive rezoning ordinances covering sections of Bluffton Road, Lower Huntington Road and adjacent parcels in the Wayndale area, adopting zoning more closely matched to existing uses and the 2017 Bluffton–Lower Huntington Corridor Improvement Plan as incorporated into the Allen County comprehensive plan.

Michelle Wood of the Department of Planning Services told council staff used the 2017 corridor plan as a starting point, then walked the corridors, met property owners and stakeholders, held an open house at the Southwest Fire Station, distributed flyers, and posted materials on the city’s Engage Fort Wayne page (which she said had nearly 700 visits before the public hearing). She said the updated map reduced large stretches of intensive C‑4 and I‑2 zoning that staff concluded were not appropriate for Wayndale’s neighborhood character and instead recommended zoning districts that would support smaller‑scale commercial activity, buffering, and more housing‑scale uses where appropriate.

Wood said the proposal reached an 8‑0 “do pass” recommendation from the city’s Planning Commission. At the council meeting she said the rezoning drew questions from owners and residents but “overall there was no opposition to the rezoning”; staff made several adjustments in response to property‑specific concerns before bringing final ordinances to the council.

Council members and staff noted the rezoning is intended to align zoning with the emerging Wayne Dale 2040 neighborhood plan and to reduce the risk that intensive commercial or industrial uses could develop in places where the community prefers a more neighborhood‑oriented pattern. Councilman Michael Mines thanked Planning and neighborhood development staff and encouraged residents to attend a July 10 public engagement event at The Strand on the Wayndale plan.

The package of zoning ordinances, which included multiple map amendments affecting parcels and corridors across Wayndale, passed the council without recorded opposition on the night of June 24.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 24, 2025 Fort Wayne City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Fort Wayne Common Council on June 24 approved a package of proactive rezoning ordinances for Bluffton Road, Lower Huntington Road and adjacent Wayndale parcels to better match existing development and guide future redevelopment.","taxTitle","Fort Wayne City, Allen County, Indiana","taxId",30557,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6160747,"Council approves Samsara telematics for Public Works fleet; department says system will improve safety and maintenance",915,3447000,4362000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448963-644fedf06960a03684fc0f7cfe954daa&start=3447&end=4362","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448963-644fedf06960a03684fc0f7cfe954daa/thumbnail_3447000.jpg","/articles/6160747/Fort-Wayne-City/Allen-County/Indiana/Council-approves-Samsara-telematics-for-Public-Works-fleet-department-says-system-will-improve-safety-and-maintenance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160747-adaa832dec32049af9c6d6e99eedc3f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113015&Signature=QD7Ddm5Xz0frbEMV4JeJFjsRylRLSjGbZwNbRhPaVewshHyVTPzc8snwS98MC0~92u97uPv25hYb0jXoHu2udu1uXUNnjD4bQVuAN~h~NbkaCOWQJtomBbQ5elZor3KJNEYf4niLLxUj17O2HA4nd3iHWhk5Xi5r5GOE6Hty8mNpx0RaLJzlF0MY6A5xaYoneNoh8kg1PdfGwu8qrsu47OZhSj-gvkkC2Az-QgN-zuDyVsNYsWq26lCWXnlUexuWpGLtgO-nPo42FAMC2CsqF33Eb0BcsohrcxW2MrFLMNZB-7WjaqJ6YY~5rUiZJpF1reRE7ybCRN1HpESXlpCsIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the June 24 committee session, the Fort Wayne Common Council’s Finance Committee approved the purchase of Samsara telematics hardware and software for the city’s Public Works fleet, with a first‑year total the department gave as $171,192.10.

Todd Brookmeyer, director of Fleet Services, told the council the package would include dual‑facing high‑definition cameras for vehicles, forward‑ and cab‑facing cameras, and asset tags for trailers and construction equipment. “We can use this for not only for the safety side of it, we can use it for, to track our people,” Brookmeyer said, explaining the system’s use for accident review, identifying driver behaviors, geo‑fencing, and asset recovery.

Brookmeyer said the department has five test vehicles and wants a large initial deployment; he described features that will alert drivers about unsafe behavior (seat belt use, distracted driving and harsh braking) and provide supervisors with near‑real‑time maintenance and positioning alerts. He said the cameras’ vendor stores clips in the cloud and that short clips used for accident review can be attached to internal accident‑review case files.

Council members asked about privacy, data retention, and whether staff buy‑in would be harmed by excessive monitoring. Councilman Russell Yale said the technology can be “a little bit scary with just how intrusive” it can be, and Brookmeyer said the city will not use live streaming by default and emphasized training and supervisor use of the system to improve safety. Brookmeyer said the vendor provides a three‑year warranty for the devices and the city expects ongoing annual costs will be lower after the first year.

The ordinance approving the purchase, listed as S250604 on the council agenda, received a do‑pass recommendation in committee and was approved by the council 9‑0 at the session.

Brookmeyer also described non‑camera asset tags (he proposed 150 tags at about $96 per year each) for trailers and equipment, which the department said will help recover stolen or moved items. He said the system will also allow supervisors to see vehicle idle/use patterns and make fleet management decisions based on utilization.

Council members and Fleet staff said they will monitor employee acceptance and the program’s effect on safety and maintenance costs. Brookmeyer said the initial installation will be performed by a contractor and Fleet will maintain systems thereafter.","The council gave a 9-0 do‑pass to a $171,192.10 first‑year purchase of Samsara telematics and cameras for Public Works vehicles. Fleet director Todd Brookmeyer told council the system will improve driver safety, accident review, and asset tracking; council members asked about privacy, data retention and costs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6160754,"Fort Wayne fire chief says department remains operational while previewing expedited contract request for new Station 5",1849,225000,2074000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448963-644fedf06960a03684fc0f7cfe954daa&start=225&end=2074","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448963-644fedf06960a03684fc0f7cfe954daa/thumbnail_225000.jpg","/articles/6160754/Fort-Wayne-City/Allen-County/Indiana/Fort-Wayne-fire-chief-says-department-remains-operational-while-previewing-expedited-contract-request-for-new-Station-5","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160754-54d9e689e60572369d2ab7082727c430/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113015&Signature=hreaNAuHhuTaauIgsKtVyTvikgqLRQuv1yhyMmMPMNn6RtYKttKmCyNbJpPnMw7TzRD~4P8hUX-k6cqtgtvQEXGFBy-ahvsecgN8YxKd2aY6ZidvP6TZ6y4BqVGh44IEYUWlls8SDkVvWUENwYjOYjzxoHi7tZWDLRmbgvtJjF3b-QngvmvwWeXSPgDm0lct9iMHdM6704ptCjQA5ERoq~WA0-ukjutujoZhKLO~1k-gbLphb5-d4WzoX7q43gRsw~aA9q8xk0FsRNzpsgrppzK6Kt5kjotMygq8U9NkuVpiimXMbNXGhhbOd3SBlV-EAncWHlAfdvMO6Ebndvg9rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Good evening. At a June 24 committee session of the Fort Wayne Common Council, Fort Wayne Fire Department Chief Eric Leggy told the council the department is “understaffed” but said “the city is not in danger” and that the department is not “operationally compromised.”

In a preview of an item the department will bring to the full council on July 8, Chief Leggy said he or a colleague will ask the council to suspend the normal rules so a construction management contract for the new Fire Station 5 in Wayndale can be approved quickly. Leggy said the request is aimed at keeping the project on a schedule “to get this building under roof before winter” and to avoid cost increases for winter work. He told council the delay was caused by Senate Bill 1 and follow-up budget review and that “every day right now counts.”

The nut of Leggy’s staffing update was procedural and numerical. He said the department currently has 352 sworn firefighters and that a class due to graduate in July would add 21 people, bringing staffing to about 373 if all graduate. He also said he expects roughly 12 retirements before the end of the year, which would reduce staffing to the low 360s. The mayor’s stated staffing goal, he said, is roughly 370–375 firefighters.

Leggy explained how the department handles shortfalls under the collective bargaining agreement and state law. “By contract … I have to have 96 firefighters at the beginning of each and every day, so that’s 0700 hours,” he said. When the number on duty falls below that level, the department offers voluntary overtime; he said mandatory overtime was suspended years ago after a legal challenge and that current overtime is voluntary. If positions go unfilled after overtime is offered, the chief said the department may be forced to take an apparatus out of service rather than staff it with fewer than four firefighters for more than 10 hours.

The chief described a long-standing coverage strategy called “move ups,” in which units from two‑apparatus houses temporarily cover territory when neighboring rigs are out for maintenance or staffing; he said the practice “makes sure that that territory is covered with a fire apparatus.” Leggy said he would prefer every rig to have four firefighters but that, if 3‑person rigs must be used, he prefers limiting that to no more than five rigs at a time to avoid leaving territory unprotected.

On recruitment and training, Leggy said the city currently has 95 names on the Merit Commission eligibility list and that about 15 candidates hold an EMT‑Basic certification. He told council that if those 15 are hired and seated in an academy class, the department could eliminate the EMT‑Basic segment from the academy for those recruits — “cutting out 12 weeks” from training for those hires — and accelerate their placement into service. He said a third‑party academy class length for a full academy is 22 weeks.

Leggy declined to say the department is underfunded in absolute terms, but he told the council “we can always use more money” and outlined near‑term equipment needs he will ask the council to approve in coming meetings, including a fire apparatus he said he will propose at a cost of $2,500,000.

Council members followed with questions on coverage, the safety tradeoffs of three‑person crews, and morale. Councilwoman Chambers pressed the chief about firefighter safety with three‑person rigs; Leggy said life safety is the top priority and that the department expects multiple rigs to arrive at structure fires so that an initial three‑person first‑in engine will be backed up “in under 8 minutes” by additional apparatus. Several council members asked for a future, more detailed presentation on recruitment strategies and morale when Leggy returns to present the Station 5 construction‑manager request.

No formal action on the Station 5 contract or any staffing policy changes was taken at the committee session; Leggy’s appearance was a preview and the suspension‑of‑rules request will be presented to council at its July 8 meeting.

Looking ahead, the chief provided dates for graduations the council requested: he listed the Fire Department graduation for July 24 and the Police Department graduation for July 17.","Fire Chief Eric Leggy told the Fort Wayne Common Council committee session that the department is understaffed but not operationally compromised, outlined hiring and overtime rules, and previewed next-month’s request to suspend council rules so a construction manager for the new Station 5 can begin work to avoid winter delays.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council adopts proactive rezoning for Bluffton Road and Lower Huntington corridors after community outreach

Council approves Samsara telematics for Public Works fleet; department says system will improve safety and maintenance

Fort Wayne fire chief says department remains operational while previewing expedited contract request for new Station 5