Fort Wayne City Council meeting tonight – 6/22/2021

City Council

The Fort Wayne City Council meets this evening at 5:30 pm in Committee and Regular Sessions at Citizens Square.

This meeting is not open to the public, but is streamed live. The ordinances and resolutions can be downloaded here.

 

Public Hearings and discussion by the Council:

R-21-06-04
A Confirming Resolution designating an “Economic Revitalization Area” under I.C. 6-1.1-12.1 for property commonly known as 3426 & 3320 Wells Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46808 – Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc.

R-21-06-06
A Confirming Resolution designating an “Economic Revitalization Area” under I.C. 6-1.1-12.1 for property commonly known as 4877 Adams Center Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46806 – ABF, Inc./Transport Realty, Inc.

R-21-06-08
A Confirming Resolution designating an “Economic Revitalization Area” under I.C. 6-1.1-12.1 for property commonly known as 5001 US 30 W, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46808 – Office 30 Venture, LLC.

R-21-06-10
A Confirming Resolution approving a waiver of non-compliance and designating an “Economic Revitalization Area” under I.C. 6-1.1-12.1 for property commonly known as 5402 Moeller Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46806 – Precision Ft. Wayne, LLC.

 

Up for discussion:

G-21-06-11
An Ordinance for the purpose of Vacating a platted easement To vacate the fifty-foot wide easement located on Lot 6 of Brames South Side Acres at 5005 S Anthony Blvd.

G-21-06-12
An Ordinance amending the Thoroughfare Plan of the City Comprehensive (“Master”) Plan by vacating public right-of-way to vacate the fourteen-foot wide alley easement located between Lots 148 and 151 and 149 and 150 of Harvester Park Addition, east of 3805 East Pontiac.

 

A presentation by the Fort Wayne Police Department:

Fort Wayne Police Department – Application for 2021 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistant Grant (JAG) Program. FWPD Direct Allocation: $98,609 which will use allocation to purchase body-worn camera and cover travel expenses for grants management training

Click here for more information on the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistant Grant (JAG) Program.

 

The Council will then take up the “no vaccine passport” resolution:
Authored by Fort Wayne City Councilmen Jason Arp (R-4th) and Paul Ensley (R-1st).

R-21-06-16
A Resolution of the Fort Wayne Common Council supporting no vaccine passport resolution.

WHEREAS, Allen County has led a successful campaign to vaccinate its residents against Covid-19, and as of May 24, 2021, approximately 37% of its citizens have received at least one vaccination, and;

WHEREAS, over 71% percent of state residents 60 and older are fully vaccinated against Covid-19; and this age group has had access to vaccinations since February; and

WHEREAS, all populations 12 and older are now are eligible and have access to the vaccine; and

WHEREAS, 11% of Allen County citizens may already have infection acquired immunity using reported numbers from the Allen County Department of Health; and

WHEREAS, herd immunity, which includes both vaccinated and those with infection-acquired immunity, has either been achieved or will shortly be realized;

and

WHEREAS, the science of the virus has shifted over the course of the pandemic, and although doctors and science professionals now have a better understanding of Covid-19 and effective treatment options than they did when the virus was first identified in the United States in 2020, there are still many differing theories about many aspects of the virus including variants and the need for booster vaccines;

and

WHEREAS, every adult who wants a vaccine has the right to obtain one and the ability to do so, as they are widely available and offered for free, but no vaccine should be mandated or required by law; and

WHEREAS, people have the right to refuse vaccination based on religious, medical or personal reasons, and every medical intervention requires informed consent and the right of refusal, including the Covid-19 vaccine; and

WHEREAS, the currently available Covid-19 vaccinations have not yet been fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but have been issued an Emergency Use Authorization and the long-term effects of the vaccine are still unknown; and

WHEREAS, except in certain healthcare facilities and other exceptional circumstances is it reasonable to ask someone or request that someone disclose any healthcare status, especially as it relates to employment, education, access to events, or engagement in standard commercial or recreational activity; and

WHEREAS, private health information on vaccine status should not be required by any government mandate or by any business operating places of public accommodation; and

WHEREAS, widespread adoption of Covid-19 vaccination passports, or any requirement of proof of vaccination by businesses on an allegedly voluntary basis will unduly and unnecessarily restrict the freedom of Americans and harm patient privacy; and

WHEREAS, Covid-19 vaccination passports will create a two-tiered society, where some people will have rights, and others will lose their freedom by not having the same access to services, experiences, and locations; and WHEREAS, once a Covid-19 vaccination passport system is in place, it could be manipulated to restrict freedom based on not just vaccine status, but also on the basis of protected activity (such as the exercise of free speech or religious activity), protected categories (race, ethnicity, sex, disability, etc.), or any personal decision or preference that a government or business considers acceptable; and

WHEREAS, numerous other governmental units are opposing Covid-19 vaccination passports, including the decision by the Indiana General Assembly to ban them in HEA 1405, to be codified as § IC 16-36-11-5; and

WHEREAS, the Fort Wayne Common Council desires to express its opposition to the concept of Covid-19 vaccination passports and to express its support for the rights of individuals and families living in a community to direct their own health futures.

NOW, THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE FORT WAYNE COMMON COUNCIL, that the Council expresses its opposition to Covid-19 vaccination passports and any other similar governmental requirements that disenfranchises local citizens of the right to make their own health care choices and move freely within society.

Furthermore, it is unreasonable, except in certain healthcare related activities and other exceptional circumstances, to require a person to disclose the status of his or her COVID-19 immunization for employment, education, access to events, or engagement in normal commercial and recreational activities. All adults should have the freedom to evaluate science and seek out appropriate medical opinions, while making decisions for themselves and their families.

There may be two possible absences from the City Council meeting this evening. If so, that could jeopardize the passage of the bill. Tune in to watch the proceedings.

 

There will be several bills introduced this evening which will be discussed in the next meeting on June 29, 2021. Among them:

R-21-06-23
A Resolution approving Compliance with Statement of Benefits (CF-1) form filings for 2021 for properties with approved “Economic Revitalization Areas” under I.C. 6-1.1-12.1.

R-21-06-24
A Resolution Concerning Non-Compliance for failure to file and/or failure to file in a timely manner form filings for 2021 for properties with approved “Economic Revitalization Areas” under I.C. 6-1.1-12.1.

S-21-06-28
An Ordinance approving the awarding of RFP #73591910 – Contract for Franke Park Renaissance – Phase One – by the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana, by and through its Department of Purchasing and Design Collaborative for the Parks and Recreation Department and Board of Park Commissioners – Involving a total cost of $996,000.00.

G-21-06-21
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 74: Bicycles; Toy Vehicles of the City of Fort Wayne Code of Ordinances.

S-21-06-20
An Ordinance Designating and Approving a Local Historic District – Diffenderfer House – 215 W. Dewald Street.

 

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